Thailand, Cambodia agree to immediate, unconditional ceasefire, says Malaysia PM
The truce, which starts at midnight local time, represents a vital first step towards de-escalation and restoring peace, he added.
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The National
4 hours ago
- The National
Thailand and Cambodia agree ceasefire after five days of fighting
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' during negotiations in Malaysia, bringing an end to days of deadly border clashes. Thailand's acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet met for discussions in Putrajaya, after at least 35 people were killed in five days of violence in south-east Asia. It marked the deadliest fighting between the countries since violence flared from 2008 to 2011 over disputed jungle territory. The vague border demarcation had been established by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. More than 200,000 people have fled since the latest fighting began last week. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, current chairman of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, said after the talks that both sides 'expressed their positions and willingness to immediate ceasefire'. The truce was to take effect at midnight local time. 'This is a vital first step to a de-escalation and a restoration of peace and security,' he added. Mr Hun said the move would 'provide a lot of opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people on both sides to return to normalcy'. It is a time to 'start rebuilding trust and confidence' he added at a media conference. Military commanders from both sides were to hold an 'informal meeting' early today, before defence officials hold talks. Mr Phumtham said Thailand negotiated 'in good faith' and was committed to peace. There had been calls for peace from China, as well as the US. President Donald Trump − whose administration is holding trade talks with both Thailand and Cambodia − said at the weekend that the countries had agreed to 'quickly work out' a truce. The leaders met at the prime minister's residence in Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital. Tension escalated on the eve of the talks, with Thailand's military saying Cambodian snipers were camped in border temples. It accused Cambodia of launching rockets into Thai territory.' The situation remains highly tense and it is anticipated that Cambodia may be preparing for a major military operation prior to entering negotiations,' the Thai military said at the time. Cambodia denied firing rockets at civilian targets and said it was Thailand that had put innocent lives at risk.
The National
4 hours ago
- The National
Egypt's El Sisi appeals to Trump to end Gaza's war
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Monday asked US President Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians. 'I make a special appeal to the US President, believing he is capable of stopping the war, delivering aid, and ending the suffering in the Gaza Strip,' Mr El Sisi said in a speech. 'Mr Trump, please exert all efforts to end the war and deliver aid.' Stressing that the situation in the Gaza Strip has become a tragedy, Mr El Sisi said that the largest possible amount of aid must be delivered to the people of Gaza. The latest round of indirect ceasefire talks in Qatar between Israel and Hamas broke off last week with no deal in sight as mediators struggled to bridge the gaps between the sides. Mr El Sisi said that since the start of the war Egypt has been keen to positively participate with other mediators, the US and Qatar, in the efforts to end the war, deliver aid and release hostages. 'The Egyptian stances have always been positive and called for ending the war, the two-state solution and finding a peaceful solution to the Palestinian cause,' he added. He reiterated Egypt's stance, rejecting the forced displacement of the Palestinians from their land. In his speech, the President assured the Egyptians that the country cannot play a negative role towards the Palestinians. 'We are playing a respectable, honoured, sincere and honest role that will never change,' he added. He added that Egypt was working to ensure the entry of the largest possible volume of aid into Gaza over the past months, but co-ordination between Israel and Egypt was needed to do so. 'We cannot deny aid to the enclave, but for aid to get in, co-ordination with the other side is needed,' Mr El Sisi said. Aid lorries started moving towards Gaza from Egypt on Sunday after months of rising international pressure on Israel and warnings from humanitarian organisations of starvation spreading across the small, coastal Gaza Strip, arising from an Israeli blockade. Egypt also announced taking part in aid air drops. But a long-term steady supply of aid is needed to counter the worsening hunger crisis in Gaza, UN aid agencies said. The Gaza war was caused by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 that left about 1,200 people dead. The assailants also took about 250 others hostage, of whom about 50 remain in captivity, including 20 who are believed to be still alive. Israel's military response has killed nearly 59,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the ministry in Gaza.
The National
5 hours ago
- The National
Donald Trump prioritises 'food and safety' in Gaza as he hosts Kier Starmer
US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed Gaza during a series of meetings at the American leader's golf resorts in Scotland. Mr Trump said food and safety must be the priority as the conflict drags on, with ceasefire talks at an impasse. He said he also planned to discuss the humanitarian situation with Starmer during his visit on Monday. 'We're giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up,' Mr Trump said. 'It's a mess. They have to get food and safety right now.' The crisis in Gaza is a priority for the two leaders, but talks also expected to include the bilateral trade deal and efforts to end Ukraine war. The US President said he told Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu that the fight in Gaza against the Hamas militant group would have to be conducted in a different way after the latest talks on a ceasefire and hostage release agreement fell apart last week. UK officials said Mr Starmer had developed a plan for peace in Gaza that prioritised deliveries of immediate humanitarian aid shipments into the war zone as well as charting a path to a two-state solution. Mr Starmer hopes to promote a UK-led plan 'in the coming days' with his cabinet and with other international allies, including Arab states. The Prime Minister's spokesman added that it was a matter of 'when, not if' the UK recognises Palestine as a state, but that it must be one of the steps along a pathway to peace. The pair met at Mr Trump's luxury golf resort in Turnberry, on Scotland's west coast, before travelling on together later to a second championship estate owned by Trump in the east, near Aberdeen. Hundreds of police officers were guarding the perimeter of the Turnberry course and the beach that flanks it, with a helicopter hovering overhead, although there was no sign of protesters outside the course. Mr Trump said he expected Mr Starmer would be pleased with the US-EU trade agreement announced on Sunday. 'The Prime Minister of the UK, while he's not involved in this, will be very happy because you know, there's a certain unity that's been brought there, too,' Mr Trump said. 'He's going to be very happy to see what we did.' Mr Starmer had hoped to negotiate a reduction in steel and aluminium tariffs as part of the talks, but Trump ruled out any changes to the 50 per cent steel and aluminium duties for the EU. He has said the trade deal with Britain is 'concluded', though British officials are pressing for more access to those US markets.
