Palestinian PM in Kuwait Monday as Part of Gulf Tour

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (AFP file photo)
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (AFP file photo)
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Palestinian PM in Kuwait Monday as Part of Gulf Tour

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (AFP file photo)
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (AFP file photo)

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh is scheduled to start an official visit Monday to Kuwait, as part of a Gulf tour in which he is expected to visit Qatar and Oman.

In his first stop, Shtayyeh will hold meetings with the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanim, according to Palestine’s ambassador to Kuwait Rami Tahboub.

The ambassador said the visit aims at boosting mutual coordination between the two countries as well as to express gratitude to Kuwait for its longstanding support of the Palestinian cause.

Ten days ago, Kuwait launched a public aid campaign to support the Palestinian people, amid the Israeli aggression against them.

The campaign is part of Kuwait's commitment to advocating and supporting Palestine and standing by its people.

Before kicking off his Gulf tour, Shtayyeh received Sunday EU Special Representative for Middle East Peace Process Sven Koopmans. They discussed the reconstruction of Gaza and the efforts to revive the political process.

Shtayyeh said a serious peace process should be aimed at finding a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, paving the way for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state according to the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He pointed out that a technical team has been formed to work on the Gaza reconstruction, stressing the importance of having international guarantees of no further Israeli aggression on the Strip.

The PM reiterated that the Palestinian leadership was committed to holding the national elections, calling on the international community. especially EU members, to press Israel to allow the elections to be held in Jerusalem.

Elections will pave the way to ending the division and consolidating national unity, he stressed.

Shtayyeh urged the whole world, especially Europe, to take a firm and serious stance against Israel, to stop its settlement expansion, violations against the Palestinian people and forceful evictions of Palestinians in Jerusalem and in the rest of occupied territories.



EU Exploring Support for New Gaza Administration Committee, Document Says

Palestinians push a cart past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, in Gaza City, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Palestinians push a cart past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, in Gaza City, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
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EU Exploring Support for New Gaza Administration Committee, Document Says

Palestinians push a cart past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, in Gaza City, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Palestinians push a cart past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, in Gaza City, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

The European Union is exploring possible support for a new committee established to take over the civil administration of Gaza, according to a document produced by the bloc's diplomatic arm and seen by Reuters.

"The EU is engaging with the newly established transitional governance structures for Gaza," the European External Action Service wrote in a document circulated to member states on Tuesday.

"The EU is also exploring possible support to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza," it added.

European foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Gaza during a meeting in Brussels on February 23.


Israel Military Says Soldier Killed in Gaza 

A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
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Israel Military Says Soldier Killed in Gaza 

A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)

The Israeli military announced that one of its soldiers had been killed in combat in southern Gaza on Wednesday, but a security source said the death appeared to have been caused by "friendly fire".

"Staff Sergeant Ofri Yafe, aged 21, from HaYogev, a soldier in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit, fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip," the military said in a statement.

A security source, however, told AFP that the soldier appeared to have been "killed by friendly fire", without providing further details.

"The incident is still under investigation," the source added.

The death brings to five the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect on October 10.


Syria: SDF’s Mazloum Abdi Says Implementation of Integration Deal May Take Time

People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
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Syria: SDF’s Mazloum Abdi Says Implementation of Integration Deal May Take Time

People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman

Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said the process of merging the SDF with Syrian government forces “may take some time,” despite expressing confidence in the eventual success of the agreement.

His remarks came after earlier comments in which he acknowledged differences with Damascus over the concept of “decentralization.”

Speaking at a tribal conference in the northeastern city of Hasakah on Tuesday, Abdi said the issue of integration would not be resolved quickly, but stressed that the agreement remains on track.

He said the deal reached last month stipulates that three Syrian army brigades will be created out of the SDF.

Abdi added that all SDF military units have withdrawn to their barracks in an effort to preserve stability and continue implementing the announced integration agreement with the Syrian state.

He also emphasized the need for armed forces to withdraw from the vicinity of the city of Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), to be replaced by security forces tasked with maintaining order.