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Iran, Qatar FMs Discuss Reducing Escalation in Gaza

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian discussed with his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, in Doha (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian discussed with his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, in Doha (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
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Iran, Qatar FMs Discuss Reducing Escalation in Gaza

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian discussed with his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, in Doha (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian discussed with his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, in Doha (Iranian Foreign Ministry)

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian discussed on Wednesday the recent developments in the Gaza Strip and ways to reduce the escalation with his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani.
In a brief statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry reported that Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed met on Wednesday with Iran’s Foreign Minister, who is visiting the country.
During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories and ways of de-escalating the situation and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
In turn, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a detailed statement that the two ministers discussed bilateral and regional issues, stressing the importance of the developments in Palestine and Gaza.
They reiterated the need to stop Israel’s ongoing military attacks on Gazans, pointing out the importance of sending humanitarian aid and increasing international and regional pressure to reach a political solution.
The top officials also called for maintaining joint efforts toward achieving the agreed-upon goals based on the demands and needs of the Palestinian people.
Amirabdollahian said that “time is not on the side of the US and the Zionist entity,” adding that Israel’s insistence on continuing the war, with Washington’s support, will only increase the scope of the military and political defeat.
The Iranian statement described the “joint efforts” to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and support the sending of humanitarian aid as “positive and influential.”
It added that the talks between the two FMs addressed the joint efforts to advance a political solution and stop the Israeli war machine against Gaza, and the foreign ministers agreed to pursue new ideas.
The two sides agreed to increase cooperation in various areas, and the Qatari PM presented “a positive assessment of the bilateral ties”, the Iranian statement indicated.
It noted that Sheikh Mohammed expressed Doha’s determination to implement agreements concluded by the two countries' leaders to develop trade and economic relations.
Amirabdollahian described the political relations between the two countries as “constructive and distinguished,” stressing the need to boost joint efforts in trade and economic ties in parallel with political connections.
Iran’s FM began his third visit within 75 days to Doha, with discussions with Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh.
Amirabdollahian condemned what he described as “comprehensive and unrestricted US support” to Israel in the ongoing war in Gaza, adding that Washington is making efforts and sending political messages to get out of the current impasse and military strategic defeat.
The US realization that war is not the solution is a significant development, said Amirabdollahian, adding that Washington must stop supporting the “crazy military strategy of the occupation regime as soon as possible.”
The White House is seeking a political solution for an “honorable exit from the war and saving Israel from strategic defeat”, he stated.
Haniyeh had addressed the latest efforts aimed at ending the Israeli attacks on Gaza and the West Bank to reach a sustainable ceasefire, lift the siege, and send humanitarian aid.
State-owned ISNA news agency added that Haniyeh praised Iran’s political, diplomatic, and media support and the resistance movement.

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Arab World

Fidan, Barrack Discuss Merging of SDF in Syrian Army, Erdogan Warns of Israeli Violations

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack meet on Tuesday. (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack meet on Tuesday. (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
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Fidan, Barrack Discuss Merging of SDF in Syrian Army, Erdogan Warns of Israeli Violations

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack meet on Tuesday. (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack meet on Tuesday. (Turkish Foreign Ministry)

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack held talks on Tuesday on the latest developments in Syria a year after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

They discussed the measures needed to establish stability in Syria and maintain its territorial integrity.

Turkish sources said the meeting focus primarily on the implementation of the agreement between Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) leader Abdi Mazloum on the merger of the Kurdish forces in the Syrian army.

The agreement was signed in Damascus in March and should have been completed by December.

Fidan and Barrack also tackled the Israeli violations and attacks against Syria and their “negative impact on its stability and unity.” They discussed sanctions on Syria and the support for political steps during the country’s transition, added the sources.

Fidan had on Saturday accused Israel of “encouraging” the SDF to renege on the March agreement.

In a televised interview, he warned that the developments in southern Syria were the “greatest danger.” He explained that the problem isn’t in the extent of the developments, but in how Israel has intervened in them.

The danger in Syria could impact Türkiye, he added.

He stressed the need for the SDF to fulfill its commitments to the March agreement and to dissolve itself and for its foreign fighters to leave Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned on Tuesday the Israeli violations in Syria, saying they were the “greatest obstacle” to the country’s security and stability at the time and for the long-term.

Speaking before ambassadors to Türkiye, he vowed that Ankara will continue to support Damascus “as it has always done”.

He echoed Fidan’s demand on the SDF to commit to the March agreement, saying any delay will lead to a new crisis in Syria.

He also slammed the international silence over the “massacres that were committed in Syria” during its 13 years of civil war.

Throughout those years, “except for a few with a real conscience, we didn’t hear anything from the supporters of democracy and defenders of human rights,” he added.

