Lebanon’s president stresses urgent need for Israeli withdrawal from south under truce deal

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meets with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace, in Baabda, Lebanon January 18, 2025. (REUTERS)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meets with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace, in Baabda, Lebanon January 18, 2025. (REUTERS)
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Updated 18 January 2025
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Lebanon’s president stresses urgent need for Israeli withdrawal from south under truce deal

Lebanon’s president stresses urgent need for Israeli withdrawal from south under truce deal
  • Lebanese leaders ask UN chief to help repatriate Syrian refugees as he pledges international support
  • The ceasefire requires Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon within 60 days

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun stressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday the urgency of an Israeli military withdrawal as stipulated by a ceasefire deal that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war in November.

President Aoun told the visiting UN chief that it was necessary for “Israeli forces to withdraw from occupied territories in the south within the deadline set by the agreement reached on Nov. 27.”

Aoun also highlighted “the readiness of the Lebanese army to replace the Israelis once they withdraw” from the Lebanese border area, which was invaded on Oct. 1.

“Israel’s continued violations on land and in the air ... blowing up homes and destroying border villages, completely contradicts what was stated in the ceasefire agreement,” a statement from Aoun’s office added.

Aoun said that the Israeli breaches were “a continued violation of the Lebanese sovereignty and the international community’s will to restore stability in southern Lebanon.”

Guterres inspected the Blue Line and met UN peacekeepers carrying out their operations south of the Litani River.

On his second day in Lebanon on Saturday, he conveyed to Lebanese officials the UN’s “continued commitment to support the Lebanese army and the Lebanese institutions, as well as President Aoun in his tenure.”

Guterres said that he would “do everything possible to secure the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the south within the specified period.”

According to the presidential palace’s media office, Guterres said: “I am confident that under your leadership, things will go back to normal in Lebanon, and the country will regain its strength and stability in the region.”

He added: “It is true that your mission is not easy, but a solid will can achieve what we’re aiming for.”

Guterres reiterated “the support of the UN and all its institutions for Lebanon.”

He said: “We have the will to mobilize to secure the international community’s support so Lebanon can rise again and recover from the repercussions of the last years.”

According to the president’s media office, Aoun “tackled Israel’s burning of cultivated lands in southern Lebanon.”

He called on “the UN, namely the Food and Agriculture Organization, to help farmers restore their lands and make them investment-ready.”

Aoun also urged the UN to “help secure the return of the Syrian refugees to their country since the political and security reasons for their asylum are no longer valid.”

Following the meeting, Guterres said: “It was an opportunity to express our solidarity with the people of Lebanon who have suffered so much and our total support to the president and the future government.”

He added: “Now, it will be possible to consolidate the Lebanese institutions, and it will be possible to create the conditions for the Lebanese state to protect its citizens fully.

“With the withdrawal of the Israeli forces and with the presence of the Lebanese army in the whole of the Lebanese territory, it will also be possible to open a new chapter of peace.”
 
Guterres said: “I know that the Lebanese are dynamic, resilient and courageous.

“And I know that reconstruction begins as soon as a conflict ends.

“I want to express our total support and our will to fully mobilize the international community to provide Lebanon with all the support for what we believe will be a speedy recovery of this country, making it again the center of the Middle East.”

Guterres visited Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at his residence.

After the meeting, Guterres reiterated the UN’s “full support for the ongoing process in Lebanon, where the country has witnessed the election of a new president and a new prime minister tasked with forming a government.

“New opportunities are emerging for Lebanon with the completion of the ceasefire agreement, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the Lebanese armed forces assuming full responsibilities entrusted to them,” he said.

“We are convinced this development will represent an extraordinary qualitative leap for Lebanon.

“The UN fully supports the president and the Lebanese government in mobilizing the international community to provide comprehensive support for Lebanon, which must regain its status as a pivotal center in the Middle East.”

Salam said that he relied on the secretary-general “to mobilize diplomatic support to ensure the Israelis’ withdrawal on the scheduled day and to rally efforts for the reconstruction conference mentioned by French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Lebanon on Friday, which will be held soon.”

Salam added: “With the changing situation in Syria, we need to begin preparations with the UN for the safe and dignified return of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.”

The UN chief also met Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

He confirmed the UN’s support for Lebanon. He said that the government would “soon be formed, representing all Lebanese parties, and the Israeli army must withdraw after the set deadline.”

Berri’s media office reported that he highlighted “the necessity for Israel to adhere to its withdrawal from Lebanese territories that it still occupies, under the terms of the agreement, and to halt its violations and systematic destruction of villages, fields, agricultural lands, and forests.”
 
