English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For October 14/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you
will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint
John 16/20-24/:”Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world
will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman
is in labour, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is
born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a
human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and
your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day
you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the
Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for
anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be
complete.”
Titles For The Latest English
LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October
13-14/2025
Honoring the Martyrs of October 13, 1990: Michel Aoun’s Betrayal of Their
Sacrifice and Lebanon, as He Succumbs to the Illusions of Power and Wealth/Elias
Bejjani/October 13/2025
Thanksgiving Day: Obligations, Prayers & Gratitude/Elias Bejjani/October 13,
2025
Israel is answering your debauchery, bragging and macho posturing/Elias Bejjani/October
11/2025
He Who Rolls a Stone Will Have It Roll Back on Him/Elias Bejjani/October 10/2025
The official Lebanon is meeting the winds of peace... Trump: I support Aoun in
his mission to disarm "Hezbollah"
October 13: The Soldiers Stood Firm, and the Commander Failed Them/Jean Al-Faghali/Nidaa
Al-Watan/October 13/2025
Lebanon's president says negotiating with Israel is 'necessary'/Dalal Saoud/United
Press International/October 13, 2025
Trump says Aoun 'doing very well' in disarming Hezbollah
Aoun says 'necessary to negotiate' with Israel
Lebanese president calls for regional reconciliation, calls on Israel to halt
military aggression
Hezbollah MP lauds Salam decision to file UN complaint against Israel
Report: Destroyed Msayleh vehicles were to be used for repairing infrastructure
in 38 towns
Salam condemns Israeli threats to engineer advocating for south reconstruction
Berri calls for reconstruction, unity, and US pressure on Israel after spat with
Salam
Reports: Syrian minister in Beirut Tuesday prior to Syrian prisoners' handover
Tannourine water bottles pulled from market over bacteria contamination
Lindsey Graham: Lebanon must disarm Hezbollah to secure lasting regional peace
Gaza peace summit leaves Lebanon on the sidelines: Can Beirut balance pragmatism
and security?
Lives on the line: Migration by sea from Lebanon sees sharp decline
The Generations of the Sayyed and the Generations of the General/Imad Moussa/Nidaa
Al Watan/October 14, 2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on October
13-14/2025
Trump leaves Egypt after Gaza summit: AFP
Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye sign Gaza ceasefire declaration with Trump
Egyptian president: Trump’s Middle East proposal ‘last chance’ for peace
Egypt's Sisi says Gaza deal 'opens new era of peace and stability' for Middle
East
Trump declares ‘historic dawn’ for Middle East, thanks Arab nations for
ceasefire help
Palestinians freed from Israeli jails return to loved ones
Four Gaza hostage bodies brought into Israel: army
Trump meets Palestinian president Abbas at Egypt summit
Hamas kills 32 ‘gang’ members in Gaza City
UK quietly hosts talks on Gaza reconstruction
Gaza deal brings hope for Ukraine: Zelensky
Zelensky to visit Washington seeking long-range weapons
EU says Russia ‘gambling with war’ with airspace violations
Trump plan to invite Netanyahu to Gaza summit aborted after Erdoğan warning
AMCD Endorses Strong Objection to the Invitation of Former Iranian Foreign
Minister to Yale Seminar
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources
on October
13-14/2025
The EU Is Enabling Religious Persecution in Pakistan/Uzay Bulut/Gatestone
Institute/October 13/2025
The days of Trump/Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al-Awsat./October 13, 2025
Saudi Policy Two Years After the 'Al-Aqsa Flood'/Hassan Al Mustafa/Asharq Al-Awsat/October
13/2025
After Gaza’s Deal, A Momentum in the Region for More Peace Stability in Syria,
Lebanon/Seth J. Frantzman/This is Beirut/October 13/2025
Is the global economy as resilient as it seems?/Eswar Prasad and Caroline
Smiltneks/Arab News/October 13, 2025
The path from ceasefire to permanent peace/Chris Doyle/Arab News/October 13,
2025
Selected English Tweets from X Platform For 13 October/2025
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October
13-14/2025
“Honoring the Martyrs of October 13,
1990: Michel Aoun’s Betrayal of Their Sacrifice and Lebanon, as He Succumbs to
the Illusions of Power and Wealth”
Elias Bejjani/October 13/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/112651/
For our fallen heroes who sacrificed themselves at
the altar of Lebanon on October 13, 1990, we offer our prayers and renew our
pledge to live with our heads held high, so that Lebanon remains a homeland of
dignity and pride, a beacon of truth, the cradle of civility, and a melting pot
of culture and civilizations.
From our deeply rooted history, we know without a shred of doubt that patriotic
and faithful Lebanese, with God on their side, wielding truth as their weapon
and faith as their fortress, shall never be defeated.
On October 13, 1990, the barbaric Syrian Army, along with treacherous local
mercenaries, launched a savage attack, occupying the Lebanese presidential
palace and invading the last remaining free regions of Lebanon. Hundreds of
Lebanese soldiers and innocent civilians were brutally murdered, their bodies
mutilated. Tens of soldiers, officers, clergymen, politicians, and citizens were
kidnapped, while a puppet regime, fully controlled by Syria’s intelligence
headquarters in Damascus, was installed.
Though the Syrian Army was forced to withdraw in 2005 following UNSC Resolution
1559, Lebanon has since been occupied by the Iranian proxy, Hezbollah. This
terrorist militia has crippled Lebanon, turning it into an Iranian battleground
and impeding the Lebanese people from reclaiming their independence, freedom,
and sovereignty. Hezbollah’s crimes, wars, and terror have dismantled Lebanon’s
institutions, public and private alike, while entrenching the country in poverty
and chaos.
We must never forget that on October 13, 1990, the Lebanese presidential palace
in Baabda and the free regions were desecrated by Syrian Baathist gangs, mafias,
militias, and mercenaries. Our valiant army soldiers were tortured and butchered
in Bsous, Aley, Kahale, and other bastions of resistance. Lebanon’s most
precious possession, its freedom, was raped in broad daylight while the world,
including the Arab nations, watched in silence.
Thanksgiving Day: Obligations,
Prayers & Gratitude
Elias Bejjani/October 13, 2025
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ
Jesus.”(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/67920/
Every year, on the second Monday of October, Canada celebrates Thanksgiving Day
— a blessed and joyful occasion deeply rooted in faith, gratitude, and humility.
It is a day when families and friends gather to thank Almighty God for the
countless blessings He has poured upon them — the gift of life, the fruits of
the earth, and the comfort of home and community.
Thanksgiving in Canada dates back hundreds of years, when early settlers and
Indigenous peoples celebrated the harvest season by offering gratitude to the
Creator for the abundance of food and the safety of their communities. Through
time, this practice became a national celebration of thankfulness, generosity,
and hope.
Let us never forget that we have a holy obligation to continuously and joyfully
thank Almighty God for His love, His mercy, and His everlasting grace. Gratitude
is not a passing emotion; it is a spiritual discipline that purifies the soul
and draws us closer to God. A thankful heart is a humble heart, one that
recognizes every blessing as a divine gift, not a personal achievement.
On this day, while we celebrate with family and friends, let us look around and
remember the millions of people across the world who live in deprivation and
hardship — those who are hungry, displaced, persecuted, or alone. To truly
appreciate what we have, we must first recognize how many are without.
Let us therefore pray with sincerity and reverence, thanking God for His
generosity, and let us combine faith with good deeds, prayer with compassion,
and gratitude with action. A true believer’s weapons against adversity are
faith, honesty, righteousness, prayer, and trust in the Lord.
Let us pray for ongoing peace and prosperity in our beloved Canada — the land
that welcomed us with open arms and provided us a home when we most needed it.
Let us also pray for peace, freedom, and justice in our original homeland,
Lebanon — the Land of the Holy Cedars — and for its persecuted and impoverished
people who continue to suffer and hope.
Let us pray for the souls of Lebanon’s martyrs who sacrificed their lives
defending their country’s dignity and independence. May their memory remain
eternal.
Let us pray that Jesus Christ may bless Lebanon with faithful clergy and brave,
righteous political leaders who fear God and act in accordance with His will.
Let us pray that all families may reunite in love, heal their wounds, and honor
their parents with respect and gratitude.
As we lift our prayers today, let us trust that Almighty God always listens and
responds — not always as we expect, but always in ways that fulfill His divine
purpose.
May this Thanksgiving renew in each of us a spirit of humility, compassion, and
generosity.
For when we thank God with sincere hearts, His blessings are renewed,
multiplied, and everlasting.
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be
lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to
their parents, ungrateful, unholy.”(2 Timothy 3:1-2)
Those who live without gratitude fall into spiritual darkness, but those who
give thanks live in light. Gratitude keeps our hearts alive, our faith strong,
and our lives filled with peace.
Happy Thanksgiving Day to all!
May the Lord bless Canada and Lebanon, and may He fill every heart with
thankfulness, peace, and love.
Selected Biblical Verses on Gratitude
“As long as you live and have breath, give thanks to the Lord and praise His
mercy.” (Sirach 17:27)
“We give God great thanks for saving us from great dangers.” (2 Maccabees 1:11)
“If you and your children are well and everything you wish is as you desire, I
give great thanks to God; my hope is in Heaven.” (2 Maccabees 9:20)
“Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the
Lord.” (Psalm 118:19)
“Before the angels I will sing your praise; I will bow down toward your holy
temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your
faithfulness.” (Psalm 138:1–2)
“Be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)
“We thank God without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
“I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience.” (2
Timothy 1:3)
“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20)
“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance
of His holy people in the kingdom of light.” (Colossians 1:12)
“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)
“I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being
reported all over the world.” (Romans 1:8)
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1
Corinthians 15:57)
“Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ and manifests
through us the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place.” (2 Corinthians
2:14)
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for
you.” (Colossians 1:3)
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2)
“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.”
(1 Thessalonians 1:2)
“I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3)
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ
Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so,
because your faith is growing more and more.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3)
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me
trustworthy, appointing me to His service.” (1 Timothy 1:12)
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that
we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy
2:1–2)
“Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be
to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 7:12)
“We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, because You have
taken Your great power and have begun to reign.” (Revelation 11:17)
This Is What Many Canadians Do On Thanksgiving Day?
Many people have a day off work on the second Monday of October. They often use
the three-day Thanksgiving weekend to visit family or friends who live far away,
or to receive them in their own homes. Many people also prepare a special meal
to eat at some point during the long weekend. Traditionally, this included roast
turkey and seasonal produce, such as pumpkin, corn ears and pecan nuts. Now, the
meal may consist of other foods, particularly if the family is of non-European
descent. The Thanksgiving weekend is also a popular
time to take a short autumn vacation. This may be the last chance in a while for
some people to use cottages or holiday homes before winter sets in. Other
popular activities include outdoor breaks to admire the spectacular colors of
the Canadian autumn, hiking, and fishing. Fans of the teams in the Canadian
Football League may spend part of the weekend watching the Thanksgiving Day
Classic matches.
Background
The native peoples held ceremonies and festivals to celebrate the completion and
bounty of the harvest long before European explorers and settlers arrived in
what is now Canada. Early European thanksgivings were held to give thanks for
some special fortune. An early example is the ceremony the explorer Martin
Frobisher held in 1578 after he had survived the long journey in his quest to
find a northern passage from Europe to Asia. Many thanksgivings were held
following noteworthy events during the 18th century. Refugees fleeing the civil
war in the United States brought the custom of an annual thanksgiving festival
to Canada. From 1879, Thanksgiving Day was held every year but the date varied
and there was a special theme each year. The theme was the “Blessings of an
abundant harvest” for many years. However, Queen Victoria’s golden and diamond
jubilees and King Edward VII’s coronation formed the theme in later years.
From the end of the First World War until 1930, both Armistice Day and
Thanksgiving Day were celebrated on the Monday closest to November 11, the
anniversary of the official end of hostilities in World War I. In 1931,
Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day and Thanksgiving Day was moved to a
Monday in October. Since 1957, Thanksgiving Day has always been held on the
second Monday in October.
Israel is answering your debauchery,
bragging and macho posturing
Elias Bejjani/October 11/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/148125/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXKbS6-ruv0
Nabih Berri’s weeping and lamentations;
Hezbollah’s and Jumblatt’s hollow condemnations; the demagogic narratives from
the brigade of advisers in the presidential Baabda Palace; and the
opportunistic, vomitous rhetoric of the merchants and liars who call themselves
the “resistance” and “liberation” — the cowards, charlatans and political flock
who preach anti-Israel hatred — have done nothing to slow or stop Israel’s
self-defense.
Wake up. Stop calling for drowning Israel in the sea, killing Jews, praying in
Jerusalem, or erecting a mullah-run republic in Lebanon. Your reckless,
preaching rhetoric will not save you — it will bury you. Accept the consequences
of your words and deeds, or be consumed by them.
Pack up your tin weapons, hand them over to the state, make peace with the State
of Israel, and apologize to the Lebanese people for your crimes, your
obscenities and your terrorism.
He Who Rolls a Stone Will Have It Roll Back on Him
Elias Bejjani/October 10/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/148087/
To my friends and my enemies alike, to those near and far, I say this with love:
Life offers only two paths — good and evil — each carrying profound spiritual,
human, and practical meanings. Every one of us must choose one of these two
roads and bear full responsibility for that choice, remembering with complete
awareness that no one, no matter how hard they try, can escape the consequences
of their deeds, whether good or evil. For the justice of God never fails.
If you are a righteous and wise person, who fears God in word and deed, and
believes in the Day of Judgment, then understand that evil brings nothing but
destruction to its doer. True wisdom lies in self-control and in avoiding harm,
cruelty, and injustice. For every word you speak and every act you commit will,
sooner or later, return upon you.
But if your heart has grown hard, your vision dimmed, your sense of shame
extinguished, your ears closed, and your conscience silenced — then remember
this: the pain and harm you sow in the lives of others will one day take root in
your own. Divine justice may seem delayed, but it never disappears.
The Holy Bible affirms this timeless truth in the Book of Proverbs (26:27):
“Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; and he who rolls a stone, it will roll
back on him.”
And our Lebanese folk wisdom echoes it beautifully:
“Surely, you will drink from the same cup you made others drink from.”
How many arrogant, foolish, short-sighted, and vindictive people ignore this
obvious truth! They conspire, plan evil, and rejoice in the suffering of others,
imagining that cruelty grants them power or prestige — yet, in the end, they
reap only ruin, emptiness, and the decay of their souls.
We all encounter such people in our daily lives — those who make harm their goal
and hatred their tool, who wound those closest to them, whether family or
friends. They have lost the grace of conscience and replaced compassion with
resentment, and love with envy.
Let us pray that God may grant those who walk the paths of malice, slander,
hatred, and blind envy the grace of repentance, humility, and awareness before
it is too late. May they realize that whoever digs a pit for others will fall
into it, whoever rolls a stone to harm another will have it roll back upon
himself, and whoever serves others from a bitter cup will one day be forced to
drink from it too.
As for those who do not fear God in their words, actions, and thoughts, let them
know that their end will be in the flames of Hell that never die, amid the worms
that never rest, and the torment that never ends.
