News Archives - Page 2 of 246

Cairo Confirms 4 March For Gaza Rebuild Summit

CrossFireArabia
February 18, 2025

Egypt confirmed on Tuesday that it will host an emergency Arab summit on March 4 to discuss plans to rebuild the Gaza Strip without displacing its Palestinian inhabitants.

The summit was originally scheduled to be held on Feb. 27, but was postponed to March 4 “to complete logistical preparations,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the new date was set in coordination with Bahrain, the current chair of the Arab League, and in consultation with Arab countries according to Anadolu.

The summit follows a proposal by US President Donald Trump to take over Gaza and resettle its Palestinian inhabitants to develop it into what he called “the Riviera of the Middle East.”

On Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi confirmed that his country is preparing a “comprehensive” plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing Palestinians.

Trump’s plan for Palestinian resettlement has been rejected by the Arab world and many other nations, who say it amounts to ethnic cleansing.

The controversial idea came amid the ceasefire agreement that took effect in Gaza on Jan. 19, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed nearly 48,300 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

News

Phase II of Gaza Ceasefire About to Start on ‘Positive’ Note

CrossFireArabia
February 18, 2025

Qatar reported a “positive atmosphere” on Tuesday to start negotiations for the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

“There is a positive atmosphere that may encourage the start of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told a press conference in Doha according to Anadolu.

He, however, noted that the talks have not started yet, expressing hope that the negotiations will start “soon.”

Ansari said the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza was “insufficient,” stressing that it “must not turn into a bargaining chip.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said early Tuesday that the second-phase negotiations of the Gaza deal will start this week.

Sa’ar said that Israel will demand a “full demilitarization” of the Gaza Strip, according to The Jerusalem Post newspaper.

The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal has been in place since Jan. 19, pausing Israel’s genocidal war that has killed nearly 48,300 Palestinians and left the enclave in ruins.

Under the agreement, 19 Israeli captives and five Thai workers have so far been released in exchange for 1,135 Palestinian prisoners.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

News

First Russia-US Talks Conclude in Saudi Arabia

CrossFireArabia
February 18, 2025

Talks between Russia and the US on improving ties as well as the Ukraine war – the first such talks in years – concluded after 4 1/2 hours, Russian state media reported Tuesday.

Speaking at a press briefing on the sidelines of the meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh, which was broadcast live on Russian television, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said the negotiations were productive, with Moscow and Washington agreeing to consider each other’s interests.

• Riyadh meeting with US delegation ends after 4.5 hours of talks
• ⁠Riyadh meetings discussed conditions for Putin-Trump meeting, unlikely to be held next week
• ⁠Russian-US talks in Riyadh were good
• ⁠We agreed with the Americans on dialogue regarding Ukraine pic.twitter.com/ItrFkhOrKN
— Saudi-Expatriates.com (@saudiexpat) February 18, 2025

However, the date for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump has yet to be determined, and it is unlikely to take place next week, Ushakov said.

“The delegations of Russia and the United States held a serious discussion on all key issues,” he stated.

The two sides also agreed to form working groups on the Ukraine issue. While the number of members and specific participants have yet to be decided, both parties aim to establish contacts quickly, he added.

Talks between Russia and the United States aimed at mending relations, addressing the conflict in Ukraine, and preparing a meeting between the Russian and US presidents marked the first meeting between diplomats of the two countries since the Ukraine war began on Feb. 24, 2022, nearly three years ago according to Anadolu.

News

Living in Wreckage

CrossFireArabia
February 17, 2025

News

Israel Prepares to Receive Bodies of 5 Hostages

CrossFireArabia
February 17, 2025

Israel is preparing to receive the bodies of five hostages from Gaza on Thursday following an intervention from mediators, according to the country’s public broadcaster.

KAN reported on Monday that Israeli forces have begun preparations to receive the remains of the hostages, whose names have yet to be revealed.

Palestinian resistance group Hamas is expected to announce the names of the deceased prisoners Thursday morning, with their bodies scheduled to be returned later the same day according to Anadolu.

https://twitter.com/RoyaNewsEnglish/status/1891528523589861392

A ceasefire deal has been in place in Gaza since Jan. 19, pausing Israel’s genocidal war that has killed nearly 48,300 Palestinians and left the enclave in ruins.

Nineteen Israeli captives and five Thai workers have been released in exchange for 1,135 Palestinian prisoners under the first phase.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.