English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For October 18/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers
are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his
harvest
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint
Luke 10/01-07/:"After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on
ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.
He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore
ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your
way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no
purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you
enter, first say, "Peace to this house!" And if anyone is there who shares in
peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.
Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the
labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house."
Titles For The Latest English
LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October
17-18/2025
Aouraba or Cosmoarabisme Is Not Arabism —
The Two Are Entirely Different/Elias Bejjani/March 06/2025
Exposing Hezbollah’s Lies and Mythical Victories: Neither Did It Liberate the
South in 2000, Nor Did It Win the 2006 War/Elias Bejjani/October 16/2025
Video Link for an: Interview from "Spot Shot" Youtube Platform with Dr. Charles
Chartouni
The Smoke of Negotiations from Baabda and Ain el-Tineh
UN Security Council adopts statement urging Lebanon and Israel to respect
ceasefire agreement
US Central Command chief lauds Lebanese Army's efforts
Reports: Aoun receives message calling for direct talks with Israel
Israeli drone strike kills one in Khirbet Selm
UN rapporteur says deadly Israel strikes on vehicles in Lebanon could be war
crimes
Israeli strike targets vehicle in South Lebanon's Khirbet Selm resulting in
injuries
Factories burn with millions in losses: Israeli strikes paralyze reconstruction
in South Lebanon
Salam meets Aoun and Berri
Health Ministry says new Tannourine samples taken from market uncontaminated
Lebanon says economy turning page but reforms needed
Musa al-Sadr: The full story
Lebanese judge orders Hannibal Gaddafi’s release
Lebanese judge orders Hannibal Gadhafi's release on $11 million bail
Hannibal Gaddafi admits possession of altered photo of Nabih Berri, says arrest
served 'own interests'
Hannibal Gaddafi's lawyer tells AFP will challenge $11 mn bail
Iran condemns Israeli strike on Lebanon
UN Security Council backs Lebanon’s efforts to assert sovereignty, calls for
global support of army
Between “Arabization” and “Iranization”… The Loss of the Christian Role in the
Arab East/Dr. Dureid Bashrawi/Nidaa Al-Watan/October 17/2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on October
17-18/2025
Trump says Saudi officials willing to join
Abraham Accords, has had ‘very good conversations’ with them
Hamas urges mediators to push for next steps under ceasefire
UN says will take time to ‘scale back’ famine in Gaza after Israel allows aid
Phase one complete in Gaza ceasefire deal, stabilization force being prepped: US
advisors
Hamas aims to keep grip on Gaza security and can’t commit to disarm, senior
official says
Turkish experts awaiting Israel’s permission to enter Gaza to help recover
bodies
Hamas says committed to ceasefire, will return bodies of hostages in Gaza
EU eyes helping disarm Hamas under Trump plan
Under Trump's watch: Israel gives Hamas ultimatum on hostages' bodies
Pakistani strikes hit Afghanistan, truce ‘broken’: Taliban official
Britain’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York, reacts as he arrives at St. George’s
Chapel,
New Zealand reimposes sanctions on Iran over nuclear non-compliance
Trump suggests too soon for Tomahawks in talks with Zelensky
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources
on October
17-18/2025
Urgently Needed for Europe: Pro-Growth Business Climate/Grégoire
Canlorbe/Gatestone Institute./October 17, 2025
How Turkiye emerged as a key guarantor for Gaza/Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab
News/October 17, 2025
Europe must do more to reduce its dependence on Russian energy/Luke Coffey/Arab
News/October 17, 2025
How impunity transformed Janjaweed from militia to political power/Areig
Elhag/Arab News/October 17, 2025
Selected English Tweets from X Platform For 17 October/2025
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October
17-18/2025
Aouraba or Cosmoarabisme Is Not Arabism — The Two
Are Entirely Different
Elias Bejjani/March 06/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/140944/
The term “Aouraba” (Cosmoarabisme العوربة), coined by Lebanese journalist and
politician Nowfal Daou, expresses a concept that is fundamentally different from
traditional Arabism (العروبة)—the ideology promoted by the Arab nationalist
movement led by Gamal Abdel Nasser and the Muslim Brotherhood.
To understand the distinctions between the two, we can summarize them as
follows:
1. Traditional Arabism (Arab Nationalism)
Emerged as a political and ideological project aimed at uniting Arab states
under a single nationalist identity.
Focused on cultural and identity-based unity, believing that all Arabic-speaking
peoples belong to one nation, regardless of political or economic differences.
Adopted a centralized socialist approach to the economy, with the state
controlling major sectors.
Took a hostile stance toward the West and Israel, framing Arab nationalism as a
struggle against “colonialism and Zionism.”
Supported nationalist movements such as the Baath Party and Nasserism, and was
often tied to Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, who used Arabism as a
bridge for their political-Islamic project.
2. Aouraba-Cosmoarabisme (According to Nowfal Daou)
A modern economic and political concept that focuses on economic integration
among Arab countries rather than forced ideological or political unification.
Views Arabism as an economic and mutual-interest bond, not as a cultural or
nationalist identity imposed on peoples.
Advocates economic openness and cooperative development based on shared
interests, free from ideological frameworks such as Nasserism or political
Islam.
Rejects linking Arabism to confrontation or isolation, instead calling for Arab
alliances built on development, modernization, and constructive engagement with
the West.
Criticizes regimes and movements that have used Arabism to justify
authoritarianism, repression, and destructive dictatorial projects that harmed
Arab societies.
The Fundamental Difference
Traditional Arabism was an ideological and political doctrine seeking to merge
Arab states under centralized authority—often associated with repressive regimes
and closed economies.
In contrast, Aouraba, as presented by Nowfal Daou, offers a modern, pragmatic
vision that promotes integration based on mutual interests rather than imposed
identity, emphasizing cooperation, openness, and progress instead of conflict
and division.
In essence, Aouraba represents a realistic and forward-looking alternative to
the old model of Arabism—free from empty slogans and failed projects that led
only to wars, tyranny, and economic collapse.
Exposing Hezbollah’s Lies and Mythical
Victories: Neither Did It Liberate the South in 2000, Nor Did It Win the 2006
War
Elias Bejjani/October 16/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/148263/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueIlXYmCeFA
The terrorist Iranian armed proxy, Hezbollah’s leaders, members, officials, and
religious figures falsely claim to be the most honorable, intelligent, pure, and
devout people. Yet, they have never been ashamed of their absolute, public, and
brazen subservience to Iran’s rulers and the doctrine of the Supreme Leader
(Iranian Guardianship of the Jurist/Velayat-e faqih). In this doctrine, there is
no allegiance to Lebanon as a state, its constitution, or its borders—just as is
the case with the followers of this religious ideology in Syria, Iraq, and
Yemen. Their only and absolute loyalty is to Iran.
In reality, they live in a delusional state, feeding on fantasies,
hallucinations, and daydreams, completely detached from the reality of military
and scientific capabilities—whether their own or those possessed by Israel, the
United States, and the Western nations they label as “the Great Satan”
(America), “the Little Satan” (Israel), and “infidels” (any country not under
their control).
This hostile culture of betrayal, division, and slander has never ceased since
Iran and Hafez al-Assad’s regime established Hezbollah in 1982. During Syria’s
occupation of Lebanon, Hezbollah was handed control over Shiite-populated areas
through force and terror. One of the bloodiest milestones was the battle of
Iqlim al-Tuffah in March 1988, where Hezbollah eradicated the Amal Movement’s
military presence, killing more than 1,200 fighters, and leaving thousands
wounded and maimed, thus ending Amal’s military existence and subjugating it
entirely to Hezbollah’s Iranian agenda.
Hassan Nasrallah, Hashem Safieddine, Naim Qassem, Nabil Qaouq, Mohammad Raad,
Hussein Mousawi, and the rest of the leaders of this misguided faction—both the
living and the dead—deluded themselves into believing that their Persian empire
project was within reach. Yet, this illusion is collapsing under relentless
blows, their leaders are being eliminated, their strongholds are being
destroyed, and their so-called “supportive environment”—which is in fact a
hostage population—is turning against them.
Hezbollah, its members—whether civilian, military, or clerical—do not belong to
Lebanon, to Arab identity, or to any nation. They are entirely detached from
reality and from all that is humane. They have built castles of illusions,
locked themselves inside, hearing only their own voices and seeing only their
own reflections. To them, anyone different is nonexistent, and in their
extremist ideology, the blood of Lebanese, Syrians, and Arabs is permissible.
With every crime, explosion, assassination, and defeat, their arrogance and
impudence only increase. They are indifferent to the suffering of others, taking
sadistic pleasure in it, celebrating tragedies by distributing sweets. They have
taken their own sect hostage, turning its youth into cannon fodder for Iran’s
reckless wars in Syria, Yemen, and beyond.
They believe they can humiliate and subjugate the Lebanese people, forgetting
that Lebanon, a civilization over 7,000 years old, has crushed, expelled, and
humiliated all invaders and outlaws like them. The last of these was Assad’s
army, which was disgracefully expelled in 2005.
Hezbollah is practically finished at the hands of Israel, backed by Arab and
Western powers. It will not rise again. The unprecedented human and economic
losses it has inflicted on Lebanon’s Shiite community guarantee that, once the
Lebanese state regains its sovereignty, the people will turn against Hezbollah
and reject it. For this reason, all those involved in public affairs—especially
in the Lebanese Diaspora—must understand that any Lebanese, whether expatriate
or resident, who supports or collaborates with Hezbollah under any pretext is an
enemy of Lebanon, its sovereignty, identity, and independence.
The Myth of “Liberating” the South and “Victory” in the 2006 War
The terrorist-Jihadist Hezbollah that claims to be a resistance and liberation
movement has never been either of the two, but merely a military Iranian proxy.
The narrative of the “liberation of the south” in 2000 is nothing but a colossal
lie, as Israel withdrew from Lebanon by an internal decision, after its presence
became costly and futile, and Hezbollah did not play a decisive role in that. As
for the 2006 war, the results were catastrophic for Lebanon, where more than
1,200 Lebanese were killed, infrastructure was destroyed, and the Shiite
environment was completely devastated. Hezbollah did not achieve any victory,
but all of Lebanon emerged defeated and destroyed… and the, the catastrophic,
the disastrous, and the complete defeat of its foolish recent war against
Israel in support of Hamas in Gaza, has led to its end and to the entire world
standing behind the necessity of implementing international resolutions related
to Lebanon 1559, 1680, and 1701, which stipulate its disarmament, the
dismantling of its military institutions, and the extension of Lebanese state
authority by its own forces over all Lebanese territories, and confining the
decision of war and peace to the Lebanese state alone.
Based on well-documented Lebanese, Arab, Israeli, and international facts,
Hezbollah neither liberated the South nor won the 2006 war. It is certainly not
a resistance movement nor an opposition force. It is, in fact, Lebanon’s
foremost enemy, as well as that of all Arabs. It must be dealt with accordingly,
along with all its allies—politicians, parties, officials, and clerics. Any
other approach is sheer foolishness and self-deception.
In conclusion, Hezbollah has destroyed Lebanon, impoverished its people,
displaced them, and turned the country into an arms depot and a launch pad for
Iran’s futile wars.
Lebanon can only be saved by dismantling Hezbollah, disarming it, arresting its
leaders, and holding them accountable for the devastation they have inflicted on
the nation.
Video Link for an: Interview from "Spot Shot" Youtube
Platform with Dr. Charles Chartouni
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/148287/
I Left Lebanon After an Assassination Attempt — U.S. Official David Schenker
Informed Me and Saved My Life.
Lebanon’s Exclusion from the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit Reflects Growing Political
Isolation.
The Current Parliament Is Fake and Politically Immature.
Claims of Disarming Hezbollah Are False and Deceptive.
We Reject Elections Under in the presence of weapons and the Exclusion of
Expats.
To the Minister of Justice: Act or Go Home.
Interview Text Summary
Spot Shot – October 17, 2025
In an exclusive interview with Spot Shot, political writer and university
professor Dr. Charles Chartouni made a series of bold political statements
addressing regional developments—especially the repercussions of the recent
Sharm el-Sheikh Summit and its direct impact on Lebanon. He warned of potential
radical political and geographical transformations that could affect southern
Lebanon and the western Beqaa.
Chartouni described the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit as a foundational turning point,
asserting that what happened in Gaza “will either continue in Lebanon—or it will
stop altogether,” noting that Lebanon has effectively entered the Gaza track, a
process that could trigger territorial and political readjustments in some
Lebanese regions.
In a sharp criticism of the state and the army’s performance in the south,
Chartouni labeled the claims about disarming Hezbollah and surrendering its
weapons as false and deceptive, accusing the officials involved of lacking
credibility. Referring to the Lebanese army chief Rudolf Hekel, he remarked
bluntly: “He and the one who appointed him should both go home.”
Chartouni further said that Lebanon’s exclusion from the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit
reflects its growing political isolation, stressing that the regional order
cannot be built through Iranian participation. Addressing Lebanese politicians,
he declared: “You are finished—nothing.”
Chartouni launched a fierce attack on Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, calling
him “the great hypocrite” who “plays on multiple strings,” urging a complete
boycott of any communication with him. Chertouni described the current Lebanese
Parliament as fake and composed of politically immature figures, calling for a
boycott of the upcoming elections, stating that “the time of tolerance is over.”
In an escalatory tone toward the Lebanese state, Chartouni announced that his
team plans to take actions against the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, saying:
“We will sever all relations with it and make this public.”
Chartouni also revealed that he left Lebanon following an assassination attempt,
explaining that U.S. official David Schenker had informed him and saved his
life. He held Judge Zaher Hamadeh responsible for the arrest warrant issued
against him and accused several security and judicial officials of being
involved in what he described as a “plot,” naming Tony Saliba, Hassan Chqair,
and Labib Saad.
Chartouni concluded the interview with a stern message to the Minister of
Justice:
“Act, or go home.”
For more details, watch this full episode of “Wajhat Nazar” on Spot Shot.
(NB: Free translation from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
The Smoke of Negotiations from Baabda and Ain el-Tineh
Nidaa Al-Watan / October 18, 2025 (Translated from Arabic)
The three presidents were preoccupied yesterday with searching for ways to
negotiate with Israel to commit to a ceasefire and withdraw from the points it
occupies in the South. In contrast, Israel continued its raids, targeting
everything connected to "Hezbollah," both civilian and security-related. Between
Lebanon and Israel, Washington reiterated the priority of disarming "Hezbollah,"
bypassing approaches, including the position of President of the Republic Jozef
Aoun to proceed with indirect negotiations and for Israel to halt its military
operations. Nidaa Al-Watan learned from a diplomatic source that the US
administration, in its recent communications with Lebanese officials, was
listening to their justifications for not immediately proceeding with disarming
"the Party," repeatedly telling them: "Do your job." For its part, circles close
to Lebanese-American relations indicated that President Aoun linked negotiations
to a halt of the Israeli targeting, but the United States rejected this.
Therefore, the negotiations proposed by the President do not appear viable, as
the United States and Israel refuse to stop the targeting as long as "Hezbollah"
remains armed.
Two Meetings in Baabda and Ain el-Tineh
While President Aoun is leaving Beirut today heading to Rome, to return Sunday
evening, Nidaa Al-Watan learned that the Baabda meeting, which brought together
the President of the Republic with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam yesterday,
included raising all issues, foremost among them the indirect negotiation with
Israel. An agreement was reached to follow up on this file, monitor external
reactions, and coordinate the efforts of mediators, especially Washington, to
ensure the success of the mission and for Lebanon to gain its rights. They also
discussed the Gaza agreement, its impact on Lebanon, and the necessity of close
follow-up of the important developments in the region, starting from Gaza.
"Ain el-Tineh" Circles and Handing Over Weapons
For his part, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met with Prime Minister Salam at
the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain el-Tineh. "Ain el-Tineh" circles told
Nidaa Al-Watan that "the handing over of weapons is proceeding smoothly" (māshi
‘ala al-nā’em - meaning secretly/gradually). They revealed "preparations for
indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel," coordinated between
Presidents Aoun and Berri.
In Washington, a US military source confirmed that disarmament is extremely
important for the overall security landscape in Lebanon, indicating that
"removing 'Hezbollah's' weapons from circulation reduces Lebanon's exposure to
Israeli military action."
Clarification from the Presidency's Media Office
The Media Office of the Presidency of the Republic clarified that President
Aoun's position on the option of negotiation to achieve stability and security
in the country is what he announced in his meeting with the Association of
Economic Editors, and all interpretations, suggestions, or deliberations issued
regarding this matter are merely analyses and conjectures that do not align with
reality.
"The Party" Stiffens its Stance Again
However, "Hezbollah" spoke again yesterday through MP Amin Sherri: "We have two
and a half months to see the changes between us and Israel, and then we will
give our opinion." He affirmed "the non-disarmament of the Party."
Cabinet Session on Thursday
Furthermore, the ground has been prepared for a Cabinet session next Thursday.
Its agenda will be set on Monday and is expected to include appointments in the
water resources administration and some appointments in the Ministry of Energy,
in addition to other appointments.
Release of Gaddafi
On another front, ten years after his detention in Beirut, Judicial Investigator
Zaher Hamadeh in the case of the kidnapping and disappearance of Imam Musa
al-Sadr approved the release of Hannibal Gaddafi, the son of the late Libyan
leader Muammar Gaddafi, in exchange for a bail of $11 million and a travel ban.
However, Hannibal's defense team considered that "his client does not possess
this amount and has been arbitrarily detained for 10 years without charge, and
this figure is illogical."
Security Council Supports Lebanon's Sovereignty
A diplomatic source revealed that the Security Council is set to adopt a
statement renewing support for "UNIFIL," calling for the full implementation of
Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 1559, and welcoming Lebanon's readiness to
demarcate its borders with Syria and its efforts to prevent smuggling."
On the Ground, one person was killed and others were injured by an Israeli raid
that targeted a vehicle in the town of Kharbet Selem, Bint Jbeil district, last
evening. Information indicated that the deceased was named Hassan Rahhal (Abu
Ali).
UN Security Council adopts statement urging Lebanon and
Israel to respect ceasefire agreement
Naharnet/17 October/2025
The U.N. Security Council on Friday adopted a statement calling on Lebanon and
Israel to respect the 2024 ceasefire agreement and for the instant
implementation of U.N. resolutions 1559 and 1701, Al-Jazeera reported. The
statement also welcomes the Lebanese government’s pledges to extend sovereignty
over its territory and urges the international community to support the Lebanese
Army to ensure its deployment south of the Litani River. Moreover, the statement
reiterates support for the UNIFIL peacekeeping force and asks all parties to
ensure the safety of its members, while welcoming Lebanon’s readiness to
demarcate its border with Syria and prevent smuggling.
US Central Command chief lauds Lebanese Army's efforts
Naharnet/17 October/2025
Senior military leaders from the United Nations and three countries gathered
Oct. 15 in Naqoura, Lebanon for the 11th Pentalateral meeting where officials
aligned priorities for “maintaining the cessation of hostilities in southern
Lebanon and the disarmament of Lebanese Hezbollah,” the U.S. Central Command
said. “Military leaders from the United States, France, United Nations Interim
Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) discussed the
LAF’s continued disarmament operations. The LAF has successfully removed nearly
10,000 rockets, almost 400 missiles, and over 205,000 unexploded ordnance
fragments during the past year,” CENTCOM said in a statement. “Our Lebanese
partners continue to lead the way in ensuring the disarmament of Lebanese
Hezbollah is successful,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central
Command. “We remain committed to supporting the LAF’s efforts as they work
tirelessly to strengthen regional security,” he added. Last week, Lt. Gen.
Joseph Clearfield became the senior U.S. military representative in Lebanon and
chairman of the Mechanism (ceasefire committee) during a ceremony in Beirut. The
Mechanism was established in November 2024 and is responsible for monitoring,
verifying and assisting the enforcement of commitments made by Israel and
Lebanon, including disarming Hezbollah. “We are working with the LAF, UNIFIL,
and our French and international partners to ensure the success of the cessation
framework,” said Clearfield. “We have a shared interest in preserving peace and
stability in Lebanon,” he added.
Reports: Aoun receives message calling for direct talks
with Israel
Naharnet/17 October/2025
President Joseph Aoun has received a message calling for direct negotiations
with Israel over the outstanding issues, diplomatic sources told Al-Jadeed TV.
Aoun, however, rejected direct negotiations, instead suggesting indirect talks,
a refusal that “was not welcomed in Washington,” the sources added. Al-Binaa
newspaper also quoted visitors of Aoun as saying that he has rejected indirect
negotiations with Israel, demanding instead “indirect negotiations through the
U.S. mediator and the U.N., as previously happened in the sea border demarcation
agreement.” The president is also “rejecting negotiation under fire and is
demanding the halt of Israeli attacks and full withdrawal from the South, after
which there would be negotiations through the Americans in order to fully
implement the ceasefire agreement,” the visitors added. Aoun is “awaiting a
visit to Lebanon by a U.S. envoy, which might happen soon, to ask them about
their solution proposals. He is also awaiting the second and third stages of the
Gaza ceasefire agreement as well as the U.S.-Iranian negotiations on the hope
that they might reflect positively on Lebanon,” the visitors said. Al-Binaa
meanwhile said that the new U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, will arrive
in Beirut in two weeks and will meet with President Joseph Aoun.
“He might be accompanied by U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus and they will
become the two diplomats in charge of the Lebanese file, while Tom Barrack will
focus again on the Syrian file,” the daily added.
Israeli drone strike kills one in Khirbet Selm
Naharnet/17 October/2025
One person was killed in an Israeli drone strike Friday on a car in the southern
town of Khirbet Selm. The attack comes a day after Israel carried out fierce
airstrikes across south Lebanon, in one of the heaviest bombing waves since the
November ceasefire.
Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon despite a November ceasefire, which
followed more than a year of hostilities with Iran-backed Hezbollah that
culminated in two months of open war.
UN rapporteur says deadly Israel strikes on vehicles in
Lebanon could be war crimes
Agence France Presse/17 October/2025
A United Nations special rapporteur told AFP on Friday that deadly Israeli
strikes on ostensibly civilian vehicles in Lebanon since last year's ceasefire
could amount to war crimes, despite Israel's assertion they targeted Hezbollah
members.
Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon in spite of the November 2024 truce, which
sought to end more than a year of hostilities with the Iran-backed group that
culminated in two months of open war. The Israeli military usually says it
targeted Hezbollah operatives or infrastructure with its strikes, dozens of
which have killed people travelling on Lebanese roads in cars and on motorbikes,
or occasionally using excavators. "Unless there is
compelling evidence that those civilian objects have dual (military)
objectives... the strikes are illegal," said Morris Tidball-Binz, U.N. special
rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
"The killings resulting from the attacks violate the right to life and
also the principles of precaution and proportionality and, in my opinion, also
amount to war crimes," he told AFP in a written statement. Lebanon's official
National News Agency on Friday reported unspecified casualties in an Israeli
strike targeting a car in the country's south. And on
Thursday, some of the heaviest Israeli raids since the ceasefire hit south
Lebanon, with the health ministry saying one person was killed and seven others
wounded. The Israeli military said it targeted
Hezbollah infrastructure and facilities used by an NGO under U.S. sanctions that
Israel considers a cover for the militant group.President Joseph Aoun said the
strikes targeted civilian facilities, condemning a ceasefire violation and "a
systematic policy aimed at destroying productive infrastructure" and hindering
the country's recovery. The south Lebanon water establishment said Friday the
raids had completely destroyed its strategic fuel depot. The stricken facility
"contained half a million liters of fuel oil" used to operate electricity
generators for water stations and wells, it said in a statement. At a heavily
damaged cement factory, sales manager Ali Khalifeh told AFP that "we are a 100
percent civilian complex". He said more than a dozen air strikes hit the site,
which "produces asphalt and concrete. It's one of the biggest asphalt mixers in
Lebanon." An AFP correspondent overnight saw firefighters battling a huge blaze
at the factory. "We had a huge quantity of liquid tar," Khalifeh said, adding:
"That's what blew up, in addition to the fuel oil and the diesel" and other
fuel. Last week, Israeli strikes targeted bulldozer
and excavator yards in south Lebanon's al-Msayleh area, destroying more than 300
pieces of machinery.
Israeli strike targets vehicle in South Lebanon's Khirbet
Selm resulting in injuries
LBCI/17 October/2025
An Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle on Friday in the El Tabbale region in
Khirbet Selm located in South Lebanon. According to local reports, the strike
resulted in several injured.
Factories burn with millions in losses: Israeli strikes
paralyze reconstruction in South Lebanon
LBCI/17 October/2025
Little remains of the asphalt and concrete plants in the town of Sinai in
Nabatieh, only ruins and wreckage. What is certain now is that the Israeli army
is systematically destroying engineering equipment, bulldozers, and factories
that could contribute to rebuilding South Lebanon. Around 9 p.m. Thursday, 14
airstrikes targeted the plants, igniting massive fires after one of the missiles
struck a storage tank containing liquid asphalt. Israel's repeated justification
for such attacks is that Hezbollah may use civilian construction facilities and
machinery to rebuild its military infrastructure—an argument that many in
Lebanon see as a pretext to block reconstruction through force and destruction.
