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
TT

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.



OIC Condemns Israel’s Confiscation of Palestinian Land, Archeological Sites

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned Israel’s colonial practices. (SPA)
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned Israel’s colonial practices. (SPA)
TT

OIC Condemns Israel’s Confiscation of Palestinian Land, Archeological Sites

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned Israel’s colonial practices. (SPA)
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned Israel’s colonial practices. (SPA)

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned on Monday the ongoing Israeli colonial practices, particularly the confiscation of thousands of dunums of Palestinian land and archeological sites.
Israel has recently seized archaeological sites in the village of Sebastia, in the Nablus governorate.
The OIC emphasized that Israel’s actions are part of its destructive policy against hundreds of archaeological, historical, and scientific sites, as well as places of worship in Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including the occupied city of Jerusalem, the Saudi Press Agency said.
The OIC stressed that these actions aim to erase, plunder and distort the cultural and civilizational heritage of the Palestinian people, in clear defiance of international law, the Geneva Convention, relevant UN resolutions, and the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its protocols.
The organization urged the international community, especially the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to take immediate action to safeguard the tangible and intangible cultural assets in the occupied Palestinian territory.