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Qatar Youth Hostels (QYH), in co-operation with Asjad Club and the Student Representative Council of the College of Arts and Sciences at Qatar University, organised the second session of the Youth Hostels Forum titled ‘Traveling Between Countries to Discover Humanity’.In this regard, Abdullah Saeed, Head of Public Relations and Communications at QYH, said: “After the success of the first session in the Youth Hostels Forum, we organised the second session in co-operation with Asjad Club and the Student Representative Council of the College of Arts and Sciences at Qatar University titled ‘Traveling Between Countries to Discover Humanity’ and the guest of the session was Dr Nasser Saqr al-Mohannadi.“We chose the doctor based on the great achievement he made as the first Qatari to visit 218 countries across the world in 40 years. During the session, the Qatari traveller Nasser al-Mohannadi shared with us his experiences, as well as the human, cultural and natural explorations and the importance of knowledge and cultural exchange between us and the world.”On the other hand, Adeeb al-Shabrami, President of Asjad Club and the Student Representative Council of the College of Arts and Sciences, said: “We are pleased with this first and successful co-operation with QYH. We always focus at Asjad Club on international topics, but this session is exceptional, especially since we learned about the cultural, civilizational and political experiences that the traveller Dr Nasser al-Mohannadi went through in every country he visited.“We have always learned that travel provides lessons in science and knowledge and exposure to other cultures that add to us as Qatari youth.”Saeed said: “We always aim at QYH to highlight the role of Qatari youth in all fields, especially tourism, in addition to supporting Qatari youth in all sectors, believing in their influence and successful leadership of events.”

HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani, Minister of Culture, and HE Dr Ahmed Fakak al-Badrani, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities of the Republic of Iraq, inaugurated on Thursday the activities of the Iraqi Cultural Week in Qatar, at the permanent headquarters of Darb al- Saai in Umm Salal, which will continue until February 9.The opening was attended by HE Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al Subaie, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Thani, Minister of Transport, and a number of ambassadors to the country and officials.On the occasion, Abdulrahman Abdullah al-Dulaimi, Director of the Department of Culture and Arts at the Ministry of Culture, said that the Iraqi Cultural Week comes within the framework of the cultural events programme that the ministry includes within its annual activities with brotherly and friendly countries, with the aim of strengthening cultural relations and cultural diplomacy.Al-Dulaimi explained that it represents an opportunity to explore the cultural and artistic diversity of Iraq, which combines ancient heritage and contemporary creativity, and reflects the strength of cultural relations between Qatar and Iraq, and the keenness of the Ministry of Culture to provide events that enrich the local cultural scene, and open new horizons for cultural dialogue and artistic exchange.The Director of the Department of Culture indicated that the Iraqi Cultural Week will present, throughout its days, an integrated cultural experience that reflects the authenticity of Iraqi arts, through musical performances, art exhibitions and traditional crafts that embody the rich heritage of Iraq, indicating that culture is one of the most important bridges of communication between peoples, and a platform for enhancing mutual understanding.The events of the first day witnessed musical performances and pieces by the Chalgi and the Baghdadi square, a performance by the Bashtabiya Heritage Band and the Iraqi Jubi Band, in addition to a concert by the National Band for Iraqi Musical Heritage led by Maestro Alaa Majeed on the main stage at Darb Al Saai. Tomorrow will witness folkloric heritage paintings by the National Band for Folk Arts, heritage performances by the Iraqi House of Fashion and the works of designer Alaa Al Saadoun, and a concert by the Al Khashab Basra Band.

On the occasion of their inaugural visit to Qatar, Albert 'Nino' Reyos, the Native American leader of the US Arts envoys, expressed his pride in donning the Qatari Bisht at a ceremony at Gulf Times Wednesday.“I will cherish it for the rest of my life”, Nino remarked after Gulf Times Editor-in-Chief, Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka draped the Bisht over his shoulders, during an exchange of cultural gifts.The leader of the American Indian arts envoys, Nino, was raised on the Ute reservation in Northeastern Utah. He is a member of both the Laguna Pueblo and Northern Ute Indian Nations.In an interview with Gulf Times, Nino said: “There are similarities between our culture and the Arab culture. We have our own ways of life, whether spiritual, traditions and history. I have noticed during our visit that you have similar strong traditions, ways of life, and history that goes back for generations. Also how you evolve into more modern ways of life and keep your traditions.”On the souvenirs that he will take with him, Nino said: “Of course, I would recommend my fellow people to visit Qatar, it was certainly an opportunity to learn and expand our knowledge and experience about the similarities as well as the differences of different people. To travel across the world allows one to understand the culture, the ways of life and the history of other people. It was really important to have this opportunity and to be able to visit Qatar.”Concerning the impression that they have experienced in their interaction with Qatari people, Nino said: “I will take with me a whole lot of knowledge, the people here are so welcoming, the interesting traditions, the friendship, the hospitality of the different organisations that we have visited, and the excitement of the young people whom we saw already learning about our ways of life. I will also take with me the understanding of other people’s excitement about learning about our culture as well as we want to learn about your culture.”The six Native American cultural ambassadors were equally excited and appreciative of their visit to Qatar. Representing multiple tribes including the Diné (Navajo), Ute, and Pueblo peoples, their week-long Qatar visit is concluding tomorrow (Friday).This ensemble brings together award-winning artists and cultural educators whose combined experience spans decades of preserving and sharing traditions through performance, music, art, and storytelling. The group includes recognied cultural leaders such as Miss Indian World 2024-2025, master flute performers, champion dancers, and respected craftsmen and women. Each member brings unique expertise in bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary presentation, creating meaningful cross-cultural exchanges that promote understanding and respect for Indigenous ways of life.

The Ministry of Culture has announced the launch of the Iraqi Cultural Week, which is being organised at the permanent headquarters of Darb Al Saai in Umm Salal, next Thursday.The Iraqi Cultural Week comes within the framework of enhancing bilateral cultural co-operation between Qatar and Iraq.There will be many activities from February 6-9 that highlight the richness and diversity of Iraqi cultural heritage, with the participation of an elite group of craftsmen and specialists from Iraq.The Iraqi Cultural Week offers a unique experience that allows members of the public to experience Iraqi heritage through daily artistic and theatrical performances, in addition to exhibitions of fine arts and traditional crafts.These activities are aimed at introducing the public to the different Iraqi cultures, enhance dialogue between cultures, and encourage cultural and artistic communication between creators from different countries.It also seeks to highlight local and international cultural and artistic heritage, and support talents in various creative fields.“The Iraqi Cultural Week comes within the framework of the ongoing efforts to enhance cultural diplomacy, and represents an opportunity to explore the cultural and artistic diversity of Iraq, which combines ancient heritage and contemporary creativity,” said Abdulrahman al-Dulaimi, the director of the Department of Culture and Arts at the ministry. “It also reflects the strength of cultural relations between Qatar and Iraq, and the Ministry of Culture’s keenness to present events that enrich the local cultural scene, and open new horizons for cultural dialogue and artistic exchange.”

Beit Al Sulaiti, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, hosted a cultural evening for members of the Tunisian community to expand the horizons of cultural communication and highlight the value of Tunisian heritage.The event, an initiative that reflects the depth of cultural relations between Qatar and Tunisia, is aimed at reviving the spirit of belonging to the homeland, highlight Tunisian cultural heritage, and introduce the community in Qatar to Tunisia’s cultural diversity.The evening witnessed a diverse and rich programme that celebrated Tunisian cultural heritage.The ceremony began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an, followed by a musical piece performed by student Maryam Yousfi.Poet Bilal Bouani presented the poem *In Love with Beloved Qatar, expressing feelings of gratitude and love for Qatar.This was followed with *Committed by poet Ali Attri, which carried intellectual and human dimensions in its meanings.The evening also witnessed a talk by Palestinian Dr Wael Shadid about the Palestinian cause.There was a poem by Shawqi Mashli in a distinctive recitation that reflects the brilliance of words and sincerity of feelings.The cultural evening for the sons of the Tunisian community included the anthem of the Tunisian School Choir in Doha in a lyrical performance on the beauty and love for the homeland.The Ministry of Culture organises cultural events targeting different age groups and works to support artists and intellectuals, encouraging creativity and innovation.

The Levant House pavilion at the Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) 2025 witnessed the signing ceremony of the book From the Qatari Theatre by Saud Ali al-Shammari.The book includes two theatrical texts, Lafeef and Ibn Maskeen.Al-Shammari said on the sidelines of the signing ceremony that this work is part of a series that he started in 2018 to document theatre scene in Qatar."This is the second book in the series, and it contains two theatrical texts, Lafeef is a new text, while Ibn Maskeen was inspired by the idea of the book Inspiration of the Pen,” he said. “The challenge for me was to transform the story into a dramatic theatrical text that can be performed on stage."“The text of Lafif revolves around an 80-year-old man who falls into a coma, and when he wakes up, he recalls his memories and reviews his entire life,” al-Shammari said. “Ibn Maskeen deals with a story inspired by Arabic literature, in an artistic experiment in an attempt to transform classical texts into a lively theatrical work."Theatre critic Dr Hassan Rashid, who wrote the introduction to the book, said: “I consider Saud al-Shammari my ‘son’, and my role as a critic is to support all young creators in Qatar, to prove that our country is not only an oil country, but has creative energies that communicate with thought and culture.”“This work delves into Islamic history and reflects the identity of Qatari theatre,” he added.Rashid stressed that al-Shammari’s participation in the CIBF 2025 is an important opportunity to present his creativity to a wide audience, considering that the exhibition represents a cultural platform of great value in the Arab world.

Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the activities and competitions of the 5th edition of the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival (KIAHF), organised by Katara Cultural Village in cooperation with the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club and the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation, kicked off Wednesday evening to continue until February 8. The first day of the festival at Katara witnessed the visit of a number of dignitaries and Their Excellencies the ambassadors accredited to the state, in addition to those interested and media professionals specialised in covering such events from inside and outside Qatar. The festival opened its competitions with the qualifiers for the Arabian Peninsula Purebred Arabian Horse Championship, which recorded the participation of 207 horses from 6 countries: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt, and will continue until February 1, 2025. While the second Arabian Horse Tour 2025 will start on February 5. 304 horses have been registered from the following countries: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Oman. It is worth noting that this championship, the Arabian Horse Championship, is sponsored by Nasser Bin Khaled Group as the diamond sponsor, Ali Bin Ali Luxury as the platinum sponsor, Ooredoo as the communications sponsor, Qatar Insurance Group as the exclusive insurance sponsor, Al Kass Channels as the official broadcaster, and social media sponsors Q-Minution and Socast. In the 1A yearling fillies category, "Qamaria", owned by Al Hamama Stud from Qatar, won first place, "Hamamat Al Salam", owned by Al Salam Stud, came in second place, and "JJ Majestica", owned by Al Nasser Stud, came in third place. In the 1B yearling fillies category, "Anhajiyyah Al Shaqab", owned by Al Shaqab, came in first place, "Mayassa Al Zain", owned by Dr. Bashar Al Sayed, came in second place, and "Al Jawhara Abhar", owned by Abhar Stud, came in third place. In the A4 category for yearling colts, Saif Al Wadi, owned by Al Wadi Stud, came in second place, Ragheed Al Saree’, owned by Al Saree’ Stud, came in third, and Lamah Afaq, owned by Mohammed Al Nuaimi, came in third. In the 4B yearling colts category, De Saden, owned by Dubai Arabian Horse Stud in the UAE, came in first, Ibn Al Naif, owned by Al Naif Stud, came in second, and Al Rayyan Al Ataq, owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, came in third. The championship competitions continue Thursday with the competitions for two-year-old fillies, three-year-old fillies, two-year-old colts, and three-year-old colts. The Arabian Peninsula Purebred Horse Championship witnesses the participation of 14 judges, 9 of whom are on the ground for the qualifying categories and 11 on the ground for the championships. The electronic scoring system evaluates horses based on 5 criteria: type, head, neck, body, legs, and movement. The championship follows arbitration systems according to fixed standards and clear rules recognized globally by the International Association of Athletics Federations (EAHO) and the Blue Book rules. In addition, the arbitrators must be highly qualified and have extensive experience, as they are carefully selected by the organization, in order to ensure the integrity of the competitions, maintain the structure of the championship, and deepen its spread. The Public Institution Katara Cultural Village on Wednesday inaugurated a mural of the mare "Kaya", which won the title of champion of horse beauty competitions, on the facade of Building No. 16 in Katara. This mural was created by the international artist Fintan Scott Magee, who excelled in embodying the beauty and grace of purebred Arabian horses in an artistic style that reflects the spirit of equestrianism and the antiquity of Arabian horse breeds. Prof. Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al Sulaiti, General Manager of the Cultural Village Foundation, stressed that this mural constitutes a qualitative addition to the cultural and artistic scene in Katara, as it reflects the status of the Arabian horse in the Qatari heritage, and enhances Katara's role as a leading destination in celebrating art and culture.

The "Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding", in cooperation with the Qatar Press Center (QPC), organised a ceremony to honour the partners of success from media and cultural institutions. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the launch of the award, the ceremony witnessed the attendance of the award's media team, officials from the Qatar Press Center, in addition to officials from media and cultural institutions, and representatives of local media and press.Dr Hanan al Fayyadh, the official spokesperson and media advisor for the award, said: “This day bears a distinctive mark in our journey of achievement. Last December, we celebrated the honouring of the winners of the "Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding", and we said at the time that we had spent a full decade of achievement. Today, we stand to confirm that our success was not an individual act, but rather the fruit of an extended partnership, created by the media institutions that were the extended hand to us. And the partners of success who contributed to us occupying the first place in the world in the field of translation.Praising the media institutions themselves, which led the award with its legitimate conditions that we move from being just an idea and an award that honours the translator to being a platform under which all translators and even some intellectuals who are interested in translation work will remain.Saad Al-Rumaihi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Press Center, said: Today, we stand with respect and appreciation before an award that bears a name dear to all our hearts, which is the name of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, may God protect him, who has written throughout his career bright pages of giving to his country and the Arab and Islamic nation. He added: The Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding is one of the pillars of the cultural renaissance adopted by Qatar, under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. It is an award that transcends borders, transferring sciences and knowledge from all languages of the world to Arabic and vice versa, in a cultural and humanitarian project that enriches the mind and brings peoples closer.Al-Rumaihi praised the award's media team that travels the world to communicate with scholars, thinkers and writers, and quotes from their cultural treasure, to translate and transmit it to us. Pointing out that this work requires creativity and honesty, because translation is building a solid bridge between two languages and cultures, so that the spirit and originality of the text are transmitted smoothly and beautifully. Al-Rumaihi concluded by saying: We need more efforts that highlight the importance of translation as a means of transferring knowledge and linking cultures, especially since foreign sources, such as international news, are characterized by depth and comprehensiveness. Translators must be innovative and accurate to give the Arab reader a rich cultural experience that matches the original text.Dr Emtenan al-Samadi, a member of the award’s media team, said: “I am honoured to stand before you as we celebrate a decade of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, this pioneering idea that has provided the highest meanings of appreciation to those who have shouldered the mission of conveying human thought and translating it into the world’s different languages.The ceremony concluded with the distribution of commemorative shields and certificates of appreciation to Qatari media outlets as the partners and contributors to the success of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding. This honour came in appreciation of their distinguished efforts in supporting the award's message, and enhancing its role as a global platform for spreading knowledge and building bridges of communication between cultures. And as a culmination of a journey of joint work and giving, as it reflected the values of gratitude and recognition of the efforts that contributed to transforming the award into an international beacon in the world of translation, and a space that brings together thought and humanity.

