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Biden Administration Requests Clarification on Hamas-Fatah Election Partnership

A sign directing to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission in Gaza (Reuters)
A sign directing to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission in Gaza (Reuters)
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Biden Administration Requests Clarification on Hamas-Fatah Election Partnership

A sign directing to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission in Gaza (Reuters)
A sign directing to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission in Gaza (Reuters)

US President Joe Biden’s administration has asked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for clarifications on the partnership with Hamas in the upcoming elections, according to a Channel 12 report.

The United States wants reassurances that any future Palestinian government will recognize Israel, renounce violence and uphold agreements and abide by them, the report added.

Neither the US administration nor the Palestinian Authority (PA) commented on the report, yet a well-informed source ruled out in remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat any dispute on the matter.

“Elections will be held under the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) sponsorship,” the source explained, stressing that the PLO is committed to all the agreements, in accordance to which the government will be formed.

“This is clear to everyone and to all the Palestinian factions. They all agreed not to give Israel any reason to prevent the elections from taking place or incite against the next government.”

The PA has officially resumed contacts with the new US administration.

It had cut relations with former US President Donald Trump’s administration for more than two years due to its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the punitive steps against Palestinians.

Contacts with Biden’s administration are carried out through Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr.

They earlier discussed means to restore Palestinian-US relations, especially the reopening of the PLO’s office in Washington and renewing US financial aid to the PA and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Contact between the PA and new US administration has been expected in light of previous indirect communication through mediators.

The PA is hoping that the Biden administration would rectify the tense relations and advance a new peace process in the region.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said the upcoming elections are an existential issue that cannot be reversed.

“They pave the way for ending the division and leading to reconciliation,” he explained during a meeting with head of mission of the Office of the Quartet John Clarke in Ramallah.

He affirmed his country’s readiness for a serious political path based on international legitimacy and international law.

Both sides discussed the latest political developments and preparations for the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) meeting, which will be held in New York on Feb. 23.

Clarke said the Quartet is ready to support the elections, accelerate efforts to restore bilateral relations with the US, and implement development projects, especially those targeting the energy and water sectors, with priority given to the Gaza Strip.

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Arab World

Judicial Source: Lebanon Arrests 2 Suspected Hezbollah Members over Explosives

This photograph taken during a media tour organized by Hezbollah shows a flag of Hezbollah installed on the balcony of a damaged building at Nabi Sheet town after an Israeli military operation in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, on March 7, 2026. (Photo by FADEL itani / AFP)
This photograph taken during a media tour organized by Hezbollah shows a flag of Hezbollah installed on the balcony of a damaged building at Nabi Sheet town after an Israeli military operation in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, on March 7, 2026. (Photo by FADEL itani / AFP)
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Judicial Source: Lebanon Arrests 2 Suspected Hezbollah Members over Explosives

This photograph taken during a media tour organized by Hezbollah shows a flag of Hezbollah installed on the balcony of a damaged building at Nabi Sheet town after an Israeli military operation in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, on March 7, 2026. (Photo by FADEL itani / AFP)
This photograph taken during a media tour organized by Hezbollah shows a flag of Hezbollah installed on the balcony of a damaged building at Nabi Sheet town after an Israeli military operation in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, on March 7, 2026. (Photo by FADEL itani / AFP)

Lebanese authorities arrested two suspected Hezbollah members accused of secretly transporting half-a-ton of explosives, a judicial source told AFP on Saturday.

According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the two men were caught Thursday afternoon at a security checkpoint in Dahr al-Baidar in Lebanon's east, near a road linking the country with Syria.

They were in a car heading towards Beirut.

After searching the vehicle, security forces seized "250 kilograms of TNT-type explosives and 250 kilograms of C4-type, a highly explosive substance,” the source said.

Based on initial investigations, one of the suspects is the son of a Hezbollah official and the other is also a member of the group, according to the source.

The explosives' destination remains unknown, the source added.

Lebanese authorities have not confirmed the source's information.

But Justice Minister Adel Nassar vowed on X Saturday that "the investigation into the seized explosives, and everything that follows from it, will continue to the very end.”

He insisted that work toward "disarming illegal groups, combating terrorism and prosecuting all outlaws is... irreversible and speeding up.”

Lebanon approved a plan to disarm Hezbollah in 2025, following a ceasefire the previous November that ended a devastating war between the group and Israel.

However, the conflict flared back to life in March this year when Hezbollah attacked Israel in support of Iran in the Middle East war.

Israel invaded in response and now occupies a band of territory in Lebanon's south.

A new ceasefire was struck in June, and Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a framework deal that involves Hezbollah's disarmament, a gradual Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region.

