Those killed in Recent Attack in Gaza Were Hamas not Journalists, Israel insists

By: Michael Mike

Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs has explained that the people killed in its recent attacks on Gaza were never journalists but members of Hamas.

Four Journalists were reportedly to have been killed by the Israeli soldiers on Monday in the ongoing clampdown on Hamas in Gaza.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Sharren Miriam Haskel-Harpaz, who is on an official visit to Nigeria, insisted that the slain journalists were affiliates of Hamas.

Haskel-Harpaz said Israel has evidence to back up its claims.

She said: “I want you to look at the images of the funeral of the so-called journalist that was there. And you will see those that are carrying him and the symbol of Hamas as well. It’s because he wasn’t a real journalist.

“But the fact is that they are Hamas affiliated members. Many of them have military training. It’s not just because of that that they have the symbol of Hamas on their grave, carrying them in the funeral.

“Do you know why Hamas operatives and militants are carrying them? We could identify them to you.”

She further stressed: “Many people in Gaza are being used as a tool, as part of a propaganda war of Hamas. The war that we are fighting against terrorist organisations is not just in the military front. They are also on social media, in the general media.

“How do you think they recruit new terrorists? Even here, it’s easier for them through the media, through social media, to attract them, to push their ideology. There are many more fronts, the economical one, through that political influence one, where those terrorist organisations are spreading that chaos in many more countries all around the world. And so in that war of media, many of their operatives are being used, disguised as journalists.

The Deputy Minister also noted that most of the reports about starvation in Gaza were mere propaganda so as to pressure the international community to sanction Israel.

She said: “Those images that you brought from the funeral that you broadcast on your media, do those people who carry them look starving? Do they look like skeletons? So here’s another proof of that propaganda, of the fake news that Hamas has been propagating through the media in a media war against Israel.

“Why do they do that? To put pressure on Israel to stop the war. But we can’t.

On when she thinks the war will end, she said: “ It ends in one way, and why only one way? Because we don’t have any other option. When all of our hostages will be back home, safely, and when Hamas destroys itself. And it could have ended yesterday, six months ago, a year ago, just now.”

She went on to say, “for a few weeks we’ve been negotiating so delicately on a ceasefire that will end this war. We agreed to it. Any proposal in the last few months that the Americans and the American envoy Whitcock put on the table, Israel said yes. Hamas said no.”

She also added another dimension to the issue, blaming the European Union threat on Israel for the elongation of the war.

“Why don’t they want to end it? Why don’t they want a ceasefire? I’ll tell you why. And I’ll tell you why those negotiations broke down. Because of European leaders like Macron.

“Every single week during those delicate negotiations, the European Union or Macron has given them a reward for the continuation of the war. Putting pressure only on Israel. Stating that if Israel doesn’t surrender, then they might impose an economical boycott.

“That is, if Israel doesn’t surrender, then Macron will declare a Palestinian state. “What do you think Hamas thinks of it? They say, oh, that’s great. The longer this war will go, the more Macron will reward us. The more the international community will reward us. So what reason do they have to finish this war in the sun themselves? None. And that’s why the negotiation failed.”

Those killed in Recent Attack in Gaza Were Hamas not Journalists, Israel insists

Japan’s US$200,000 Donation: WFP Provides Vital Nutrition Assistance to 2,848 Pregnant, Lactating Mother

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Nigeria was able to reach 2,848 pregnant and lactating women with vital nutrition assistance in 2024 with the contribution of over US$200,000 from the Government of Japan.

The WFP, in a statement on Tuesday lamented that: “In northeast Nigeria, the impact of conflict continues to disproportionately affect women, leaving many in urgent need of humanitarian support. Malnutrition remains a critical concern, especially among pregnant women who face increased vulnerability due to displacement, limited access to healthcare, and food insecurity.”

The statement added that: “In this challenging context, targeted nutrition interventions are not just essential – they are lifesaving.”

It revealed that: “Thanks to the generous contribution of over US$200,000 from the Government of Japan, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) inNigeria was able to reach 2,848 pregnant and breastfeeding women with vital nutrition assistance in 2024.”

Appreciating the kind gesture, Chi Lael, Head of Communications for WFP in Nigeria, stated: “This support enabled the delivery of fortified foods and community-based nutrition education to affected populations at a time of record hunger in the region. The impact of this partnership represents a renewed sense of hope for women striving to survive amidst adversity”.

She noted that: “Presently, at least 5 million people in Nigeria’s northeast are facing extreme hunger, with women and girls being the most vulnerable. Despite deepening funding cuts and surging security challenges, WFP remains on ground, striving to deliver hope, save lives and change lives.”

Japan’s US$200,000 Donation: WFP Provides Vital Nutrition Assistance to 2,848 Pregnant, Lactating Mother

NHRC Seeks Comprehensive Rights-Based Approach to Youth Empowerment

By: Michael Mike

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 International Youth Day, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has advocated for a comprehensive rights-based approach to youth empowerment that tackles unemployment, facilitates access to quality health and education and prepares youth for leadership.

The Commission also emphasized the imperatives of strengthening protection efforts for the younger population, boost their access to economic opportunities as well as ensuring that they participate actively at all levels of governance.

The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, who stated this in a statement to mark the 2025 International Youth Day urged the government and other stakeholders to support the young population towards realizing their aspiration in order for them to contribute their quota to peace building and national development.

According to him, young Nigerians are not just beneficiaries of development but deep thinkers, active innovators, mobilizers, and partners in shaping a future anchored on equity, dignity, and respect for human rights.

He said: “In advancing the Commission’s mandate and inclusivity, we are committed to empowering youth voices, ensuring their full participation in decision making processes, and protecting their rights in line with national and international human rights obligations.”

Ojukwu noted that despite the huge potential, energy and resilience of Nigerian youth, their path remains fraught with significant challenges such as unemployment, underemployment, poor access to quality education and the right leadership mentorship.

He expressed concern about the prevalent economic uncertainty faced by the Nigerian youth, pointing out that young people are mostly affected by the rising cost of living, which has emerged as the most pressing concern, followed closely by unemployment, poverty, and insecurity.

He said these factors take a heavy toll on their well-being, with many expressing frustration at limited opportunities for meaningful political and economic participation and a sense of exclusion from governance processes.

He observed that key social determinants such as access to youth-friendly health services, including mental health and reproductive care, remain inadequate, especially for young and vulnerable women and those in rural communities.

International Youth Day is marked on the 12th of August annually.

NHRC Seeks Comprehensive Rights-Based Approach to Youth Empowerment