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Rafah: The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off following Hamas’ bloody rampage two weeks ago.

Just 20 trucks were allowed in, an amount that aid workers said was insufficient to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid have been positioned near the crossing for days.

Gaza’s 2.3m Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, are rationing food and drinking dirty water. Hospitals say they are running low on medical supplies and fuel for emergency generators amid a territory-wide power blackout. Israel is still launching waves of airstrikes across Gaza that have destroyed entire neighborhoods, as Palestinian militants fire rocket barrages into Israel.

The opening came after more than a week of high-level diplomacy by various mediators, including visits to the region by US President Joe Biden and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Israel had insisted that nothing would enter Gaza until Hamas released all of the captives from its Oct 7 attack on towns in southern Israel.

Late Friday, Hamas released an American woman and her teenage daughter, the first captives to be freed. It was not immediately clear if there was a connection between the release and the aid deliveries. Israel says Hamas is still holding at least 210 captives.

On Saturday morning, an Associated Press reporter on the Palestinian side of Rafah saw the 20 trucks heading north to Deir al-Balah, a quiet farming town where many evacuees from the north have sought shelter. Hundreds of foreign passport holders at Rafah hoping to escape the conflict were not allowed to leave.

The trucks were carrying 44,000 bottles of drinking water from the UN’s children’s agency—enough for 22,000 people for a single day, it said. “This first, limited water will save lives, but the needs are immediate and immense,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

The World Health Organization said four of the 20 trucks that crossed through Rafah were carrying medical supplies, including essential supplies for 300,000 people for three months, trauma medicine and supplies for 1,200 people, and 235 portable trauma bags for first responders.

“The situation is catastrophic in Gaza,” the head of the UN’s World Food Program, Cindy McCain, told The Associated Press. “We need many, many, many more trucks and a continual flow of aid," she said, adding that some 400 trucks were entering Gaza daily before the war.

The Hamas-run government in Gaza also said the limited convoy “will not be able to change the humanitarian catastrophe,” calling for a secure corridor operating around the clock.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said “the humanitarian situation in Gaza is under control.” He said the aid would be delivered only to southern Gaza, where the army has ordered people to relocate, adding that no fuel would enter the territory.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appealed to all sides to keep the crossing open for crucial aid shipments and warned Hamas to not take the aid.

“Palestinian civilians are not responsible for Hamas’s horrific terrorism, and they should not be made to suffer for its depraved acts,” he said in a statement. “As President Biden stated, if Hamas steals or diverts this assistance it will have demonstrated once again that it has no regard for the welfare of the Palestinian people.’’ It will also make it hard to keep the aid flowing, he said.

Guterres, meanwhile, gave voice to growing international concern over civilians in Gaza, telling a summit in Cairo that Hamas’ “reprehensible assault” on Israel two weeks ago “can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

Two Egyptian officials and a European diplomat said extensive negotiations with Israel and the UN to allow fuel deliveries for hospitals had so far yielded little progress. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release information on the sensitive deliberations.

One Egyptian official said they were discussing the release of dual-national hostages in return for the fuel, but that Israel was insisting on the release of all hostages.

Hamas released Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, on Friday for what it said were humanitarian reasons in an agreement with Qatar, a Persian Gulf nation that has often served as a Mideast mediator. A representative for the pair said they were staying with relatives in central Israel.

The two had been on a trip from their home in suburban Chicago to Israel to celebrate Jewish holidays, the family said. They were in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, near Gaza, when Hamas and other militants stormed into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds and abducting at least 210 others.

Hamas said it was working with Egypt, Qatar and other mediators “to close the case” of hostages if security circumstances permit.

There are growing expectations of a ground offensive that Israel says would be aimed at rooting out Hamas, an Islamic militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the small but densely populated Palestinian territory.

Israel has also traded fire along its northern border with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, raising concerns about a second front opening up. The Israeli military said Saturday it struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to recent rocket launches and attacks with anti-tank missiles.

“Hezbollah has decided to participate in the fighting, and we are exacting a heavy price for this,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during a visit to the border.

Israel issued a travel warning on Saturday, ordering its citizens to leave Egypt and Jordan—which made peace with it decades ago—and to avoid travel to a number of Arab and Muslim countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Bahrain, which forged diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020. Protests against Israel's actions in Gaza have erupted across the region.

