KHAN YUNIS: “It smells like death,” said Maha Thaer, a mother of four, as she returned to the devastated southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis on Sunday, after Israeli troops withdrew.
“We don’t have a city anymore — only rubble. There is absolutely nothing left. I could not stop myself crying as I walked through the streets,” the 38-year-old told AFP.
“All the streets have been bulldozed. And the smell... I watched people digging and bringing out the bodies,” said Thaer, whose home was partially destroyed.
Soon after the Israeli army said its troops were pulling out, people began to emerge into the devastated landscape — the residents of Khan Yunis returning to find what remained of their homes.
Nearly 400,000 people lived in Khan Yunis and its environs before October 7. Much of the area is now in ruins after months of bombardment and heavy fighting between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants.
A straggle of men and boys riding donkey carts, bicycles and the odd pickup truck headed north out of Rafah in the far south of the Gaza Strip, where more than 1.5 million Palestinians had taken refuge from the relentless Israeli ground invasion and bombardment.
They passed the burned-out shell of the Al-Salam hospital, with almost all of the buildings around it razed to the ground.
Thaer, from the upmarket Hamad City district in the west of Khan Yunis, said she was “very shocked and sad.”
“There were no walls or windows. Most of the towers were completely blown up,” she said.
Thaer said she would move back into her badly damaged apartment, “even though it is not suitable for living, but it is better than tents.”
Her neighbors suffered a greater misfortune. “They found their homes destroyed and they don’t know where they will go,” she said.
Other Gazans carried a mattress on their heads in the hope they would still have four walls to put it in.
One of those who left Rafah on Sunday climbed on the top of a heap of rubble in Khan Yunis which once had been a home.
With everything around him in ruins, AFP photographs showed the man standing among smashed concrete and corrugated iron roofing.
Not a single structure within sight appeared untouched by the war.
Other images showed large swathes of the city flattened.
The Israeli army told AFP that it had pulled its 98th division of ground troops out of the southern city on Sunday to “recuperate,” with one official telling the Israeli media it had killed thousands of Hamas fighters there.
“There’s no need for us to remain... We did everything we could there,” an army official told Haaretz newspaper.
The Gaza war broke out on October 7 with an attack by Hamas militants that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, Israeli figures show.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,175 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
‘It smells like death’: Gazans return to devastated Khan Yunis
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‘It smells like death’: Gazans return to devastated Khan Yunis
- “We don’t have a city anymore — only rubble," Palestinian mother says
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli airstrike on Gaza hospital
- Kingdom categorically rejected Sunday’s attack on the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital and said it constituted a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned Israel after two Israeli missiles hit a major Gaza hospital on Sunday, knocking out the emergency department.
The Kingdom categorically rejected Sunday’s attack on the Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital and said it constituted a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Kingdom called on the international community to assume its responsibility to halt repeated violations against civilians, warning of the collapse of Gaza’s health system as a result of continued Israeli violations of all international laws and norms.
Later on Sunday, the head of the World Health Organization said that a child died because of the air strike on the hospital.
“A child died due to disruption of care,” WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X. “The emergency room, laboratory, emergency room X-ray machines and the pharmacy were destroyed,” he added, quoting information from the director of the hospital.
“The hospital was forced to move 50 patients to other hospitals. 40 critical patients couldn’t be moved,” he said. “Hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law. Attacks on health care must stop.”
Al-Ahli Hospital is run by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which condemned the attack, saying in a statement it occurred on “Palm Sunday, the start of the Holy Week, the most sacred week of the Christian year.”
Pakistan’s army chief discusses bilateral defense ties with visiting US Congressional delegation
- ISPR says both sides emphasized the importance of sustained engagement ‘based on mutual respect’
- They also signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize training cooperation in the field of IT
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir on Sunday discussed regional security and defense cooperation with a visiting US Congressional delegation, with both sides signing a memorandum of understanding for training collaboration in the field of information technology.
The two countries share a long history of defense cooperation dating back to the Cold War, when Pakistan was a key US ally in the region. However, their relationship was subsequently marked by phases of cooperation as well as tension, including US sanctions on Pakistan at various points.
The two countries reaffirmed their partnership in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks, when the US-led forces invaded Afghanistan, but diverging strategic interests led several American analysts to describe Pakistan as a “frenemy.”
According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the two sides emphasized the importance of sustained engagement “based on mutual respect, shared values, and converging strategic interests” during the meeting.
“Discussions during the meeting encompassed a range of issues of mutual interest, with particular emphasis on regional security and defense cooperation,” the ISPR said.
“The visiting US lawmakers commended the Pakistan Armed Forces for their pivotal role in combating terrorism and acknowledged Pakistan’s enduring contributions to regional peace and stability,” it added.
The US delegation, led by Representative Jack Bergman along with Representatives Thomas Souzzi and Jonathan Jackson, conveyed its commitment to advancing broad-based cooperation with Pakistan, particularly in the fields of security, trade, investment and economic development, while underscoring respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty.
The army chief thanked its members for their visit and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to further deepen and diversify its longstanding partnership with the US in a way that serves both countries’ national interests.
During the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was also signed to formalize training cooperation in information technology.
Earlier in the day, the US delegation also met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and held discussions on counterterrorism cooperation and bilateral investment.
Pakistan and the US are expected to hold a counterterrorism dialogue in June.
