This is Beirut

Egypt's Sisi Tells Trump the World is 'Counting on' Him for Middle East Peace

This is Beirut, 01/02 18:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States Gaza Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Egypt

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told his US counterpart, Donald Trump, on Saturday that the world was relying on him 'to reach a permanent and historic peace agreement' to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Saturday's phone call marked the first between the two leaders since Trump repeatedly floated a plan to relocate Palestinians from ...

Five Arab Foreign Ministers Reject Forced Displacement of Palestinians

This is Beirut, 01/02 15:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Egypt Jordan United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia Qatar Gaza

Top diplomats from Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar rejected any forcible displacement of Palestinians during a meeting in Cairo on Saturday, according to a joint statement. The meeting came after US President Donald Trump floated an idea to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt and Jordan. The foreign ...

Gaza: 50 Patients Left Through Rafah Crossing to Egypt

This is Beirut, 01/02 14:42 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Gaza Israel Hamas Rafah Crossing Rafah

The health ministry in Gaza said 50 Palestinian patients went through the Rafah crossing to Egypt on Saturday, as the key gateway reopened as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel. Egyptian state-linked channel Al-Qahera News showed footage of the first of 50 evacuees and 53 companions, including a child with an autoimmune disease, crossing the ...

Three Buses of Freed Palestinians Arrive in Gaza's Khan Younes

This is Beirut, 01/02 14:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Gaza Israel Hamas

Three buses carrying Palestinian prisoners released by Israel as part of a ceasefire deal arrived in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younes on Saturday, an AFP correspondent reported. The prisoners, many wearing gray prison uniforms, were greeted by hundreds of Gazans who gathered around the buses as they approached the city's European ...

Israel to Release 183 Prisoners on Saturday, Doubling Previous Figure

This is Beirut, 31/01 22:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Gaza Hamas Hostages

Israel is set to release 183 prisoners on Saturday in the fourth hostage-prisoner exchange under the Gaza ceasefire deal, a Palestinian advocacy group said, more than doubling the previous reported figure. "The updated number of prisoners to be released tomorrow is 183," said Palestinian Prisoners' Club spokeswoman Amani Sarahneh on Friday, after ...

Who is Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Envoy to the Middle East

Sana Richa Choucair, 31/01 17:46 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Middle East Steve Witkoff Gaza

Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday to discuss the implementation of the hostage release agreement and ceasefire. Trump appointed the 67-year-old New Yorker to this role last November. Choosing a trusted businessman, specifically a major real estate investor ...

Gaza: Rafah Crossing to Reopen on Saturday

This is Beirut, 31/01 16:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gaza Rafah Hamas Israel

Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt is to reopen Saturday following a fourth exchange of hostages and prisoners under a truce agreement, a Hamas official and a source with knowledge of discussions told AFP. The Rafah crossing was a vital entry point for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza before the Israeli military seized the Palestinian side of ...

Eight Hostages Freed in Gaza as Israel Releases 110 Palestinian Prisoners

This is Beirut, 30/01 20:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Hostages Israel Hamas Gaza

Three Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals were released on Thursday in Gaza in exchange for 110 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a process marked by scenes of chaos during the release of captives in the Palestinian territory. This exchange is the third under the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, brokered by international ...

Araghchi Met Hamas Leaders in Qatar, Discussed the Reconstruction of Gaza

This is Beirut, 30/01 19:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iran Gaza Hamas Abbas Araghchi

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Hamas leaders and discussed the reconstruction of Gaza during a visit to Qatar on Thursday, according to the Palestinian militant group, whose political office is in Doha. Senior leaders of Iran-backed Hamas attended the talks, including Shura advisory council leader Mohammed Darwish and chief negotiator ...

EU Pledges 3 Billion Euros for Jordan in New 'Strategic' Partnership

This is Beirut, 29/01 18:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gaza Hamas Donald Trump Jordan USA

The European Union on Wednesday promised 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion) of financing and investments for Jordan as part of a new "strategic" partnership with the key Middle East ally. "With the current geopolitical shifts and growing crises in the region, strengthening the EU-Jordan partnership is the right decision at the right time," European ...

Qatar Reaffirms Two-state Solution Following Trump Call to Move Gazans

This is Beirut, 28/01 13:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Hamas Israel Palestine Gaza

Qatar reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump repeated his call to move Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt or Jordan. Foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari did not reveal details of conversations with US officials, but said Qatar often didn't see "eye to eye" with its allies. "Our position has ...

Hamas to Free Four Israeli Female Soldiers on Saturday

This is Beirut, 24/01 21:14 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Israel Hamas Gaza war

Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, has confirmed plans to release four Israeli female soldiers on Saturday, as part of the ongoing Gaza ceasefire agreement. The announcement came on Friday, with Israel quickly acknowledging the names of the hostages, all of whom are aged 19 to 20. The four women are identified as Karina Ariev, ...

Gaza