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Qatar, Egypt Say Assassinations Damage Gaza Truce Chances

A person watches the news on multiple TV screens, most of them announcing the killing of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 31, 2024. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/ File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
A person watches the news on multiple TV screens, most of them announcing the killing of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 31, 2024. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/ File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Qatar, Egypt Say Assassinations Damage Gaza Truce Chances

A person watches the news on multiple TV screens, most of them announcing the killing of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 31, 2024. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/ File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
A person watches the news on multiple TV screens, most of them announcing the killing of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 31, 2024. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/ File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Qatar and Egypt, which have acted as mediators in faltering ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, suggested on Wednesday that the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh could further jeopardize efforts to secure a truce in Gaza.

"Political assassinations and continued targeting of civilians in Gaza while talks continue leads us to ask, how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?" Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani wrote on X.

"Peace needs serious partners & a global stance against the disregard for human life."

Sheikh Mohammed, who is also foreign minister, later spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the phone and discussed continuing work towards a ceasefire.

Egypt's foreign ministry said in a statement that a "dangerous Israeli escalation policy" over the past two days had undermined efforts to broker an end to the fighting in Gaza.

"The coincidence of this regional escalation with the lack of progress in the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza increases the complexity of the situation and indicates the absence of Israeli political will to calm it down," the statement said.

"It undercuts the strenuous efforts made by Egypt and its partners to stop the war in the Gaza Strip and put an end to the human suffering of the Palestinian people," it added.

Qatar, Egypt and the United States have repeatedly tried to clinch a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza, where Israeli forces have killed more than 39,000 Palestinians since Hamas-led militants attacked Israel in October 7.

A final deal to halt nearly 10 months of war and release Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners has been complicated by changes sought by Israel, sources have told Reuters, and there was no sign of progress at the latest round of talks in Rome on Sunday.

 

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Arab World

Syria Leader Signs Constitutional Declaration, Hailing 'New History'

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa signs a new constitutional declaration, which will regulate the country's transitional period - AFP
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa signs a new constitutional declaration, which will regulate the country's transitional period - AFP
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Syria Leader Signs Constitutional Declaration, Hailing 'New History'

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa signs a new constitutional declaration, which will regulate the country's transitional period - AFP
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa signs a new constitutional declaration, which will regulate the country's transitional period - AFP

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday hailed the start of a "new history" for his country, signing into force a constitutional declaration regulating its five-year transitional period and laying out rights for women and freedom of expression.

The declaration comes three months after opposition factions toppled Bashar al-Assad's repressive government, leading to calls both inside and outside the country for an inclusive new Syria that respects rights.

The new authorities repealed the Assad-era constitution and dissolved parliament.

Interim President Sharaa on Thursday said he hoped the constitutional declaration would mark the beginning of "a new history for Syria, where we replace oppression with justice... and suffering with mercy", as he signed the document at the presidential palace, AFP reported.

The declaration sets out a transitional period of five years, during which a "transitional justice commission" would be formed to "determine the means for accountability, establish the facts, and provide justice to victims and survivors" of the former government's misdeeds.

The declaration enshrines "women's right to participate in work and education, and have all their social, political and economic rights guaranteed", said Abdul Hamid al-Awak, a member of the committee that drafted the declaration.

It maintains the requirement that the president of the republic must be a Muslim, with Islamic jurisprudence set out as "the main source" of legislation.

It also stipulates the "absolute separation of powers", Awak said, pointing to toppled president Assad's "encroachment" on other branches of government.

It gives the president a sole exceptional power: declaring a state of emergency.

Awak added that the people's assembly, a third of which will be appointed by the president, would be tasked with drafting all legislation.

A supreme electoral committee would be formed to oversee the election of members of the legislature.

- Cannot be impeached -

Under the declaration, the legislature cannot impeach the president, nor can the president dismiss any lawmakers.

Executive power would also be restricted to the president in the transitional period, Awak said, pointing to the need for "rapid action to confront any difficulties".

He added that the declaration also guarantees the "freedom of opinion, expression and the press".

The declaration affirms the independence of the judiciary and prohibits "the establishment of extraordinary courts", under which many Syrians suffered for decades, Awak said.

He said a committee would be formed to draft a new permanent constitution.

The declaration becomes effective as soon as it is officially published.

In late January, Sharaa promised a "constitutional declaration" to serve as a "legal reference" during the transitional period.

He then announced in early March the formation of a committee to draft the declaration that included two women.

That announcement came "based on the Syrian people's aspirations in building their state based on the rule of law, and building on the outcomes of the Syrian national dialogue conference", the presidency said at the time.

Sharaa was appointed interim president in late January.