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Palestinians Killed Amid Ongoing Military Operations in Gaza

Five Palestinians were killed and others were injured on Saturday as a result of Israeli shelling targeting the cities of Khan Younis and Gaza.
The Palestinian News and Information Agency (Wafa) reported that local sources said, "An Israeli drone struck a food charity center in the Qatatooa camp west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, resulting in the death of three citizens and injuries to others."
The U.S. State Department announced that Secretary Marco Rubio discussed the situation in Gaza by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizing Washington's insistence on freeing hostages and its support for Israel. According to the American site Axios, Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House next Monday.
In a related context, the Israeli army announced on Friday the start of a new ground operation in the city of Gaza, aimed at "expanding the security area" within the Palestinian territories. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, warned Israel that its military attacks put the hostages in a "very dangerous" situation, noting that half of them are located in areas designated by the Israeli army for evacuation.
Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the brigades, confirmed that his forces decided not to transfer these prisoners, increasing their dangerous situation. He added that the Civil Defense in Gaza has reported at least 30 deaths since dawn on Friday, as escalation continues.
Israel resumed fighting in Gaza last month after a weeks-long ceasefire, launching extensive strikes and conducting ground operations in various areas of the sector to pressure Hamas to release hostages who have been held since the start of the conflict in 2023.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced in recent days, marking one of the largest waves of mass displacement during the conflict, while Israeli forces are concentrated around the ruins of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. Local residents express concern that the aim of these operations is to permanently displace the population from their areas, including agricultural lands.
Elena Hlas, a resident of the Shujaiya neighborhood, expressed her suffering, stating that her family is trapped and that the situation is extremely dangerous with shells falling on civilian homes.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the army is expanding its operations to control "wide areas" aimed at destroying the infrastructure of terror networks. Meanwhile, Netanyahu stated that the army is "fragmenting" the sector to pressure Hamas into releasing the hostages.
It is noted that Israel resumed its intensive bombing of Gaza on March 18, after negotiations for a ceasefire agreement, which was reached in January following a prolonged conflict that lasted for more than 15 months, stalled.
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
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.
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