Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Syrian Opposition's HNC in Moscow to Inquire about Sochi

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (3rd L) shakes hands with Nasr al-Hariri (3rd R) next to opposition delegation members. (Reuters)
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (3rd L) shakes hands with Nasr al-Hariri (3rd R) next to opposition delegation members. (Reuters)
TT
20

Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Syrian Opposition's HNC in Moscow to Inquire about Sochi

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (3rd L) shakes hands with Nasr al-Hariri (3rd R) next to opposition delegation members. (Reuters)
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (3rd L) shakes hands with Nasr al-Hariri (3rd R) next to opposition delegation members. (Reuters)

A delegation from Syria’s High Negotiations Committee headed by Nasr al-Hariri will visit Moscow on Monday to meet with Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shvoigo, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The sources explained that the Syrian opposition delegation will discuss with the Russian officials several issues regarding the Syrian national dialogue conference scheduled to be held in Sochi at the end of the month, including the invited parties, the agenda and outcomes of the conference.

Armed factions have refused to participate in the conference. However, the HNC has not issued a statement pending an official invitation from Moscow to come out with a decision regarding the conference.

The committee announced its participation at the Vienna peace talks scheduled for January 25-26, to discuss the agenda of the negotiations on constitutional reform, elections and political transition, in line with Resolution 2254.

In related news, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir received at the Ministry's headquarters an HNC delegation headed by Hariri.

During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments in Syria and ways of achieving the aspirations of the Syrian people, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The meeting was attended by Deputy Foreign Undersecretary for Political and Economic Affairs, Ambassador Jamal Aqil and Director General of the General Administration of Arab States Saeed Osman Sweid.



Influential Far-right Minister Lashes out at Netanyahu over Gaza War Policy

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, also attended by Argentine President Javier Milei (not pictured), in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, also attended by Argentine President Javier Milei (not pictured), in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025
TT
20

Influential Far-right Minister Lashes out at Netanyahu over Gaza War Policy

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, also attended by Argentine President Javier Milei (not pictured), in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, also attended by Argentine President Javier Milei (not pictured), in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sharply criticized on Sunday a cabinet decision to allow some aid into Gaza as a "grave mistake" that he said would benefit the militant Palestinian group Hamas.

Smotrich also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to ensure that Israel's military is following government directives in prosecuting the war against Hamas in Gaza. He said he was considering his "next steps" but stopped short of explicitly threatening to quit the coalition, Reuters reported.

Smotrich's comments come a day before Netanyahu is due to hold talks in Washington with President Donald Trump on a US-backed proposal for a 60-day Gaza ceasefire.

"... the cabinet and the Prime Minister made a grave mistake yesterday in approving the entry of aid through a route that also benefits Hamas," Smotrich said on X, arguing that the aid would ultimately reach the Islamist group and serve as "logistical support for the enemy during wartime".

The Israeli government has not announced any changes to its aid policy in Gaza. Israeli media reported that the government had voted to allow additional aid to enter northern Gaza.

The prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The military declined to comment.

Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid for its own fighters or to sell to finance its operations, an accusation Hamas denies. Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe, with conditions threatening to push nearly a half a million people into famine within months, according to UN estimates.

Israel in May partially lifted a nearly three-month blockade on aid. Two Israeli officials said on June 27 the government had temporarily stopped aid from entering north Gaza.

PRESSURE

Public pressure in Israel is mounting on Netanyahu to secure a permanent ceasefire, a move opposed by some hardline members of his right-wing coalition. An Israeli team left for Qatar on Sunday for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.

Smotrich, who in January threatened to withdraw his Religious Zionism party from the government if Israel agreed to a complete end to the war before having achieved its objectives, did not mention the ceasefire in his criticism of Netanyahu.

The right-wing coalition holds a slim parliamentary majority, although some opposition lawmakers have offered to support the government from collapsing if a ceasefire is agreed.