Remember always: life is a divine scale of justice that never tilts.
What you sow today, you will reap tomorrow.
What you use to hurt others will return upon you many times over.
And the stone you roll against another will, one day, roll back upon you.
The official Lebanon is meeting the winds of peace...
Trump: I support Aoun in his mission to disarm "Hezbollah"
Nidaa Al Watan/October 14/2025 (translated from Arabic)
US President: The dagger of "Hezbollah" that was aimed at Israel has been
shattered
The region entered a new era yesterday, as US President Donald Trump announced
Lebanon's place in this era during its inception. In turn, the President of the
Republic, Joseph Aoun, announced Lebanon's embrace of the winds of peace blowing
over the Middle East, saying yesterday for the first time in his term: "The
situation in the region is moving towards negotiation to establish peace and
stability, and we cannot be outside this track." Prominent political sources
pointed out to "Nidaa Al Watan" that Arab states are pushing towards the absence
of the "Resistance Axis" in the new era, amid a unique American insistence that
will allow no turning back from now on. They said: "What we witnessed
(yesterday) is an earthquake whose repercussions will not stop at the borders of
where it occurred; it will have repercussions in Lebanon, the first of which was
the President of the Republic's stance last Saturday, where he held 'Hezbollah'
responsible for embroiling Lebanon in the Gaza war and clearly asked it to
follow the example of 'Hamas' in declaring the end of its armed project." The
sources noted President Trump's address yesterday from the Israeli Knesset to
the President of the Republic, praising him for what he has done and demanding
that he complete his work towards ending "Hezbollah's" weapons, seeing in this
step a sign of the firm American direction to end Lebanon's crisis through the
disarmament of the "Party."
"Hezbollah" Attacks
"Hezbollah" was quick to launch a campaign against the new development in the
official stance. It stated through its television channel "Al-Manar" in its
evening news bulletin yesterday: "A conference not attended by Iran due to its
refusal to give the commander of the Zionist war on the region, Donald Trump, a
clean bill of health for peace, but attended by many countries, even Hungary and
Armenia, and to which Lebanon was not invited, whose politicians are attached to
the American umbilical cord and slogans of peace. Is this not a new political
insult to those who place all their cards in the American basket?"
Trump: We support Lebanon's President to disarm the "Party"
The US President had said in his speech at the Knesset: "In Lebanon, the dagger
of 'Hezbollah,' long aimed at Israel's throat, has been totally shattered, and
my administration supports the new President of Lebanon in his mission to
permanently disarm 'Hezbollah's' terror brigades and dismantle the 'Party's'
terrorist battalions and build a prosperous state that lives in peace with its
neighbors. He (Aoun) is doing very well on that." Trump announced that "good
things are happening in Lebanon."
Aoun: We must be on the negotiation track
For his part, President Aoun said yesterday before the "Association of Economic
Journalists": "The situation in the region is moving towards negotiation to
establish peace and stability, and we cannot be outside this track; rather, we
must be part of it, as we can no longer bear more war, destruction, killing, and
displacement." Aoun called for "negotiation" to reach solutions, similar to what
happened in the maritime border demarcation file under American and UN
sponsorship, asking: "What prevents the same thing from being repeated? And what
prevents negotiation, especially since war did not lead to a result?" He pointed
out that Israel "went to negotiations with 'Hamas' because it had no other
option after trying war and destruction, and today the general atmosphere is one
of settlements, and negotiation is necessary, while the form of this negotiation
will be determined at the time."
Salam and the Work to "Confine Weapons"
In a related context, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam wrote on the "X" platform: "I
congratulate our Palestinian brothers in Gaza. I also salute the diplomatic
efforts made by US President Donald Trump, and all sisterly and friendly
countries, to stop this war that has lasted too long and claimed the lives of
thousands of innocent civilians. We are hopeful that the Sharm El Sheikh summit
will contribute to opening a new horizon in the region, but while our government
is committed to the content of the declaration of cessation of hostilities last
November, and is working hard to extend the state's authority over all its
territories with its own forces and to confine weapons, the country is still
subjected to near-daily Israeli attacks. Therefore, I call upon regional and
international brothers and friends to join us in working to stop these attacks
and ensure the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory,
and to help us with reconstruction, which contributes not only to the stability
of Lebanon but to the stability of the entire region."
Graham and "Hezbollah's" Disarmament
In Washington, US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham announced yesterday that "it
is essential for Lebanon to succeed in disarming 'Hezbollah' before true peace
prevails in the region, and the region and the world must be prepared to assist
Lebanon in this important endeavor."
October 13: The Soldiers Stood Firm, and the Commander
Failed Them
Jean Al-Faghali/Nidaa Al-Watan/October 13/2025 (Translated from Arabic)
The officers and soldiers on the fronts of Dahr al-Wahsh, Dhour El Choueir, and
Bsous did not have a "transistor radio" to listen to the "statement of
surrender" that General Michel Aoun had recorded in his own voice, over the
phone, for Radio Lebanon in Fanar. General Aoun had already arrived at the
French Embassy in Mar Takla in Hazmieh. He called Professor Rafic Challala at
the radio station from the phone of the French Ambassador, René Alá, and told
him he wanted to record a statement to be broadcast to the servicemen. Professor
Rafic completed the task and broadcast the statement in which General Aoun
requested the servicemen to take orders from General Émile Lahoud.
General Aoun surrendered, but his officers and soldiers did not know of his
surrender, so they continued fighting until the last bullet. Some were martyred,
some were executed, and some were captured by the Syrian army. They believed
that General Aoun was managing the operations, while the truth was that he had
moved to the French Embassy by armored personnel carrier. A former head of
security services, who played a pivotal role from that period until 2005 and is
still alive and active in politics, recounts that General Aoun took a large sum
of money, in US dollars, millions, with him to the embassy.
The Syrian leadership had set a date for Aoun's envoy, Pierre Raffoul, on
October 13, the day General Aoun fell. It was Elie Hobeika who secured the
appointment for Raffoul from the Syrian leadership and informed him of it. This
was not the first time Raffoul had met with the Syrians at General Aoun's
request. This is one of the irrefutable facts about October 13, 1990, and there
is no benefit in falsifying facts and misleading people, as the truth is held by
two: those who were martyred and those who were in the field and survived. The
second truth is that it is absolutely incorrect that anyone other than the
Syrian forces bombed the Baabda Palace. This is documented in the operations
room of the Lebanese Army Command at the time, and the officers who were at the
command headquarters know its records, and some of them are still alive. There
are documented testimonies from officials who were axis and front commanders,
and they were given strict orders not to fire a single shot starting at 6:00 AM,
an hour before the Syrian attack began.
The third truth, and perhaps it should be the first in order, is that General
Michel Aoun was never an adversary or enemy of Syria. The Syrian leadership had
a hand in appointing him Army Commander, succeeding General Ibrahim Tannous in
1984, and from the moment of his appointment, he "had his eye" on the
presidency. His correspondence with the Syrian leadership was conducted through
former ministers and MPs Albert Mansour and Mohsen Dalloul, and Professor Fayez
Kazzi. When he despaired of Syria accepting him as President of the Republic, he
announced the "War of Liberation." He did not inform even his closest associates
of the declaration of war. Practically, it was not a "War of Liberation," in the
military sense, as much as it was artillery shelling that ended in an attempt to
breach the Souk El Gharb front. However, a hero of the Lebanese Army, the late
Brigadier General Selim Klass, was the one who saved the front and prevented the
fall of the main defense line for the Baabda Palace. The failure of the "War of
Liberation" paved the way for the Taif Agreement, and this is the greatest
truth: "Had it not been for the War of Liberation, there would have been no Taif."
The urgent truth is that the Army Command must reclaim the memory of October 13
from its usurpers, to stop the exploitation of it and "gathering popular support
on its back." What does the Free Patriotic Movement have to do with the
anniversary of October 13? On October 13, General Michel Aoun's gamble that he
would become President of the Republic by force failed. He used the Lebanese
Army to remain in the Baabda Palace, not to liberate. If he truly wanted
liberation, why did he wait from September 23, 1988, the date of his entry into
the palace, until March 14, 1989, to begin the liberation? Why did he wait six
months? And after the battle of Souk El Gharb in August 1989, why did he accept
a ceasefire, after he had destroyed the army? Perhaps General Aoun should have
said then: "If only I had known!"But to this day, he has not learned his lesson.
Lebanon's president says negotiating with Israel is
'necessary'
Dalal Saoud/United Press International/October 13, 2025
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday it
is "necessary" to negotiate with Israel, as Lebanon cannot remain outside the
regional path moving toward resolving crises and establishing peace and
security. Aoun's remarks came as Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement began
to implement the first phase of a cease-fire deal brokered by U.S. President
Donald Trump to end the two-year war in Gaza. "We cannot stand outside the
current regional path, which is one of resolving crises," he told a group of
reporters. "We must be part of it, as it is no longer possible to endure more
war, destruction, killing and displacement."According to a statement, Aoun said
the region is shifting toward negotiations aimed at establishing peace and
security, and "this approach is yielding results."Israel engaged in negotiations
with Hamas because it "had no other option after trying war and destruction," he
added. On Monday, Hamas released all 20 remaining living Israeli hostages it was
holding in Gaza out of 48 who still were captive since the launch of "Operation
al-Aqsa Flood" on Oct. 7, 2023. Its military wing later announced that it can
return the bodies of only four out of the 28 Israeli hostages who died. Lebanon
engaged in the war when Iran-backed Hezbollah decided to open a support front
for Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023. What began as an exchange of fire and artillery across
the border escalated into a large-scale Israeli attack in September 2024, during
which Hezbollah's top leaders, military commanders and approximately 5,000
fighters were killed. Another 13,000 fighters -- out of an estimated 40,000
combatants -- were wounded, and much of the group's military capacity was
destroyed. The 14-month destructive war, which killed or wounded more than
21,500 people and displaced 1.2 million, should have come to an end when a
cease-fire agreement brokered by the United States and France was announced on
Nov. 27, 2024. However, Israel has never fully halted its attacks and has
continued to strike the group's suspected positions almost daily without
restraint, killing an additional 300 people - including Hezbollah operatives and
more than 100 civilians. Although the once-powerful Hezbollah has been
significantly weakened during the war, Israel has refused to withdraw from five
strategic positions it continues to occupy in southern Lebanon, cease its
attacks, or release Lebanese prisoners detained during the conflict. This has
led Hezbollah to reject calls to fully disarm. Aoun said Israel "continues to
send military and bloody messages" to pressure Lebanon, even though Lebanon has
abided by the Nov. 27 truce -- with Hezbollah refraining from retaliating
against Israeli attacks and the Lebanese Army assuming control of the southern
region and Hezbollah's weapons. "Now, we hope to reach a point where Israel
commits to halting its military operations against Lebanon, so that the path of
negotiation can begin, because the course we are seeing in the region is one of
dialogue and settlements, and we must not go against it," he said. He added that
"negotiation is necessary," noting that Lebanon previously reached a
U.S.-mediated maritime border demarcation agreement with Israel under United
Nations auspices in October 2022. That ended a years-long dispute over the
ownership of offshore natural gas fields. Both countries have been in a state of
war since Israel was created 1948. "So, what prevents a similar process from
being repeated to find solutions to the outstanding issues, especially since the
war has yielded no results?" Aoun asked rhetorically. In regard to disarming
Hezbollah -- a key condition for releasing much-needed international and Arab
funding for Lebanon's reconstruction -- he pointed to progress made by the
Lebanese Army, noting that 80% to 85% of the area south of the Litani River in
southern Lebanon "has been cleared." "Weapons are not the main issue; it is the
intention to use them that matters," Aoun said. "What's important is to
neutralize the function of the weapon, and this is a matter that takes time. It
cannot happen overnight."
Trump says Aoun 'doing very well' in disarming Hezbollah
Naharnet/October 13, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a historic speech in Israel’s Knesset on
Monday that “in Lebanon, the dagger of Hezbollah, long aimed at Israel’s throat,
has been totally shattered.”“My administration is actively supporting the new
president of Lebanon (Joseph Aoun) in his mission to permanently disarm
Hezbollah’s terror brigades. He’s doing very well,” Trump added, in a speech
focused on the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and captive exhange deal between Israel
and Hamas. The U.S. president added that he wants the Lebanese to “build a
thriving state at peace with its neighbors.”“Good things are happening there,
really good things,” he said.
Aoun says 'necessary to negotiate' with Israel
Agence France Presse/October 13, 2025
President Joseph Aoun on Monday called for negotiations with Israel, after U.S.
President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire in Gaza. "The Lebanese state has
previously negotiated with Israel under American and United Nations auspices,
resulting in an agreement to demarcate the maritime border... so what prevents
the same thing from happening again to find solutions to the outstanding
issues," Aoun said according to a presidency statement. "Today, the general
atmosphere is one of compromise, and it is necessary to negotiate. As for the
shape of this negotiation, it would be decided when the time comes," the
president added. Calling for an end to Israel’s military operations in Lebanon
“so that the course of negotiations can begin,” Aoun said Lebanon “cannot be
outside the current course in the region.” “It is a course of settling crises
and we have to be part of it, seeing as we can no longer bear further war,
destruction, killing and displacement,” the president added.
Lebanese president calls for regional reconciliation, calls on Israel to halt
military aggression
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/October 13, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has described the current sentiment in
the region as one of reconciliation, and affirmed that Lebanon was not under
threat.
But he stressed the urgent need for Israel to halt all military operations
against Lebanon so that negotiations between the countries can begin, and warned
that progress across the region must not be obstructed. Aoun underscored the
importance of what he described as this moment when dialogue can move forward.
BACKGROUND
President Joseph Aoun says ‘continues to send military and bloody messages to
pressure us,’ citing the bombing of bulldozers and excavation equipment in
Msaileh last Saturday.
His comments came as US President Donald Trump addressed the Israeli Knesset on
Monday. In his speech, Trump highlighted the efforts of the Lebanese government
to bring all weapons under state control and build peaceful relations with its
neighbors, and affirmed the broad regional support for a plan to disarm
Hezbollah. “Through dialogue and negotiations, the form of which will be
determined at the appropriate time, solutions can be reached and Lebanon cannot
be excluded from the process of resolving the crises existing in the region,”
Trump said. Addressing the media at the Presidential Palace, Aoun said that “the
current situation in the region, and the direction it is taking, reflect the
soundness of our decisions and approaches,” and stressed that Lebanon cannot be
excluded from regional efforts to resolve ongoing crises. “That is why we
consistently affirm that solutions are achievable through dialogue and
negotiation,” he added. “We cannot remain outside the current regional
trajectory, which is focused on resolving crises. We must be part of it, as
continued war, destruction, killing and displacement can no longer be
tolerated.”Regarding the official efforts to limit control of arms to the
Lebanese state, Aoun said: “Weapons themselves are not the issue; what matters
is the intent behind their use. “Ammunition, like medicine, has an expiration
date; once it surpasses its lifespan it becomes a danger to its owner. What’s
essential is to neutralize the function of weapons, a process that takes time
and cannot be approached with a ‘let it be’ attitude.”Since the ceasefire
agreement with Israel in November last year, Aoun noted, the Lebanese Army has
been actively fulfilling its duties in areas south of the Litani River. To date,
he said, 12 soldiers, including explosives experts, have lost their lives
carrying out this duty. About 80 to 85 percent of the land south of the Litani
has been cleared of militants and their weapons, Aoun said, though he
acknowledged that the difficult terrain, comprising valleys, forests and hills,
and the approaching winter mean it is challenging to set a definitive timetable
for completion. Elsewhere, he added, the army is engaged along northern and
eastern borders, and on the maritime front, where it is conducting missions
targeting smugglers and drug traffickers, to maintain security, and fulfill
other responsibilities.
