Marzouki’s Case Referred to Anti-Terrorism Unit, Former Tunisian President Faces 20 New Charges

Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki (AFP)
Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki (AFP)
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Marzouki’s Case Referred to Anti-Terrorism Unit, Former Tunisian President Faces 20 New Charges

Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki (AFP)
Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki (AFP)

Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki announced on Tuesday that he had been informed his case had been transferred to the Anti-Terrorism Judicial Unit. He now faces 20 charges, including inciting internal unrest and spreading false information.
Marzouki wrote on X that his brother, Mokhles, was summoned on Monday to the police station of El Kantaoui (governorate of Sousse) to sign a document stating that Moncef Marzouki’s case had been referred to the Anti-Terrorist Judicial Unit.
Marzouki wrote that he had already been convicted to four and eight years in prison in two separate cases.
He concluded his post with a famous quote borrowed from Abu al-Qasim al-Shabi, “Night will no doubt dissipate.”
Last February, a Tunisian court sentenced former president Moncef Marzouki to eight years in prison in absentia.
The charges against Marzouki, who lives in Paris, stemmed from remarks he made that authorities said violated laws and triggered incitement to overthrow the government.
Marzouki served as the first democratically elected president of Tunisia from 2011 to 2014.
This is the second time Moncef Marzouki has been sentenced for comments made at demonstrations and on social media. In December 2021, he received a four-year sentence for undermining state security.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Defence Minister Khaled S'hili announced that Tunisia's national army had dismantled terrorist camps, neutralized 62 landmines, and seized various materials and equipment in 2024, as part of ongoing efforts in the fight against terrorism.
As of October 31, the Tunisian army had conducted 990 anti-terrorist operations in suspected areas, including large-scale operations in the country's mountainous regions. These operations involved over 19,500 military personnel, according to Defense Minister Khaled S'hili, speaking at a joint session of the two chambers of parliament.
He then confirmed that these operations led to the arrest of around 695 smugglers and the seizure of 375,000 drug pills.

 



Turkey's PKK Says Will 'Not Abandon' Syrian Kurds

Kurdish children and their families fleeing a government advance through Kurdish-controlled areas arrive in the Kurdish Syrian city of Qamishli on January 19, 2026. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
Kurdish children and their families fleeing a government advance through Kurdish-controlled areas arrive in the Kurdish Syrian city of Qamishli on January 19, 2026. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
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Turkey's PKK Says Will 'Not Abandon' Syrian Kurds

Kurdish children and their families fleeing a government advance through Kurdish-controlled areas arrive in the Kurdish Syrian city of Qamishli on January 19, 2026. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
Kurdish children and their families fleeing a government advance through Kurdish-controlled areas arrive in the Kurdish Syrian city of Qamishli on January 19, 2026. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)

Outlawed Kurdish militants in Türkiye will "never abandon" Kurds in Syria following an offensive by Damascus, a leader of the PKK armed group said, quoted by the Firat news agency Tuesday.

Syrian forces began an offensive nearly two weeks ago which pushed Kurdish-led SDF forces out of the northern city of Aleppo, and expanded over the weekend to push deep into territory that has been held by Kurdish forces for over a decade.

"You should know that we will not leave you alone. Whatever the cost, we will never leave you alone.. we as the entire Kurdish people and as the movement, will do whatever is necessary," Murat Karayilan of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was quoted as saying by Firat.

A close ally of Syria's new leadership that overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the Turkish government is simultaneously leading a drive to reach a settlement with the PKK -- listed as a terror group by Türkiye and its Western allies.

Karayilan said the Damascus-led offensive was an "attempt to nullify" the peace process in Türkiye.

"This decision by international powers to enable these attacks, will be a black mark for the US, the UK, Germany, France and other international coalition states," he said.

On Monday, at least 500 people rallied in Türkiye’s Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakir against the Syrian offensive. Clashes erupted when police tried to break up the protest.

The pro-Kurdish DEM party, the third largest force in the Turkish parliament, called for a rally on Tuesday in the town of Nusaybin, located on the border with Syria.


