Palestinians Welcome US ‘Step-by-Step’ Policy to Restore Relations

Gaza City amid restrictions imposed on Saturday to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. (EPA)
Gaza City amid restrictions imposed on Saturday to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. (EPA)
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Palestinians Welcome US ‘Step-by-Step’ Policy to Restore Relations

Gaza City amid restrictions imposed on Saturday to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. (EPA)
Gaza City amid restrictions imposed on Saturday to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. (EPA)

A Palestinian Authority source welcomed Saturday the “step-by-step” policy taken by US President Joe Biden’s administration to restore relations with it.

Political and security contacts have resumed since Biden took office, he told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that relations are expanding and slowly progressing.

Both parties aim to resume diplomatic ties that were cut under former US President Donald Trump administration, the source noted.

Palestinians have demanded holding an international peace conference, reopening of the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s (PLO) office in Washington, renewing US financial aid to the PA and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and revoking the US designation of the PLO as a “terrorist organization,” the source explained.

Last week, Washington transferred $15 million to help the PA fight the third wave of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh described it as “an important step” in the right direction to reshape the relationship with the US administration.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Friday with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.

“The Secretary emphasized the administration’s belief that Israelis and Palestinians should enjoy equal measures of freedom, security, prosperity and democracy,” Spokesperson Ned Price stated.

Blinken reiterated Washington’s strong commitment to Israel and its security and looks forward to strengthening all aspects of the US-Israel partnership, he added.

Both sides also discussed the humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people and the normalization of relations with Arab and Muslim majority countries.

Blinken’s remarks indicate a major change in the new administration’s approach in addressing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Palestinians are betting on a radical change in the US position since Biden came to power.

Another indication of this change is the State Department’s recognition on Wednesday of Israel’s control of the West Bank as an “occupation.”



Israeli Military Says it Struck 'Key' Hamas Figure in Lebanon's Tripoli

People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh
People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh
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Israeli Military Says it Struck 'Key' Hamas Figure in Lebanon's Tripoli

People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh
People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had struck "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas near the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, the first targeted killing in the area for several months.

In a statement, Israel's military did not give the identity of the targeted person. There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

Lebanese state media said a car had been hit near Tripoli and the health ministry reported two people were killed and three others wounded, without identifying them, Reuters reported.

Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups maintain a presence in various areas of Lebanon, mostly in camps that have housed displaced Palestinians for decades.

Since Hamas' cross-border attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel in 2023, Israel has carried out targeted strikes on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah as well as members of Palestinian factions in Lebanon.

Hamas' deputy chief was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs in early 2024, and other strikes hit Palestinian camps in northern Lebanon.

A US-brokered ceasefire last year ended the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, though Israel has continued to carry out strikes on what it says are Hezbollah arms depots and fighters, mostly in southern Lebanon.

Tuesday's strike near Tripoli was the first time a targeted assassination had taken place in the area since the truce.

Meanwhile, US envoy Thomas Barrack continued a two-day visit to Lebanon to discuss disarming Hezbollah and other militant groups.