Israeli Supreme Court Postpones Decision on Status of Asylum Seekers From Darfur

An African migrant holds an Israeli flag after being released from the Holot detention center in the Negev | Photo: REUTERS
An African migrant holds an Israeli flag after being released from the Holot detention center in the Negev | Photo: REUTERS
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Israeli Supreme Court Postpones Decision on Status of Asylum Seekers From Darfur

An African migrant holds an Israeli flag after being released from the Holot detention center in the Negev | Photo: REUTERS
An African migrant holds an Israeli flag after being released from the Holot detention center in the Negev | Photo: REUTERS

Despite news in Washington about the freezing of negotiations between Tel Aviv and Khartoum, the Israeli government confirmed, in an official document, that it is conducting advanced negotiations with Sudan on a peace agreement. This was reflected in a letter to the High Court of Justice in west Jerusalem, which is looking into two petitions submitted by Israeli human rights movements, one of them demanding the issuance of a decision binding the Jewish state to recognize the Sudanese refugees from Darfur as refugees, and the second to grant them temporary residence.

The High Court of Justice has granted the state a three-month extension to determine the status of asylum seekers from Darfur.

However, the state informed the court of secret developments in relations between Israel and Sudan, which may affect the outcome of the petition filed on behalf of Sudanese refugees.

Court President Esther Hayut, Justice Yael Vilner and Justice George Kara decided that after viewing the classified material presented to them, they would allow the state to further update the court in three months, before they rule on the petition.

In March of 2019, the court issued a temporary order requesting the state to explain why it had not given temporary residency status to refugees from Darfu



Egypt, Greece Agree to Boost Ties, Back Gaza Reconstruction Plan 

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) and the Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi shake hands after signing a memorandum of cooperation in Athens on May 7, 2025. (AFP) 
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) and the Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi shake hands after signing a memorandum of cooperation in Athens on May 7, 2025. (AFP) 
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Egypt, Greece Agree to Boost Ties, Back Gaza Reconstruction Plan 

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) and the Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi shake hands after signing a memorandum of cooperation in Athens on May 7, 2025. (AFP) 
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) and the Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi shake hands after signing a memorandum of cooperation in Athens on May 7, 2025. (AFP) 

Greece and Egypt signed a "strategic partnership" deal on Wednesday as they seek to step up political coordination to help safeguard stability in the Eastern Mediterranean amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

"Our bilateral cooperation is based on political, economic, and cultural ties, which are deeply rooted in history and defined by our strong commitment to the values of peace and the full respect of international law," Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a joint statement.

The two officials met during the first meeting of the Supreme Cooperation Council, a body they agreed to set up more than a year ago to improve ties.

The two leaders reaffirmed their joint stance over the need to respect international law to promote peace in Gaza.

"The first priority is for hostilities to stop and restore the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians," Mitsotakis said in joint statements with Sisi. He said Greece supported an Arab-backed plan for the reconstruction of Gaza once a ceasefire was achieved.

Migration also topped the agenda of bilateral talks as European governments have long been worried about the risk of instability in Egypt, a country of 106 million people where economic adversity has pushed increasing numbers to migrate.

Egypt largely shut off irregular migration from its north coast in 2016, but the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos have seen a steep rise in migrant arrivals, mostly from Afghanistan and Egypt.

The European Union last year announced a 7.4 billion euro ($8.40 billion) funding package and an upgraded relationship with Egypt, in part of a push to stem migrant flows from Egypt to Europe. Last month, the EU's executive arm included Egypt on a list of "safe countries" where failed asylum seekers could be returned.