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Israel renews orders for Palestinians to leave northern Gaza

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6 months agoon
By
Ekwutos BlogThe Israeli military on Saturday renewed its orders for Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip to leave their homes and shelters as troops continue their weeklong offensive against militants.
Avichay Adraee, a spokesman for the Israeli military, told people living in the targeted area that they should head south to Muwasi, a packed area in southern Gaza designed by the military as a humanitarian zone.
The military also ordered the three main hospitals in northern Gaza to evacuate patients and medical staff.
Most of the fighting in the past week was centred in and around Jabaliya, the largest refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. The area was pounded by Israeli war jets and artillery. Residents there said they have been trapped inside their homes and shelters.
No food aid for Gaza since 1 October
The United Nations food agency said on Saturday that no food aid had entered northern Gaza since 1 October.
The World Food Program (WFP) said that the primary border crossing into the war-ravaged area had been closed for about two weeks. The agency also warned that Israel’s ongoing ground operation will have a disastrous impact on food security for thousands of Palestinian families there.
“The north is basically cut off and we’re not able to operate there,” said Antoine Renard, the WFP country director of Palestinian territories.
Concerns of a hunger crisis have risen in Gaza roughly a month after a UN independent investigator on the right to food accused Israel of carrying out a “starvation campaign” against Palestinians.
Israel has denied such allegations and insisted that it has allowed food and other aid into Gaza in significant quantities.
“Israel has not halted the entry or coordination of humanitarian aid entering from its territory into the northern Gaza Strip. As evidence, humanitarian aid coordinated by COGAT and international organisations will continue to enter the northern Gaza Strip in the coming day as well,” COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing aid distribution, said in a statement on Wednesday.
The WFP said its food distribution points, as well as kitchens and bakeries in northern Gaza, have been forced to shut down due to airstrikes, military ground operations and evacuation orders.
It said that the only functioning bakery in North Gaza, supported by WFP, caught fire after being hit by an explosive munition.
The WFP said its last remaining food supplies in the north — including canned food, wheat flour, high-energy biscuits, and nutrition supplements — have been distributed to shelters, health facilities and kitchens in Gaza City and three shelters in the northern areas.
It is unclear how long these limited food supplies will last, warning that the consequences for fleeing families will be dire if the escalation continues.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not say how many were fighters but say women and children make up more than half of the fatalities.
The war has destroyed large areas of Gaza and displaced about 90% of its population of 2.3 million people, often multiple times.
Death toll rises in Lebanon
The speaker of Iran’s parliament on Saturday toured the scene of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed and wounded dozens. He vowed that Tehran would keep supporting Lebanese and Palestinians fighting against Israel.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf visited the area struck after holding talks with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who said that Lebanon’s priority now was to work toward a ceasefire.
His office said that Lebanon’s government still abides by a 2006 UN Security Council Resolution approved at the end of a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah, and was prepared to boost Lebanese army presence along the country’s border with Israel.
It was the second visit by an Iranian official to Beirut in recent days after the country’s foreign minister visited Lebanon earlier this month.
Iran is a main backer of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, which suffered major setbacks in recent weeks as well as the killing of its leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf visits the site of Thursday’s Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, on Saturday 12 October, 2024. AP
Lebanese authorities said on Friday that 60 people were killed and 168 wounded in the past 24 hours, raising the total death toll over the past year of conflict between Israel and the militant group to 2,229 dead and 10,380 wounded.
Israel has been escalating its campaign against Hezbollah with waves of heavy airstrikes across Lebanon and a ground invasion at the border. It comes after a year of exchanges of fire.
Hezbollah started attacking Israeli army posts in October last year in solidarity with the militant Hamas group in Gaza. Since 23 September, Israel has intensified its airstrikes and forced the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese.
Last week, Israel began a ground invasion of Lebanon, leading to clashes along the border with Hezbollah fighters.
Islamic State camps in Syria hit by US airstrikes
The US military said it conducted a series of airstrikes against multiple camps in Syria belonging to the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) group.
US Central Command said the strikes on Friday will “disrupt the ability of ISIS to plan, organise and conduct attacks against the United States, its allies and partners, and civilians throughout the region and beyond.”
It said battle damage assessments were underway and did not include civilian casualties.
There are some 900 US forces in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors, mostly trying to prevent any comeback by the extremist IS group, which swept through Iraq and Syria in 2014, taking control of large swaths of territory.
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Gladys Achese, sister to one of the detained domestic staff of former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, has spoken out about the ordeal her family has endured.

