US envoy says Syria and Israel agree to ceasefire as Druze minority and Bedouin clans clash in Syria
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RTHK
6 hours ago
- RTHK
Thousands protest against expansion of Gaza war
Thousands protest against expansion of Gaza war Protesters gather in a demonstration organised by the families of the Israeli hostages taken captive in Gaza, calling for action to secure their release. Photo: AFP Thousands took to the streets in Tel Aviv on Saturday to call for an end to the war in Gaza, a day after the Israeli government vowed to expand the conflict and capture Gaza City. Demonstrators waved signs and held up pictures of hostages still being held in the Palestinian territory as they called on the government to secure their release. Journalists at the rally estimated the number of attendees to be in the tens of thousands, while a group representing the families of hostages said as many as 100,000 people participated. Authorities did not provide an official estimate for the size of the crowd, though it dwarfed the ones at other recent anti-war rallies. "We will end with a direct message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: if you invade parts of Gaza and the hostages are murdered, we will pursue you in the town squares, in election campaigns and at every time and place," said Shahar Mor Zahiro, a relative of a slain hostage. On Friday, Netanyahu's security cabinet approved plans for a major operation to seize Gaza City, triggering a wave of domestic and international criticism. Foreign powers, including some of Israel's allies, have been pushing for a negotiated ceasefire to secure the hostages' return and help alleviate a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Despite the backlash and rumours of dissent from Israeli military top brass, Netanyahu has remained defiant over the decision. In a post on social media late Friday, Netanyahu said "we are not going to occupy Gaza -- we are going to free Gaza from Hamas". The premier has faced regular protests over the course of 22 months of war, with many rallies calling for the government to strike a deal after past truces saw hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. Out of 251 hostages captured during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the military says are dead. (AFP)
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Syria steps back from Paris meetings with Kurdish-led SDF
Syria will not take part in planned meetings with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Paris, Syria's state news agency quoted a government source as saying on Saturday, casting doubt over an integration deal signed by the two sides in March. The SDF was the main fighting force allied to the United States in Syria during the fighting that defeated Islamic State in 2019 after the group declared a caliphate across swathes of Syria and Iraq. In March, the SDF signed a deal with the new Islamist-led government in Damascus to join Syria's state institutions. The deal aims to stitch back together a country fractured by 14 years of war, paving the way for Kurdish-led forces that hold a quarter of Syria to merge with Damascus, along with regional Kurdish governing bodies. It did not specify how the SDF will be merged with Syria's armed forces, however. The SDF has previously said its forces must join as a bloc, while Damascus wants them to join as individuals. The source was quoted by the news agency SANA as saying that Damascus would not be involved in negotiations with any side that aims to 'revive the era of the former regime'.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Germany suspends arms exports to Israel for use in Gaza
Germany will halt the export of military equipment to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday, sparking an angry response from Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Berlin's move, in response to an Israeli plan to take control of Gaza City, marks a drastic change of course for Germany, long one of Israel's staunchest international allies. Merz expressed 'deep concern' at the suffering of Gaza's civilians. It was 'increasingly unclear', he said, how the latest Israeli military plan would help achieve the aims of disarming Hamas and freeing the remaining Israeli hostages. 'Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice,' he said in a statement. Netanyahu spoke to Merz later Friday to express his 'disappointment', said a statement from the prime minister's office.