This campaign against civilian economic infrastructure, used by both the
public and private sectors, is not new. About a week earlier, airstrikes hit
several bulldozers and construction sites in the Msayleh area. Workshops and
warehouses along both sides of the road were flattened, with damage extending to
nearby homes. According to a survey by the Council of the South, the estimated
losses reached around nine million dollars. Although the Msayleh attack was the
largest, it was not isolated. Since the announcement of the ceasefire, Israeli
airstrikes have continued to target construction and engineering equipment in
South Lebanon. Official statistics indicate that at least 36 such strikes have
taken place since January 26, 2025. Other major civilian losses occurred earlier
in Deir Seryan and Ansariyeh, where similar facilities were hit. The ongoing
economic devastation across South Lebanon, built on what many call flimsy
pretexts, has prompted renewed calls for countries sponsoring the ceasefire to
act and curb these violations.As for compensation, it remains pending. The
Msayleh damages file, submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office, is still
awaiting the return of the finance minister to review possible relief measures.
Salam meets Aoun and Berri
Naharnet/17 October/2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met Friday with President Joseph Aoun and Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss the latest developments in the country and the
region, including repeated Israeli strikes on the south. On Thursday, violent
Israeli strikes in the south killed one person and wounded seven, with President
Aoun saying that the strikes targeted "civilian facilities". "The repeated
Israeli aggression comes as part of a systematic policy aimed at destroying
productive infrastructure, hindering economic recovery, and undermining national
stability under false security pretexts," Aoun said..Israel claimed the evening
strikes targeted a cement plant and quarry and a site belonging to an
environmental group it accused of being affiliated with Hezbollah. A few days
earlier, Israel had struck several lots storing bulldozers and excavators, also
claiming that the equipment was intended for use by Hezbollah. Berri said Israel
was targeting equipment used for the reconstruction, in a bid to prevent Lebanon
from rebuilding and transform the south to an unlivable buffer zone.
Health Ministry says new Tannourine samples taken from
market uncontaminated
Naharnet/17 October/2025
The Health Ministry announced overnight that nine new Tannourine mineral water
samples taken from the Lebanese market have tested free of bacteria.
The Ministry however noted that it is yet to receive the results of tests
conducted on water samples taken from the company’s production line.
“After the results get released soon, the company will be informed in light of
these results and the according to the reports of health inspection of the
administrative, technical and health conditions that it should abide by to
ensure the water’s safety and subsequently citizens’ health,” the Ministry said
in a statement.
It added that it will hold a press conference in this regard when all results
become available. Health Ministry sources had told the
al-Modon news portal that the Ministry had taken samples from Tannourine and
other water companies after poisoning cases were recorded.
“After the samples were tested, the result confirmed the presence of bacteria in
some of them, and accordingly the Health Ministry took its precautionary
measure” of suspending the company’s work and pulling its products from shelves.
Sources in the town of Tannourine meanwhile told al-Modon that “the
contamination of Tannourine’s water is a factual matter, seeing as there are
three artesian wells from which Tannourine extracts and purifies water.”“One of
the wells was dug four years ago and another was dug 10 years ago and these
wells are uncontaminated. The problem of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria
started because of the new well from which the company is extracting water,” the
town sources said. “The dignitaries of the town of
Tannourine are meeting with the company’s administration to mull how to deal
with the contaminated water situation, in order to preserve the company’s
reputation and the future of its 600 workers,” the source added.
“The new management must be held accountable for extracting water from
the third well,” the source said. Health Ministry
sources had also told al-Akhbar newspaper that the Ministry tested Tannourine’s
bottled water after “recurrent complaints about water poisoning cases,” adding
that “the company was informed of the complaints and did not take action.”The
Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria can cause an infection that can affect skin,
blood, lungs, GI tract and other parts of the human body. Pseudomonas bacteria
are common in the environment, especially water, soil and produce. Symptoms vary
according to where the infection is in the body. Treatment usually includes at
least one type of antibiotic. It’s rare for a
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection to develop in people with a healthy immune
system. But it can be serious and potentially deadly if a person has a weakened
immune system (immunocompromised). Common causes of a weakened immune system
include:
- Autoimmune conditions, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
- Cancer
- Cystic fibrosis
- Diabetes
- HIV and AIDS
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Organ transplants, such as a heart transplant or lung transplant
- Pregnancy
- Severe burns
- Surgery
Lebanon says economy turning page but reforms needed
Agence France Presse/17 October/2025
Lebanon's economy minister has said that the country was turning the page to
growth after years of crisis but called for greater reforms. Lebanon expects
five percent growth this year, the highest since 2011, Economy Minister Amer
Bisat said Thursday as he attended fall meetings of the International Monetary
Fund and World Bank. The World Bank in June estimated
4.7 percent in inflation-adjusted GDP growth for 2025.
"We are happy that finally, after years and years of no growth, we are finally
seeing some growth, but this is not the kind of sustainable growth we want,"
Bisat told the Atlantic Council think tank on the sidelines of the annual
meetings. He alluded to the decision by Lebanon's long-fragile central
government to move to disarm Hezbollah, under pressure from the United States
after Israel carried out a major military operation against the group.
Bisat said Lebanon had been a "country where the sovereignty of the state
became questionable" and that a stronger state should boost confidence for
businesses. He called for a series of reforms
including reorienting public spending toward services and infrastructure and
reforming the civil service, where even senior employees are "shockingly badly
paid."Lebanon has been in discussions with the IMF, which last month praised the
country's fiscal and monetary decisions but called for "a more ambitious
approach" to budgetary pressure, voicing concern about a withdraw of taxes on
fuel. Bisat insisted that Lebanon was not instituting
reforms to please the IMF, saying, "Nobody is going to impose any conditions on
us.""We're doing what's good for us," he said. But he
pointed to elections due early next year, saying, "That always makes policy more
difficult."
Video/Musa al-Sadr: The full
story
English.Alarabiya/17 October/2025
https://english.alarabiya.net/webtv/2025/10/17/musa-alsadr-the-full-story
More than four decades after the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr in Libya,
the case remains one of the most mysterious and controversial in the Arab world.
In recent days, Musa al-Sadr’s name has once again dominated the Lebanese and
Libyan scene. From this starting point, the film reopens the case from the very
beginning, presenting a complete account of al-Sadr’s story—from his arrival in
Lebanon from Iran to his disappearance in Libya, and the many behind-the-scenes
details and revelations that are shown for the first time. The film explores
what happened before his trip to Libya, the secretive circumstances of his
meeting with Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi, his disappearance, and the new
information that surfaced after the fall of Gaddafi’s regime. It also touches on
the kidnapping of Hannibal Gaddafi and his subsequent detention in Lebanon.
Lebanese judge orders Hannibal Gaddafi’s release
AFP/17 October/2025
A Lebanese judge on Friday ordered the release of Hannibal Gaddafi, son of
longtime Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi, on bail after nearly a decade of
pre-trial detention in Lebanon, a judicial official said. After questioning
Gaddafi, the judge ordered his release “on $11 million bail and banned him from
travel”, the official told AFP, requesting anonymity. Lebanese authorities
arrested Gaddafi in 2015 and accused him of withholding information about the
disappearance of Lebanese Shia cleric Moussa al-Sadr nearly four decades
earlier, when Gaddafi was a child. Lawyer Laurent Bayon told AFP that “release
on bail is totally unacceptable in a case of arbitrary detention. We will
challenge the bail.”He noted that his client “is under international sanctions”
and could not pay such a sum.
“Where do you want him to find $11 million?” he added. Al-Sadr -- the founder of
the Amal movement, now an ally of militant group Hezbollah -- went missing in
1978 during an official visit to Libya, along with an aide and a journalist.
Beirut blamed the disappearances on Muammar Gaddafi, who was overthrown and
killed in a 2011 uprising, and ties between the two countries have been strained
ever since. Married to a Lebanese model, Hannibal had fled to Syria. He was
kidnapped in December 2015 by armed men who took him to Lebanon, where
authorities ultimately arrested him. In August, Human Rights Watch urged Lebanon
to immediately release Gaddafi, saying it had wrongly imprisoned him on
“apparently unsubstantiated allegations that he was withholding information”
about al-Sadr. This month, Bayon had raised the alarm about his health and
called for his release after Gaddafi, who he said suffers from severe
depression, was hospitalized for abdominal pain. Parliament speaker Nabih Berri,
who succeeded al-Sadr at the head of the Amal movement, has accused Libya’s new
authorities of not cooperating on the issue of al-Sadr’s disappearance, an
accusation Libya denies.
Lebanese judge orders Hannibal Gadhafi's release on $11
million bail
Associated Press/Agence France Presse/17 October ,2025
A Lebanese judge on Friday ordered the release of the son of Libya's late leader
Moammar Gadhafi on condition that he pay $11 million bail. Hannibal Gadhafi has
been imprisoned in Lebanon for a decade without being charged. The expected
release comes after his lawyers have said that he had been ill in his cell at
police headquarters in Beirut. Libya in 2023 formally requested his release,
citing his deteriorating health after he went on hunger strike to protest his
detention without trial. On Friday, judicial officials said he was taken to the
Justice Palace in Beirut, where Judge Zaher Hamadeh questioned him and later
ordered his release once the money is paid. Another condition for his release,
however, is that he be banned from traveling outside Lebanon for two months.
After the session was over, Gadhafi was taken back to the cell. Judicial
officials in Beirut said Gadhafi's defense team has filed a case against the
Lebanese state in Geneva over holding him without trial, adding that the case is
expected to be discussed in Switzerland next month. One of Gadhafi's lawyers,
Charbel Milad al-Khoury, told The Associated Press that Gadhafi does not have
the money and does not have access to accounts in order to pay the bail.
Al-Khoury added that Hannibal Gadhafi's defense team plan to lodge an appeal on
Monday over the $11 million bail and ask that it be abolished.
"This decision is almost impossible to be met," al-Khoury said about the bail.
"Hannibal has been held for 10 years and it is not logical to release him for
$11 million bail."
Gadhafi has been detained in Lebanon since 2015 after he was abducted by
Lebanese militants demanding information on the whereabouts of prominent
Lebanese Shiite cleric Imam Moussa Sadr. Lebanese police later announced it had
picked up Gadhafi from the city of Baalbek, in northeastern Lebanon, where he
was being held. He has since been held in a Beirut jail. Gadhafi had been living
in exile in Syria with his Lebanese wife, Aline Skaf, and children until he was
abducted and brought to Lebanon.
He has faced questioning over the past years over the 1978 disappearance of
al-Sadr during a visit to Libya. In August, Human Rights Watch urged Lebanon to
immediately release Gadhafi, saying it had wrongly imprisoned him on "apparently
unsubstantiated allegations that he was withholding information" about Sadr.
Last week, lawyer Laurent Bayon had raised the alarm about his health and called
for his release after Gadhafi, who he said suffers from severe depression, was
hospitalized for abdominal pain. His wife lives in
Lebanon with their two younger children who attend school, while the eldest is
studying in Europe, a source close to the family said. Hannibal and Skaf had
sparked a diplomatic incident with Switzerland in 2008 when they were arrested
in a luxury Geneva hotel for assaulting two former domestic employees. The case
has been a long-standing sore point in Lebanon. The cleric's family believes he
may still be alive in a Libyan prison, though most Lebanese presume he is dead.
He would be 96 years old.
Al-Sadr was the founder of the Amal Movement, a Shiite political and military
group that took part in the long Lebanese civil war that began in 1975. Asked on
Friday, about al-Sadr, Gadhafi responded "I don't know" and "I don't remember,"
according to four judicial officials who attended the session. They spoke on
condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Moammar Gadhafi was killed by
opposition fighters during Libya's 2011 uprising-turned-civil war, ending his
four-decade rule of the North African country.
Hannibal Gadhafi, who was born nearly three years before al-Sadr disappeared,
fled to Algeria after his father was toppled and Tripoli fell to opposition
fighters, along with his mother and several other relatives. He later moved to
Syria where he was given political asylum and stayed there until he was
abducted. Hannibal Gadhafi's name also came up in the
case of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who was sentenced last month to
five years in prison over a scheme for Moammar Gadhafi to fund his 2007
presidential run. French investigations revealed a possible attempt to corrupt
Lebanese judges in early 2021 in the hope of releasing Hannibal Gadhafi and
obtaining information that would clear Sarkozy's name.
Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, a key accuser in the Sarkozy case,
died in Lebanon last month. Moammar Gadhafi had eight children from two
marriages. Most of them had significant roles in his government. His son
Muatassim was killed at the same time as Gadhafi Snr was captured and slain. Two
other sons, Seif al-Arab and Khamis, were killed in the uprising. Seif al-Islam,
the one-time heir apparent to his father, has been in Libya since his release
from detention there in 2017. Gadhafi's son Mohammed and daughter Aisha live in
Oman. Al-Saadi, a former soccer player, was released from prison in Libya in
2021 after being jailed following repatriation from Niger in 2014, and is
believed to be living in Turkey.
