Qatar Prime Minister says ‘minor’ challenges remain to Israel-Hamas hostage deal

Qatar Prime Minister says ‘minor’ challenges remain to Israel-Hamas hostage deal
The six-page pact will lead to the first pause in fighting if it is adhered to. (Reuters)
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Updated 19 November 2023
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Qatar Prime Minister says ‘minor’ challenges remain to Israel-Hamas hostage deal

Qatar Prime Minister says ‘minor’ challenges remain to Israel-Hamas hostage deal
  • Tentative Gaza deal reached to free some hostages, pause fighting — report
  • Under the agreement, all parties would freeze combat operations for at least five days while 50 or more hostages are released

DOHA: Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said on Sunday he had growing confidence that a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas would be reached, adding challenges that remained were “very minor.”
“The challenges facing the agreement are just practical and logistical,” Sheikh Mohammed said at a joint press conference with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Doha.
His comments followed a Washington Post report, citing people familiar with the deal, claiming that Israel, the United States and Hamas militants had reached a tentative agreement to free dozens of women and children held hostage in Gaza in exchange for a five-day pause in fighting.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US officials said no deal had been reached yet.

“The efforts are still ongoing ... and we communicate with both parties, whether it’s with the Israelis or with Hamas, and we see there is a good progress especially happened in the last few days,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

“The deal is going through ups and downs from time to time throughout the last few weeks. But I think that you know I’m now more confident that we are close enough to reach a deal that can bring the people safely back to their home.”

The hostage release could begin within the next several days, barring last-minute hitches, according to people familiar with the detailed, six-page agreement, the paper said on Saturday.
The report comes as Israel appears to be preparing to expand its offensive against Hamas militants to southern Gaza after air strikes killed dozens of Palestinians, including civilians reported to be sheltering at two schools.
Under the agreement, all parties would freeze combat operations for at least five days while 50 or more hostages are released in groups every 24 hours, the Post reported. Hamas took about 240 hostages during its Oct. 7 rampage inside Israel that killed 1,200 people.
The pause also is intended to allow a significant amount of humanitarian aid in, the newspaper said, adding the outline for the deal was put together during weeks of talks in Qatar.


Jordanian field hospital delivers services in northern Gaza

Jordanian field hospital delivers services in northern Gaza
Updated 6 sec ago
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Jordanian field hospital delivers services in northern Gaza

Jordanian field hospital delivers services in northern Gaza

IYADH: Medical teams at Jordan field hospital Gaza 80 began receiving patients on Sunday, reported state news agency Petra.

Staff started work in the morning, treating people with various medical conditions, according to a statement by the military hospital’s commander.

The statement added that the facility highlighted how King Abdullah II, the supreme commander of the Jordanian Armed Forces, was keen to stand alongside those in the Gaza Strip.

Residents and patients expressed their thanks for his support and pride in the relentless efforts of Jordan’s armed forces to provide medical and humanitarian aid.


Turkiye sacks 3 mayors in Kurdish majority southeast: interior ministry

Turkiye sacks 3 mayors in Kurdish majority southeast: interior ministry
Updated 04 November 2024
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Turkiye sacks 3 mayors in Kurdish majority southeast: interior ministry

Turkiye sacks 3 mayors in Kurdish majority southeast: interior ministry
  • Local governors replaced the mayors in the provincial centers of Mardin and Batman
  • All belonged to the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which has 57 seats in the national parliament

ISTANBUL: Turkiye on Monday sacked three mayors facing terrorism charges in the Kurdish-majority southeast and replaced them with trustees, the interior ministry said.
The mayors in the cities of Mardin and Batman as well as Halfeti — a district in the Sanliurfa province — were removed from their positions, the ministry said.
The three from the pro-Kurdish DEM party were elected in the March local elections when opposition candidates won in numerous towns and cities across Turkiye, including Istanbul.
Ahmet Turk won the vote in Mardin, while Gulistan Sonuk was mayor of Batman and Mehmet Karayilan represented Halfeti.
Their dismissal comes days after another mayor from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) party was arrested for alleged links to the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in an Istanbul district and replaced with a governor.
Ahmet Ozer, 64, mayor of the Istanbul district of Esenyurt, was arrested on Wednesday with the government swiftly appointing a trustee to take his place.
Both the CHP and DEM, the main pro-Kurdish party — which slammed his arrest as a “political coup” — protested against what they said was the politically-motivated detention of the mayor.
The dismissals come after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed full support for one of his political ally’s attempts to reach out to Turkiye’s Kurds, describing it as a “window of opportunity.”
The Turkish government has removed dozens of elected Kurdish mayors in the southeast and replaced them with its own trustees.


