Aaron Bushnell's self-immolation reflects the tragedy of inaction over Gaza


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February 27, 2024

Protests against Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza have become a near-daily occurrence in the US, whose government has up to now backed Israel’s campaign unequivocally. On Sunday, however, the country witnessed the most shocking demonstration yet, when a US Air Force serviceman self-immolated outside the Israeli embassy in Washington.

The man was on fire for an entire minute, shouting “Free Palestine” between screams of agony as police officers rounded on him with their guns raised, ordering him – inexplicably – to “get on the ground”. In what appeared to be a moment of sudden clarity, a security guard at the scene yelled to other responding officers: “I don’t need guns – I need fire extinguishers!”

The serviceman died in hospital from his injuries. Meanwhile, efforts to forge a peace in Gaza continue. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised on Sunday that whatever the outcome of ongoing talks to secure a humanitarian ceasefire, his government will press on with plans to attack the Gazan city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinian civilians are sheltering.

Protests against Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza have become a near-daily occurrence in the US

The ceasefire talks, taking place between Israel, the US, Egypt and Qatar, are making progress, according to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. The countries’ representatives met in Paris on Sunday and “came to an understanding”, according to Mr Sullivan, about “what the basic contours of a hostage deal for a temporary ceasefire would look like”.

Any pause in fighting would present a valuable opportunity for humanitarian aid to reach beleaguered Palestinian civilians. And the release of hostages held by Hamas would be good news; they should never have been taken in the first place.

But Mr Netanyahu’s assertion that a deal would simply “delay” his designs on Rafah, coupled with the US’s insistence on any ceasefire being “temporary”, gives plenty of cause for alarm. If the primary motivation driving Israel’s war is the release of hostages, then it should seize the opportunity in the deal under discussion to end hostilities in exchange for their release. If the reasoning behind the war is something else – the “total destruction of Hamas”, as Mr Netanyahu has previously said, or some unspecified amount of revenge for Hamas’s October 7 attacks – then a drawn-out conflict would surely be on the horizon.

That would risk reversing the gains of any truce agreement and more. During a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman on Sunday, Jordan’s King Abdullah warned that a continuation of the war into Ramadan would “raise the danger of the expansion of the conflict”, with wider ramifications in the region.

Washington should take heed of that message as it gauges how to manage its junior ally’s bellicosity amid ceasefire talks. It should pay even closer attention to the growing discontent in America itself over a pro-war policy that becomes more inexplicable by the day.

Plan to boost public schools

A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.

It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.

Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.

Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.

The stats

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Ship class: Meraviglia Class

Delivery date: February 27, 2019

Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT

Passenger capacity: 5,686

Crew members: 1,536

Number of cabins: 2,217

Length: 315.3 metres

Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)

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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo

Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

Batti Gul Meter Chalu

Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5

Updated: February 27, 2024, 9:48 AM`