The Qatar Press Center (QPC) has hosted a press conference to announce the participation and the date of the ceremony to honour the winners of the Arabic Book Award.The annual award based in Doha, aims to honour researchers, publishing houses, and institutions contributing to the Arabic book industry.The press conference, which was held at the QPC, announced that the ceremony to honour the winners of the Arabic Book Award will be held on Feb 8.The conference was attended by Abdullah bin Hayi al-Sulaiti, vice-chairman of the board of directors; Abdulrahman al-Marri, media adviser to the award; Abdulwahid al-Alami, executive director of the award; a group of writers and those interested in cultural affairs. Abdulrahman al-Marri praised the fruitful co-operation between the award and the QPC, which was embodied in the signing of a co-operation agreement in May of last year.He said: “The joint co-operation between the two parties is a qualitative step towards enhancing the media and cultural presence of the award, which contributes to highlighting its goals and message on a wider scale.”Al-Marri stressed that the QPC is a strategic partner in supporting cultural and media initiatives, noting that activating the agreement enhances the impact of the award on the Arab cultural scene.Al-Marri presented a comprehensive summary of the achievements of the award and its cultural role during its founding session, noting that the award took a long time of planning, meetings and brainstorming to crystallise its vision and cultural message.He said: “The founding team succeeded in formulating a vision aimed at supporting the Arab book in specific fields of knowledge, contributing to enriching the library and Arab societies.”He explained that the award, which will honour the winners on February 8, aims to contribute to enriching the Arab library. By encouraging individuals and institutions to provide the best knowledge production in the social and human sciences, honouring serious studies and introducing them and praising the efforts of their owners. In addition, it supports leading publishing houses, to improve the quality of the Arabic book in form and content. He pointed out that the award consists of five fields of knowledge within two main frameworks: social and human sciences, religious and legal sciences, and includes the categories of the single book and remarkable achievement.

The third Annual Palestine Forum concluded in Doha Monday. The three-day forum hosted Palestinian and non-Palestinian researchers from around the world who presented research on topics related to Palestine, the war of extermination, its effects and repercussions.The forum dealt with history of Palestine, the Palestinian cause, the apartheid system and settler colonialism, Palestine in Arab relations, Palestine in international relations, and other related issues.In addition to presenting 93 peer-reviewed scientific papers distributed over seven sessions, each containing four parallel tracks, the forum included three public seminars distributed over the days of the forum, and a closed workshop that included three roundtables, in which a number of prominent academics and political activists participated.___________________________________Read also:Call to focus Gaza reconstruction on human well-being, socio-spatial recovery___________________________________The sixth session of the forum was held in four parallel sub-tracks. The first track was titled “Collective Memory between the Nakba and the War of Genocide”, the second track was “Genocide, Settler Colonialism and Apartheid”, the third track was titled “The Annihilation of Education in the Gaza Strip (2)”, the fourth track was “Transformations in Society and State in Israel in Light of the War of Extermination on the Gaza Strip”.The seventh session of the forum was held in three parallel sub-tracks and was organised by the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS). The first track was titled “The Economic Impact of Settlements in the West Bank”, the second track was “Gaza after the Aggression: A Future Perspective”, the third track was “On the Palestinian Economy and its Implications”.A workshop was also held on the Gaza Strip under Hamas rule between 2007-2023, consisting of three roundtables, with the participation of a group of researchers, experts, activists, and media professionals.In conclusion, the forum organised a general symposium titled “The Israeli Aggression on Gaza: Scenarios for the Post-War of Extermination” chaired by Lord Habash. Ali Shaath, Aid Yaghi, Hani Al-Masri, and Tariq Hamoud spoke about several scenarios for the post-war of extermination and the future of Gaza, addressing political options, their dimensions, and the regional impact on the future of Gaza, as well as the strategies required to enhance Palestinian steadfastness in the face of Israeli displacement plans. The symposium also addressed American and Israeli projects for the day after in Gaza, as well as the future of Hamas. This was followed by a rich discussion in which academics, journalists, and activists participated, addressing a number of issues and questions about the expected scenarios for the post-war of extermination in Gaza.The forum concluded with closing remarks presented by Ayat Hamdan, the forum co-ordinator, expressing the forum’s co-ordination committee’s thanks to all participating academics, experts and activists, as well as the various teams that contributed to the success of the third session of the forum, including researchers at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies and the Institute for Palestine Studies.

Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the Annual Palestine Forum in Doha Monday, Dr Sahera Bleibleh, an associate professor at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in Al Ain, UAE, commented on the needs for Gaza reconstruction. “It is really very critical at this point, people need homes, and they should be housed. They require fundamental needs, like food, shelter and security or safety. Providing this, requires very quick emergency plans. We need to think on how to provide the temporary hubs and shelters, with decent temporary infrastructure, that provide a hygienic environment, decent living and basics for them to feel that they are gaining back their dignity, their well-being and they can start somewhere,” said Dr. Bleibleh who specialises in architecture, urban design, and planning.In her presentation at the forum titled “Healing urbanism:Sustainable planning towards recovery and resilience in the Gaza Strip”, which Bleibleh co-authored with Dr Maha Samman where they focused on the Gaza strip under prolonged siege and urbicidal attacks, employing a qualitative approach, proposing a theoretical framework integrating post-war reconstruction and healing mechanisms. It suggests a three-layered process emphasising community well-being, spatial recovery, and collaborative governance involving stakeholders, grassroots participation, and socio-economic challenges. This framework guides urban policies and strategies, prioritising interventions based on community needs, securing resources, and ensuring sustainable recovery. By engaging people in the post-war reconstruction process, healing urbanism promotes empowerment, ownership, and long-term resilience, rebuilding both the physical and social fabric for a sustainable urban future.____________________________________Read also:Annual Palestine Forum concludes in Doha____________________________________Dr. Bleibleh was also recently nominated as an international fellow by Stanford Humanities Center. Her research examines colonial contexts, urbicide, and socio-spatial resilience. Supported by grants from prominent institutions, her work on urban violence and community resilience has been published internationally and presented at global conferences.Dr. Bleibleh added: “So far the people of Gaza have been taking care of themselves, they have been left alone. Building on the lessons that they have been teaching us, and learning themselves as well as surprising themselves actually, “the need is the mother of invention”. There is no ready recipe for this, but working hand in hand with the community, acknowledging what they have been going through, and taking all the psychological aspects in consideration will help them feel that they are a big community, that they are taken care of. We want them to stay, nobody wants to leave home, for home is the essence of our identity. This home needs to resemble also the sense of identity, sense of culture, and all the memories. All this will not come immediately, but it needs to be acknowledged. The acknowledgement is what makes people feel that they are not left alone. What about the people who are left without families and without homes, are not we supposed to take care of them as well. We have in our culture and practices, the communal habits, we make “Takia” (charity home), Zakat, we make food for all, we saw amazing examples during what has been happening. This will continue to happen because it is embodied with us,” Bleibleh said.

Naveen Shariff is a public health researcher on a maternal health project in Pakistan, with extensive experience in both primary and secondary quantitative research. Her academic and professional interests span security, migration, post colonialism, regionalism, gender studies, and public health, with a focus on South Asia and the Middle East. Speaking to Gulf Times on the sideline of the third annual Palestine Forum, Shariff said, “I investigated the impact of live coverage of the genocide on social media and its impact on social identity of the global youth. I have been observing throughout the genocide that there is a lot of information that has been shared and it seems that there is a change in the tide. A lot of people are seeing the Palestinian side as well, and bringing pro-Palestinian prospective. So, this research seeks to understand this impact on the collective identity of global youth. It analyses the religious, political and national dimensions of their social identity, and answers important questions about the role of youth in mobilising social media for their benefit in navigating through a genocide. Data was collected from 77 respondents from 16 countries.” On the outcome of this research, Shariff added: “This research revealed that different aspects of youth social identity have been influenced by the genocide, primarily religious identity, followed by political identity. Additionally, it highlighted that different motivations can consolidate and result in a shared devotion to the Palestinian cause. Moreover, they view social media favourably despite expressing sadness, anger, and helplessness. They also feel a strong sense of responsibility to advocate for meaningful change both on the Palestinian and global front.” Naveen Shariff also presented during the second day of the forum a paper answering the question: “How does the ongoing coverage of the genocide in Gaza affect the collective identity of global youth on social media?”