The president also highlighted ongoing coordination with Palestinian groups over
disarming, and said weapons handovers had begun in several refugee camps. Both
the state and the army are handling this issue with equal responsibility, he
added.
The army remains fully committed to its responsibilities, Aoun said, and other
security agencies, including the Internal Security Forces, General Security and
State Security, are also playing their part, particularly in efforts to tackle
corruption.
He condemned recent actions by Israel, however, saying that Tel Aviv “continues
to send military and bloody messages to pressure us.” He cited the bombing of
bulldozers and excavation equipment in Musaylih last Saturday as clear evidence
of the ongoing aggressive Israeli stance toward Lebanon. “We have repeatedly
requested American and French intervention but they have not responded,” Aoun
said, but reaffirmed that Lebanon remains committed to the peace agreement
despite the continuing provocations.
The US began its efforts to help demarcate the land border between Lebanon and
Israel in 2023, after sponsoring an agreement on the maritime border between the
countries the previous year. However, the subsequent conflict between Hezbollah
and Israel froze those efforts. The current demarcation line between the two
countries, set by the UN in 2000, includes 13 disputed points. Following the end
of the war with Hezbollah last November, Israel troops also remained deployed at
five border points they consider strategically important. “The Lebanese state
has previously negotiated with Israel under the auspices of the UN, which
resulted in an agreement on maritime border demarcation,” Aoun said.
“What, then, prevents similar from happening again to address unresolved issues,
particularly given that the war did not yield results? Israel entered into
negotiations with Hamas (over Gaza) because it had no alternative after it
attempted war and destruction.
“Today, the general atmosphere is one of compromise, and negotiations are
necessary. However, the framework of the negotiation will be determined in due
course.”
Reconstruction in parts of southern Lebanon damaged by conflict is part of the
state’s duty toward its citizens, Aoun said, but he admitted that the government
does not have the money required to begin the rebuilding process.
“The people of the south have rights that we are working on securing,” he said.
“However, I state candidly that there are currently no available funds to
initiate the reconstruction process. “A conference must be convened to support
reconstruction, and this is the objective we are currently pursuing.”
He clarified that aid recently approved by the US Congress — $190 million for
the Lebanese Army and $40 million for the Internal Security Forces — was not
directly linked to disarmament. “The defense and interior ministries in Lebanon
must specify their needs and submit a list accordingly,” he said. “Once
approved, the machinery and equipment will be approved and sent to Lebanon.
“There is no financial aid, in the direct sense, but rather the purchase of
weapons, vehicles and equipment to be delivered to the army and the security
forces.”Lebanon “is only in danger in the minds of some who take stances
opposite to the state and do not want to see Lebanon rise again,” Aoun said,
pointing out that economic indicators were increasingly positive. The Ministry
of Economy has projected economic growth of up to 5 percent by the end of this
year, with financial inflows potentially reaching $20 billion. This anticipated
upswing, coupled with rising consumer spending, represent encouraging signs for
economic recovery, he added. “The security situation in Lebanon is better than
in other countries and the summer season was promising, with 1.7 million
Lebanese, Arab and foreign visitors recorded in July and August, according to
the General Security statistics,” he said. “We await with great anticipation the
visit of Pope Leo XIV” at the end of November. Regarding Syria, Aoun said: “We
often hear about crowds at the border; when the army command dispatches patrols,
it becomes evident that such information is untrue.
“My meetings with the Syrian president, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, were positive. And
during the Syrian foreign minister’s visit to Beirut last week, a number of
principles were affirmed in the framework of mutual respect, cooperation, and
coordination on security and economic levels. “We must develop our relations,”
he added, as Lebanon awaits “the appointment of a Syrian ambassador to Lebanon,
and the formation of joint committees to examine various files, including land
and maritime borders, as well as the review of existing agreements between the
two countries.”
Hezbollah MP lauds Salam decision to file UN complaint against Israel
Naharnet/October 13, 2025
MP Ibrahim al-Moussawi of Hezbollah has said that “Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s
move to instruct the foreign minister to file a complaint to the U.N. Security
Council over the latest Israeli attacks in the South was a step in the right
direction, although it came late.”“We look forward to further activation of the
Lebanese diplomacy and governmental steps in this regard,” Moussawi added.Salam
has asked Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji to “file an urgent complaint with the
Security Council regarding the latest Israeli aggression that targeted civilian
and commercial facilities in Msayleh, in a blatant violation of Resolution 1701
and the arrangements of the cessation of hostilities agreement that were issued
in November.” Rajji later instructed Lebanon’s permanent envoy to the U.N. to
address an urgent complaint to the Security Council and the U.N.
secretary-general over the Oct. 11 Israeli airstrike on “a number of bulldozer
and excavator showrooms on the Msayleh-Zahrani road in the Sidon district, which
resulted in the death and wounding of several civilians and grave material
damage to the targeted firms.”Rajji also asked Lebanon’s permanent mission in
New York to publish the complaint’s letter and distribute it as an official
document to all member states of the Security Council. The Foreign Ministry had
on Saturday issued a statement condemning the repeated Israeli attacks on
Lebanon, saying “they represent a flagrant breach of U.N. Resolution 1701 and
the cessation of hostilities agreement” and warning that they also “obstruct the
Lebanese Army’s efforts for implementing the arms monopolization plan.”
Report: Destroyed Msayleh vehicles were to be used for
repairing infrastructure in 38 towns
Naharnet/October 13, 2025
Israel’s destruction of dozens of bulldozers and excavators in Msayleh was aimed
at telling the Lebanese state and people that Israel will not allow the
rebuilding of their destroyed towns before Lebanon agrees to Israel’s demand of
“direct negotiations,” ministerial sources said. In remarks to al-Akhbar
newspaper, the sources also revealed that the Lebanese state had sought to
“cooperate with the targeted facilities to begin a reconstruction process in 38
southern towns.”“This project was supposed to be funded from old loans worth
$100 million,” the sources added.
Salam condemns Israeli threats to engineer advocating
for south reconstruction
Naharnet/October 13, 2025
the residents to return home. Salam responded that he had visited
south Lebanon and that the government has been paying monthly financial aid and
rent assistance to families affected by the war and has started necessary
maintenance works to restore services in affected areas. He said the government
worked on obtaining a $250 million loan from the World Bank to rebuild the
infrastructure damaged by the war.
Berri calls for reconstruction, unity, and US pressure on
Israel after spat with Salam
Naharnet/October 13, 2025
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has said that Israel's recent strikes on
construction machinery in south Lebanon was a message that the south's
"reconstruction is not allowed".He told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, in remarks
published Monday that the destruction of more than 300 vehicles, including
bulldozers, excavators, and cranes, used for removing rubble in order to begin
the reconstruction effort, is an Israeli plan to turn the southern border towns
into an "unlivable demilitarized buffer zone." Berri had exchanged heated
remarks with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, accusing the latter of marginalizing
south Lebanon and its people. The Speaker accused the government of prioritizing
a Raouche light show over rebuilding the war-hit villages in order for the
residents to return home. Thousands of Hezbollah supporters had gathered last
month and projected images of the group’s former longtime leader on the iconic
arched Raouche rock to commemorate their deaths in Israeli airstrikes nearly a
year ago, despite an apparent attempt by Salam to halt the planned light show.
Berri said the government is acting as if the South is not part of Lebanon and
urged it to add the reconstruction file to the 2026 budget. Salam responded that
he had visited south Lebanon and that the government has been paying monthly
financial aid and rent assistance to families affected by the war and has
started necessary maintenance works to restore services in affected areas. He
said the government worked on obtaining a $250 million loan from the World Bank
to rebuild the infrastructure damaged by the war. Berri said the only response
to Israel's message is national unity and rising above accusations and
bickering, in addition to intensifying Lebanon's diplomatic efforts.
"Condemnation is not enough, Lebanon should file a complaint with the United
Nation Security Council," he said. Hours later, Salam tasked the Foreign
Minister with filing an urgent complaint with the Security Council about the
Msayleh strike. The strike had targeted several bulldozer and excavator
showrooms, resulting in the death and wounding of several civilians and grave
material damage. Berri said Israel is targeting businesses to pressure Lebanon
into direct negotiations. "Justifying its aggression by claiming it is targeting
Hezbollah's military infrastructure is unfounded, its targets were vehicles and
equipment used for reconstruction and nothing else," he said. Berri added that
Lebanon wants a diplomatic solution to end the Israeli occupation and
aggression. He said he had agreed with U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack on the adoption of
a step-for-step approach between Lebanon and Israel. "He promised me to return
with an answer after his visit to Tel Aviv, but he came back without a
response." "Where is the U.S.' credibility in sponsoring, alongside France, the
ceasefire agreement that Lebanon has adhered to," he asked, claiming that the
decision is in Washington's hands as it has the ability to pressure Israel if it
wanted to. "The absence of American pressure encourages [Israel] to persist in
its aggressions," he said.
Reports: Syrian minister in Beirut Tuesday prior to
Syrian prisoners' handover
Naharnet/October 13/2025
Syria’s justice minister will visit Beirut on Tuesday to follow up on the file
of the Syrian prisoners held in Lebanon, media reports said. The visit comes
after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani visited Lebanon on Friday, in the
first trip to Beirut by a senior Syrian official since the ouster of Bashar
al-Assad. The reports said there is an inclination to sign a judicial
cooperation treaty between Lebanon and Syria. “Justice Minister Adel Nassar will
present a draft to his Syrian counterpart to agree on it ahead of taking a
measure of handing over the Syrian prisoners,” the reports added.
Tannourine water bottles pulled from market over bacteria
contamination
Naharnet/October 13/2025
The Health Ministry on Monday suspended the operations of the Tannourine Mineral
Water company, ordering that its water bottles be pulled from the market due to
their contamination with the pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. A Health Ministry
statement published on the Ministry’s official website said the company will
remain suspended pending the identification of the contamination source and the
addressing of the problem. The statement added that the company is required to
pull its bottles from the market within three days at the latest and should
refrain from supplying the market with any water bottles before obtaining a
permission from the health minister. The Ministry also warned that the violation
of the decision would subject company to administrative and judicial measures.
Lindsey Graham: Lebanon must disarm Hezbollah to secure
lasting regional peace
LBCI/October 13/2025
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said it is imperative that Lebanon succeed in
disarming Hezbollah before true peace can be achieved in the region. “The region
and the world need to be ready to assist Lebanon in this important endeavor,”
Graham said, emphasizing that disarming the Iran-backed group is key to ensuring
lasting stability in the Middle East.
Gaza peace summit leaves Lebanon on the sidelines: Can
Beirut balance pragmatism and security?
LBCI/October 13/2025
As Arab and world leaders arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh, Lebanese officials
remained on the sidelines, watching the proceedings of the Gaza peace summit
from afar. At the same time, a series of messages were sent to Lebanon: that it
was not invited to the summit, that reconstruction was prohibited, and that it
must find a solution to Hezbollah’s weapons. These messages reached all official
headquarters over the weekend — from Baabda to Ain el-Tineh to the Grand Serail.
Before U.S. President Donald Trump delivered his remarks, Baabda Palace issued a
statement by President Joseph Aoun that came as a surprise. “Negotiations are
necessary, and the form they take will be determined at the appropriate time,”
Aoun said. He added, during a meeting with a delegation of journalists, that
Lebanon had previously negotiated with Israel under U.S. and U.N. auspices,
leading to the maritime border demarcation agreement. “What prevents us from
doing the same again to resolve outstanding issues,” he asked, “especially since
the war has achieved nothing and the current atmosphere is one of
compromise?”With this, the president responded to the foreign messages, saying
Lebanon is ready for negotiations, without specifying whether they would be
direct or indirect. His remarks came shortly after Parliament Speaker Nabih
Berri told the Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that Israel’s message was clear: the
rebuilding of destroyed towns is prohibited, but entering into direct
negotiations is rejected. Sources at the Grand Serail said Lebanon is paying the
price for delays in completing its obligations. Regional and international
efforts are moving quickly, while Lebanon remains stalled, hampered by its
continued allowance of weapons outside state authority. According to the same
sources, what is needed now is a pragmatic approach that does not open the door
to internal confrontation, nor to the Israeli logic of continued daily strikes
aimed at eliminating Hezbollah. The solution, they said, lies not in escalation
but in realism — one that preserves the state and its institutions and prevents
the military and security agencies from slipping into paralysis or
fragmentation.
Lives on the line: Migration by sea from Lebanon sees sharp decline
LBCI/October 13/2025
Only a few meters in a narrow alley in Bebnine, Akkar, reveal ongoing stories of
hardship linked to illegal migration by sea, where a woman says she has not
heard from her husband in two years and an elderly man communicates with his
son, detained in Cyprus, only by phone. The situation reflects the experiences
of Syrians and Lebanese affected by illegal migration, a phenomenon that has
persisted along Lebanon’s shores since 2019. However, the same shores that once
saw frequent boat departures now show a different trend. Illegal migration,
which peaked in 2022 and 2023 with 214 recorded smuggling attempts, has declined
significantly in 2025, reaching about seven attempts. The Lebanese army
intercepted three boats and rescued one boat that was sinking. The decline has
been attributed to intensified operations by the Lebanese army and its
intelligence units, which dismantled several smuggling networks and arrested 486
smugglers. Accounts from individuals who attempted the sea journey — whether
they reached their destinations or were detained — have also served as
deterrents. Efforts by the army and intelligence services, along with improving
political and economic conditions in Lebanon, changes in Syria’s leadership, and
stricter European migration measures, have contributed to the sharp drop in
illegal migration from Lebanon.
