Sultan Haitham, Erdogan Discuss Bilateral Ties and Regional Issues


Turkish President receives Oman’s Sultan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara (Turkish Presidency)
Turkish President receives Oman’s Sultan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara (Turkish Presidency)
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Sultan Haitham, Erdogan Discuss Bilateral Ties and Regional Issues


Turkish President receives Oman’s Sultan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara (Turkish Presidency)
Turkish President receives Oman’s Sultan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara (Turkish Presidency)

Türkiye and Oman agreed to deepen cooperation and increase trade to $5 billion. They also backed efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, similar to a recent deal in Lebanon.

“We aim to raise our trade volume with Oman to $5 billion, in line with our available potential. A new era of energy cooperation will commence as liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies from Oman to Türkiye begin in July 2025,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan welcomed Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Ankara on Thursday, marking the first official visit by an Omani Sultan to Türkiye. Erdogan said he plans to visit Oman in the future.

He thanked Sultan Haitham for Oman’s support after Türkiye’s earthquake last year and praised his efforts to promote regional peace, especially in Yemen. Erdogan also stressed the importance of strengthening ties between the two nations in all areas.

Erdogan called for stronger institutional ties with Oman, announcing 10 agreements in areas such as trade, health, culture, agriculture, and defense. He praised Oman for choosing Turkish defense products and noted that Turkish contractors have handled $7 billion worth of projects in Oman, with potential to support Oman’s “Vision 2040.”

The leaders also discussed regional issues, including US President Joe Biden’s Gaza ceasefire initiative, which Erdogan called “important but overdue.” He stressed the need for an immediate and lasting truce in Gaza and reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for peace efforts.

Sultan Haitham said Oman is committed to deepening ties with Türkiye and increasing trade to $5 billion.

The Omani leader highlighted the importance of regional security and cooperation during talks with Erdogan. He voiced Oman’s support for Türkiye’s stance on key international issues and stressed the need to pursue a two-state solution for Palestine to ensure justice and peace.

Erdogan welcomed Sultan Haitham in Ankara with an official ceremony at the presidential palace. The leaders oversaw the signing of 10 agreements aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.



King Salman Center Sets Up Camps for Displaced Gaza Residents


The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)
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King Salman Center Sets Up Camps for Displaced Gaza Residents


The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) said it has set up the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah in Gaza, as thousands of Palestinians displaced by the war grapple with harsh winter conditions brought by a cold and rainy weather system this week.

Fahad Al-Osaimi, the center’s director of emergency relief, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the camp is sheltering more than 200 displaced families, with the number of beneficiaries exceeding 2,000 women, children and elderly people whose homes and tents were damaged or destroyed by the war and recent weather conditions.

He said the center is currently operating under a rapid response mechanism to appeals received by its operations and emergency room in the Gaza Strip.

Al-Osaimi said two fully equipped camps were completed this week, and that preparations are underway to establish several additional camps in coordination with relevant United Nations agencies, based on assessed needs on the ground.

He said the camp is playing a critical role in providing refuge to hundreds of families whose tents were flooded or collapsed due to heavy rainfall, offering safer shelter that helps mitigate humanitarian risks, particularly for children, women and the elderly.

Al-Osaimi said the center’s efforts extend beyond emergency shelter, noting that work is ongoing to establish organized camps that meet international humanitarian response standards and to ensure they are supplied with essential services.

These services include blankets, shelter materials, clothing for women and children, sanitation facilities such as toilets, hygiene kits and cleaning supplies, in addition to other forms of relief assistance as needs arise.

He said the interventions form part of KSrelief’s sustained efforts to alleviate the suffering of displaced people in the Gaza Strip and bolster their resilience amid severe humanitarian and weather conditions.

The deteriorating weather has coincided with growing uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire agreement and the possibility of moving to its second phase. According to local and international organizations, living conditions for displaced people continue to worsen.

Against this backdrop, the establishment of the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah marks a fresh chapter in Saudi Arabia’s emergency response to Palestinians, particularly Gaza residents, since the outbreak of the war following Oct. 7, 2023, providing lifelines to more than 2,000 people facing mounting challenges.


Saudi Interior Minister Meets with Kazakh Counterpart

The Saudi Minister of Interior met on Thursday with his Kazakh counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Interior met on Thursday with his Kazakh counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi Interior Minister Meets with Kazakh Counterpart

The Saudi Minister of Interior met on Thursday with his Kazakh counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Interior met on Thursday with his Kazakh counterpart in Riyadh. SPA

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received in Riyadh on Thursday Kazakhstan’s Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov.

During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance security cooperation between the two ministries, in addition to reviewing a number of topics of mutual interest.


Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Phone Call with South Korean Counterpart

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan - File Photo
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan - File Photo
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Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Phone Call with South Korean Counterpart

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan - File Photo
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan - File Photo

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call on Thursday with South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, SPA reported.

The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and discussed the latest developments and issues of mutual interest.