28 Palestinians killed in two Israeli massacres in Gaza
Four Palestinians were killed Monday evening in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City.
The Israeli occupation forces committed two new massacres against civilians in Gaza City on Monday evening, killing 24 and wounding dozens, while rescue crews are still unable to reach the targeted sites due to the ongoing bombing and destruction of infrastructure.
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Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Turbulence in the Mashreq - World - Al-Ahram Weekly
It is not just the Occupied Palestinian Territories that are up for a major reshuffle — most of the Mashreq is also threatened with major shifts, reports Dina Ezzat Fewer than two days after his return from a visit to Washington, where he held three successive meetings with US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered intensified strikes by the Israeli occupation army on Gaza. On Sunday, the daily toll of Israeli strikes on Gaza saw the deaths of 100 Palestinians, including those hit in shelters and those eliminated while trying to get basic food aid. At the same time, the negotiations hosted in Doha between Hamas and Israel were moving from the phase of cautious hope to that of growing despair. Egyptian sources informed about the negotiations unfolding in the Qatari capital said this week that the chances of a prompt agreement on a temporary and partial truce in the war on Gaza are not imminent due to the 'typical' intransigence of the Israeli negotiating team. According to one source, 'the Israeli team did not go to Doha to negotiate but to put on the table a set of conditions, assuming that a weakened Hamas would succumb. This is not working and nor is the US pressure on both Qatar and Egypt to get Hamas to accept a deal that does not have as its basis a roadmap for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.' Another source said that what Israel is offering in Doha is 'close to nothing'. He explained that while Israel, 'under much international pressure', had agreed to allow the UN and humanitarian organisations to take over the distribution of aid after catastrophic violations against civilians, it has been suggesting lumping the Palestinians in the southernmost part of Gaza 'in isolated blocks with no connective axis or corridors'. The source said that the maps that Israel had put forward were not even subject to the consideration of Hamas. He added that the Egyptian delegation in Doha had shared its concern over these proposed maps, given that they clearly plan to cluster the Gaza population right next to the Egyptian border. 'Some may think that the Israeli-American plans to displace the Gazans have been dropped, but this is not true. The plan is still very much there,' a third source said. 'We know that it is there, and we know that it is not the only plan to change the realities on the ground in the Mashreq,' he added. According to this source, the talks that Netanyahu held in Washington from Monday to Friday last week did not produce any serious commitment to move towards the 60-day truce that Trump has been and is still promising. However, he added, the talks had included 'new understandings' with regards to Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iran. On Iran, he said, 'it is clear' that Netanyahu had managed to convince the US president that there should be no interdiction of a new round of Israeli, and possibly American, strikes against Iran. Netanyahu's message in Washington, he added, was that the strikes that Israel and the US had conducted against Iran's nuclear and military facilities had not fully eliminated the chances of Iran restarting an ambitious nuclear programme and that it might be necessary for Israel 'to finish the job'. On Syria, the same source said that Netanyahu had received American assurances to support direct Israeli-Syrian talks to reach a new security agreement to replace the 1974 disengagement deal that Israel violated in December last year on the fall of the regime of former Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. The Israeli-Syrian meeting in Baku on Sunday this week, according to a regional diplomatic source, saw some significant progress on the path that has already been unfolding for a few weeks. 'I don't think that we are very far from a new security deal between Syria and Israel. It could happen this summer,' he said. This deal, he added, would take some of the pressure off the back of the new Syrian regime of Interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who is faced with considerable internal problems, including the major issue of the Syrian Kurds who are still in control of considerable segments of northern and eastern Syria. Last week, Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and envoy to Syria and Lebanon, said that the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the US-backed Kurdish militant group, are not close to a deal that would allow for the government of Syria to regain the territories that had been under the control of the SDF prior to the fall of Al-Assad and for the SDF to be integrated within the national Syrian army. In Cairo, where communication with the new regime in Damascus has been ultra-cautious, there is concern that with or without a deal with the SDF Damascus is bound to go through a significant transformation. None of the sources who spoke on the issue