The Generations of the Sayyed and the Generations of the
General
Imad Moussa/Nidaa Al Watan/October 14, 2025 (translated from
Arabic)
The historian Michel Aoun appeared in his library, behind him a rich collection
of biographies of heroes and foundational books from which he draws and delves
into daily. The ninety-year-old sat in his intellectual cell to narrate to the
"young cubs" the "story of October 13th." Our esteemed Sheikh and legendary
General voluntarily discarded his tie, content with a navy blazer and a white
shirt, and began to recount the story, the gist of which was that the "Lebanese
Forces," seeking power not nation-building, "shelled Baabda and helped the
Syrian army strike army centers." The General then took himself to meet the
then-French Ambassador, René Alard, Baabda's neighbor, who detained him: "You
cannot leave because you are under French protection, and the Syrians have begun
killing civilians." Aoun then asked his soldiers to take orders from the
brilliant General Emile Lahoud. Whoever heard, obeyed; whoever did not, fought
until martyrdom. The war was launched against the General for two reasons: his
refusal to become President of the Republic without the powers that had been
transferred to the government, and his insistence on the withdrawal of the
Syrian army, which implicitly meant that others supported the stripping of
powers and the continuation of the Syrian army's presence in Lebanon. Generation
after generation awaits this occasion to enjoy the story of heroism and pride
and to identify with the spirit of the vibrant leader, who concluded his message
to the brothers and sisters, the cubs (Ashbal) and lionesses (Shablat), the
envoys (Rusul) and the female envoys (Rasulat), with a phrase from his
inexhaustible reserve, and which may be the best thing said on the glorious
anniversary throughout 35 years: "Loss without regret, and humiliation for the
winners."
I see in the ninety-year-old General a pale image of the Sheikh of Storytellers,
Naim Qassem, and the leaders of "Hamas" and other factions who have drowned
their people in failed adventures and resounding losses and humiliated the
winners after the war, the game of deception, and the accumulation of false
victories over skulls and rubble ended. Leader Donald Trump arrived in the
region to change its face and direction for the better at a time when the
General was working to polish his history. And before the scouting parade, the "Risalat"
association celebrated the world's largest scouting gathering, as the number
exceeded seventy-five thousand, a number that would crowd the Maracanã stadium
in Brazil, under the patronage of the First Scout, Sheikh Naim Qassem, the
successor of the late Lord Robert Baden-Powell, here in Beirut. In the Camille
Chamoun Sports City, the Sheikh of Scouts, Naim Qassem, seemed mesmerized by the
audience of Scouts, Rovers, Guides, and Pathfinders, the "Fanfare," and the
defense companies, urging them to resist as: "Resistance as an educational,
cultural, ethical, and political choice; it is the Jihad of the self and the
enemy, a force of faith, will, steadfastness, pride, and independence; it is an
upbringing on authenticity, love of homeland, and defense of family and loved
ones." How wonderful you are, Sheikh, when you utter such beautiful words and
once again raise the slogan "Be Prepared," emphasizing the importance of
learning by doing (manufacturing rockets, bombs, and so on) and
"self-development, independence, and discipline," but under the banner of the
Wali al-Faqih, Your Lordship!
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on October
13-14/2025
Trump leaves Egypt after Gaza summit: AFP
LBCI/October 13/2025
U.S. President Donald Trump headed back to Washington Monday after a lightning
trip to Egypt and Israel to seek a long-term Gaza peace settlement. Air Force
One left the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh after a Gaza summit with
more than two dozen world leaders, an AFP photographer on board said. French
president says peace 'possible' for Israel, Gaza with hostage release
Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye sign Gaza ceasefire
declaration with Trump
AFP/October 13, 2025
JERUSALEM: US President Donald Trump hailed a “tremendous day for the Middle
East” as he and regional leaders signed a declaration Monday meant to cement a
ceasefire in Gaza, hours after Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages and
prisoners. Trump made a lightning visit to Israel, where he lauded Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an address to parliament, before flying to Egypt
for a Gaza summit where he and the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye signed
the declaration as guarantors to the Gaza deal.“This is a tremendous day for the
world, it’s a tremendous day for the Middle East,” Trump said as more than two
dozen world leaders sat down to talk in the resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. “The
document is going to spell out rules and regulations and lots of other things,”
Trump said before signing, repeating twice that “it’s going to hold up.”As part
of Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war, Hamas on Monday freed the last 20 surviving
hostages it held after two years of captivity in Gaza. In exchange, Israel
released 1,968 mostly Palestinian prisoners held in its jails, its prison
service said. Trump’s visit to the Middle East aims to celebrate his role in
brokering last week’s ceasefire and hostage release deal — but much remains to
be negotiated. Among the potential sticking points are Hamas’s refusal to disarm
and Israel’s failure to pledge full withdrawal from the devastated territory.
The US leader, however, repeatedly signalled he was confident the ceasefire will
hold, saying at a joint appearance with El-Sisi in Sharm El-Sheikh that talks on
the next steps of the plan were underway. “It’s started, as far as we’re
concerned, phase 2 has started,” he said. “The phases are all a little bit mixed
in with each other,” he added. Trump announced in late September a 20-point plan
for Gaza, which helped bring about the ceasefire. At his appearance with El-Sisi,
he lauded the Egyptian leader as having been “very instrumental” in talks with
Hamas. El-Sisi, for his part, said Trump was the “only one capable of bringing
peace to our region.”Trump also briefly met with Palestinian president Mahmud
Abbas at the summit, which representatives of Israel and Hamas did not attend.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem on Monday urged Trump and the mediators of the Gaza
deal to “continue monitoring Israel’s conduct and to ensure it does not resume
its aggression against our people.”Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed at least
67,869 people, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run
territory that the United Nations considers credible. The data does not
distinguish between civilians and combatants but indicates that more than half
of the dead are women and children.
Egyptian president: Trump’s Middle East proposal
‘last chance’ for peace
AP/October 13, 2025
SHARM EL-SHEIKH: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi told a summit of world
leaders Monday that US President Donald Trump’s Mideast proposal represents the
“last chance” for peace in the region and reiterated his call for a two-state
solution, saying Palestinians have the right to an independent state.
The summit in Egypt was aimed at supporting the ceasefire reached in Gaza,
ending the Israel-Hamas war and developing a long-term vision to rebuild the
devastated Palestinian territory. Trump’s plan holds out the possibility of a
Palestinian state, but only after a lengthy transition period in Gaza and a
reform process by the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes Palestinian independence. In his
speech, El-Sisi also also awarded Trump the Order of the Nile, the country’s
highest civilian honor. Israel and Hamas came under pressure from the United
States, Arab countries and Turkiye to agree on the ceasefire’s first phase
negotiated in Qatar through mediators. The truce began Friday. But major
questions remain over what happens next, raising the risk of a slide back into
war. The gathering reflects the international will to follow through on the
deal. More than 20 world leaders attended the summit, including King Abdullah of
Jordan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin
Hamad Al Thani, the French president and the British prime minister. Israel and
Hamas have no direct contacts and were not expected to attend. Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not travel to the meeting because of a Jewish
holiday, his office said. Trump headed to Egypt after a stop in Israel. World
leaders lined up to have their photos taken with Trump ahead of the meeting.
Trump smiled and gave a thumbs-up to photographers. Israel has rejected any role
in Gaza for the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, whose leader,
Mahmoud Abbas, arrived in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh on
Monday before the gathering. The summit unfolded soon after Hamas released 20
remaining living Israeli hostages and Israel started to free hundreds of
Palestinians from its prisons, crucial steps under the ceasefire.
A new page
El-Sisi’s office said the summit aimed to “end the war” in Gaza and “usher in a
new page of peace and regional stability” in line with Trump’s vision. Egyptian
Air Force jets escorted Trump’s Air Force One for a spin above the resort before
he landed and was received by El-Sisi at the airport. Ahead of the meeting,
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said it was critical that Israel and
Hamas fully implement the first phase of the ceasefire deal so that the parties,
with international backing, can begin negotiations on the second phase.
Abdelatty said the success of Trump’s vision for Mideast peace will depend on
his continued commitment to the process, including applying pressure on the
parties and deploying military forces as part of an international contingent
expected to carry out peacekeeping duties in the next phase. “We need American
engagement, even deployment on the ground, to identify the mission, task and
mandate of this force,” Abdelatty told The Associated Press. Directly tackling
the remaining issues in depth is unlikely at the gathering, which is supposed to
last about two hours. El-Sisi and Trump are expected to issue a joint statement
after it ends. Under the first phase, Israeli troops pulled back from some parts
of Gaza, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza to return home
from areas they were forced to evacuate. Aid groups are preparing to bring in
large quantities of aid kept out of the territory for months.
Critical challenges ahead
The next phase of the deal will have to tackle disarming Hamas, creating a
post-war government for Gaza and handling the extent of Israel’s withdrawal from
the territory. Trump’s plan also stipulates that regional and international
partners will work to develop the core of a new Palestinian security force.
Abdelatty said the international force needs a UN Security Council resolution to
endorse its deployment. He said Hamas will have no role in the transitional
period in Gaza. A 15-member committee of Palestinian technocrats, with no
affiliation to any Palestinian factions and vetted by Israel, will govern day to
day affairs in Gaza. The committee would receive support and supervision from a
“Board of Peace” proposed by Trump to oversee the implementation of the phases
of his plan, Abdelatty said. “We are counting on Trump to keep the
implementation of this plan for all its phases,” he told AP. Another major issue
is raising funds for rebuilding Gaza. The World Bank, and Egypt’s postwar plan,
estimate reconstruction and recovery needs in Gaza at $53 billion. Egypt plans
to host an early recovery and reconstruction conference for Gaza in November.
Roles for other countries
Turkiye, which hosted Hamas political leaders for years, played a key role in
bringing about the ceasefire agreement. Jordan, alongside Egypt, will train the
new Palestinian security force. Germany, one of Israel’s strongest international
backers and top suppliers of military equipment, plans to be represented by
Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He has expressed concern over Israel’s conduct of the
war and its plan for a military takeover of Gaza. British Prime Minister Keir
Starmer, who also is attending, has he said will pledge 20 million British
pounds ($27 million) to help provide water and sanitation for Gaza and that
Britain will host a three-day conference on Gaza’s reconstruction and recovery.
Speaking in Egypt, Starmer said Britain was ready to “play its full part” in
ensuring that the current ceasefire results in a lasting peace. UN
Secretary-General António Guterres, European Union President António Costa and
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also are attending.
Egypt's Sisi says Gaza deal 'opens new era of peace and
stability' for Middle East
LBCIi/October 13/2025
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Monday that the Gaza deal "closes a
painful chapter in human history and opens a new era of peace and stability" for
the Middle East. Sisi, who signed a declaration with his fellow guarantors of
the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal on Monday, said it marked a "historic day" for
peace that set the stage for a two-state solution. AFP
Trump declares ‘historic dawn’ for Middle East, thanks Arab nations for
ceasefire help
Agencies/October 13, 2025
JERUSALEM: The Gaza ceasefire had ushered in the “historic dawn of a new Middle
East,” Donald Trump told the Israeli parliament on Monday, during a speech in
which he thanked Arab and Muslim nations for helping with the truce. The US
president said Israel must now work toward peace in the region as he received a
rapturous reception from Israeli MPs.He also thanked Arab and Muslim nations for
supporting the safe rebuilding of Gaza during a speech at the Israeli parliament
on Monday. “After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the
skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on
a holy land that is finally at peace, a land and a region that will live, God
willing, in peace for all eternity,” he said. “This is not only the end of a
war... This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East.”Standing ovation
Trump said Israel had "won" on the battlefield and now was the time to translate
the vitories into "the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire
Middle East.”He added: “Let me also convey my tremendous appreciation for all of
the nations of the Arab and Muslim world that came together to press Hamas to
set the hostages free and to send them home,” Trump said in remarks before the
Israeli parliament. “We had a lot of help, we had a lot of help from a lot of
people that you wouldn't suspect, and I want to thank them very much for that.
It’s an incredible triumph for Israel and the world to have all of these nations
working together as partners in peace.” Trump’s address to the Israeli
parliament was briefly interrupted as a left-wing lawmaker was expelled. “That
was very efficient,” Trump quipped as the MP was quickly taken out. The US
president had paused as a Knesset staff member audibly ordered the expulsion of
lawmaker Ofer Cassif after an apparent protest. Trump received a standing
ovation from Israeli lawmakers ahead of his address to parliament during a brief
visit to Israel after brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The
applause lasted several minutes as lawmakers clapped and cheered Trump, who was
accompanied by his special envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and
daughter Ivanka. During the speech, Trump promised to help rebuild Gaza, which
has been devastated during the conflict, and urged Palestinians to “turn forever
from the path of terror and violence.”
“After tremendous pain and death and hardship," he said, "now is the time to
concentrate on building their people up instead of trying to tear Israel
down.”Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged Monday that
he is “committed to this peace” in a speech to parliament. He added: “Today, the
Jewish calendar marks the end of two years of war.”Netanyahu also praised the US
president for helping broker the first phase of a Gaza deal that saw the return
of all living Israeli hostages. “Donald Trump is the greatest friend that the
state of Israel has ever had in the White House. No American president has ever
done more for Israel,” Netanyahu said. Netanyahu also praised Israel’s soldiers,
saying the country had “achieved amazing victories over Hamas”. “Under your
leadership, we can forge new peace treaties with Arab countries in the region
and Muslim countries beyond the region,” Netanyahu said, adding that “no one
wants peace more than the people of Israel”. Trump landed in Israel on Monday to
celebrate the US-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas,
an agreement that he declared had effectively ended the war and opened the door
to building a durable peace in the Middle East.
Air Force One flyover
Air Force One did a flyover Monday of Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where tens of
thousands have gathered, on the way to landing at Ben Gurion airport. The
flyover came just after the first seven living hostages arrived in Israel from
Gaza. Over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners will be released as well. The moment
remains fragile, with Israel and Hamas still in the early stages of implementing
the first phase of the plan, which included the release of Israeli hostages that
have been held since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led militants. With
families overjoyed at the impending reunions and Palestinians eager for a surge
of humanitarian assistance, Trump thinks there is a narrow window to reshape the
region and reset long-fraught relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
“The war is over, OK?” Trump told reporters traveling with him aboard Air Force
One. “I think people are tired of it,” he said, emphasizing that he believed the
ceasefire would hold because of that. The Republican president said the chance
of peace was enabled by his administration’s support of Israel’s decimation of
Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The White
House said momentum is also building because Arab and Muslim states are
demonstrating a renewed focus on resolving the broader, decades-long
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening relations with the
United States.
In February, Trump had predicted that Gaza could be redeveloped into what he
called ” the Riviera of the Middle East.” But on Sunday aboard Air Force One, he
was more circumspect. “I don’t know about the Riviera for a while,” Trump said.
“It’s blasted. This is like a demolition site.” But he said he hoped to one day
visit the territory. “I’d like to put my feet on it, at least,” he said. The
first phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for the release of the final 48
hostages held by Hamas; the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by
Israel; a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and a partial pullback by Israeli
forces from Gaza’s main cities. Both Israel and Egypt announced that Trump would
receive their counties’ highest civilian honors. The truce remains tenuous and
it is unclear whether the sides have reached any agreement on Gaza’s postwar
governance, the territory’s reconstruction and Israel’s demand that Hamas
disarm. Negotiations over those issues could break down, and Israel has hinted
it may resume military operations if its demands are not met. Much of Gaza has
been reduced to rubble and the territory’s roughly 2 million residents continue
to struggle in desperate conditions. Under the deal, Israel agreed to reopen
five border crossings, which will help ease the flow of food and other supplies
into Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine. Roughly 200 US troops will
help support and monitor the ceasefire deal as part of a team that includes
partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and private-sector players.
