tag

The Shura Council convened its weekly routine session in Tamim bin Hamad Hall at the council's headquarters Monday. The session was chaired by His Excellency Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim. As the session began, the council expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli assault that has been targeting the State of Qatar's territory with ballistic missiles and drones since last Saturday.It considered this assault a blatant violation of national sovereignty and a menacing escalation that undermines the security and stability of the region, runs contrary to the principles of good neighbourliness, and contravenes the international rules-based order and the UN Charter. The council commended the efforts undertaken by the Ministries of Defence, Interior, and Foreign Affairs, as well as the nation's authoritative agencies in dealing with the consequences of this attack. It praised the efficiency and high level of combat readiness of the Qatari Armed Forces, and the capability they demonstrated in intercepting a sheer number of repeated missile waves, reflecting a strong degree of professionalism and vigilance in safeguarding the country's security and territorial integrity.Qatar has been undertaking a constructive and responsible role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the international community and has always been committed to sparing the region from escalation risks, moved by its enduring belief in the settlement of conflicts with peaceful means and strengthening regional stability, the council pointed out.The council reiterated its call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and the return to the negotiation path to protect the region's security and the interests of its peoples, underlining that the renewed Iranian assault and its violation of the State of Qatar's sovereignty do not reflect good intentions and run contrary to the principles of good neighbourliness.In addition, the council expressed its strong condemnation of the attacks on a number of regional neighbours, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the Republic of Lebanon.The council confirmed its full solidarity with those nations, as well as its backing of everything that would reinforce their security and stability and safeguard their sovereignty and territorial integrity. The council urged the public to adhere to the security and safety measures; to comply with all instructions and guidelines issued by the relevant authorities; and to collect information from official sources, thereby helping promote societal awareness and support the national efforts aimed at protecting the nation's security and stability.Thereupon, HE Secretary-General of the Shura Council, Nayef bin Mohammed al-Mahmoud, read out the session's agenda. The council then discussed the agenda items and took appropriate decisions thereon. It also adopted the minutes of the previous session. 

Leaning on crutches that he never imagined would replace his leg, 51-year-old Palestinian Tawfiq al-Sheikh walks slowly through the corridors of Hamad Hospital in Al Zawaida, central Gaza. His hope is to reclaim a semblance of his life before the Israeli assault, aided by a prosthetic limb that now supports his daily struggles. Al-Sheikh told QNA that he lived a normal life before the war, recalling the airstrike that hit his street at the start of the conflict. The blast led to an above-knee amputation and a long recovery, culminating in his referral to Hamad Hospital for prosthetic fitting. Getting the artificial limb, he said, helped him walk again and resume his life, even if partially. Al-Sheikh expressed gratitude to the hospital and the State of Qatar for their support, noting the care he received from rehabilitation to prosthetic installation. It changed his life, from someone disabled and dependent to someone who can function in society again. Established in northern Gaza in 2019 with funding from Qatar Fund for Development, Hamad Hospital is a leading center for rehabilitation and prosthetics. It offers free services to Palestinians suffering from amputations, neurological injuries, and spinal trauma. In May, the hospital sustained severe damage from Israeli shelling, halting its operations entirely. In October, the hospital announced the opening of a new branch in southern Gaza to expand access to medical and rehabilitation services for the wounded and disabled. Ahmed al-Absi, head of the prosthetics department at the hospital, told QNA that the unit provides artificial limbs, assistive devices, and spinal orthotics. After repairs in March, the department resumed operations and began receiving complex amputation cases, many resulting from Israeli strikes and high-impact weaponry. Since reopening, the department has fitted around 100 prosthetic limbs, focusing on above-knee and double amputations. Patients undergo full rehabilitation to adapt to their new limbs, restoring mobility and dignity in the face of war's lasting scars. Head of the Prosthetics Department at Hamad Hospital Ahmed al-Absi revealed that the facility has served over 5,000 cases since its establishment, with an annual average of 120 to 150 prosthetic fittings. Despite material shortages, the department resumed operations in March and is currently following up on 135 amputation cases in need of prosthetic limbs. **media[381394]** Al-Absi emphasized that many patients require reintegration into daily life, noting that rehabilitation marks the beginning of recovery and social reintegration. He cited numerous success stories, including students returning to school and employees resuming work after receiving prosthetics. He stressed the high quality of limbs provided by the hospital, which significantly aid patients in adapting and participating in society. However, he warned of severe challenges, particularly the critical shortage of prosthetic materials, which have not entered Gaza since 2023 due to Israeli restrictions. He said they are facing major difficulties, in a month or two, their stock will be depleted. Al-Absi urged relevant authorities to supply prosthetic limbs and the necessary materials to meet the growing demand, especially as the number of amputees in Gaza continues to rise due to ongoing conflict. In parallel, Assistant Undersecretary at the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, Dr Maher Shamia said that around 6,000 amputation cases have been registered during the Israeli assault, most requiring urgent and long-term rehabilitation programs. Speaking to QNA, Shamia noted that Gaza now records the world’s highest rate of child amputations relative to population size, according to a WHO report published in early October. Children account for approximately 25% of all cases, while women represent 12.7%, figures that reflect the deep humanitarian toll on thousands of wounded individuals and their families. He stressed the urgent need for rehabilitation and psychosocial support, particularly for children facing permanent disabilities at a young age. Shamia called on international and humanitarian organizations, as well as health and rehabilitation institutions, to intensify efforts and expand emergency interventions to meet the needs of the wounded and ensure access to adequate care in line with the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The Strip continues to endure a humanitarian crisis following the Israeli offensive, which left more than 170,000 injured amid a near-total collapse of the healthcare system, widespread shortages of medicine and medical supplies, and the destruction of hospitals. The Rafah border crossing remains closed, preventing patients from seeking treatment outside Gaza despite ceasefire agreements.