International Support for UN Efforts in Sudan

Demonstrators protest in Khartoum. (Reuters file photo)
Demonstrators protest in Khartoum. (Reuters file photo)
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International Support for UN Efforts in Sudan

Demonstrators protest in Khartoum. (Reuters file photo)
Demonstrators protest in Khartoum. (Reuters file photo)

The Quad of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, UK and US welcomed the announcement of the UN Interim Transition Assistance Mission to Sudan (UNITAMS) to facilitate discussions to resolve Sudan's political crisis.

"We strongly support this UN-facilitated, Sudanese-led dialogue initiative. We urge all Sudanese political actors to seize this opportunity to restore the country's transition to civilian democracy, in line with the 2019 Constitutional Declaration," they said in a statement.

The Quad noted that they look forward to this results-oriented process that will guide the country towards democratic elections, in line with the Sudanese people's manifest aspirations for freedom, democracy, peace, justice, and prosperity.

Saudi Arabia welcomed the dialogue between the Sudanese parties and commended the role of the UN and its integrated efforts to support the transitional phase in Sudan to facilitate dialogue, encourage the values of consensus, bolster the language of dialogue and revive the political process.

The Kingdom stressed its support for everything that achieves security, peace, unity, stability, prosperity, and development of Sudan.

The Arab League also welcomed the UN declaration to enable a political process to facilitate dialogue and address the difficulties facing the transitional period.

Egypt called on all Sudanese parties "to work on choosing a consensus new transitional prime minister and forming a new government as soon as possible," and expressed its readiness to support that government in all possible ways.

"Egypt is closely following the recent developments in Sudan and backs the United Nations moves for achieve stability in the country by activating a dialogue among all sides."

The foreign ministry issued a statement stressing that only dialogue will settle the ongoing crisis and avert chaos, it reiterated "Egypt's readiness to support new transitional Sudanese government by all means."

"The security and stability of Sudan is an indispensable part of Egypt's security and stability," said the statement.

The UN Security Council will hold an informal closed meeting next Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in Sudan, according to diplomatic sources.

The sources said that six out of the 15 member states of the council requested holding the session to resolve the crisis.



Gaza Civil Defense Says Israeli Forces Kill 18

A Palestinian mourns a relative killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza - AFP
A Palestinian mourns a relative killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza - AFP
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Gaza Civil Defense Says Israeli Forces Kill 18

A Palestinian mourns a relative killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza - AFP
A Palestinian mourns a relative killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza - AFP

Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli forces killed 18 people on Friday, including 10 who were waiting for aid in the south of the war-ravaged territory.

The fresh deaths came as the United Nations said nearly 800 people had been killed trying to access food in Gaza since late May, when Israel began easing a more than two-month total blockade on supplies.

UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said most of the deaths occurred near facilities operated by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, AFP reported.

"We've recorded now 798 killings, including 615 in the vicinity of the GHF sites," from the time the group's operations began in late May until July 7, Shamdasani said Friday.

An officially private effort, GHF operations have been marred by chaotic scenes and frequent reports of Israeli forces firing on people waiting to collect rations.

The UN and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the foundation over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives and violates basic humanitarian principles.

Responding to the UN's figures, Israel's military said it had worked to minimize "possible friction between the population and the army forces as much as possible".

"Following incidents in which harm to civilians who arrived at distribution facilities was reported, thorough examinations were conducted... and instructions were issued to forces in the field following lessons learned," it added.

Gaza civil defense official Mohammed al-Mughayyir said that 10 people were shot by Israeli forces on Friday while waiting for supplies in the Al-Shakoush area northwest of Rafah, where there are regular reports of deadly fire on aid seekers.

- 'Extremely difficult' -

The civil defense reported six more people killed in four separate Israeli airstrikes in the area of Khan Yunis, in the south of the territory.

Two drone strikes around Gaza City in the north killed two more people, civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.

There was no immediate comment on the latest strikes from the Israeli military, which has recently expanded its operations across Gaza.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defense agency and other parties.

A Palestinian speaking to AFP from southern Gaza on condition of anonymity reported ongoing attacks and widespread devastation, with Israeli tanks seen near Khan Yunis.

"The situation remains extremely difficult in the area -- intense gunfire, intermittent airstrikes, artillery shelling, and ongoing bulldozing and destruction of displacement camps and agricultural land to the south, west and north of Al-Maslakh," an area to Khan Yunis's south, said the witness.

Israel's military said in a statement that its soldiers were operating in the area, dismantling "terrorist infrastructure sites, both above and below ground", and seizing "weapons and military equipment".

The civil defense also reported on Friday five people killed in an Israeli strike the previous night on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Jabalia al-Nazla, in northern Gaza.

Nearly all of Gaza's population has been displaced at least once during the more than 21-month war, which has created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people living there.

Many have sought shelter in school buildings, but these have repeatedly come under Israeli attack, with the military often saying they were targeting Hamas militants hiding among civilians.