CAIRO: Egyptian officials say authorities have released 32 Ethiopian prisoners during a visit by the country’s prime minister.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters, say Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi pardoned the prisoners, who returned to their home country on Monday.
El-Sisi had met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to discuss a massive upstream Nile dam that Cairo fears will cut into its share of the river when it is completed.
Ahmed said the project will not reduce Egypt’s share of the river, which provides virtually all the Arab country’s freshwater.
Ethiopia says the hydroelectric dam is essential for its economic development.
Ahmed arrived in Cairo on Saturday for a two-day visit, his first since he assumed office in April.
Egypt frees 32 Ethiopian prisoners during PM’s visit
Egypt frees 32 Ethiopian prisoners during PM’s visit
- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi pardoned the prisoners, who returned to their home country on Monday
- El-Sisi had met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to discuss a massive upstream Nile dam that Cairo fears will cut into its share of the river when it is completed
Controversial Israeli minister enters area around Al-Aqsa Mosque on first Friday of Ramadan
- Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is seen making provocative remarks directed at Palestinians in presence of Israeli police
- It comes amid heightened Israeli security and restrictions on Palestinians entering the mosque, despite which an estimated 80,000 people attend first Friday prayers of the holy month
JERUSALEM: Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, entered the area around Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, coinciding with the first Friday prayers of Ramadan.
Footage shared on social media showed him arriving through the Moroccan Gate, accompanied by the Israeli police commissioner, Daniel Levy, and the Jerusalem District police commander, Avshalom Peled.
Ben-Gvir was seen making provocative remarks directed at Palestinians in the presence of Israeli police officers, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.
The Moroccan Gate, located near Al-Buraq Wall, is one of the main entrances to Al-Aqsa and has been under Israeli control since 1967. It is regularly used by Israeli forces and settlers to access the mosque compound.
Jerusalem Governorate said the minister’s actions came amid heightened Israeli security measures and tighter restrictions on Palestinian in occupied Jerusalem during Ramadan.
Despite this, an estimated 80,000 worshippers attended the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to figures provided by the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem.
From early in the morning, Israeli forces imposed strict controls on Palestinians traveling from the West Bank to Jerusalem. Dozens of elderly worshippers were reportedly turned back at the Qalandia and Bethlehem checkpoints after being told they lacked the necessary permits.
Security forces also briefly detained four paramedics and disrupted the work of journalists and medical teams at Qalandia, witnesses said.
Additional security measures were also enforced at entrances to Jerusalem’s Old City and the gates of Al-Aqsa, with young men subjected to identity checks and a number of worshippers denied access.