Israel officially informs UN of end to relations with Palestinian relief agency

Israel officially informs UN of end to relations with Palestinian relief agency
Updated 25 min 35 sec ago
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Israel officially informs UN of end to relations with Palestinian relief agency

Israel officially informs UN of end to relations with Palestinian relief agency
  • The Israeli parliament passed legislation banning UNRWA from operating in Israel and stopping Israeli authorities from cooperating with the organization
  • The legislation has alarmed the United Nations who fear it will further worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza

JERUSALEM: Israel has officially notified the United Nations that it was canceling the agreement that regulated its relations with the main UN relief organization for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) since 1967, the country’s foreign ministry said on Monday.
Last month, the Israeli parliament passed legislation banning UNRWA from operating in Israel and stopping Israeli authorities from cooperating with the organization, which provides aid and education services to millions of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
Israel has long been critical of UNRWA, set up in the wake of the 1948 war that broke out at the time of the creation of the state of Israel, accusing it of anti-Israel bias and saying it perpetuates the conflict by maintaining Palestinians in a permanent refugee status.
Since the start of the Gaza war in October last year, it has also said that the organization has been deeply infiltrated by Hamas in Gaza, accusing some of its staff of taking part in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
The legislation has alarmed the United Nations and some of Israel’s Western allies who fear it will further worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Israel has been fighting Hamas militants for a year. The ban does not refer to operations in the Palestinian territories or elsewhere.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement that despite the overwhelming evidence “we submitted to the UN highlighting how Hamas infiltrated UNRWA, the UN did nothing to address this reality.”
The legislation does not directly outlaw UNRWA’s operations in the West Bank and Gaza, both considered by international law to be outside the state of Israel but under Israeli occupation.
But it will severely impact its ability to work in those areas and there has been deep alarm among aid groups and many of Israel’s partners.
The Israeli foreign ministry said activity by other international organizations would be expanded and “preparations will be made to end the connection with UNRWA and to boost alternatives to UNRWA.”


Sudan’s army chief appoints new acting foreign minister

Sudan’s army chief appoints new acting foreign minister
Updated 04 November 2024
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Sudan’s army chief appoints new acting foreign minister

Sudan’s army chief appoints new acting foreign minister

CAIRO: Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan has appointed a new acting foreign minister, following a cabinet decision issued on Sunday.
Hussein Awad Ali has been relieved of his duties, with Ali Youssef Ahmed taking his place, a statement from Burhan’s office said.


Yemen’s Houthis will keep blockade on Israeli vessels after asset sale reports

Sarea said the Houthis will continue imposing their naval blockade on Israel.
Sarea said the Houthis will continue imposing their naval blockade on Israel.
Updated 03 November 2024
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Yemen’s Houthis will keep blockade on Israeli vessels after asset sale reports

Sarea said the Houthis will continue imposing their naval blockade on Israel.
  • “Intelligence information confirms many companies operating in maritime shipping affiliated to the Israeli enemy are working to sell their assets”: Spokesperson

CAIRO: Yemen’s Houthis said on Sunday they would maintain their maritime blockade against Israeli vessels in response to “intelligence information” regarding Israeli shipping companies selling their assets to other companies.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have said they are intensifying their attacks to support Hamas and Hezbollah in their resistance against Israeli actions in the region.
“Intelligence information confirms that many companies operating in maritime shipping affiliated to the Israeli enemy are working to sell their assets and transfer their properties from shipping and maritime transport ships to other companies,” said Yahya Sarea, military spokesperson of the group.
The Houthis will not recognize any changes of ownership and warned against any collaboration with these companies, Sarea said in a televised address.
Sarea also said the Houthis will continue imposing their naval blockade on Israel and would target any ships belonging to, linked to, or heading to Israel.
He said the blockade would continue until “the aggression stops and the siege on the Gaza Strip is lifted and the aggression on Lebanon stops.”