Palestinians freed from Israeli jails return to loved ones
AFP/October 13, 2025
KHAN YOUNIS: Thousands of Palestinians erupted with joy in the southern Gaza
city of Khan Younis on Monday, as Red Cross buses brought back nearly 1,700
former prisoners. Some climbed the sides of the slowly moving buses as they
weaved through the dense crowds gathered at Nasser Hospital to hug or kiss a
loved one they recognized. “The greatest joy is seeing my whole family gathered
to welcome me,” said Yusef Afana, a 25-year-old released prisoner from north
Gaza. “I spent 10 months in prison — some of the hardest days I’ve ever lived.
The pain in prison isn’t only physical; it’s pain in the soul,” he said, adding,
like many of his comrades, that he hoped for all other prisoners in Israeli
jails to be released soon. At Nasser Hospital, men in military fatigues and
black balaclavas struggled to keep order as the prisoners wearing the Israel
Prison Service’s grey jumpsuits came off the buses. Patriotic music blared on
speakers, while Palestinian flags flew alongside those of Hamas or the Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Shadi Abu Sidu, a 32-year-old from Gaza
City’s Rimal neighborhood, alleged that he and other prisoners were mistreated
in jail. “Even right before our release, they continued to mistreat and
humiliate us,” he said. “But now, we hope to erase those painful memories and
begin life anew.”Among the Palestinians released under a US-brokered Gaza
ceasefire deal, about 1,700 were detained by the Israeli army in Gaza during the
war, while 250 are security detainees, including many convicted of killing
Israelis.Israel agreed to free them in exchange for the release of hostages held
in Gaza, under the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end a war
that was sparked by the attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. In the occupied West
Bank city of Ramallah, too, a large crowd had gathered to greet another group of
roughly 100 prisoners released under the deal.Some threw victory signs while
others struggled to walk without assistance as they got off the bus and were met
by a crowd cheering their return. “It’s an indescribable feeling, a new birth,”
Mahdi Ramadan told AFP, flanked by his parents, with whom he said he would spend
his first evening out of jail. Nearby, relatives exchanged hugs, young men in
tears pressed their foreheads against each other — some even fainting from the
emotion of seeing loved ones again after years, and sometimes decades, in jail.
Nour Soufan, now 27, was due to meet his father, Moussa, who had been jailed a
few months after his birth, outside the jail for the first time. Soufan and half
a dozen relatives came to Ramallah from Nablus, in the north of the West Bank,
and spent the night in their vehicle. “I have never seen my father, and this is
the first time I will see him. This is a very beautiful moment,” Soufan said.
Like him, many had defied the travel restrictions that punctuate daily life in
the Palestinian territory, with Israeli army checkpoints proliferating in two
years of war. Palestinian media reported on Sunday that families of detainees
had been contacted by Israeli authorities, asking them not to organize mass
celebrations. “No reception is allowed, no celebration is allowed, no
gatherings,” said Alaa Bani Odeh, who came from the northern town of Tammun to
find his 20-year-old son, who had been jailed for four years. Several prisoners
said they would return home and stay with their families in their first hours of
freedom. During previous releases, mass gatherings had flooded entire streets in
Ramallah, with people waving Palestinian flags as well as those of political
factions, including Hamas. Many prisoners wore a black-and-white keffiyeh around
their necks — the traditional scarf that has become synonymous with the
Palestinian cause. Some of the newly released prisoners happily let themselves
be carried away on relatives’ shoulders. “Prisoners live on hope ... Coming
home, to our land, is worth all the gold in the world,” said one freed detainee,
Samer Al-Halabiyeh. “God willing, peace will prevail, and the war in Gaza will
stop,” Halabiyeh added. “Now I just want to live my life.”Journalists rushed to
talk to the prisoners, but many declined to engage, sometimes explaining that,
before their release, they were advised not to speak.
Four Gaza hostage bodies brought into Israel: army
AFP/October 13, 2025
JERUSALEM: The bodies of four hostages held in Gaza and handed over to the Red
Cross by Hamas on Monday have been brought back to Israel, the military said.
The remains in four coffins were now being taken to the National Institute for
Forensic Medicine, “where identification procedures will be carried out,” the
military said in a statement.The handover of the bodies was part of a ceasefire
agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump between Israel and Hamas.
Earlier on Monday, Hamas freed all 20 surviving hostages it had been holding
since October 7, 2023, as part of the agreement.
In return, Israel released 1,968 prisoners and detainees, mostly Palestinians,
the prison service said. Hamas still holds the remains of 24 deceased hostages,
which it has agreed to return to Israel as part of the ceasefire deal. “Hamas is
required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the
deceased hostages,” the military said. During their unprecedented 2023 attack on
Israel, which sparked the war in the Gaza Strip, Hamas-led militants abducted
251 people and took them to Gaza. Most of them, including several who were later
confirmed dead, were handed over during two previous truces over the past two
years of war. However, Hamas continued to hold 47 hostages until the latest
ceasefire came into effect. The remains of an Israeli soldier killed in a
previous conflict in 2014 were also being held in Gaza.
Trump meets Palestinian president Abbas at Egypt summit
Arab News/October 13, 2025
SHARM EL-SHEIKH: US President Donald Trump met Palestinian president Mahmud
Abbas at a summit on Gaza in Egypt on Monday, with the pair shaking hands in
their first encounter in eight years. Trump and Abbas spoke for several seconds,
before the US leader held his hand and then gave a thumbs up to the cameras at
the summit in Sharm El-Sheikh. French President Emmanuel Macron escorted Abbas
to the podium to meet Trump.
Hamas kills 32 ‘gang’ members in Gaza City
Reuters/October 13, 2025
GAZA CITY: Hamas has sought to reassert itself in Gaza since a ceasefire took
hold, killing dozens of people in a crackdown on groups that have tested its
grip and appearing to get a US nod to police the shattered enclave temporarily.
Pummelled by Israel during the war ignited by the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, Hamas
has gradually sent its men back into the streets of Gaza since the ceasefire
began on Friday, moving cautiously in case it suddenly collapses, according to
two security sources in the territory. On Monday, Hamas deployed members of its
Qassam Brigades military wing as it freed the last living hostages seized two
years ago. It was a reminder of one of the significant challenges facing US
President Donald Trump’s effort to secure a lasting deal for Gaza, as the US,
Israel, and many other nations demand that Hamas disarm. Reuters footage showed
dozens of Hamas fighters lined up at a hospital in southern Gaza, one wearing a
shoulder patch identifying him as a member of the elite “Shadow Unit” that Hamas
sources say was tasked with guarding hostages. Trump’s plan foresees Hamas out
of power in a demilitarized Gaza run by a Palestinian committee under
international supervision. It calls for deploying an international stabilization
mission to train and support a Palestinian police force. But Trump, speaking on
his way to the Middle East, suggested Hamas had been given a temporary green
light to police Gaza. “They do want to stop the problems, and they’ve been open
about it, and we gave them approval for a period of time,” he said, responding
to a journalist’s question about reports that Hamas was shooting rivals and
instituting itself as a police force. After the ceasefire took effect, Ismail
Al-Thawabta, head of Hamas’ Gaza government media office, said the group would
not allow a security vacuum and that it would maintain public safety and
property. Hamas has ruled out any discussion of its arsenal, saying it would be
ready to surrender its arms to a future Palestinian state. The group has said it
seeks no role in Gaza’s future governing body, but that Palestinians should
agree upon this with no foreign control.
As the war dragged on, a diminished Hamas faced growing internal challenges to
its control of Gaza from groups with which it has long been at odds, often
affiliated with clans. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier
this year that Israel had been arming clans that oppose Hamas, without
identifying them. One of the Gaza sources, a security official, said that since
the ceasefire, Hamas forces had killed 32 members of “a gang affiliated with a
family in Gaza City,” while six of its personnel had also been killed. The Gaza
City clashes mostly pitted Hamas against members of the Doghmosh clan, residents
and Hamas sources said. The security official did not identify the group, nor
say whether it was one of those suspected of receiving support from Israel. The
most prominent anti-Hamas clan leader is Yasser Abu Shabab, who is based in the
Rafah area — an area from which Israel has yet to withdraw.
Offering attractive salaries, his group has recruited hundreds of fighters, a
source close to Abu Shabab said earlier this year. Hamas calls him a
collaborator with Israel, which he denies. The Gaza security official said that,
separate from the clashes in Gaza City, Hamas security forces had killed Abu
Shabab’s “right-hand man” and efforts were underway to kill Abu Shabab himself.
Abu Shabab did not immediately respond to questions on the official’s comments.
Hussam Al-Astal, another anti-Hamas figure based in Khan Younis in areas
controlled by Israel, taunted the group in a video message on Sunday, saying
that once it hands over the hostages, its role and rule in Gaza would be over.
Palestinian analyst Reham Owda said Hamas’s actions were aimed at deterring
groups that had collaborated with Israel and contributed to insecurity during
the war. Hamas also aimed to show that its security officers should be part of a
new government, though this would be rejected by Israel, she said.
UK quietly hosts talks on Gaza reconstruction
AFP/October 13, 2025
LONDON: Dozens of top officials from Middle East and European nations huddled
Monday with leading global financial institutions for talks in the UK on
rebuilding the devastated Gaza Strip. Far from a high-profile Gaza summit in the
Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the UK’s foreign ministry quietly
brought together Middle East and European officials at an isolated mansion deep
in the southern English countryside. The aim of the three-day conference was to
start the “crucial planning and coordination efforts for postwar Gaza” which
would be Palestinian-led, the UK prime minister’s office said in a statement.
“We must be ready to act — to clear rubble, rebuild homes and set up
infrastructure, restoring access to education and health care,” junior foreign
minister Hamish Falconer added in a statement. “We know the scale of the task.
We know how urgent it is, and how complex it will be,” he added, highlighting it
“will take years and cost billions.”The Israeli assault on Gaza — triggered by
Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel — has left much of the Palestinian
territory in ruins and most of its population displaced. The UK government said
the talks in Wilton Park, West Sussex, which is managed by the Foreign Office,
brought together “representatives from businesses, civil society and
governments, to convene crucial planning and coordination efforts for postwar
Gaza.”The Palestinian Authority was represented along with officials from
countries such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Germany and Italy, the UK prime
minister’s office said. Officials from the World Bank and the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development were also attending to support what Falconer
called an Arab Reconstruction Plan. “We must also lay the groundwork for
long-term economic development,” Falconer said, insisting that “Gaza and
Palestine more broadly, has real economic potential.”The talks aimed to examine
how to “unlock the vast resources needed, not just through traditional donor
finance, but by thinking creatively to bring in private capital,” he said.
The UK was well-placed to help, with “deep expertise in private investment and
strong links to the City of London,” he added.
Gaza deal brings hope for Ukraine: Zelensky
AFP/October 13, 2025
KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday hailed the
“extraordinary” Gaza ceasefire as bringing hope that US President Donald Trump
could broker an end to the Russian invasion of his country. “When peace is
achieved for one part of the world, it brings more hope for peace in other
regions,” Zelensky said on social media. He added: “If a ceasefire and peace
have been achieved for the Middle East, the leadership and determination of
global actors can certainly work for us too, in Ukraine.”Russia invaded Ukraine
in February 2022, setting off the largest conflict in Europe since World War II.
Tens of thousands have been killed, millions forced from their homes and much of
eastern and southern Ukraine decimated. Trump had once vowed he could end the
war in a matter of hours, but despite several rounds of talks and a summit with
Russian President Vladimir Putin, there has been no significant progress toward
a peace deal. Russia has refused multiple calls for a ceasefire and outlined
hard-line demands, essentially calling for Kyiv to capitulate in exchange for
peace. The US leader has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin in recent
weeks and recently said he could see Ukraine reclaiming every inch of territory
seized by Russia. Moscow’s army currently controls around a fifth of Ukraine,
including the Crimean peninsula which it captured and annexed in 2014. German
Chancellor Friedrich Merz also urged Trump to carry the momentum from brokering
the Israel-Hamas ceasefire into efforts on Ukraine. “We also hope that the
American president will now use the influence he has exerted on the parties
involved in the (Middle East) to work with us on the Russian government,” Merz
said in Egypt, where he was to attend a summit of world leaders including Trump.
Merz added that he will discuss the Russia-Ukraine war settlement with Trump at
the summit.
Zelensky to visit Washington seeking long-range weapons
Arab News/October 13, 2025
KYIV, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he will travel
to the United States this week for talks on the potential US provision of
long-range weapons, a day after US President Donald Trump warned Russia he may
send Kyiv long-range Tomahawk missiles. A meeting between Zelensky and Trump
could take place as early as Friday, the Ukrainian president said, adding that
he also would meet with defense and energy companies and members of Congress.
“The main topics will be air defense and our long-range capabilities, to
maintain pressure on Russia,” Zelensky said. He spoke at a meeting with EU High
Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas. He said he also would seek
further US assistance to protect Ukraine’s electricity and gas networks, which
have faced relentless Russian bombardment. The US visit follows what Zelensky
described as a “very productive” phone call with Trump on Sunday. Trump later
warned Russia that he may send Ukraine long-range Tomahawk missiles if Moscow
doesn’t settle its war there soon. The missiles would allow Ukraine to strike
deeper into Russian territory. Moscow has expressed “extreme concern” over the
US potentially providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. Russian President
Vladimir Putin himself has previously suggested that the US supplying long-range
missiles to Ukraine would seriously damage relations between Moscow and
Washington. Zelensky will join a Ukrainian delegation already in the US for
preliminary talks, led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. Russia has stepped up
attacks in recent weeks targeting electricity and gas infrastructure ahead of
winter, in an effort to cripple Ukraine’s power grid ahead of freezing
temperatures to erode public morale. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said the
worst attacks early Monday using drones and missiles occurred around the Black
Sea port of Odesa and in the northern Chernihiv region, where one person was
killed. Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, pledged continued pressure on Moscow. She
also expressed confidence that objections led by Hungary to a new Russia
sanctions package would be overcome, even if the process drags on past a meeting
of EU leaders next week. “On funding, the needs are enormous. We must help
Ukraine defend itself so we don’t later spend even more repairing destroyed
infrastructure,” Kallas said. “We are 27 member states, and 27 democracies, so
debates take time ... I’m positive that, as before, we’ll achieve a decision.”
EU says Russia ‘gambling with war’ with airspace violations
AFP/October 13, 2025
NATO has boosted its defenses along its eastern borders as it accused Moscow of
testing the alliance’s air defenses with drone incursions into several members
and by flying military jets in Estonian airspace. “Every time a Russian drone or
plane violates our airspace, there is a risk of escalation, unintended or not.
Russia is gambling with war,” Kallas said during a visit to Kyiv. “To keep war
at bay, we must translate the economic power of Europe into military
deterrence,” she added. Kallas was in Kyiv for talks on military and financial
support for Ukraine, and especially its energy infrastructure, as Russia has
resumed attacks on power plants ahead of winter. Ukraine on Monday was forced to
introduce power cuts across seven central and eastern regions as a result of the
attacks, which Kyiv has called “cynical.” “The enemy wants to affect the spirit
and mood of our population,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said
during a joint press conference with Kallas. “This is especially cynical on the
eve of winter,” he added. Ukraine retaliates by targeting Russian oil
refineries, aiming to hamper funding of its war machine. It has launched more
than 30 strikes on Russian energy sites since the beginning of August, also
triggering a spike in petrol prices inside Russia. An oil depot was struck
overnight in Russian-occupied Crimea, sparking a large fire, according to the
region’s Moscow-installed governor and a source in Ukraine’s security services.
Meanwhile, a Russian drone struck a car carrying a married couple in Ukraine’s
southern Zaporizhzhia region, killing them both, local authorities said. Kallas
also indicated that Brussels backed the delivery of US long-range Tomahawk
missile supplies to Ukraine. “We welcome all tools that make Ukraine stronger
and Russia weaker,” she said. US President Donald Trump said Sunday he may warn
Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Ukraine could get the cruise missiles if
Moscow does not end its invasion. Moscow has warned against supplying Ukraine
with Tomahawks, saying it would be a major escalation.
Trump plan to invite Netanyahu to Gaza summit aborted
after Erdoğan warning
Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor/The Guardian/October 13, 2025
A last-minute plan by Donald Trump to invite Benjamin Netanyahu to a
multinational Gaza summit in Egypt had to be aborted after the Turkish
president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said he would not land his plane in Sharm
el-Sheikh if the invitation stood. The mid-air power struggle started after it
was announced that the Israeli prime minister had accepted a late invitation
from Trump to the conference being jointly chaired by the US president and his
Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, in Egypt. Netanyahu’s presence at the
summit in Sharm el-Sheikh had apparently been sealed by Trump in a phone call
from Israel on Monday morning with Sisi. It is not clear if Erdoğan’s refusal to
land for the summit was the cause of Netanyahu changing his plans, but it is
known that he spoke to Sisi to raise his objections from his plane above Egypt.
A statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office said: “Prime Minister
Netanyahu was invited by US President Trump to participate in a conference
taking place today in Egypt. The prime minister thanked President Trump for his
invitation but stated that he would not be able to attend due to the proximity
of the event to the start of the holiday.”Figures on the extreme right in
Netanyahu’s coalition government had also threatened to resign if he went to the
conference. International criminal court arrest warrants have been issued
against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza, and while Egypt is not a
signatory to the court, his presence at the summit would have been contentious,
including among those Arab states that have not normalised relations with
Israel. More than 20 world leaders were due to attend the hastily arranged
summit. The row about Netanyahu’s presence shows how hard it will be for some
Muslim countries to normalise relations with Israel in the way Trump wants.
Pictures of Erdoğan negotiating with Netanyahu or shaking hands with the Israeli
leader would have been disastrous for the Turkish leader domestically, and would
have also led to questions about Ankara’s planned role in the international
stabilisation force that is due to look after security in Gaza. Erdoğan has
repeatedly called Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide.
AMCD Endorses Strong Objection to the Invitation of Former Iranian Foreign
Minister to Yale Seminar
October 13, 2025
Dear Dean Lewis,
I am writing to express my strong objection to Yale University’s decision to
host a seminar on U.S.–Iran Relations organized by Mr. Robert Malley,
particularly the invitation extended to the former Foreign Minister of the
Islamic Republic of Iran (MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF).
While I fully respect the importance of academic dialogue, offering a platform
to a senior representative of a regime condemned worldwide for systematic human
rights violations is deeply troubling. According to the U.S. Department of
State’s 2024 Human Rights Report on Iran, the Iranian government continues to
engage in arbitrary detentions, torture, executions without due process,
restrictions on free expression, and the violent repression of women and
minority groups.
Inviting such an individual risks legitimizing a government responsible for
decades of abuse and injustice. It undermines Yale’s global reputation as a
leader in ethical scholarship and human dignity, while sending a painful message
to victims of that regime’s oppression.
I respectfully urge you and Yale University to reconsider any endorsement or
participation in this seminar. Yale’s name and values should never be associated
with those complicit in systematic violations of human rights.
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter.
For further reference, the U.S. State Department’s Human Rights Reports are
available at www.state.gov/reports.
Respectfully,
Fariba F. Keshavarz
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources
on October
13-14/2025
The EU Is Enabling Religious Persecution in
Pakistan
Uzay Bulut/Gatestone Institute/October 13/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/148189/
Pakistan has for years been seriously repressing its minorities, political
dissidents, human right advocates and journalists – even transnationally.
Nevertheless, Pakistan continues to enjoy the benefits of the European Union's
special incentive arrangement under its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+).
Journalists in Pakistan (and even the family members of exiled journalists) are
subject to enforced disappearances. Journalist Asif Karim Khehtran and the
brothers of U.S.-based exiled Pakistani journalist Ahmad Noorani were abducted
in March 2025 and remain missing.
A 2025 report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
documented that more than 700 individuals in 2025 were imprisoned on charges of
"blasphemy." This figure represented a 300% increase from the previous year.
These acts are not isolated incidents but part of a broader campaign of
religious "cleansing," driven by radical Islamist groups such as the TLP and
facilitated by a legal system that criminalizes Ahmadi identity.
Pakistan's fierce blasphemy laws continue to target religious minorities. The
HRCP report documents that increasingly, minority individuals accused of
blasphemy are lynched by mobs or murdered while seeking police protection....
The rise in hate speech, threats against judicial figures, and the
politicization of bar associations only propel a dangerous tilt toward Islamic
radicalism within state institutions.
The police appear more interested in appeasing local Islamic strongmen and
keeping things calm than in implementing the law and protecting minorities.
The European Union should stand for the principles and ideals on which its
Generalized System of Preferences was based. At present, it is simply furthering
intolerable behavior and embarrassing itself.
Pakistan has for years been seriously repressing its minorities, political
dissidents, human right advocates and journalists. Nevertheless, Pakistan
continues to enjoy the benefits of the European Union's special incentive
arrangement under its Generalized System of Preferences.
Pakistan is engulfed in a deepening crisis of religious intolerance and systemic
persecution. This year has witnessed a disturbing surge of violence,
discrimination and institutional complicity. Christian, Ahmadiyya and Hindu
communities have particularly been targeted.
Despite repeated calls for reform and international condemnation, Pakistan's
failure to protect its most vulnerable citizens has left a trail of shattered
lives, desecrated places of worship, and a society increasingly fractured by
hate.
Pakistan has for years been seriously repressing its minorities, political
dissidents, human right advocates and journalists – even transnationally.
Nevertheless, Pakistan continues to enjoy the benefits of the European Union's
special incentive arrangement under its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+).
The contradiction was highlighted once again at the United Nations.
As a part of the ongoing 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
(UNHRC), the international NGO CAP Freedom of Conscience collaborated with the
news outlet EU Today through a side event on October 1. This event called upon
the EU to review Pakistan's GSP+ status in light of its long-term
state-sanctioned human rights violations.
A documentary on the subject, which included statements from multiple Members of
European Parliament, was also screened at the event. The organizers were
evidently hoping to generate awareness about Pakistan's ongoing human rights
crisis. As a result of the UNHRC's session, several EU lawmakers and European
Commission members were in attendance.
Earlier, on September 30, Baloch human rights defender Joshua George Bowes had
raised urgent concerns about Pakistan's failure to uphold its international
human rights obligations while continuing to benefit from the EU's GSP+ trade
status.
Citing the International Federation of Journalists' South Asia Press Freedom
Report 2024–25, Bowes highlighted that Pakistani journalists faced 34 serious
press freedom violations. Those included seven targeted killings and eight
non-fatal attacks, placing Pakistan at 158th on the World Press Freedom Index.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, between 1992 and 2025, at
least 68 journalists were murdered in Pakistan. One recent example is the murder
of Imtiaz Mir, a journalist who was shot to death in Karachi last month. Mir, an
anchorperson for TV channel Metro 1 News, was heading home in a car driven by
his older brother when six suspects riding two motorcycles fired on their
vehicle.
On October 2, police in Islamabad stormed the National Press Club. attacking
several journalists. Footage shared on social media and by press outlets showed
police manhandling, pushing and shoving journalists inside the club.
Violent attacks are part of the wider siege that Pakistani journalists are
under. Journalists across Pakistan are increasingly facing crackdowns, enforced
disappearances, travel bans, frozen bank accounts, job dismissals, and exile for
challenging the country's entrenched power structures. Journalist and television
anchor Samina Pasha, for instance, said her bank account was frozen on the
orders of Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). She
called it part of an escalating effort to silence independent journalists.
Journalists in Pakistan (and even the family members of exiled journalists) are
subject to enforced disappearances. Journalist Asif Karim Khehtran and the
brothers of U.S.-based exiled Pakistani journalist Ahmad Noorani were abducted
in March 2025 and remain missing.
Journalists' YouTube channels are also being targeted on a massive scale. On
July 8, at the request of the NCCIA, an Islamabad court ordered 27 YouTube
channels to be blocked under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, accusing
them of spreading "anti-Pakistan" content.
Bowes also drew attention to a 2025 report by the U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom, which documented that more than 700 individuals
in 2025 were imprisoned on charges of "blasphemy." This figure represented a
300% increase from the previous year.
He further referenced human rights monitoring by the Baloch National Movement's
human rights department, Paank, which documented 785 enforced disappearances and
121 extrajudicial killings in the first half of 2025 alone. Paank made a direct
appeal to the European Council:
"The European Union is Pakistan's largest trading partner. Continued trade
privileges under GSP+ must be linked to real human rights progress, not empty
promises."
Similarly, the Pashtun National Jirga reported last month that more than 4,000
Pashtuns are missing.
The brutal murder of Laeeq Cheema on April 18 stands as a grim symbol of this
crisis. Cheema was a 47-year-old member of Pakistan's Ahmadiyya community who
was beaten to death by a Sunni Muslim mob outside an Ahmadi place of worship in
Karachi's Saddar neighborhood. The crowd, reportedly composed of supporters of
the Islamist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), stormed the narrow streets. They
shouted anti-Ahmadi slogans and accused the community of violating Pakistan's
vicious anti-Ahmadi laws. Despite police intervention, the mob swelled to more
than 600 people. Cheema's death is simply yet another entry in the long ledger
of violence against Pakistan's Ahmadi religious minority.
In another attack, Dr. Sheikh Mahmood, a prominent Ahmadi gastroenterologist and
hepatologist, was shot dead in Sargodha, Punjab on May 16, Christian Solidarity
Worldwide reported. According to initial reports, Mahmood, a highly respected
doctor, arrived at Fatima Hospital at around 2.30pm to attend to his patients,
as was his routine. While walking through the hospital corridor, an unidentified
man who had been lying in wait shot him from behind, killing him. The murderer,
openly brandishing a pistol, fled the scene.
The Ahmadiyya community (which numbers around 500,000 in Pakistan and nearly 10
million globally) has long been subjected to systemic discrimination. Though
Ahmadis consider themselves Muslim and share nearly identical beliefs with
mainstream Islam, a 1974 amendment to Pakistan's constitution nevertheless
declares them non-Muslims. A 1984 ordinance criminalized many of their religious
practices.
This legal framework only emboldened extremist groups and legitimized
persecution. The Ahmadis live in fear, often hiding their identities, avoiding
public worship, and facing desecration of their graves and places of worship. On
May 10, at least 90 Ahmadi Muslim gravestones were desecrated in Punjab
Province. The gravestones were smashed and defaced, with debris scattered across
the cemetery grounds. According to the Department of External Affairs of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, 269 Ahmadi Muslim graves have been vandalized
during 11 separate attacks in 2025 alone, and in 2024, 319 gravestones were
defiled in 21 incidents.
These acts are not isolated incidents but part of a broader campaign of
religious "cleansing," driven by radical Islamist groups such as the TLP and
facilitated by a legal system that criminalizes Ahmadi identity.
The persecution of Hindus in Pakistan has also intensified. On September 17,
2024, the Hindu Rama Pir Temple in Sindh province was attacked by armed
terrorists who indiscriminately fired at worshippers, wounding four people. Such
attacks on Hindu places of worship are alarmingly frequent. The climate of
impunity only encourages deep-seated hostility toward religious minorities.
Forced conversions and underage marriages of Hindu and Christian girls have also
surged. Each year in Pakistan, more than 1,000 Christian and Hindu girls,
typically between 12 and 25 years, are kidnapped, forced to convert, and married
off to Muslim men. Women and children from religious minorities are at high risk
of kidnapping, forced conversion and forced marriage. Forced conversion to Islam
is not illegal in Pakistan. The authorities rarely take any meaningful action to
bring perpetrators to justice, and the police are often refuse to file
complaints submitted by the victims or their families.
In addition, human trafficking of girls and women along the China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor is a massive problem. A report by the Brookings Institution
states:
"Offsetting this was the fact that many of the victims belonged to the Christian
community of Pakistan — less surrounded by society's notions of honor, and less
protected because they are marginalized.... That most of the victims belonged to
the poor and marginalized Christian community of Pakistan sadly made it easier
for Pakistan to divert attention away from the issue without an ensuing public
outcry."
As noted in a 2020 report by the Coalition for Religious Equality and Inclusive
Development, ideologically targeted sexual abuse is directed specifically at
religious minorities, both for sexual predation but also as a "conquest" to win
the girl over to Islam.
The strong influence of Pakistan's Islamic religious landscape is particularly
discriminatory towards women and girls of minority religions. Those minorities
in Pakistan endure economic and social marginalization. They are often relegated
to menial jobs, denied access to education and government services, and excluded
from political representation. In rural areas, land-grabs targeting minority
communities are common, with little legal recourse. Women from these communities
face compounded discrimination. Literacy rates are significantly lower than both
the national average and those of men within their own communities.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has repeatedly raised alarms over
the deteriorating state of religious freedom in the country and called for the
release of those jailed under Section 298-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, a
provision that criminalizes Ahmadis for identifying as Muslim or preaching their
faith. The HRCP's report, "Streets of Fear: Freedom of Religion or Belief in
2024/25," details mob-led violence and extrajudicial killings.
Pakistan's fierce blasphemy laws continue to target religious minorities. The
HRCP report documents that increasingly, minority individuals accused of
blasphemy are lynched by mobs or murdered while seeking police protection. In
two separate cases, individuals were extrajudicially executed by law
enforcement, highlighting the urgent need for reform within Pakistan's policing
and judicial systems. The rise in hate speech, threats against judicial figures,
and the politicization of bar associations only propel a dangerous tilt toward
Islamic radicalism within state institutions.
The Jaranwala incident, in which Muslims destroyed at least 24 churches and
forcibly displaced hundreds of Christians in August 2023, is just one
illustration of violence resulting from the blasphemy laws. Using the blasphemy
law to target Christians, Hindus, and Muslim minorities such as the Ahmadis,
keeps increasing.
Christians are victims of roughly a quarter of all blasphemy accusations despite
being less than 2% of the population. Muslim business rivals accuse Christian
men of blasphemy as a means of destroying their business and reputation.
