Turkiye's Erdogan optimistic on Gaza ceasefire
On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan linked the recent ceasefire between Iran and Israel to the possibility of a similar breakthrough in Gaza, expressing optimism over efforts to halt the fighting, according to local media outlets.
'Hamas has repeatedly demonstrated goodwill in this regard,' Erdogan remarked, pointing to the failure of previous ceasefire attempts in Gaza, which he attributed to Israeli violations.
He also noted that current efforts are aimed at avoiding a repeat of earlier collapses, adding that Turkiye is working to help secure 'a more durable outcome.'
His remarks come as diplomatic efforts toward a Gaza truce are advancing. Earlier today, US President Donald Trump welcomed Hamas's response to a proposed agreement, describing it as 'good' while also expressing confidence that a deal could be finalized within days.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Israeli Foreign Minister quits Knesset: Expected resignation
Shafaq News – Middle East Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar officially resigned from the Knesset on Tuesday, as part of a previously agreed rotation arrangement within the National Unity party bloc. Michal Woskala, the bloc's parliamentary chair, signed off on Sa'ar's resignation, although his replacement in the parliament has not yet been announced. This move follows a common mechanism in several Israeli parties aimed at broadening political participation among candidates. Sa'ar, who broke away from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party in 2020 to form the 'New Hope' party, later joined political alliances including the National Unity list. A recent political settlement in 2024 with Netanyahu led to Sa'ar's appointment as foreign minister.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Forgotten language: Kurdish sidelined in Iraqi curriculum
Shafaq News Despite being recognized as an official language in Iraq for nearly two decades, Kurdish remains largely sidelined in Arabic-speaking public schools, where it is often taught in name only. In classrooms from Baghdad to Dhi Qar, Kurdish textbooks gather dust, unqualified staff substitute for instructors, and students sit through what they call 'placeholder lessons' — symbolic sessions with little substance. The neglect reflects deeper structural gaps in Iraq's multilingual education system and highlights the challenges of enforcing constitutional rights without supporting legislation or oversight. A Constitutional Language in Name Only Kurdish, spoken by an estimated 30–40 million people across Iraq, Iran, Turkiye, and Syria, is Iraq's second official language under Article 4 of the 2005 Constitution. The law guarantees Kurdish equal status with Arabic in government institutions, education, and public communication. In practice, however, implementation outside the Kurdistan Region remains minimal. While Kurdish is the primary language of instruction across schools in Erbil, Al-Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok, its presence in Arab-majority provinces is often superficial, hampered by teacher shortages, weak enforcement, and a lack of political will. 'There are no assignments, no exams, and no preparation. Even in final exams, the subject doesn't count,' said Hassan Karim, a fifth-year student at a Baghdad high school. He told Shafaq News that his Kurdish teacher visits the school only once a month and rarely stays more than a few minutes. 'Most of the time, that hour is used for math or English revision,' he added. No Teachers, No Tracking In Dhi Qar, English teacher Maytham Abdulrazzaq confirmed that many schools leave Kurdish grades blank on student report cards. 'Only the elite private schools take the subject seriously and record actual assessments,' he said. The Iraqi Ministry of Education admits the problem but insists it is committed to Kurdish language instruction. Ministry spokesperson Karim Al-Sayyid acknowledged the shortage of qualified Kurdish teachers in Arab provinces, but said inspection teams from the ministry's Kurdish language department regularly monitor schools. 'The ministry treats Kurdish seriously and evaluates students based on their level,' he said, denying that Kurdish is treated as a supplemental subject like art or physical education. Meanwhile, officials in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) say they are not responsible for enforcing Kurdish curriculum standards outside the Region. 'The teaching of Kurdish in Arabic schools is a federal matter,' said Saman Soaily, a spokesperson for the KRG Ministry of Education. 'While there is coordination between the two ministries, implementation depends on Baghdad.' A Legal and Political Void For lawmakers, the failure to institutionalize Kurdish in the national curriculum stems from a lack of legislative backing. 'There is no law requiring the enforcement of Kurdish language rights in education,' said MP Zlikha Elias, a member of Parliament's Education Committee. A former school principal, Elias recalled having to rely on administrative staff — or even school clerks — to cover Kurdish lessons due to the absence of trained educators. 'In many areas, one Kurdish teacher is assigned to three schools,' she said. Without a legal framework or clear accountability, Kurdish instruction has been reduced to improvisation, undermining the spirit of Iraq's post-2003 constitutional reforms. 'This sends a dangerous message to students — that the language of millions of Iraqis can be ignored without consequence,' Elias warned. Some parents are turning to private schools that offer Kurdish instruction alongside English and French, seeing them as the only way to preserve cultural and linguistic inclusion in their children's education.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Iraqi MP: Cabinet to discuss Kurdish pay crisis
Shafaq News – Baghdad The Iraqi Council of Ministers will address the salary crisis in the Kurdistan Region during its regular session on July 8, a lawmaker revealed on Tuesday. Sabah Sobhi, the MP from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), told Shafaq News that the salary and oil disputes in the Region are on track to be resolved soon following a series of meetings between Baghdad and Erbil. He pointed out that the crisis has persisted since the amendment of Article 12 in the Federal Budget Law, adding, 'We hope the federal government will resolve the issue through legal and constitutional channels outlined in Articles 11 and 12.' On Monday, a delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) arrived in Baghdad—the second visit in two weeks—as part of ongoing efforts to reach an agreement with the Iraqi government, delivering the Region's formal response to the latest federal proposals.