Hannibal Gaddafi admits possession of altered photo of
Nabih Berri, says arrest served 'own interests'
LBCI/17 October ,2025
Hannibal Gaddafi was interrogated on Friday for two hours in the presence of his
French lawyer and Lebanese attorney Nassib Chedid, with all parties attending
the session. During the questioning, Gaddafi admitted
that his arrest in late 2015 had been in his own interest, as he feared being
handed over to Libya, where he was wanted by Interpol on a red notice for
alleged war crimes. He also acknowledged before Judge Hamadeh the contents found
on his personal hard disk, including an offensive, altered image of Speaker
Nabih Berri, saying it dated back to his youth. Addressing the judge, Gaddafi
reportedly remarked, “Will you detain me for another ten years because of this
picture?”According to information obtained by LBCI, Gaddafi reiterated most of
his previous statements during the interrogation.
Hannibal Gaddafi's lawyer tells AFP will challenge $11 mn bail
LBCI/17 October ,2025
A lawyer for Hannibal Gaddafi, son of slain Libyan ruler Moamer Gaddafi, said he
would challenge the $11 million bail imposed by a Lebanese judge who on Friday
ordered his release. "Release on bail is totally unacceptable in a case of
arbitrary detention. We will challenge the bail," lawyer Laurent Bayon told AFP,
noting his client "is under international sanctions" and could not pay such a
sum. AFP
Iran condemns Israeli strike on Lebanon
AFP, Tehran/17 October/2025
Iran on Friday condemned strikes by its arch-foe Israel on southern Lebanon, a
stronghold of its close ally Hezbollah. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil
Baqaei said the strikes were a “blatant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity,” in a statement.
Lebanon said on Thursday that Israel had killed one person and wounded seven,
while the Israeli military said it had targeted Hezbollah and allied groups.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the attacks had struck civilian facilities
and denounced what he described as a breach of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and
Israel negotiated last year. Tehran is Hezbollah’s key backer, but the group has
been severely weakened by its most recent hostilities with Israel and the
overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in Syria who provided an overland link towards
Iran. That has come as a blow to Iran itself, which was also hit by Israeli and
US strikes on its nuclear facilities during a 12-day war with Israel this year.
Hezbollah and Israel agreed a truce in November, after more than a year of
hostilities that culminated in two months of open war. Israel has nevertheless
repeatedly bombed Lebanese territory. Baqaei also accused France and the United
States – who are guarantors of the truce – of “continued inaction and
appeasement” toward Israel over what he called the “repeated violation” of the
agreement.
UN Security Council backs Lebanon’s efforts to assert
sovereignty, calls for global support of army
Ephrem Kossaify/Arab News/October 17, 2025
NEW YORK CITY: The UN Security Council on Friday expressed its strong support
for Lebanese authorities in their efforts to assert sovereignty over their
entire territory, and called on international community to step up the
assistance it provides to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
It comes as UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon report violations of UN
resolutions, including the discovery of unauthorized weapon caches.
In a unanimous statement, the 15 members of the Security Council welcomed
the Lebanese government’s commitment to the extension of state authority across
the country through the deployment of the army, and said no authority should be
recognized other than that of the government. They
also called for increased international backing to ensure the “effective and
sustainable deployment” of the Lebanese army south of the Litani River, a region
in which tensions with neighboring Israel have frequently flared.
Members reiterated their full support for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon
and urged all sides in the country to take “all necessary measures” to guarantee
the safety of the peacekeepers and their facilities. “Peacekeepers must never be
targeted by attack,” they said.The council called on all parties to honor their
commitments under the Nov. 26, 2024, cessation of hostilities agreement between
Israel and Hezbollah, and to adhere to the principles of international
humanitarian law by ensuring the protection of civilians.
Welcoming the stated willingness of Beirut to delineate and demarcate its
border with Syria, and its efforts to curb cross-border smuggling, council
members called for the full implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1701
and 1559, which address the disarmament of non-state militias and the authority
of the Lebanese state. Also on Friday, Stephane
Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said that
UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, have been monitoring and reporting
violations of resolution 1701, including unauthorized weapon caches, in their
area of operations. “On Thursday, mortar shells were
found in Sector West, while on Tuesday, a joint patrol with the Lebanese army
discovered damaged rockets and their launchers in Sector East,” he said.
“UNIFIL also continues to observe Israel Defense Forces military
activities in the area of operations, including on Wednesday, where mortar fire
from south of the Blue Line was detected, impacting near Yaroun in Sector West.”
The Blue Line is a line of demarcation separating Israel and Lebanon set
by the UN in 2000 to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
“Also on Wednesday, in Sarda in Sector East, IDF soldiers pointed
infrared lasers at UNIFIL patrol vehicles,” Dujarric said. “We once again stress
these acts of interference must stop. “Meanwhile, UNIFIL’s Maritime Task Force
conducted training this week with Lebanese Navy personnel aboard a Maritime Task
Force vessel. Separately, peacekeepers in Sector East trained with Lebanese army
personnel to address threats posed by explosive remnants of war.”
Between “Arabization” and “Iranization”… The Loss of the
Christian Role in the Arab East
Dr. Dureid Bashrawi/Nidaa Al-Watan/October 17/2025
(Free translation from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/148279/
Some are talking about "Arab Christians" and about a conference to be held for
them on the occasion of His Holiness the Pope's upcoming visit to Lebanon. But
which Arab Christians are they talking about? And where are the Arab Christians
today? Yes, the Arab East is the cradle and foundation of Christianity, and
Christianity was the main religion in this region from the fourth century until
the Islamic conquests. Christians were at the forefront of the Arab Renaissance
and culture, and they actively contributed to shaping the intellectual and
civilizational identity of the East. They established the first schools and
printing presses, founded modern Arabic journalism in Beirut and Cairo, and were
among the first to transmit Western sciences, literature, and thought into
Arabic. From their midst emerged thinkers, reformers, and creators such as
Butrus al-Bustani, Nasif al-Yaziji, Jurji Zaydan, Charles Malik, Mikhail Naimy,
Kahlil Gibran, and others, who contributed to the revival of the Arabic language
and the dissemination of the values of freedom, rationality, and humanity. The
role of Christians was not limited to cultural and intellectual renaissance, but
extended to the political arena during the great foundational moments of modern
Arab nations. They had a pivotal contribution to drafting the first
constitutions and formulating the inclusive national concepts upon which the
states were built after independence, and to establishing the idea of
citizenship and the civil state that separates religion and politics without
separating the human being from their homeland. Christians were at the forefront
of those calling for enlightened Arabism, and for building democratic systems
that respect public freedoms and human rights, and affirm the state's
sovereignty and independence from any tutelage or dependency. They fought for
independence in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq, and participated in leading
national and nationalist movements, defending dignity, sovereignty, and freedom.
However, this leading political role declined under the weight of wars,
oppressive regimes, the rise of fundamentalist currents, and the disintegration
of the national state. Christians were displaced from Iraq, Syria, Palestine,
and even Lebanon, and their presence diminished in most Eastern countries, while
Lebanon—the last space of freedom and pluralism—was left to erode from within by
reckless policies that oscillate sometimes between "Arabization" and sometimes "Iranization,"
and between dependency and surrendering everything, even national dignity. These
policies have reached a limit where "dhimmitude" has become one of their
essential pillars.
So how can you speak in the name of "Arab Christians," then? And who are you?
And who do you truly represent on a popular level?
It would be good if you would demand the return of Christians to Iraq and Syria.
It would be good if you would demand the rights of Christians that have been
wasted and violated in a number of Arab countries, especially in Egypt, Iraq,
and others - the most important of which are: the right to equality, the right
to freely practice worship without restrictions, the right to freedom of opinion
and expression, in addition to political and civil rights and all other human
rights. It would be good if you would work to restore the rights, positions, and
authorities of Christians that were usurped in Lebanon under the weight of the
Syrian occupation's weapons and the Iranian Wilayat's militia, from the Taif
Agreement until today, and to restore balance to state institutions, not from a
sectarian perspective, but from the perspective of full national partnership in
decision-making and sovereignty. It would be good if you would strive to unify
the Christian ranks, stop the bickering, abandon the prioritizing of egoism and
narrow interests, and relinquish the outdated feudal mentality that still
produces nominal leaders who live on the glories and power of the past. It would
be good if you would work to put forward a clear political vision that ensures
the survival of Christians in this homeland as original and essential citizens,
not as dhimmis or as a minority, and that this vision be part of a comprehensive
national project to save the state and rebuild it on the foundations of justice,
sovereignty, and equality. Enough of dhimmitude, enough of submission,
concessions, and failure. There is no life in this East except with freedom, and
no survival without sovereignty and dignity. Let us live free... or let us live
free. There is no third option between them, even if we are forced to leave this
East, for this is the message, and this is the bitter truth that must be
conveyed to His Holiness the Pope.
**Professor and Director of Research in International Law and Criminal Law at
the Faculty of Law and Political Science - University of Strasbourg / Advisor to
the International Criminal Court (The Hague) / Former Public Prosecutor at the
Special Tribunal for Lebanon (The Hague) / Lawyer at the Court of Appeal in the
Beirut Bar Association.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on October
16-17/2025
Trump says Saudi officials willing to join
Abraham Accords, has had ‘very good conversations’ with them
By Lazar Berman/Times Of Israel/October 17/2025
US President Donald Trump says that Saudi officials indicated a willingness to
join the Abraham Accords “as recently as like yesterday.”“I had some very good
conversations,” he says in an interview broadcast on Fox Business Network. “They
couldn’t have done it during the war,” he adds. He also says the Saudis couldn’t
have normalized relations with Israel “with Iran as a power,” a reference to the
blows Tehran suffered during the June Israeli-US bombing campaign.
Hamas urges mediators to push for next steps under ceasefire
Reuters/17 October/2025
Hamas called on mediators on Friday to push for the next steps under the
ceasefire in Gaza, including reopening the border, letting in aid, beginning
reconstruction, setting up an administration and completing Israel’s withdrawal.
Fighting has largely stopped in Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s plan,
endorsed by mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. But further steps have been held
up in part by Israeli accusations that the militants were too slow in handing
over bodies of dead hostages. Israel said on Thursday it was preparing for the
reopening of Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt to allow Palestinians to move in
and out, but gave no date as it traded blame with Hamas over violations of the
ceasefire. Other unresolved elements of the plan include the disarmament of
militants and Gaza’s future governance. Hamas said it remained committed to the
ceasefire agreement and to handing over the bodies of all remaining hostages,
but that this process may take time.
UN says will take time to ‘scale back’ famine in
Gaza after Israel allows aid
Agencies/17 October/2025
The United Nations said Friday it would take time to reverse a famine in the
Gaza Strip and urged the opening of all crossing points into the war-shattered
Palestinian territory. “It’s going to take some time
to scale back the famine,” the UN World Food Programme’s spokeswoman Abeer Etefa
told a media briefing in Geneva, saying the WFP had five distribution points up
and running but wanted to get to 145 in order to “flood Gaza with food.”The UN
World Food Programme has brought in about 560 tonnes of food per day on average
into Gaza since ceasefire began, but it is still below what is needed, she said.
“We’re still below what we need, but we’re getting there... The ceasefire has
opened a narrow window of opportunity, and WFP is moving very quickly and
swiftly to scale up food assistance,” Etefa told reporters.
Phase one complete in Gaza ceasefire deal,
stabilization force being prepped: US advisors
Joseph Haboush - Al Arabiya English/17 October/2025
The US said Wednesday that the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal has been
completed and that the process is now entering its next phase, which senior
American advisors said envisions a non-political, technocratic Palestinian
governing body.
A senior US advisor said current priorities include deconfliction, ensuring
humanitarian aid reaches Gaza, recovering bodies of those killed, and restoring
order to allow for rebuilding to begin. During a call with reporters, two senior
US advisors provided updates on the latest developments and the status of the
deal brokered by Washington.
Returning dead hostages to Israel
Israel expressed frustration Wednesday over the number of dead hostages returned
by Hamas, which was reportedly 28 before the ceasefire. Hamas handed over two
additional bodies on Wednesday, bringing the total to seven, but said it could
not locate the remains of others. Asked about the criticism and whether Hamas
had violated the deal by failing to return more hostages, both senior advisors
urged patience. “The entire Gaza Strip has been
pulverized. It looks like something out of a movie, and there are very, very few
buildings left standing. But on top of all of that, all of that debris… On top
of all that debris is a lot of unexploded ordinance, and presumably, under that
unexploded ordinance and that debris, there are many bodies,” one of the
advisors said. The second advisor added that the
original understanding with Hamas was that all living hostages would be
released, “which they did honor.” “The sentiment in
Israel is always, ‘they can do more, they can do more.’ But what we basically
say to the Israeli side… is give us whatever intelligence you’re hearing or
seeing, let’s pass it over, and then, let’s push them, challenge them,” the
second advisor said. The advisors also revealed that a
program will soon be unveiled, offering locals financial incentives to help
locate bodies “for that type of good behavior.”
