Pedersen Informed in Cairo of Arab Interest in Expanding Scope of Syria Settlement

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit meets with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. Asharq Al-Awsat
Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit meets with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Pedersen Informed in Cairo of Arab Interest in Expanding Scope of Syria Settlement

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit meets with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. Asharq Al-Awsat
Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit meets with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. Asharq Al-Awsat

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has pointed out that outstanding issues in Syria could not be resolved by its Constitutional Committee, despite being a first step in confidence-building.

His comment highlighted the importance of expanding the scope of political solutions in Syria.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed the need to take all the steps needed to resolve the Syrian crisis in line with a decisive and effective response against terrorist organizations.

The remarks of Aboul Gheit and the Egyptian FM were made during UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen’s three-day visit to Cairo on Wednesday.

Discussions have focused on advancing the peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis.

According to Aboul Gheit, the Arab League attaches great importance to ending the stalemate in Syria after ten years of conflict.

Syrians, represented by both the government and the opposition, should be aware of the threat posed by the status quo, a senior official in the organization’s General Secretariat quoted Aboul Gheit as saying.

He pointed to the need to reach compromises and end the suffering of Syrians in Syria and abroad.

Abou Gheit called for creative means for a settlement to the Syrian war, which has been overwhelmed by political differences.

A foreign ministry statement stressed Egypt’s rejection to any forced demographic change in Syria.

Commenting on Pedersen’s visit, Professor of Political Science at the American University of Cairo Dr. Noha Bakr said it comes as part of the international community’s acknowledgment of Egypt’s vision on the crisis in Syria.

Bakr told Asharq Al-Awsat that Cairo has always been calling for a political solution in Syria.



Palestinian Death Toll from Israel-Hamas War Surges Past 38,000

FILE PHOTO: Palestinians walk near houses destroyed in the Israeli military offensive as they struggle with food scarcity, basic necessities amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Palestinians walk near houses destroyed in the Israeli military offensive as they struggle with food scarcity, basic necessities amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa/File Photo
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Palestinian Death Toll from Israel-Hamas War Surges Past 38,000

FILE PHOTO: Palestinians walk near houses destroyed in the Israeli military offensive as they struggle with food scarcity, basic necessities amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Palestinians walk near houses destroyed in the Israeli military offensive as they struggle with food scarcity, basic necessities amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa/File Photo

The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Thursday that the Palestinian death toll from nearly nine months of war has surged past 38,000.
The ministry said that in the last 24 hours, the bodies of 58 people had been brought to hospitals, bringing the overall death toll to 38,011, the Associated Press reported.
It said more than 87,000 people have been wounded in the fighting.
The ministry does not distinguish between fighters and noncombatants in its count, but many of the dead are said to be women and children.

The war began when Hamas-led group launched a surprise attack on Oct. 7 into southern Israel, attacking multiple army bases and farming communities and killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. They abducted another 250 people, more than 100 of whom were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. Hamas is still holding around 80 hostages and the remains of 40 others.
Israel launched a major offensive in response to the Oct. 7 attack that has killed more than 37,900 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza, who don't say how many were civilians or militants.

The war has caused vast destruction across the territory, displaced most of its population of 2.3 million — often multiple times — caused widespread hunger and raised fears of famine.