shared the details of this concern. However, one suggested a possible 'federation situation' that would eventually make Syria subject to conflicting regional influences, not excluding that of Israel which has some close contacts with the SDF. In Cairo there is also concern about the chances for stability in Lebanon with the failure of the talks between Hizbullah and the government in Beirut to reach a deal on the disarmament of Hizbullah north of the Litani River and the continued Israeli threats against and strikes on the country. According to a Beirut-based diplomatic source, Hizbullah has demonstrated considerable flexibility in the talks that have been conducted during the past few weeks, especially during the past week 'where it agreed to things that would have been considered red lines before, including being subject to the scrutiny of the Lebanese army.' However, the source added that in return for the flexibility it has demonstrated on the disarmament question, Hizbullah has insisted that the US should provide clear-cut guarantees to end the Israeli occupation of villages in south Lebanon and to end all Israeli strikes against targets south and north of the Litani River. 'So far, the US has failed to provide such guarantees, and it is possible that these will not come about because Netanyahu has no plans to pull out troops from the five posts where his army is still stationed in the south of the country,' the source said. He added that instead the US has been putting pressure on Hizbullah to agree to disarm without securing the Israeli withdrawal. In a highly controversial statement this week, Barrack said that if the government of Lebanon failed to manage the Hizbullah disarmament it might face the threat of falling under the reign of the Bilad Al-Sham (the historic Greater Syrian Region). In Lebanon, there was no appreciation for the explanation Barrack offered of this comment, when he said that he had only meant to praise Syria for its realpolitik choices that released it from US sanctions. Lebanese commentators argued that Barrack knew very well what he was saying and that he had meant to threaten the Lebanese government. They noted that the remarks of the US envoy had come shortly after his visit to Beirut, where he shared a plan to disarm Hizbullah. 'The fact of the matter is that Syria, under the new regime, has not been responsive to repeated Lebanese demands for a proper demarcation process,' said the Beirut-based diplomatic source. Meanwhile, in Amman there is growing anxiety about an Israeli plan to dismantle three refugee camps in the West Bank to allow for more territories for Israeli illegal settlement construction and to force the displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank into Jordan. According to a Middle East-based European diplomat, this issue is not a secret. He said that it is something that the Americans had discussed with the Jordanians. He added that it is also something that the Israelis had discussed with the Jordanians. 'Obviously, for the Jordanian monarchy this is a nightmare,' he said. 'Jordan has been pushing back, but it is not very clear how far it can do so,' he added. * A version of this article appears in print in the 17 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt and China: A decade of strategic partnership - Economy - Al-Ahram Weekly
Economic cooperation and the strategic partnership between Egypt and China reached new levels following the visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Cairo last week Egypt and China signed a handful of cooperation deals last week in the areas of finance, e-commerce, green and low-carbon development, development assistance, and health. The signatures came during the two-day official visit of the Premier of the State Council of China Li Qiang to Cairo on 9-10 July. During his visit, Li met with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and Speaker of the House of Representatives Hanafi Gebali and held extensive talks with Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli. President Al-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to enhancing cooperation with China in various sectors of mutual interest and working to activate the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, especially with the upcoming celebration, to be held in 2026, of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China. He also commended the contributions of Chinese companies to Egypt's development projects, expressing Egypt's eagerness to attract further Chinese investments, especially in the sectors of renewable energy, electric vehicle manufacturing, and tourism. President Al-Sisi underscored Egypt's interest in promoting cooperation with China in manufacturing, development, and debt swap mechanisms, said the presidential spokesman. In response, Li said China's relations with Egypt were built on long decades of strategic partnership, mutual respect, and common interests. He noted the rapid development in bilateral relations and the close coordination between the two countries on both the regional and international levels, appreciating Egypt's pivotal role as a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East. Li also said China hopes to work with Egypt to carry forward the traditional friendship, consolidate mutual trust, and continue to give each other firm support, enriching the comprehensive strategic partnership, delivering more results through