New Hamas Politburo to Meet in Egypt

Hamas delegation leaving to Cairo through Rafah Crossing (AFP)
Hamas delegation leaving to Cairo through Rafah Crossing (AFP)
TT

New Hamas Politburo to Meet in Egypt

Hamas delegation leaving to Cairo through Rafah Crossing (AFP)
Hamas delegation leaving to Cairo through Rafah Crossing (AFP)

Hamas will hold the first meeting of the new political bureau in Cairo on Monday after several leaders arrive from Gaza, Qatar, and Turkey.

A Hamas source told Asharq Al-Awsat that it is the first meeting that includes all the regional heads and members after the recent elections.

Hamas holds its elections in four areas - the West Bank, Gaza, abroad, and prisons - resulting in the election of its politburo every four years based on a long and unique process, not candidacy.

An informed source said that the meeting aims to discuss internal and financial issues and political developments relating to the exchange deal with Israel.

The meeting will also address reconciliation and the relationship with the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The source confirmed that a high-ranking delegation headed by Ismail Haniyeh would later meet with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.

He indicated that the talks were set to take place earlier, but Hamas asked to hold its politburo meeting in Cairo and waited for the approval.

The Egyptians officials will discuss with Hamas the truce, the peace process with Israel, reconciliation, the exchange deal, and reconstruction.

According to the source, Egypt is exerting all efforts and wants to push matters forward and ensure that it does not get out of control.

The source confirmed that Cairo, which previously met a delegation from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, will meet in the coming weeks with the rest of the Palestinian factions and Hamas.

He added that a delegation from the Jihad Movement would soon arrive in Cairo.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum announced that the movement received an invitation from Egypt to hold its meeting in Cairo, without giving further details.

Aside from the Hamas delegation, technical and business delegations also arrived in Cairo to discuss the reconstruction and issues relating to trade with Egypt.

The visit has been postponed several times in the past, awaiting arrangements that ensure its success.

The businessmen delegation is headed by the Vice President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Palestine, Waleed al-Husari.

Representatives of the Ministry of National Economy in Gaza met with a delegation of Palestinian businessmen before their departure to Cairo to discuss several issues relating to boosting the commercial relationship with Egypt.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, Abdel Fattah al-Zeraei, explained that the delegation’s visit is part of previous visits to discuss several trade issues, such as facilitating the movement of businessmen and trade at the crossings and introducing new types of goods.

The head of the government media office in Gaza, Salama Maarouf, said a government technical delegation left for Egypt to discuss many essential issues with Egyptian officials.

Sources also told Asharq Al-Awsat that the delegations would discuss the entry of banned goods.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
TT

US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.