CAIRO: Egypt has said it will not accept the continued presence of Israeli forces along its border with the Gaza Strip, state-linked media reported on Monday.
Cairo, a key mediator in efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, “reiterated to all parties that it will not accept any Israeli presence” along the strategic Philadelphi Corridor, state-linked Al-Qahera News said, citing a high-level source.
A key sticking point in the ceasefire talks have been calls for Israel to withdraw its forces from the border area, including the Rafah crossing, the only one from the Palestinian territory that was not directly controlled by Israel.
Israeli forces seized the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing in early May, a move that has cut off a crucial aid route and drawn repeated condemnation from Egypt and other countries.
“Egypt is managing the mediation” between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas “in accordance with its national security,” the source told Al-Qahera News, which is linked to Egypt’s state intelligence service.
The negotiations, also mediated by Qatar and the United States, have yielded little hope for a ceasefire, though Washington said Friday that some progress had been made.
Hamas said Sunday the group’s delegation had met with Egyptian and Qatari mediators before leaving Cairo, where Israeli negotiators were also expected.
Egypt says will not accept Israeli force on its Gaza border: state-linked media
https://arab.news/jyduq
Egypt says will not accept Israeli force on its Gaza border: state-linked media
- A key sticking point in the ceasefire talks have been calls for Israel to withdraw its forces from the border area, including the Rafah crossing
Sultan of Oman welcomes Qatari emir to Muscat
- Leaders discussed cooperation between Muscat, Doha
- Sheikh Tamim’s motorcade was greeted upon entering Muscat Gate
LONDON: Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq welcomed Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani at Al-Alam Palace in Muscat on Tuesday.
Sultan Haitham expressed his happiness about Sheikh Tamim’s visit, wishing him and his delegation an enjoyable stay in Oman.
The two leaders discussed cooperation between Muscat and Doha to enhance economic ties, and meet the aspirations of their peoples, the Oman News Agency reported.
They discussed the global situation and its potential impacts on the Middle East, as well as strategies for achieving peace, security and stability, the ONA added.
Sheikh Tamim’s motorcade was greeted by a military, cultural and musical display upon entering Muscat Gate to Al-Alam Palace, the Qatar News Agency reported.
He was welcomed by camel and cavalry teams, along with folk arts that celebrate Omani heritage. The Royal Artillery fired 21 rounds to greet Sheikh Tamim before the national anthem of Qatar was played, the QNA added.
Emirati FM receives Indian counterpart in Abu Dhabi
- Ministers discuss strategic partnership between their countries
- Subrahmanyam Jaishankar took part in Raisina Middle East international forum
LONDON: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE minister of foreign affairs, met with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Sheikh Abdullah congratulated Jaishankar on Republic Day, Jan. 26, when India adopted its constitution and established a sovereign democratic republic.
The two ministers spoke about the friendship and strategic partnership between their countries, examining ways to enhance collaboration in economic, commercial, investment and cultural areas, the Emirates News Agency reported.
Subrahmanyam took part in Raisina Middle East, a two-day international forum in Abu Dhabi hosted by the foreign ministries of India and the UAE, as well as the Observer Research Foundation and ORF Middle East.
India’s chief diplomat posted on X that he spoke on Tuesday about the “significant expansion of India-Middle East engagement in the past decade, driven by strong trade, connectivity and people to people linkages.”
Raisina Middle East, which hosts representatives from government, academia, media and business to discuss the latest trade, technology and geopolitical developments, ends on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Israel defies UN and vows to cut ties with UNRWA, with US blessing
- “The United States supports the implementation of this decision,” said Dorothy Shea, a United States representative to the UN
UNITED NATIONS: Israel will cease all contact with the UN’s Palestinian relief agency UNRWA and any other body acting on its behalf, its UN envoy said Tuesday, after repeatedly accusing the organization of undermining its security.
UNRWA’s offices and staff in Israel play a major role in the provision of health care and education to Palestinians, but Israeli officials have long clashed with the agency.
UNRWA claims to have brought in 60 percent of the food to have reached Gaza since the start of the war that followed the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.
“The legislation forbids UNRWA from operating within the sovereign territory of the State of Israel, and forbids any contact between Israeli officials and UNWRA,” said the envoy, Danny Danon.
He was speaking ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on Israel’s passage of legislation ending the organization’s legal footing in Israel within 48 hours.
“Israel will terminate all collaboration, communication and contact with UNRWA or anyone acting on its behalf,” he said.
Israel claims that a dozen UNRWA employees were involved in the deadly October 7, 2023 assault, and insists that other organizations can pick up the slack to provide essential services, aid and reconstruction — something the UN disputes.
A series of probes, including one led by France’s former foreign minister Catherine Colonna, found some “neutrality related issues” at UNRWA — but stressed Israel had not provided evidence for its chief allegations.
The agency’s chief Philippe Lazzarini said UNRWA’s “capacity to directly provide primary health care for millions of Palestinians, and to resume education for hundreds of thousands of children, far exceeds that of any other entity.”
He called Israel’s actions against UNRWA a “relentless assault” that is “harming the lives and future of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory.”
“It is eroding their trust in the international community, jeopardizing any prospect for peace and security,” he said.
But the United States threw its weight behind the move of its closest Middle East ally, accusing Lazzarini of overstating the impact of the decision.
“The United States supports the implementation of this decision,” said Dorothy Shea, a United States representative to the UN.
“UNRWA exaggerating the effects of the laws and suggesting that they will force (out) the entire humanitarian response is irresponsible and dangerous,” she said.
“What is needed is a nuanced discussion about how we can ensure that there’s no interruption in the delivery of humanitarian aid and essential services. UNRWA is not and never has been the only option.”
Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
During the attack, militants took into Gaza 251 hostages. Eighty-seven remain in the territory, including dozens Israel says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 47,317 people in Gaza, the majority civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry that the UN considers reliable.
A ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas is now in place, intended to bring an end to the more than 15 months of war.
The fighting provoked a deep humanitarian crisis, destroying hospitals and sparking outbreaks of infectious diseases while hundreds of thousands of Gazans faced starvation conditions and have depended on food aid.
“We are determined, however, to stay and deliver until it is no longer possible to do so,” said Lazzarini.
Lebanese army fully redeployed in eastern sector villages
- Israeli forces are still stationed at Labbouneh Heights and Jabal Blat
- Lebanon and the US have approved extending the deadline for the Israeli forces’ withdrawal from southern Lebanon to Feb. 18
BEIRUT: The Lebanese army continued on Tuesday to be deployed in the eastern sector’s villages, from the coastal city of Naqoura to Marwahin.
Israeli forces are still stationed at Labbouneh Heights and Jabal Blat.
Lebanon and the US have approved extending the deadline for the Israeli forces’ withdrawal from southern Lebanon to Feb. 18.
The deadline falls within the framework of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah that went into force on Nov. 27.
The Lebanese army continued to be deployed in the central sector’s villages, following the Israeli withdrawal. On Tuesday, it entered Yaroun’s old town on the border. The army’s bulldozers also reopened all the village’s roads.
The Lebanese Red Cross retrieved the bodies of Hezbollah fighters, which had been trapped under rubble since the confrontations began between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli forces invaded Lebanese territory as part of Israel’s expanded war against Hezbollah last October.
Meanwhile, Israeli hostilities continue to hinder residents’ attempts to return to their villages.
An Israeli drone dropped stun grenades near several civilians while they were trying to enter Yaroun following the Lebanese army’s entry into the village.
Kfarkila’s residents blocked the Khardali highway to protest the delayed entry of the Lebanese army to their village.
In a statement, they said that “their village is disaster-stricken, and that the bodies of the victims who defended their town are still under rubble.”
They called on the Lebanese state to “assume its full responsibility toward its people and land and pressure the international community into forcing the occupation to abide by international laws.”
The residents re-opened the road after receiving official promises reassuring them that the matter would be addressed.
The mayor of Aitaroun informed its residents that Israeli forces had not cleared the area yet, which prevented them from returning. Aitaroun residents have been waiting at the village entrance for days.
In a post on social media, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee reminded border area residents of the deadline extension for the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
He said: “The redeployment in certain sectors where Israeli forces are stationed may be delayed as additional time is required to ensure that Hezbollah is not able to reestablish its military strength.”
Adraee added that in the near future, Israel would inform them about the locations residents can return to. “Until that time, we ask you to wait and not allow Hezbollah to return and exploit you in an attempt to cover up the devastating consequences of its irresponsible decisions at the expense of the security of the State of Lebanon.”
Israeli forces have opened fire on unarmed civilians attempting to return to their villages along the border since Sunday, resulting in a total of 26 fatalities, including women, and injuring 160 civilians, including children.
The UN said: “Israel’s use of lethal force against civilians returning to their homes in southern Lebanon constitutes a violation of international law.”
It called for “the transformation of the ceasefire into a lasting and sustainable peace in the region.”
The Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a post via its official social media account: “We are concerned by reports that at least 24 people were killed and more than 100 others injured in recent days as civilians attempted to return to their homes in southern Lebanon.”
The commission stressed that “civilians must be allowed to return to their villages under voluntary, dignified and safe conditions.”
Lebanon has recorded no fewer than 670 violations of the ceasefire agreement by Israel since its implementation, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries.
Israeli forces freed six Lebanese civilians on Monday evening as a result of diplomatic efforts led by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
They were apprehended while making their way back to their hometowns of Houla and Markaba on Sunday and Monday, with two women among those released.
The footage captured by residents returning to their villages revealed the extent of the destruction caused by Israel, particularly during the ceasefire period, during which entire villages were obliterated.
The Israeli military conducted a demolition operation near a mosque in the town of Al-Wazzani.
Several residences and structures in the Al-Mufilha region, west of Mays Al-Jabal, were bulldozed.
France says forced displacement of Gazans would be ‘unacceptable’
- “Any forced displacement of the population in Gaza would be unacceptable,” a French foreign ministry spokesman said
- “It would not only be a serious violation of international law, but also a major hindrance to the two-state solution”
PARIS: France on Tuesday said any forced displacement of Gazans would be “unacceptable” after US President Donald Trump proposed moving Gaza Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan.
“Any forced displacement of the population in Gaza would be unacceptable,” a French foreign ministry spokesman said when asked about Trump’s comments.
“It would not only be a serious violation of international law, but also a major hindrance to the two-state solution,” the spokesman said, referring to calls for Israeli and Palestinian states living side-by-side.
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It would also be a “destabilization factor (for) our close allies Egypt and Jordan.”
Almost all of the Gaza Strip’s 2.4 million inhabitants have been displaced by the war that began with Palestinian militant group Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
But a fragile ceasefire that came into force this month could boost permanent peace efforts.
Trump on Monday expressed his desire to move Palestinians from Gaza to “safer” locations such as Egypt or Jordan.
Trump had on Saturday floated the idea to “clean out” Gaza after the conflict, which he said had reduced the Palestinian territory to a “demolition site.”
After jointly mediating the ceasefire with the United States and Egypt, Qatar on Tuesday said the two-state solution was “the only path forward.”
Egypt and Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas have also strongly opposed Trump’s proposal.
