
Proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza, ‘unrealistic': John Bolton
CAIRO – 14 March 2025: Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that the proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza is 'unrealistic', explaining that Palestinians should stay in the Strip.
Bolton stressed in statements to al Qahera news channel, on Friday, the need to work on rebuilding the Gaza Strip, explaining that the Egyptian government has all effective tools to help with Gaza reconstruction.
'We acknowledge Egypt's vital role in addressing the situation in the Gaza Strip,' Bolton said.
Advisor to the Palestinian president, Mahmoud al-Habbash, stressed the importance of intensifying all efforts to begin implementing the Egyptian-Palestinian plan for the reconstruction of Gaza.
In televised statements on Friday, al-Habbash stressed the need to 'turn the page' on the war and begin implementing the Arab vision crystallized at the emergency Arab Summit held in Cairo earlier this month.
He also emphasized the need to implement the Egyptian-Palestinian plan to repair the damage caused by the Israeli aggression and rebuild normal life in the Gaza Strip, paving the way for the launch of a political process leading to an end to the occupation and a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue based on international legitimacy.
A negotiating delegation from the Palestinian Islamic Movement (Hamas) headed to Cairo, on Friday, to meet with Egyptian officials and follow up on developments in the negotiations and the ceasefire agreement.
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Egypt Independent
12 minutes ago
- Egypt Independent
Israeli forces kill 15-year-old Palestinian boy after settlers attack West Bank towns, officials say
Jerusalem CNN — Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the West Bank on Wednesday, Palestinian health authorities said, as settler violence against Palestinians surged in the occupied territory. The military shot 15-year-old Rayan Tamer Hawshiya in the neck, the Ministry of Health in Ramallah said, after troops raided Al Yamoun, near Jenin. Residents in the northern town reported 'heavy Israeli gunfire,' according to the minstry. The Israeli military said that 'terrorists hurled explosive devices at IDF forces' in Al Yamoun on Wednesday, adding that no IDF injuries were reported. 'Afterward, the forces identified terrorists approaching them while holding additional explosives,' the military told CNN. 'The forces responded with fire, and hits were identified.' Separately, a 66-year-old Palestinian woman died from injuries after Israeli police shot her in the head in occupied East Jerusalem, according to local media reports. Zahia Joudeh al-Obeidi 'succumbed to her wounds' after Israeli police stormed Shuafat refugee camp, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. Israeli police said they launched an investigation into the circumstances of the death of an 'East Jerusalem resident,' adding that the resident was 'pronounced dead' by medical officials upon arrival at Shuafat checkpoint. The killings came on the heels of a spate of attacks in the West Bank town of Kafr Malik, where Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian homes and vehicles in what one Israeli opposition politician called a 'violent Jewish pogrom.' Several people were killed and wounded, according to Palestinian and Israeli authorities. Rayan Tamer Hawshiya, aged 15, was killed by Israeli forces in a town near Jenin, in northern West Bank, officials say, where violence against Palestinians has spiraled in recent months. Hawshiya Family The details of the deaths in Kafr Malik are unclear. The Palestinian foreign ministry said the settlers opened fire on Palestinian residents, while Israeli authorities said there was a firefight between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli security forces. At least three Palestinians were killed and several were wounded, according to Palestinian officials. The Israeli military said 'several' people were killed in the central town, but did not specify whether they were Palestinian or Israeli. Israel has ramped up military operations in the West Bank, displacing thousands of Palestinians and razing entire communities as it targets what it says are militants operating in the territory. Last year, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the state 'must deal with the threat (in the West Bank) just as we deal with the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, including the temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents.' He later warned that the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have fled their West Bank homes would not be allowed to return. Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of inflicting 'massive, deliberate displacement of Palestinian civilians' and making 'much of the territory unlivable' in violation of international law. Israeli settlers have also increased attacks on Palestinian communities and their properties, according to the United Nations' human rights office. Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 947 Palestinians, among them 200 children, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, between October 7, 2023 and June 12, the UN reported on June 20. Between October 7, 2023 and June 26, at least 39 Israeli civilians have been killed in the West Bank, according to Israeli government officials. Israel has occupied the West Bank since seizing the territory from Jordan in 1967. In late May, the Israeli government approved the largest expansion of Jewish settlements in the area in decades. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, 'Stripped of basic dignity' In Kafr Malik, social media video geolocated by CNN showed residents panicking as a fire consumed a home and a loud pop rang in the distance. Another video showed a parked car in flames as a resident attempted to extinguish it with a water hose. The IDF said security forces were deployed to the scene after 'dozens of Israeli civilians' had set properties on fire. On arrival, the IDF said, the security forces were met with gunfire and rocks hurled by what it described as 'terrorists' and they returned fire. 'Hits were identified, and it was later reported that there were several individuals injured and fatalities,' the IDF said, adding that five Israelis were arrested. Israeli opposition politician Yair Golan condemned the settler attack, saying: 'What happened this evening in Kafr Malik was a violent Jewish pogrom – dozens of rioters set fire to homes and vehicles, and assaulted Palestinians and security forces.' Palestinian women walk past a charred vehicle, as they survey the destruction wrought Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Kafr Malik, on Thursday. Ilia Yefimovich/Shortly after the violence in Kafr Malik, there was another settler attack close to the nearby village of Taybeh, according to the Israeli rights organization B'Tselem, which shared footage of masked men torching a parked car. Three people were injured and three cars were set on fire, it said. A third settler attack took place around Jericho, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which said eight people were injured due to smoke inhalation after a house was set on fire. Mourners carry the bodies of young Palestinians who were killed by Israeli settlers in Kafr Malik. The UN has warned that there is 'no respite' for communities there. Ammar Awad/Reuters A UN official warned there has been 'no respite' for Palestinian people in the northern West Bank, where he accused Israel of imposing 'systematic forced displacement' on refugee communities in 'violation of international law.' 'Out of the spotlight of the regional escalation, camps in the northern West Bank have faced ongoing destruction, with dozens of buildings demolished in the last twelve days,' Roland Friedrich, the director of affairs for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, posted on X on Wednesday. 'Even now, Israeli security forces are continuing to demolish homes and buildings in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams camps. Stripped of basic dignity, many families have not even been able to save their belongings ahead of anticipated bulldozing.'