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued their violations in the south through incursions and bulldozing operations in the Marjeyoun plain and the towns of Yaroun and Mays Al-Jabal, as well as extensive operations in Wadi Saluki and the storming of homes west of the town of Houla.

The Red Cross and the Lebanese army have not yet been able to search for three people targeted by an Israeli drone three days ago in the Jabal Sadana area, pending the results of UNIFIL’s communications with the Israeli side.

The UN chief emphasized to the UNIFIL forces during a meeting in Naqoura on Friday the importance of “enabling them to resume patrols and monitoring tasks,” stressing that “adapting operational methods is crucial for restoring freedom of movement and access throughout the UNIFIL operational area.”

 


Hope turns to regret among Syrians returning home from Turkiye

Hope turns to regret among Syrians returning home from Turkiye
Updated 05 February 2025
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Hope turns to regret among Syrians returning home from Turkiye

Hope turns to regret among Syrians returning home from Turkiye
  • More than 80,000 have gone back to Syria since Assad’s fall
  • Those who returned in December lost right to re-enter Turkiye

ALEPPO: Ahmed Al-Sheikh’s excitement at returning to his homeland from neighboring Turkiye after the fall of Bashar Assad has turned to bitter disappointment at the grim living conditions in Syria after some 13 years of war.
Sheikh is one of 35,000 Syrians who left Turkiye for Syria full of hope in the first three weeks after Assad was toppled on Dec. 8, giving up the right to come back to Turkiye after signing a voluntary return document.
Turkiye’s refugee association says many, like him, are now disillusioned by the reality of life in a war-ravaged country.
“I was shocked by the catastrophic situation, which was beyond my expectations,” said Sheikh, 35, speaking in his home after returning to Aleppo, eight years after he fled to Turkiye. He said that water and electricity are frequently cut off and Internet communication is almost non-existent.
Migrant returns are a key element of burgeoning ties between Syria and NATO-member Turkiye, which is emerging as a power broker able to wield influence economically and diplomatically. Syria’s transitional President Ahmed Al-Sharaa visited Ankara on Tuesday, discussing an expected rapid expansion of economic ties.
The presence of nearly 3 million Syrians in Turkiye has become a sensitive political issue. Many have faced bouts of anti-migrant sentiment that made them feel like unwanted guests, and some rushed to the border after rebels forced Assad out.
“Most of the refugees were initially excited about returning after the fall of the Assad regime, but this excitement faded over time,” said Kadri Gungorur, social welfare director of the Refugees Association in Turkiye, citing complaints such as the lack of education and health services.
“Some families feel regret and want to return,” he said. “When they compare the living conditions in Turkiye with Syria, we can accept that Turkiye offers them more opportunities.”

BID TO SUPPORT VOLUNTARY RETURNS
Sheikh was among those enthused by the rebels’ victory, dreaming of rebuilding his bombed Aleppo home. He vowed to go back as soon as Assad fell, despite friends’ efforts to dissuade him. Now he is dismayed by the comparatively poor living conditions and scarcity of job and education opportunities.
“I started thinking about returning to Turkiye because my life was stable there, and my children were in school. My living conditions were stable,” he said. “But I can’t go back now because I signed a voluntary return document.”
Due to such negative experiences, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced at the end of 2024 a scheme designed to enable migrants to better plan their return home.
The scheme entitles the heads of Syrian migrant families to visit Syria three times between January and June this year, according to an Interior Ministry document.
Between Assad’s fall and late January, 81,576 Syrians had entered Syria, indicating a slight fall in the daily rate of returns from December to some 1,600 a day, Yerlikaya said. It was unclear how many of those returning in January had signed the voluntary return document.
During a visit to Turkiye last week, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi expressed support for Turkiye’s refugee response and voluntary returns.
He praised the policy of what he called “go-and-see visits,” saying they were “a best practice, as it allows refugees to assess conditions for themselves and can pave the way for sustainable returns to Syria.”
’PERHAPS IN THE FUTURE’
Some Syrians are more inclined to wait and see.
Syrian chemist Jafer, 27, came to Turkiye 12 years ago and will not consider returning with his wife and three children until conditions improve.
“My children are currently well-adjusted in Turkiye, which makes staying here more likely since they have adapted to life, language, and education in Turkiye,” he said.
“Some people will return, but the lack of basic necessities prevents them from doing so. They think about returning, but not now, perhaps in the future.”
It is an option no longer open to Sheikh.
He was forced out of Aleppo in late 2016 when Assad forces, with the support of Russian air strikes, seized control of the eastern part of the city from rebels. He went on to build a stable life for his wife and four children in Turkiye.
He has opened a mobile phone repair shop in Aleppo, but his plan to fix his house there is on hold.
“I don’t know if the project will succeed here in the country or if it will fail. If it fails, I will have lost everything I earned during my time in Turkiye.”


