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Arab League Warns against Israeli Invasion of Rafah, Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza

Banners celebrating the advent of Ramadan are seen at a shelter in Rafah. (AP)
Banners celebrating the advent of Ramadan are seen at a shelter in Rafah. (AP)
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Arab League Warns against Israeli Invasion of Rafah, Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza

Banners celebrating the advent of Ramadan are seen at a shelter in Rafah. (AP)
Banners celebrating the advent of Ramadan are seen at a shelter in Rafah. (AP)

The Arab League Council warned on Wednesday of the catastrophic consequences of “Israeli aggressive threats to invade and destroy the Palestinian city of Rafah, which is housing more than 1.5 million displaced citizens.”

During an extraordinary meeting in Cairo to discuss the war on Gaza, the council condemned the flow of weapons to Israel and Israel’s “continued genocide against the Palestinians.”

In a statement, the council denounced Israel’s refusal to comply with United Nations Security Council resolution 2728, which demands an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan, and an end to the Israeli crimes in the West Bank aimed at the systematic destruction of refugee camps.

The council emphasized “the necessity of implementing the decision of the Joint Arab Islamic Summit in Riyadh to break the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip, to allow the immediate access of Arab, Islamic, and international humanitarian aid convoys by land, sea, and air into the entire Strip, and to call on relevant international organizations to participate in breaking the siege.”

It expressed support for the Qatari-Egyptian effort to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, praising Algeria’s efforts at the Security Council and other international moves aimed at resolving the conflict in the region, as well as the growing demands by the European Union countries to recognize the State of Palestine.

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit underlined “the need to continue diplomatic work in order to stop the war in Gaza and ensure that Israel is held accountable for its crimes.”

He also called for maintaining “the struggle in all diplomatic arenas and global forums in the hopes of establishing an independent Palestine.”

Permanent Representative of Palestine to the League of Arab States Mohannad Al-Aklouk underlined his country’s support for Arab and international efforts aimed at resolving the conflict in the region according to international resolutions, and for the State of Palestine to obtain full membership in the United Nations.

He urged Arab countries, parliaments, civil society organizations, trade unions and federations concerned with human rights and international law to take urgent action before international judiciary to prosecute Israeli officials for their brutal crimes against Palestinian civilians, children and women.

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Erdogan Says Türkiye Can ‘Crush’ All Terrorists in Syria

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
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Erdogan Says Türkiye Can ‘Crush’ All Terrorists in Syria

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Wednesday that Türkiye had the power and ability to "crush" all terrorists in Syria, including ISIS and Kurdish militants, while urging all countries to "take their hands off" Syria.

Since last month's fall of Bashar al-Assad, Türkiye has said repeatedly it was time for the Kurdish YPG militia to disband. Ankara considers the group, which spearheads the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a terrorist organization.

Ankara has said the new Syrian administration must be given an opportunity to address the YPG presence, but also threatened to mount a new cross-border operation against the militia based in northeast Syria if its demands are not met.

Speaking in parliament, Erdogan said the YPG was the biggest problem in Syria now, and added that the group would not be able to escape its inevitable end unless it lays down its arms.

"Regarding fabricated excuses like ISIS, these have no convincing side anymore," Erdogan said, referring to the US position that the YPG was a key partner against ISIS in Syria and that it plays a vital role guarding prison camps where the extremist militants are kept.

"If there is really a fear of the ISIS threat in Syria and the region, the biggest power that has the will and power to resolve this issue is Türkiye," he said.

"Everyone should take their hands off Syria and we, along with our Syrian siblings, will crush the heads of ISIS, the YPG and other terrorist organizations in a short time."

Türkiye has repeatedly asked its NATO ally the United States to halt support for the SDF, and has said the new administration in Syria had offered to take over the management of the prisons.