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☆ Analyst: Israel’s costly misunderstanding of Hamas’ true aims
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +32 min

Bergen: How does Hamas impact the more secular Palestinian Authority, which controlled Gaza until 2007 before Hamas violently pushed them aside? They don’t have any other aims like Hamas because Hamas is a religious, social, political movement and terror organization at the same time. Yousef Masoud/The New York Times/Redux Smoke rises after Israeli strikes on the seaport of Gaza City on Tuesday, October 10. Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times/Redux Palestinians walk amid the rubble following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 10. Erik Marmor/AP Six-month-old Sama Alwadia is rescued from the rubble in Gaza City on October 9.

Persons: Peter Bergen, ”, CNN — Kobi Michael, Michael, Kobi Michael, Mohammed Deif, Marwan Issa, He’s, he’s, Deif, Israel, They’ve, Israel doesn’t, It’ll, Hatem Ali, Antonio Macías, Macías, Francisco Seco, Fatima Shbair, Mohammed Saber, Eli Albag, Liri, Mohammed Talatene, Sergey Ponomarev, Violeta Santos Moura, Dor Kedmi, Mahmud Hams, Saher, Hatem Moussa, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Yuri Cortez, Yousef Masoud, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Jack Guez, Khan, Abed Rahim Khatib, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Abed Zagout, Tamir Kalifa, Agha, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, Mohammed Salem, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Mohammed Abed, Eden Guez, Atef Safadi, Ohad, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Belal Khaled, Samar Abu, Amir Cohen, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Ali Jadallah, Oren Ziv, Ronen Zvulun, Majdi, Ilia Yefimovich, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Alleruzzo, Tali Touito, Jalaa Marey, Oded, Khan Younis, Ahmad Hasballah, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Tsafrir, Ahmad Gharabli, Mustafa Hassona, Ilan Rosenberg, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Yasser Arafat’s, David, Bill Clinton Organizations: New, Arizona State University, Apple, Spotify, CNN, Peter Bergen CNN, Tel, for National Security Studies, Palestinian, National Security Council, Ministry of Strategic Affairs, Hamas, Qassam, Israel, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, PLO, Israel Defense Forces, Gaza, Haim, AP, New York Times, Reuters, Getty, Aris Messinis, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Nova, Anadolu Agency, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, Shifa, Rockets, Israel's, United Nations, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, US Locations: New America, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, Tel Aviv, Bergen, Iran, Qatar, Egypt, You’re, Palestinian, Jihad, Hamas, Gaza City, Rafah, Kfar Saba, Al, Israeli, Be'eri, Rehovot, AFP, Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, Kibbutz Be'eri, Sderot, Khan Younis, Modiin Maccabim, Kfar Aza, Ashkelon, Mount Herzel, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Yassin, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Kiryat Shmona, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion, Samaria, Saudi Arabia, United States of America

☆ Middle East analysts dispute accusations that Netanyahu 'propped Hamas up'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Middle East analysts have disputed suggestions that Netanyahu helped "prop up" Hamas. Netanyahu's policy toward Hamas was "a seasonal mowing of the grass rather than scorched earth." AdvertisementAdvertisementMiddle East analysts have disputed charges that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "propped up" Palestinian militant group Hamas. A Times of Israel opinion column by political correspondent Tal Schneider argued that Netanyahu "propped up" Hamas for years. "Most of the time, Israeli policy was to treat the Palestinian Authority as a burden and Hamas as an asset."

Persons: Netanyahu, —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Tal Schneider, Israel's, Israel, Dmitry Shumsky, Laura Blumenfeld, Jonathan Spyer, Spyer, Blumenfeld, Yohanan, Plesner, Netanyahu's, Hatem Ali Organizations: Service, Hamas, Palestinian Authority, Johns Hopkins University, Middle, The Times, West Bank, Israel Democracy Institute, Wall Street, Kfar, Likud Locations: Israel, Laura Blumenfeld , Middle East, Palestinian, Gaza, Tehran, Syria, Lebanon, Jerusalem, Kfar Azza

