Lebanon’s tourism hopes rise as ties with Arab Gulf states warm

Special Lebanon’s tourism hopes rise as ties with Arab Gulf states warm
Encouraging political changes in Lebanon have prompted restaurant and hotel owners to begin preparations for a busy summer tourism season. (Getty Images file photo)
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Updated 07 May 2025
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Lebanon’s tourism hopes rise as ties with Arab Gulf states warm

Lebanon’s tourism hopes rise as ties with Arab Gulf states warm
  • Analysts say influx of affluent visitors and government reforms could revive battered tourism sector — provided security holds
  • The UAE’s decision to lift Lebanon travel ban sparks optimism among hoteliers and tourism professionals after years of crisis

BEIRUT: At the boutique hotel of Albergo in Achrafieh, Beirut, a large table of Gulf citizens sat having breakfast last week as a waitress attended to them. This once-common sight had become a rarity in recent years, making the moment particularly significant for the staff.

“We haven’t seen this in years,” the waitress told Arab News. “We are expecting more reservations to come through and more Gulf citizens to be staying with us this summer.”

For the first time in many years, Lebanese hoteliers, restaurant and shop owners and retailers are hoping for a successful tourism comeback. The latest piece of good news came when the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced last Sunday that the ban on Emirati citizens traveling to Lebanon would be lifted from May 7.




This photo taken on July 17, 2013, shows Beirut's Hamra street teeming with activity. The new Lebanese government aims to revive tourism after decades of conflict and economic collapse.(Getty Images)

Once a favored summer destination hub for Gulf and neighboring Arabs, Lebanon had been struck by one misfortune after another since the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah war. Despite a relatively calm decade afterward, the 2020 port explosion followed by a devastating economic collapse and the growing power of Iran-backed Hezbollah had left the country in tatters.

Rampant corruption and Hezbollah’s powerful presence soured the once warm Lebanese-Gulf relations. In 2021, both Saudi and Emirati citizens were banned from traveling to the country after a Lebanese minister criticized Arab Gulf intervention on the side of the UN-backed Yemen government against the Houthis, another Iran-backed militia. The Kingdom also halted all its fruit and vegetable imports from Lebanon in the same year after shipments were found to be carrying the illicit Captagon drug smuggled inside.

FAST FACTS

• Lebanon’s tourism sector ranks as the second most vital revenue stream after expatriate remittances.

• The Hezbollah-Israel war inflicted an estimated damage of $14 billion on Lebanon’s economy.

• Despite the November ceasefire deal, Israel continues to strike Beirut, south Lebanon and Bekaa Valley.

With the devastating blows suffered by Hezbollah and allied militant groups last year during their war with Israel, the tide appears to be turning. The deaths of Hassan Nasrallah and other important Hezbollah figures and a stunning pager attack, which left thousands of its fighters and supporters immobile if not dead, have significantly weakened the once-powerful militia that had Lebanon in a prolonged chokehold.

The new Lebanese government, headed by President Joseph Aoun, seems determined to usher the country into a new era, going as far as removing flags and symbols of the militant group. Although the fate of international aid still hangs in the balance, structural and economic changes are expected of the new Lebanese government, alongside the full disarmament of Hezbollah.

According to the World Bank, during the 14-month Israeli-Hezbollah war that started shortly after the events of October 7, 2023, and the war in Gaza, the estimated damage and economic loss in Lebanon stands at $14 billion, with the country needing $11 billion for reconstruction.




Lebanon's new government faces the tough task of reviving the economy after decades of conflict and economic collapse, aggravated by the massive destruction on the country's infrastructure during last year's war between Hezbollah and Israel. (AFP/file)

Arab world policies, particularly from the Arab Gulf states, seem to be softening. In March, Saudi Arabia announced it would review “obstacles” to resuming Lebanese imports and ending the ban on its citizens visiting Lebanon. This announcement came after President Aoun met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on his first trip abroad since taking office in January.