Disarming Hamas
Despite conflicting statements from Hamas, the advisors said the militant group
remains committed to the ceasefire terms, including disarmament.
The agreement signed by Hamas includes a clause requiring the group to
disarm, the advisors said. US President Donald Trump reiterated this week that
Hamas will disarm, warning that the US would do so “quickly, and perhaps
violently” if the group fails to comply. The second advisor said all indications
suggest Hamas remains committed to disarmament. “It’s not realistic to think
everyone’s just going to walk in, drop their arms and say, ‘hey, there you go,’”
the second advisor said, noting fears among Hamas members of retribution from
other Palestinians in Gaza. Calling for patience, the advisor said discussions
are underway to begin reconstruction in areas free of Hamas control to “make
functional areas of Gaza that hopefully can be the examples for what could be
possible if this program is successful.”Aid will continue flowing into Gaza, but
no reconstruction funds will go to areas controlled by Hamas, the advisors said.
“We’re not at a point yet where anyone feels like the agreement has been
violated, but it is a young agreement,” the second advisor added.
International Stabilization Force
Regarding the planned security and stabilization body, which would include
personnel from multiple foreign countries, the advisors said it is now coming
together, with several nations expressing interest in participating. Countries
including Indonesia, the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Azerbaijan, and others have offered
to play a role, while Turkey has said it is ready to deploy an 80-member team to
assist with body retrieval efforts. The advisors said the intent is for Hamas
not to indefinitely control any part of Gaza, a point explicitly outlined in the
ceasefire deal. Some areas, such as Rafah, have been fully cleared and could
serve as “a great first phase for redeveloping… and create a nice way for people
to live, potentially, again,” one official said.
US troop deployment and coordination center
On the recent US military deployment of around 200 troops to Israel to establish
a civil-military coordination center, the advisors emphasized that no US troops
will enter Gaza. “These are kind of oversight,
logisticians, supervisory roles. These are not combat roles at all. This is not
what you call boots on the ground in terms of going to fight or be in harm’s
way,” the second advisor said. Asked whether any part of the plan would require
Gazans to leave, the first advisor said no one was being forced to relocate.
The first advisor highlighted the resilience of Gaza’s residents.
“They’ve been through a lot, and they seem to be resilient, and they’re coming
back to their homes, and they are pitching tents, and aid is flowing in. And I
think people really feel very vested in the places where they live, and it’s
sort of remarkable to see.”
Hamas aims to keep grip on Gaza security and can’t
commit to disarm, senior official says
Reuters/17 October/2025:
Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a
senior Hamas official told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the group
disarming - positions that reflect the difficulties facing US plans to secure an
end to the war. Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal
also said the group was ready for a ceasefire of up to five years to rebuild
devastated Gaza, with guarantees for what happens afterwards depending on
Palestinians being given “horizons and hope” for statehood.
Speaking to Reuters in an interview from Doha, where Hamas politicians
have long resided, Nazzal defended the group’s crackdown in Gaza, where it
carried out public executions on Monday. There were always “exceptional
measures” during war and those executed were criminals guilty of killing, he
said.
Pressure to disarm
While Hamas has broadly expressed these views before, the timing of Nazzal’s
comments demonstrates the major obstacles obstructing efforts to cement a full
end to the war in Gaza, days after the first phase of the ceasefire was agreed.
They point to big gaps between Hamas’ positions and US President Donald Trump’s
plan for Gaza, ahead of negotiations expected to address Hamas’ weapons and how
Gaza is governed. Asked for comment on Nazzal’s
remarks, the Israeli prime minister’s office said Israel was committed to the
ceasefire agreement and continued to uphold and fulfil its side of the plan.
For the latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated
page. “Hamas is supposed to release all hostages in
stage 1. It has not. Hamas knows where the bodies of our hostages are. Hamas are
to be disarmed under this agreement. No ifs, no buts. They have not. Hamas need
to adhere to the 20-point plan. They are running out of time,” it said in a
statement to Reuters. Trump’s September 29 plan called for Hamas to immediately
return all hostages before committing to disarmament and ceding governance of
Gaza to a technocratic committee overseen by an international transitional body.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported the plan, saying it would
dismantle Hamas’ military capabilities, end its political rule, and ensure that
Gaza would never again pose a threat to Israel. Hamas-led militants killed 1,200
people and abducted another 251 during the October 7 attacks on Israel that
triggered the war, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s military response
killed nearly 68,000 people in Gaza, according to local authorities. Pummelled
by Israel in the war, the Palestinian group is under intense pressure to disarm
and surrender control of Gaza or risk a resumption of the conflict.
Asked if Hamas would give up its arms, Nazzal, speaking on Wednesday, said: “I
can’t answer with a yes or no. Frankly, it depends on the nature of the project.
The disarmament project you’re talking about, what does it mean? To whom will
the weapons be handed over?” He added that issues to be discussed in the next
phase of negotiations, including weapons, concerned not only Hamas but other
armed Palestinian groups, and would require Palestinians more broadly to reach a
position. Asked for its response to Nazzal’s remarks, the White House directed
Reuters to comments by Trump on Thursday.
“We have a commitment from them and I assume they’re going to honor their
commitment,” Trump said, noting that Hamas had returned more bodies but without
elaborating on the issue of it disarming or its interim presence on the ground.
Nazzal also said the group had no interest in keeping the remaining bodies of
deceased hostages seized in the October 7, 2023 attacks. Hamas has handed over
at least nine out of 28 bodies. It was encountering technical problems
recovering more, he said, adding that international parties such as Turkey or
the US would help search if needed. A senior Turkish
official said last week that Turkey would take part in a joint task force along
with Israel, the US, Qatar and Egypt to locate the bodies.
Hamas agreed on October 4 to release the hostages and hand over
governance to a technocratic committee, but said other matters needed to be
addressed within a wider Palestinian framework. It released all living hostages
on Monday.
Nazzal said the phase two negotiations would begin soon.
Goals of elections, ‘hope’ for Palestinians
On Tuesday, Trump said he had communicated to Hamas that it must disarm or it
would be forced to. Trump has also suggested Hamas was given temporary approval
for internal security operations in Gaza, and has endorsed Hamas killing members
of gangs. Noting Trump’s remarks, Nazzal said there
was an understanding regarding Hamas’ presence on the ground, without specifying
among whom, indicating it was necessary to protect aid trucks from thieves and
armed gangs. “This is a transitional phase. Civilly,
there will be a technocratic administration as I said. On the ground, Hamas will
be present,” he said. After the transitional phase, there should be elections,
he said. Nazzal said mediators had not discussed with the group an international
stabilization force for Gaza, which was proposed in Trump’s ceasefire plan.
Hamas’ founding charter called for the destruction of Israel, although
the group’s leaders have at times offered a long-term truce with Israel in
return for a viable Palestinian state on all Palestinian territory occupied by
Israel in the 1967 war. Israel regards this position
as a ruse. Nazzal said Hamas had suggested a long-term
truce in meetings with US officials, and wanted a truce of at least three to
five years to rebuild the Gaza Strip. “The goal isn’t to prepare for a future
war.”Beyond that period, guarantees for the future would require states to
“provide horizons and hope for the Palestinian people,” he said.
“The Palestinian people want an independent Palestinian state,” he added.
Turkish experts awaiting Israel’s permission to
enter Gaza to help recover bodies
AFP, Ankara/17 October/2025
A team of Turkish disaster response specialists is stationed at the Egyptian
border, awaiting Israeli authorization to enter Gaza and help in search and
recovery operations, a Turkish official told AFP on Friday.
The 81-member team from Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management
Authority (AFAD) is equipped with specialized search-and-rescue tools, including
life-detection devices and trained search dogs. They “are currently waiting at
the border on the Egyptian side,” the official said. The group is prepared to
locate and recover bodies trapped under rubble. “It remains unclear when Israel
will allow the Turkish team to enter Gaza,” said the official, who spoke on
condition of anonymity. “Initially, Israel preferred to work with a Qatari team,
but we are hopeful that our delegation will be granted access soon.”
A Hamas source told AFP the Turkish delegation is expected to enter Gaza
by Sunday.
AFAD personnel are experienced in operating under extreme conditions, having
responded to numerous natural disasters, including the devastating earthquake in
southeastern Turkey in February 2023 which claimed over 53,000 lives.
The Turkish official noted that the Turkish team’s mission includes
locating both Palestinian and Israeli bodies, including hostages believed to be
buried or hidden in collapsed structures. However, the task is complicated
because some Israeli hostages may have been disguised in local clothing to evade
detection by Israeli drones during transfers. “This
situation is expected to complicate search operations and delay progress,” the
official said, adding that Hamas is expected to provide location data related to
hostages. Concerns have been raised by some observers
over the potential misuse of the Turkish team’s heavy equipment, with fears that
it could be repurposed by Hamas to access underground tunnels.
Hamas says committed to ceasefire, will return bodies of hostages in Gaza
AFP, Gaza City/17 October /2025
Hamas said it was committed to the US-brokered agreement that halted its war
with Israel, and to returning all the bodies of hostages still unaccounted for
under the ruins of Gaza. Responding to a call from the militant group for
assistance with locating the bodies of the 19 hostages, buried under the rubble
alongside an untold number of Palestinians, Turkey sent specialists to help in
the search. Under a ceasefire agreement spearheaded by
US President Donald Trump, Hamas returned 20 surviving hostages and the remains
of nine of 28 known deceased hostages – along with another body, which Israel
said was not that of a former hostage. In exchange,
Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from its jails and halted the
military campaign that it launched in Gaza after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed on Thursday his
determination to “secure the return of all hostages” after his defense minister
warned that the military “will resume fighting” if Hamas failed to do so. Later
that same day, Hamas insisted on “its commitment to the agreement and its
implementation, including its keenness to hand over all remaining corpses”. But
it said the process “may require some time, as some of these corpses were buried
in tunnels destroyed by the occupation, while others remain under the rubble of
buildings it bombed and demolished”. Turkey has deployed dozens of disaster
relief specialists to help search for the bodies, but the families of the
Israeli dead have fumed at Hamas’s inability to deliver their loved ones’
remains. The main campaign group advocating for the hostages’ families demanded
on that Israel “immediately halt the implementation of any further stages of the
agreement as long as Hamas continues to blatantly violate its obligations”.
‘Actually digging’
Trump appeared to call for patience when it came to the bodies’ return,
insisting Hamas was “actually digging” for hostages’ remains, but later
expressed frustration with the group’s conduct since the fighting halted. “If
Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the Deal, we will have no
choice but to go in and kill them,” Trump said on Truth Social in an apparent
reference to recent shootings of Palestinian civilians. Since the partial
withdrawal of Israeli forces in Gaza under the ceasefire deal, Hamas has been
tightening its grip on ruined cities, launching a crackdown and executing
alleged collaborators in the street. Clashes have also taken place between the
group’s various security units and armed Palestinian clans, some of which are
alleged to have Israeli backing. The ceasefire deal has so far seen the war
grind to a halt after two years of agony for the hostages’ families, and
constant bombardment and hunger for Gazans.
According to Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, the next phases of the truce should
include the disarmament of Hamas, the offer of amnesty to Hamas leaders who
decommission their weapons and establishing the governance of post-war Gaza.
The plan also calls for renewed aid provision, with international organizations
awaiting the reopening of southern Gaza’s Rafah crossing. Israeli Foreign
Minister Gideon Saar said on the sidelines of a summit in Naples that
preparations were being made for the strategic crossing, and that he “hoped” it
would reopen on Sunday, Italian news agencies reported.
Israel, however, said earlier that the crossing would only be open to
people, not aid, and Saar did not appear to elaborate. The war has created a
humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with the UN declaring famine in August. The
World Health Organization has warned that infectious diseases are “spiraling out
of control”, with only 13 of the territory’s 36 hospitals even partially
functioning. “Whether meningitis... diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, we’re
talking about a mammoth amount of work,” Hanan Balkhy, regional director for the
UN health body, told AFP in Cairo.
‘My children are home’
The families of the surviving hostages have been able, after two long years
without their loved ones, to rejoice in their return. “My children are home! Two
years ago, one morning, I lost half of my family,” said Sylvia Cunio, mother of
Ariel and David Cunio, who were released from captivity. Israel returned the
bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza on Thursday, the territory’s health ministry
said. Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was to turn over the bodies of 15
Palestinians for every deceased Israeli returned. For many in Gaza, while there
was relief that the bombing had stopped, the road to recovery felt impossible,
given the sheer scale of the devastation. “There’s no water -- no clean water,
not even salty water, no water at all. No essentials of life exist -- no food,
no drink, nothing,” said Mustafa Mahram, who returned to Gaza City after the
ceasefire.
“As you can see, all that’s left is rubble.” Israel’s
war has killed at least 67,967 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry
in the territory, figures the United Nations considers credible.