Saudi Arabia says no to displacement of Gazans, rejects relations with Israel without Palestinian state

Saudi Arabia says no to displacement of Gazans, rejects relations with Israel without Palestinian state
Updated 05 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia says no to displacement of Gazans, rejects relations with Israel without Palestinian state

Saudi Arabia says no to displacement of Gazans, rejects relations with Israel without Palestinian state
  • Statement comes after President Trump hinted at US ownership of Gaza after Palestinian displacement
  • Trump insists Egypt and Jordan will have to take the displaced Gazans, with both states rejecting the idea

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday said its long-held position that Palestinians must have their own independent state was firm and not open to negotiation, a stance Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reiterated many times before.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry statement came shortly after President Donald Trump said he wants the US to own the Gaza Strip after all Palestinians are displaced from there and sent to other countries, where settlements will be constructed for them.

The Kingdom’s position has been a longstanding one with its leaders repeatedly calling for justice for Palestinians, who they say deserve a state of their own alongside Israel as a way to find a lasting solution to the decades long conflict.

Saudi leaders have repeatedly said any formal relations between the Kingdom and Israel hinge on the creation of a viable Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.

The ministry statement highlighted a speech by the crown prince at the Shoura Council on September 18, 2024, where he stressed that Saudi Arabia will continue its tireless work toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, adding the Kingdom will not normalize ties with Israel without it.

The crown prince expressed a similar sentiment during the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Nov. 11, 2024, where he stressed the continuation of efforts to establish a Palestinian state and demanded an end to Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.

He also urged more countries to recognize the State of Palestine, stressing the importance of mobilizing the international community to support the rights of Palestinians, which were expressed in the resolutions of the UN General Assembly by considering Palestine eligible for full membership of the world body.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also stresses its previously announced categorical rejection of any violation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, annexation of Palestinian territories, or attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land,” the statement added.

Trump, standing next to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, said the Palestinians would be better off living outside of Gaza which has been bombed to rubble during Israel’s brutal 15-month attack.

“I don’t think people should be going back,” Trump said. “You can’t live in Gaza right now. I think we need another location. I think it should be a location that’s going to make people happy.”

The president insists Egypt and Jordan would have to take the Gazans he plans to displace. Both countries have rejected the idea outright.

Trump also did not rule out the use of American troops to help reconstruct the enclave and ensure the ownership of the territory, which he said could become the “Riviera of the Middle East,” given its temperate climate and prime location on the Mediterranean coast.

The Kingdom said that it’s the international community’s duty to work to alleviate the severe human suffering of the Palestinian people, who will remain in their land.

“Lasting and just peace cannot be achieved without the Palestinian people obtaining their legitimate rights in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, and this is what was previously explained to the previous and current American administrations,” the ministry statement said.


Hamas ready for talks with Trump administration, Hamas official tells RIA

Mousa Abu Marzouk, senior Hamas Politburo member. (Wikipedia)
Mousa Abu Marzouk, senior Hamas Politburo member. (Wikipedia)
Updated 05 February 2025
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Hamas ready for talks with Trump administration, Hamas official tells RIA

Mousa Abu Marzouk, senior Hamas Politburo member. (Wikipedia)
  • Trump vowed on Tuesday that the US would take over the war-shattered Gaza Strip after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere and develop it economically, a move that would shatter decades of US policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

GAZA CITY: The Palestinian Hamas movement is ready to establish contact and hold talks with the administration of US President Donald Trump, Russia’s RIA state news agency cited a senior Hamas official as saying in remarks published early on Wednesday.
“We are ready for contact and talks with the Trump administration,” RIA cited senior Hamas Politburo member Mousa Abu Marzouk as saying.
“In the past, we did not object to contacts with the administration of (former US President Joe) Biden, Trump or any other US administration, and we are open to talks with all international parties.”
It was not clear when RIA interviewed Marzouk, who was visiting Moscow on Monday for talks with the Russian foreign ministry.
Trump vowed on Tuesday that the US would take over the war-shattered Gaza Strip after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere and develop it economically, a move that would shatter decades of US policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Marzouk told RIA that talks with the US have become a kind of necessity for Hamas, considering that Washington is a key player in the Middle East.
“That is why we welcomed the talks with the Americans and have no objection to this issue,” he added.

