Offering "Safe Exit" to Those Who Surrender Arms.. Netanyahu: The War Continues
Netanyahu's insistence on continuing the war despite Sinwar's death reflects Israel's strategy to achieve broader goals in Gaza, moving beyond targeting Hamas leaders to reshaping the political and se
October 17, 2024, 11:39 pm

نتنياهو \ تعبيرية \ متداول

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed today, Thursday, the death of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas leader in Gaza, during an Israeli military operation. Netanyahu stated that Israel has "settled its account" with Sinwar, but emphasized that "the war is not over yet," adding: "A blow has been dealt to evil, but the mission is not complete".

Netanyahu stressed Israel's determination to continue military operations "with full force until the hostages are returned." In a notable move, he pledged not to harm the kidnappers of hostages in Gaza if they release them, indicating that anyone who surrenders their weapons and helps return the hostages will be allowed to safely exit Gaza.

The Israeli Prime Minister emphasized that "Hamas will not rule Gaza," addressing the residents of the Strip by saying: "Sinwar destroyed your lives." Netanyahu considered Sinwar's death an opportunity to bring peace to the Middle East, describing the event as an "important milestone" in Hamas's decline.

Earlier, the Israeli army announced that its forces killed Sinwar in southern Gaza on Wednesday, noting that the operation came after "a year-long pursuit."

The statement added that the army and Shin Bet carried out "dozens of operations over recent months that led to reducing Yahya Sinwar's area of operation, finally resulting in his elimination."

Israel accuses Sinwar of being one of the main planners of Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the death of 1,206 people.

Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign in Gaza, which has so far resulted in the death of at least 42,438 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to official Palestinian figures.

It's worth noting that Sinwar had been elected as the head of Hamas's political bureau in August, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh who was assassinated in Tehran on July 31, in an operation attributed to Israel.

These developments come amid ongoing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, raising questions about the future of the conflict and the extent to which a peaceful settlement can be achieved in the region.

Levant-Agencies

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.