Libya and Italy to Resume Flights

Head of Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah and Italy's visiting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands as they exchange a commemorative plaque during the inauguration of the 30th session of the Libyan-Italian Business Forum at the Tripoli Exhibition Center in Tripoli on October 29, 2024. (AFP)
Head of Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah and Italy's visiting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands as they exchange a commemorative plaque during the inauguration of the 30th session of the Libyan-Italian Business Forum at the Tripoli Exhibition Center in Tripoli on October 29, 2024. (AFP)
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Libya and Italy to Resume Flights

Head of Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah and Italy's visiting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands as they exchange a commemorative plaque during the inauguration of the 30th session of the Libyan-Italian Business Forum at the Tripoli Exhibition Center in Tripoli on October 29, 2024. (AFP)
Head of Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah and Italy's visiting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands as they exchange a commemorative plaque during the inauguration of the 30th session of the Libyan-Italian Business Forum at the Tripoli Exhibition Center in Tripoli on October 29, 2024. (AFP)

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Tuesday that flights with Libya will resume next year.

Italy’s national carrier ITA Airways will resume the flights in early 2025, she revealed during a visit to Libya - her fourth in 18 months.

Along with head of the Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, she took part in the opening of the 30th session of the Libyan-Italian Business Forum in the capital Tripoli.

Speaking at the event, she said relations with Libya were a “priority” and that they haven’t reached their highest levels yet.

She stressed that her government was seeking to restore some cooperation projects that were signed with Libya years ago and that it wanted to explore more opportunities for cooperation.

For his part, Dbeibah underscored the importance of bolstering the fruitful bilateral cooperation with Italy, noting that relations have witnessed great development in recent months.

He confirmed that Italy will resume flights to Libya next year.

He also expressed his delight with what he called positive progress in reviving the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation that has been suspended for 14 years.

The GNU and Italian government signed seven agreements on the sidelines of the Libyan-Italian Business Forum covering trade, civil aviation, finance and health.

Meloni said Italy will remain committed to supporting Libya achieve sustainable economic development.

She noted that trade between Italy and Libya doubled in the past two years, adding that her fourth visit to Tripoli is important in developing relations between the two countries and reaching higher levels of partnership in all fields.

Several Libyan and Italian companies are taking part in the Tripoli forum to bolster trade between them.



3 People Killed in Israeli Raid in West Bank

Israeli soldiers arrive to push away Palestinian farmers and foreign activists, preventing them from reaching their fields for olive harvest in Qusra village, near the Israeli settlement of Majdalim, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on October 29, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
Israeli soldiers arrive to push away Palestinian farmers and foreign activists, preventing them from reaching their fields for olive harvest in Qusra village, near the Israeli settlement of Majdalim, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on October 29, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
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3 People Killed in Israeli Raid in West Bank

Israeli soldiers arrive to push away Palestinian farmers and foreign activists, preventing them from reaching their fields for olive harvest in Qusra village, near the Israeli settlement of Majdalim, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on October 29, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
Israeli soldiers arrive to push away Palestinian farmers and foreign activists, preventing them from reaching their fields for olive harvest in Qusra village, near the Israeli settlement of Majdalim, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on October 29, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)

Palestinian officials said Thursday an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank killed at least three people.

The military said its forces were targeting militants in the area of the Nur Shams refugee camp, which has seen repeated battles in recent months.

The military said it eliminated a Hamas militant in the area who was involved in planning attacks on Israelis.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Thursday that two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike and third by Israeli gunfire.

Israel said its forces were still in the area.

At least 763 Palestinians, including over 165 children, have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of the Gaza Strip triggered the war there, according to the Health Ministry.