The third annual Palestine Forum, organised by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in cooperation with the Institute for Palestine Studies, continued on its second day on Sunday. The activities were held in three sessions, each of which included four parallel tracks and a general symposium.The first session was held in four parallel sub-tracks. The first track was titled “Frames for Liberation”, the second track, “The Extermination of Education in the Gaza Strip (1)”, the third track, “Symbolic Representation of Palestinian Resistance”, the fourth track discussed “Jerusalem and the Policies of Erasure and Resistance”.The second session was held in four parallel tracks as well. The first track, “Palestinian Arabs in Israel and the Question of Citizenship”, the second track, “Palestinian Women in the Time of Genocide”, the third track was “Settlement in the West Bank”, the fourth track was “Tools of the Genocidal War on Gaza”.The third session was held in four parallel tracks. The first track was “Palestinian Refugees and the Right of Return: Memory and Place”, the second track, “Symbolic Representation of Palestinian Resistance: Literature, Education, and Popular Culture”, the third track, “Palestinian Youth and Digital Activism”, the fourth track was titled “The War on the West Bank and the Mechanisms of Colonial Control”.The second day of the forum concluded with a general symposium titled “Trump’s policy towards the Palestinian Cause in his second term: What Prospects?”The Palestine Forum will conclude Monday, in a similar parallel format; four tracks will be held in the first session, and three tracks in the second session. A general symposium titled "The Israeli aggression on Gaza: Scenarios after the genocidal war." A closed workshop will also be held tomorrow, extending throughout the day, entitled "Gaza under Hamas rule (2007-2023)."

An associate professor and filmmaker in the media studies programme at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies has expressed the hope that the Third Annual Palestine Forum is going to help educate the public and give them a better understanding of the Palestinian condition. Speaking to 'Gulf Times' on the sidelines of the forum, Dr Imad Ben Labidi said, "the incredibly long occupation of Palestine that has been constantly described as conflict is clearly bloody and almost genocidal. It is a very violent event, and it has to be described in those terms. So, we need to change some of the semantics, where things should be described as they are."Dr Ben Labidi who discussed “Unchilding Palestine: Media Representation and the Limits of Civilizational Discourse,” during the the first session of the forum, said: "A conflict in my opinion is confusing, it does not describe the real conditions on the ground. So, what we are doing in this event, is going to approach some of these problems, either on the linguistic level, or in terms of representation, in terms of images. Also, in terms of textuality and how many of the images and the narratives that are kept produced and intersect to confuse the viewers, audiences, to confuse Americans in particular, most of whom do not really understand how long and how bloody this occupation has been."Settler colonialism is probably one of the longest and the bloodiest experience in human history as we see it in occupied Palestine. What it tries to do, is really completely uproot the indigenous population and replace them with settlers and entities that do not really belong in Palestine.”With relevance to the impact of the intended approach, Dr Ben Labidi added: “We have been trying constantly to influence the western narrative more, educate them about certain aspects that do not seem to be clearly understood. Or challenge this discourse that is completely confusing about the reality of settler colonialism, in a way that it does not really try to include the native. That does not try to live with the native, but it tries to completely eliminate the native.”Dr Ben Labidi's most recent film, 'Alma Under the Rubble' (2024) received the Best Short Animation Award in the Hollywood Golden Age Film Festival.

The Third Annual Palestine Forum kicked off Saturday in Doha, in the presence of HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani, Minister of Culture, HE Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad, Minister of State for International Cooperation, HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a number of ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions.Organised by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in cooperation with the Institute for Palestine Studies, the forum will conclude on January 27.The forum is one of the most prominent annual academic events that brings together a group of the most prominent specialists and researchers in the Palestinian cause from all over the Arab world and the world at large, to discuss the most prominent Palestinian issues, and emphasise the importance of this issue and its centrality at the Arab and international levels.The convening of the current session at this historical moment is of critical importance, because the war of extermination that took place is unparalleled in modern Palestinian history, and is the most far-reaching in terms of the killing, destruction and displacement that befell the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.The forum comprises seven sessions, each of which contains four parallel tracks, and includes three public seminars distributed over the days of the forum, plus a closed workshop on the third day, that would address the various dimensions of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and the challenges facing the Palestinian national project.Ayat Hamdan, the forum coordinator and researcher at the Arab Center, began the first day with an opening session in which she spoke about the importance of holding this session in light of the complex political circumstances experienced by the Palestinian people.Tarek Mitri, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Palestine Studies, in opening remarks emphasized the importance of the meeting for dialogue and reflection. He pointed out that this meeting comes after the ceasefire came into effect, while pointing to the fears that have not dissipated in Gaza or the West Bank, and because the Israeli aggression has not subsided. Mitri stressed that "we have the right to fear because what the American government has taken from Israel in the Gaza Strip, it is giving it back by allowing a free hand in the West Bank".He said that it is no longer possible to hide the Palestinian people from the world’s field of vision, and that the conflict is no longer a local one that can be ignored or used as a sterile refrain in speeches that lead nowhere. He spoke about the work of the Institute for Palestine Studies in documenting the war of extermination in the fields of education, health, culture, and agriculture; to declare the truth as an immortal right.Azmi Bishara, Director General of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, delivered the opening lecture of the forum. He discussed the challenges facing Palestinians everywhere, especially in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the effects of the war of extermination, and how to deal with them to prevent the success of the Israeli vision of transforming its current predicament, resulting from its practice of genocide and the establishment of an apartheid system, into a purely Palestinian predicament. He stressed the importance of unifying the Palestinian ranks under a comprehensive national umbrella to take control of matters and translate international and Arab solidarity into political action; otherwise the Palestinian cause will be moving in a tunnel at the end of which there is no light.The first session was held in four parallel tracks. The first track, “International Law and the War of Genocide on Gaza”, the second track, “The War of Genocide on Gaza and Cultural and Material Destruction”, the third track, “The Aggression on Gaza in the Arab Media.” The second session was also held in four parallel tracks. The first track was “Stations in Palestinian History from the Nineteenth Century to the Nakba.” The second track included “The Israeli Prison System: Experiences and Critical Visions.” The third track, “Palestine and Global and Arab Solidarity.” The fourth track was on “Gaza and the ‘Butterfly Effect’: The Impact of the Israeli War on Gaza on the Regional and International Systems.”At the end of the first day, the forum organised a general symposium titled “The War on Gaza and the Fronts of Support for Palestine.” The Forum will continue in a similar format, with sessions held in parallel tracks. Two public seminars will be held on the second and third days respectively: “Trump’s Policy in His Second Term towards the Palestinian Issue: What Prospects?” and “The Israeli Aggression on Gaza: Scenarios after the War of Extermination.” On the third day, a closed workshop will be held entitled “Gaza under Hamas Rule (2007-2023).”