Israel Begins Demolitions Inside UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem

A photograph shows a demolished structure inside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on January 20, 2026. (AFP)
A photograph shows a demolished structure inside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on January 20, 2026. (AFP)
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Israel Begins Demolitions Inside UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem

A photograph shows a demolished structure inside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on January 20, 2026. (AFP)
A photograph shows a demolished structure inside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on January 20, 2026. (AFP)

Israeli bulldozers began demolishing structures inside the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in east Jerusalem on Tuesday, an AFP photographer saw, with the Israeli foreign ministry defending the move.

"UNRWA-Hamas had already ceased its operations at this site and no longer had any UN personnel or UN activity there. The compound does not enjoy any immunity and the seizure of this compound by Israeli authorities was carried out in accordance with both Israeli and international law," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Israel has repeatedly accused UNRWA of providing cover for Hamas, claiming that some of its employees took part in the group's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza.


Hamas Leaders Prepare for 'Safe Exit' from Gaza, Amid Doubts Over Return

A Palestinian child is seen as fighters from Hamas’ Qassam Brigades search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, last December. (EPA)
A Palestinian child is seen as fighters from Hamas’ Qassam Brigades search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, last December. (EPA)
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Hamas Leaders Prepare for 'Safe Exit' from Gaza, Amid Doubts Over Return

A Palestinian child is seen as fighters from Hamas’ Qassam Brigades search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, last December. (EPA)
A Palestinian child is seen as fighters from Hamas’ Qassam Brigades search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, last December. (EPA)

Sources within Hamas in Gaza revealed that senior figures in the movement are preparing for a “safe exit” from the enclave following arrangements related to Gaza’s future under the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which the United States announced had begun last week.

Three Hamas sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that several prominent political and military leaders who survived the war are preparing to leave the territory. One source said the departure would be voluntary and carried out under specific arrangements, with full coordination with the Hamas leadership abroad. Another source noted that other leaders, particularly military figures, categorically reject leaving Gaza under any circumstances.

Throughout nearly two years of war, Hamas officials have repeatedly stated their rejection of removing the movement’s leadership from the Strip.

The sources separately provided Asharq Al-Awsat with the names of several leaders believed likely to depart, though it is refraining from publishing them due to the inability to contact them promptly. Some of these figures were recently appointed to leadership positions in Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza as part of new organizational arrangements aimed at rebuilding and restructuring the movement.

According to the same sources, a number of former prisoners released in the 2011 exchange deal for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit — who now oversee key portfolios within Hamas leadership — are expected to be among those traveling to Türkiye.

However, a senior Hamas leader based outside Gaza denied the reports, telling Asharq Al-Awsat that the issue of leaders leaving the Strip “has not been raised.”

Another source inside Gaza declined to comment, saying only that he had no knowledge of the matter.

Sources in Gaza said the exit would likely be “without return, at least for several years,” with those leaders likely to end up residing in several countries. Other sources said some leaders would leave temporarily to hold meetings in Egypt with security officials on critical issues related to Gaza’s governmental security forces and other key files, before returning to the Strip.

In September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News that Israel was considering providing safe passage for Hamas leaders to leave Gaza under certain conditions, as part of a plan being prepared by US President Donald Trump, which entered into force in October.

Israel’s public broadcaster reported that Hamas leaders would most likely head to Qatar or Türkiye if they left Gaza. Israel’s Channel 12 previously reported that Hamas officials told US officials they were prepared to accept a limited relocation of military leaders and some operatives from Gaza.

On Jan. 14, US envoy Steve Witkoff officially announced the launch of the second phase of the ceasefire, which includes Hamas relinquishing control of Gaza, establishing a Palestinian technocratic committee to administer the enclave, initiating a comprehensive disarmament process, and launching large-scale reconstruction projects.

Hamas welcomed the announcement, saying it had fulfilled all requirements for completing the first phase and moving to the second, while continuing discussions with mediators over options regarding its weapons and those of other Palestinian factions.