Algeria-US Discuss Reinforcing ‘Strategic Partnership’

Secretary Antony J. Blinken receives Algerian counterpart in Washington. (AFP)
Secretary Antony J. Blinken receives Algerian counterpart in Washington. (AFP)
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Algeria-US Discuss Reinforcing ‘Strategic Partnership’

Secretary Antony J. Blinken receives Algerian counterpart in Washington. (AFP)
Secretary Antony J. Blinken receives Algerian counterpart in Washington. (AFP)

Secretary Antony J. Blinken said on Wednesday that the US and Algeria share important security, economic, people-to-people ties, and a lot of shared interests, “particularly when it comes to dealing with terrorism, and also advancing peace and security in the broad region and particularly, of course, in the Sahel.”

During his meeting with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf in Washington, Blinken expressed aspirations to discuss the matters suggested by his Algerian counterpart in addition to electing Algeria as non-permanent member of the Security Council for the year 2024.

For his part, Attaf said that he met several years ago with the late Secretary Madeleine Albright.

“Since then, the relations between our two countries have come a long way in fulfilling the promises that we envisioned together.”

The Algerian foreign ministry revealed that the two officials discussed the situation in Niger, Mali, and Libya and reaffirmed the two countries’ support for peaceful solutions to these crises, in a way that spares the region the military option.

Attaf arrived in Washington on Wednesday upon an invitation by Blinken, said the ministry, adding that the two-day visit is part of efforts to reinforce economic cooperation and intensify political dialogue between Algeria and the US in a way that serves both parties’ aspiration of building a strategic partnership and advances their joint pledges regarding establishing stability in the region and the world.



Gunmen Shoot, Kill Aid Worker in Gaza, Charity and Family Say

Destruction in Gaza caused by Israeli airstrikes (The AP)
Destruction in Gaza caused by Israeli airstrikes (The AP)
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Gunmen Shoot, Kill Aid Worker in Gaza, Charity and Family Say

Destruction in Gaza caused by Israeli airstrikes (The AP)
Destruction in Gaza caused by Israeli airstrikes (The AP)

Palestinian gunmen in the Gaza Strip shot and killed an aid worker from a US based charity, firing on her car in what government officials told her family was a case of mistaken identity.

The car in which Islam Hejazy, Gaza program manager at HEAL Palestine, was travelling was intercepted on Thursday in the area of Khan Younis in the south of the enclave, Reuters reported.

Gunmen riding in three cars sprayed the vehicle with dozens of bullets, according to residents and the woman's family.

"She was the mother of two small children and a humanitarian with the highest ethics and professionalism," HEAL Palestine, posted on its Facebook page.

"HEAL Palestine is more dedicated than ever to serving Gaza, in her honor. Ceasefire now," it added.

Her family issued a statement on Friday, saying they were told by government parties at the hospital where her body was taken that she was killed by mistake. Her killers, whose identity wasn't immediately clear, had failed to identify the vehicle she was driving, they said.

There has been no immediate comment from Hamas.

"That was a bigger shock .. How would an innocent soul be wasted and 90 bullets fired at her car just for mistaken identification?" the family said in a statement published by Palestinian media.

Reuters said it was not able to verify the number of bullets fired.

The incident highlights growing chaos and anarchy in Gaza almost a year into Israel's military offensive, which has weakened the ability of Hamas-run security services to police the streets, according to the group.

Palestinians have complained of rising theft, gangsters, and price-gouging merchants. Gaza has a population of 2.3 million people and most of them have been internally displaced by the war.