Israel kills two Palestinians, including 16 year-old, in West Bank

al Jazeera:

Israel kills two Palestinians, including 16 year-old, in West Bank

Israeli forces kill two Palestinians, including a teenager, in the occupied West Bank amid continued violence against Palestinians

Israeli forces killed two Palestinians, including a teen, during a raid in the West Bank

By Tim Hume
Published On 21 Dec 2025

Israeli forces have shot dead two Palestinians, including a teenage boy, during separate raids in the Jenin governorate in the occupied West Bank, officials say, with security camera footage showing soldiers shooting the victim at a “point-blank” range.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced late on Saturday that Rayyan Abdel Qader, 16, had been fatally shot by Israeli forces after storming the town of Qabatiya, while the second victim, 22-year-old Ahmad Zayoud, was killed in Silat al-Harithiya, west of Jenin.

Witnesses said Israeli troops had opened fire directly at Abdel Qader, the Wafa news agency reported on Sunday, blocking emergency crews from reaching him, leaving him to bleed until he died. His body was held by Israeli forces, the Palestinian agency reported.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Zayoud was shot in the chest. A 15-year-old Palestinian boy sustained injuries to his hand during the incident, the ministry said.

Zayoud’s killing comes about a week after Israeli forces killed a 16-year-old in the town.

Reporting from Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim said surveillance footage showed Abdel Qader walking towards what locals said was his home when Israeli forces shot him “point-blank”.

“We don’t often have video surveillance to show how many of these killings have been done under what Palestinians call extrajudicial killings, which is Israeli forces killing Palestinians point-blank or under excuses that they say they’ve been doing something that is seen as resisting Israeli forces,” she said.

“Not only that, they refused to let anyone come close to the body for 40 minutes, a practice we’ve been seeing a lot in the occupied West Bank where Israeli forces kind of wait for the person to die,” Ibrahim said.
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Al Jazeera spoke to Abdel Qader’s family, who said they had no idea what had happened.

“It’s really part of the pain that the families have to endure, seeing videos like that showing how little regard the Israeli army has for Palestinian lives,” Ibrahim said.

Over 200 children killed since 2023

On the other hand, the Israeli military said the deaths occurred after the victims hurled a block and an explosive at their forces – claims that have turned out to be false most of the time. It claimed that Abdel Qader had been shot after hurling a block towards its soldiers, who responded with fire, while Zayoud had thrown an explosive.

No Israeli troops were injured in the incidents, it said.

The latest deaths bring the death toll from Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank to 1,101, including 229 children, since October 7, 2023 – the day of the Hamas-led attack that led to a brutal Israeli response against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Nearly 21,000 Palestinians have been arrested by Israeli authorities during that period. As of December 1, some 9,300 Palestinian prisoners were in Israeli jails, more than a third of them detained without charges.

Palestinian prisoners have routinely been tortured, sexually abused and even killed in custody, while attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have surged amid the mainstreaming of the far-right in the country. Israel has confirmed the identities of 86 Palestinian prisoners who died in its custody. On Sunday, the Israeli government approved the construction of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank in violation of international laws.

Numerous rights organisations have dubbed Israeli action in Gaza as an act of genocide, and the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes.

The violence has played out in tandem with ongoing deadly Israeli attacks in Gaza, in violation of the ceasefire signed in October, prompting warnings that they could jeopardise diplomatic efforts to advance to the second phase of the United States-brokered agreement. Israel has killed at least 400 Palestinians since the ceasefire pushed by US President Donald Trump came into effect on October 10.

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Shailoks beasts (of Babylon)

Adam Adli urged to scrap PTPTN loans as he becomes Deputy Higher Education Minister

Adam Adli urged to scrap PTPTN loans as he becomes Deputy Higher Education Minister


He had previously been a strong and vocal critic of PTPTN loan debt

By NOR AZURA MD AMIN

17 Dec 2025 09:58am








JOHOR BAHRU – Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli has been challenged to abolish the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans.

Congratulating him on his new appointment, Johor State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the portfolio was most fitting for Adam, as he had previously been a strong and vocal critic of the PTPTN loan debt.

“Now you can abolish PTPTN loans. Please raise your voice loudly in the post-Cabinet meetings of the Higher Education Ministry to abolish PTPTN loans. Then it would feel worth it, sleeping in a tent at Dataran Merdeka.