The UAE’s loosening of restrictions on travel to Lebanon followed a meeting between President Aoun and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi last week. “This decision confirms the return of confidence in Lebanon and opens the door to developing the historical ties that unite the two countries,” Laura Al-Khazen Lahoud, Lebanon’s minister of tourism, said.

She expressed hope that “the remaining Gulf Cooperation Council countries will follow the UAE’s step the soonest possible, so that Lebanon can once again become a destination for its Arab brothers and a center for tourism and cultural activity in the region.”




An early evening shot taken in April 2015 near Jounyeh, Lebanon, it overlooks Gulf of Jounyeh and Keserwan coast. (AFP)

Lahoud, who was appointed tourism minister in February 2025, has been actively working to restore trust in Lebanon’s tourism sector. With her background as executive director of the legendary Al-Bustan hotel and vice president of the Al-Bustan Music Festival, Lahoud brings valuable industry experience to her ministerial role.

Lebanon has long relied on the tourism sector, making it a pillar of its GDP and a major source of income and employment. In 2019, prior to the COVID pandemic, Lebanon welcomed 1.95 million international visitors, generating over $8 billion in tourism revenue that accounting for nearly 19 percent of the country’s GDP.




People bathe at the beach of a resort in Lebanon's northern village of Thoum on July 12, 2023. (AFP)

Numbers have steadily plummeted since. In 2023, the tourism sector still accounted for an estimated 30 percent of the country’s GDP, bringing in $6 billion in revenue. Lebanon’s tourism sector, generating over $5 billion annually in recent years, ranks as the country’s second most vital revenue stream after expatriate remittances, which officially approach $7 billion.

The golden era of Lebanese tourism, when hotels boasted occupancy rates above 80 percent for 100 summer days, now seems like a distant memory. In 2010, Beirut recorded an impressive 72 percent annual occupancy rate. Last summer, however, this figure dropped to an average of just 60 percent on weekends and plummeted to 20-25 percent on weekdays — well below the threshold needed for profitability.




The new Lebanese government aims to revive tourism after decades of conflict and economic collapse. (Getty Images/file)

Owing to the decline in tourism the country witnessed last year as a result of the protracted Israel-Hezbollah war, when most airlines even canceled their flights to and from the war-torn country, Lebanon’s tourism sector continues to navigate troubled waters.

Khalaf Al-Habtoor, the head of Al-Habtoor Group, a multi-billion-dollar Dubai conglomerate with interests ranging from luxury hotels to shopping malls, had expressed an intention in January to invest in Lebanon once a new government was formed.

However, a week later, he announced in a post on X: “After consulting with the board of directors of the Al-Habtoor Group, I have made a painful decision that I never wanted to reach. However, the prevailing circumstances in Lebanon — marked by a lack of security, stability, and any foreseeable improvement — have compelled us to take this step.”

Despite the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon’s government announced on Nov. 26, 2024, Israeli military airstrikes in Beirut, southern Lebanon and parts of the Bekaa Valley are still taking place, sometimes with little or no warning, prompting many countries to warn their citizens against traveling to Lebanon.




The new Lebanese government aims to revive tourism after decades of conflict and economic collapse. (AFP/file)

“I swear to you, we are tired. We are tired from just getting by,” says Rasha, a beautician at a hair salon in Beirut. “We have one of the most beautiful countries in the world; we used to barely have time to sit down, it was one customer after the other in the summertime, but that hasn’t been the case for years.”

Rasha and her husband are the owners of the salon and have been running the business for 20 years, nestled in the streets near Sassine Square. “You see how the Syrians got their freedom? We are on the way to ours. We are tired of being held down and I think the new government realizes that. We really aren’t asking for much here. Just bring the happiness and the hope back,” she said, referring to the “golden days” when tourists flocked to the country and financial strain was not crippling every other household.

