BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar aims for 25% Al-Attiyah wins electric public third leg to inch transport by 2022: closer towards USQBC Andalucia title published in QATAR since 1978 SUNDAY Vol. XXXXII No. 11915 May 16, 2021 Shawwal 4, 1442 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Al Jazeera condemns Israel’s FM meets Hamas chief; reaffi rms Qatar’s fi rm destruction of its Gaza offi ces support for Palestinians l Jazeera has condemned in the actions,” the statement said. and to hold the government of Israel strongest terms bombing and Residents and occupants of Al Jalaa accountable for deliberately targeting AP ‘shocked and Adestruction of its offi ces by the building, which houses Al Jazeera’s journalists and media institutions.” horrified’ by attack Israeli military in Gaza. offi ces along with other major inter- Commenting on the bombing of In a statement, the Doha-based national media outlets, such as AP, Al Jalaa building, Dr Mostefa Souag, The Associated Press said it was news network said it views this as a and Middle East Eye, were informed Acting Director General of Al Jazeera “shocked and horrified” by the clear act to stop journalists from con- by the Israeli army via a phone call Media Network said: “We call on the Israeli airstrike that destroyed ducting their sacred duty to inform that they had less than one hour to va- international community to condemn a building housing the US news the world and report events on the cate the building. such barbaric actions and targeting of agency’s Gaza bureau and those ground. “Al Jazeera vows to pursue “Al Jazeera calls on all media and journalists and we demand an imme- of other international news every available route to hold the Is- human right institutions to join forces diate international action to hold Israel media. “This is an incredibly raeli government responsible for its in denouncing these ruthless bombing accountable for its deliberate targeting disturbing development. We narrowly avoided a terrible loss of life,” AP President and CEO Gary Pruitt said in a statement about the attack on the building, which also housed Qatar-based Al Jazeera. A dozen AP journalists and freelancers had been in the building but were able to evacuate, Pruitt said. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs holding talks with Dr Haniya in Doha yesterday. of journalists and the media institu- E the Deputy Prime Minister rejecting these attacks and renewed tions.” and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Qatar’s standing by the Palestinian Dr Souag further said: “The aim of HSheikh Mohamed bin Abdul- brothers and its categorical rejection of this heinous crime is to silence the rahman al-Thani met yesterday with violating the Islamic holy sites. media and to hide the untold carnage the Head of the Political Bureau of the The minister stressed the need for and suff ering of the people of Gaza. Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) the international community to act “The destruction of Al Jazeera of- Dr Ismail Haniya, who is currently vis- urgently to stop the repeated brutal fi ces and that of other media organi- iting the country. Israeli attacks against civilians in Gaza sations in Al Jalaa tower in Gaza is a During the meeting, they discussed and the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque. blatant violation of human rights and the recent Israeli attacks, the events of For his part, Dr Haniya appreciated is internationally considered a war Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, the at- the position of Qatar, the government crime. We call on all media and hu- tacks on worshippers in Al Quds, and and people, on the Palestinian issue, man rights institutions in denouncing the recent attack on the besieged Gaza especially in latest events, stressing the this heinous crime, and to stand with Strip. importance of this role and the impor- Al Jazeera and other media organisa- During the meeting, HE the Deputy tance of a unifi ed Arab position at this tions targeted by the Israeli army, de- Prime Minister and Minister of For- important moment in the history of the spite knowing their use of the building eign Aff airs affi rmed Qatar’s position Palestinian people’s struggle. (QNA) as their headquarters for many years.” Al Jazeera promises its audience to FM discusses Palestine with German continue its coverage and to uncover the truth on what is happening in and Indonesian counterparts Gaza, the Palestinian Territories and in Israel, regardless of the suppression HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed attempts. The assault on the building bin Abdulrahman al-Thani received yesterday a phone call from German Foreign hosting international media institu- Minister Heiko Maas. During the call, they reviewed bilateral co-operation relations tions aims to silence the truth by kill- and developments in Palestine. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of ing the messenger, the statement said. Foreign Aff airs also received a phone call from Indonesian Foreign Minister “Journalism is not a crime,” it added. Retno Marsudi. During the call, they reviewed bilateral cooperation relations and The al-Jalaa building housing Al Jazeera and Associated Press media off ices is hit by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, yesterday. Pages 4, 5, 6 developments in Palestine. (QNA) Amir, Deputy Amir congratulate Israel-Hamas conflict rages;145 die in Gaza Paraguayan president Israel pounded Gaza yesterday, destroying a tower block Doha rally highlights big that housed news media organisations, while Palestinian His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim rocket salvoes hit Tel Aviv with no sign of an end to almost a bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday a week of fighting. support for Palestinians cable of congratulations to President Palestinians say at least 145 people, including 41 children, of the Republic of Paraguay Mario have been killed in Gaza since the conflict erupted on Abdo Benitez on the occasion of his Monday. Israel has reported 10 dead, including two children. large number of people belong- country’s Independence Day. His Israel’s military brought down a 12-storey block in Gaza ing to diff erent nationalities and Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh City that housed the US Associated Press and Qatar-based A walks of life attended a meet- Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani also Al Jazeera media operations, as well as other off ices and ing organised to show solidarity to the sent a cable of congratulations to the apartments. Palestinian cause yesterday evening in Paraguayan president . (QNA) Israel gave advance warning of the strike so the building could Doha, amid the ongoing Israeli bomb- be evacuated. The Israeli military said later it was a legitimate ing of Gaza which has claimed more QU graduation military target because it contained military assets of Hamas, than 140 lives. on May 30, 31 the Islamist group that runs Gaza. Held in front of the State Mosque (Imam The strike was condemned by the AP and Al Jazeera. Journalists sit on the rubble of Jalaa Tower, which was Muhammad bin Abdulwahab Mosque), Under the patronage of His Highness The United States told Israel “that ensuring the safety flattened in an Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip yesterday. the participants at the pro-Palestine the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad and security of journalists and independent media is a The 13-floor building housed Al Jazeera and American demonstration were seen waving the fl ags al-Thani, Qatar University (QU) will paramount responsibility,” White House Press Secretary Jen news agency off ices. of Qatar, Palestine and their respective celebrate the graduation of the 43rd Psaki said. countries, shouting slogans stressing their batch of male students (Class of 2020) US President Joe Biden later spoke to both Israeli Prime The White House said Biden updated Netanyahu on “high- full support for the people of Palestine on May 30, 2021. The ceremony for Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President level” contacts with regional partners to restore calm, and and their love and readiness to sacrifi ce for the distinguished female students Mahmoud Abbas to urge calm. raised concerns about the safety of journalists. Al Aqsa Mosque. To Page 12 Dr Haniya addressing the Doha meeting. will be held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim al-Thani, Consort of the Amir, on May 31, Parents can register 2021. Attendance will be limited to children from today graduates and the organisers of the More than 2mn Covid vaccine ceremony while observing social Parents will be able to register distancing. The total number of their children, aged 12-15 years, to graduates of this batch is 3,188 (2,455 doses given in Qatar so far take the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine females and 733 males). Page 2 through the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) website (www. QRCS allocates he National Cov- the start of the programme, moph.gov.qa) from today, after $1mn to Palestine id-19 Vaccina- and 1,177,725 people have which they will be contacted Ttion Programme received at least one dose by the Primary Health Care Qatar Red Crescent Society announced reached another mile- of the vaccine. Corporation. Off ering the vaccine the allocation of $1mn, in response stone as the Ministry of Some 25,270 vaccine to 12-15-year-olds in Qatar will to the recent events in Palestine and Public Health (MoPH) doses were administered help ensure a return to greater to provide the most basic needs at yesterday announced that in the past 24 hours, the normalcy when the school year the present time.