☆ Egypt pushes to break impasse over Gaza aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Aid from several countries has been building up in Egypt's Sinai peninsula due to a failure to reach a deal enabling its safe delivery to Gaza along with evacuations of some foreign passport holders through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. Israeli bombardments on the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing into Egypt, the main crossing out of Gaza not controlled by Israel, have disrupted operations there. There is alarm in Egypt over the prospect that residents in Gaza could be displaced by Israel's siege and bombardment. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told CNN on Saturday that the Rafah crossing was open but the roads leading to it in Gaza were "inoperable" due to Israeli bombardment. He said that if foreign nationals were able to cross the border Egypt would facilitate their departure to their home countries.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Sameh Shoukry, Mohamed Waly, Omar Abdel Razek, Yusri Mohamed, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Adam Makary, Nafisa Eltahir, Aidan Lewis, Louise Heavens, Hugh Lawson, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Hamas, U.S, CNN, United, United Arab, World Health Organization, Thomson Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, ., CAIRO, Egypt, Egypt's, United States, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Tunisia, Sinai's Al Arish

☆ Hamas critique removed from Palestinians' Abbas comments on Israel attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2023. The comments, published by WAFA on its website, came during a phone call between Abbas and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Abbas' Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He has long been opposed to Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in 2007 and ousted Fatah party forces loyal to Abbas. Abbas also heads the PLO, the umbrella group that represented the Palestinians in past U.S.-sponsored peace talks with Israel.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Brendan McDermid, WAFA, Abbas, Nicolas Maduro, Fatah, Rami Ayyub, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Deepa Babington, Lisa Shumaker, Sonali Paul Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, Palestinian, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, Hamas, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Gaza, Israel

On Monday, rocket-warning sirens sounded in several towns in southern Israel, the Israeli military said. Authorities in Gaza said at least 2,750 people had so far been killed by the Israeli strikes, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement: "There is currently no truce and humanitarian aid in Gaza in exchange for getting foreigners out." Hamas has told people to ignore Israel's message and residents fear Israeli air strikes in southern Gaza too. In southern Gaza, five members a family were killed in Khan Younis refugee camp.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Izzat El Reshiq, Sameh Shoukry, Lisi Niesner, Joe Biden, Gazans, Khan, Suhail Baker, Baker, Abu Ahmed, Antony Blinken, Issam Abdallah, Nidal al, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Nandita Bose, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Michelle Nichols, Angus MacSwan, Miral Fahmy, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Hamas, Authorities, Reuters, United, Palestinian, REUTERS, Washington, U.S, Ambulance Service, United Nations, ISRAEL U.S, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, CAIRO, Gaza, Hamas, Egypt, Rafah, United States, U.S, Lebanon, Al, Quds, Gaza City, Khan Younis, BLINKEN, ISRAEL, Iran, American, Iranian, Jerusalem, Dubai, Razek, Cairo, Washington

☆ Gaza Border Crossing Set to Reopen as Israeli Troops Prepare Ground Assault
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

NBC News, citing a Palestinian official, reported the Rafah border crossing would open at 9 a.m. on Monday. U.S. government officials say they are mobilizing to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, anticipating a brutal ground offensive. Washington is also focused on avoiding a spillover of the conflict, especially with clashes with Lebanon escalating on Israel's border. Israel's military, which has massed tanks on Gaza's border in preparation for a ground offensive, says it is targeting Hamas and its infrastructure in response. Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told soldiers near the Gaza border they would be entering Gaza to root out Hamas, targeting "every place, every commander, every operator."

Persons: Humeyra Pamuk, Nandita Bose, Nidal, Antony Blinken, Abdel Fattah al, Blinken, David Satterfield, Gazans, Joe Biden, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Bejamin Netanyahu, Israel's, General Herzi Halevi, Halevi, Netanyahu, Biden, Philippe Lazzarini, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Michelle Nichols, Simon Lewis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Mughrabi, Gaza, United Nations, Veteran U.S, NBC, Palestinian, ABC News, Reuters, Authorities, United, State Department, Saturday, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, UN, UNRWA Locations: Mughrabi CAIRO, WASHINGTON, GAZA, Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Egypt, Middle East, U.S, Washington, Lebanon, Iran, Tehran, United States, France, Canada, Hamas, Al, Quds, Razek, Cairo, Jerusalem, Dubai