“That’s what Rafizi meant by reviving the idealism of reform as a test of power (HIRUK). Being in the opposition is easy, but once you’re in government, you’ll realise how high the sky really is. Surely you’re not planning to sleep at Dataran Merdeka again,” he said in a Facebook post.

The Federal Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday saw Adam shifting from his previous role as Deputy Youth and Sports Minister to Deputy Higher Education Minister.

During the student activism era of the early 2010s, Adam was one of the main advocates of free education in Malaysia and campaigned aggressively for the abolition of PTPTN loans.

***

Govt can't recover PTPTN loans because (the TRUTH) there exists no (NIL) records of loans taken since early days - in its early days PTPTN loans were given out willy-nilly like free chocolate, wakakaka.

Isn’t it misplaced emotion to boycott 99 Speedmart just because grocery chain recognises UEC?

Isn’t it misplaced emotion to boycott 99 Speedmart just because grocery chain recognises UEC?





99 SPEEDMART – the fuss-free convenience store chain renowned for its unbeatable value and absolute convenience – has apparently found itself in the line of fire by some rightist individuals for recruiting store managers who possess a Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) qualification.


This came about after an X user voiced concern that the neighbourhood store chain which currently recognises UEC, diploma and degree in its branch manager hiring might gradually shift to “solely recognising UEC” in its entire recruitment process.

The post was chanced upon by a self-proclaimed anti-racist who then accused 99 Speedmart for “creating a systematic racism”.

“UEC graduates can work as pengurus cawangan (branch manager) but STPM graduates can only work as cashier which amount to the same salary as SPM holders,” fumed Qeez (@qeezfiki) who also described himself as a thinker and anti-feminist.

Qeez

@qeezfikir

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UEC graduates can work as pengurus cawangan but STPM graduates can only work as cashier, which amount to the same salary as SPM holders. So, STPM graduates need another 2-3 yrs for diploma to hold the same position as UEC graduates. They are creating a systematic racism

isu apa hari ini

@dahfollowbelum

2026-UEC Diiktiraf 2027-Jawatan Kosong! Syarat kelayakan-SPM atau UEC 2037-Jawatan Kosong! Syarat Kelayakan-UEC Sahaja. CONTOH

10:02 PM · Dec 15, 2025

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“So, STPM graduates need another two to three years for diploma to hold the same position as UEC graduates.”

Editor’s Note: While UEC is not recognised for entry into Malaysian public universities or civil service, private sector businesses like 99 Speedmart do exercise their own discretion to accept it as equivalent to national or international school-leaving certificates.

It is learnt that current employees, including those in executive positions (such as human resources) are UEC graduates from Chinese independent schools.

Pitted against the national level UEC flare-up with the UEC recognition issue now a hot potato after being grossly politicised, one can understand why rightist groups felt threatened by the UEC recognition.

“They have been doing the same shit using ‘Mandarin speaker’”, no bidet in mall and now pet-friendly mall. How long are we still tolerating (for) this in a Muslim majority country?” berated Qeez.




This was when a commenter mooted a boycott against the convenience store chain along with Burger King Malaysia & Singapore in which 99 Speedmart founder Lee Thiam Wah had reportedly bought the BK franchise (private ownership) in 2015 from Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas) for RM74.6 mil.

99 Speedmart founder Lee Thiam Wah (in wheelchair)


“An attempt to put UEC holders at par with university graduate,” he snubbed to which Qeez felt that “another Zionism needs to be boycotted in Malaysia, too, or bring back BMF (Buy Muslim First) … choose either one of it”.

While it is solely the prerogative of rightists to rally likeminded individuals into their fray, one wonders if such boycott call does smack short-sightedness for it overlooked the bigger picture.

Amid the spiralling cost of living, consumers these days are wise enough to draw the distinction between putting food on the table and ‘blindly’ stage a boycott against some unfounded concerns propagated by rightist politicians to derive political mileage.

Above all else, the boycott call is seemingly unlikely to shake nor cripple the convenience store chain which recently opened its 3,000th outlet in Bestari Jaya, Selangor as it continues to expand its nationwide network.

99 Speedmart

about 3 weeks ago

Kami dengan bangganya mengumumkan pembukaan rasmi cawangan ke-3000 yang terletak di Caledonia Avenue, Bestari Jaya, Selangor pada 28 November 2025.

