Egypt, Qatar Boost Rapprochement with Intensive Consultations

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly with Qatar's Ambassador to Egypt Salem Mubarak al-Shafi (Egyptian Government)
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly with Qatar's Ambassador to Egypt Salem Mubarak al-Shafi (Egyptian Government)
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Egypt, Qatar Boost Rapprochement with Intensive Consultations

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly with Qatar's Ambassador to Egypt Salem Mubarak al-Shafi (Egyptian Government)
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly with Qatar's Ambassador to Egypt Salem Mubarak al-Shafi (Egyptian Government)

Egypt and Qatar have boosted their rapprochement through ministerial consultations, proceeding with the reconciliation achieved earlier this year in AlUla in Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended a celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Egypt and Qatar.

Qatar's Ambassador to Egypt Salem Mubarak al-Shafi, as well as several ministers, officials, and ambassadors attended the celebration.

Madbouly hailed the relations and historical bond between the two countries, expressing his pleasure to attend the celebration ahead of Qatar National Day on Dec. 18.

The premier stressed that this year enjoyed development in the unique relations between the two countries after Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani made his first visit to Egypt, followed by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's first visit to Doha in September.

Madbouly pointed out that these visits and the exchanged visits between officials and businessmen were a clear indication of the strong ties between the two countries and clear evidence of the determination of the leadership to push these relations forward to new horizons.

The visits also demonstrate the determination of both countries to foster bilateral relations and unlock their potential in ways that contribute to strengthening Arab capabilities in the face of ongoing regional and international challenges, Madbouly said.

He added that the current unprecedented threats from growing regional and global challenges require Arab countries to prioritize cooperation, unify their efforts and renounce disputes.

The prime minister affirmed the need for Arab states to work diligently to enhance the values of peace, security, and stability based on the rules of mutual respect and on the endeavor to achieve development and prosperity for their people.

Meanwhile, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala al-Saeed met several Qatari ministers and officials during her visit to Doha.

Saeed met Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, who is also the Chairman of the Qatar Investment Authority.

According to an Egyptian statement, the meeting addressed issues of common concern and cooperation between the two countries.

The Egyptian minister also met with Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qasim Al-Thani and Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari.



Gaza Civil Defense Describes Medic Killings as 'Summary Executions'

A video recovered from the phone of one of the slain aid workers, released by the Red Crescent, appeared to contradict the Israeli military's account - AFP
A video recovered from the phone of one of the slain aid workers, released by the Red Crescent, appeared to contradict the Israeli military's account - AFP
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Gaza Civil Defense Describes Medic Killings as 'Summary Executions'

A video recovered from the phone of one of the slain aid workers, released by the Red Crescent, appeared to contradict the Israeli military's account - AFP
A video recovered from the phone of one of the slain aid workers, released by the Red Crescent, appeared to contradict the Israeli military's account - AFP

Gaza's civil defense agency on Monday accused the Israeli military of carrying out "summary executions" in the killing of 15 rescue workers last month, rejecting the findings of an internal probe by the army.

The medics and other rescue workers were killed when responding to distress calls near Gaza's southern city of Rafah early on March 23, days into Israel's renewed offensive in the Hamas-run territory, AFP reported.

Among those killed were eight Red Crescent staff members, six from the Gaza civil defense rescue agency and one employee of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, according to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA and Palestinian rescuers.

"The video filmed by one of the paramedics proves that the Israeli occupation's narrative is false and demonstrates that it carried out summary executions," Mohammed Al-Mughair, a civil defense official, told AFP, accusing Israel of seeking to "circumvent" its obligations under international law.

Following the shooting, the Red Crescent released a video recovered from the phone of one of the victims. It does not show executions, but it does directly contradict the version of events initially put forward by the Israeli military.

In particular, the video shows clearly that the ambulances were travelling with sirens, flashing lights and headlights on. The military had claimed the ambulances were travelling "suspiciously" and without lights.

- Operational failures -

The incident drew international condemnation, including concern about possible war crimes from UN human rights commissioner Volker Turk.

An Israeli military investigation into the incident released on Sunday "found no evidence to support claims of execution" or "indiscriminate fire" by its troops, but admitted to operational failures and said it was firing a field commander.

It said six of those killed were militants, revising an earlier claim that nine of the men were fighters.

The dead, who were buried in sand by Israeli forces, were only recovered several days after the attack from what the UN human rights agency OCHA described as a "mass grave".

The Palestine Red Crescent Society denounced the report as "full of lies".

"It is invalid and unacceptable, as it justifies the killing and shifts responsibility to a personal error in the field command when the truth is quite different," Nebal Farsakh, spokesperson for the Red Crescent, told AFP.

The Israeli investigation said there were three shooting incidents in the area on that day.

In the first, soldiers shot at what they believed to be a Hamas vehicle.

In the second, around an hour later, troops fired "on suspects emerging from a fire truck and ambulances", the military said.

The probe determined that the fire in the first two incidents resulted from an "operational misunderstanding by the troops".

In the third incident, the troops fired at a UN vehicle "due to operational errors in breach of regulations", the military said.