☆ President Abbas says Hamas' actions do not represent Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Acquire Licensing RightsOct 15 (Reuters) - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the actions and policies of Islamist group Hamas do not represent Palestinian people, according to official news agency WAFA. In a phone call with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Abbas also called the Palestine Liberation Organization the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people," WAFA said. "The president affirmed his rejection of the killing of civilians on both sides and called for the release of civilians, prisoners and detainees on both sides," added the news agency. Reporting by Hatem Maher and Ahmed Tolba; Editing by Deepa Babington and Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Brendan McDermid, Nicolas Maduro, Abbas, WAFA, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Deepa Babington, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, Palestinian, WAFA, Venezuelan, Palestine Liberation Organization, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Palestine

☆ Palestinian President Abbas to meet Blinken on Friday, Palestinian official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/file Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 12 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday, a Palestinian official said early on Thursday. Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, also said on messaging platform X that Abbas will meet with Jordan's King Abdullah in Amman on Thursday. Reporting by Hatem Maher; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Brendan McDermid, Antony Blinken, Hussein Al, Sheikh, Abbas, Jordan's King Abdullah, Hatem Maher, Kim Coghill Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, U.S, Palestine Liberation Organization, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Amman

☆ Benzema tempted by Saudi Arabia's 'huge' football project
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO:Saudi Arabian soccer team Al Ittihad player Karim Benzema arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in this handout photo obtained by Reuters June 7, 2023. "When the football project started here, it seemed like a huge project in all respects, and I wanted to be a part of it and help advance the game in Saudi Arabia, and this is one of the reasons that made me come here," Benzema said in an interview with the Saudi Pro League, posted on messaging platform X. "Also, Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country and they welcomed me with open hands, and I felt loved immediately. I am really surprised by the level in Saudi Arabia because in Europe we don't watch a lot of football matches here," the 35-year-old added. "But now there are lots of people (in Europe) who are watching the Saudi league after many big names were brought in."

Persons: Karim Benzema, Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Fabinho, Jota, Ittihad, Al, Ahmed El Khashab, Hatem Maher, Ed Osmond Organizations: Saudi Arabian soccer, Al, Reuters, REUTERS, Real Madrid, Saudi Pro League, Real, Saudi, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Al Ittihad, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Handout, Al, Ittihad, Mecca, Europe, Hilal

The Long Wait for Help as Massacres Unfolded in Israel It took most of a day for Israeli soldiers to arrive as people tried to hide from Hamas terrorists on Saturday. Around 6:30 a.m. A group of students in Nir Oz went into shelters. 6:31 a.m. Israeli response The Israeli military’s response to the rockets was immediate, but it said nothing of a ground invasion. 7:40 a.m. Israeli response The Israeli military reported that Hamas militants had crossed the border and urged civilians to stay in their homes. 2 hours after attacks began 8:23 a.m. Israeli response Israel declared a state of alert for war.

Persons: Nir Oz, ”, “, ” Amit Man, texted, paragliders, concertgoers, Shirley Okev, Sarit Kurtzman, Yonatan Kurtzman, Arie Itzik, Itzik, Almog, ” Amit Man texted, festivalgoer Noa Kalash, Maor Benezri, Sahar, Sahar Kalderon, Erez, “ They’re, Yarden, WhatsApp, Shiri, Bibas, —, Hatem Ali, Yoav Gallant, Israel, Lahav, “ I’m, ” Vivian Silver, Yonatan Zeigen, Benjamin Netanyahu, Man, “ It’s, Tsafrir, ” “, Irit Lahav, Nir, Lotus Lahav, Lahav’s, Mika Atiia, Kfar, Okev, Azza, Nova Festival ISRAEL Nir Oz, It’s, I’m, ” Mr Organizations: Kfar, Attackers, Kfar Azza Residents, Commandos, Hamas, Ben, Gurion University, Palestinian, Israel’s, The New York Times, Nova Festival ISRAEL Locations: Israel, Gaza, Kfar Azza, Alumim, Sderot Be’eri, Sderot, Gaya, Nahal Oz, Kalderon, Be’eri, Israeli, Azza Nahal, GAZA, ISRAEL, EGYPT, Nova

☆ Chicago Sees Gatherings in Support of Palestinians, Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Hatem Abudayyeh, national chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network and a spokesman for the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine, said elected officials’ condemnations of Palestinians were “not acceptable. The reason for this escalation is decades of Israeli crimes--decades of home demolitions, of stealing of land, of killing of Palestinian people in their home and in the streets.” He said that about 2,000 people rallied outside the Israeli consulate in Chicago this weekend and that many Palestinians in Chicago have relatives in Israel. “And so there is a lot of fear. And then of course also to just mourn the loss.” He said that “while the Palestinian-Israeli situation is complex, there is no complexity to what happened this weekend. Terrorist actors committed the most heinous atrocities on innocent civilians Israel has ever seen.”

Persons: Hatem Abudayyeh, Lonnie Nasatir, “, ”, Israel Organizations: U.S . Palestinian Community Network, Chicago Coalition for Justice, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Locations: U.S, Palestine, Chicago, Israel, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, Glencoe, America, Palestinian

☆ A woman said her 85-year-old Israeli grandmother was whisked away by Hamas on a buggy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Photos published by the AP show an elderly woman driven in a buggy by gun-toting militants. Dozens of people were taken hostage by Hamas on Saturday in a wave of surprise attacks. AdvertisementAdvertisementA woman has been asking social media for information after seeing a photo of her 85-year-old grandmother being driven away by Hamas fighters. The photos show an elderly woman wrapped in floral garb sitting in the vehicle, as a militant behind her totes a rifle. US State Secretary Antony Blinken said on Sunday that the US is working to verify reports of Americans being among those killed or taken hostage by Hamas.

Persons: —, Adva Adar, Yaffa, Hatem Ali, Adar, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken Organizations: AP, Service, Hamas, Facebook, Associated Press, Times, Reuters Locations: Israeli, Kfar, Gaza, Times of Israel, Israel, Syria, Lebanon

☆ Hamas official says group is open to discussions over truce with Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Oct 9 (Reuters) - A senior Hamas official said the group is open to discussions over a possible truce with Israel, having "achieved its targets." Moussa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera in a phone interview that Hamas was open to "something of that sort" and "all political dialogues" when asked whether the Islamist group is willing to discuss a possible ceasefire. Reporting by Hatem Maher Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Moussa Abu Marzouk, Al Jazeera, Hatem Maher, Chris Reese Organizations: Hamas, Thomson Locations: Israel

☆ Saudi Arabia, other Arab states reaffirm commitment to voluntary oil production adjustments
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The OPEC logo pictured ahead of an informal meeting between members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Algiers, Algeria, September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 8 (Reuters) - Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reaffirmed their commitment to "collective and individual voluntary adjustments" to oil production, the Saudi state news agency said on Sunday. The oil ministers of the six countries met on the sidelines of the U.N. MENA climate week event in Riyadh on Sunday. OPEC+ agreed in June to extend voluntary oil cuts first introduced in April until the end of 2024. Additional voluntary cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia extend to the end of 2023 and are subject to monthly review.

Persons: Ramzi Boudina, Hatem Maher, Ros Russell Organizations: Organization of, Petroleum, REUTERS, United, Emirates, Cooperation, Thomson Locations: Algiers, Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Riyadh, OPEC, Russia

ATLANTA (AP) — Supporters of Israel and backers of the Palestinian cause rallied in American cities Sunday over the conflict that has killed hundreds and wounded thousands in the Middle East. Palestinian Americans planned to gather Sunday outside of the Israeli consulates in Atlanta and Chicago. “It really should be no surprise that this is happening.”Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was set to lead a Jewish community gathering in support of Israel at a synagogue in San Francisco. A pro-Palestinian march was planned for Times Square Sunday afternoon. Associated Press journalist Cedar Attanasio in New York, Jeff Amy in Atlanta and Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed to this report.

Persons: “, ”, Hatem Abudayyeh, Nancy Pelosi, Kathy Hochul, Joe Biden, ’, ___ Bleiberg, Cedar, Jeff Amy, Sophia Tareen Organizations: ATLANTA, —, Israel, U.S . Palestinian Community Network, Chicago Coalition for Justice, Times, Democratic, Columbia University, White, GOP, Associated Press Locations: East, Atlanta, Chicago, U.S, Palestine, Israel, San Francisco, New York City, Washington, Dallas, New York

☆ Women, children, and seniors believed to be among at least 100 Israeli hostages seized by Hamas and taken to Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementPhotos from AP show several hostages being taken to the Gaza Strip. An Israeli woman posted on social media with the photograph, saying it was her 85-year-old grandmother, per The Times of Israel. Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian, center, from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. AdvertisementAdvertisementPalestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The Hamas-run health ministry in the Gaza Strip said 232 Palestinians were killed and another 1,697 were wounded as of Saturday afternoon.

