2024-04-21 03:33:36
“Time” magazine issued its annual list of the 100 most influential people for the year 2024, on Wednesday, through which it aims to highlight the change makers of the past year, and includes dozens of athletes, artists, politicians and influencers.
The war in Gaza cast a shadow on this year’s edition of the list, as two Arab figures were chosen because of their “influential” role in the crisis: the Palestinian journalist, Moataz Al-Azaizeh, and the Qatari Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
The magazine stated that for 108 days, Moataz Azaizeh was the eyes and ears of the world in his homeland of Gaza.
She said: “Armed with a camera and a bulletproof vest bearing the word (press), the 25-year-old Palestinian photographer spent nearly four months documenting life under Israeli bombing, from families displaced from their homes, women mourning their loved ones, and men trapped under… “Rubble.”
The magazine added: “His photos offered a glimpse of Gaza that few international press, which were denied access to the Strip, could rival, but he did so at great risk, as at least 95 journalists were killed and dozens more were injured or arrested in Gaza since October 7.” “This is the bloodiest period for journalism since the Committee to Protect Journalists began tracking the deaths in 1992.”
The magazine noted that since the evacuation of Gaza in January, Al-Azayza’s role has shifted to raising awareness of the crisis and calling for international intervention. He said: “What is happening in Gaza does not satisfy you. We’re not telling you what’s happening…in order to get views or shares, we’re waiting for you to act. “We need to stop this war.”
Regarding the Qatari role in the Gaza war, the magazine stated that in his capacity as Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani focused on the turbulent negotiations between Hamas and Israel, which have so far resulted in a week-long ceasefire and the release of more than 100 hostages. .
The magazine explained that in addition to the prosperity and wealth that Qatar enjoys due to the oil and gas it possesses, this small kingdom has demonstrated, by hosting the 2022 World Cup, the extent of the impact it can have.
A year later, the magazine reported, Qatar had acquired a more sober importance, emerging as a reliable interlocutor between Israel and Hamas.
The magazine believes that even before October 7, the 43-year-old prime minister had impressed American officials as a mediator in other trouble spots, including South America. But in the Middle East, he says, “Unfortunately, everyone is dancing on the edge.”
Another Gaza war negotiator included on the list was CIA Director William Burns, who the magazine said “With his constant eyes, kindly smile, and Acheson mustache, CIA Director William Burns exudes a mixture of confidence and humility that makes him seem, as he is, a “A throwback to an era when reserved statesmen advised presidents of both parties and served as special envoys handling sensitive diplomatic missions.”
She added: “He is not only smart, but also wise, and enjoys the trust of allies and adversaries as an honest mediator, including Russia, where he served as ambassador to former US President George W. Bush, and Iran, whose efforts helped negotiate the nuclear agreement during the era of President Barack.” Obama.”
As for US President Joe Biden, Burns made a back-channel mission to Moscow to try to avoid the Ukrainian war and made several trips to Kiev to look for ways to end it, according to the magazine. She explained that recently, Burns led the efforts aimed at releasing the hostages and establishing a ceasefire in Gaza.
The list included many other names in various fields, including Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the Russian opposition figure who died in a Russian detention camp, Alexei Navalny, who many described as the harshest critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In addition to Navalnaya, the list included actress Taraji P. P. Henson, who fights for equality in Hollywood, NFL star Patrick Mahomes, who led his Kansas City Chiefs to four Super Bowl appearances in his career, and artist Dua Lipa, described by Patti Smith. It redefines the world of pop music.
This year’s list also included 12 climate and sustainability leaders, including Brazilian Government Minister Marina Silva, Chinese automaker Wang Quanfu, and researcher Suzanne Simard. In a year of change in medicine, the magazine honored healthcare executive Dave Ricks and scientists Dan Drucker, Joel Habner, and Svetlana Mojsov.
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2024-04-21 03:33:36