Eritrea Denies Involvement in Border Conflict Between Sudan, Ethiopia

Ethiopian women are seen in the Sudan-Ethiopia border area of al-Fashqa, in eastern Kassala state, Sudan, on November 13, 2020. REUTERS/El Tayeb Siddig/File Photo
Ethiopian women are seen in the Sudan-Ethiopia border area of al-Fashqa, in eastern Kassala state, Sudan, on November 13, 2020. REUTERS/El Tayeb Siddig/File Photo
TT
20

Eritrea Denies Involvement in Border Conflict Between Sudan, Ethiopia

Ethiopian women are seen in the Sudan-Ethiopia border area of al-Fashqa, in eastern Kassala state, Sudan, on November 13, 2020. REUTERS/El Tayeb Siddig/File Photo
Ethiopian women are seen in the Sudan-Ethiopia border area of al-Fashqa, in eastern Kassala state, Sudan, on November 13, 2020. REUTERS/El Tayeb Siddig/File Photo

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki sent a message to Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, affirming that his country is not involved in the ongoing border conflict between Sudan and Ethiopia.

Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and Presidential Adviser Yemane Ghebreab delivered the message during a visit to Khartoum on Wednesday.

Afewerki said that his country calls for a peaceful solution between the two sides in a way that serves peace, stability, and security in the region.

In his message, the Eritrean President also stressed the depth of relations between both countries and the need to strengthen and develop them.

He also voiced concern over the border dispute, stressing that his country supports Sudan’s right to extend its sovereignty over its lands.

Last week, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that Ethiopia “strongly believes that the conflict being trumpeted by the Sudanese government’s military wing could only serve the interests of a third party at the expense of the Sudanese people.”

This was a hint at Eritrea, as revealed by Sudanese media.

In response, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry described the Ethiopian statement as a "betrayal to the history of Ethiopia’s relations with Sudan and a denial to the mutual relations between the people of the two countries."

In another context, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew urged the Ethiopian asylum seekers in Sudan to return to Ethiopia.

Andargachew asserted that the Human Rights Council has commenced a probe in allegations of human rights violations in Tigray, including the Mai Kadra massacre.

The Ethiopian FM said that some refugees in the Sudanese camps committed crimes, to which they will be prosecuted.



Israeli Minister Hints at Annexing Parts of Gaza

Destroyed buildings lie in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
Destroyed buildings lie in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
TT
20

Israeli Minister Hints at Annexing Parts of Gaza

Destroyed buildings lie in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
Destroyed buildings lie in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Israel could threaten to annex parts of Gaza to increase pressure on the militant group Hamas, an Israeli minister said on Wednesday, an idea that would deal a blow to Palestinian hopes of statehood on land Israeli now occupies.

The comment by security cabinet member Zeev Elkin came a day after Britain said it would recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes steps to relieve suffering in Gaza and reaches a ceasefire in the war with Hamas, Reuters reported.

France, which said last week it will recognize a Palestinian state in September, and Saudi Arabia issued a declaration on Tuesday, also backed by Egypt, Qatar and the Arab League, outlining steps toward implementing a two-state solution. As part of an end to the Gaza war, they said Hamas "must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority".

Israel has denounced moves to recognize a Palestinian state as rewarding Hamas for its October 2023 attack that precipitated the war.

POSSIBLE ULTIMATUM TO HAMAS

Accusing Hamas of trying to drag out ceasefire talks to gain Israeli concessions, Elkin told public broadcaster Kan that Israel may give the group an ultimatum to reach a deal before further expanding its military actions.

"The most painful thing for our enemy is losing lands," he said. "A clarification to Hamas that the moment they play games with us they will lose land that they will never get back would be a significant pressure tool."

Mediation efforts aimed at reaching a deal that would secure a 60-day ceasefire and the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas ground to a halt last week, with the sides trading blame for the impasse.

Israel is facing mounting international pressure over the situation in Gaza, where a global hunger monitor has warned that a worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding. The Gaza health ministry reported seven more hunger-related deaths on Wednesday, including a two-year-old girl with an existing health condition.