World
Israeli soldiers forced Palestinian men to take off their clothes as they evacuated war-torn Jabalya
The photo shows a large crowd of more than 200 people, crouching low amid the rubble of Jabalya in northern Gaza. Mostly men, many are almost naked, some are elderly, some visibly wounded. There’s at least one child among them. They were detained and most ordered to strip by the Israeli military as they tried to flee their homes in Jabalya refugee camp, then held for hours outdoors in the cold, witnesses told CNN.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Their tired faces give a glimpse into their misery. The men at the front are anxiously staring straight ahead, while those toward the back stretch their necks to see what is going on.
The photo, taken in Jabalya on Friday, shows residents of the refugee camp who tried to leave the area after being forced by the Israeli military to evacuate amid its ongoing ground operation there.
The photo was first shared on an Israeli Telegram channel; while it is unclear who took it, several of the men in the picture told CNN Israeli soldiers were photographing them as they were being detained.
CNN has identified and spoken to five individuals seen in the photograph. One of them, Muhannad Khalaf, said he, his wife and their infant son were trying to escape the camp using a designated safe corridor when the Israeli military stopped them.
“We were all gathered in one place – men, women, children, and the elderly. This was at 11 a.m. After five hours, at 4 p.m., they asked the women and children to move forward and carry all (of our) bags and belongings,” he told CNN over the phone, adding the women and children were allowed to leave.
“Once they left, the men were instructed to remove their clothes and stay in just their underwear. We complied. We sat in the cold for several more hours and the weather was frigid. They were insulting us during that time, calling us names, laughing and taking pictures,” the 27-year old told CNN.
According to Khalaf, the men in the crowd seen in the photograph were asked to come forward five at a time, to be screened by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) before being allowed to proceed to Gaza City, which has been designated by the Israeli military as a safe place.
Jabalia detainees. CNN has added blur to this photo to protect identities. – Obtained by CNN View pictures in App save up to 80% data.
Jabalia detainees. CNN has added blur to this photo to protect identities. – Obtained by CNN
“Some individuals were selected for detention while others were released. Most of us ended up in Gaza City. The situation was terrifying and deeply saddening as we witnessed elderly men and injured individuals in distress, with no one showing them compassion or mercy.”
The little girl seen in the photograph is Jouri Abu Ward. The three-and-a-half-year-old was riding her bike, trying to get to Gaza City, when she and her father were detained at the checkpoint.
Jouri’s father Mohamad Abu Ward told CNN he was forced to strip to his underwear and was held for eight hours alongside Jouri. He said the girl was not required to remove her clothes but was unable to leave the area because she was alone with him. No food or water available to them. His wife and other children left the area earlier in the morning and were able to make it to Gaza City, he said.
Repeated strip-searches in Gaza
The IDF encircled Jabalya and launched a new ground operation there more than three weeks ago, cutting off most supplies and forcing people to leave amid heavy fighting. The IDF said it saw signs of Hamas rebuilding in the area, despite a year of heavy bombardment and two previous ground operations which the IDF had claimed were successful.
In recent weeks, the Israeli military has issued repeated evacuation orders for Northern Gaza, including dropping flyers over Jabalya warning residents to “evacuate immediately.” Several Palestinians previously told CNN that they had been shot at as they tried to follow the evacuation orders.
While the Israeli military refused to comment on the situation captured in the photograph, it admitted it has been routinely detaining and strip-searching people as part of its combat operations in Gaza. It did not comment on CNN’s question about the elderly and wounded people, as well as the child, seen in the photograph.
“Individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activity are being detained and questioned,” the IDF told CNN in a statement. It said that the detainees are treated in accordance with international law, but also told CNN that it “is often necessary for terror suspects to hand over their clothes so that their clothes can be searched and to ensure that they are not concealing explosive vests or other weaponry.”
Due to security protocol, “clothes are not immediately returned to the detainees,” the IDF statement continued, adding that the clothes are returned as soon as it is “possible to do so”
The Geneva Conventions, a set of international laws that set out the rules of armed conflict, says that any detainees must be treated humanely. The rules explicitly prohibit acts that “outrage upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment.”
The International Red Cross says that intrusive searches, including strip searches of detainees “should be undertaken only if absolutely necessary” and not in front of other detainees.
The United Nations and other human rights organizations have criticized Israel’s military for detaining and stripping people during its military campaign in Gaza, accusing it of weaponizing the practice.
The UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel said last month that it found that “forced nudity, with the aim of degrading and humiliating victims in front of both soldiers and other detainees, was frequently used against male victims.”
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International also condemned Israel for what they said was a widespread practice.
In a July 2024 report about Israel’s treatment of detainees and prisoners, Amnesty International said that public forced nudity for long durations violates the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment and amounts to sexual violence.
Human Rights Watch has also accused the Israeli government of allowing these kinds of practices. “Israeli authorities have for months turned a blind eye as members of their military published dehumanizing fully or seminude images and videos of Palestinians in their custody,” said Balkees Jarrah, acting Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
CNN’s Kareem Khadder contributed reporting.
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The Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) has issued an urgent plea for intervention by authorities to halt an oil spill from a leaking wellhead and extinguish a resulting fire between Bukuma and Buguma in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State. The group described the situation as a prolonged environmental assault that requires immediate attention.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement released by EDEN’s Media Manager, Elvira Jordan, the call came after distressed residents of the community reported a massive fire outbreak at the wellhead, which has been leaking crude oil since early January 2025.
A community resident, speaking anonymously to EDEN, claimed the fire erupted after an Air Force helicopter allegedly fired shots to disperse oil thieves near the wellhead.
Chima Williams, EDEN’s Executive Director, strongly criticized the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and other regulatory bodies for their failure to address the environmental disaster. He described the inaction as a severe violation of human and environmental rights.
“For the affected communities, 2025 has begun with devastation as their environment, which is their primary source of livelihood, suffers severe disruption. In a functioning society, oil spills and fires of this magnitude would not be left unchecked for such an extended period,” Williams said.
He highlighted the extensive ecological damage and health risks posed to the riverine communities, emphasizing the harmful exposure to chemicals in the delicate terrain.
Williams urged the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, NOSDRA, and other agencies to prioritize the welfare of the affected people. He also called on the military to adopt more professional and environmentally conscious strategies to combat oil theft and bunkering.
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The Sudanese army has successfully taken control of Wad Madani, a crucial city in central Sudan, marking a significant victory over the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the ongoing conflict that has gripped the country for nearly two years. Located 140 km (87 miles) south of Khartoum, Wad Madani is the capital of Gezira State and serves as an important transportation hub, linking key supply routes across Sudan. The capture of the city is one of the army’s most notable achievements since the war’s onset in April 2023.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Celebrations erupted among local residents as Sudanese soldiers entered the city, signaling a pivotal moment in the war. RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, acknowledged the loss, citing the army’s superior air power, particularly the use of Iranian-made drones, as a key factor. Despite the setback, Hemedti vowed to continue fighting, declaring the RSF is prepared to wage a prolonged war if necessary.
The conflict, which began as a power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese army, has devastated the country, with tens of thousands killed and millions displaced. Nearly half of Sudan’s population is in urgent need of food assistance. While the RSF still controls parts of western Darfur and southern Sudan, the Sudanese army dominates the north, east, and parts of Khartoum.
In response to the violence, the United States imposed sanctions on Hemedti and the RSF earlier this month, accusing them of committing genocide and atrocities against civilians, as part of international efforts to hold those responsible accountable and push for peace in Sudan.
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Emeka Rollas, the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), has denied reports claiming that he was arrested and detained in Umuahia, Abia State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Earlier reports suggested that Rollas was apprehended due to allegations of imposing an unelected chairman on the AGN’s Abia State chapter. However, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Cornel Udofia, on January 13, 2025, it was clarified that Rollas was never arrested or detained as the reports claimed.
Udofia explained that Rollas had visited Umuahia to attend the funeral of his mother-in-law and had taken the opportunity to attend the first meeting called by the interim chairman of the Abia State chapter of AGN. The purpose of his attendance was to encourage active participation from all members.
During the meeting, a person from the crowd began to verbally abuse and threaten Rollas. In response, Rollas contacted the AIG of Zone 9, who intervened and had the individuals questioned by the police. The meeting continued afterward, and Rollas later visited the police station to officially report the threat to his life.
Udofia also addressed claims about a supposed illegal election in Abia led by David Amalaha in 2024, stating that the situation had been contentious since the election and that interim administrations were in place as a result of legal disputes. He emphasized that Rollas’ presence in Abia was entirely related to his personal matters and to support the legitimate processes within the AGN.
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