Hospitality industry executives say they can see signs of renewal. Pierre Achkar, president of the Syndicate of Hotel Owners, told a local newspaper in February that restoration efforts are underway across all Lebanese regions, with preparations progressing rapidly to welcome visitors as in previous years.




A car drives on April 4, 2025 past central Beirut's former Holiday Inn hotel, still showing the scars of the 1976 'hotels war' that split Lebanon's capital into two sectors until the end of the civil war in 1990. (AFP)

He said the current political climate and ongoing changes have encouraged tourism business owners to implement needed reforms ahead of the summer season. He added that the current momentum aligns with positive signs pointing to a potentially vibrant tourism season, reminiscent of Lebanon’s past.

For his part, Jean Abboud, president of the Syndicate of Owners of Travel and Tourism Offices in Lebanon, emphasized last month the sector’s preparedness, stating that “our travel agencies are fully prepared to support the expected tourism rebound this summer.”

In an interview with a Lebanese TV channel, Achkar said he had sent a proposal to the Prime Minister’s Office to help bolster the country’s hospitality sector. In it, he called for the reopening of the Rene Mouawad airport in the country’s north for budget airlines and, more broadly, for the reintegration of Lebanon into the regional tourism market.

While the traditional hotel sector has experienced a decline, guesthouses and boutique hotels in Beirut are experiencing growing success. With their smaller scale and personalized service, these establishments continue to attract a loyal and expanding local and regional clientele.

Cautious optimism permeates the city. Several well-known hotels such as Le Gray, a five-star hotel in downtown Beirut, are set to reopen, promising more employment opportunities and a sense of hope for the Lebanese community.




This picture taken on August 19, 2020 shows a view of the landmark Le Gray hotel in the center of Lebanon's capital Beirut overlooking the Martyrs' Square, as a banner is hung across its facade reading in English "Stay strong! (AFP)

For now, less affluent regional visitors — Syrians, Jordanians, Iraqis and Egyptians — continue to fill hotel rooms in Beirut, while Qataris and Kuwaitis, who have long made Lebanon their summer destination, remain barred from entry for now.

A brighter outlook comes from the expected increase in the number of Lebanese expatriates returning home this summer. The hope is that the government will remain committed to state building, including addressing the issue of illegal weapons.

Adding to the cautious optimism is the UAE’s recent decision to lift its travel ban on citizens visiting Lebanon. This move could prompt other Gulf states to follow suit. However, travel remains subject to conditions: Emirati citizens must register through the Foreign Ministry’s Tawajudi service and specify their place of residence in Lebanon, among other requirements.

Looking ahead, Achkar, head of the Syndicate of Hotel Owners, emphasized the sector’s broader ambitions. He said Lebanon is aiming for a year-round tourism model, much like other countries.

With its diverse offerings — from religious and recreational tourism to culinary, nature-based, and adventure experiences — Lebanon, he noted, is well positioned to attract visitors beyond the traditional summer season.
 

 


Why BCG’s involvement in Gaza marks an all-time low for consulting firms

Why BCG’s involvement in Gaza marks an all-time low for consulting firms
Updated 13 July 2025
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Why BCG’s involvement in Gaza marks an all-time low for consulting firms

Why BCG’s involvement in Gaza marks an all-time low for consulting firms
  • FT investigation examined Boston Consulting Group’s role in Gaza aid planning, including plans for Palestinian relocation
  • BCG has disavowed the work and fired two senior partners — but the scandal sheds light on the wider industry’s irresponsibility

LONDON: A Financial Times investigation, published on July 4, found that a consulting firm connected to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation secured a multimillion-dollar contract to help shape the initiative and a proposal for the possible “relocation” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

The Boston Consulting Group was found to have played a central role in designing and managing the US- and Israeli-backed project, which aimed to replace the UN as the primary coordinator of humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Amid growing criticism, BCG denied any ongoing involvement in the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. In a June 7 statement, the firm said it initially provided “pro bono support” in October 2024 to help launch “an aid organization intended to operate alongside other relief efforts.”