Arab World

Sudanese Powers Sign Declaration of Principles to End the War 

The gatherers in Nairobi held the warring parties and their allies fully responsible for any violations and war crimes. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The gatherers in Nairobi held the warring parties and their allies fully responsible for any violations and war crimes. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Sudanese Powers Sign Declaration of Principles to End the War 

The gatherers in Nairobi held the warring parties and their allies fully responsible for any violations and war crimes. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The gatherers in Nairobi held the warring parties and their allies fully responsible for any violations and war crimes. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The political and civilian parties of Sudan’s Somoud alliance signed in Nairobi on Tuesday a joint declaration of principles with the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, led by Abdul Wahid al-Nur, and the Arab Socialist Baath Party to end the war in Sudan and completely eliminate the Islamic movement from politics.

The declaration is the first act of rapprochement between Sudanese parties that are opposed to the ongoing war between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Former Prime Minister and Somoud leader Abdalla Hamdok was among the signatories.

The declaration said that “there can be no military solution to the crisis”, urging the immediate end to the war.

It called for greater pressure to be applied on the military and RSF to end the conflict and commit to the roadmap drafted by the international Quad that includes Saudi Arabia, the US, United Arab Emirates and Egypt in August.

The declaration called for the swift implementation of a proposed three-month humanitarian truce and for an unconditional ceasefire.

Sudan Liberation Movement/Army deputy leader Abdullah Harran said the signatories of the declaration agreed on the need to expand it further and to bring in more parties to sign it, excluding the ousted National Congress.

Harran told a press conference that the declaration aims to establish a wide popular civilian base that will embark on a transitional phase, leading up to holding free and transparent elections.

The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army holds some regions in central Darfur and has extended its influence in northern parts of the province. It has received tens of thousands of refugees from el-Fasher in areas under its control.

Leading member of the Arab Socialist Baath Party Wajdi Saleh said the gatherers in Nairobi agreed on a “unified vision” to end the war.

They signed three documents, he revealed. The first is the declaration of principles to build a new nation, the second is a roadmap to stop the war and the third aims to designate the National Congress and Islamic movement as terrorist.

Moreover, he declared that the warring parties would be barred from taking part in the democratic transition.

The gatherers held the warring parties and their allies fully responsible for any violations and war crimes, calling on regional and international powers, led by the Quad, to intervene decisively to implement a humanitarian truce.

Arab World

Israeli Settler Kills 16-Year-Old Palestinian in West Bank, Mayor Says

Friends and family gather around the body of Ammar Yasser Sabbah, 16, ahead of his funeral at a morgue in Bethlehem on December 16, 2025, after he was killed by Israeli forces in the town of Tuqu’, east of Bethlehem during a military raid the day before. (AFP)
Friends and family gather around the body of Ammar Yasser Sabbah, 16, ahead of his funeral at a morgue in Bethlehem on December 16, 2025, after he was killed by Israeli forces in the town of Tuqu’, east of Bethlehem during a military raid the day before. (AFP)
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Israeli Settler Kills 16-Year-Old Palestinian in West Bank, Mayor Says

Friends and family gather around the body of Ammar Yasser Sabbah, 16, ahead of his funeral at a morgue in Bethlehem on December 16, 2025, after he was killed by Israeli forces in the town of Tuqu’, east of Bethlehem during a military raid the day before. (AFP)
Friends and family gather around the body of Ammar Yasser Sabbah, 16, ahead of his funeral at a morgue in Bethlehem on December 16, 2025, after he was killed by Israeli forces in the town of Tuqu’, east of Bethlehem during a military raid the day before. (AFP)

An Israeli settler shot dead a 16-year-old Palestinian in Tuqu' on Tuesday after the funeral of another teenager, the town's mayor said.

Violence has escalated in the West Bank since the beginning of the war in Gaza in October 2023. Attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank have increased sharply, with the UN reporting the highest number of attacks on record in October.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Muheeb Jibril's death on Tuesday.

"Today, after the funeral of 16-year-old Ammar Sabah, who was killed yesterday by the Israeli army in the town center, a number of youths were gathered by the main street when a settler shot 16-year-old Muheeb Jibril in the head," Tuqu' Mayor Mohammed al-Badan told Reuters by telephone.

Israeli forces killed Sabah on Monday during a military raid on the town, the Palestinian health ministry said. The military said the incident was under review. It said rocks were thrown at soldiers who used riot dispersal means and later responded with fire.

The West Bank is home to 2.7 million Palestinians who have limited self-rule under Israeli military occupation. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have settled there.

Most world powers deem Israel's settlements, on land it captured in a 1967 war, illegal, and numerous UN Security Council resolutions have called on Israel to halt all settlement activity.

Israel denies the illegality of the settlements, citing biblical and historical connections to the land.