Folks head in the direction of their houses within the Shijaiyah neighborhood, Gaza Metropolis, on January 28, 2025. Displaced Palestinians return following a ceasefire, discovering their neighborhoods in ruins.
Youssef Alzanoun/AFP by way of Getty
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Youssef Alzanoun/AFP by way of Getty
TEL AVIV, Israel — Egypt introduced Sunday it might host a summit of Arab leaders later within the month, amid alarm within the area over President Trump’s proposals concerning the way forward for Gaza.
A press release by the Egyptian overseas ministry says the summit is being known as in response to a Palestinian request.
It stated the leaders will collect on Feb. 27 to debate “the brand new and harmful developments within the Palestinian problem.”
Additionally Sunday, Israeli forces started withdrawing from the Netzarim hall in Gaza, within the newest stage of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
The Netzarim hall is a 4 mile strip of land bisecting northern and southern Gaza that Israel fortified through the conflict, utilizing it as a army zone. Final month, as a part of the ceasefire deal, Israel began permitting Palestinians to cross the Netzarim hall and return to their houses within the North.
The withdrawal is a part of the six week first section of the ceasefire, wherein Hamas is steadily releasing 33 Israeli hostages in trade for a whole bunch of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, whereas permitting support to Gaza.
Within the subsequent stage of the ceasefire, all remaining dwelling hostages could be launched in return for an entire Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and “sustainable calm.”
However negotiations are ongoing on the small print. Israel desires Hamas’ army and political capabilities eradicated, whereas Hamas desires all Israeli troops faraway from Gaza.
Egypt’s announcement of a summit comes lower than every week after many Arab states rejected Trump’s latest feedback about relocating Gaza’s residents and making a “Riviera of the Center East” there, as have Palestinian leaders.
Trump made the proposal Tuesday when he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington D.C. Talking to reporters on the White Home Friday, Trump stated he considered the proposal as “an actual property transaction, the place we’ll be an investor in that a part of the world.” He added that he was in “no rush to do something.”
A number of nations additionally condemned a suggestion by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — that Saudi Arabia has sufficient land for a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu gave the impression to be joking in response to a slip by an Israeli TV interviewer, however his phrases reverberated by way of the area at a time when tensions are working excessive.
Additionally on Sunday, there have been emotional scenes in Bangkok airport, as 5 Thai employees who had been launched after being held hostage for over a yr in Gaza arrived again house.
“We’re all very grateful and really joyful that we get to return to our homeland. All of us would like to thanks. I do not know what else to say,” one of many Thai hostages, Pongsak Thaenna, informed a information convention on the airport.
The conflict in Gaza, sparked by Hamas’ assault that killed 1,200 folks and noticed 250 taken hostage, has killed greater than 47,000 Palestinians in response to native well being authorities.
In latest days, violence within the West Financial institution has intensified. On Sunday morning, the Palestinian Well being Ministry stated a 23-year-old Palestinian lady, who was eight months pregnant, was fatally shot by Israeli gunfire within the Nur Shams city refugee camp in northern occupied West Financial institution. The Israeli army stated in a press release that it’s investigating the incident.