cooperation in various areas, and building a China-Egypt community with a shared future for the new era. Al-Sisi and Li exchanged views on regional and international developments. Both sides stressed the importance of underpinning the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran and resuming the diplomatic path to resolving the crisis through peaceful means. Both also underscored the necessity of reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, ensuring the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid and the importance of reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue. Madbouli and Li held an expanded session of talks on 10 July at the cabinet's headquarters in Egypt's New Administrative Capital. Describing Li's visit to Egypt as 'historic', Madbouli commended China's pivotal role in supporting Egypt's development efforts, particularly through the participation of numerous Chinese companies in key infrastructure projects in the country, such as the Central Business District in the New Administrative Capital, the new Alamein City Towers, the light rail transit project, as well as the development of China's successful TEDA area in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), an industrial cooperation model hosting 185 companies. Madbouli also voiced the hope that Li's visit would mark the start of a new stage of bilateral cooperation, particularly in localising industry, and transferring Chinese technology to Egypt, especially with regards to solar energy project components, localising electric vehicle manufacturing, and seawater desalination. Given China's global leadership in EV manufacturing, Madbouli urged Chinese companies to establish operations in Egypt and take advantage of the incentives offered by the government. He called on Chinese companies and institutions to boost their investments in Egypt, leveraging Egypt's memberships in free-trade zones with Arab, African, and European countries. Madbouli also stressed the importance of addressing the trade imbalance between the two countries by expanding Egyptian exports to China. He noted that Egyptian products are of high quality and already reach markets in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Africa. According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics, bilateral trade between Egypt and China exceeded $17 billion, with Egypt's imports from China reaching $15.5 billion, in 2024. Li highlighted China's efforts to increase Egyptian exporters' access to the Chinese market, noting that significant measures have already been taken in this regard. The Chinese premier further reiterated China's interest in fostering investment cooperation with Egypt in various sectors, including renewable energy, industry, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and the financial sector. Madbouli and Li witnessed the signing of a handful of cooperation deals between the government and the China International Development Cooperation Agency on e-commerce, green and low-carbon development, development assistance, finance and health. Economic and business observers believe the deals will boost Egypt's ambition to become a regional energy and logistics hub and to China's efforts to promote South-South cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Among the landmark deals, the People's Bank of China and the Central Bank of Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen financial cooperation that covers local-currency use when it comes to settling cross-border transactions and the exchange of information and professional expertise in monetary policy, financial markets, central bank digital currencies, digital innovation and electronic payment systems. Businessman Mohamed Farag Amer, former deputy chairman of parliament's Industry Committee, described the decision of China and Egypt to use local currencies in settling their business transactions as a landmark step that reflects the trust between the two countries. 'This step will help reduce the dependence on foreign exchange, particularly the US dollar, and comes as a response to the intention of the BRICS countries to settle their financial transactions in local currencies instead of the dollar,' Amer said. Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat and President of the China International Development Cooperation (CIDA) Agency Chen Xiaodogn also signed five cooperation documents aimed at strengthening Egyptian-Chinese strategic relations. The documents include a memorandum of understanding on the first development cooperation strategy between the two countries for the period 2025-2029 and the first phase of the debt-for-development swap programme. 'Egypt is the first country with which the CIDA has inked such a development financing agreement,' said Al-Mashat, noting that 'Egypt has significant experience and success in debt swap mechanisms, especially with Italy and Germany, with over $900 million in such programmes.' The two sides also inked an exchange of letters for a 1.520 million Chinese Yuan feasibility study grant for a project to set up a prosthetics system, an MoU boosting cooperation in human resource development under which the Chinese side will train some 2,000 Egyptians, and an exchange of letters for a grant to set up a biosafety lab. Al-Mashat emphasised that Li's visit to Egypt and his meetings with Al-Sisi and Madbouli reflect the continuous progress of bilateral relations between the two countries and help implement the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed by the presidents of the two countries in 2014. * A version of this article appears in print in the 17 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Middle East
