Israel Reports on Qatari-Mediated Understandings with Hamas

Palestinians collect crabs amid the coronavirus outbreak at Beach refugee camp in Gaza City. (Reuters)
Palestinians collect crabs amid the coronavirus outbreak at Beach refugee camp in Gaza City. (Reuters)
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Israel Reports on Qatari-Mediated Understandings with Hamas

Palestinians collect crabs amid the coronavirus outbreak at Beach refugee camp in Gaza City. (Reuters)
Palestinians collect crabs amid the coronavirus outbreak at Beach refugee camp in Gaza City. (Reuters)

Israeli authorities released positive reports on major efforts being exerted to reach Qatari-mediated agreements with the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.

At the same time, Israeli military reports predicted an escalation in the coastal enclave in the near future, perhaps even as early as the US presidential elections on Tuesday.

They suggested that the upcoming anniversary of the assassination of commander in the “Islamic Jihad” Baha Abu al-Ata may be spark an escalation. Abu al-Ata who was killed by Israel in a targeted assassination on November 12, 2019.

Moreover, a military source said Palestinians are frustrated at Israel’s slow pace in easing the siege on the Gaza Strip and its reluctance to progress towards new understandings.

Hama leaders complained to Qatar and Egypt over Israel’s failure to lift many restrictions and its holding up of Gaza infrastructure projects.

According to Israelis, these complaints are usually followed by security developments, such as rockets fired at Israeli towns.

They warned Hamas and the Islamic Jihad of the consequences of an escalation.

The Jihad considered these army leaks as Israeli threats aimed not only at stirring up tension but also to disrupt internal Palestinian reconciliation efforts.

Member of the Jihad political bureau Mohammed al-Hindi warned against “major Arab and foreign pressure” aimed at delaying the reconciliation.

He called on the Fatah movement to immediately hold elections that would reorganize Palestinian institutions.

“The popular resistance will dominate the next phase,” he stressed, highlighting the battle of will and faith led by the prisoner Maher al-Akhras, who has been on hunger strike since July.

The detainee will win because the entire Palestinian population is behind him, he declared.

Secretary General of Fatah's Central Committee Jibril Rajoub affirmed that the Palestinians are no longer divided and are working to achieve real national unity through ongoing dialogue with Hamas and other factions.



Two Million Syrians Returned Home Since Assad's Fall, Says UN

Syrian migrants wait at the Cilvegozu border gate to cross into Syria, after Syrian rebels announced that they ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Turkish town of Reyhanli in Hatay province, Türkiye, - Reuters
Syrian migrants wait at the Cilvegozu border gate to cross into Syria, after Syrian rebels announced that they ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Turkish town of Reyhanli in Hatay province, Türkiye, - Reuters
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Two Million Syrians Returned Home Since Assad's Fall, Says UN

Syrian migrants wait at the Cilvegozu border gate to cross into Syria, after Syrian rebels announced that they ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Turkish town of Reyhanli in Hatay province, Türkiye, - Reuters
Syrian migrants wait at the Cilvegozu border gate to cross into Syria, after Syrian rebels announced that they ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Turkish town of Reyhanli in Hatay province, Türkiye, - Reuters

Over two million Syrians who had fled their homes during their country's war have returned since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, UN refugee agency chief Filippo Grandi said Thursday, ahead of a visit to Syria.

The Syrian civil war, which erupted in 2011 with Assad's brutal repression of anti-government protests, displaced half of the population internally or abroad.

But Assad's December 8 ouster at the hands of Islamist forces sparked hopes of return.

"Over two million Syrian refugees and displaced have returned home since December," Grandi wrote on X during a visit to neighboring Lebanon, which hosts about 1.5 million Syrian refugees, according to official estimates, AFP reported.

It is "a sign of hope amid rising regional tensions," he said.

"This proves that we need political solutions -- not another wave of instability and displacement."

After 14 years of war, many returnees face the reality of finding their homes and property badly damaged or destroyed.

But with the recent lifting of Western sanctions on Syria, new authorities hope for international support to launch reconstruction, which the UN estimates could cost more than $400 billion.

Earlier this month, UNHCR estimated that up to 1.5 million Syrians from abroad and two million internally displaced persons may return by the end of 2025.