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The Independent
28 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Arab nations tell Hamas to ‘disarm' and end rule of Gaza after Starmer ultimatum
Arab nations have taken the unprecedented step of telling Hamas to lay down its arms and surrender control of Gaza. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt called for the terrorist group to 'disarm' and disband. It the first time these countries have condemned the group and demanded it to play no part in the future of Palestine. The landmark shift comes after Sir Keir Starmer issued Israel with an ultimatum, pledging to recognise Palestine if Benjamin Netanyahu's administration fails to take steps to end the war in Gaza by September. The three countries joined 14 other countries, including Britain and France, in calling for the disbandment of the group. The declaration, produced after a United Nations conference in New York, read: 'In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State.' French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the declaration as 'both historic and unprecedented'. 'For the first time, Arab countries and those in the Middle East condemn Hamas, condemn October 7, call for the disarmament of Hamas, call for its exclusion from Palestinian governance, and clearly express their intention to normalise relations with Israel in the future,' he said. On Tuesday, the prime minister recalled the Cabinet from their summer holidays to discuss steps to end what he called the 'appalling situation in Gaza', where a UN assessment has warned the population is facing a mounting humanitarian crisis. Sir Keir said the UK would only refrain from recognising Palestine if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months. Hamas must immediately release all remaining Israeli hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and 'accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza', Sir Keir also said. But the pledge sparked international backlash, with Emily Damari – a British-Israeli woman who was held hostage by Hamas for more than a year – warning that Sir Keir is 'not standing on the right side of history'. She accused the prime minister of a 'moral failure', warning that the ultimatum 'risks rewarding terror'. 'It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy", she added. Meanwhile, the Israeli prime minister issued a furious response, saying the decision 'rewards Hamas's monstrous terrorism and punishes its victims.' Mr Netanyahu added: 'A jihadist state on Israel's border today will threaten Britain tomorrow. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen.' US president Donald Trump also accused the UK of 'rewarding Hamas' with the ultimatum, despite previously saying he did not mind the PM 'taking a position' on the issue. It comes amid confusion over whether or not the release of remaining hostages is a condition for the recognition of Palestine, with transport secretary Heidi Alexander on Wednesday morning tying herself in knots on the issue. She told the BBC ministers have 'always said right from day one that the hostages need to be released', adding that the UK expects 'Hamas to act in the same way as we expect Israel to act'. But asked directly if the release of hostages is a condition for recognition, she said: 'We will be making an assessment in September'. Speaking to Sky, she added: 'This isn't about Hamas, this is actually about delivering for the Palestinian people and making sure that we can get aid in.' The conditional pledge to recognise Palestine came amid mounting domestic pressure on the prime minister after more than 250 cross-party MPs signed a letter calling for ministers to take the step. The formation of a new left-wing political party, led by Jeremy Corbyn and ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana last week piled further pressure on the PM to act. Sarah Champion, the senior Labour MP who organised the letter, told BBC Radio 4 the prime minister's announcement was 'a really big movement' and would send a message to Israel that the status quo 'is not good enough'. But she added: 'I am a little concerned though that from what I'm hearing it seems to be conditional on Israel accepting some terms and I don't understand why the two things are being linked together.' Opposition parties also raised concerns about the conditional nature of the UK's position, with Lib Dem Leader Sir Ed Davey criticising Sir Keir for using Palestinian statehood as a 'bargaining chip', while Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts called for the 'immediate recognition of Palestine'. Addressing the UN Assembly on Tuesday, foreign secretary David Lammy backed the statement signed by Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt saying: 'Hamas must never be rewarded for the monstrous attack on Oct 7.' 'It must immediately release the hostages, agree to an immediate ceasefire, accept it will have no role in governing Gaza and commit to disarmament.'
Arabian Business
an hour ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
GWC and Qatar Airways extend logistics agreement by five years
Gulf Warehouse Company (GWC) will continue to deliver a full spectrum of integrated logistics services for Qatar Airways after the two parties officially extended their long-standing partnership by signing a five-year service agreement. For over a decade, GWC has served as the logistics service provider for Qatar Airways and its key affiliates, including MATAR, and Qatar Duty Free. The airline's behind-the-scenes logistics operations has complemented the premium passenger experience, which has led to its success on the global stage. GWC services will include import/export handling, customs clearance, warehousing and distribution, inventory management, document storage, and other value-added solutions. Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al Thani, GWC Group Managing Director, commented: 'The renewal of the agreement with Qatar Airways reflects the strength of Qatar national institutions working together to achieve excellence on a global stage. 'At GWC, we are proud to support the operations of the world's best airline with world-class logistics solutions rooted in innovation, efficiency, and reliability. Our long-standing partnership with Qatar Airways is a testament to our shared values and our unwavering commitment to Qatar's continued progress and global connectivity.' Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, added: 'We are pleased to renew our long-standing partnership with GWC. This agreement strengthens our operational capabilities and supports our continued global growth. By working together, we remain committed to delivering world-class services across a broad range of functions.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Independent
What might a surrender deal for Hamas look like?