Persons: —, Tzipi Hotovely, I've, Hatem Ali, partygoers, Col Jonathan Conricus, Abu Obaida, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Sky News, Kibbutz Kfar, Telegraph, AP, Kfar, CNN, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, Israeli, Kibbutz, Kibbutz Kfar Azza, Re'im, Kfar Azza

☆ UAE calls Hamas attacks on Israel a 'serious and grave escalation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The contrails of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel are seen from Sderot, southern Israel October 8, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun Acquire Licensing RightsOct 8 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates on Sunday described attacks carried out by Palestinian Islamist faction Hamas against Israeli towns as a "serious and grave escalation." The UAE foreign ministry in a statement also said it was "appalled" by reports Israeli civilians were taken as hostages from their homes. The UAE became the first Gulf country to normalise relations with Israel in 2020, breaking with decades of Arab policy toward the Palestinian cause. Reporting by Hatem Maher; Editing by Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ronen, Hatem Maher, Mark Porter Organizations: REUTERS, United, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Sderot, United Arab, UAE

☆ Hamas leader Haniyeh says Israel can't provide protection for Arab countries
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Palestinian group Hamas' top leader, Ismail Haniyeh meets with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (not pictured), in Tehran, Iran June 21, 2023. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 7 (Reuters) - Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, told fellow Arab countries on Saturday that Israel cannot provide them with any protection despite recent diplomatic rapprochements. In a televised speech, Haniyeh addressed the Arab countries that have normalised ties with Israel in recent years. "We say to all countries, including our Arab brothers, that this entity, which cannot protect itself in the face of resistors, cannot provide you with any protection," he said. Haniyeh also said armed Palestinian factions intend to expand the ongoing battle in Gaza to the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Benjamin Netanyahu, Haniyeh, Israel, Hatem Maher, Nidal, Nick Macfie Organizations: Hamas, Iran's, Iranian, West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Israel, normalisation, United Arab, Regional, West Bank, Jerusalem, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, Palestinian, Israel, Gaza, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Saudi Arabia

☆ Huge fire erupts at police premises in Egypt's Ismailia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

CAIRO, Oct 2 (Reuters) - A huge fire erupted at a police facility in the Egyptian Suez Canal city of Ismailia early Monday, according to witnesses and local media. Unverified videos posted on social media showed the city's security directorate engulfed in flames. Two witnesses told Reuters fire engines were sent to the scene but appeared to be struggling to contain the blaze. The cause for the blaze was not immediately known. Reporting by Hatem Maher and Yusri Mohamed; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hatem Maher, Yusri Mohamed, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: Local, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Egyptian Suez Canal, Ismailia

☆ Saudi Arabia forecasts slower growth, budget deficit this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has lowered its growth forecast and expects to post a budget deficit this year rather than an earlier projected surplus, a preliminary budget statement showed on Saturday. The document projected a budget deficit of 2% of GDP, compared with an earlier projection for a 0.4% surplus. Total revenue is now expected to be 1.180 trillion riyals ($314.64 billion) and government spending is forecast to be 1.262 trillion riyals. An earlier projection put revenue this year at 1.130 trillion riyals and spending at 1.114 trillion riyals. Saudi Arabia has sharply cut its oil production for what the world’s largest oil exporter says is meant to stabilise the oil market.

Persons: Enas Alashray, Hatem Maher, Alexander Cornwell, Leslie Adler Organizations: Real, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ Egypt says IMF agrees to merge first two reviews of reform program
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Egypt said it had agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to merge the fund's first and second reviews of its economic reform programme, after the first review was repeatedly delayed amid questions over Egypt's progress in meeting the IMF's terms. The IMF in December approved a $3 billion Extended Fund Facility loan for Egypt, which has been under acute financial pressure since long-standing problems were exposed by economic fallout from the war in Ukraine. Disbursements under the 46-month program are subject to eight reviews, the first of which, originally scheduled to take place in March, has yet to happen amid reports the IMF was unhappy with Egypt's progress in fulfilling the terms of the agreement. It added that negotiations with the IMF were proceeding "fruitfully and positively" in accordance with the terms of the program concluded with the Fund. In June, Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appeared to rule out a further devaluation anytime soon, saying such a move could harm national security and hurt Egyptian citizens.