Published
1 hour agoon
April 5, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Gladys Achese, sister to one of the detained domestic staff of former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, has spoken out about the ordeal her family has endured.
Ekwutosblog Reports that Dame Jonathan detained 15 domestic staff over a missing jewelry valued at ₦750 million.
The staff have been held captive for years, sparking widespread outrage and calls for their release. Gladys’ sibling is among those detained without trial for six years. The case was brought to light by Pidom Nigeria’s social media post last year, prompting a single court session. However, the defendant’s sudden withdrawal led to an indefinite adjournment.
Gladys and her family are pleading with Nigerians to intervene and ensure a fair trial. The prolonged delay has taken a devastating toll on the family, causing immense emotional distress and disrupting their lives. They’re urging the public to help amplify their cry for justice, seeking a swift resolution to their ordeal.
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Patience Jonathan Holds Secret Meeting With Bayelsa Prison Chiefs Amid Unlawful Detention Of 15 Domestic Workers Over Missing Jewellery

Published
1 hour agoon
April 5, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
The 15 domestic workers, including both men and women, have been behind bars since 2019 following an accusation of theft involving missing jewellery reportedly belonging to the former First Lady.
SaharaReporters previously published an exclusive report detailing gruesome torture sessions reportedly led and personally supervised by Patience Jonathan on the detainees.
“Severe torture, which included hanging, beating with whips, sticks, machetes… Patience Jonathan repeatedly insisted angrily that the police were not doing enough torture to her satisfaction,” a source earlier revealed.
The source further alleged that she ordered the detainees to be taken to her husband’s residence at Nikton Road, Kpansia, Yenagoa, where she personally brutalised them using her high-heeled shoes.
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BREAKING: Court bars Akpabio, Natasha Akpoti, and Senate from granting interviews over alleged misconduct case

Published
1 day agoon
April 4, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
The Federal High Court in Abuja has barred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senate President, God’swill Akpabio and Senate from granting press, TV interviews and social media posts regarding the pending case on the suspension of the female lawmaker until the matter is decided.
Justice Binta Nyako declared this in her ruling on Friday, while restraining the parties and their lawyers.
Ekwutosblog previously reported that Justice Obiora Egwuatu, had withdrawn from Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s pending suit, which challenges her suspension by the Senate over allegations of misconduct, based on allegations of bias by one of those sued by her.
The Chief Judge John Tsoho eventually reassigned the matter to Justice Binta Nyako.
Nairametrics previously reported that Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed a motion ex parte, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, suing the Clerk of the National Assembly (NASS), the Senate, the Senate President, and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct.
The lawmaker sought an “order of interim injunction restraining the Senate’s committee, chaired by Imasuem, from proceeding with the purported investigation against her for alleged misconduct, which stemmed from events that occurred during plenary on February 20 and were referred by the Senate on February 25, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.”
Ekwutosblog previously reported that amid the pending case, the Nigerian Senate went ahead to suspend Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, effective March 6, 2025, citing violations of Senate rules.
Justice Egwuatu later announced his withdrawal from the case, citing allegations of bias levelled against the court by one of the defendants.
The judge said that justice is rooted in confidence in the court and that once a litigant expresses his belief that there is bias or likelihood of bias on the part of the judge, it will not be in the interest of justice for the judge to continue.
What transpired in court
At the resumed hearing on Friday, J.S. Okutepa SAN, counsel for Akpoti, said that his case was urgent given that the suspension of his client which he is complaining of is for six months.
He called for streamlining of all processes and that the matter be resolved expeditiously.
- The court, Charles Iyoila, counsel for Clerk of National Assembly, Chikaosolu Ojukwu SAN for Senate, Kehinde Ogunwumiju SAN, counsel for Godswill Akpabio and Umeh Kalu SAN for fourth defendant, Senate Committee chair, agreed to expedite the proceedings alongside Okutepa.
- However, Kehinde Ogunwumiju said that motions for injunctions has to be attended to urgently because, according to him, Natasha has been granting interviews on BBC and CNN and other media houses which he believes are prejudicial to the course of justice.
- Okutepa faulted the line of submission of Ogunwumiju, saying there is also a Senator (from the South East) who has been appearing on TV and speaking on the issue.
Okutepa insisted that the court’s orders should include all privies and any member of the Senate.
“They should maintain decorum,” he said.
What the judge said
Ruling on the application, Justice Binta said there should be “no press interviews by parties and counsel as regards the subject matter of this case.”
“No streaming or social media posts as regards this case by any of the parties and counsel.
“No TV interviews analyzing the subject matter of this case while the case is subjudice,” she ruled.
She equally directed the parties to ensure “total media blockade” on this case until this matter is decided.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to May 12, 2025 for hearing.
Backstory
The altercation between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio became widely publicized after she was asked to change her seat during plenary.
On February 28, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of making inappropriate advances toward her during a visit to his home in December 2023.
Her suspension has sparked mixed reactions within the political landscape.
While some lawmakers and analysts view the decision as a necessary enforcement of legislative discipline, others argue that the penalties are excessive and could set a dangerous precedent for stifling dissent within the Senate.

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