De Mistura’s Paper Suggests 'Non-Sectarian State', 'Local Administrations'

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura/UN
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura/UN
TT
20

De Mistura’s Paper Suggests 'Non-Sectarian State', 'Local Administrations'

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura/UN
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura/UN

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura pushed on Thursday both the regime and opposition delegations to enter into the core subject of negotiations, and handed them a 12-item paper including his concept for the future of Syria.

A copy of the envoy’s paper, which was received by Asharq Al-Awsat, stipulates that Syria is a “non-sectarian state” under UNSC Resolution 2254, and asserts the need that “local administrative representatives” be present in the country next to the work of the “National Army,” and the “Security Apparatus in accordance with the constitution.”

The paper also confirms the respect of the “high value of the Syrian community, the national identity and the history of diversity and ethics brought by all religions, civilizations and cultures in Syria.”

The High Negotiations Committee, which also includes the Cairo and Moscow platforms, later presented to de Mistura a response to his paper, including 12 items.

It was remarkable that the HNC removed from the term “Syrian Arab Republic,” the world “Arab” and replace it by only “Syria,” in addition to approving the decentralization principle, the rights of Kurds and other entities.

The opposition’s paper also suggested introducing reforms to the “national army” body and to restructure the security apparatus.

De Mistura plans to issue a joint paper between the two delegations at the end of the eighth Geneva intra-Syrian talks in mid-December, including the principles of a political solution to Syria that emanate from the spirit of Resolution 2254 and based on the previous drafts of negotiations, that started in the spring of 2016.

Diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that discussions on Thursday tackled the name of the state: the UN paper suggested that it remains the “Syrian Arab Republic,” while the opposition delegation said it should become “Syria.”

The discussions also revealed a dispute between the two choices of “local administrations” or “decentralization,” and another deep argument concerning the role of the Army and the need to reform it, to restructure the body of the security apparatus and to fight terrorism.

On Thursday, de Mistura held indirect but simultaneous talks with the two delegations in two separate rooms, after the government delegation headed by Bashar al-Jaafari refused to engage in direct talks with the opposition.

“There has been now a moment of truth; we need to find a political solution,” de Mistura said, adding that there should be no preconditions heading into the current round of discussions aimed at resolving the over six-year-long Syrian conflict that has resulted in immense human suffering.



Body of Mohammed Sinwar Identified

Palestinians inspecting the site of an Israeli airstrike near the European Hospital in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Hatem Khaled/Reuters
Palestinians inspecting the site of an Israeli airstrike near the European Hospital in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Hatem Khaled/Reuters
TT
20

Body of Mohammed Sinwar Identified

Palestinians inspecting the site of an Israeli airstrike near the European Hospital in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Hatem Khaled/Reuters
Palestinians inspecting the site of an Israeli airstrike near the European Hospital in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Hatem Khaled/Reuters

Israeli authorities said on Sunday they identified the body of Hamas' military chief Mohammed al-Sinwar that was earlier retrieved from a tunnel underneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, following a targeted operation last month.

Al-Sinwar is the chief commander of Hamas's military wing and the younger brother of slain Hamas leader Yehya al-Sinwar.

“The body of al-Sinwar, is now in Israeli custody,” the Israeli army confirmed Sunday following a completed identification process, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.

Authorities gave no further details about the other bodies found in the interconnected tunnel complex.

Earlier, the Israeli Radio channel said the bodies of 10 other Palestinian Hamas members and leaders were recovered from the tunnel.

The bodies were recovered during a special military operation.

“The Israeli military released footage showing the underground infrastructure beneath the hospital, including a command-and-control center reportedly used by senior Hamas commanders to direct combat operations,” Yedioth Ahronoth said.

It added that the operation began last Wednesday evening. Prior to the raid, the hospital had been evacuated.

Later, the government media office in Gaza denied the Israeli military claims that the tunnel was found beneath the European Hospital.

The office said the video released by the Israeli army shows a narrow metal pipe that cannot fit a person, has no stairs or equipment and is located in an area used for rainwater drainage.

It also said the Israeli forces dug the site themselves and staged the footage near the hospital’s emergency department, which remains crowded with patients.

On May 21, two Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that al-Sinwar was killed alongside other Hamas figures in an Israeli airstrike on an underground tunnel near the European Hospital east of Khan Younis.

One source said the bodies were moved from one tunnel to another for temporary burial. “They were buried underground due to security concerns,” the source added.

“Hamas informed the families that the remains were not brought above ground and are expected to remain buried in the tunnels until the security situation allows for proper funerals,” the sources said.

A second source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Qassam Brigades special units entered the collapsed tunnel after the bombing and recovered several bodies.

The source said the method used to retrieve the bodies mirrored that of previous operations, including the recovery of senior Hamas officials Rawhi Mushtaha and Sameh al-Siraj, whose deaths were also confirmed posthumously.