Hamas says no interim truce without ceasefire deal in ongoing talks
Hamas had repeatedly offered to release all the hostages held in Gaza and conclude a ceasefire agreement, Abu Ubaida added in a televised speech.
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Houthis say they hold 10 crew from Greek-operated ship they sank off Yemen
CAIRO/ATHENS: Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they had rescued 10 seafarers from the Greek-operated cargo ship Eternity C which they attacked and sank in the Red Sea earlier this month. The Liberia-flagged Eternity C was the second ship to sink off Yemen this month after repeated attacks by Houthi militants with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades. Another Greek-operated vessel, the Magic Seas, had gone down days earlier. The strikes on the two vessels marked a revival of attacks on shipping by the Houthis, who have hit more than 100 ships between November 2023 and December 2024 in what they say is a show of solidarity with the Palestinians in the war in Gaza. The Eternity C crew and three armed guards were forced to abandon the ship following the attacks. Ten people were rescued by a privately led mission, while five more are feared dead mainly due to the attacks. Another 10 people were believed to be held by Houthis, maritime security sources had told Reuters. On Monday, the Houthis group released a six-minute video showing pictures of the 10 seafarers with some of them contacting their families. They also showed testimonies saying that the crew members were not aware of a maritime ban by Houthis against vessels sailing to Israeli ports. They said the vessel was heading to Israel's Eilat Port to load fertilizers. Reuters could not independently verify the footage. In what they called phase four of their military operations, the Houthis said on Sunday they would target any ships belonging to companies that do business with Israeli ports, regardless of their nationalities. Following the recent attacks, Greece said it would deploy a salvage vessel in the Red Sea to assist in maritime accidents and protect seafarers and global shipping.
Arab News
2 hours ago
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Two-state solution 'only path to justice' in Palestine, says Saudi envoy to US
RIYADH: The Saudi ambassador to the US said that the two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel crisis remains the 'only path to justice, security, and stability,' as the Kingdom and France lead a major UN conference on the conflict on Monday. Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi ambassador to the US, said: 'The suffering in Gaza, the despair in the West Bank, and the insecurity in Israel demand a new reality.' She said the Kingdom has long backed a two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace. 'This is not merely a diplomatic position; it is a moral, strategic, and practical necessity grounded in justice and the pursuit of a shared future,' she wrote on X. Saudi Arabia and France spearheaded a high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution at the UN on Monday. Princess Reema said: 'The two-state solution is essential because it addresses the root causes of the conflict: the denial of Palestinian self-determination and the insecurity that fuels extremism on both sides.' 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has championed a peaceful resolution for decades, known as the Arab Peace Initiative, based on the conviction that peace in the region is inseparable from justice for Palestinians.' Israel has been conducting a devastating military campaign in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, after Hamas attacked settlements near the Gaza border, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and around 250 hostages being taken back to the enclave by the group. Israel's retaliation has killed over 60,000 people. Israel blocked aid to Gaza for 11 weeks earlier this year and has been killing hungry civilians looking for food at aid centers run by an Israeli backed foundation. UN vehicles began reentering the territory over the weekend and aid drops have also restarted, after an international outcry over Israel's deliberate starvation of the civilian population in Gaza. 'The humanitarian toll is staggering: 1.9 million Palestinians are displaced, and famine looms as aid trickles in. A two-state solution is the only framework that can end the bloodshed, rebuild Gaza, and create a sustainable future,' Princess Reema wrote. 'The war in Gaza and the broader conflicts in the region underscore the urgency of this moment.'
Arab News
3 hours ago
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France circulates draft outcome document from UN 2-state solution conference
NEW YORK CITY: Arab News has been given an exclusive first look at a preliminary outcome document from the conference on a two-state solution to the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, which began on Monday at the UN headquarters in New York. Circulated by France among UN member states and open for comments until Tuesday morning, the document represents a critical step in attempts to revitalize long-stalled efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, against a backdrop in recent years of renewed violence and diplomatic deadlock. The draft strongly condemns the 'barbaric and antisemitic terrorist attack' on Israeli towns launched by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. It demands an immediate ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages still held by Hamas, including the return of the remains of those who have died. It also stresses the urgent need for unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught up in the crisis. Central to the draft text is a reaffirmation of the 'unwavering commitment' of the international community to the vision for two democratic states — Israel and Palestine — living side by side in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders. Emphasizing the need for Palestinian political unity, the document underscores the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the governance of the Palestinian Authority, presenting this as the cornerstone for a future Palestinian state that is both legitimate and demilitarized. The document welcomes commitments made by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in June this year, and acknowledges his condemnation of the Oct. 7 attacks, his call for the release of hostages, and his pledge to disarm Hamas. Abbas has also vowed to end contentious 'pay-to-slay' payments; implement education reforms; hold elections within a year to foster generational renewal; and accept the principle of a demilitarized Palestinian state — all of which are viewed as critical steps to rebuild trust and lay the groundwork for peace. In anticipation of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September, the document envisions that signatory countries will either have officially recognized the State of Palestine or expressed a willingness to do so. It further encourages nations that have yet to establish diplomatic ties with Israel to begin normalizing relations and to engage in dialogue regarding the regional integration of Israel, signaling a broader vision for Middle East cooperation. As of early this year, about 147 of the 193 UN member states had officially recognized the State of Palestine, representing about 75 percent of the international community. They include the majority of African, Asian and Latin American countries. Several European nations also recently joined the list, including Norway, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and Armenia, as have the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados. But key Western powers including the US, Canada, France, Germany, the UK, Italy and Australia have yet to officially recognize Palestine, as has Japan. Notably, however, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has announced plans for his nation to formally recognize Palestine, with the official declaration expected during the UN General Assembly in September. France would be the first G7 country to do so, and could influence a broader European recognition trend. The draft document also outlined a commitment to develop a comprehensive framework for the 'day after' peace is declared in Gaza, emphasizing guarantees for reconstruction, the disarmament of Hamas, and the exclusion of the group from Palestinian governance, measures that are intended to secure lasting stability and prevent further violence. Formally titled the 'High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,' the two-day event in New York is being co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.
