Italy to Secure Libya’s Southern Border

Migrants ride in a boat after they were rescued by Libyan coastguard off the coast of Gharaboli, east of Tripoli, Libya July 8, 2017. REUTERS
Migrants ride in a boat after they were rescued by Libyan coastguard off the coast of Gharaboli, east of Tripoli, Libya July 8, 2017. REUTERS
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Italy to Secure Libya’s Southern Border

Migrants ride in a boat after they were rescued by Libyan coastguard off the coast of Gharaboli, east of Tripoli, Libya July 8, 2017. REUTERS
Migrants ride in a boat after they were rescued by Libyan coastguard off the coast of Gharaboli, east of Tripoli, Libya July 8, 2017. REUTERS

Italy has revealed a plan to halt illegal migration to Libya by securing its southern border.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah on Wednesday met with Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese in Libya's capital Tripoli.

Lamorgese said that Rome will intensify its financial commitment to boost rural development to stabilize southern Libya affected by intense migration flows.

The Italian minister confirmed on Friday her country's desire to swiftly develop the project implemented by the Interior Ministry on the southern Libyan border, in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration.

Bilateral talks last month between President of the Presidential Council Muhammad Al-Menfi and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune touched on the security cooperation in the south, where insurgent African groups operate.

Ali Amilmedy, who resides in Sabha and works as a lawyer, said that the Libyan south has been oppressed for years. It was deprived of services and witnessed a shortage of liquidity and a scarcity of fuels.

The smuggling of illegal migrants to Europe continues through the Mediterranean.

The Chief of Staff of the Libyan Naval Forces said that up to 96 migrants from diverse African nationalities were rescued on their way to Europe.

In another context, the Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Hwej, met with Egyptian Charge d’Affaires Tamer Moustafa in the presence of Libyan officials from the General Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Department of International Cooperation in the Ministry.

The meeting aims to coordinate the meetings of the Higher Joint Egyptian-Libyan Committee that are scheduled to convene soon.



Palestinian Prime Minister Says Palestinian Authority Should Run Gaza in Future

Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide attend a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-State Solution at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, January 15, 2025. (Heiko Junge/NTB/via Reuters)
Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide attend a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-State Solution at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, January 15, 2025. (Heiko Junge/NTB/via Reuters)
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Palestinian Prime Minister Says Palestinian Authority Should Run Gaza in Future

Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide attend a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-State Solution at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, January 15, 2025. (Heiko Junge/NTB/via Reuters)
Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide attend a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-State Solution at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, January 15, 2025. (Heiko Junge/NTB/via Reuters)

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said it “will not be acceptable” for any entity other than the Palestinian Authority to run the Gaza Strip in the future.

Mustafa made the comments on Wednesday as he visited Norway, one of three European countries that formally recognized a Palestinian state in May.

Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007, confining the Palestinian Authority’s limited self-rule to parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The US has called for a revitalized Palestinian Authority to govern both the West Bank and Gaza ahead of eventual statehood, which the Israeli government opposes.

“While we’re waiting for the ceasefire, it’s important to stress that it will not be acceptable for any entity to govern Gaza Strip but the legitimate Palestinian leadership and the government of the State of Palestine," Mustafa said.

He added that “any attempt to consolidate the separation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, or creating transitional entities, will be rejected.”

Mustafa stressed that “we should not leave Gaza to vacuum ... We are the government of Palestine, ready to hold our responsibilities in the Gaza Strip as we did before.”