Al-Ahram Weekly
37 minutes ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt urges int'l action after Israeli settlers kill three Palestinians in West Bank attack - Foreign Affairs
Egypt has called on the international community to act after Israeli settlers shot and killed three Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The killings took place on Wednesday during an attack on the village of Kafr Malik near Ramallah. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident in a statement issued Saturday, describing it as part of a pattern of 'systematic attacks' against Palestinians. The ministry said such violence violates international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention and warned that continued attacks undermine efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region. Egypt also called for international accountability, urging action to protect Palestinians from what it described as settler crimes. The ministry said the international community has a responsibility to confront what it called the ongoing injustice faced by Palestinians under Israeli occupation. Cairo reiterated its position that all Israeli settlements in the occupied Arab territories are illegal and pose a serious obstacle to resolving the Palestinian issue. The statement also restated Egypt's support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:


Al-Ahram Weekly
38 minutes ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt assumes presidency of Union for Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly - Foreign Affairs
Egypt has taken over the presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM), succeeding Spain. The handover was formalised during the Assembly's 18th Plenary Session, held on Thursday in Spain. Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament, Mohamed Abou El-Enein, was unanimously elected as PA-UfM President with the support of 43 parliamentary leaders across the Mediterranean. He succeeds Spanish Parliament President Francina Armengol. Egypt's regional priorities In his address, Abou El-Enein presented Egypt's strategic vision for addressing ongoing crises in the Mediterranean. He praised the Assembly's efforts to advance regional development and integration. Still, he warned that instability—particularly the ongoing conflict in Gaza—continues to threaten cooperation among member states. Describing Israel's war on Gaza as 'brutal aggression' amounting to genocide, Abou El-Enein accused Israel of seeking to expand regional conflict and obstruct diplomatic efforts. He reiterated Egypt's rejection of any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians. He underscored President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's stance in support of a two-state solution. 'A just and lasting peace in the Middle East is a prerequisite for genuine regional cooperation,' he said, calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also commended President El-Sisi's handling of tensions involving Israel and Iran, positioning Egypt as a stabilizing force in the region. Assembly members echo support Several members of the Assembly echoed Egypt's concerns, condemning Israel's actions in Gaza and calling for accountability. They voiced support for Egypt's opposition to the displacement of Palestinians. They backed the two-state solution as the foundation for lasting peace. Egypt's role in the PA-UfM Abou El-Enein stressed that Egypt's diplomatic approach—both parliamentary and governmental—prioritizes dialogue and cooperation. He noted that Egypt is assuming the presidency during a critical period for the Euro-Mediterranean region, which is facing mounting challenges to both security and development. He thanked the Spanish Parliament for its leadership during its term and reaffirmed Egypt's longstanding commitment to the PA-UfM. He described the Assembly as a crucial platform for dialogue and coordination among Mediterranean countries. Parliamentary leaders also praised Egypt's early recovery and reconstruction plan for Gaza. They expressed confidence in El-Sisi's leadership in promoting regional stability. Upcoming UfM events in Egypt According to the Middle East News Agency (MENA), Egypt will host a preparatory meeting of the PA-UfM Bureau in Sharm El-Sheikh from 11–14 September. An international conference on political and economic issues in the Mediterranean is also scheduled for 28–30 November. The PA-UfM serves as a regional platform for fostering political dialogue and cooperation among countries bordering the Mediterranean through parliamentary diplomacy. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link: