Jeddah Talks: Sudan Army, RSF Agree to Protect Civilians

Officials stand for pictures after Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces signed a declaration, that signifies their commitment to protect the civilians of Sudan, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 11, 2023. Al Ekhbariya/Handout via REUTERS
Officials stand for pictures after Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces signed a declaration, that signifies their commitment to protect the civilians of Sudan, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 11, 2023. Al Ekhbariya/Handout via REUTERS
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Jeddah Talks: Sudan Army, RSF Agree to Protect Civilians

Officials stand for pictures after Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces signed a declaration, that signifies their commitment to protect the civilians of Sudan, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 11, 2023. Al Ekhbariya/Handout via REUTERS
Officials stand for pictures after Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces signed a declaration, that signifies their commitment to protect the civilians of Sudan, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 11, 2023. Al Ekhbariya/Handout via REUTERS

Representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces signed in Jeddah a declaration commitment to protect the civilians of Sudan, Saudi Arabia and the US announced in a statement on Friday.

The declaration of commitment recognizes the obligations of both sides, under international humanitarian and human rights law to facilitate humanitarian action to meet the emergency needs of civilians, it said.
The declaration of commitment will guide the conduct of the two forces to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance, the restoration of essential services, the withdrawal of forces from hospitals and clinics, and the respectful burial of the dead.

Following the signing, the Jeddah Talks will focus on reaching agreement on an effective ceasefire of up to approximately ten days to facilitate these activities. The security measures will include a US-Saudi and international-supported ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
In line with the step-by-step approach agreed by the parties, the Jeddah Talks will address proposed arrangement for subsequent talks - with Sudanese civilians and regional and international partners - on a permanent cessation of hostilities.

In consultation with the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, the facilitators said they looked forward to discussions with Sudanese civilians and regional and international partners about participation in subsequent rounds of talks.



Qatar and Egypt Say Assassinations Damage Gaza Truce Chances 

Iranians carry the portrait of late Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and wave Palestinian flags during a protest at Tehran University in Tehran, Iran, 31 July 2024. (EPA)
Iranians carry the portrait of late Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and wave Palestinian flags during a protest at Tehran University in Tehran, Iran, 31 July 2024. (EPA)
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Qatar and Egypt Say Assassinations Damage Gaza Truce Chances 

Iranians carry the portrait of late Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and wave Palestinian flags during a protest at Tehran University in Tehran, Iran, 31 July 2024. (EPA)
Iranians carry the portrait of late Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and wave Palestinian flags during a protest at Tehran University in Tehran, Iran, 31 July 2024. (EPA)

Qatar and Egypt, which have acted as mediators in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, suggested on Wednesday that the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh could jeopardize efforts to secure a truce in Gaza. 

"Political assassinations and continued targeting of civilians in Gaza while talks continue leads us to ask, how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?" Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani wrote on X. 

"Peace needs serious partners & a global stance against the disregard for human life." 

Egypt's foreign ministry said in a statement that a "dangerous Israeli escalation policy" over the past two days had undermined efforts to broker an end to the fighting in Gaza. 

"The coincidence of this regional escalation with the lack of progress in the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza increases the complexity of the situation and indicates the absence of Israeli political will to calm it down," the statement said. 

"It undercuts the strenuous efforts made by Egypt and its partners to stop the war in the Gaza Strip and put an end to the human suffering of the Palestinian people," it added. 

Qatar, Egypt and the United States have repeatedly tried to clinch a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, where Israeli forces have killed more than 39,000 Palestinians since Hamas-led fighters attacked Israel in October, killing 1,200 people. 

A final deal to halt more than nine months of war has been complicated by changes sought by Israel, sources have told Reuters, and there was no sign of progress at the latest round of talks in Rome on Sunday. 

Haniyeh, who mainly resided in Qatar, was assassinated in the early hours of the morning in Iran, raising fears of wider escalation in a Middle East shaken by Israel's war in Gaza and a worsening conflict in Lebanon. 

Qatar condemned Haniyeh's assassination in the Iranian capital Tehran, saying it was a dangerous escalation. 

His demise occurred less than 24 hours after Israel claimed to have killed a Hezbollah commander in Beirut whom it blamed for a deadly strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. 

Haniyeh had not been directly involved in the day-to-day Gaza ceasefire negotiations and was not leading the talks. The senior Hamas figure who has been central throughout ceasefire and hostage release negotiations is Khalil Al-Hayya, an official briefed on the talks told Reuters previously. 

Haniyeh's killing also came as Egypt's recently appointed Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty was in Qatar for talks on issues including the Gaza crisis. He discussed the assassination with Sheikh Mohammed, the Qatari foreign ministry said.