Arab World

MSF: Houthi Escalation Leaves Thousands of Yemenis Without Shelter

A relief worker walks among the tents at a temporary shelter for displaced people north of Aden (AFP)
A relief worker walks among the tents at a temporary shelter for displaced people north of Aden (AFP)
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MSF: Houthi Escalation Leaves Thousands of Yemenis Without Shelter

A relief worker walks among the tents at a temporary shelter for displaced people north of Aden (AFP)
A relief worker walks among the tents at a temporary shelter for displaced people north of Aden (AFP)

The ordeal is far from over for the thousands of Yemenis who have fled the Houthi escalation in western Taiz and southern Hodeidah.

Reaching safer areas did not mark the end of their struggle, as many families found themselves without shelter after traveling long distances on foot under intense heat, only to face hunger, disease, and a shortage of clean water amid growing risks of malnutrition and cholera.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned of deteriorating health and living conditions among displaced people in the governorates of Lahj and Aden, noting that those fleeing the escalation are experiencing high rates of severe acute malnutrition, cholera, acute watery diarrhea, measles, and other infectious diseases. At the same time, their ability to secure food, clean water, and medical care continues to decline.

According to MSF, the latest wave of escalation has displaced families from areas along Yemen’s western coast that have come under Houthi control, leaving them once again facing harsh conditions after abandoning their homes, possessions, and livelihoods in search of safety.

Conditions documented by mobile medical teams reveal the extent of the displaced population’s suffering. Many have traveled long distances across desert terrain in extreme heat, with no guarantee of access to food, water, or shelter from the harsh weather.

“Displaced people who cannot find shelter in host communities, and formal or informal camps have been seen by our teams on the road or sleeping under the shade of trees,” MSF said.

Those who have settled around Lahj governorate “are in critical need of medical and humanitarian support, including water and sanitation services in the informal places where they settle, such as schools and mosques. The risk of waterborne diseases, like cholera, is increasing rapidly in the current conditions.”

The consequences of displacement extend far beyond the loss of homes and the hardships of the journey. Women and children face growing health risks amid worsening food insecurity, the loss of income and livelihoods, and the struggle to meet basic needs, making daily survival a constant challenge for families forced to flee.

“In the many camps across Lahj and Aden governorates, 70 percent of the patients treated by MSF mobile clinics are women and children. People present with skin infections, fever, diarrhea, and communicable diseases,” MSF said.

“The long walks have caused foot injuries and ear and eye infections,” it added.

The risks are even greater for children suffering from malnutrition, as their chances of obtaining adequate nutrition and regular healthcare continue to decline due to poverty, displacement, and limited access to medical services. MSF teams have identified cases of severe acute malnutrition among children requiring specialized medical intervention.

Food insecurity and declining sources of income, coupled with a rise in cholera cases, are further exacerbating the health challenges faced by displaced people. Many are struggling to access medical facilities or obtain the referrals needed for essential treatment.

“In response to the needs of displaced people, we sent mobile clinics across Aden and Lahj governorates, with 775 total consultations since 15 September. Twenty children were diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition,” said MSF.

For families that have traveled long distances in search of safety, the struggle does not end once they leave conflict zones behind. Instead, a new battle begins: securing food, drinking water, and shelter to protect their children from heat and disease.

As needs continue to grow, the urgency of providing shelter, food, healthcare, and clean water for displaced people becomes increasingly evident. These are families who have been forced to abandon their homes and start over under extremely harsh conditions.

Arab World

Lebanon Welcomes Trump's Move to Lift 41-year US Flight Ban

FILED - 17 January 2025, Lebanon, Baabda: FILE PHOTO - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a press conference at Baabda Palace. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 17 January 2025, Lebanon, Baabda: FILE PHOTO - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a press conference at Baabda Palace. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
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Lebanon Welcomes Trump's Move to Lift 41-year US Flight Ban

FILED - 17 January 2025, Lebanon, Baabda: FILE PHOTO - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a press conference at Baabda Palace. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 17 January 2025, Lebanon, Baabda: FILE PHOTO - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a press conference at Baabda Palace. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Saturday that President Donald Trump's decision to revoke flight restrictions between Lebanon and the US that were imposed four decades ago was an indication of American confidence in steps taken by Lebanon to address civil aviation safety.

Direct flights between the US and Lebanon were suspended in 1985 by the Reagan administration following the hijacking of TWA Flight 847.

Trump made the surprise announcement that he would allow American carriers to resume direct flights to Lebanon during a visit by Aoun to Washington in July.

While he ordered the lifting of the restrictions nearly two weeks ago, the decision was publicly announced on Saturday.