BCG has faced heavy scrutiny for its role in Gaza’s postwar reconstruction, mainly through its work with the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. (AFP file)

The firm said two senior US-based partners who led the initiative “failed to disclose the full nature of the work” and later engaged in “unauthorized” activities outside the firm’s oversight.

“Their actions reflected a serious failure of judgment and adherence to our standards,” the firm said. “We are shocked and outraged by the actions of these two partners. They have been exited from the firm.

“BCG disavows the work they undertook. It has been stopped, and BCG has not and will not be paid for any of their work.”

The company emphasized it is strengthening internal controls to prevent future breaches. “We deeply regret that in this situation we did not live up to our standards,” the statement said. “We are committed to accountability for our failures and humility in how we move forward.”

FAST FACTS:

• A Financial Times investigation examined BCG’s role in Gaza aid planning, including controversial proposals for Palestinian relocation.

• BCG disavowed the work and fired two senior partners, but documents suggest deeper involvement and lapses in internal oversight.

• The scandal underscores wider concerns about consulting firms’ ethics, with similar controversies involving PwC, KPMG, EY and McKinsey.

Following the FT story, BCG issued another statement on July 6 disputing aspects of the reporting. “Recent media reporting has misrepresented BCG’s role in post-war Gaza reconstruction,” the firm said.

BCG reiterated that the initiative was not an official company project and was carried out in secret. “Two former partners initiated this work, even though the lead partner was categorically told not to,” the statement read.

“This work was not a BCG project. It was orchestrated and run secretly outside any BCG scope or approvals. We fully disavow this work. BCG was not paid for any of this work.”

Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in northern of Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel on July 10, 2025. (AP Photo)

However, individuals familiar with “Aurora” told the FT that BCG’s involvement ran deeper. The report revealed that BCG created a financial model for Gaza’s postwar reconstruction that included scenarios for mass displacement.

This revelation intensified scrutiny of the consulting industry’s ethical boundaries.

“Consulting companies… are held to a higher standard of professionalism and ethics than other lines of work,” Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg, the Gulf Cooperation Council assistant secretary-general for political affairs and negotiation, wrote in an April opinion piece for Arab News.

He warned that without corrective action, major firms risk alienating clients.

Displaced Palestinians carrying relief supplies from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) return from aid distribution centers in Rafah to their tents in the southern Gaza Strip on May 29, 2025. (AFP)

ndeed, in recent years, top consulting firms like McKinsey, PwC, KPMG, and EY have faced growing scrutiny for putting profit over ethics, with scandals revealing conduct lapses worldwide.

McKinsey, for instance, faced heavy backlash for its role in the US opioid crisis. The firm was accused of helping Purdue Pharma and other manufacturers to aggressively market addictive painkillers, including OxyContin, The New York Times reported.

Aluwaisheg noted in his op-ed that some of these ethical lapses “are quite common throughout the consulting business.”

However, he added, “big firms are more likely to commit them,” citing sprawling operations that limit senior management oversight.

The industry’s core business model may be the issue: consulting firms adopted law firms’ high-fee model for expert advice — without their legal liability.

Despite this, demand for consulting services remains high. Aluwaisheg believes governments and businesses will continue to need outside expertise.

People walk by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) New York headquarters. (AFP)

Still, accountability concerns have prompted some governments to take action. In February, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund banned PwC from taking on new advisory and consulting contracts for one year.

Some media outlets reported that the decision was related to an ethical violation tied to an alleged recruitment of a senior-level employee from the client’s side. The suspension did not impact PwC’s auditing work.

These events highlight ongoing concerns over consulting firms’ roles in controversial actions. In April 2024, KPMG’s Dutch arm was fined $25 million after over 500 staff cheated on internal training exams, Reuters reported.

Yet the BCG case may represent a new low for the industry.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s model bypassed traditional organizations like the UN, restricted aid distribution to limited sites under Israeli oversight and relied on private security contractors. This move has had deadly consequences.