Persons: Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Hatem Maher, David Holmes Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, Egypt, Fund, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Ukraine, Disbursements

☆ Libya Says Four Members of Greek Rescue Team Killed in Road Accident
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO (Reuters) - Four members of a Greek rescue team en route to the flood-ravaged city of Derna and three members of a Libyan family were killed in a road accident on Sunday, the health minister for the Libyan eastern government said. Fifteen of the Greek rescue team were injured, including seven in a critical condition, Othman Abduljaleel told a televised news conference. Two of the Libyan family were also critical, he said. The Greek foreign ministry was not immediately available to comment on Abduljaleel's statement regarding the killing of four Greeks. According to a diplomatic source, the Greek rescue team had 16 members plus three interpreters.

Persons: Othman Abduljaleel, Hatem Maher, Muhammad Al Gebaly, Karolina Tagaris, Christina Fincher, Conor Humphries Organizations: Greek Armed Forces Locations: CAIRO, Derna, Libyan, Benghazi

☆ Libya says four members of Greek rescue team killed in road accident
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Four members of a Greek rescue team en route to the flood-ravaged city of Derna and three members of a Libyan family were killed in a road accident on Sunday, the health minister for the Libyan eastern government said. Fifteen of the Greek rescue team were injured, including seven in a critical condition, Othman Abduljaleel told a televised news conference. Two of the Libyan family were also critical, he said. The Greek foreign ministry was not immediately available to comment on Abduljaleel's statement regarding the killing of four Greeks. According to a diplomatic source, the Greek rescue team had 16 members plus three interpreters.

Persons: Othman Abduljaleel, Hatem Maher, Muhammad Al Gebaly, Karolina Tagaris, Christina Fincher, Conor Humphries Organizations: Greek Armed Forces, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Derna, Libyan, Benghazi

“We felt a huge shake like it was doomsday,” Moulay Brahim resident Ayoub Toudite said. “Ten seconds and everything was gone.”Flags were lowered across Morocco, as King Mohammed VI ordered three days of national mourning starting Sunday. People in Moulay Brahim, a poor rural community of less than 3,000 people, live in homes made of clay brick and cinder block. I was saved by my neighbors who cleared the rubble with their bare hands," said Fatna Bechar in Moulay Brahim. “This is the first time I experienced an earthquake," British tourist Grahame Stuart said in Moulay Brahim.

Persons: “, Ayoub Toudite, King Mohammed VI, —, Al Haouz, Fatna, ” Hamid Idsalah, Grahame Stuart, Mohamed Messi, Al Hoceima, Angela Charlton, Ahmed Hatem, Brian Melley Organizations: —, ”, Aid, Moroccan, UNESCO, Police, Geological Survey, Portuguese Institute for, Civil Defense, Associated Press Locations: MARRAKECH, Morocco, — Morocco, Marrakech, Mountain, Ighil, Al Haouz Province, Al, Moulay Brahim, Turkey, Moulay, ”, U.S, Moroccan, Agadir, Portugal, Algeria, Paris, Cairo, London

☆ Emirati company buys 30% stake in Egypt tobacco firm Eastern Co.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The sale will reduce Chemical Industries' stake to 20.95%, giving impetus to Egypt's floundering privatisation programme. Global Investment will provide $150 million to buy the tobacco necessary for production as part of the agreement. The deal "is an affirmation of the government's determination to ... encourage direct private investment in various sectors," the cabinet statement said. Egypt's government sold 4.5% of Eastern Co. on the stock exchange in 2019, leaving the holding company with a majority stake. Egypt desperately needs foreign currency after the COVID pandemic and Ukraine crisis exposed vulnerabilities in its economy.

Persons: Mostafa Madbouly, Momen Saeed Atallah, Adam Makary, Hatem Maher, Patrick Werr, Ros Russell Organizations: Global Investment Holding, Eastern Co, Holding Company, Chemical Industries, Global Investment, International Monetary, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Eastern, Egypt, Ukraine

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