An Israeli ground assault would likely lead to a dramatic escalation in casualties on both sides in urban fighting. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed in the war—mostly civilians slain during the Hamas incursion.

More than 4,300 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. That includes the disputed toll from a hospital explosion. The ministry says another 1,400 are believed to have been buried under rubble.

The Hamas-run Housing Ministry said at least 30 percent of all homes in Gaza have been destroyed or heavily damaged in the war.

Hosting a summit Saturday, Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi called for ensuring aid to Gaza, negotiating a cease-fire and resuming Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which last broke down more than a decade ago. He also said the conflict would never be resolved “at the expense of Egypt,” referring to fears Israel may try to push Gaza’s population into the Sinai Peninsula.

King Abdullah II of Jordan told the summit that Israel’s air campaign and siege of Gaza were “a war crime” and slammed the international community's response.

“Anywhere else, attacking civilian infrastructure and deliberately starving an entire population of food, water, electricity, and basic necessities would be condemned,” he said. Apparently, he added, “human rights have boundaries. They stop at borders, they stop at races, they stop at religions.”

Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza. Many heeded Israel’s orders to evacuate from north to south within the sealed-off coastal enclave. But Israel has continued to bomb areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and some appear to be going back to the north because of bombings and difficult living conditions in the south.

AP

Kathmandu: Nepal has secured its spot in the final of the ACC U-19 Premier Cup Cricket Tournament. In the semi-final match held in Malaysia, Nepal defeated Japan by 144 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

With its entry into the final, Nepal has qualified to compete in the U-19 Asia Cup to be held in Pakistan.

The match was affected by rain when Nepal had scored 140 runs with the loss of two wickets in 25 overs. As the rain continued to delay the game, the stipulated 50 overs were reduced to 22, with a target of 187 runs set for Japan to win. In response, Japan managed to score only 43 runs in 11.5 overs, losing all their wickets.

None of Japan’s players, apart from Shotaro Hiratsuka (15) and Kiefer Yamamoto (13), could reach a double-digit score.

Nepal’s Hemant Dhami and Dipesh Kandel took three wickets each, while Subash Bhandari took two, and Akash Chand took one wicket.

Deepak Bohora was the top scorer for Nepal, amassing 79 runs with 10 boundaries and two sixes in 70 balls.

Similarly, Deepak and Akash Tripathi partnered for 93 runs for the second wicket, with Akash contributing 35 runs, while Arjun Kumal made 10 runs and Dev Khanal scored eight.

Nepal will face the UAE in the final on Oct 24. The UAE reached the final by defeating Singapore in another semi-final match.

Kathmandu: The dissenting presidential contenders of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) election have alleged massive irregularities in the online voting of the NRNA International General Assembly 2023, which took place on Oct 19 last year.

Following disputes regarding the fairness of the online election within the Nepali diaspora community, it was agreed to form a three-member technical expert team with a mandate to investigate the alleged irregularities and submit a report within two weeks. RK Sharma, a contender for the presidential position in the 11th general convention of NRNA, confirmed this development.

“It was agreed among the incumbent NRNA ICC Presidents—Kul Acharya, Badri KC, and Rabina Thapa—to postpone the general convention process until a decision could be made based on the probe report. However, the consensus was blatantly violated by the presidential contender KC,” Sharma revealed in a press conference organized by dissenting groups of NRNA in Kathmandu on a Saturday evening.

Another presidential contender, Mahesh Shrestha, stated that KC had influenced the election committee and declared himself the President, which he described as both shameful and contemptible. “Taking the oath of office by violating the consensus reached among the sitting Presidents is unacceptable,” he added.

Both candidates, Sharma and Shrestha, expressed their support for the decision of the NRNA ICC Presidents, Acharya and Thapa, along with the majority of delegates, in accordance with the NRNA statute, as was shared during the conference.

The candidates indicated their acceptance of the decision made at the ongoing general convention. It is worth noting that KC, Sharma, and Shrestha had all competed for the presidential position in the NRNA. Sharma and Shrestha rejected the results, claiming that there was sponsored technological manipulation aimed at ensuring KC’s victory.

Kathmandu: The ‘Phulpati Badhai’, feu de joie, was organized at the Nepal Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on Saturday afternoon. This day marks the seventh day of the ongoing 10-day Dashain festival.

President Ramchandra Paudel, who holds the constitutional role of Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Nepal Army, graced the event as the chief guest. On this occasion, the Nepal Army showcased a parade.