Majlis bersejarah ini telah disempurnakan oleh YBhg. Dato’ Chua Tia Guan, Pengerusi 99 Holdings, bersama Encik Lee Thiam Wah, Pengarah Eksekutif dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif 99 Holdings, berserta Puan Ng Lee Tieng, Pengarah Bukan Eksekutif 99 Holdings — menandakan satu lagi pencapaian penting dalam perjalanan kami sebagai peneraju ...

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99

Moreover, its listed entity 99 Speed Mart Retail Holdings Bhd is equally faring well with its stock price having spiralled 121% from its initial public offering (IPO) price of RM1.65 based on yesterday’s closing price of RM3.65 which gave the company a market capitalisation of RM30.66 bil. – Dec 18, 2025

Can house arrest revive Najib's political fortunes?

Can house arrest revive Najib's political fortunes?

Hariz Mohd
Published: Dec 21, 2025 8:00 PM
Updated: 11:05 PM



The court decision on Najib Abdul Razak's house arrest bid tomorrow will determine whether the jailed ex-prime minister will be able to wield influence like he once did, even after he lost power in the 14th general election.

While some lawyers opined that Najib’s access to visitors and outside contact will be curtailed just as it is in Kajang Prison, others argued the 72-year-old could still impact Umno, of which he was once president.

The ex-Pekan MP will be waiting on a court verdict tomorrow morning over whether he can serve the rest of his six-year sentence for corruption at home.

Ex-Bar Council president Ragunath Kesavan cautioned that should the High Court uphold a royal decree allowing him house arrest, Najib might not even get to go home so soon.

This was because Najib's release would be subject to terms and conditions to be imposed by the prison authorities, on top of a potential stay application by the prosecution, the lawyer explained.

As for what house arrest would look like, Ragunath said the home Najib would be staying in would still be run like a prison, with restrictions on his movements and communications.

He pointed out that Najib will not be able to access social media or communicate as freely with the outside world as he once did before he was sent to prison in September 2022.

"So unlikely he can go home immediately. Technically, the home imprisonment would be similar to prison and therefore limited access to visitors, etc and also social media,” Ragunath said.

Even after he lost power in the 2018 national election, Najib wielded immense influence over social media and was a frequent thorn in the side of the then Pakatan Harapan government.

Better access to public

However, another lawyer, Haniff Khatri Abdulla, said that while the number of visitors will remain limited, home imprisonment for Najib will be different from incarceration in Kajang Prison.

"Being at home, of course, his access to the public would be much better compared to being in prison.

"So, he can play an important part, even though he's serving prison from home, rather than from prison.

"For example, if the 16th general election is coming up, of course, Umno will consult him on what to do, how to do it, the tactics, this and that… much easier, subject to them having access to his house," the veteran criminal lawyer said.

Veteran lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla


Should the ruling be favourable to Najib, Haniff shared the same view as Ragunath that the Attorney-General's Chambers might request a stay of the decision pending their appeal at a higher court.

However, unlike the other lawyer, Haniff believed that the High Court should allow Najib to serve his house arrest immediately, citing the principle of human liberty guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.

Regarding the circumstances of a house arrest, Haniff said the Prisons Department would have to iron out the minute details, including which residence Najib is to serve his sentence, how many visitors he would be allowed, the number of prison officers and how they are to be deployed, among others.

Given how it is still an incarceration, Haniff said Najib will have to stay inside and may not be allowed to leave the house at all.

“He may be around in the compound of the house, but he can't be leaving the house because he's not leaving the prison," he added.

Political comeback?

Political analyst Mazlan Ali speculated that Najib's release to serve the remainder of his sentence at home might help Umno regain lost support from its rank and file members who did not vote for the party in GE15 and state elections, but not overall public support towards the coalition government.

"His popularity is not that high among the rakyat nowadays. Perhaps only among Umno members and supporters,” he said.

"Because the rakyat today is choosing between the Madani government and Perikatan Nasional. The Malays today are more towards (PN's) Islamic narrative.

"The factor that can balance out (PN's influence) is programmes and incentives by Prime Minister Anwar (Ibrahim) administration, like the subsidies and anti-corruption campaign," he added.

Mazlan believed there was a low chance for the septuagenarian to make a political comeback should he be successful in his house arrest bid.

He said this was due to Najib’s age and his other ongoing court case, which might make him miss the next general election.

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One certain "someone" will be monitoring and ensuring the conditions for Najib will not be too lenient, wakakaka