PARIS: Hend Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to France, hosted an interfaith iftar under the theme ‘Human Fraternity Values and Peaceful Coexistence’.
The event was attended by prominent luminaries, including Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO, Jean Yves le Drian, former French Foreign Minister, and several ambassadors and esteemed guests from various political, economic, and cultural fields, who gathered to celebrate and foster dialogue, understanding and coexistence. This year’s iftar was hosted at the Collège des Bernadins in Paris, which is regarded as an inter-faith dialogue hub, dedicated to nurturing hope in addressing contemporary challenges.
This historical venue resonated with the core values of UAE society, characterized by hospitality, openness, and tolerance. The event conveyed a powerful message advocating for intercultural and interfaith dialogue, reinforcing these principles. The iftar was organised as part of the ninth edition of the ‘Majlon’ initiative, a series of events launched by the
UAE Embassy in Paris to convene prominent voices from France and the UAE around key issues of mutual interest to further deepen French-Emirati ties.
Al Otaiba said: ‘Amidst the challenges confronting our societies, it is important to note that elevating fraternal values and reinforcing inter-faith dialogue supports peace and stability. Following the tenets of tolerance upheld by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, the UAE is committed to promoting interfaith and intercultural tolerance, understanding, and dialogue.’ For her part, Audrey Azoulay delivered a speech on the importance of Human fraternity values in fostering peaceful coexistence to build bridges between societies.
Laurent Landete, General Director of the Collège des Bernardins echoed this sentiment in his subsequent address. Audrey Azoulay, General Director of UNESCO said: ‘I wanted to be here with you tonight to commend the way in which the United Arab Emirates engage with the internation
al community, at UNESCO, for peace. You do it through the mandate of UNESCO, that is, culture, education, sciences, information, in an exemplary manner.’
Source: Emirates News Agency
GAZA: At least seven Palestinian civilians were killed and others wounded this evening after Israeli warplanes bombed a residential house in Deir al-Balah, located in the central Gaza Strip.
Eyewitnesses and medical sources reported that seven fatalities and a large number of injuries were transported to hospital following the intense Israeli airstrikes concentrated in the Hikr area of Deir al-Balah.
Additionally, Israeli artillery shelled areas southeast of the Khan Yunis governorate, in the southern Gaza Strip.
Earlier today, local health authorities in Gaza reported that Israeli occupation forces perpetrated seven massacres against families in the war-torn region over the previous 24 hours, resulting in the documented killing of at least 72 Palestinians and the injury of 114 others.
This brings the Palestinian death toll from the Israeli onslaught since October 7 to 32,142 reported fatalities, with an additional 74,412 individuals sustaining injuries. The majority of the victims are women and children.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse