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Egypt, Europe Agree to Support ‘Food Security’ Efforts

Egypt and EU officials signing the agreement to enhance "food security" (Egyptian government)
Egypt and EU officials signing the agreement to enhance "food security" (Egyptian government)
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Egypt, Europe Agree to Support ‘Food Security’ Efforts

Egypt and EU officials signing the agreement to enhance "food security" (Egyptian government)
Egypt and EU officials signing the agreement to enhance "food security" (Egyptian government)

Egypt and the EU have signed a grant agreement of $40 million to support food security challenges.

The grant comes within the framework of the European Union's support for the food security in Egypt program, funded by a grant of €100 million. Projects related to the remaining amount, estimated at €60 million, are being agreed upon.

The signing ceremony was held on Thursday in the presence of International Cooperation Minister Rania Mashat, Supply and Internal Trade Minister Ali Moselhi, Agriculture Minister Sayed el-Quosair, president of the Foreign Ministry's office of the Egyptian-European partnership Amr Abo Eish, Head of the EU delegation to Egypt, Ambassador Christian Berger, Head of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) Martino Melli, and several officials.

The agreement resulted in the signing of several partnership deals, including the emergency project to support food security and flexible response at a value of $500 million with the World Bank, the Takaful and Dignity Expansion Program worth $500 million with the World Bank, and the Food Security and Economic Resilience Support Program at a value of $271 million with the African Development Bank.

Mashat confirmed that the agreement comes in light of Egypt's efforts to face food security challenges resulting from the Russian-Ukrainian war.

It also aims to strengthen national efforts in grain production and storage, stimulating climate resilience and increasing the storage capacities of strategic grains.

On Thursday, Moselhi reiterated the importance of cooperation with Italy and the EU in supporting the plans of the Egyptian state. He also referred to the Ministry's plans to expand wheat storage silos and stimulate food security efforts.

The Minister pointed out that the Egyptian state has taken many steps to achieve food security over the last eight years through land reclamation and cultivating strategic crops.

Furthermore, the Minister of Agriculture referred to the excellent cooperation and coordination between all Egyptian ministries to support the food security system, noting that Egypt has good collaboration with the Italian side to implement several projects in the agricultural sector, especially in the field of rural development, digital transformation, agricultural mechanization, and others.

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Arab World

Turkey's PKK Says Will 'Not Abandon' Syrian Kurds

Kurdish children and their families fleeing a government advance through Kurdish-controlled areas arrive in the Kurdish Syrian city of Qamishli on January 19, 2026. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
Kurdish children and their families fleeing a government advance through Kurdish-controlled areas arrive in the Kurdish Syrian city of Qamishli on January 19, 2026. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
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Turkey's PKK Says Will 'Not Abandon' Syrian Kurds

Kurdish children and their families fleeing a government advance through Kurdish-controlled areas arrive in the Kurdish Syrian city of Qamishli on January 19, 2026. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
Kurdish children and their families fleeing a government advance through Kurdish-controlled areas arrive in the Kurdish Syrian city of Qamishli on January 19, 2026. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)

Outlawed Kurdish militants in Türkiye will "never abandon" Kurds in Syria following an offensive by Damascus, a leader of the PKK armed group said, quoted by the Firat news agency Tuesday.

Syrian forces began an offensive nearly two weeks ago which pushed Kurdish-led SDF forces out of the northern city of Aleppo, and expanded over the weekend to push deep into territory that has been held by Kurdish forces for over a decade.

"You should know that we will not leave you alone. Whatever the cost, we will never leave you alone.. we as the entire Kurdish people and as the movement, will do whatever is necessary," Murat Karayilan of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was quoted as saying by Firat.

A close ally of Syria's new leadership that overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the Turkish government is simultaneously leading a drive to reach a settlement with the PKK -- listed as a terror group by Türkiye and its Western allies.

Karayilan said the Damascus-led offensive was an "attempt to nullify" the peace process in Türkiye.

"This decision by international powers to enable these attacks, will be a black mark for the US, the UK, Germany, France and other international coalition states," he said.

On Monday, at least 500 people rallied in Türkiye’s Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakir against the Syrian offensive. Clashes erupted when police tried to break up the protest.