an hour ago
- Middle East
OPEN// Ambassador Hossam Zaki: Towards a peaceful and stable Middle East
CAIRO, July 16 (MENA) - Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Hossam Zaki said that throughout the Middle East, pundits and public alike are wondering how the changes that the region is witnessing may affect the fragile existing balance of power and whether they can open the door, finally, for an era of peaceful co-existence and prosperity. It is well established that the strategic weight of our region is not confined to politics or security. It also lies in its increasingly pivotal role in the global economy, Key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal, serve as vital arteries of global trade and energy supplies, Zaki said in an opinion piece published by The National UAE newspaper. At the same time, many Arab Gulf states are investing heavily in emerging industries such as renewable energy and advanced technologies. It is clear that bringing peace and stability to the Middle East is no longer a regional aspiration, but a global imperative intertwined with international prosperity, he added. For the Arab League, a new strategic reality in the Middle East can only come about when a true vision for peace is implemented. The vision we have in mind is one based on the two-state solution: restoration of Palestinian rights for independence and dignity, followed by the implementation of the engagement of peace outlined in the Arab Peace Initiative, thus opening the door for an era of true peace and stability in the region, Zaki said. But regional security has been viewed differently by various parties in the region. For the Arabs, based on Arab Summit resolutions, the notion of regional security has always been based on five major pillars: namely, an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the emergence of an independent contiguous Palestine, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of states, the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region, relentless combating of terrorism and the preservation of nation states, and security guarantees for all and shared interests as applicable, he added. From an Arab perspective, while all these elements are essential for reaching a viable and sustainable formula for regional security, we view this equation as a win-win for all parties. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same about the perspective offered by other parties in our region, such as Israel, Zaki pointed out. For years, and in particular after the 1993 Oslo accords, the concept of regional security for Israel was based primarily on achieving military and security superiority while 'postponing indefinitely' any viable solution for the Palestinian question and without producing any real vision for achieving just and comprehensive peace, Zaki said. Since October 7, 2023, it appears that 'postponing indefinitely' a solution to the Palestinian question was replaced by 'eliminating' it altogether, he added. Driven by its extreme right-wing forces and its advancement in the past two decades, such a vision is a considerable impediment for peace and prosperity in the region. Enabling those forces to continue on such a path is nothing but a recipe for continued conflict and instability. Such a zero-sum equation with no room for a win-win formula is no salvation for our region and certainly meets no aspiration for peaceful co-existence in it, Zaki said. At the same time, achieving a sustainable peace requires addressing broader geopolitical dynamics, particularly those involving Iran. Over the past few years, several Arab countries have taken steps towards de-escalation and restoring dialogue with Tehran, aiming to establish a framework of mutual respect and non-interference, Zaki added. This approach must be preserved and reinforced, as it offers the potential to reduce tensions and prevent wider regional confrontation, he said. I acknowledge that in my numerous encounters throughout the Arab world, and in particular after witnessing the horrors committed by Israel in Gaza through 21 months of genocidal war, I often reach the unhappy conclusion that many Arabs, in particular the youth, have ceased to believe that peace will be the order of the day in our region in the foreseeable future and that it is somehow condemned to perpetual instability and turmoil. The brief moments of peace of the 1990s seem like such distant memories, Zaki added. All powerful players, in the region and outside it, should try and change such desperate views, if we are to seek a better and more prosperous future for the coming generations. To my understanding, a number of Arab countries who play a major role in the region have expressed readiness to engage in meaningful discussions on the matter, Zaki said. However, in the absence of an Israeli willingness to engage on a viable path for peace, it can be an exercise in futility. The hope remains that an active and motivated US president may intervene to tip the balance not only for the sake of morality and law, but also for shared interests and a win-for-all formula which addresses the concerns of all parties, he concluded. (MENA) M A A/R G E
