China Hopes Palestinian Factions Can Create Independent State Soon 

The sun sets over central Gaza, amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel, July 30, 2024. (Reuters)
The sun sets over central Gaza, amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel, July 30, 2024. (Reuters)
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China Hopes Palestinian Factions Can Create Independent State Soon 

The sun sets over central Gaza, amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel, July 30, 2024. (Reuters)
The sun sets over central Gaza, amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel, July 30, 2024. (Reuters)

China hopes Palestinian factions can create an independent state as soon as possible, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday while addressing a query on the killing of the Hamas chief in Iran.

"China earnestly looks forward to all Palestinian factions, on the basis of internal reconciliation, create an independent Palestinian state as soon as possible," Lin Jian said during a regular press briefing.



Morocco Stops 45,000 Migrants from Crossing to Europe in 2024

File photo of a police officer standing near a Moroccan national flag near the main stadium during preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup in Agadir, December 10, 2013. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
File photo of a police officer standing near a Moroccan national flag near the main stadium during preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup in Agadir, December 10, 2013. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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Morocco Stops 45,000 Migrants from Crossing to Europe in 2024

File photo of a police officer standing near a Moroccan national flag near the main stadium during preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup in Agadir, December 10, 2013. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
File photo of a police officer standing near a Moroccan national flag near the main stadium during preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup in Agadir, December 10, 2013. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Morocco has stopped 45,015 people from illegally migrating to Europe since January and busted 177 migrant trafficking gangs, Morocco's state news agency MAP reported on Friday, citing interior ministry data.

Last year, Morocco stopped 75,184 people from illegally crossing to Europe, up 6% from a year earlier, government data showed.

The Moroccan navy has also rescued 10,859 migrants at sea so far this year, MAP said, citing the interior ministry data.

"In 2024, Morocco continues to face an increasing migratory pressure as a direct outcome of the prevailing instability in the Sahel region and porous borders," it quoted the ministry as saying.