Additionally, Christians, Hindus and people from other minority communities
typically occupy lower-status jobs and have been referred to as "chura", a
derogatory word meaning "filthy," reserved for road sweepers and sewage
cleaners.
Christians in Pakistan suffer from the volatile security situation, the high
level of violence and the lack of effective channels for seeking protection. The
police appear more interested in appeasing local Islamic strongmen and keeping
things calm than in implementing the law and protecting minorities.
Last October, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif acknowledged the gravity
of the situation during a Diwali celebration in Lahore. She urged citizens to
recognize the collective responsibility of protecting minorities and emphasized
that respect for religious diversity is fundamental to Pakistan's integrity.
Such statements are praiseworthy but rare. Without concrete policy action and
accountability, they remain toothless and insufficient.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has officially been a Muslim state since its
independence in 1947. The country's demographic composition underscores the
painful condition of its minorities. With a population of approximately 251.9
million, Muslims constitute 97%. Hindus and Christians each make up just 1.6%.
Ahmadis make up a mere 0.2%. These communities are too small to pose any threat
to the majority, yet they face unrelenting persecution. Pakistan's blasphemy
laws are among the harshest in the world. They prescribe a mandatory death
sentence for insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad and prison terms for Ahmadis who
"pose as Muslims." These laws often become weapons with which to settle personal
scores and incite communal violence.
According to the human rights organization Open Doors, all Christians in
Pakistan suffer from institutionalized discrimination. Occupations seen as low
and dirty are reserved for Christians by the authorities, as can be seen in job
advertisements. Many Christians are poor and are victims of bonded labor,
through which they are either forced to convert to Islam or are given in child
marriage by their employers. Christian girls in bonded labor situations are more
vulnerable to being illegally detained by their employers.
Open Doors notes:
"Pakistan is home to dozens of radical Islamic groups. Increasingly, advisory
bodies to the government are completely made up of Islamic scholars who
influence the laws. Thousands of madrassas are being run without government
scrutiny of how they are funded or what they are teaching. Anyone calling for
reform of blasphemy laws is openly threatened by radicals who believe "infidels"
deserve death. Banned radical groups often do not dissolve but rebrand, go
online or merge with an existing group. Religious sentiments and resulting mob
violence are easily stirred up and are targeted against religious minorities,
especially Christians, as showcased in the August 2023 violence in Jaranwala.
Pakistan suffers from ethnic fragmentation. Balochistan Province and the central
Sindh regions are considered beyond the reach of the state authorities.
Religious minorities are seen as impure, both for religious reasons and because
they do not belong to the ruling ethnic groups."
The Center for the Study of Organized Hate, a Washington DC-based think tank,
has also documented the devastating impact of blasphemy allegations and mob
violence on Pakistan's religious minorities. Its report highlights the surge in
attacks on Christians in Punjab during 2023 and 2024, and this year's continued
targeting of Ahmadis. According to the organization, the Ahmadi community
endured six faith-based murders in 2024 and three more in the first half of
2025. This pattern of violence is both persistent and escalating.
The international community has increasingly voiced concern over Pakistan's
failure to protect its minorities. The United Nations and several countries have
criticized the government's inaction and called for urgent reforms. Meaningful
change, however, is nowhere in sight. The HRCP has urged the establishment of an
independent commission of inquiry based on findings from the National Commission
for Human Rights, particularly regarding entrapment in blasphemy cases. Such a
commission could be a vital step toward justice, but only if it operates
independently and is empowered to hold perpetrators accountable.
The Pakistani state's complicity in the sustained persecution of Hindus,
Christians, Ahmadis, Shia Muslims, and Sikhs in Pakistan, as well as critical
journalists, whether through silence, legal endorsement, or active
participation, needs to be seriously confronted.
The machinery of religious persecution has become lethal, with discriminatory
laws and unchecked hate crimes turning faith into a fatal liability. The urgency
to act is no longer a matter of principle; it is, for religious minorities, a
matter of survival. Reform in Pakistan needs to start by immediately repealing
the laws that criminalize belief; by prosecuting those who incite and execute
violence, and by giving full protection to equal rights for every citizen,
regardless of religion. Minority communities are being hunted, erased and buried
under the weight of institutionalized hate.
The European Union should stand for the principles and ideals on which its
Generalized System of Preferences was based. At present, it is simply furthering
intolerable behavior and embarrassing itself.
**Uzay Bulut, a Turkish journalist, is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at
Gatestone Institute.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21980/eu-enablles-pakistan-eligious-persecution
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced,
The days of Trump
Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al-Awsat./October 13, 2025
The Middle East has been witnessing unprecedented developments recently and this
week it is witnessing another. The analysts will debate — one will talk about
the historic moment, while another will say it is a new dawn. The skeptics will
say that one must not rush to conclusions and instead wait to see the final
outcome of these developments. They believe that the Middle East is a
chronically depressed patient who resists all forms of treatment, those that
work for him and those that do not. They believe that people from this part of
the world complain about the horrors of war while also being wary of peace.
My profession as a journalist has taught me not to get carried away with hopes
and expectations. Our culture prefers the knockout blow instead of agreements on
paper. But regardless, there can be no doubt that this is a historic week.
For days now, we have been living in a world whose pace has been set by the
stealer of the spotlight. His image is on every screen. We see his pumped fist
and pointed finger, the red hat, his tie, statements and social media posts.
He summoned Benjamin Netanyahu. He did not need to remind him that Israel
continues to fight because of the weapons and money provided by the US. He
forced him to be a bit humble, rein in his savagery and to apologize. He had no
choice but to reluctantly agree to the plan, along with the bitter implied
pledge for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, even though
such a move would benefit his country. Threatened with the “gates of hell,”
Hamas’ Khalil Al-Hayya had no choice but to put a stop to Yahya Sinwar’s Al-Aqsa
Flood Operation.
The whole world watches his moves. He is the Ronaldo of the world stage, even if
his shots sometimes miss the goal
He is Donald Trump. He plays, maneuvers, advances, retreats, fires a shot,
misses and changes course. The whole world watches his moves and surprises. He
is the Ronaldo of the world stage, even if his shots sometimes miss the goal. He
is more exciting than a Hollywood star. He sparks alarm and reassures. He makes
a threat and then strikes a deal. He pretends to go to the extreme and then
strikes an agreement with less severe terms. The world is setting its pace to
his moods. One social media post is enough to rattle the markets. One fiery
statement is enough to spark alarm. He courts the emperor of China and says he
is eager to meet, but then does a 180 and punishes him, sparking a global trade
war. Many have said that he is delusional and sells delusions, but nevertheless
he does make a difference when he and his country step in.
His statements can be vague and very blunt. His mood swings are unpredictable.
One day, he made the difficult decision to abandon the 2015 nuclear deal with
Iran. On another, he dared to make an unprecedentedly bold move by ordering the
killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who had bloodied American forces in Iraq and
pumped rockets and funds and built tunnels in four regional countries. Upon his
return to the White House, he ordered attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. His
and Israel’s air force helped weaken Iran’s regional role.
When he is full of conviction, he does not hesitate to make difficult decisions.
He shook Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s hand and lifted sanctions, consolidating the
so-called Axis of Resistance’s loss of Syria.
He stumbles, becomes angry, but never feels defeated. He had hoped to be a
peacemaker in Ukraine and other countries. He summoned Volodymyr Zelensky and
was overly harsh with him. He offered the master of the Kremlin a valuable gift,
but he was not tempted by it. Vladimir Putin is not Netanyahu. Russia is not
Israel. The Russian military is ready to compete with the US, not tremble before
it. But Putin will need him when he senses that it is time to end the war in
Ukraine.
Putin too is a major player, but the Ukrainian war diminished his room to
maneuver and travel. He does not visit France, Britain or Germany. China and
North Korea are not big enough for him. At the beginning of the 20th century, he
appeared as a star that was renovating the Soviet Union. The West believed that
it had found a partner in him. The Ukrainian war stole his halo and Trump stole
his spotlight.
He has benefited from Israel’s international isolation, informing Netanyahu that
Israel cannot fight the world alone
These are the days of Trump. His aides praise him endlessly, saying he is the
greatest president in the history of the US, that he has made the impossible
possible and that he has awakened the American monster, whose role had been
diminished under his predecessors.
There can be no denying his ability to change situations completely. The Israeli
jets stopped bombing Gaza; the crossings were reopened and aid has been allowed
through; and the hostages have been released in an exchange for prisoners. The
Israeli army has withdrawn to the agreed line. Trump has emerged as the one who
hands out solutions and guarantees. He has revised his position on the war on
Gaza. There will be no displacement, no “riviera” and no annexation of the West
Bank. In return, Hamas will say goodbye to its arsenal and tunnels and stop
ruling Gaza. The role of the Palestinian Authority hinges on the reforms it will
carry out. The situation may lead to the establishment of an independent
Palestinian state. Trump has benefited from the fatigue shown by the warring
parties and the flood of international recognitions of the state of Palestine,
thanks to Saudi and French efforts. He has also benefited from Israel’s
international isolation, informing Netanyahu that Israel cannot fight the world
alone. This is not an easy tale. The devil thrives in the details after all. The
situation demands that the American leadership continues to rein in the
hotheads. It must continue to show good leadership and listen to the advice of
partners and mediators. These are the days of Trump. The scene in Sharm
El-Sheikh will concern the people of the region and beyond, including the armed
factions and leaders of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, Hezbollah in
Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. This is an attempt to reshape the Middle East
and only the final outcome will demonstrate whether it has been a success.
**Ghassan Charbel is editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper. X: @GhasanCharbel
Saudi Policy Two Years After the 'Al-Aqsa Flood'
Hassan Al Mustafa/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 13/2025
The “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation launched by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the
subsequent genocidal Israeli war that went on for two years were a pivotal
moment for Middle Eastern politics and security. This period demanded the
development of new, more effective, flexible, and robust approaches to
confronting Israel’s hubris on one hand and Iran’s fragmentation efforts on the
other, as well as the humanitarian plight of the Palestinians. These shifting
realities have placed immense pressure on the region’s key Arab states.
For Saudi Arabia, with its profound Islamic standing and historical association
with the Palestinian cause since the time of its founder, King Abdulaziz bin
Abdulrahman, taking on this responsibility was unavoidable. Taking the
initiative is the destiny of influential nations: the policy of withdrawal and
mere observation from the sidelines has never been an option for the leadership
in Riyadh.
Accordingly, Saudi foreign policy has closely and carefully adapted to recent
developments without reacting impulsively. Policy, after all, cannot be built on
sentiment or impulse, especially given the Israeli frenzy fueled by extremist
religious visions and a sense of invincibility. Thus, Riyadh worked quietly,
deliberately, and transparently to create a regional security network that
eventually drew in influential partners, such as France. As a result, an
international consensus was formed around the two-state solution at the “New
York Conference.”
That consensus paved the way for US President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the
war in Gaza. It was not a decision made overnight at the White House; rather,
the plan is the culmination of political efforts by Saudi Arabia and several
influential Arab, Islamic, and European states. Together, they highlighted
Palestinians’ suffering and the unbearable conditions that the global conscience
cannot ignore, seizing the moment to shatter Israel’s long-standing victimhood
narrative and to present the Palestinian narrative to the world. Within this
framework, the Kingdom and its partners presented the two-state solution as a
credible path toward peace and ensuring security for everyone in the Middle
East.
Peace cannot be built on “tolerating” occupation and its practices. It can only
emerge through tangible steps that address the root of the problem, that is, by
granting Palestinians their rights. Only then can forgiveness begin, whereby
everyone can bury their grudges and their dead in peace, to enter a new era with
less hostility, more humanity, and more cooperation- an era in which states
compete through legitimate and internationally accepted means.
The most significant reaffirmation of this policy came from Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman in his Shura Council ( Consultative Assembly of Saudi
Arabia) address in September 2024: “The Kingdom will never abandon its diligent
efforts to establish of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as
its capital,” before adding that “The Kingdom will not establish diplomatic
relations with Israel before this condition is met.”
This principle has become an axis of Riyadh’s foreign policy. Normalization on
Israel’s time is no longer an option; it is now contingent upon concrete results
on the ground and actionable toward recognizing the Palestinians and their
legitimate rights.
Alongside these political and legal positions, Saudi Arabia has sustained a
two-year humanitarian effort. As of July 30, the Kingdom had dispatched 58
aircraft and 8 ships carrying 7,188 tons of aid to the Gaza Strip despite
Israel’s systematic effort to hinder relief efforts and viciously weaponize
starvation.
Saudi Arabia has also warned against the expansion of settlements in the West
Bank and the repeated incursions of extremist religious groups into the Al-Aqsa
Mosque compound. Riyadh has strongly condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran and
Qatar, as well as reiterating its condemnations of Israel’s ongoing assaults in
Syria and Lebanon. That is, the Kingdom's discourse has stressed that peace in
the Middle East cannot be ensured piecemeal. Ongoing unrest in one region
inevitably and automatically leads to a spike in violence elsewhere.
Of course, these policies seeking peace cannot achieve their aims alone. Saudi
Arabia does not have a magic wand capable of transforming hard realities
overnight. Accordingly, the Kingdom requires the genuine cooperation of all
nations truly committed to peace. Only global cooperation can allow for
developing practical, enforceable plans that compel Israel to fully respect its
obligations and the provisions of President Trump’s proposal. Otherwise, it will
begin to abandon its commitments after the “first phase,” reneging on its
pledges once it retrieves the hostages held by Hamas, both living and dead. Any
steps away from de-escalation could draw actors into the conflict and place the
entire Middle East’s security at risk. In the days ahead, Riyadh will have
extensive diplomatic work to do. It must take a series of concrete measures:
expanding and strengthening partnerships with new partners to support the
Palestinian state’s efforts to avoid international isolation, systematically
utilizing international courts to confront Israeli human rights violations and
strip them of their claim to legitimacy, and insisting on Israel’s
accountability for the “crimes against humanity” it has committed during the
Gaza war.
At the same time, it is essential to build a balanced, preemptive security
strategy adapted to the recent regional shifts, allowing the Gulf region to
become more resilient in the face of future Israeli aggression, like that which
we saw in the Qatari capital, Doha.
Saudi policy has never been as dynamic as it is today. The Kingdom has
demonstrated an impressive capacity for translating stated positions into
frameworks that cannot be ignored. Nonetheless, the challenges remain enormous,
and addressing them does not depend on Saudi Arabia alone, it is the
responsibility of all international actors.
After Gaza’s Deal, A Momentum in the Region for More
Peace Stability in Syria, Lebanon
Seth J. Frantzman/This is Beirut/October 13/2025
U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a peace deal to end the Gaza war has
proven to be initially successful. He was able to bring together delegations
from Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Israel, and Hamas in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh in
mid-October. In the wake of the deal, Trump flew to Israel and Egypt and chaired
a peace summit alongside Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on October 13.
More than twenty countries were invited to the event alongside numerous European
countries and several countries from Asia and the Americas.
