Talks in Geneva Secure Safe Humanitarian Access to People in Need in Sudan

A handout image shows aid trucks with relief material for Sudan's Darfur region, at a location given as the border of Chad and Sudan, released on August 21, 2024. (UNHCRinSudan via X/Handout via Reuters)
A handout image shows aid trucks with relief material for Sudan's Darfur region, at a location given as the border of Chad and Sudan, released on August 21, 2024. (UNHCRinSudan via X/Handout via Reuters)
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Talks in Geneva Secure Safe Humanitarian Access to People in Need in Sudan

A handout image shows aid trucks with relief material for Sudan's Darfur region, at a location given as the border of Chad and Sudan, released on August 21, 2024. (UNHCRinSudan via X/Handout via Reuters)
A handout image shows aid trucks with relief material for Sudan's Darfur region, at a location given as the border of Chad and Sudan, released on August 21, 2024. (UNHCRinSudan via X/Handout via Reuters)

The Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) Group secured on Saturday guarantees from the Sudanese warring parties to provide safe and unhindered humanitarian access through two key routes.

The routes are the Western border crossing in Darfur at Adre and the Dabbah Road with access through the North and West from Port Sudan.

Aaid trucks are on the road to provide famine relief in Zamzam Camp and other parts of Darfur, said the group that includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, United States, Egypt, Switzerland, the United Nations and African Union.

The ALPS Group had convened in Geneva for the past 10 days with the objective of taking concrete and immediate action to deal with the situation in Sudan.

“The Sudanese people have suffered 16 horrific months of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that has resulted in ten million people being forced to flee their homes, more than 25 million people plagued by acute hunger, and one million people facing starvation,” it said in a statement.

“Responding to the demand of the Sudanese people for greater action by the international community, the United States, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, African Union, and United Nations convened in Switzerland on August 14 with the objective of taking concrete and immediate action to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people, save lives, and achieve a lasting cessation of hostilities,” it added.

“Building upon the foundation of the Jeddah process, over the last 10 days, the ALPS Group secured the reopening and expansion of critical humanitarian access routes, received commitments to improve the protection of civilians, particularly women and children, and developed a framework to ensure compliance with the Jeddah Declaration and any future agreements between the warring parties,” it stressed.

“Using a hybrid negotiating model that combined in-person, proximity, and virtual diplomacy, the ALPS Group partnered with frontline humanitarian responders and directly engaged the RSF and SAF to open access for the delivery of emergency food, medicine, and services to millions of Sudanese in need.”

“These routes must remain open and safe so we can surge aid into Darfur and begin to turn the tide against famine. Food and starvation cannot be used as a weapon of war,” declared the statement.

“We continue to make progress toward opening an access route through the Sennar junction, and the United Nations is undertaking a feasibility study for routes across the country that can enable aid access.”

“Collectively, securing these routes would expand humanitarian access for nearly 20 million vulnerable Sudanese.”

“We call on all parties to ensure that this urgent flow of aid continues and accelerates. To that end, we also welcome the RSF acceptance of a streamlined notification system to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, and encourage SAF to take action on similar proposals.”

“In the face of ongoing brutal violence and atrocities, including gross violations against women, it is critical that the two warring parties take immediate action toward the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, of May 11, 2023, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 2724 and 2736, adopted on March 8 and June 13, 2024, respectively, and the latest communiqué of the African Union Peace and Security Council dated June 21,” said the statement.

To that end, the ALPS Group also worked to advance the protection of civilians, consistent with obligations of the parties under international humanitarian and human rights law and the Jeddah commitments.

“We have urged both parties, and received the RSF's commitment, to issue command directives to all fighters throughout their ranks to refrain from violations, including violence against women or children, the use of starvation or checkpoints for exploitation, and attacks on humanitarian operations and essential services such as agricultural fields, farmers and operations related to the harvest.”

Additionally, the ALPS Group presented to both warring parties a proposal for a compliance mechanism to resolve disputes, receive complaints, and address problems arising in relation to implementation of commitments around the protection of civilians under existing agreements, including the Jeddah Declaration, and international humanitarian and human rights law.

“We and other partners stand ready to work with the parties to operationalize this mechanism. We appreciate the RSF decision to send a senior delegation to Switzerland to engage with the ALPS Group,” added the statement.

“Though we were in consistent communication with SAF virtually, we regret their decision not to be present, and we believe that limited our ability to make more substantial progress toward key issues, particularly a national cessation of hostilities.”

The ALPS Group remains open to both parties joining future rounds of talks to urgently relieve the suffering of the Sudanese.

“We remain committed to answering the call of the people of Sudan to pursue a national cessation of hostilities, secure humanitarian access to every state across the country, and negotiate an immediate cessation of hostilities in areas such as el-Fasher, Khartoum, and Sennar.”

“Out of dedication to the Sudanese people, the ALPS Group will continue to build on the results and momentum created over the last 10 days. We will continue to elevate and integrate the voices of women in the process and broader efforts to improve humanitarian access, protect civilians, and end the war,” said the statement.

“We call on the international community to honor and increase its pledges of financial support for the humanitarian response in Sudan and the region, including those made in Paris in April 2024.”

“We will continue to build on the foundation of the Jeddah Declaration, under the auspices of Saudi Arabia.”



‘No One Dares’ … First Palestinian Response to Israeli Plan to Separate Hebron from PA

Israeli security forces stand guard as Israeli settlers tour in the Palestinian side of the old city and market of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
Israeli security forces stand guard as Israeli settlers tour in the Palestinian side of the old city and market of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
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‘No One Dares’ … First Palestinian Response to Israeli Plan to Separate Hebron from PA

Israeli security forces stand guard as Israeli settlers tour in the Palestinian side of the old city and market of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
Israeli security forces stand guard as Israeli settlers tour in the Palestinian side of the old city and market of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)

A report published by The Wall Street Journal, and promoted by Israeli media on Sunday, has renewed focus on an Israeli plan dating back more than 60 years aimed at pushing for the creation of “emirates” or entities independent from the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The report focused on the Palestinian city of Hebron, and cited what it claimed were “21 tribal elders from Hebron,” who allegedly sent a letter in Hebrew to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for negotiations with them to join the Abraham Accords and consequently abandon the “two-state solution,” which Palestinians rely on to establish their state.

However, a Palestinian security source, in remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, said: “What is happening is yet another Israeli attempt to weaken the Palestinian Authority.”

“This is a failed plan,” he said: “No one here would dare take this step and say: I am the spy... I am the alternative to the Authority ... Those who tried that are known and represent no one.”

Reportedly, the elders included a detailed proposed timetable for talks to join the Abraham Accords and for “a fair and decent arrangement that would replace the Oslo Accords, which only brought damage, death, economic disaster and destruction.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, the initiative was helmed by Wadee al-Jaabari, who local city residents and its political leadership claim is unknown to them, and backed by "four other leading Hebron sheikhs.”

Palestinian city residents, including Jaabari's extended family members, condemned the proposal, saying that its authors do not represent them.

Israeli sources said that Economy Minister Nir Barkat stands behind the letter, which was allegedly sent to him. Barkat met at his home with al-Jaabari and the other sheikhs; he has held more than 12 meetings with them since February, The Wall Street Journal said. They asked him to forward the letter to Netanyahu and are now waiting for his response.

The sheikhs reportedly proposed that Israel grant work permits to 1,000 workers from Hebron on a trial basis, and then extend this to another 5,000.

According to Maariv newspaper, the Israeli government is “seeking to promote this plan to destroy the Palestinian Authority and the establishment of a Palestinian state.”