Lebanon’s Politicians Intensify Meetings over Presidential Crisis

Franjieh visited Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid al-Bukhari on Thursday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Franjieh visited Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid al-Bukhari on Thursday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Lebanon’s Politicians Intensify Meetings over Presidential Crisis

Franjieh visited Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid al-Bukhari on Thursday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Franjieh visited Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid al-Bukhari on Thursday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Lebanon’s political scene is witnessing extensive political contacts and meetings over the presidential vacuum, especially among the parties opposing the election of the head of Marada Movement, Sleiman Franjieh.

On Thursday, Franjieh - whose candidacy is backed by Hezbollah and the Amal Movement - visited Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid al-Bukhari.

While no statement was issued following the meeting, the head of Marada tweeted: “We thank his Excellency, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for the invitation. The meeting was cordial and excellent.”

Bukhari later met with a delegation from the National Moderation Bloc.

Meanwhile, the head of the Kataeb Party, MP Sami Gemayel, met on Thursday with MP Wael Bou Faour, member of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) and the Democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc.

Gemayel stressed that extensive contacts were underway to reach a breakthrough in the presidential crisis.

Parliamentary sources in the opposition told Asharq Al-Awsat that three names were under discussion. They include Army Commander General Joseph Aoun and former ministers Ziad Baroud and Jihad Azour.

While the sources expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching an agreement soon, they pointed to the opposition’s caution against a possible parliamentary confrontation if the other side insisted on Franjieh, saying that the results could turn in his favor in the election session if quorum is secured.

Democratic Gathering MP Hadi Abul-Hassan stressed the need to agree on a candidate that would gain the support of all sides.

He explained that Franjieh’s supporters should “take a step back” and agree on a consensual president, noting that no side has so far secured the parliamentary quorum of 86 deputies to elect a president.



Gaza Rescuers Say 4 Dead, 30 Missing under Rubble after Israeli Strike

Palestinians inspect the damage at Al Farabi school following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, 25 April 2025. (EPA)
Palestinians inspect the damage at Al Farabi school following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, 25 April 2025. (EPA)
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Gaza Rescuers Say 4 Dead, 30 Missing under Rubble after Israeli Strike

Palestinians inspect the damage at Al Farabi school following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, 25 April 2025. (EPA)
Palestinians inspect the damage at Al Farabi school following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, 25 April 2025. (EPA)

Gaza's civil defense agency said an Israeli strike on Gaza City on Saturday killed at least four people and left "more than 30" feared buried under the rubble of a house.

"Our crews were able to recover four martyrs and five wounded following the attack," which hit a family home in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood at dawn, civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which more than a month ago had resumed its offensive against Hamas across the Gaza Strip.

Bassal said that "more than 30" people are presumed missing under the rubble of the targeted house in Gaza City, in the territory's north, and "our crews cannot reach them because of the lack of the necessary machinery".

According to figures released Friday by the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, the renewed Israeli campaign since March 18 had killed at least 2,062 Palestinians, taking the overall war death toll in the territory to 51,439 people.

The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also abducted 251 people, 58 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel says the renewed military campaign aims to force Hamas to free the remaining captives.