A military chopper that flew over the army pavilion displayed a banner that read ‘Phupati Badhai Ceremony 2080 BS’ and showered flowers. The army band played patriotic songs as well as various other tunes.

Furthermore, various army troops performed drills and marched past.

Vice-President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chief Justice Bishwambhar Shrestha, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Purna Bahadur Khadka, among others, witnessed the parade.

The Phulpati Badhai is a unique and distinguished program that upholds religion, culture, and tradition. It is a long-standing tradition of the Nepali Army to observe the Phulpati Badhai with great fervor.

On this day, a palanquin containing the Jamara (barley shoots) and Phulpati—an assortment of flowers, leaves, and fruits from different auspicious parts—is brought into Hanumandhoka Durbar in Kathmandu from Gorkha Durbar.

The Manakamana cable car service is to remain closed for three days, starting from October 23, during the Dashain festival.  The service is operated by the Manakamana Darshan Pvt Ltd.

According to company Deputy Manager Ujjwal Sherchan, the service will not be operational on Nawami, Dashami and Ekadashi of the Dashain festival. It will resume on October 26.

The Manakamana cable car based in Kurintar (Cheres) of Ichchhakamana-4 in Chitwan was established in 2055 BS.

The famous Manakamana Temple in Shahid Lakhan Rural Municipality in Gorkha is reachable by a 10-minute journey from Kurintar via the cable car.

Doctors have advised the public to be careful of their food choices during this festive season.

They prescribe for limiting the intakes of meat products, beverages and sugary foods during the Dashain festival. 

BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital's medical oncologist Dr Guru Sharan Shah cautioned that festival foods are generally not suitable for good health and can increase the risk of cancer.

Liquor products, in particular, can contribute to various cancer risks including  liver, throat, stomach, breast and intestine cancers.  

Dr Shah also highlights the health risks associated with excessive intake of red meat and sugary foods, which can increase the risk of colon cancer. Grilled meat, due to the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, is linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer.

Dr Shankar Laudari, a cardiologist at Chitwan Heart Hospital, recommends a daily meat intake of just 50-70 grams per person. Consuming more than 150 grams of meat per day can lead to a 15 percent higher chance of suffering a heart attack, according to the doctor.

Moreover, regular meat consumption is associated with a higher risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. "To mitigate these risks, it is advisable to remove fat and skin from meat before cooking and prepare it with minimal oil, spices, and salt. Chicken is a better choice compared to mutton, and fish is recommended over red meat," Laudari added.

Senior physician Dr Bhojraj Adhikari advises the public to maintain a balanced diet during the festival season, urging  them to avoid red meat when possible. "Skinless meat is a good source of protein and is healthier. Excessive use of salt, oil, and spices to enhance the taste of meat is discouraged from a medical perspective."

It is worth noting that frozen meat, as well as grilled, fried, and dried meats, are not considered healthy options. 

Fresh meat should be prepared with minimal salt, oil, and spices. Combining meat consumption with beverages and smoking poses greater health risks. 

A better approach is to include fruits and vegetables along with meat products for a more balanced and health-conscious diet, doctors recommend.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has expressed the confidence that the festival of Bada Dashain would inspire one and all to promote social goodwill, unity, reconciliation and brotherhood by ending all sorts of ill practices.

In a message of Bada Dashain today, the President wished that may this festival provide strength to all Nepalis to obtain economic prosperity along with justice and equality. "This festival is the festival of victory of truth and defeat of evil character; victory of virtue over vice and a symbol of goodwill, brotherhood and reunion."

The President has said that the traditionally observed such festivals have been contributing to maintaining our cultural unity and identity along with strengthening our uniqueness amid geographical, cultural and linguistic diversities.

Stating that the importance of this festival is also shared through the tradition of spontaneous expression of reverence and respect, President Paudel said that protection and promotion of the great festivals like Bada Dashain would help generate unwavering respect and deep love towards nation and nationality.

In his message, the President has expressed wishes for happiness, peace, prosperity, good health and long life to all Nepali sisters and brothers at home and abroad on the occasion of the Bada Dashain.

Likewise, the President has stated that this festival has the tradition of exchanging profound happiness after the reunion of the families on this occasion.

President Paudel has also wished for the blessings from Durga Bhawani to all for new excitement, pleasure, inspiration for good deeds and positive energy.

