PA President Mahmoud Abbas to Visit Syria Soon

A delegation of the Fatah Central Committee in the Yarmouk camp in Damascus.
A delegation of the Fatah Central Committee in the Yarmouk camp in Damascus.
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PA President Mahmoud Abbas to Visit Syria Soon

A delegation of the Fatah Central Committee in the Yarmouk camp in Damascus.
A delegation of the Fatah Central Committee in the Yarmouk camp in Damascus.

Secretary-General of the Fatah Central Committee Jibril Rajoub said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Syria soon.

The Syrian leadership has hailed all the efforts undertaken by the Fatah Movement and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) to unite Palestinians, to activate the PLO’s role, and consider it the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, Rajoub told a press conference in Damascus.

His remarks were in reference to the Syrian leadership response to the letter Abbas sent to his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad.

Rajoub wished that Syria restores its role at the regional and international levels, including reinstating its membership in the Arab League.

“Syria is a founding state of the Arab League and must restore its membership” he stressed.

He affirmed that the visit constitutes a breakthrough for Palestine, in light of Israel's unprecedented escalation to end the Palestinian cause.

Fatah delegation concluded on Monday its visit to Damascus that kicked off on Thursday, during which it delivered a letter from Abbas to Assad.

The delegation held talks with Syrian officials and Palestinian factions in Damascus, as part of efforts to prepare for the upcoming Central Committee meeting.

The delegation also participated in an event celebrating the 57th anniversary for the launch of Fatah movement in Yarmouk Refugee Camp.

At the end of the visit, the delegation held a press conference before heading to Lebanon to continue its meetings with Palestinian factions.

Hamas and the Palestinian Jihad movements reject holding the Central Committee session before achieving intra-Palestinian reconciliation.



EU Announces Aid for Syria and Countries Hosting Syrian Refugees

This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib in Damascus, on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib in Damascus, on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
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EU Announces Aid for Syria and Countries Hosting Syrian Refugees

This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib in Damascus, on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, shows Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) meeting with EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib in Damascus, on January 17, 2025. (SANA / AFP)

A top European Union official announced an aid package of 235 million euros ($244 million) for humanitarian needs within Syria and for countries in the region hosting displaced Syrians, especially Türkiye.

Speaking alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday during a visit to Ankara after her trip to Syria, Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, said that the situation in Syria was dire,

“The needs are dramatically immense. The humanitarian crisis is affecting millions of Syrians, and the EU will continue to work and to alleviate the suffering in response to the basic needs of the people," Lahbib said.

Türkiye hosts the world’s largest number of refugees, including up to 3 million Syrians.

“Türkiye’s hospitality for the Syrian refugees has been crucial over the years,” Lahbib said. “Türkiye’s role is crucial in providing humanitarian corridors for the EU to deliver emergency assistance to Syria.

“The region is in geopolitical turmoil, and it would be important for the European Union to work together with Türkiye and provide the adequate response by the international community.”