The regional two-day conference “Memory in Heritage: Enhancing Co-operation on Documentary Heritage in the Arab Region” organised by the Qatar National Archives in co-operation with Unesco concluded yesterday. The conference kicked off in Doha on Tuesday in the presence of HE Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Qatar National Archives, and HE Ibrahim bin Ali al-Mohannadi, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs. The second day of the conference witnessed continued intensive discussions on key issues related to the preservation of documentary heritage in the Arab world. The events were opened with a welcoming speech by Secretary-General of the Qatar National Archives Dr Ahmed al-Buainain, who stressed the importance of joint dialogue between Arab countries and enhancing cooperation to achieve common regional goals. The day included a comprehensive presentation by Heidi Mirza from the Unesco Office for Egypt and Sudan, reviewing the most important previous achievements and defining the objectives of the final day. Participants discussed the challenges facing the Arab region in enhancing its representation on the Memory of the World Register, with Ming Kok Lim from the Unesco Office in Rabat highlighting the steps required to submit successful proposals that reflect Arab cultural diversity. The closing session announced the establishment of the Memory of the World Committee for the Arab Region (MoWCAR) to coordinate efforts in safeguarding heritage and raising its global profile. Dr al-Buainain was elected Chairman of the Memory of the World Committee for the Arab region, after Qatar received 15 votes out of 17, reflecting the great confidence that the Arab world places in Qatar to lead this important initiative. He said: “We are proud and honoured to be assigned to chair the Memory of the World Committee for the Arab region. We are fully aware of the importance of this role and the responsibilities it carries in building a strong regional system concerned with preserving our rich documentary heritage and consolidating its position at the regional and international levels. “We will continue to work hard and sincerely to ensure that the committee becomes an effective platform that enhances cooperation between Arab countries and unifies efforts towards enabling documentary heritage to achieve a distinguished global presence. This assignment represents an exceptional opportunity to consolidate Qatar’s position as a pioneer in this field, and to enhance joint efforts to achieve a future vision that ensures the sustainability of our legacy for future generations.” The conference concluded with a series of strategic recommendations. The participants stressed the importance of supporting digitisation projects as a pivotal tool for preserving documents and ensuring easy access to them, with a focus on employing modern technology to achieve this vital goal. They also stressed the need to enhance Arab nominations for the Memory of the World Register by submitting strong files that reflect the cultural diversity of the region, ensuring a distinguished representation of Arab heritage at the global level. The recommendations also included developing joint training programmes that contribute to building local capacities and enhancing the exchange of expertise between Arab countries in the field of preserving documentary heritage. The recommendations represent a roadmap to enhance joint efforts between Arab countries, ensuring the protection and sustainability of documentary heritage for future generations. Dr al-Buainain expressed his gratitude to Unesco for its continuous support for this initiative, and commended the participants from various Arab countries for their effective role in making the conference a success and enriching the discussions.

The "Searching for Life" exhibition by cartoonist Salman al-Malik has opened at the headquarters of the Qatar Press Center (QPC) in the presence of a number of artists, cartoonists and the public.In a press statement, al-Malik - one of the most prominent visual artists and cartoonists in Qatar - praised the QPC for hosting the exhibition. It coincides with the publication of a book bearing the same title "Searching for Life", which includes his career and biography, and some of the cartoon drawings published in daily and weekly newspapers.Al-Malik said the exhibition reflects important local and global societal issues, and includes more than 250 cartoons that document his creative career, and touch on various topics, such as the Palestinian issue, high prices, loans, high school fees, and excavations."It is the first individual cartoon exhibition that I have held after a series of previous exhibitions, and it is the culmination of a career spanning more than 35 years in the field of caricature art," he saidAl-Malik pointed out that 75% of his drawings deal with local social issues, while the remaining deal with international and regional issues, which reflects the balance between the two axes: local and global.Saad bin Mohamed al-Rumaihi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the QPC, said: “The art of caricature is one of the most important tools of expression that contributes to shedding light on urgent societal issues in an innovative and satirical way. It is a unique means of communicating with society, and drawing the attention of officials to many existing problems. It has an exceptional ability to convey messages directly and briefly, which makes it an integral part of journalism, and an effective tool for driving the wheel of change.”Al-Rumaihi pointed out in his speech that many of the works of al-Malik have contributed to making a tangible impact in addressing some societal phenomena. Thanks to his innovative way of addressing issues, which provokes thought and pushes the concerned parties to take action.Al-Rumaihi stressed that the exhibition, which runs until Jan 26, represents a living model of the role of art in serving society, stressing the importance of supporting these initiatives to raise awareness and shed light on issues of concern to citizens.

