Williams Praises ‘Valuable’ Discussion on Disarmament in Libya

UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams (UNSMIL)
UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams (UNSMIL)
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Williams Praises ‘Valuable’ Discussion on Disarmament in Libya

UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams (UNSMIL)
UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams (UNSMIL)

The meetings of Libya’s Joint Military Commission (5+5) has continued for the second day in a row in Tunis, co-chaired by UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams in collaboration with France.

Representatives from the UK, Turkey, Italy, the African Union, and figures from the Security Working Group (SWG) for Libya participated in the meetings.

Williams “stressed the importance of ensuring that stability is maintained, and that calm is preserved on the ground” and she “congratulate the JMC 5+5 on the work it has done thus far.”

“We were joined by the entirety of the JMC 5+5, as well as other co-chairs, the UK, Turkey, Italy, and the AU, for a valuable discussion on ceasefire monitoring, disarmament and demobilization, and the way forward on the JMC 5+5’s work,” Williams tweeted.

“Also, in Tunis yesterday, I was pleased to later join the Libyan and international ceasefire monitors in their first in-person meeting, during which they demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment to operationalizing the next steps of the ceasefire agreement.”

Williams said she discussed the Libyan situation in a meeting in Tunis with senior officials of the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Egypt, and Turkey.

“I am grateful to all of them for their support for the holding of elections as soon as possible, on the basis of a solid, consensual constitutional framework, for the sake of fulfilling the aspirations of the Libyan people to vote for their representatives,” Williams explained.



Australia Urges Israel Not to Take Military Control of Gaza

Palestinians watch aid pallets parachute down after being dropped from a military plane over Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip during an airdrop mission above the Israel-besieged Palestinian territory on August 5, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
Palestinians watch aid pallets parachute down after being dropped from a military plane over Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip during an airdrop mission above the Israel-besieged Palestinian territory on August 5, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
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Australia Urges Israel Not to Take Military Control of Gaza

Palestinians watch aid pallets parachute down after being dropped from a military plane over Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip during an airdrop mission above the Israel-besieged Palestinian territory on August 5, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
Palestinians watch aid pallets parachute down after being dropped from a military plane over Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip during an airdrop mission above the Israel-besieged Palestinian territory on August 5, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)

Australia has urged Israel "not to go down this path", after Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel intended to take military control of Gaza.

"Australia calls on Israel to not go down this path, which will only worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement on Friday.

Wong said permanent forced displacement was a violation of international law and repeated calls for a ceasefire, aid to flow unimpeded and for Palestinian group Hamas to return the hostages taken in October 2023.

“A two-state solution is the only pathway to secure an enduring peace – a Palestinian state and the State of Israel, living side-by-side in peace and security within internationally-recognized borders,” she added.

Australia has not yet joined Western allies such as the UK, Canada and France in announcing it would recognize Palestinian statehood but has said it would make a decision "at an appropriate time", while escalating its criticism of Israel's actions.

Wong's comments come in response to Netanyahu saying Israel intended to take military control of all of Gaza during an interview with Fox News.

He said Israel wanted to hand over the territory to Arab forces that would govern it, without elaborating on the governance arrangements or which Arab countries could be involved.

After a security cabinet meeting on Friday, Netanyahu's office confirmed a plan to take over Gaza City had been approved.

A statement said the Israeli army would prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones.