Protesters in Libya Threaten to Shut Down Oil and Gas Facilities

A general view shows Libya's Sharara oilfield on December 3, 2014. (Reuters)
A general view shows Libya's Sharara oilfield on December 3, 2014. (Reuters)
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Protesters in Libya Threaten to Shut Down Oil and Gas Facilities

A general view shows Libya's Sharara oilfield on December 3, 2014. (Reuters)
A general view shows Libya's Sharara oilfield on December 3, 2014. (Reuters)

Protesters have threatened to shut down two oil and gas facilities near the Libyan capital Tripoli, with one group that is campaigning against corruption issuing a 72-hour ultimatum that ends on Friday.
The group called the Corruption Eradication Movement said in a video statement online that it would "stop the pumping of gas from the Mellitah complex", a joint venture between Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Italy's Eni.
Any halt would disrupt the supply of gas through the Greenstream pipeline between Libya and Italy.
Eni declined to comment and NOC was not immediately available for comment on the latest threat.
The protesters demanded the removal of NOC Chairman Farhat Bengdara over what they called “violations amounting to the level of crime".
They also demanded Bengdara be prevented from concluding any oil and gas agreements.
Other demands included job opportunities for young people in areas near the oil facilities and preventing environmental pollution.
"If the authorities do not respond to our demands, the movement may develop into civil disobedience," the group's spokesman Salem Mohamed told Reuters by phone.
Libya's oil sector, the country's major source of income, has been a target for local and broader political protests since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011.
Local groups and larger national ones alike have sought a bigger share of state revenue as well as political changes.
It was unclear whether the latest protesters have the capacity to close facilities.
The movement has said it would close NOC's Zawiya refinery, west of Tripoli, which can process 120,000 barrels per day, making it the country's biggest functioning refinery.
The refinery is connected to the 3000,000 bpd Sharara field. NOC declared force majeure on Sunday in Sharara production.
The field was closed by protesters from the Fezzan region in the south of the country last week to press demands for “better services”.
NOC said that the closure of Sharara suspended the crude oil supplies to Zawiya terminal.
It also said on Tuesday that Bengdara met with Fezzan region leaders to discuss the repercussions of the force majeure.



Hamas: Israel's Claim on Hostages' Handover Ceremony is Pretext to Evade Obligations

Fighters from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades escort Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov before handing him over to the Red Cross in Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 22 February, 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
Fighters from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades escort Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov before handing him over to the Red Cross in Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 22 February, 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
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Hamas: Israel's Claim on Hostages' Handover Ceremony is Pretext to Evade Obligations

Fighters from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades escort Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov before handing him over to the Red Cross in Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 22 February, 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
Fighters from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades escort Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov before handing him over to the Red Cross in Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 22 February, 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Hamas on Sunday condemned Israel's decision to postpone the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, saying its claim that the hostages' handover ceremonies are "humiliating" was false and a pretext to evade Israel's obligations under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Netanyahu's decision reflects a deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement, represents a clear violation of its terms, and shows the occupation's lack of reliability in implementing its obligations," Ezzat El Rashq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said in a statement.

Israel said earlier it was delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners it had planned to free the day before until Hamas met its conditions, underscoring the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire accord.

Netanyahu's office released a statement in the early hours of Sunday saying that Israel was waiting to deliver the 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees "until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies."

According to Reuters, Hamas' El Rashq said the ceremonies do not include any insult to the hostages, "but rather reflect the humane and dignified treatment of them,” adding that the "real insult" is what the Palestinian prisoners are subjected to during the release process.

The Palestinian militant group official cited the hands' tying of the Palestinian prisoners and detainees and their blindfolding and threatening them not to hold any celebrations for their release as examples of their humiliation at the hands of Israeli authorities.

Hamas has made hostages appear on stage in front of crowds and sometimes speak before they were handed over. Coffins with hostage remains have also been carried through crowds.

Israel's announcement, which also accused Hamas of repeatedly violating the month-old ceasefire, came after the Palestinian militant group on Saturday handed over six hostages from Gaza as part of an exchange arranged under the truce.