According to Gaza’s health authority, at least 740 Palestinians have been killed and almost 4,900 injured while attempting to reach aid centers, drawing condemnation from humanitarian organizations and UN officials.

Displaced Palestinians look around on alert in the wake of gunfire shots as they receive food packages from a US-backed foundation pledging to distribute humanitarian aid in western Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 27, 2025. (AFP)

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher called the initiative a “fig leaf for further violence and displacement” of Palestinians in the war-torn enclave.

In a July 10 letter to the FT editor, BCG’s CEO Christoph Schweizer pushed back against the allegations that his firm endorsed or profited from projects related to Gaza.

“None of that is true,” Schweizer wrote, adding that “a few people from BCG were involved in such work. They never should have been.”

Adding another layer to the controversy, FT reported on July 6 that staff from the Tony Blair Institute were also implicated in postwar planning that included scenarios for mass Palestinian displacement — despite being prominent advocates for peace in the Middle East.

Christoph Schweizer, CEO of Boston Consulting Group. (Supplied)

The plan, seen by the FT, imagined Gaza as a regional economic hub, complete with a “Trump Riviera” and “Elon Musk Smart Manufacturing Zone,” based on financial models developed by BCG.

While the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change denied authoring “The Great Trust” blueprint, it acknowledged two staff joined Gaza planning calls and chats. It also denied backing population relocation.

Arab News approached the TBI for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Nevertheless, its involvement has triggered additional concerns about the ethics of postwar reconstruction planning and the role of consulting firms in shaping policies with far-reaching humanitarian consequences.
 

 


Syrian, Israeli officials meet in Baku: Diplomatic source in Damascus

Syrian, Israeli officials meet in Baku: Diplomatic source in Damascus
Updated 12 July 2025
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Syrian, Israeli officials meet in Baku: Diplomatic source in Damascus

Syrian, Israeli officials meet in Baku: Diplomatic source in Damascus
  • Meeting marked major step for two countries which have been foes for decades

DAMASCUS: A Syrian and an Israeli official met face to face in Baku Saturday on the sidelines of a visit to Azerbaijan by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, a diplomatic source in Damascus said.

The meeting marked a major step for the two countries which have been foes for decades, and comes after Israel initially cold-shouldered Al-Sharaa’s administration as jihadist because of his past links to Al-Qaeda.

“A meeting took place between a Syrian official and an Israeli official on the sidelines of Al-Sharaa’s visit to Baku,” the source said, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Israel is a major arms supplier to Azerbaijan and has a significant diplomatic presence in the Caucasus nation which neighbors its arch foe Iran.

Al-Sharaa himself did not take part in the meeting, which focused on “the recent Israeli military presence in Syria,” the source added.

After the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar Assad in December, Israel carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria to prevent key military assets falling into the hands of the Islamist-led interim administration headed by Al-Sharaa.

It also sent troops into the UN-patrolled buffer zone that used to separate the opposing forces in the strategic Golan Heights, from which it has conducted forays deeper into southern Syria.

Al-Sharaa has said repeatedly that Syria does not seek conflict with its neighbors, and has instead asked the international community to put pressure on Israel to halt its attacks.

His government recently confirmed that it had held indirect contacts with Israel seeking a return to the 1974 disengagement agreement which created the buffer zone.

Late last month, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel was interested in striking a peace and normalization agreement with Syria.

A Syria government source quoted by state media responded that such talk was “premature.”

But during a visit to Lebanon this week, US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said: “The dialogue has started between Syria and Israel.”

After meeting Al-Sharaa in Riyadh in May, US President Donald Trump told reporters he had expressed hope that Syria would join other Arab states which normalized their relations with Israel.

“(Al-Sharaa) said yes. But they have a lot of work to do,” Trump said.

During his visit to Baku, Al-Sharaa held talks with his counterpart Ilham Aliyev, the two governments said.