EU eyes helping disarm Hamas under Trump plan
AFP, Brussels/17 October/2025
The EU is looking at providing funding and expertise to help disarm Hamas under
US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, a document seen by AFP Friday
said. The 27-nation bloc is discussing what role it
can play after Europe was left on the sidelines as Trump sealed a ceasefire deal
between Hamas and Israel. The agreement has so far seen the war grind to a halt
after two years of agony for the hostages’ families, and constant bombardment
and hunger for Gazans. According to Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, the next
phases of the truce should include the disarmament of Hamas, the offer of
amnesty to Hamas leaders who decommission their weapons and establishing the
governance of post-war Gaza. EU foreign ministers are
set to discuss how the bloc might be involved in the peace process at a meeting
on Monday. In a document circulated on Friday, the EU’s diplomatic arm said
member states should “assess and explore ways to finance and provide expertise
for disarmament.” An EU diplomat said that any involvement would likely be
limited to “technical support” and that Europe would not be involved in any sort
of “intervention force.” The document said that the EU, the largest
international donor to Gaza, should focus on helping ramp up humanitarian aid
deliveries to the region. “The priority is to ensure
the immediate delivery of aid at scale into and throughout Gaza in line with
international humanitarian law,” it said. The EU has said it is ready to
redeploy a monitoring mission to the Rafah crossing point with Egypt when it
opens and could help train a future police force in Gaza. As the biggest
international donor to the Palestinians, the EU is also expected to play a role
in helping cover the cost of reconstruction. But
diplomats say they expect Middle East states to take the lead and the EU doesn’t
want to rebuild Gaza if Israel could launch fresh offensives in the future.
“The EU should have a key role also in the recovery and reconstruction
process,” the document said, pointing to a “Palestine Donor Group” Brussels is
pushing to establish. “The EU should maximize its
leverage with a view to gaining more influence on the process through the
variety of tools at its disposal.”The EU has struggled to exert influence during
the war in Gaza due to splits within the bloc between countries supporting
Israel and those closer to the Palestinians. Ministers on Monday will discuss
whether to drop proposals for possible sanctions on Israel including curbing
trade ties after the Trump ceasefire deal. Israel is
pushing for the measures to be dropped, but a raft of EU states argue they
should be kept on the table to maintain pressure to secure the peace process.
Under Trump's watch: Israel gives Hamas ultimatum on
hostages' bodies
LBCI/17 October/2025
Israel has given Hamas only a few days to hand over the remaining bodies of
Israeli captives, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatening multiple
measures against the group, including the suspension of humanitarian aid. The
move comes with the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump, as both leaders
agreed in a phone call to intensify coordination to ensure the return of all
bodies. Israel, citing Hamas' alleged failure to meet its obligations under the
truce agreement, has blocked the entry of machinery and equipment needed for
recovery operations. Hamas had previously said that some of the bodies remain
trapped under rubble alongside unexploded bombs. However, U.S. officials told
Israeli media that Washington does not view Hamas as having violated the deal.
They noted that Israeli intelligence had provided information to locate the
bodies, but operations in Gaza's devastated areas remain extremely challenging.
Netanyahu discussed possible Israeli actions toward Gaza in a late-night
security meeting that extended until midnight. He reportedly said that Israel
knows how many bodies are still held by Hamas and will act accordingly if they
are not returned soon. Following the meeting, Israeli Security Minister Israel
Katz announced that the army will begin marking the "yellow line," a boundary
outlined in the ceasefire plan that covers 53% of the Gaza Strip, where Israeli
forces will be deployed. Katz ordered troops to open fire immediately on any
Palestinian who approaches or crosses that line. The latest Israeli measures,
which violate the terms of the ceasefire, come as the international coordination
mechanism was launched on Friday to implement key elements of Trump's plan.
Central to the initiative are efforts to recover the bodies, uphold the truce,
and facilitate humanitarian aid. According to Israeli sources, around 200
American soldiers serving on the coordination committee are stationed in
southern Israel under the supervision of a U.S. Army general, with Israeli
coordination led by officer Yaki Dolf.
Pakistani strikes hit Afghanistan, truce ‘broken’:
Taliban official
Reuters/17 October/2025
Pakistan carried out strikes in a border province in Afghanistan late Friday,
breaking a ceasefire that had brought two days of calm to the border, a senior
Taliban official told AFP, warning that Kabul would “retaliate.”“Pakistan has
broken the ceasefire and bombed three locations in Paktika” province, said the
official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Afghanistan will retaliate.”
Britain’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York, reacts as he arrives at St. George’s
Chapel,
Reuters, London/17 October/2025
Britain’s Prince Andrew said on Friday he would give up using his title of Duke
of York following years of criticism about his behavior and connections to the
late disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement, Andrew said “the
continued accusations about me” distracted from the work of his elder brother
King Charles and the wider work of the British royal family. “I will therefore
no longer use the title or the honors which have been conferred upon me. As I
have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me,” Andrew said
in a statement. “As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations
against me.”
New Zealand reimposes sanctions on Iran over nuclear non-compliance
Reuters, Wellington/17 October/2025
New Zealand is reimposing sanctions on Iran due to concerns about Iran’s
non-compliance with its nuclear obligations, Foreign Minister Winston Peters
said in a statement on Friday. The statement said the reimposition of United
Nations sanctions is a result of Iran not complying with the terms of the
internationally recognised Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action which was signed
in 2015, and will take effect on October 18. The announcement comes after
Britain, France and Germany also reimposed the UN sanctions citing Iranian
breaches, and after Australia in August accused Iran of directing two
antisemitic arson attacks in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne and gave
Tehran’s ambassador seven days to leave the country. The sanctions introduce a
range of restrictions including an asset freeze and travel bans for sanctioned
persons, import and export bans on certain nuclear and military goods, and a
duty on New Zealanders to exercise vigilance in dealings with Iran, it added.
“This reimposition of UN-mandated sanctions reflects the international
community’s deep concerns about Iran’s non-compliance with its nuclear
obligations and unjustifiable levels of uranium enrichment activity,” Peters
said. “New Zealand has consistently supported diplomatic efforts to prevent the
proliferation of nuclear weapons from any source. We strongly encourage Iran to
re-engage in negotiations and resume full cooperation with the International
Atomic Energy Agency.”Peters said New Zealand will also be introducing a
compulsory registration scheme for New Zealanders who intend to do business with
Iran, which comes into effect on February 1, 2026.
Trump suggests too soon for Tomahawks in talks with
Zelensky
Arab News/October 17, 2025
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump suggested Friday it would be premature to
give Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, saying as he hosted Volodymyr Zelensky that
he hoped to secure peace with Russia first. “Hopefully they won’t need it.
Hopefully we’ll be able to get the war over with without thinking about
Tomahawks,” Trump told journalists including an AFP reporter as the two leaders
met at the White House. Trump added that he was
confident of getting Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the invasion he
launched in 2022, following a phone call with the Kremlin chief a day earlier.
The US and Russian presidents agreed on Thursday to a new summit in the
Hungarian capital Budapest, which would be their first since an August meeting
in Alaska that failed to produce any kind of peace deal. “I think that President
Putin wants to end the war,” Trump said. But Zelensky, who wore a dark suit for
his third meeting with Trump in Washington since the US president’s return to
power, demurred, saying that Putin was “not ready” for peace. Ukraine has been
lobbying Washington for Tomahawks for weeks, arguing that the missiles could
help put pressure on Russia to end its brutal three-and-a-half year invasion.
But on the eve of Zelensky’s visit, Putin warned Trump in a call against
delivering the weapons, saying it could escalate the war and jeopardize peace
talks.
Trump said the United States had to be careful to not “deplete” its own supplies
of Tomahawks, which have a range of over 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles).
- ‘Many questions’ -
Diplomatic talks on ending Russia’s invasion have stalled since the Alaska
summit.
But Trump, who once said he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours,
appears set on pursuing a breakthrough to follow the Gaza ceasefire deal that he
brokered last week. The Kremlin said Friday that “many
questions” needed resolving before Putin and Trump could meet, including who
would be on each negotiating team. But it brushed off suggestions Putin would
have difficulty flying over European airspace. Hungary
said it would ensure Putin could enter and “hold successful talks” with the US
despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him for
alleged war crimes. “Budapest is the only suitable place in Europe for a
USA-Russia peace summit,” Hungarian President Viktor Orban said on X on Friday.
- Trump frustration -
Zelensky’s visit to Washington, Ukraine’s main military backer, will be his
third since Trump returned to office.During this time, Trump’s position on the
Ukraine war has shifted dramatically back and forth.At the start of his term,
Trump and Putin reached out to each other as the US leader derided Zelensky as a
“dictator without elections.”Tensions came to a head in February, when Trump
accused his Ukrainian counterpart of “not having the cards” in a rancorous
televised meeting at the Oval Office. Relations between the two have since
warmed as Trump has expressed growing frustration with Putin.
But Trump has kept a channel of dialogue open with Putin, saying that they “get
along.”The US leader has repeatedly changed his position on sanctions and other
steps against Russia following calls with the Russian president. Putin ordered a
full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, describing it as a “special
military operation” to demilitarize the country and prevent the expansion of
NATO. Kyiv and its European allies say the war is an illegal land grab that has
resulted in tens of thousands of civilian and military casualties and widespread
destruction. Russia now occupies around a fifth of Ukrainian territory — much of
it ravaged by fighting. On Friday the Russian defense ministry announced it had
captured three villages in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions.
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources
on October
16-17/2025
Urgently Needed for Europe: Pro-Growth Business Climate
A Conversation with Drieu Godefridi
Grégoire Canlorbe/Gatestone Institute./October 17, 2025
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21984/europe-business-climate
[The Belgian N-VA Party] program systematically addresses the major ills of
Belgian political life, starting with the abysmal debt that threatens our
financial balance.
Next comes the issue of creeping Islamization, fueled by powerful Islamist
networks, particularly in Brussels, and to a lesser extent in Antwerp.
Belgium is virtually bankrupt; its debt and budget deficit are out of control.
This is mission No. 1 for the N-VA: to get public finances back on track. The
success of this mission determines everything else.
Our cities, like the rest of Western Europe, are buckling under the yoke of all
sorts of regulations, the source of which is the European Union. There is no
longer a real business climate, and European law acts as an instrument of
economic castration. Take energy: its cost is three to five times higher in
Europe than in the United States — no industry can sustainably withstand such a
differential.
For [Belgium's "left wing" political parties], any criticism of Islam — which,
please recall, is not a race, but a political doctrine — automatically falls
into the categories of Islamophobia and racism. Islam, as a political ideology,
refers to the use of the principles, values or texts of Islam... to structure a
system of governance, laws and public policies.
[A] perverse form of racism, allied with a new anti-Semitism, unfortunately,
[is] re-emerging on the left with a worrying severity. When a far-left
"comedian", Herman Brusselmans, writes that he wants to slit the throats of
every Jew he meets in the street, what is funny? Is that humor or a call to
murder?
Today the main problem of Europe appears to be the European Union, apart from
the Common Market, a practical necessity. European law, sadly, has become an
instrument that prevents economic development.
Paris and Brussels are dirty, saturated with aggression, and everywhere you go
you encounter asylum seekers who have been denied asylum and have no right to
reside in the country but remain there nonetheless because they are supposedly
"undeportable". The police try to do their job but are constantly sabotaged by
left- and far-left judges who, under various pretexts, release the worst thugs,
criminals and rapists.
Our challenge, of truly civilizational scope, is to restore hope — the
possibility for every European family to build a better future for their
children — one commensurate with Europe's great, historical contribution to
civilization.
"Paris and Brussels are dirty, saturated with aggression, and everywhere you go
you encounter asylum seekers who have been denied asylum and have no right to
reside in the country but remain there nonetheless because they are supposedly
'undeportable'. The police try to do their job but are constantly sabotaged by
left- and far-left judges who, under various pretexts, release the worst thugs,
criminals and rapists." — Drieu Godefridi. Pictured: Two asylum-seekers from
Afghanistan sit in their tent at a camp set up by around 100 single male
migrants in Place Sainte-Croix, in the city center of Brussels, on September 15,
2023. (Photo by Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP via Getty Images)
Drieu Godefridi is a jurist (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain),
philosopher (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain) and PhD in legal
theory (Paris IV-Sorbonne). He is an entrepreneur, CEO of a European private
education group and director of PAN Medias Group. The author of The Green Reich
(2020), he is a fellow traveler of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), a
conservative, nationalist political party.
Grégoire Canlorbe: You were a list leader for the conservative party N-VA in
2024 Belgian federal election. How do you sum up what this party can bring to
the Belgians and, in particular, the Walloons?
Drieu Godefridi: The N-VA's primary strength lies in its seriousness. This is
what convinced me to carry its colors in Wallonia, despite the priority
objective set out in its statutes — the independence of Flanders — which
actually does not evoke much enthusiasm from the Walloons. This is seriousness
in the best sense of the term: the leaders of the N-VA have a perfect grasp of
the workings of the Belgian system, in all its layers and details. When they
propose reforms, they are not empty words.