Jerusalem: Gaza has long been a powder keg, and it exploded after Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel on Oct 7 and began killing and abducting people.

More than 1,400 people in Israel—mostly civilians—were killed in the Hamas attack, and the Israeli army says about 200 hostages were taken into Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 4,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry. Nearly half Gaza's population—the vast majority of whom are already refugees—have been displaced.

Israel has imposed a complete siege on Gaza, preventing the entrance of food, water and fuel—a move that has created a catastrophic humanitarian situation. As the Israeli military gears up for a ground invasion and pledges to topple Hamas, the futures of Gaza and its 2.3m Palestinians look uncertain.

Here’s a look at the history of the Gaza Strip:

1948-1967: Egypt

Before the war surrounding Israel's establishment in 1948, present-day Gaza was part of the large swath of the Middle East under British colonial rule. After Israel defeated the coalition of Arab states, the Egyptian army was left in control of a small strip of land wedged between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.

During the war, some 700,000 Palestinians either fled or were forced from their homes in what is now Israel—a mass uprooting that they call the Nakba, or “catastrophe.” Tens of thousands of Palestinians flocked to the strip.

Under Egyptian military control, Palestinian refugees in Gaza were stuck, homeless and stateless. Egypt didn't consider them to be citizens and Israel wouldn't let them return to their homes. Many were supported by UNWRA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, which has a heavy presence in Gaza to this day. Meanwhile, some young Palestinians became “fedayeen”—insurgency fighters who conducted raids into Israel.

1967-1993: Israel

Israel seized control of Gaza from Egypt during the 1967 Mideast war, when it also captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem—areas that remain under Israeli control. The internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, which administers semi-autonomous areas of the occupied West Bank, seeks all three areas for a hoped-for future state.

Israel built more than 20 Jewish settlements in Gaza during this period. It also signed a peace treaty with Egypt at Camp David—a pact negotiated by US President Jimmy Carter.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi referenced this 40-year old treaty Wednesday when he declined to permit Palestinian refugees from Gaza into Egypt, saying the potential entrance of militants into Egypt would threaten longstanding peace between Israel and Egypt.

The first Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation erupted in Gaza in December 1987, kicking off more than five years of sustained protests and bloody violence. It was also during this time that the Islamic militant group Hamas was established in Gaza.

1993-2005: Palestinian authority

For a time, promising peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders made the future of Gaza look somewhat hopeful.

Following the Oslo accords—a set of agreements between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat that laid the groundwork for a two-state solution—control of Gaza was handed to the fledgling Palestinian Authority.

But the optimism was short-lived. A series of Palestinian suicide attacks by Hamas militants, the 1995 assassination of Rabin by a Jewish ultranationalist opposed to his peacemaking and the election of Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister the following year all hindered US-led peace efforts. Another peace push collapsed in late 2000 with the eruption of the second Palestinian uprising.

As the uprising fizzled in 2005, then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon led a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, uprooting all of Israel's troops and roughly 9,000 settlers in a move that bitterly divided Israel.

2005-Now: Hamas

Just months after Israel's withdrawal, Hamas won parliamentary elections over Fatah, the long-dominant Palestinian political party. The following year, after months of infighting, Hamas violently seized control of Gaza from the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority.

Israel and Egypt imposed a crippling blockade on the territory, monitoring the flow of goods and people in and out. For nearly two decades, the closure has crippled the local economy, sent unemployment skyrocketing, and emboldened militancy in the region, which is one of the most densely populated places on the planet.

Through four wars and countless smaller battles with Israel that devastated Gaza, Hamas has only grown more powerful. In each subsequent conflict, Hamas has had more rockets that have traveled farther. The group has displayed a growing array of weapons. Its top leaders have survived, and cease-fires have been secured. In the meantime, it has built a government, including a police force, ministries and border terminals equipped with metal detectors and passport control.

What comes next?

Since the Oct 7 attack, Israel has stated its goal is to crush Hamas. This will be no easy task given the group's deep base of support. But even if Israel does realize its goal, it has said little about what it hopes will come next.

On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel hopes to relinquish control of Gaza and establish a “new security regime.” He did not elaborate.

Experts have cautioned that defeating militancy is not possible—even if Israel manages to topple Hamas, militants could well fill the power vacuum.

AP