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Hamas Armed Wing Says Will Abide by Gaza Truce According to 'Enemy's Commitment'

Fighters of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, escort vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Saraya Square in western Gaza City on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
Fighters of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, escort vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Saraya Square in western Gaza City on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
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Hamas Armed Wing Says Will Abide by Gaza Truce According to 'Enemy's Commitment'

Fighters of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, escort vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Saraya Square in western Gaza City on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
Fighters of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, escort vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Saraya Square in western Gaza City on January 19, 2025. (AFP)

The armed wing of Palestinian group Hamas said on Sunday it would observe a ceasefire in Gaza as long as Israel does the same, hours after the truce took effect.

"We and the resistance factions declare our full commitment to the ceasefire agreement, while stressing that all of this is contingent on the enemy's commitment," said Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam armed wing, in a video message.

Israel and mediating nation Qatar confirmed on Sunday a long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza had come into effect after an almost three-hour delay as Israel awaited the names of the three hostages Hamas would free initially.

Under the ceasefire plan, a total of 33 hostages taken by fighters during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel will be returned from Gaza during an initial 42-day phase.

Obeida also warned that Israel's "continued occupation of our land will affect the entire region and the world".

He added that the international community's involvement in what he called the occupation of Gaza "will be a disaster for the occupation and all its supporters".

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Egypt Seeking to Activate its Strategic Partnership with Europe

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP)
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Egypt Seeking to Activate its Strategic Partnership with Europe

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty kicked off on Sunday a visit to Brussels and Strasbourg for talks with European officials aimed at following up on activating the strategic partnership between Cairo and the European Union.

A Foreign Ministry statement said that meetings during his first stop in Brussels aim to bolster cooperation with the EU. The FM is scheduled to hold talks with senior European officials, including head of the European Council and chief of foreign policy.

He will also meet with heads of major Belgian companies and members of the Egyptian diaspora.

Egypt and Europe are keen on strengthening and developing their relations to the level of “comprehensive strategic partnership,” as announced during a summit in Cairo in March that was attended by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, head of the European Commission, and the presidents and prime ministers of Cyprus, Italy, Austria and Greece.

In Strasbourg, the home of the European Parliament, Abdelatty will meet with its speaker and heads of various parliamentary political groups and committees concerned with following up on the development of ties between Egypt and EU, added the Foreign Ministry statement.

Former Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Gamal Bayoumi underscored to Asharq Al-Awsat the importance of the timing of the visit given the developments in the region and the success of international mediation, including Egypt’s, in reaching a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza.

Egypt is hoping the EU would pressure Israel to forge ahead with peace and implement the two-state solution to support stability in the region, he added.

Egypt is also hoping to boost coordination with Europe over developments in the Horn of Africa, Red Sea and other regions, as well as in counterterrorism and in deepening bilateral ties, especially in the economy and investment, he continued.