Azerbaijan announced it would begin exporting gas to Syria via Turkiye, a key ally of both governments, a statement from the Azerbaijani presidency said.


5 children playing soccer killed in Yemen explosion

5 children playing soccer killed in Yemen explosion
Updated 12 July 2025
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5 children playing soccer killed in Yemen explosion

5 children playing soccer killed in Yemen explosion
  • Two local residents who were eyewitnesses, Ahmed Al-Sharee and Khaled Al-Areki, said that the children were playing soccer when the explosion happened

ADEN: Five children in southwestern Yemen died after an explosive device detonated in a residential area where they were playing soccer, rights groups and eyewitnesses said on Saturday.
The circumstances surrounding their deaths on Friday night in Al-Hashmah subdistrict of Taiz province remain unclear. 
A spokesperson for the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said that they are aware of reports about the incident but can’t verify the facts at the moment.
Two local residents who were eyewitnesses, Ahmed Al-Sharee and Khaled Al-Areki, said that the children were playing soccer when the explosion happened.
At least three people with minor to moderate injuries were also taken to the hospital. 
Mahmoud Al-Mansi, another eyewitness, said the explosive was directed from an area where forces allied with the Islah party were present.
The Yemen Center for Human Rights condemned the incident in a report that included graphic photos of the children’s torn bodies.  Citing health care sources at Al-Rafai Hospital, where the victims arrived unresponsive, the group said they died from shrapnel injuries. 
Two of the children were 12 years old, while two others were 14 years old, according to the group. The age of the fifth child is unknown.

 


US envoy Tom Barrack clarifies Syria comments, denies they were threat to Lebanon

US envoy Tom Barrack clarifies Syria comments, denies they were threat to Lebanon
Updated 12 July 2025
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US envoy Tom Barrack clarifies Syria comments, denies they were threat to Lebanon

US envoy Tom Barrack clarifies Syria comments, denies they were threat to Lebanon
  • Reports cited Barrack warning that Lebanon risked “going back to Bilad Al-Sham”
  • Syrian government also moved to quash speculation that it was planning escalatory steps against Lebanon

LONDON: US Special Envoy Tom Barrack has sought to clarify remarks made during his recent visit to the region, saying that his comments praising Syria’s progress were not intended as a threat to neighboring Lebanon.

“My comments yesterday praised Syria’s impressive strides, not a threat to Lebanon,” Barrack posted on X on Saturday.

“I observed the reality that Syria is moving at light speed to seize the historic opportunity presented by @POTUS’ lifting of sanctions: Investment from Turkiye and the Gulf, diplomatic outreach to neighboring countries and a clear vision for the future. I can assure that Syria’s leaders only want coexistence and mutual prosperity with Lebanon, and the US is committed to supporting that relationship between two equal and sovereign neighbors enjoying peace and prosperity,” he added.

The clarification comes after reports in Lebanese media, including from MTV Lebanon, cited Barrack as warning that Lebanon risked “going back to Bilad Al-Sham” if it failed to act quickly on regional realignment.

The term Bilad Al-Sham, historically referring to Greater Syria, encompasses present-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine under the Ottoman Empire; a sensitive concept in Lebanon given fears over sovereignty and outside interference.

Barrack’s comments were widely interpreted by some local outlets as a warning that Lebanon could fall under renewed Syrian influence if it failed to align with shifting regional dynamics.

Meanwhile on Saturday, the Syrian government also moved to quash speculation that it was planning escalatory steps against Lebanon over the issue of Syrian detainees held in Lebanese prisons.

A Syrian Ministry of Information official said that the detainee issue remains “a top priority” and that Damascus is committed to resolving it “swiftly through official channels between the two countries.”

Earlier reports had cited unnamed sources close to the Syrian government suggesting that diplomatic and economic retaliation was under consideration in response to what Damascus saw as Lebanon’s neglect of the detainees’ plight.

