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CAIRO: Qatari, Egyptian and US leaders called on Israel and Hamas to resume urgent talks on Aug. 15 either in Doha or Cairo to bridge all remaining gaps in the proposed Gaza ceasefire agreement and start implementing it without any delay, the three countries said in a joint statement on Thursday.
“It is the time to conclude a ceasefire agreement and release hostages and prisoners,” the statement added.
TRIPOLI: Libya’s education minister has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison because of a textbook shortage dating back to 2021, the attorney-general’s office announced on Sunday.
The Tripoli court of appeal also fined Moussa Al-Megarief 1,000 dinars (about $200) and deprived him of his civil rights for the duration of his sentence and a year afterwards, the same source said in a statement on Facebook.
Megarief, a member of the national unity government, was accused of “violating the principle of equality,” interceding in favor of an unnamed party, and “favoritism in contract management ... over the printing of textbooks.”
The case dates to the start of the 2021 school year, when a textbook shortage forced parents to spend money on photocopies of textbooks supposed to be provided free in public schools.
An investigation began into Megarief over his management of “contractual procedures for printing textbooks and the reasons behind this shortage.”
He was then placed in preventive detention as part of an investigation into “negligence in the exercise of his functions.”
Megarief was later released from custody for lack of evidence, and resumed his post as education minister.
He attributed the textbook shortage to unifying the school curriculum among the North African country’s three regions, saying this delayed payments owed to suppliers.
Before the attorney-general’s announcement on Sunday, the education ministry’s Facebook page posted a picture showing Megarief at work.
CAIRO: Israeli military strikes have killed at least 14 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, the enclave’s Health Ministry said on Sunday, as Arab and US mediators work to shore up a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Palestinian officials say dozens of people have been killed by Israeli fire despite the January 19 truce that halted large-scale fighting in Gaza.
Israel’s military has said its forces have intervened to thwart threats by “terrorists” approaching its troops or planting bombs since the ceasefire took effect.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said most of the latest deaths took place on Saturday when an Israeli airstrike killed nine Palestinians including four journalists in the town of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military said six men that it had identified as members of the armed wings of Hamas and the allied Islamic Jihad militant group had been killed in the strike. It said some of the militants had operated “under the cover of journalists.”
Salama Marouf, the head of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, said the military’s statement about the incident included the names of people who were not present.
It was based on inaccurate social media reports “without even bothering to verify the facts,” Marouf said.
At least four more Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli strikes on Saturday, the Gaza health officials said.
An Israeli drone had fired a missile at a group of Palestinians in the town of Juhr Eldeek in central Gaza on Sunday, killing a 62-year-old man and wounding several others, the medics said. Several others were hurt when an Israeli drone fired a missile toward a group of people in Rafah, they added.
The Israeli military said it was not familiar with the reported drone strikes.
Ceasefire talks
Persistent bloodshed in Gaza underscores the fragility of the three-stage ceasefire agreement mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, which have stepped in to hammer out a deal between Israel and Hamas over how to proceed.
Israel wants to extend the ceasefire’s first phase, a proposal backed by US envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas says it will resume freeing hostages only under the second phase that was due to begin on March 2.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Saturday negotiators had been instructed to be ready to continue talks based on the mediators’ response to a US proposal for the release of 11 living hostages and half of the dead captives.
Hamas on Friday said it had agreed to release American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander and four bodies of the hostages if Israel agreed to begin talks immediately on implementing the second phase of the agreement. Israel responded by accusing Hamas of waging “psychological warfare” on the families of hostages.
An Israeli delegation was in Egypt discussing a possible deal with senior Egyptian officials that would release more hostages, Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday.
The war began when Hamas carried out a cross-border raid into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, displaced most the population and reduced much of the territory to rubble.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
During the call, they discussed the latest developments and exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues. Efforts made to achieve security and stability were also discussed.
RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council states are taking important steps to combat Islamophobia, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said, highlighting that Islam promotes love, tolerance, peace, coexistence, and respect for cultural and religious diversity.
Albudaiwi made this statement on International Day to Combat Islamophobia, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
All joint Gulf statements stress the importance of promoting dialogue, mutual respect, and rejecting hatred and extremism, he added.
These statements also urge international efforts to promote religious tolerance, dialogue, coexistence, and condemn offensive remarks against Islam, Muslims, and Islamic civilization. They call for countering all forms of hatred, intolerance, and misrepresentation of religions, Albudaiwi added.
He highlighted GCC efforts, including the proposal to establish a GCC Scientific Observatory to Combat Extremism through the Committee of Ministers of Islamic Affairs and Endowments in GCC countries.
This initiative aims to enhance Islam’s true image and counter hate campaigns, Albudaiwi added.
He reaffirmed the GCC’s firm stance against terrorism and extremism, rejecting all forms of these threats and any justifications behind them.
The GCC chief also emphasized the commitment to combating terrorist financing and supporting international counterterrorism efforts.
Albudaiwi said that terrorism is not linked to any religion, culture, nationality, or ethnicity, and that tolerance and coexistence are core values in GCC societies, as shown by their interactions with others.
He condemned all acts of terrorism, emphasizing the sanctity of human life and rejecting harm to civilians and civilian facilities such as schools, places of worship, and hospitals.
Albudaiwi urged continued international and regional cooperation to confront terrorist groups and sectarian militias that threaten security and stability.
KARACHI: A Russian navy flotilla has arrived in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi to conduct joint exercises with Pakistan Navy, the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) of Pakistan Navy said.
Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have strengthened their relations in recent years through increased dialogue as well as trade, energy and defense cooperation.
Regular port visits and joint exercises between Pakistan Navy and Russian Navy continue to strengthen bilateral ties, deepen naval collaboration, and foster mutual trust.
Upon arrival in Karachi, the Russian warships were accorded a warm welcome by officials of the Pakistan Navy and the Russian consulate, according to the DGPR.
“During the port call, the crew of the visiting ships will engage in professional discussions with Pakistan Navy personnel,” the DGPR said in a statement.
“Russian and Pakistani naval ships will conduct joint exercises aimed at enhancing interoperability and maritime cooperation.”
The Russian flotilla comprising RFS REZKIY and RFS ALDAR TSYDENZHAPOV frigates and medium-sized sea tanker RFS PECHENGA will be in Pakistan till March 18, according to the DGPR.
“The visit of Russian Flotilla marks a significant milestone in maritime diplomacy, reinforcing security and defense cooperation between the two nations,” it said.
Pakistan Navy regularly collaborates and holds joint military exercises with allies and friendly nations to increase synergy, promote regional peace and stability and deter piracy, drug trafficking and other illicit maritime activities.