The cooperation gains particular significance amid a recent surge in militant attacks in Pakistan’s western provinces bordering Afghanistan.
Harvey Barnes brace routs Manchester United as Newcastle rise to fourth place
Newcastle were without manager Eddie Howe, who was admitted to hospital on Friday after feeling unwell for several days.
But Barnes provided a welcome tonic for Howe as his second-half brace at St. James’ Park boosted Newcastle’s bid to qualify for the Champions League.
With Howe’s assistants Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones in charge of the League Cup winners, Sandro Tonali put Newcastle ahead before Alejandro Garnacho equalized late in the first half.
Barnes stole the spotlight after the interval, becoming the first Newcastle player to score twice in one league game against United since Alan Shearer in 2000.
Bruno Guimaraes punished a blunder from United keeper Altay Bayindir, who started in place of the dropped Andre Onana, to seal Newcastle’s first four-goal haul against United since 2001.
In the race to reach the Champions League via a top five finish, Newcastle are just one point behind third-placed Nottingham Forest.
They have a game in hand on Forest, as well as fifth-placed Manchester City and sixth-placed Chelsea, who are two points adrift of the Magpies.
United have now gone four games without a win in all competitions, leaving them languishing in 14th place with just six games left to avoid their lowest finish since 1973-74, when they came 21st and were relegated.
They are already certain to suffer their worst points total in the Premier League era, with the previous low 58 in 2021-22.
Ruben Amorim made five changes with an eye on Lyon’s visit to Old Trafford for the Europa League quarter-final, second leg next Thursday, but United were blown away with embarrassing ease.
Bayindir had replaced Onana after the Cameroon keeper’s latest error-strewn display in United’s 2-2 draw at Lyon last Thursday.
But the 26-year-old, signed from Fenerbahce in 2023, endured a woeful first Premier League start.
Newcastle’s opening goal arrived at the climax of a flowing move after United midfielder Manuel Ugarte gave the ball way in the 24th minute.
Kieran Trippier surged forward and found Alexander Isak, who astutely lifted his pass over the defense for Tonali to drive a clinical finish into the far corner from an acute angle 10 yards out.
It was the 19th time United had conceded the opening goal in a league game this season — their joint-most in a single campaign in the competition.
With United out of sync once again, Tonali almost doubled the lead as the Italy midfielder curled just wide from distance.
Bayindir looked nervous when he punched Tino Livramento’s cross straight to Isak, but he redeemed himself with a good save from the Swede’s volley.
United equalized completely against the run of play in the 37th minute.
Diogo Dalot was the catalyst with a buccaneering burst that carried him to the edge of the Newcastle area, where he slipped a precise pass to Garnacho and the Argentine winger fired past Nick Pope.
Having scored for just the second time in 2025, Garnacho went close to another when Pope palmed away his blast on the stroke of half-time.
But Newcastle regained the lead four minutes after half-time as United’s leaky defense was breached again.
Livramento’s low cross was alertly kept in by Murphy beyond the far post and his pass into the six-yard box found Barnes unmarked for a clinical finish.
Zirkzee limped off to add to United’s woes after crumpling to the turf with an apparent hamstring injury.
United were in disarray and Barnes delivered the knockout blow in the 64th minute, dispossessing Noussair Mazraoui and racing clear to drill a fierce strike past Bayindir.
In the 77th minute, Bayindir’s wayward pass went straight to Joelinton, who nodded the ball onto Guimaraes for a composed finish that rubbed salt into United’s gaping wounds.
MWL chief, French officials discuss religious matters
- The MWL chief discussed contemporary issues related to the league’s mission and responsibilities in promoting moderate Islam
RIYADH: The secretary-general of the Muslim World League met with a number of officials in Paris to discuss religious matters in France.
Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, who also serves as the chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, met with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, and Minister for Equality Aurore Berge.
The MWL chief discussed contemporary issues related to the league’s mission and responsibilities in promoting moderate Islam and strengthening unity among Muslims worldwide.
Al-Issa also addressed widely debated intellectual and religious concepts and spoke about the ethics of artificial intelligence.
Bangladesh reintroduces ‘except Israel’ phrase on passports
- Israel is a flashpoint issue in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which does not recognize it
- In 2021, the words “except Israel” were removed from passports
DHAKA: Bangladesh has restored an “except Israel” inscription on passports, local media reported Sunday, effectively barring its citizens from traveling to that country.
Israel is a flashpoint issue in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which does not recognize it.
The phrase “valid for all countries except Israel,” which was printed on Bangladeshi passports for decades, was removed during the later years of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.
Nilima Afroze, a deputy secretary at the home ministry, told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency on Sunday that authorities had “issued a directive last week” to restore the inscription.
“The director general of the department of immigration and passport was asked to take necessary measures to implement this change,” local newspaper The Daily Star quoted Afroze as saying Sunday.
In 2021, the words “except Israel” were removed from passports, although the then government under Hasina clarified that the country’s stance on Israel had not changed.
The country’s support for an independent Palestinian state was visible on Saturday when around 100,000 people gathered in Dhaka in solidarity with Gaza.
The Gaza war broke out after Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
A fragile ceasefire between the warring parties fell apart last month and Gaza’s health ministry said Sunday that at least 1,574 Palestinians had been killed since then, taking the overall death toll since the war began to 50,944.
