Gulf, Arab Countries Congratulate Saudi Arabia on 93rd National Day

 22 September 2023, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh: Saudis wave flags as aircraft perform to celebrate Saudi Arabia's National Day in Riyadh. (SPA)
22 September 2023, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh: Saudis wave flags as aircraft perform to celebrate Saudi Arabia's National Day in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Gulf, Arab Countries Congratulate Saudi Arabia on 93rd National Day

 22 September 2023, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh: Saudis wave flags as aircraft perform to celebrate Saudi Arabia's National Day in Riyadh. (SPA)
22 September 2023, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh: Saudis wave flags as aircraft perform to celebrate Saudi Arabia's National Day in Riyadh. (SPA)

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent on Friday a cable of congratulations to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz on the occasion of the Kingdom’s 93rd National Day.

Deputy Emir of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani expressed in two similar cables their congratulations to King Salman.

King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa congratulated King Salman bin Abdulaziz on the occasion.

In a cable to King Salman, he underscored the depth of the historical fraternal relations between the two kingdoms and their peoples.

He stressed Bahrain's constant keenness to continue strengthening and developing cooperation and strong joint action with Saudi Arabia in line with their vital strategic partnership to achieve the aspirations and interests of both countries and bring the best benefit to their peoples.

He hailed King Salman and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their dedication to the development and economic prosperity of the region that serves security, stability, peace, and prosperity, and provides a better future for the coming generations.

Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, also congratulated in two cables King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed on National Day.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II congratulated King Salman on the occasion.

In a cable in his name and on behalf of the people and government of Jordan, he expressed his sincere congratulations to King Salman, wishing him good health and happiness, and the Saudi people further progress and prosperity.

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent cables of congratulations to King Salman on National Day.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan also sent cables of congratulations to Crown Prince Mohammed on the occasion.

Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the UAE also sent congratulatory cables to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed.

Iraqi President Dr. Abdul Latif Rashid sent a cable of congratulations to King Salman on National Day, wishing him health and success, and the brotherly Saudi people further progress and prosperity.

He also expressed keenness to strengthen relations between their people.



Mediator Qatar Says Israel ‘Did Not Abide’ by Gaza Truce Deal

 Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, left, at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, left, at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)
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Mediator Qatar Says Israel ‘Did Not Abide’ by Gaza Truce Deal

 Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, left, at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, left, at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said Thursday that Israel had failed to respect January’s ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

“As you know, we reached an agreement months ago, but unfortunately Israel did not abide by this agreement,” said the ruler of Qatar, a key mediator of the deal.

A truce in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Qatar with Egypt and the United States, came into force on January 19, largely halting more than 15 months of fighting triggered by Palestinian fighters’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

The initial phase of the truce ended in early March, with the two sides unable to agree on the next steps. Israel resumed air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip on March 18 after earlier halting the entry of aid.

Israel said Wednesday that it had converted 30 percent of Gaza into a buffer zone in the widening offensive.

Sheikh Tamim said Qatar would “strive to bridge perspectives in order to reach an agreement that ends the suffering of the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza.”

Putin recognized Qatar’s “serious efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict” and called deaths in the conflict “a tragedy.”

“A long-term settlement can only be achieved on the basis of the UN resolution and first of all connected to the establishment of two states,” he added.

Israel’s renewed assault has so far killed at least 1,691 people in Gaza, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory reported, bringing the overall toll since the war erupted to 51,065, most of them civilians.

Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.