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Abbas Says Willing to Resume Talks Based on Arab Peace Initiative

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. File photo
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. File photo
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Abbas Says Willing to Resume Talks Based on Arab Peace Initiative

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. File photo
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. File photo

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said that if Israel implements its annexation plan in the occupied West Bank, it has to assume all its responsibilities in the territories as an occupying power.

In an address via video link to the Arab Parliament, Abbas stressed the Palestinian leadership's decision to absolve from all agreements and understandings with Israel does not mean ending peace, but that the Palestinians are ready to work for peace under a multilateral international mechanism.

Abbas urged the Arab Parliament to exert all efforts to convey to the US administration that the Palestinians extend their hands for peace as well as its rejection of any plans that allow the annexation of the Palestinian territories.

“We have received confirmations from all Arab countries that they are fully committed to the Arab peace initiative,” he said.

A joint meeting of the PLO Executive Committee, the Fatah Central Council and the Palestinian cabinet has been held in the Jordan Valley village of Fasayil as part of Palestinian steps against the Israeli annexation plan.

Fatah central committee official Jibril Rajoub said that their mission is to provide the people of the Jordan Valley all means of survival in their land.

A public opinion poll carried out by Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research showed that two-thirds of the public expect Israel to annex the Jordan Valley and the settlement areas in the West Bank.

The poll was carried out in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip between June 17-20.

A sample of 1,200 adults were interviewed face to face in 120 randomly selected locations. The margin of error is +/-3 percent.

Results showed that 52 percent support and 42 percent oppose a return to armed conflict. Moreover, 65 percent are worried that armed clashes would erupt with Israel. Another 65 percent have concerns that the PA would collapse or fail to deliver services.

In addition, 63 percent are worried that security chaos would return to Palestinian daily life, while 62 percent said they are concerned that they would not be able to travel abroad via Jordan.

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Arab World

Sudan Army Says Recaptures Key State Capital

Sudanese civilians displaced by offensive south of Khartoum earlier this year dream of returning to their homes after the regular army retakes territory - AFP
Sudanese civilians displaced by offensive south of Khartoum earlier this year dream of returning to their homes after the regular army retakes territory - AFP
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Sudan Army Says Recaptures Key State Capital

Sudanese civilians displaced by offensive south of Khartoum earlier this year dream of returning to their homes after the regular army retakes territory - AFP
Sudanese civilians displaced by offensive south of Khartoum earlier this year dream of returning to their homes after the regular army retakes territory - AFP

The Sudanese army said Saturday it had retaken a key state capital south of Khartoum from rival Rapid Support Forces who had held it for the past five months.

The Sennar state capital of Sinja is a strategic prize in the 19-month-old war between the regular army and the RSF as it lies on a key road linking army-controlled areas of eastern and central Sudan.

It posted footage on social media that it said had been filmed inside the main base in the city.

"Sinja has returned to the embrace of the nation," the information minister of the army-backed government, Khaled al-Aiser, said in a statement.

Aiser's office said armed forces chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had travelled to the city of Sennar, 60 kilometres (40 miles) to the north, on Saturday to "inspect the operation and celebrate the liberation of Sinja", AFP reported.

The RSF had taken the two cities in a lightning offensive in June that saw nearly 726,000 civilians flee, according to UN figures.

Human rights groups have said that those who were unwilling or unable to leave have faced months of arbitrary violence by RSF fighters.

Sinja teacher Abdullah al-Hassan spoke of his "indescribable joy" at seeing the army enter the city after "months of terror".

"At any moment, you were waiting for militia fighters to barge in and beat you or loot you," the 53-year-old told AFP by telephone.

Both sides in the Sudanese conflict have been accused of war crimes, including indiscriminately shelling homes, markets and hospitals.

The RSF has also been accused of summary executions, systematic sexual violence and rampant looting.

The RSF control nearly all of the vast western region of Darfur as well as large swathes of Kordofan in the south. They also hold much of the capital Khartoum and the key farming state of Al-Jazira to its south.

Since April 2023, the war has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted more than 11 million -- creating what the UN says is the world's largest displacement crisis.

From the eastern state of Gedaref -- where more than 1.1 million displaced people have sought refuge -- Asia Khedr, 46, said she hoped her family's ordeal might soon be at an end.

"We'll finally go home and say goodbye to this life of displacement and suffering," she told AFP.