The pro-Kurdish DEM party, the third largest force in the Turkish parliament, called for a rally on Tuesday in the town of Nusaybin, located on the border with Syria.

Arab World

Israel Begins Demolitions Inside UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem

A photograph shows a demolished structure inside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on January 20, 2026. (AFP)
A photograph shows a demolished structure inside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on January 20, 2026. (AFP)
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Israel Begins Demolitions Inside UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem

A photograph shows a demolished structure inside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on January 20, 2026. (AFP)
A photograph shows a demolished structure inside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on January 20, 2026. (AFP)

Israeli bulldozers began demolishing structures inside the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in east Jerusalem on Tuesday, an AFP photographer saw, with the Israeli foreign ministry defending the move.

"UNRWA-Hamas had already ceased its operations at this site and no longer had any UN personnel or UN activity there. The compound does not enjoy any immunity and the seizure of this compound by Israeli authorities was carried out in accordance with both Israeli and international law," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Israel has repeatedly accused UNRWA of providing cover for Hamas, claiming that some of its employees took part in the group's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza.

Arab World

Hamas Leaders Prepare for 'Safe Exit' from Gaza, Amid Doubts Over Return

A Palestinian child is seen as fighters from Hamas’ Qassam Brigades search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, last December. (EPA)
A Palestinian child is seen as fighters from Hamas’ Qassam Brigades search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, last December. (EPA)
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Hamas Leaders Prepare for 'Safe Exit' from Gaza, Amid Doubts Over Return

A Palestinian child is seen as fighters from Hamas’ Qassam Brigades search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, last December. (EPA)
A Palestinian child is seen as fighters from Hamas’ Qassam Brigades search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, last December. (EPA)

Sources within Hamas in Gaza revealed that senior figures in the movement are preparing for a “safe exit” from the enclave following arrangements related to Gaza’s future under the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which the United States announced had begun last week.

Three Hamas sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that several prominent political and military leaders who survived the war are preparing to leave the territory. One source said the departure would be voluntary and carried out under specific arrangements, with full coordination with the Hamas leadership abroad. Another source noted that other leaders, particularly military figures, categorically reject leaving Gaza under any circumstances.

Throughout nearly two years of war, Hamas officials have repeatedly stated their rejection of removing the movement’s leadership from the Strip.

The sources separately provided Asharq Al-Awsat with the names of several leaders believed likely to depart, though it is refraining from publishing them due to the inability to contact them promptly. Some of these figures were recently appointed to leadership positions in Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza as part of new organizational arrangements aimed at rebuilding and restructuring the movement.

According to the same sources, a number of former prisoners released in the 2011 exchange deal for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit — who now oversee key portfolios within Hamas leadership — are expected to be among those traveling to Türkiye.

However, a senior Hamas leader based outside Gaza denied the reports, telling Asharq Al-Awsat that the issue of leaders leaving the Strip “has not been raised.”

Another source inside Gaza declined to comment, saying only that he had no knowledge of the matter.

Sources in Gaza said the exit would likely be “without return, at least for several years,” with those leaders likely to end up residing in several countries. Other sources said some leaders would leave temporarily to hold meetings in Egypt with security officials on critical issues related to Gaza’s governmental security forces and other key files, before returning to the Strip.

In September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News that Israel was considering providing safe passage for Hamas leaders to leave Gaza under certain conditions, as part of a plan being prepared by US President Donald Trump, which entered into force in October.

Israel’s public broadcaster reported that Hamas leaders would most likely head to Qatar or Türkiye if they left Gaza. Israel’s Channel 12 previously reported that Hamas officials told US officials they were prepared to accept a limited relocation of military leaders and some operatives from Gaza.

On Jan. 14, US envoy Steve Witkoff officially announced the launch of the second phase of the ceasefire, which includes Hamas relinquishing control of Gaza, establishing a Palestinian technocratic committee to administer the enclave, initiating a comprehensive disarmament process, and launching large-scale reconstruction projects.

Hamas welcomed the announcement, saying it had fulfilled all requirements for completing the first phase and moving to the second, while continuing discussions with mediators over options regarding its weapons and those of other Palestinian factions.