عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Egypt Demands Naming Israel's Violations

An aid truck arrives at a UN storage facility as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas continues in the central Gaza Strip. (Reuters)
An aid truck arrives at a UN storage facility as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas continues in the central Gaza Strip. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Egypt Demands Naming Israel's Violations

An aid truck arrives at a UN storage facility as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas continues in the central Gaza Strip. (Reuters)
An aid truck arrives at a UN storage facility as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas continues in the central Gaza Strip. (Reuters)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry emphasized on Sunday that the commitment of international parties to reach a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza constitutes the best way to effectively implement the provisions of the UNSC resolution and save the lives of Palestinian civilians.Shoukry and his Portuguese counterpart, João Cravinho, agreed in a phone call on the necessity of fully and immediately implementing the provisions of the recent United Nations Security Council's resolution on Gaza.The Egyptian Minister stressed that because of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, the international parties must use the correct terms to describe Israel's violations of global and international humanitarian law.He also emphasized that it was imperative to denounce and halt Israel's violations and policies of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians, including targeting, siege, forced displacement, and the destruction of the essential services system in the strip.The Security Council is facing criticism for its failure to take any concrete steps regarding the war in Gaza that broke out more than two months ago. It recently approved a resolution for a large-scale increase in aid without calling for a ceasefire.According to Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid, the Egyptian and Portuguese ministers discussed the latest developments in Gaza and the deteriorating humanitarian conditions there.They also reviewed the necessary international efforts to halt the war and contain its repercussions.They called for the immediate implementation of the UN resolution, which includes establishing a mechanism for accelerating the provision of humanitarian relief consignments to the Gaza Strip to meet the urgent needs of the Palestinian people.The Egyptian statement quoted his country's foreign minister, urging Portugal to help achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible.They discussed the situation in the occupied West Bank and the increasing violence of Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their properties.Shoukry warned against the security and political repercussions of the violence in the West Bank, urging the international community to take the necessary measures to stop the settlers' violence and hold them accountable.Both ministers agreed to continue consultation during the coming period to contain the crisis in Gaza, limit its repercussions, and prevent the conflict from expanding to other parts of the region.Meanwhile, Rafah crossing received 41 wounded Palestinians and their companions from hospitals in the Gaza Strip for treatment in North Sinai and other governorates.An official medical source said that 27 wounded Palestinians and 14 companions crossed Rafah and were transported in ambulances equipped for treatment to North Sinai and Ismailia hospitals.The Palestinians' injuries varied between wounds, fractures, and head injuries.He confirmed that 70 humanitarian aid trucks from Egypt and various Arab and foreign countries and organizations entered the Gaza Strip through Rafah.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
TT
TT

Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

At least two people were killed and four rescued from the rubble of a multistory apartment building that collapsed Sunday in the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon, state media reported.

Rescue teams were continuing to dig through the rubble. It was not immediately clear how many people were in the building when it fell.

The bodies pulled out were of a child and a woman, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Dozens of people crowded around the site of the crater left by the collapsed building, with some shooting in the air.

The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure. Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli due to poor building standards, according to The AP news.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced that those injured in the collapse would receive treatment at the state’s expense.

The national syndicate for property owners in a statement called the collapse the result of “blatant negligence and shortcomings of the Lebanese state toward the safety of citizens and their housing security,” and said it is “not an isolated incident.”

The syndicate called for the government to launch a comprehensive national survey of buildings at risk of collapse.

Arab World

Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
TT
TT

Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)

Israel's security cabinet approved a series of steps on Sunday that would make it easier for settlers in the occupied West Bank to buy land while granting Israeli authorities more enforcement powers over Palestinians, Israeli media reported.

The West Bank is among the territories that the Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Much of it is under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

Citing statements by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israeli news sites Ynet and Haaretz said the measures included scrapping decades-old regulations that prevent Jewish private citizens buying land in the West Bank, The AP news reported.

They were also reported to include allowing Israeli authorities to administer some religious sites, and expand supervision and enforcement in areas under PA administration in matters of environmental hazards, water offences and damage to archaeological sites.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the new measures were dangerous, illegal and tantamount to de-facto annexation.

The Israeli ministers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The new measures come three days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet in Washington with US President Donald Trump.

Trump has ruled out Israeli annexation of the West Bank but his administration has not sought to curb Israel's accelerated settlement building, which the Palestinians say denies them a potential state by eating away at its territory.

Netanyahu, who is facing an election later this year, deems the establishment of any Palestinian state a security threat.

His ruling coalition includes many pro-settler members who want Israel to annex the West Bank, land captured in the 1967 Middle East war to which Israel cites biblical and historical ties.

The United Nations' highest court said in a non-binding advisory opinion in 2024 that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there is illegal and should be ended as soon as possible. Israel disputes this view.

Arab World

Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
TT
TT

Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit strongly condemned the attack by the Rapid Support Forces on humanitarian aid convoys and relief workers in North Kordofan State, Sudan.

In a statement reported by SPA, secretary-general's spokesperson Jamal Rushdi quoted Aboul Gheit as saying the attack constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law, which prohibits the deliberate targeting of civilians and depriving them of their means of survival.

Aboul Gheit stressed the need to hold those responsible accountable, end impunity, and ensure the full protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, and relief facilities in Sudan.