Morocco, UK Hold Talks to Boost Ties

British Envoy for the UK-African Investment Summit 2024 (UK-AIS), Alastair McPhail holding talks in Rabat with Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita (Morocco’s Foreign Ministry)
British Envoy for the UK-African Investment Summit 2024 (UK-AIS), Alastair McPhail holding talks in Rabat with Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita (Morocco’s Foreign Ministry)
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Morocco, UK Hold Talks to Boost Ties

British Envoy for the UK-African Investment Summit 2024 (UK-AIS), Alastair McPhail holding talks in Rabat with Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita (Morocco’s Foreign Ministry)
British Envoy for the UK-African Investment Summit 2024 (UK-AIS), Alastair McPhail holding talks in Rabat with Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita (Morocco’s Foreign Ministry)

The British Envoy for the UK-African Investment Summit 2024 (UK-AIS), Alastair McPhail, expressed on Wednesday eagerness to building a modern partnership of mutual benefit with Morocco.

“We look forward to building a modern partnership of mutual benefit based on respect with Morocco and others,” McPhail told the press after his talks with Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.

This comes ahead of the UK-African Investment Summit, scheduled to take place in London on April 23-24.

UK-AIS 2024 will bring together political and business leaders from the UK and invited countries, as well as representatives of international and regional organizations, building on the results of the 2020 summit and virtual conferences in 2021 and 2022.

The two countries have decades-old trade and economic ties. Also, thousands of British tourists visit Morocco every year.



Hamas, Two Other Palestinian Groups Say Gaza Ceasefire Deal 'Closer Than Ever'

Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. (Reuters)
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Hamas, Two Other Palestinian Groups Say Gaza Ceasefire Deal 'Closer Than Ever'

Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. (Reuters)

Hamas and two other Palestinian militant groups said on Saturday that a Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel is "closer than ever", provided Israel does not impose new conditions.

"The possibility of reaching an agreement (for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal) is closer than ever, provided the enemy stops imposing new conditions," Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said in a rare joint statement issued after talks in Cairo on Friday.

Last week, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States were held in Doha, rekindling hope of an agreement.

A Hamas leader told AFP on Saturday that talks had made "significant and important progress" in recent days.

"Most points related to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange issues have been agreed upon," he said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.

"Some unresolved points remain, but they do not hinder the process. The agreement could be finalized before the end of this year, provided it is not disrupted by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's new conditions."