Egypt, Libya Say 'Berlin 2' Must Prioritize Withdrawal of Mercenaries

The Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry and Libyan counterpart Naglaa al-Mangoush in Cairo (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
The Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry and Libyan counterpart Naglaa al-Mangoush in Cairo (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
TT

Egypt, Libya Say 'Berlin 2' Must Prioritize Withdrawal of Mercenaries

The Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry and Libyan counterpart Naglaa al-Mangoush in Cairo (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
The Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry and Libyan counterpart Naglaa al-Mangoush in Cairo (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed with his Libyan counterpart Naglaa el-Mangoush the need to prioritize the issue of foreign forces and mercenaries stationed in Libya during the Berlin 2 conference.

During a joint press conference in Cairo, Mangoush stressed that ending foreign interferences and removing foreign forces and mercenaries are the only ways to support Libya’s stability and peace.

She explained that the unity government, led by Abdulhamid Dbeiba, is facing major security and economic challenges.

The political process is moving slowly in Libya, however, Mangoush said there are several signs of development especially that Berlin 2 will be held soon.

“The Libyan people must rise to the level of responsibility, and mercenaries and foreign fighters must be removed from Libya,” she stressed.

Mangoush praised the distinguished relations between Egyptians and Libyans, noting that she looks forward to Egypt's support for stability in Libya.

For his part, Shoukry said that Egypt supports the efforts of Libyans to restore security and stability, adding that his discussions with Mangoush touched on ways of boosting bilateral relations and pushing forward the political process in Libya.

The Egyptian minister asserted his country’s support for Libya's efforts to restore security and stability.

Shoukry said Berlin 2 conference is an opportunity for the international community to commit to the welfare and sovereignty of Libyans.

He stressed the necessity of restoring the unity of the Libyan territories and implementing all the stages of the roadmap for the political solution resulting from the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF).

The Egyptian minister indicated that Berlin 2 conference will also provide a chance for the international community to show its support for Libya, stressing that the issue of foreign forces and armed militias needs to be addressed during the conference.

Shoukry expressed Egypt's readiness to help the Libyans achieve the Stability Initiative to restore the country’s stability and territorial integrity.



Israeli Strikes on Gaza Strip Leave 15 Dead, Medics Say

 Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City November 27, 2024. (Reuters)
Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City November 27, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Strip Leave 15 Dead, Medics Say

 Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City November 27, 2024. (Reuters)
Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City November 27, 2024. (Reuters)

Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip killed 15 people on Wednesday, some of them in a school housing displaced people, medics in Gaza said, adding that the fatalities included two sons of a former Hamas spokesman.

Health officials in the Hamas-run enclave said eight Palestinians were killed and dozens of others wounded in an Israeli strike that hit the Al-Tabeaeen School, which was sheltering displaced families in Gaza City. Among those killed were two sons of former Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, according to medics and Barhoum himself.

In the Shejaia suburb of Gaza City, another strike killed four people, while three people were killed in an Israeli air strike in Beit Lahiya on the northern edge of the enclave where army forces have been operating since last month.

Separately, a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah came into effect on Wednesday after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the US and France, a rare victory for diplomacy in a region shaken by two wars for over a year.

Iran-backed Hezbollah began firing missiles at Israel in solidarity with Hamas after the Palestinian group attacked Israel in October of 2023, killing around 1,200 people and capturing over 250 hostages, Israel has said, triggering the Gaza war.

Israel's 13-month campaign in Gaza has left nearly 44,200 people dead and displaced nearly all the enclave's population at least once, according to Gaza health officials.

Months of attempts to negotiate a ceasefire have yielded scant progress and negotiations are now on hold, with mediator Qatar saying it has told the two warring parties it would suspend its efforts until the sides are prepared to make concessions.