Lebanese President Stresses Progress on Border Demarcation

Aoun meets with the new executive council of the Informatics and Technology Syndicate, at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday. (NNA)
Aoun meets with the new executive council of the Informatics and Technology Syndicate, at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday. (NNA)
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Lebanese President Stresses Progress on Border Demarcation

Aoun meets with the new executive council of the Informatics and Technology Syndicate, at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday. (NNA)
Aoun meets with the new executive council of the Informatics and Technology Syndicate, at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday. (NNA)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Wednesday that he hoped his successor would complete the implementation of the anti-corruption process. He also noted that negotiations over the demarcation of the maritime border “have gone a long way,” pointing to technical details that are currently being studied “for the interest of Lebanon, its rights and sovereignty.”

The president’s remarks came during a meeting with the new executive council of the Informatics and Technology Syndicate, at the Baabda Palace.

“The completion of the demarcation of the southern maritime borders will enable Lebanon to launch oil and gas exploration in the specified fields within its exclusive economic zone, which will give the Lebanese economy a positive impetus,” Aoun stated.

He added: “The communications to complete the demarcation file have gone a long way… There are technical details that are currently being studied for the interest of Lebanon, its rights and sovereignty.”

US Mediator Amos Hochstein visited Beirut last week and met with senior Lebanese officials to listen to their viewpoint on some of the outstanding matters in the ongoing negotiations with Israel.

“I think we’re making good progress,” Hochstein said following his meeting with Aoun. “I’m very hopeful we can reach an agreement.”

The US envoy was expected to convey the Israeli response to Lebanese conditions for the maritime border Friday.

On a different note, Aoun told his visitors on Wednesday that the criminal financial audit of the Central Bank’s accounts was underway, adding that the first phase was set to be concluded by the end of September.

He also expressed hope that his successor would complete the implementation of projects launched under his tenure, in particular the process of combating corruption.



WHO: Medicine Critically Low Due to Gaza Aid Blockade

Palestinians gather at a damaged building, at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Shejaia, in Gaza City, April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
Palestinians gather at a damaged building, at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Shejaia, in Gaza City, April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
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WHO: Medicine Critically Low Due to Gaza Aid Blockade

Palestinians gather at a damaged building, at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Shejaia, in Gaza City, April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
Palestinians gather at a damaged building, at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Shejaia, in Gaza City, April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer

Medicine stocks are critically low due to the aid blockade in Gaza, making it hard to keep hospitals even partially operational, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

"We are critically low in our three warehouses, on antibiotics, IV fluids and blood bags," WHO official Rik Peeperkorn told reporters in Geneva via video link from Jerusalem.

The Israeli military on Friday issued an urgent warning to residents in several neighborhoods in northern Gaza, calling on them to evacuate immediately. Strikes earlier this week killed at least 23 people, health officials said, including eight women and eight children.

Since Israel ended an eight-week ceasefire last month, it said it will push further into Gaza until Hamas releases the hostages. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed, according to the United Nations.

Israel imposed a blockade on food, fuel and humanitarian aid that has left civilians facing acute shortages as supplies dwindle. It has pledged to seize large parts of the Palestinian territory and establish a new security corridor through it.