Algeria

Algerian president pledges to build 3 hospitals in Gaza if borders reopen

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 The Algerian president has announced that his country is ready to build three hospitals in the Gaza Strip if the land border crossing between Egypt and the enclave is reopened. Abdelmadjid Tebboune made his statement on Sunday while campaigning for the presidential election scheduled for Sept. 7, according to an Anadolu reporter. In his presidential bid, Tebboune faces two other candidates: Abdelaali Hassani Cherif, the leader of the Movement for a Society of Peace (the largest Islamist party), and Youcef Aouchiche, the first secretary of the Socialist Forces Front (a leftist and the oldest opposition party). “In case the border between Egypt and Gaza is opened, we will build three hospitals within 20 days,” Tebboune said, referring to field hospitals that the Algerian military is capable of constructing. Previously, Tebboune had enquired about the military’s capacity to build such hospitals and the feasibility of sending them to Gaza under suitable conditions during the opening of the Algeria International Fair in June. Addressing his supporters, Tebboune also expressed readiness to send hundreds of doctors to Gaza and assist in rebuilding what has been destroyed. He condemned the current situation in Gaza as “not a war, but massacres perpetrated by the Zionist occupation,” asserting that the resolution of the Palestinian issue through the “extermination of Palestinians” is unacceptable. Israel, flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7 attack last year by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. The Israeli onslaught has since killed nearly 40,100 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 92,500, according to local health authorities. More than 10 months into the Israeli onslaught, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine. Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

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Algerian boxer Imane Khelif speaks out on gender identity issue

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Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif has spoken out for the first time since winning gold in the women’s 66-kilogram category at the Paris Games, addressing the scrutiny and misinformation she endured. Khelif revealed the emotional impact of false allegations questioning her gender, which began after her Italian opponent, Angela Carini, withdrew from their match. Despite the International Olympic Committee’s support and condemnation of the false claims, high-profile figures like Donald Trump, J.K. Rowling, and Elon Musk contributed to the controversy with critical remarks. “It hurt me deeply and caused immense fear,” Khelif told Algerian news channel El Bilad. “I can’t describe how scary it was. Thankfully, people in Algeria and the Arab world know me for my femininity, courage, and determination.” Khelif expressed frustration over the politicization of sports and condemned the unfounded accusations as an insult to her, her family, and Algeria. “They have no right to label me as transgender. This is an offense to my family, to Algeria, and to the Arab world,” she said. In response to the harassment, Khelif’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi, has filed a complaint with the Paris prosecutor’s office, leading to an investigation into the online hate campaign. Charges under consideration include cyber harassment, public insults based on gender, and incitement to discrimination. Khelif remains resolute in her demand for justice and respect. “I will accept an apology if offered, but to those who don’t apologize, I say: I am a female and will remain so, and my honor comes before everything,” she affirmed.

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Algeria and Niger have agreed to “revive” their relations

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Algeria and Niger have agreed to “revive” their bilateral relations based on the principles of “good neighborliness, brotherhood, and friendship.” According to the official Algerian news agency, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune met with a delegation led by Niger’s Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine. The delegation was sent by Niger’s President, General Abdurrahmane Tchiani, head of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), and conveyed an important message to President Tebboune. Following their discussions, Algeria and Niger committed to restoring their relations on the foundation of “good neighborliness, brotherhood, and friendship.” Prime Minister Zeine highlighted that the relationship between the two countries had suffered due to the military coup that ousted former Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023. He remarked, “The relations, which were harmed by these events, needed to be revived. Niger regards Algeria as a brotherly, neighboring, and friendly nation, and it should have supported us from the very beginning of the threat. We felt the absence of this brother and neighbor.” Zeine also noted that the two nations have reaffirmed their commitment to each other’s sovereignty by addressing any issues in their relationship. After the coup, Algeria had called for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger but opposed the West African Economic Community’s (ECOWAS) proposed military intervention. Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf had previously visited Nigeria, Benin, and Ghana, urging them to “avoid using force against Niger.” Algerian state radio reported that on the day of the coup, Algeria refused to allow French warplanes to use its airspace for a potential military operation against Niger. The military regime, which took power under General Abdurrahmane Tchiani on July 26, 2023, announced in August 2023 that Bazoum would be tried for “high treason,” “financing terrorism,” and “conspiring against the state.” Bazoum and his wife Hadiza have been under house arrest since the coup.

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Algerian boxer Imane Khelif wins gold

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Algerian boxer Imane Khelif secured a gold medal on Friday at the Paris Olympics, triumphing in a challenging tournament marked by intense scrutiny and online abuse. Khelif, who faced misconceptions and attacks questioning her womanhood, defeated China’s Yang Liu 5:0 in the women’s welterweight final. The match took place at Roland Garros, where Khelif was cheered on by enthusiastic crowds waving Algerian flags. Following her victory, Khelif celebrated with her coaches and proudly displayed an Algerian flag. “For eight years, this has been my dream,” she said through an interpreter. “Despite the attacks, my success tastes even sweeter.” The scrutiny Khelif faced stemmed from controversies surrounding her eligibility and false claims about her gender. These issues began after the International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified her and another boxer, Li Yu-ting, from last year’s world championships, citing an unclear eligibility test. Khelif, who has competed in IBA events since 2018, responded to critics by emphasizing her authenticity. “I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born as a woman, I live as a woman, and I am qualified,” she asserted. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has since banned the IBA from the Olympics, criticizing its governance and sex testing practices. Despite the IBA’s tarnished reputation and amplified disinformation, Khelif excelled in Paris, winning every round in her matches. Khelif’s gold medal is Algeria’s first in women’s boxing and only the nation’s second overall, joining Hocine Soltani’s 1996 gold. The victory has made her a national hero, celebrated in Algeria with public screenings and murals. Her performance in Paris culminated a remarkable tournament, beginning with an unusual first bout where her opponent withdrew early due to injury. Khelif’s resilience and skill shone through, earning her the title of one of the best Olympic boxers. As Khelif enjoys her well-deserved accolade, the spotlight now shifts to Lin, who competes for Taiwan’s first boxing gold medal on Saturday.

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Algeria suspends flights to Lebanon amid regional tensions

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Algeria’s flag carrier Air Algerie said Thursday that it suspended its flights to and from Lebanon until further notice. The airline urged all customers to contact the company’s call centers for more information and updates. The national carrier did not provide a specific reason for the decision. However, it follows similar moves by other airlines, including Kuwait Airways, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines. The suspension comes amid rising tensions and the potential for a broader conflict between Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah group on one side and Israel on the other. It follows the assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr by Israel on Tuesday and accusations by the Palestinian group Hamas and Iran that Israel assassinated Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, in the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday. Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, the only airport in Lebanon, has previously been targeted during the country’s civil war from 1975 to 1989 and in past conflicts with Israel, most recently in the July 2006 war. Hamas and Iran have vowed to retaliate for Haniyeh’s assassination, while Hezbollah has pledged to respond to Shukr’s killing.  Meanwhile, international efforts are underway to de-escalate the situation and prevent the conflict from spreading further in the region. Fears have grown of a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid a months-long exchange of cross-border fire. The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli onslaught on Gaza which has killed nearly 39,500 people since last October following an attack by Hamas.

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