gulf today

Bahrain telethon raises $3.9m for Gaza victim. A telethon organised by Bahrain television has raised $3.9 million in support of victims in Gaza amid a royal pledge to rebuild a school shelled by Israelis.
The nine-hour television event had a promising start after Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the head of the Royal Charity Foundation and chairman of the Bahrain National Committee for the Support of Palestinians in Gaza, donated BD100,000 ($265,957).
Leading businessmen and companies pledged generous contributions during the telethon. The second telethon will be held next Friday.
King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa pledged to rebuild Al Fakhoora School, in the Jabalia refugee camp in north Gaza, where dozens of people were killed in an Israeli attack.

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Compassion for Gazans under fire from the Israelis for the third consecutive week has been high among Bahrainis and expatriates.
On Friday, two massive rallies were held in Duraz, a village west to Manama, and in the city of Muharraq.
Thousands of worshippers staged the rally in Duraz after Shiite leaders held a common Friday prayer and called for greater support to Palestinians.
Muharraq Stadium was lit up in the evening when thousands of people gathered to listen to speeches praising the people in Gaza and condemning the Israelis for their atrocities