Belgium operates under a proportional system that requires the formation of
multi-party coalitions, in the tradition of Italy, the Netherlands, or Israel,
and the electoral landscape is structured into two blocs — Francophone and
Dutch-speaking. Nevertheless, their program systematically addresses the major
ills of Belgian political life, starting with the abysmal debt that threatens
our financial balance.
Next comes the issue of creeping Islamization, fueled by powerful Islamist
networks, particularly in Brussels, and to a lesser extent in Antwerp. In my
view, no Francophone party has until now offered such determination or clarity
of analysis on the Islamization of our societies and the crushing tax burden on
citizens. The Reform Movement (MR) seems today to be embarking on a similar
path, being a major partner of the N-VA at the federal level. The N-VA takes its
inspiration from the Irish philosopher Edmund Burke and defends the market
economy.
Belgium is virtually bankrupt; its debt and budget deficit are out of control.
This is mission No. 1 for the N-VA: to get public finances back on track. The
success of this mission determines everything else.
Canlorbe: The N-VA is reproached for lumping all Muslims together and thereby
justifying all sorts of alleged persecutions against Muslims, both domestically
(such as to prohibit the veil) and in foreign policy (such as supporting
supposedly indiscriminate bombings in Gaza). What do you reply to those
criticisms?
Godefridi: The N-VA claims to have an inclusive nationalism, as opposed to
Vlaams Belang, whose nationalism is still strongly tinged with references to the
white race. There are Muslims among the members, staff and voters of the N-VA.
The N-VA has never -- in word, writing or deed -- adopted a position of
rejecting Muslims, even if the party does claim the right to criticize and
reject Islam as a political doctrine — which is my position on the subject.
Some parties that unreservedly welcome Islamists do not hesitate to accuse us of
lumping Islamists together with the whole Muslim community. I am particularly
thinking of the Communist Party (PTB), and Écolo — which are on the far left —
and, more unfortunately, the Brussels Socialist Party (PS). For them, any
criticism of Islam — which, please recall, is not a race, but a political
doctrine — automatically falls into the categories of Islamophobia and racism.
Islam, as a political ideology, refers to the use of the principles, values or
texts of Islam — in particular the Koran, the Sunnah and the Hadith -- to
structure a system of governance, laws and public policies
Having closely worked with the N-VA and regularly exchanged views with numerous
party representatives, I have never encountered a single person who could be
described as racist. This even includes controversial figures such as Theo
Francken, whom Écolo had the audacity to caricature as an SS officer, which is
profoundly disgraceful.
The N-VA wants to ban the veil in public administration, and in schools — that
is all. For the rest, freedom remains the order of the day. Regarding Gaza, on
October 8, 2023 Bart De Wever clearly expressed his solidarity with Israel, but
since then, has continued to deplore the supposed heavy-handedness of the
Israelis in Gaza, even though Israel has reportedly done "more than any other
military in history to minimize civilian casualties" in a place where every inch
above ground appears to have been booby-trapped for violence -- including
schools, UN facilities and mosques.
The representatives of the N-VA seem distinguished by their intelligence and
their sense of state, far removed from the crude racism on the far left, where
individuals are judged by the color of their skin. That is a perverse form of
racism, allied with a new anti-Semitism, unfortunately, re-emerging on the left
with a worrying severity. When a far-left "comedian", Herman Brusselmans, writes
that he wants to slit the throats of every Jew he meets in the street, what is
funny? Is that humor or a call to murder?
Canlorbe: Please tell us about Prime Minister Bart de Wever. What distinguishes
him from -- or makes him similar to -- his counterparts such as Georgia Meloni
in Italy, or Emmanuel Macron in France?
Godefridi: In today's current political landscape in Europe, one finds mostly
grand speeches; Wever, coming from a small country, a small region — Flanders —
embodies exceptional stature. He possesses a depth of thought.
"Philosopher-king," in his case, takes on its full meaning: a historian by
training, he analyzes the field of possibilities based on a solid historical
perspective, a fine knowledge of the Flemish political landscape, and a sharp
sense of strategy.
Since he became the Prime Minister of Belgium, his interventions — both in the
Chamber and in the media — testify to a rare quality, both in form and
substance. His moderation and sense of measure stand in contrast to the constant
exaggeration observed in many parties, especially on the left. He seems to be a
personality of exceptional stature at the Belgian level.
On the European scene, he is like Meloni. She has been criticized as
"Mussolinian," condemned for her supposed lack of competence, but she has proven
to be one of the best Italian political figures of the post-war era, and is
achieving remarkable results. Today, she is the preferred interlocutor of the
United States in Europe. She never shows any animosity toward Ursula von der
Leyen. Simply put, she is more effective.
The comparison with Emmanuel Macron is, alas, the opposite: welcomed with open
arms by the French press and the state apparatus, which had sidelined François
Fillon, his main competitor, his term has only exacerbated a decline that was
already underway before he came to power. This decline, present in economic,
social, and technological terms, affects all domains; France, once embodied by
General Charles de Gaulle as a visionary power at the forefront of modernity,
can no longer regain its former stature. The political quagmire in which the
country has been mired since the last dissolution is a sad illustration of this.
Having written my thesis at the Sorbonne, it is even more painful seeing a great
country sink like that.
Canlorbe: A few days prior to Trump's reelection, you released a Facebook video
in which, along with Alain Destexhe, you confided your opinion that Trump's
return would be some good news for the Europeans. Is your hope satisfied?
Godefridi: The good news with Trump's return, for us Europeans, is that Trump's
return forces us finally to take on our responsibilities, whether in military,
geopolitical, or economic terms. It signifies the end of a Europe that spends
its time legislating for the world, creating countless regulatory cathedrals
meant to govern the entire world: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),
competition, carbon tax, GAFAs, penalizing freedom of expression, REACH ... All
this under a constant infusion of money, directly or indirectly American, which
is now obviously over. For 20 years, Europe has been under-investing in its
military capabilities and relying on the American umbrella. For the past 20
years, America's taxpayers have been funding European defense on a massive
scale.
From this perspective, Europe is sent back to its geopolitical reality -- less
than what, until recently, some European politicians may have fantasized. Europe
is also sent back to its financial and economic reality, which, unfortunately,
is that of an aging continent bearing the yoke of an ideology that is a mix of
extreme environmentalism and socialism, with wide-open doors to millions of
Islamist newcomers. Today the main problem of Europe appears to be the European
Union — apart from the Common Market, a practical necessity. European law,
sadly, has become an instrument that prevents economic development.
The cost of energy, for instance, is today three to five times higher in Europe
than in most countries of the world, especially the United States. No industry
can withstand such a differential for very long. The cost of this energy,
however, is entirely the result of policies decided at the level of the European
Union.
So yes, the resurgence of Trump is good news for Europe, but only in the sense
that it forces Europeans finally to take their economic and military
responsibilities seriously, especially now in Ukraine.
Canlorbe: You regularly travel to Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam for your
activities as an entrepreneur. How do you assess the "business climate" there?
Drieu Godefridi: Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam — these are cities in distress,
often for the same reasons: a migratory surge and a management that is primarily
socialist. Paris and Brussels are dirty, saturated with aggression, and
everywhere you go you encounter asylum seekers who have been denied asylum and
have no right to reside in the country but remain there nonetheless because they
are supposedly "undeportable". The police try to do their job but are constantly
sabotaged by "left" and "far-left" judges who, under various pretexts, release
the worst thugs, criminals and rapists.
Admittedly, Dutch management far surpasses that of Belgium or France. In the
Netherlands, public debt represents 50% of GDP, compared to 106% and 114% in
Belgium and France. A country can ensure budgetary rigor and prosperity if it
wants to.
Our cities, like the rest of Western Europe, are buckling under the yoke of all
sorts of regulations, the source of which is the European Union. There is no
longer a real business climate, and European law acts as an instrument of
economic castration. Take energy: its cost is five to seven times higher in
Europe than in the United States — no industry can sustainably withstand such a
differential.
By contrast, Switzerland remains a paradise: for the last decade, its industrial
production has grown by about 40%, while that of Germany has fallen. Despite
significant migration and a few small Islamist enclaves, Switzerland offers
light taxation, a higher standard of living, and a commitment to the civil
tradition that encourages entrepreneurship without bombarding it with countless
regulations or resorting to arbitrary administrative interventions.
American entrepreneurs peer at us Western Europeans as once West Germans looked
at East Germans: cousins, brothers, but on a totally opposed trajectory. With
the exception of Switzerland, Western Europe is mired in economic, financial,
and civilizational backwardness.
It is time to draw inspiration from this model, without copying it servilely, to
put our continent back on the path of growth, creativity, and well-being. Our
challenge, of truly civilizational scope, is to restore hope — the possibility
for every European family to build a better future for their children — one
commensurate with Europe's great, historical contribution to civilization.
© 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, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
How Turkiye emerged as a key guarantor for Gaza
Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/October 17, 2025
Since the start of the Gaza war, Turkiye has taken an assertive and proactive
stance, engaging in both regional and international initiatives that aimed at
ending the Israeli aggression. Over the past two years, Ankara has strongly
backed all the Arab-led efforts, closing ranks with the regional states,
particularly Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Syria, to present a united front.
This approach has not only strengthened Turkiye’s ties with Arab nations but
also with the US administration.
As a result of these efforts, Turkiye was one of four countries that signed a
US-led joint statement on the Gaza ceasefire agreement in Sharm El-Sheikh,
Egypt, on Monday. Alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the statement was
signed by US President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. But what
paved the way for Turkiye to secure a seat at the table? The groundwork was laid
during a closed-door meeting between Trump and the leaders of several Muslim and
Arab nations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last month. Notably,
Erdogan was seated prominently next to Trump, offering early signs of
Washington’s expectations from Ankara regarding the Gaza agreement. Following
this gathering, Erdogan held a one-to-one meeting with Trump, during which Gaza
was discussed in greater detail.
In the aftermath, Turkiye, alongside Qatar and Egypt, began efforts to encourage
Hamas to respond positively to the US-backed ceasefire proposal. A key figure in
these efforts was Ibrahim Kalin, the head of Turkiye’s National Intelligence
Organization, who played a central role in the behind-the-scenes negotiations
held in Doha. His involvement signalled Turkiye’s official inclusion in the
mediation talks.
Turkiye, alongside Qatar and Egypt, encouraged Hamas to respond positively to
the US-backed ceasefire proposal.
According to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Ankara was specifically asked
by Washington to use its leverage to help ensure Hamas agreed to the proposal.
The Turkish leadership views Gaza not only as a strategic issue but also as a
matter of domestic importance. Palestine is one of the few issues on which all
major political parties in Turkiye are united. Turkish people are sensitive to
the Palestinian cause and the Gaza war deepened their negative sentiments toward
Israel.
Through a series of backchannel diplomatic efforts, Turkiye ultimately emerged
as one of the guarantors of the Gaza deal. This was not only due to its
proactive diplomacy in the region, but also the personal relationship that
Erdogan and Trump have developed. Trump has praised Erdogan, saying: “He’s
always there when I need him. He’s such a tough guy; tough as you can be, but he
is my friend.”This is classic Trump-style diplomacy: simple, direct and
transactional. He prefers to deal with leaders who he believes are strong and
responsive, and he expects matters to be handled in the same straightforward
manner. In his view, there are only a few countries in the region with which the
US can maintain workable, pragmatic relationships — and Turkiye is one of them.
The Gaza deal is a good example.
Turkiye’s inclusion in both the negotiations and the execution of the deal can
be seen as a significant diplomatic achievement. However, the real question now
is: What role will Turkiye play moving forward? And, most importantly, does
Turkiye have a long-term strategy to navigate any potential setbacks? Well, we
will see the answers to these questions during the process. However, it is
important to highlight what Turkiye has pledged so far and what challenges may
lie ahead in fulfilling those commitments.
Turkiye’s inclusion in both the negotiations and the execution of the deal was a
significant diplomatic achievement
Firstly, it wants the full implementation of the deal, in which a four-party
guarantor system is established to ensure compliance, monitor ceasefire breaches
and manage prisoner exchanges. Secondly, Turkiye aims to take part in the
multinational task force to monitor ceasefire breaches. Thirdly, it seeks to be
involved in the reconstruction and revitalization of Gaza.
According to reports, the task force will include 200 American troops,
alongside units from Turkiye, the UAE, Egypt and Qatar. Turkiye will also help
locate the remains of Israeli hostages believed to have died in Hamas custody.