Opportunities for Regional Stability
There is a sense in the region that there is an opportunity to build on the Gaza
peace deal to work on broader practical steps that could increase stability in
the Middle East. For instance, Egypt’s Al-Ahram daily noted on October 12 that
the Egyptian presidential office has said the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit “aims to
end the war on the Gaza Strip, strengthen efforts to achieve peace and stability
in the Middle East, and open a new phase for regional security and
stability.”The attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, set in motion a number of
conflicts around the region. Israeli officials have described this as a war on
at least seven fronts. Among the fronts was the Israeli fight against Hezbollah,
which peaked between September and November 2024 and resulted in a ceasefire in
Lebanon. In the wake of the ceasefire, Lebanon has secured new leadership in the
form of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who have sought to
move forward with disarming Hezbollah and other armed groups.
Ongoing Threat from Hezbollah
As long as Hezbollah keeps its arms and appears to pose a continued threat to
Israel, it is likely that the Israel Defense Forces will continue precision
strikes on the group. For instance, on October 12 the IDF said that “yesterday,
in the area of Qalaouiyah in southern Lebanon, the IDF struck and eliminated a
terrorist in the Hezbollah terrorist organization who took part in attempts to
reestablish Hezbollah military infrastructure sites in southern Lebanon.”
Members of Hezbollah have complained about the airstrikes and vowed not to give
up their arms. They claim they will “not submit” to U.S. or Israeli pressure.
The peace deal in Gaza and the Sharm el-Sheikh meetings mean that it's possible
Lebanon could see this as an opportunity to disarm Hezbollah or at least take
some initial steps in this direction. It also means that if the ceasefire holds
in Gaza, Israel will be able to focus more on making sure Hezbollah does not
re-emerge as a threat.
Stability Efforts in Syria
Across the border, in Syria, there are also important moves being made toward
stability. The new transition government of Ahmed al-Shara’a came to power in
the wake of the fall of the Assad regime. It has struggled to assert itself over
the last 11 months. Its largest challenge has been in trying to incorporate
regions with minorities into the new central government. This has included
clashes in Lattakia in March with members of the Alawite minority and clashes in
July with the Druze in Suwayda. Israel has vowed to support the Druze in
southern Syria. Damascus has also been trying to find a way to integrate eastern
Syria within the new transitional governance framework. Eastern Syria is run by
the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), and
it is secured by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. The SDF is a mostly
Kurdish-led force and has tens of thousands of trained fighters who helped
defeat ISIS over the last decade. Led by Mazlum Abdi, the group has been trying
to figure out a way to fulfill a roadmap by Abdi and Shara’a in March to
integrate the SDF into Damascus-run security forces. “Commander-in-Chief of the
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, announced on Friday that the SDF
will begin formal procedures to join a new Syrian army being established as part
of the implementation of the March 10 Agreement,” North Press in eastern Syria
reported on October 11.
The announcement followed an important meeting in Damascus on October 7 between
Shara’a, U.S. Syria Envoy Tom Barrack, and U.S. Central Command head Admiral
Brad Cooper. This meeting was seen as a way to make sure that the “fragile”
March agreement would continue to move forward. It’s clear that between the
October 7 meeting and the October 11 statement, the SDF sees a clearer path
forward to working with Damascus. It’s possible that the Gaza agreement, signed
in the late hours of October 8 in Sinai, may have helped push forward progress
in Syria. Abdi said on October 11 that the victories achieved by the SDF “are
the result of the support and unity of the Syrian people in all their
components, and their backing of our national project to combat terrorism…will
play a key role in building this new army and will be an integral and strong
part of it.” There is now talk of a joint force of Damascus-backed forces and
the SDF, which will work with the US against ISIS cells in Syria. This would
enable the kind of capacity building necessary to enable SDF units to broaden
their work with Damascus. This is a major shift from a week prior when the SDF
and Damascus were clashing near Aleppo.
It's important to look at the progress in Syria between the SDF and Damascus as
part of a larger trend. Stabilizing Syria will enable greater cooperation
against ISIS and also enable the U.S. to play a continued positive role in Syria
while also potentially reducing the role of U.S. troops in Syria, which can then
concentrate on other issues, such as reconstruction. Movement toward lifting
sanctions on Syria has enabled investment. Damascus has also recently sent
envoys to Beirut and Ankara. To achieve the Gaza deal, Trump worked closely with
Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, and Israel. Other countries have also praised this deal as
paving the way for reconstruction in Gaza. The war in Gaza had led to
uncertainty in the region. The possibility that this uncertainty will be reduced
potentially leads to a focus on how to resolve other challenges. Lebanon and
Syria represent two key countries, long entwined by history, where progress
might be made on issues that have been at an impasse over the past year. This
will also affect their neighbors, such as Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and Turkey.
Washington’s engagement with Ankara regarding Gaza, as well as with Syria
involving the SDF, appears to already be getting dividends from the Gaza deal.
The main question will be whether the new wind blowing in the region will
continue to enable progress.
Is the global economy as resilient as it seems?
Eswar Prasad and Caroline Smiltneks/Arab News/October 13, 2025
Although the global economy has proven surprisingly resilient in the face of US
President Donald Trump’s tariff war and other severe challenges, cracks in the
foundation are beginning to appear. The October update of the Brookings-FT
Tracking Indexes for the Global Economic Recovery reveals an economic landscape
that seems benign in some ways but unsettled in others, with household and
business confidence weighed down by uncertainty about trade policy, political
upheavals in many countries and geopolitical volatility. Advanced economies are
grappling with rising debt burdens, aging populations and political gridlock,
while emerging market economies, despite being helped somewhat by a weaker
dollar (which alleviates financing pressures), are showing signs of strain.
Trump’s tariffs and the protectionist tendencies they have triggered are
rippling through labor markets and dampening consumer demand around the world,
compounding structural weaknesses in trade-dependent economies. Meanwhile,
financial markets, which were initially spooked by America’s erratic trade
policies, are forging ahead, with equity indexes across the world reaching new
highs even as growth prospects weaken. In the US, stock prices have been
bolstered by exuberance about the potential benefits of artificial intelligence.
The US Federal Reserve’s room for maneuver is becoming increasingly constrained
by the recent uptick in inflation
Eswar Prasad and Caroline Smiltneks
Still, the US economic expansion is losing steam as the White House’s erratic
economic policies, harsh immigration enforcement tactics and cuts in social
expenditures take a toll on growth and employment. While the probability of a
recession in the US remains low, aggregate labor market indicators (some of
which had masked weakness in the manufacturing sector) now look less robust than
they did a couple of months ago. Inflation remains in check, so far, but that
will change when companies can no longer absorb the cost of Trump’s tariffs and
are forced to pass them on to consumers. The US Federal Reserve’s room for
maneuver is becoming increasingly constrained by the recent uptick in inflation,
a weakening labor market and explicit political pressures to cut policy rates.
In the eurozone, core economies are floundering, with Germany facing a potential
third consecutive year of economic contraction. The German economy is
confronting a loss of manufacturing competitiveness and skill shortages and a
revival of industrial production has done little to reverse the decline in job
numbers or boost private spending. Meanwhile, France is on the brink of a fiscal
crisis driven by excessive public spending, with political turmoil impeding
essential reforms. The Chinese economy has maintained stable aggregate growth
but the expansion has become increasingly unbalanced
Eswar Prasad and Caroline Smiltneks
There are a few bright spots. Southern European countries, especially Italy,
Spain and Greece, have continued to improve their fiscal positions and benefit
from robust service sector performance and wage growth. Elsewhere, growth in the
UK has flatlined as a beleaguered Labour government struggles to deal with high
living costs and strained public services, which have reduced confidence. In
Japan, rising inflation has prompted a shift to hawkish monetary policy, despite
the danger of a decline in global demand and the risks that tariff uncertainty
pose to its export-oriented economy. South Korea is already confronting weak
domestic household demand and its export growth could soon be dented if high
tariffs hit its automobile and chip exports. The Chinese economy has maintained
stable aggregate growth but the expansion has become increasingly unbalanced.
Weak household demand and cutthroat corporate competition, known as involution,
have resulted in persistent deflationary pressures, even as exports to non-US
markets have continued to grow rapidly. While the Chinese government’s
anti-involution drive aims to restrain competition that is destructive to
corporate profits, it has not been accompanied by policy stimulus or reforms to
boost consumption demand. China’s equity markets have surged, fueled by an AI
boom and government measures aimed at encouraging retail investors to
participate in stock markets. The housing market, though, is still unraveling
and remains a drag on private sector confidence. India’s economy continues to
post strong growth, driven by a resilient urban consumer base and high levels of
manufacturing investment. Falling inflation and disciplined fiscal policy have
created room for monetary easing, if needed, to support growth. The challenge of
creating jobs for its young and expanding workforce, however, has intensified
following the sudden, unexpected turmoil in US-India economic relations. With
this development, India may have lost some of its luster as a destination for
foreign investors.
At the same time, soaring military outlays and falling energy prices have
dampened Russia’s growth prospects, following several years in which its economy
had successfully weathered Western sanctions. And emerging markets in Latin
America continue to contend with low growth and large current-account deficits.
Brazil’s economy is slowing, owing to lower household consumption and falling
investment, while Mexico has fared better, with resilient exports and easing
inflation supporting a modest expansion. That said, weak investment, policy
uncertainty and exposure to US tariff risks have tempered growth momentum. In
short, despite rising geopolitical risk and enormous uncertainty, economic
growth has been surprisingly stable in most of the world. But as growth slows,
even moderately, structural issues that have been simmering beneath the surface
will become harder to ignore. For now, however, the divergence between growth
prospects and equity market performance suggests a more benign outlook, perhaps
buoyed by the transformative potential of AI and the hope of less uncertainty
about trade, even if tariff barriers settle at a higher level than in the
pre-Trump period.
Policymakers need to use this period of relative calm to push forward with
reforms and disciplined policies. Doing so will improve their economies’
resilience in the face of greater volatility engendered by the breakdown of the
rules-based order.
**Eswar Prasad is Professor of Economics at Cornell University and a senior
fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Caroline Smiltneks is an undergraduate at Cornell University.
Copyright: Project Syndicate
The path from ceasefire to permanent peace
Chris Doyle/Arab News/October 13, 2025
If all goes according to the script, the first three stages of the Trump peace
proposal will be enacted in the early part of this week. A ceasefire, temporary
but hopefully to become permanent, has already taken effect. Limited aid has
finally been allowed into Gaza. Hostages and detainees are now being released.
What exists is a pause in hostilities, plus, in fairness, a clear determination
among many actors, including US President Donald Trump and regional powers, to
bring it all to an end. The position of Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition is
ambivalent at best. Deciphering the views within a fractured Hamas is tougher to
gauge. How can this pause be translated into a permanent ceasefire and this
conflict ultimately shifted onto a path to peace? What should and should not be
done? Let’s start with the immediate.
First, if a ceasefire takes hold, attention must not flag. This will require
focus and determination for the long term. Politics in the 21st century lacks
these qualities. World leaders are easily distracted. The lesson of previous
wars on Gaza is that grand statements in the wake of a ceasefire are all too
quickly forgotten and a dangerous status quo can be allowed to fester. None of
the root causes were addressed in the past.
It needs more than sustained focus, it needs results — a sense of moving forward
the whole time. Second, the momentum needs to be sustained with regular moves
forward. President Trump has banged heads together. Bringing the parties to
Egypt may work out in this peace summit. He has created momentum, albeit with
little sense as to the ultimate direction. But it needs more than sustained
focus, it needs results — a sense of moving forward the whole time. The
situation in Gaza has to improve day in, day out.
Third, everyone must be careful not to get drawn into the hype. The authors and
architects of this plan have a vested interest in overplaying what has been
achieved so far. This is not everlasting peace, as much as a ceasefire is
desirable. It is not even a peace deal. It covers just Gaza, not the full
conflict. The risk of this is to downplay the far tougher challenges ahead.
Fourth, the 20 points announced by Trump, negotiated with Netanyahu, must be
revised. Three areas need to be addressed.
The first and arguably most serious is the total absence of Palestinian agency.
The state of Palestine should be represented in all talks, starting now in
Egypt. As Hamas has no role to play in the future of Gaza, beyond the issue of
its disarming, it should have no role in determining Gaza’s future. For all the
undoubted flaws of the Palestinian Authority, it has a structure and capability.
Palestinians are the first to want its reform, not the outside powers, but
progress must not be slowed to wait for this.
Palestinians must be at the center of determining the future of Gaza, including
who governs it, who oversees the reconstruction, who gets the contracts and who
negotiates with Israel.
Palestinians must be at the center of determining the future of Gaza, including
who governs it.Those countries that have recognized the state of Palestine over
the last few months should be leading on this. Palestine cannot be the one state
not represented in talks.
Related to this is that the Trump plan must be broadened to include the West
Bank. It cannot be a comprehensive approach if Gaza is treated as a separate
enclave. Gaza is part of the occupied state of Palestine. Even under the Oslo
Accords, the two areas were determined to be one single territorial unit.
Netanyahu and his coterie of anti-Palestinian ministers want to ensure complete
separation geographically, demographically, economically and politically. The PA
is therefore deliberately excluded. The Palestinian technocratic authority in
Gaza will have zero relationship with Ramallah. There is no reference to safe
passage between Gaza and the West Bank in the 20 points. As it stands,
Palestinians will not be able to travel and trade between the two areas. All
this must be challenged and from the start, this week in Egypt. Moreover, the
crimes in the West Bank, particularly massive settlement expansion and settler
violence, must be halted and reversed. The third absentee is justice and
accountability. What message does it sent to the world that genocide and crimes
against humanity can be perpetrated with no cost? The cases at the International
Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice must be backed. Those who
committed crimes must be held to account. Businesses that aided and abetted the
crimes should have no part in the reconstruction.
Regional actors should make their participation in the Trump plan conditional on
all of the above. States should only commit funds and troops to the
stabilization force if a state of Palestine is the clear destination, if
Palestinians run their own affairs free from external control, and justice and
accountability is at the heart of the way forward.
These states have leverage with Trump. Their funds and forces are an integral
part of his route forward. It is time to make sure it all goes down the right
path.
**Chris Doyle is director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding in
London. X: @Doylech
Selected English Tweets from X Platform For
13
October/2025
Dr Walid Phares
Told @NEWSMAX that it is urgent after the release of the hostages, to send in an
international regional force to Gaza to separate Hamas from Israel, and start
the process of disarming the jihadi militia.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff
I wondered if I would ever see this day. It’s deeply gratifying to know that so
many families will finally have their loved ones home. Today, twenty families
are spared the unbearable pain of not knowing if they will ever see their loved
ones again. But even in this moment of relief and happiness, my heart aches for
those whose loved ones will not return alive. Bringing their bodies home is a
must and an act of dignity and honors their memory forever. I can’t help but
feel the presence of my son Andrew at this moment. I am profoundly grateful for
the indomitable spirit of President Trump. This day would not have been possible
without him.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff
I would like to acknowledge the vital role of the United Kingdom in assisting
and coordinating efforts that have led us to this historic day in Israel. In
particular, I want to recognize the incredible input and tireless efforts of
National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell.