Good afternoon, wonderful people, and happy hump day — the last of which we’ll be seeing this month. We hope you’re enjoying the mild weather today as the weekend inches closer.

THE BIG STORY TODAY-

The Qantara West Industrial Zone is getting another Chinese textile project, with the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) inking a contract with Shaoxing Beiqi Textile to establish a USD 7.0 mn ready-made garments factory, according to an SCZone statement. The Chinese company will fully self-finance the project, which is expected to create 3k direct jobs.

Export is the name of the game, with 90% of the 10 mn piece annual output earmarked for export and only 10% destined for the local market.

This brings Qantara West’s total number of contracted projects to 21, with a combined investment cost of USD 603.5 mn and the expectation that 30.6k new jobs will be created.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly reprimanded Israel at a press conference in Turku, Finland today, stating that Israel’s massive air strikes are not “comprehensible,” and no longer justified by the need to fight Hamas, according to Reuters. Merz’s criticism reflects shifting public opinion toward the Israeli occupation of Gaza, even among its most devoted supporters. Reuters reports that Merz plans to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week following an alarming increase in attacks on Gaza over recent days. (Reuters)

This comes hot on the heels of Israeli air strikes targeting a school-turned-shelter in Gaza, along with other populated locations. At least 25 people in the school were killed and many more severely injured, though exact casualty figures remain unclear due to the eradication of medical services in Gaza. Israel claimed in a statement that its strikes targeted an active intelligence command and control center operated by Hamas. However, witnesses reported that the school sheltered thousands of displaced Palestinian civilians and showed no signs of armed presence. (Washington Post)

The attacks follow the start of food distribution operations by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The GHF — a US and Israel-backed private aid organization — began the distribution of food despite significant controversy, with the UN and other aid groups refusing to cooperate, accusing the foundation of “weaponising aid.” GHF claims to have delivered truckloads of food to secure locations, but has refrained from disclosing where the aid was delivered or the quantities involved. (BBC | Washington Post)

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- Today’s mild temperatures are holding steady, with the weather in the capital tomorrow peaking at a sunny 32°C and cooling to 20°C at night, according to our favorite weather app.

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