Qatar and Arab nations issue joint statement in support of Syria
The ministers affirmed, in a joint statement, their support for Syria's security, unity, stability, and sovereignty, and their rejection of all foreign interventions in its internal affairs.
They welcomed the agreement reached to end the crisis in As-Suwayda Governorate and emphasized the necessity of its implementation to safeguard Syria's unity and its citizens, prevent bloodshed, and ensure the protection of civilians, as well as the sovereignty of the state and the rule of law.
They also welcomed the commitment of H.E. the Syrian President Ahmad Al Sharaa to hold accountable all those responsible for violations against Syrian citizens in As-Suwayda, and supported all efforts to restore security and uphold the rule of law and state authority across As-Suwayda and all Syrian territory, while rejecting violence, sectarianism, incitement, and attempts to stir up division and hatred.
The ministers condemned repeated Israeli attacks against the Syrian Arab Republic, and rejected them as blatant violations of international law and egregious assaults on Syria's sovereignty. These attacks undermine Syria's security, stability, unity, territorial integrity, and the safety of its citizens, and obstruct the government's efforts to build a new Syria that meets the aspirations and choices of its brotherly people.
They stressed that Syria's security and stability are essential pillars of regional peace and a shared priority.
The joint statement also called on the international community to support the Syrian government in the rebuilding process, and urged the UN Security Council to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities by ensuring the full withdrawal of Israel from occupied Syrian territories, halting all hostile Israeli actions against Syria and interference in its affairs, and enforcing Resolution 2766 and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
13 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Syria declares new Suwayda ceasefire, deploys forces to ‘restore security'
Agencies Damascus Syria's security forces have begun deploying in the restive southern province of Suwayda, a Ministry of Interior spokesperson has said, where heavy fighting between Druze and Bedouin armed groups and government forces has left hundreds dead, compounded by Israeli military intervention. The deployment on Saturday came hours after the United States announced that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire, an as yet uncertain truce amidst overnight fighting. Syria's government announced the ceasefire early on Saturday, saying in a statement it is being enacted 'to spare Syrian blood, preserve the unity of Syrian territory, the safety of its people'. The country's president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in a televised address, stated that he 'received international calls to intervene in what is happening in Suwayda and restore security to the country'. Israeli intervention has 'reignited tensions' in the city, with fighting there 'a dangerous turning point', he said, also thanking the US for its support. Earlier, Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba had said in a statement on Telegram that 'internal security forces have begun deploying in Suwayda province … with the aim of protecting civilians and putting an end to the chaos.' Ethnically charged clashes between Druze and Bedouin armed groups and government forces have reportedly left hundreds dead in recent days. On Wednesday, Israel launched heavy air attacks on Syria's Ministry of Defence in the heart of Damascus, and also hit Syrian government forces in the Suwayda region, claiming it had done so to protect the Druze, who it calls its 'brothers'. 'Al-Sharaa said that national unity was a priority for his government and that part of the role of the government was to be a neutral referee between all parties,' said Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall, reporting from the capital Damascus. 'He praised the people of Suwayda, other than the few elements that wanted to sow trouble, saying that both Druze and Arab communities in the city were noble people.' It was unclear whether Syrian troops reached Suwayda city as of Saturday morning or were still on the city's outskirts, Vall said. Bedouin tribal fighters had been waiting to hear more from the government about the ceasefire, while Druze leaders have varying attitudes on it – some welcoming it, and others pledging to continue fighting, he added. Bedouin fighters in Damascus on Saturday were preparing to travel to the Druze-majority city to support Bedouin fighters there. On Friday, an Israeli official, who declined to be named, told reporters that in light of the 'ongoing instability in southwest Syria', Israel had agreed to allow the 'limited entry of the [Syrian] internal security forces into Suwayda district for the next 48 hours'. According to Syria's Health Ministry, the death toll from fighting in the Druze-majority city is now at least 260. An estimated 80,000 people have fled the area, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Qatar Tribune
13 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Gaza students sit exams for first time since war began in October 2023
Agencies Gaza Hundreds of Palestinian students in Gaza are taking a crucial end-of-secondary-school exam organised by the besieged enclave's Ministry of Education in the hope of entering university studies. Earlier this month, the ministry announced Saturday's exam, which will be the first since Israel began its genocidal war on Gaza after the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel in October 2023. The ministry confirmed that about 1,500 students are registered to take the exam, which will be conducted electronically using specialised software, adding that all necessary technical preparations have been carried out to ensure smooth administration. Some students are sitting the online exam at home, while others are taking it at venues depending on the region they are in, with safety considerations in mind, given the daily Israeli bombardment. Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah, stressed that for Palestinian students, the exam is a critical gateway to higher education, scholarships and a future beyond the Israeli blockade. He said: 'Even in a warzone, with no classrooms, no books and barely any internet, Gaza's students are showing up, logging in and sitting their final exam, refusing to let war erase their future.' After the war started, the education of many students in Gaza has been put on hold, and the results of Saturday's exam will allow them to continue their studies at university. Many should have been at university by now, but remained at the high school level due to the war, as Israeli attacks have devastated Gaza's education system, along with the rest of the territory's civilian infrastructure. Advertisement In response, Gaza's Education Ministry has launched an online platform – the first of its kind in Gaza – to enable high school seniors to take their final exam. 'Students have downloaded the app to take their exam, but they face many challenges,' Morad al-Agha, the exams director of the Central Gaza Governorate, told Al Jazeera. 'We have raised these concerns with the ministry to make sure they're resolved, so students can sit for their exams without disruption.' Students log in from cafes, tents and shelters – wherever they can find a charged device and a working internet connection. Before the final exam, they have completed a mock test, designed not only to test their knowledge but also the system's stability. However, students tell Al Jazeera that going digital in Gaza has not been easy. 'We are taking exams online, but it is so difficult,' student Doha Khatab said. 'The internet is weak, many of us do not have devices and there is no safe space to take the test. We also lost our books in the bombardment.' To support them, a few teachers have reopened damaged classrooms and are offering in-person guidance. 'It is the first time the ministry has done this online and students are confused, so we're trying to guide them step by step,' teacher Enam Abu Slisa told Al Jazeera. The war in Gaza and the destruction of 95 percent of educational infrastructure have left more than 660,000 children out of school – nearly all of Gaza's school-aged population, according to the United Nations. Many former UN-run schools are now being used as shelters for displaced people and also face relentless, deadly Israeli attacks. A report to the UN Human Rights Council found that Israeli forces systematically destroyed education infrastructure in Gaza. The report described these actions as potential war crimes.
Qatar Tribune
13 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Syria declares new Suwayda truce, deploys forces to ‘restore security'
Syria's security forces have begun deploying in the restive southern province of Suwayda, a Ministry of Interior spokesperson has said, where heavy fighting between Druze and Bedouin armed groups and government forces has left hundreds dead, compounded by Israeli military intervention. The deployment on Saturday came hours after the United States announced that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire, an as yet uncertain truce amidst overnight fighting. Syria's government announced the ceasefire early on Saturday, saying in a statement it is being enacted 'to spare Syrian blood, preserve the unity of Syrian territory and the safety of its people'. The country's president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, in a televised address, stated that he 'received international calls to intervene in what is happening in Suwayda and restore security to the country'. Israeli intervention has 'reignited tensions' in the city, with fighting there taking 'a dangerous turning point', he said, also thanking the US for its support. (Agencies) page 5