However, the Information Ministry source denied this, saying there were no such plans and reaffirming Syria’s commitment to bilateral resolution.

In an interview with Arab News on Friday, Barrack had made remarks reflecting growing US concern over Lebanon’s political inertia and the evolving role of Hezbollah.

“If Lebanon doesn’t hurry up and get in line, everyone around them will,” Barrack warned, pointing to a broader regional shift sparked by the lifting of US sanctions on Syria.

He framed the moment as pivotal for Lebanon, with pressure mounting for a new political order.

Addressing questions about Hezbollah’s future, Barrack said the group consists of “two parts,” an Iran-backed militant faction designated as a terrorist organization, and a political wing operating in Lebanon’s parliament.

He added that any disarmament process “must be led by the Lebanese government, with the full agreement of Hezbollah itself.”

Barrack said: “That process has to start with the Council of Ministers. They have to authorize the mandate. And Hezbollah, the political party, has to agree to that. But what Hezbollah is saying is, ‘OK, we understand one Lebanon has to happen.’ Why? Because one Syria is starting to happen.”

On Syria, Barrack described the lifting of sanctions on May 13 as a “strategic fresh start” for the war-ravaged nation and said that the US was not intending to pursue “nation-building or federalism.”

He called the Middle East a “difficult zip code at an amazingly historic time,” and told Arab News that the Trump administration’s new approach was designed to offer “a new slice of hope” to the Syrian people.

“President (Trump)’s message is peace and prosperity,” he said. “Sanctions gave the people hope. That’s really all that happened at that moment.”


Fuel shortages in Gaza at ‘critical levels,’ UN warns

Fuel shortages in Gaza at ‘critical levels,’ UN warns
Updated 12 July 2025
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Fuel shortages in Gaza at ‘critical levels,’ UN warns

Fuel shortages in Gaza at ‘critical levels,’ UN warns
  • Seven UN agencies said in a joint statement that “fuel is the backbone of survival in Gaza”

GENEVA: The United Nations warned Saturday that dire fuel shortages in the Gaza Strip had reached “critical levels,” threatening to further increase the suffering in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

Seven UN agencies said in a joint statement that “fuel is the backbone of survival in Gaza.”

Fuel was needed to “power hospitals, water systems, sanitation networks, ambulances, and every aspect of humanitarian operations,” they said, highlighting that bakeries also needed fuel to operate.

The besieged Palestinian territory has been facing dire fuel shortages since the beginning of the devastating war that erupted after Hamas’s deadly attack inside Israel on October 7, 2023.

But now “fuel shortage in Gaza has reached critical levels,” warned the agencies, including the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme and the humanitarian agency OCHA.

“After almost two years of war, people in Gaza are facing extreme hardships, including widespread food insecurity,” they pointed out.

“When fuel runs out, it places an unbearable new burden on a population teetering on the edge of starvation.”

The UN said that without adequate fuel, the agencies that have been responding to the deep humanitarian crisis in a territory swathes of which have been flattened by Israeli bombing and facing famine warnings, “will likely be forced to stop their operations entirely.”

“This means no health services, no clean water, and no capacity to deliver aid,” the statement said.

“Without adequate fuel, Gaza faces a collapse of humanitarian efforts,” it warned.

“Without fuel, bakeries and community kitchens cannot operate. Water production and sanitation systems will shut down, leaving families without safe drinking water, while solid waste and sewage pile up in the streets,” it added.

“These conditions expose families to deadly disease outbreaks and push Gaza’s most vulnerable even closer to death.”

The warning comes days after the UN managed to bring fuel into Gaza for the first time in 130 days.

While a “welcome development,” the UN agencies said the 75,000 liters of fuel they were able to bring in was just “a small fraction of what is needed each day to keep daily life and critical aid operations running.”

“The United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners cannot overstate the urgency of this moment,” they said.

“Fuel must be allowed into Gaza in sufficient quantities and consistently to sustain life-saving operations.”