Gaza (WAM, agencies)
A ministerial meeting, which included a number of foreign ministers from Arab countries and the European Union, stressed the necessity of putting a final end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza through a ceasefire and ensuring the complete and safe entry of aid, calling for the opening of all land crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip to increase the flow of aid.
A statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the work of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels,
Addressing the various humanitarian, security and political dimensions of the crisis in the Gaza Strip, and preventing the situation from erupting in the West Bank.
During the meeting, the Egyptian Foreign Minister stressed the importance of providing the necessary support to the Palestinian Authority so that it can continue to carry out its duties, stressing the need for Israel to release the withheld clearance funds to the Palestinian Authority.
Shukri called on international parties to provide direct support to the Palestinian Authority’s budget, in light of the financial and economic restrictions practiced by Israel against it.
He stressed the need to stop the attacks of Israeli settlers in the West Bank, and to categorically reject the unilateral and illegal Israeli measures to annex lands or build new settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Yesterday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry headed from Paris to the Belgian capital, Brussels, to participate in the meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council with a number of Arab foreign ministers and the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, to find a political horizon for reviving the peace process in Gaza, according to a statement. Issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During his meeting with Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Shukri stressed that his country is counting on the important role of the European Union in stopping the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, pointing to the need for Israel to comply with its legal obligations.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army reduced its forces east of the city of Rafah, located south of the Gaza Strip and adjacent to Egyptian territory, against the backdrop of the decision of the International Court of Justice. The Israeli newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth” reported yesterday morning that the Israeli army’s decision to reduce its military forces east of Rafah comes as a result of Background to the International Court of Justice’s decision, issued last Friday.
Last Friday, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ordered Israel to halt military operations in Rafah and ensure “unhindered” access to humanitarian aid, a historic ruling that is likely to increase the growing international pressure on Israel, after more than 7 months of war in Gaza.
In this context, the war cabinet in Israel met yesterday to learn about the latest developments from the head of the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, David Barnea, regarding the talks he held with the Qatari prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Thani, and the director of the CIA, William Burns, in… The French capital, Paris, yesterday.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted a source familiar with the details as saying: Barnea presented to Burns and Sheikh Muhammad Abd al-Rahman a new proposal formulated by the Israeli negotiating team, while Burns presented possible solutions to the issues that were in dispute during the previous round of negotiations.
She added that at the end of the meeting, it was decided that negotiations would be opened in the coming days on the basis of new proposals, led by mediators Egypt and Qatar and with the participation of the United States.
The commission confirmed that “all senior security officials, including the Chief of Staff, the head of the Mossad, and the head of the Shin Bet (the Internal Security Service), as well as Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, support moving forward with the deal, and say that it is necessary at this time.”
Later, the Broadcasting Authority quoted an Israeli official familiar with the details of the negotiations as saying that the discussions are in a very preliminary stage and have not gone far yet, stressing that a delegation from the factions will head to Doha within days, and will then be followed by an Israeli delegation.
The official, who was not named by the commission, stressed that Israel “will not consider ending the war as part of a prisoner exchange deal in any way.”
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