The horrors of Gaza have finally come to haunt the world's policy-makers. Yesterday, the British government grasped at the talisman of recognising a Palestinian state, without explaining how this might stop the violence. Enter Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, three Arab countries that have demanded that Hamas now frees the remaining Israeli hostages, lays down its arms and ceases governing Gaza, for the sake of enabling Palestinian statehood and the chance of achieving a two-state solution. Let's not get our hopes up. The three Arab states have joined 14 other countries at a three-day conference at the United Nations in signing up to a French initiative that also requires Israel to agree to a ceasefire, end its blockade and recognise a Palestinian state in 'all occupied Arab lands' – a point that is certain to be rejected by the current Israeli government since it means withdrawing from the West Bank and East Jerusalem where so many Jewish settlers live. But having the Arab world calling the very future of Hamas into question for the first time is a potential game-changer for the Middle East. It's certainly a nail in the coffin for the terrorist group. President Trump's Abraham Accords, signed at the tail end of his first term in the White House, were supposed to isolate Hamas by drawing Arab states into mutual recognition of Israel, with the promise of a web of trade deals and security guarantees against their mutual enemy, Iran. However, Saudi Arabia had been cautious about opening diplomatic relations with Israel, even before the events of 7th October, 2023 made that an impossibility. The rampage by Hamas terrorists that day was intended to kill any chance of a Saudi-Israeli rapprochement by provoking a brutal Israeli response that would outrage Muslim opinion. Israel's bombing and blockades had that effect, though less so with Arab regimes. Egypt has long been deeply hostile to Hamas. In 2013, when President Sisi toppled its democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi, he came to power over the corpses of hundreds of Muslim Brothers, a group affiliated to Hamas. Qatar has been the odd monarchy out. It has housed Hamas's exiled leaders in Doha for decades, and Qatar's energy wealth subsidised Gaza after Hamas established itself In power there after 2006, when other oil-rich Gulf states pulled their aid. In 2017, Saudi Arabia's crown prince led his allies and Egypt in blockading Qatar as a 'sponsor of terrorism' – meaning Hamas in particular. Until now, Qatar's absolute ruler has acted as a go-between for Israel, the United States and Hamas. The Gulf state's shift will put real pressure on Hamas, which is battered but unbowed by Israel's fightback since 7 October. So what might a surrender deal for Hamas look like? The last four decades of Middle Eastern history might have an answer – of sorts. In 1984, the brutal war in Lebanon which had started when Israel invaded to stop raids across its border by the Palestine Liberation Organisation, ended when Israel agreed to let the PLO be exiled in Tunisia. But it's far from a failsafe blueprint for peace. Today's Tunisian government is vocally critical of Israel, but there is no sign that President Kais Saeed is keen to provide a refuge for Hamas fighters, even if they were willing to leave Gaza. Nor would France and Italy be happy to see battle-hardened veterans move west along the Mediterranean coast. Gulf states who remember how PLO leader Yasser Arafat's supporters in Kuwait backed Saddam Hussein's invasion there are not going to warmly welcome refugees from Gaza. Plus, Arab states' vocal condemnation of Benjamin Netayahu's war doesn't extend to housing its victims. Another word of caution. Without US backing, it is hard to see how the Franco-Saudi plan will bring a quick end to the war. Israeli opinion is split on Netanyahu, but there is little sign of a revival of support for a 'land for peace', a settlement whereby Israel withdraws from the occupied territories in exchange for peaceful coexistence with a neighbouring state of Palestine. Europeans and Gulf Arabs may be weary of the Gaza war, but Hamas and Israeli hardliners are not exhausted yet.
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Pacemaker Qirat stuns Sussex Stakes big guns at Goodwood to win at 150-1
Field Of Gold's pacemaker Qirat caused an almighty shock with a 150-1 victory in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. John and Thady Gosden's Field Of Gold was a 1-3 shot to follow in the hoofprints of his sire Kingman by adding this prestigious Group One contest to his previous top-level victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes. The Ralph Beckett-trained Qirat, who was last seen finishing 27th of 30 runners in the Royal Hunt Cup, was supplemented for the race last week at a cost of £70,000 (€81,000) in a bid to ensure the red-hot favourite had a strong gallop to aim at. But the race did not go to script, with Qirat keeping up the gallop to emerge triumphant under Richard Kingscote, despite the best efforts of Rosallion, who was a neck adrift at the line. READ MORE Field Of Gold, meanwhile, had to settle for a laboured fourth, with Aidan O'Brien's Henri Matisse third. Beckett said: 'Richard has always been a very good judge of the clock. The last thing I said to him was keep going with this fellow, he could run really well. 'He loves this place and I wanted to enter him because his work was really good. It's a horse race and anything can happen.' Qirat's dam, Emulous, also produced last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner for Beckett in Bluestocking. He went on: 'I thought he looked a million beforehand and that in the race he would set the pace from the front, and the longer he lasted the better for those concerned with the favourite. 'He's always threatened to be a good horse and today he showed it. 'What about the mare? To come up with Bluestocking and him. She's been like a hole in the wall, like a cash machine.' Kingscote, who recently announced he is taking up a licence in Hong Kong, said: 'I feel like a villain but when I saw it wasn't a grey nose [Field Of Gold] coming towards me I just kept going.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Turkey to supply natural gas from Azerbaijan to Syria
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey will begin supplying natural gas from Azerbaijan to Syria to help the country generate electricity, Turkey's energy minister said Wednesday. Natural gas from Azerbaijan will be delivered to Syria via the Kilis pipeline through Turkey from Aug. 2, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told the state-run Anadolu Agency. Once a strong backer of rebel forces seeking to overthrow former President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey is now firmly supporting Syria's new government, helping to stabilize and rebuild the country. Bayraktar said an initial supply of 6 million cubic meters of gas to Syria is expected to produce around 1,200 megawatts of electricity. Qatar is contributing to the project's financing, the minister said. 'With the natural gas that will be supplied, the goal is to increase the current three to four hours of daily electricity availability to 10 hours, making a positive impact on people's lives,' Bayraktar said. A ceremony attended by ministers from Turkey, Syria, and Qatar will be held in Kilis on Aug. 2, he told Anadolu. The Associated Press
