Eight Arab, Islamic countries condemn Israel's treatment of Gaza flotilla activists

The foreign ministers of eight Arab and Islamic states on Sunday strongly condemned the appalling, degrading, and unacceptable actions by Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir towards participants in the Gaza-bound flotilla while they were in Israeli detention.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar said that Ben-Gvir's deliberate public humiliation of detainees is a disgraceful assault on human dignity and a clear violation of international law.

They further deplored the "illegal, extremist" incitement and violence by Ben-Gvir and other Israeli officials against Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory, warning that they fuel hatred and extremism, obstructing efforts for a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

The diplomats demanded accountability for Ben-Gvir's actions and called for concrete measures to end his repeated provocations, incitement and violations.

The Israeli Navy intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla on May 18, as participants attempted to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to residents of the enclave.

Hundreds of members from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla were brought to Israel's Ashdod Port two days later, as Ben-Gvir released a video showing some of them shackled and forced down to the sound of the Israeli national anthem. It has sparked global condemnation.

Eight Arab, Islamic countries condemn Israel's treatment of Gaza flotilla activists

Eight Arab, Islamic countries condemn Israel's treatment of Gaza flotilla activists

A chick of the Eurasian eagle owl, a species under second-class state protection in China, was rescued recently by a border police officer in Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

While on patrol, the officer spotted the young owl lying helpless under a tree by the roadside. The chick, covered in soft yellowish-brown down, was unable to fly.

Worrying that the little bird might be injured or starved after falling from the tree, the officer gently took it back to the police station. Following guidance from wildlife experts, the chick was fed with water and meat to help it regain strength.

After fully recovered, the young Eurasian eagle owl was successfully released back into the wild.

The Eurasian eagle owl is one of the largest species of owls. It can be found in habitats as diverse as northern coniferous forests to the edge of vast deserts.

Rare baby Eurasian eagle owl rescued in northwest China's Xinjiang

Rare baby Eurasian eagle owl rescued in northwest China's Xinjiang