 


Iraq’s top court suspends new legislation that activists say undermines women’s rights

Iraq’s top court suspends new legislation that activists say undermines women’s rights
Updated 05 February 2025
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Iraq’s top court suspends new legislation that activists say undermines women’s rights

Iraq’s top court suspends new legislation that activists say undermines women’s rights
  • Women’s rights advocates argue that the changes undermine previous reforms that created a unified family law and established safeguards for women
  • Proponents of the amendments, which were advocated by primarily conservative Shiite lawmakers, defend them as a means to align the law with Islamic principles and reduce Western influence on Iraqi culture

BAGHDAD: Iraq’s top court suspended implementation Tuesday of three controversial bills passed last month by the country’s parliament, including a measure that activists said undermines women’s rights.
A number of members of parliament filed a complaint alleging that the voting process was illegal because all three bills — each supported by different blocs — were voted on last month together rather than each one being voted on separately. The Federal Supreme Court issued an order, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, to suspend their implementation until the case is adjudicated.
The measures include an amendment to the country’s personal status law to give Islamic courts increased authority over family matters, including marriage, divorce and inheritance.
Women’s rights advocates argue that the changes undermine previous reforms that created a unified family law and established safeguards for women. Proponents of the amendments, which were advocated by primarily conservative Shiite lawmakers, defend them as a means to align the law with Islamic principles and reduce Western influence on Iraqi culture.
Earlier versions of the measure were seen as potentially opening the door to child marriage since some interpretations of Islamic law allow the marriage of girls in their early teens — or as young as 9. The final version passed by the parliament states that both parties must be “adults,” without specifying the age of adulthood.
The second bill was for a general amnesty law seen as benefiting Sunni detainees. Some fear it could allow the release of people involved in public corruption and embezzlement as well as militants who committed war crimes.
The third bill aimed to return lands confiscated from the Kurds under the rule of Saddam Hussein. It is opposed by some Arab groups, saying it could lead to the displacement of Arab residents.

 


Leaders ‘should respect’ wishes of Palestinians to stay in Gaza: Palestinian UN envoy

Leaders ‘should respect’ wishes of Palestinians to stay in Gaza: Palestinian UN envoy
Updated 05 February 2025
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Leaders ‘should respect’ wishes of Palestinians to stay in Gaza: Palestinian UN envoy

Leaders ‘should respect’ wishes of Palestinians to stay in Gaza: Palestinian UN envoy
  • For those who want to send them to a happy, nice place, let them go back to their original homes inside Israel, there are nice places there, and they will be happy to return to these places”

UNITED NATIONS, United States: World leaders and people should respect Palestinians’ desire to remain in Gaza, the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday, after US President Donald Trump said he believed people from the territory should be resettled elsewhere “permanently.”
“Our homeland is our homeland, if part of it is destroyed, the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian people selected the choice to return to it,” said Riyad Mansour. “And I think that leaders and people should respect the wishes of the Palestinian people.”
On Tuesday, Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, with the US leader saying he believed Palestinians should leave Gaza after an Israeli offensive that has devastated the territory and left most of it reduced to rubble.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Trump said he wanted a solution that saw “a beautiful area to resettle people permanently in nice homes where they can be happy.”
At the United Nations, Mansour did not name Trump but appeared to reject the US president’s proposal.
“Our country and our home is” the Gaza Strip, “it’s part of Palestine,” he said. “We have no home. For those who want to send them to a happy, nice place, let them go back to their original homes inside Israel, there are nice places there, and they will be happy to return to these places.”
The war in Gaza erupted after Palestinian armed group Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel’s retaliatory response has killed at least 47,518 people in Gaza, the majority civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. The UN considers these figures as reliable.
The UN says more than 1.9 million people — or 90 percent of Gaza’s population — have been displaced by Israel’s offensive, with the bombing campaign having leveled most structures in the territory, including schools, hospitals and basic civil infrastructure.
The start of a ceasefire deal, which included the release of hostages held by Hamas and prisoners held by Israel, on January 19 saw Palestinians rejoice, with many returning to homes that no longer stood.
“In two days, in a span of a few hours, 400,000 Palestinians walking returned to the northern part of the Gaza Strip,” said UN envoy Mansour.
“I think that we should be respecting the selections and the wishes of the Palestinian people, and the Palestinian people at the end will make the determination, their determination.”