The regional conference 'Memory in Heritage: Enhancing Cooperation on Documentary Heritage in the Arab Region" kicked off in Doha on Wednesday. Organised by the Qatar National Archives in co-operation with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), the two-day conference is being held at the Sheraton Hotel in the presence of HE Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Qatar National Archives, and HE Ibrahim bin Ali al-Mohannadi, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs. The conference was also attended by other dignitaries and a group of senior figures from the GCC and regional countries.In the opening speech, Dr Ahmed Abdullah al-Buainain, Secretary-General of the Qatar National Archives, said: “Documentary heritage is not just documents preserved in archives, but rather a living record of our identity and history. Our responsibility today is not only to preserve it, but to transform it into a cognitive tool that contributes to facing the challenges of the era, while ensuring its sustainability for future generations.”Al-Buainain added: “We at the Qatar National Archives are committed to using the latest digital technologies, such as AI and digitisation, to improve archiving processes and protect documents from damage. We also seek to be a leading centre in the digital transformation of national and Arab archives, in co-operation with our regional and international partners.”Salah Khaled, Unesco Representative for the Gulf States and Yemen and Director of the Unesco Office in Doha, praised the role of the Qatar National Archives and its team in organising the event. Stressing that the Arab region is rich in a unique documentary heritage that bears witness to the human civilisations that emerged and developed in this region.He reviewed prominent historical examples of the richness of Arab heritage, such as the Ashur Library in Iraq, and the historical universities in Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt, in addition to great archaeological documentary discoveries such as the Sana’a manuscripts and the Epic of Gilgamesh.Khaled stressed that protecting the Arab documentary heritage is a fundamental task not only for documenting the past, but also for building bridges of communication between generations and promoting global cultural dialogue. However, he drew attention to the weak representation of the Arab documentary heritage in the Memory of the World Register, where it constitutes only 5% of the total register, which calls for urgent action to enhance cooperative efforts and increase attention to the importance of this heritage.Ali al-Maarefi, Secretary-General of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, stressed that the conference constitutes an important platform for unifying efforts and enhancing regional co-operation to preserve documentary heritage, which is an integral part of the cultural and historical identity of the Arab peoples. He explained that this event reflects Qatar’s commitment to supporting cultural and educational efforts, regionally and internationally, in a way that contributes to strengthening ties between the peoples of the region.The first day of the conference witnessed intensive dialogue sessions that addressed pivotal issues in protecting documentary heritage. The first session, titled 'The State of Documentary Heritage in the Arab Region', was attended by Faxon Banda, Head of the Documentary Heritage Unit at Unesco, who gave a presentation on the challenges facing Arab documentary heritage, such as the weak Arab representation in the international register of the Memory of the World Programme. Banda stressed the need to enhance regional co-operation to document heritage and highlight it at the global level.The second session addressed 'The Risks of Climate Change on Documentary Heritage'. The speakers discussed the impact of climate change and natural disasters on historical documents, and called for the adoption of regional strategies to improve preservation conditions and enhance digitisation.The third session focused on 'Protecting Documentary Heritage in Conflict Zones'. Speakers from Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan and Iraq participated in the session, where they presented their experiences in documenting and protecting historical documents during conflicts.The first day concluded with a session on 'The Importance of Digitization in Protecting Documentary Heritage'. The speakers also discussed the challenges of digitisation, such as the lack of resources and technical expertise.On the sidelines of the conference Heidi Mirza, Unesco Cairo Office, said in a statement to 'Gulf Times': “Unesco aims to develop national committees, in every country, that has a field office. These national committees are responsible for prioritising, identifying the documentary heritage that are in dire situation, so that they can be prioritised for digitisation, preservation, and to keep them safe in proper storage conditions. The aim of this conference is to bring all these national committees from the Arab region, and Unesco partners to be able to prioritise and understand which documentary heritage is in most need to be submitted to Unesco and be registered as part of the memory of the world.”The conference was accompanied by an exhibition that reflected the beauty and richness of the Arab documentary heritage. It included a collection of manuscripts, photos and documents that shed light on the history of the region.The second day of the conference will focus on establishing a regional committee for the Memory of the World Programme with the aim of enhancing Arab representation in the Memory of the World Register.