It has an experienced team assigned to identifying unclaimed bodies that has
previously worked in Syria. However, the deployment of
Turkish troops to Gaza would require parliamentary approval. As in past cases,
such as deployments to Qatar, Libya, Somalia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Lebanon,
Turkiye was only able to proceed after the Grand National Assembly approved a
motion, typically signed by Erdogan. On Oct. 10, the
Defense Ministry stated that the country’s armed forces were ready to take on
such a mission. Turkiye also activated its key humanitarian institutions, which
could play a critical role in implementing humanitarian measures and ensuring
security. Aid trucks from Turkiye have already started to enter Gaza in recent
days. Ankara is a regional power that effectively
blends hard power through military force with soft power through diplomacy and
mediation. Thus, one issue that may constrain the extent of its involvement is
the strained ties between Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Turkiye reportedly rejected, with the support of other nations, the presence of
Netanyahu at the Gaza summit in Egypt. Another issue may be Gaza’s
reconstruction, which requires collective action. Turkiye needs to carefully
maintain a collaborative strategy with other regional and international actors
in the task force.
Turkiye is ready to take on the required responsibilities; however, in practice,
its exact role in Gaza remains to be seen because the tasks are yet to be
assigned and mechanisms are yet to be formed, while regional dynamics should be
carefully followed.
*Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s
relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz
Europe must do more to reduce its dependence on Russian energy
Luke Coffey/Arab News/October 17, 2025
More than three and a half years on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Europe is
still grappling with its energy security by diversifying its oil and gas imports
away from Moscow and toward other markets. While progress has been made, it has
often been a case of two steps forward and one step back.
For years leading up to 2022, Europe enjoyed relatively easy access to cheap
Russian oil and gas. Russia was happy to sell to Europe. Moscow needed the money
and knew that doing so gave it leverage in any bargaining or negotiations with
Brussels. In the past, there have even been cases where Russia used its energy
exports as a tool of foreign policy — leveraging Europe’s dependence by
disrupting supply. Europe’s energy situation was made
even more precarious by its incessant drive toward renewable energy at all
costs. Nuclear power plants were decommissioned. Costly and only moderately
effective solar and wind projects became the preferred method of power
generation, while coal mines were closed. Russia’s
large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was considered a wake-up call to many.
At the time, there was widespread talk about Europe shifting away from Russian
energy to new sources. That enthusiasm led to concrete measures at first. By
early summer of that year, the EU had signed a new agreement with Azerbaijan
that increased Caspian gas exports to European markets, offsetting some of the
imports previously coming from Russia. Europe also sought new sources of gas
from North Africa, particularly Algeria. The same can be said for the US, which
has seen a significant increase in gas exports to Europe since 2022.
The enthusiasm shown in the early days of the war has since given way to a more
complicated reality. The enthusiasm shown in the early days of the war has since
given way to a more complicated reality. Since 2022, EU countries have spent an
estimated €213 billion ($248 billion) on Russian energy — far more than the
roughly €167 billion they have provided to arm Ukraine over the same period.
Some European countries have managed to reduce their dependence on Russian
energy, while others have done little. Although total EU payments to Russia fell
to €11.4 billion between January and August of this year — a 21 percent drop
from last year — nearly half of the total came from just two countries, Hungary
and Slovakia, both of which continue to resist calls to diversify.
Both Budapest and Bratislava have been among the most cautious in their
public support for Ukraine and, at times, have seemed sympathetic to Moscow’s
view. But there has even been an increase in Russian energy imports from
countries that are vocal supporters of Ukraine, including France, the
Netherlands, Croatia, Romania, Portugal and Belgium. It is shocking that, as the
war in Ukraine approaches the end of its fourth year, there are European
countries that are still increasing their imports of Russian energy when the
exact opposite should be happening. The absurdity of
this situation has not gone unnoticed by the Trump administration. Last month,
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he was ready to implement a
major sanctions package on Moscow “when all NATO nations stop buying oil from
Russia.” He described the continued purchase of Russian oil as “shocking,”
acknowledging that it weakens the West’s negotiating position against Moscow.
G7 finance ministers released a statement after meeting virtually on Oct.
1, declaring they are ready to “take joint steps to increase pressure on
Russia.” Specifically, they highlighted the issue of continued purchases of
Russian energy, stating that the group “agreed that now is the time to maximize
pressure on Russia’s oil exports — a major source of their revenue.”It is
estimated that stricter measures by Europe and the US could slash Moscow’s
income from crude oil by up to $80 billion a year. Obviously, this would have a
huge impact on Russia’s economy and its ability to wage war against Ukraine.
Whether this rhetoric will translate into policy remains to be seen — but, if
past experience is any guide, it is unlikely.
Stricter measures by Europe and the US could slash Moscow’s income from crude
oil by up to $80 billion a year.
Trump has a role to play as well. In the short time he has been back in the Oval
Office, his administration has made real efforts to ramp up US oil and gas
production and facilitate exports to partners around the world. The recent
secondary tariffs the US imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil also add
pressure on Moscow. There have even been indications this week that the price of
crude oil globally is decreasing as supply slowly outpaces demand. This will be
making Moscow nervous.
Trump knows this, which is why he posted his blunt message last month urging
Europeans to end their imports of Russian energy. That
said, this does not mean a peaceful resolution to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
is imminent. Trump could be motivated by one of two reasons. He might demand
that Europeans stop buying Russian energy before he applies greater pressure on
Moscow, knowing that Europe cannot realistically do so in the short term — thus
allowing him to shift the blame for the lack of progress in peace talks away
from himself and onto Europe.
Or he could genuinely hope that Europe takes concrete steps to cut its
dependence on Russian energy as a way to put real pressure on Moscow to come to
the negotiating table in good faith — something it has yet to do since Trump
began his peace initiative earlier this year.
One thing is certain: cutting off the revenue source allowing Russia to continue
the war is just as important as European countries arming Ukraine with weapons.
But it will not be until Europeans take meaningful steps to reduce their
dependence on Russian energy that Moscow truly starts to feel the pinch and will
finally come to the negotiation table.
**Luke Coffey is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. X: @LukeDCoffey
How impunity transformed Janjaweed from militia to
political power
Areig Elhag/Arab News/October 17, 2025
The International Criminal Court this month issued a historic ruling convicting
Ali Kushayb of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur two
decades ago. But this conviction is not just delayed accountability for a
militia leader — it points to a deep wound: How did militias that were
unsanctioned in 2003 transform into a legitimized military force, then into a
political entity declaring a parallel government with ministers and a UN
representative? The story begins with a burned Darfur and ends with a civil war
tearing Sudan apart, with the thread connecting them being impunity.
Ali Mohammed Ali Abdel Rahman, known as “Ali Kushayb,” belongs to the Ta’aisha
tribe of the Baggara in Darfur. In the early 2000s, Kushayb was not just a
tribal leader — he was the main commander of the Janjaweed militia in the Wadi
Salih area of West Darfur, while simultaneously holding leadership positions in
the Popular Defense Forces and the Central Reserve Police. He led a militia of
more than 10,000 fighters and participated in large-scale operations targeting
the Fur, Masalit and other non-Arab communities.
Kushayb operated within a broader system, receiving orders from Ahmed Haroun,
the government official who oversaw military operations in Darfur. But on the
ground, relationships between Janjaweed leaders were more complex. Musa Hilal,
the leader of the Mahamid clan of the Rizeigat, was the most prominent face of
the Janjaweed. He was released from Port Sudan prison in April 2003 by order of
Vice President Ali Osman Taha, despite being convicted of killing 17 people and
robbing the Central Bank of Nyala. Human Rights Watch described him as “the
backbone of the government's strategy to recruit militias.”
Hilal, Kushayb and Dagalo represented the triangle that formed the Janjaweed:
tribal leadership, field command and rising ambition
While Hilal enjoyed symbolic leadership and broad tribal influence, Kushayb was
the field commander who executed operations on the ground. In the shadows,
Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, aka Hemedti, a young trader from the Rizeigat, worked
alongside Hilal during the 2003-2005 Darfur war, learning the game and building
his own network. The three — Hilal, Kushayb and Dagalo — represented the
triangle that formed the Janjaweed: tribal leadership, field command and rising
ambition. The court convicted Kushayb on 27 charges,
including hundreds of murders, the rape of dozens of women, forced displacement,
torture and mass execution. The crimes occurred during 2003 and 2004 but the
conviction did not come until 2025 — more than two decades later. This delay is
not just a procedural detail, it is the heart of the Sudanese tragedy.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Kushayb in
2007, but he remained free for another 13 years. During that period, he was not
hiding in a cave — he was working as commander of the Central Reserve Forces in
Rahad Al-Bardi in South Darfur. In 2020, after the fall of Omar Bashir’s regime,
Kushayb fled to the Central African Republic and voluntarily surrendered to the
court, citing safety concerns. This move raised questions: Did he surrender
fearing revenge? Or did he receive guarantees? Some analysts believed that he
might become a witness against other leaders who remain in power.
While Kushayb was being tried in The Hague, Hilal was on a different path.
Instead of accountability, he got a promotion: in January 2008, the regime
appointed him as special adviser to the interior minister. But in 2017, the
Rapid Support Forces under Dagalo’s command — a son of Hilal’s own tribe —
arrested him after he refused to surrender his weapons. He was released with a
pardon in 2021 and, in the civil war that began in 2023, he declared his support
for the army against the Rapid Support Forces, while his tribal elders announced
an opposing position supporting Dagalo.
As for Dagalo, he took a completely different path. He was not tried and was not
arrested — instead, he transformed from a camel trader to commander of the Rapid
Support Forces in 2010, then to a European partner in migration control, then to
deputy chairman of the Sovereignty Council after the 2019 revolution. The path
is clear: the more impunity, the more political influence.
While Kushayb was being tried in The Hague, Hilal was on a different path.
Instead of accountability, he got a promotion
As the civil war escalated, Dagalo built complex political alliances, most
importantly with Abdulaziz Al-Hilu, chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement-North, who initially refused to deal with or meet the Rapid Support
Forces leader. This year, the equation changed and Al-Hilu announced his
alliance with Dagalo in Nairobi and took the oath as Dagalo’s deputy in the
presidential council of the parallel government. In
July, the Sudan Founding Alliance was announced — an alliance consisting of
armed movements and several politicians who were part of the previous
transitional government. They formed a parallel government and Dagalo took the
oath as chairman of the presidential council in Nyala. Former Sovereignty
Council member Mohammed Hassan Al-Ta’ishi was appointed prime minister. The
alliance announced the appointment of ministers and governors in an attempt to
give its authority an institutional character. This
parallel government has received no international recognition. The Arab League
condemned the move and described it as “illegitimate,” while Sudan’s official UN
mission confirmed that the international organization only recognizes the
government based in Port Sudan. However, the announcement itself reflected a
qualitative development: the Janjaweed had evolved from being an armed militia
in 2003 to a semiregular force in 2010, a partner in power in 2019 and a
political entity declaring a government in 2025.
Tracing a path that began in pre-2003 Darfur to the current war that started in
2023, the pattern of violence and forced displacement continues, even if the
names and titles have changed. The militias that could be disavowed by the state
transformed into regular forces, then into political entities aspiring to
international recognition. The story is not about
Kushayb alone but an entire system that impunity allowed to grow and evolve
until it reached what it is today. This delay in accountability did not come
without a price. If Kushayb had been tried in 2007, if Hilal had been handed
over to justice instead of being appointed an adviser and if Dagalo had faced
accountability for his role in Darfur before becoming commander of a semiregular
force, perhaps Sudan would be in a different place today. But impunity allowed
the model to evolve, from militia to army, from war crime to political power.
*Areig Elhag is a journalist and researcher based in Washington.
Selected English Tweets from X Platform For
17
October/2025
Pope Leo XIV
The poor are not there by chance or by blind and cruel fate. Nor, for most of
them, is poverty a choice. Yet, there are those who still presume to make this
claim, thus revealing their own blindness and cruelty. #DilexiTe
Zéna Mansour
I hope the Lebanese will realise soon that a form of federalism with self rule
is best for the country.
Many countries have proven that confederalism is the path to success, the way to
go..
EU & GCC
Autonomy
Coopération
Flexibility
#Confederalism #Success
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Are we finally seeing cracks in the Lebanese dam of boycotting #Israel?
Druze lawmaker Marwan Hamade (Jumblatt’s bloc) goes on Israeli channel I24
French, in their studio (which I’m guessing must be in Paris).
Still, a step in the right direction.
#Lebanon #Israel #Peace
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
I correct misinformation daily, often using primary sources and monitoring three
TV streams (Al Jazeera, Israel's Channel 12, and Al Arabiya/Sky News Arabia). My
high school child claimed Israel killed Gaza journalist Saleh Jafarawi, citing
Instagram as source. Fluent in Arabic, my kid watches Arabic teen content, and
algorithms feeds the timeline with fake news consumed by peers.
Democracies have a problem: their survival depends on an educated citizenry, and
fake news undermines this foundation.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain on Hamas refusing to disarm as Qatar
and Turkey remain complicit — i24 News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwVxlzA9Q9k
Hussain joins i24 News to discuss the post-war future of Gaza and the roles of
Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.