Islamic Jihad Holds First New Politburo Meeting in Cairo

Palestinian Islamic Jihad members take part in a military show marking the 32nd anniversary of the organization's founding, Gaza City, (File photo: Reuters)
Palestinian Islamic Jihad members take part in a military show marking the 32nd anniversary of the organization's founding, Gaza City, (File photo: Reuters)
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Islamic Jihad Holds First New Politburo Meeting in Cairo

Palestinian Islamic Jihad members take part in a military show marking the 32nd anniversary of the organization's founding, Gaza City, (File photo: Reuters)
Palestinian Islamic Jihad members take part in a military show marking the 32nd anniversary of the organization's founding, Gaza City, (File photo: Reuters)

Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement will hold talks with Egyptian officials where it will submit a number of requests, announced member of the movement’s politburo Nafez Azzam.

Azzam noted that the talks will discuss the most important Palestinian issues, adding that the movement will hold a meeting that includes all the members of the new political bureau, and then begin its visit to a number of friendly countries.

Islamic Jihad elected members of the new bureau in September last year, including Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhala, elected to replace Ramadan Shallah who is in a critical health condition.

The Jihad delegation arrived in Cairo from abroad and Gaza, along with a delegation from Hamas to discuss the truce.

Israeli sources spoke of tangible progress between Israel and Hamas to achieve a long-term truce.

Islamic Jihad issued a statement, of which Asharq Al-Awsat received a copy, announcing the most important issues that it will discuss with the Egyptian side during the delegation’s visit, led by Sec-Gen Nakhala.

The statement announced that the visit to Cairo comes within the framework of strengthening relations with the Egyptian officials. It also pointed out that they will discuss releasing Palestinian detainees held by the Egyptian security services.

Egypt arrests a number of Palestinians affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements.

In March, Egypt released eight Hamas members after years of detention, including four members of al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the movement. They were released during the three-week visit of the head of Hamas politburo, Ismail Haniyeh, to Cairo.

Jihad will also ask Egyptian officials to exert pressure and guarantee that the Israeli occupation will stop the ongoing Zionist aggression against the Palestinian people.

Egypt sponsored the ceasefire agreement in the last round after commander Baha Abu Ata was killed.

The movement condemned recent statements of Palestinian leaders and media analysts about the delegation’s visit to Cairo, pointing out that the statements aim to normalize relations with the Zionist enemy and spread rumors about the visit.



Houthis: Ceasefire Deal with US Does Not Include Israel

Members of the media take pictures of a destroyed plane at Sanaa International Airport, in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike, in Sanaa, Yemen, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
Members of the media take pictures of a destroyed plane at Sanaa International Airport, in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike, in Sanaa, Yemen, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
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Houthis: Ceasefire Deal with US Does Not Include Israel

Members of the media take pictures of a destroyed plane at Sanaa International Airport, in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike, in Sanaa, Yemen, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
Members of the media take pictures of a destroyed plane at Sanaa International Airport, in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike, in Sanaa, Yemen, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

A ceasefire deal between Yemen's Houthis and the US does not include sparing Israel, the group said on Wednesday, suggesting its shipping attacks that have disrupted global trade and challenged world powers will not come to a complete halt.

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the US would stop bombing the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, saying that the group had agreed to stop attacking US ships.

After Trump made the announcement, Oman said it had mediated the ceasefire deal to halt attacks on US vessels.

There have been no reports of Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea area since January.

"The agreement does not include Israel in any way, shape or form," Mohammed Abdulsalam, the chief Houthi negotiator, told Reuters.

"As long as they announced the cessation (of US strikes) and they are actually committed to that, our position was self-defense so we will stop."
While tensions may have eased between the United States and the Houthis, the agreement does not rule out attacks on any other Israel-linked vessels or targets.
The US intensified strikes on the Houthis this year, to stop attacks on Red Sea shipping.