عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Cairo Seeks to Consolidate Truce, Push Forward Reconciliation

Egyptian President Sisi and Palestinian President Abbas meet in Cairo on May 9, 2016. (AFP)
Egyptian President Sisi and Palestinian President Abbas meet in Cairo on May 9, 2016. (AFP)
TT
TT

Cairo Seeks to Consolidate Truce, Push Forward Reconciliation

Egyptian President Sisi and Palestinian President Abbas meet in Cairo on May 9, 2016. (AFP)
Egyptian President Sisi and Palestinian President Abbas meet in Cairo on May 9, 2016. (AFP)

An Egyptian security delegation met on Monday with Hamas leaders for few hours in the Gaza Strip, during a quick visit that ended on the same day.

Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the delegation, which is expected to continue its tour in the region, was seeking to consolidate the truce and looking forward to advancing reconciliation talks.

The delegation, headed by General Ahmed Abdel Khaliq, the director of the Palestinian file, arrived in Gaza through the Israeli Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, a day after a truce agreement was reached between Hamas and Israel. He immediately met with the leadership of the movement in the Gaza Strip before leaving again.

The delegation informed Hamas leaders that it has agreed with Israel to maintain calm, improve the situation in the sector and find a mechanism for the transfer of the Qatari funds.

The Egyptian delegation’s visit followed a meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Saturday.

Sisi succeeded in persuading Abbas to give an opportunity to rescue reconciliation efforts and to refrain from adopting new measures against the Gaza Strip.

Israel’s Kan radio reported that Abbas has insisted that Hamas hand over Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, including the security services, along with the departments of tax collection and crossings, ministries, land authorities and the judiciary.

Palestinian sources confirmed that the Egyptian delegation briefed Hamas leaders on these details and discussed the possibility of pushing reconciliation efforts forward in order to finalize the truce agreement.

The sources noted the delegation informed Hamas that Abbas would not take new measures against the Gaza Strip, but that the government should be empowered. However, Hamas emphasized that the Palestinian president should cancel current measures against the sector, a demand still rejected by Abbas.

Israel reached an agreement with Hamas under Egyptian auspices on understandings based on the 2014 agreement signed in Egypt between Israel and Palestinian factions. The agreement is based on maintaining calm, allowing for the delivery of Qatari fuel, in addition to a Qatari grant earmarked for the salaries of Hamas employees.

Sisi told Abbas that the understandings were temporary until a reconciliation agreement is reached between Fatah and Hamas, after which a formal and long-term truce agreement would be signed.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
TT
TT

Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

At least two people were killed and four rescued from the rubble of a multistory apartment building that collapsed Sunday in the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon, state media reported.

Rescue teams were continuing to dig through the rubble. It was not immediately clear how many people were in the building when it fell.

The bodies pulled out were of a child and a woman, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Dozens of people crowded around the site of the crater left by the collapsed building, with some shooting in the air.

The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure. Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli due to poor building standards, according to The AP news.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced that those injured in the collapse would receive treatment at the state’s expense.

The national syndicate for property owners in a statement called the collapse the result of “blatant negligence and shortcomings of the Lebanese state toward the safety of citizens and their housing security,” and said it is “not an isolated incident.”

The syndicate called for the government to launch a comprehensive national survey of buildings at risk of collapse.

Arab World

Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
TT
TT

Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)

Israel's security cabinet approved a series of steps on Sunday that would make it easier for settlers in the occupied West Bank to buy land while granting Israeli authorities more enforcement powers over Palestinians, Israeli media reported.

The West Bank is among the territories that the Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Much of it is under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

Citing statements by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israeli news sites Ynet and Haaretz said the measures included scrapping decades-old regulations that prevent Jewish private citizens buying land in the West Bank, The AP news reported.

They were also reported to include allowing Israeli authorities to administer some religious sites, and expand supervision and enforcement in areas under PA administration in matters of environmental hazards, water offences and damage to archaeological sites.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the new measures were dangerous, illegal and tantamount to de-facto annexation.

The Israeli ministers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The new measures come three days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet in Washington with US President Donald Trump.

Trump has ruled out Israeli annexation of the West Bank but his administration has not sought to curb Israel's accelerated settlement building, which the Palestinians say denies them a potential state by eating away at its territory.

Netanyahu, who is facing an election later this year, deems the establishment of any Palestinian state a security threat.

His ruling coalition includes many pro-settler members who want Israel to annex the West Bank, land captured in the 1967 Middle East war to which Israel cites biblical and historical ties.

The United Nations' highest court said in a non-binding advisory opinion in 2024 that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there is illegal and should be ended as soon as possible. Israel disputes this view.

Arab World

Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
TT
TT

Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit strongly condemned the attack by the Rapid Support Forces on humanitarian aid convoys and relief workers in North Kordofan State, Sudan.

In a statement reported by SPA, secretary-general's spokesperson Jamal Rushdi quoted Aboul Gheit as saying the attack constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law, which prohibits the deliberate targeting of civilians and depriving them of their means of survival.

Aboul Gheit stressed the need to hold those responsible accountable, end impunity, and ensure the full protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, and relief facilities in Sudan.