GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip: Israel is quietly allowing thousands of Palestinians to enter from the Gaza Strip to work, apparently as part of understandings with the ruling Hamas militant group aimed at preventing a fourth war in the blockaded territory.
Israel effectively revoked thousands of work permits when it joined Egypt in imposing a crippling blockade on Gaza after Hamas seized power in the coastal strip from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.
The blockade, along with three wars between Hamas and Israel, has devastated the economy in Gaza, where unemployment is over 50 percent.
But in recent months, Israel has quietly provided some relief as part of an unofficial, Egyptian-brokered truce with Hamas, in exchange for reduced rocket fire from the territory and the scaling back of weekly protests along the border.
Israel quietly lets in Gaza workers in bid to ease tensions
Israel quietly lets in Gaza workers in bid to ease tensions
- Move part of understandings with Hamas aimed at preventing a fourth war in the blockaded territory
- Gaza Strip unemployment rate is over 50 percent
Turkiye’s Erdogan says Kurdish forces in Syria must lay down arms and disband now
- Turkish leader says laying down weapons is the only way out, he added, and any provocation would be a ‘suicide attempt’
ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Kurdish forces in northern Syria must lay down weapons and disband now to avoid further bloodshed, after Damascus struck a ceasefire with the group and gave them four days to agree on integrating into the central state.
Syria’s Turkiye-backed government forces seized swathes of territory from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria this week, as part of President Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s efforts to bring all the country under central government authority.
The United States, the SDF’s main ally, said its partnership with the group had changed in nature since the emergence of the new government in Damascus, and urged Kurdish fighters to integrate into Syria’s state apparatus.
Turkiye views the SDF as a terrorist organization linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group. It has been engaged in a peace process with the PKK for months and says the group — and its extensions — must disband and disarm.
Speaking to members of his AK Party in parliament, Erdogan said Turkiye welcomed Tuesday’s ceasefire agreement between the SDF and Damascus, adding he hoped the group’s “full integration” would herald a new era in Syria.
“Our hope is for this issue to be solved permanently without any more bloodshed, for the terrorist organization, which is now stuck in some areas in northern Syria, to lay down its weapons, disband, and for there to be no more conflict,” he said.
Laying down weapons is the only way out, he added, and any provocation would be a “suicide attempt.”
Earlier, Erdogan’s office said he discussed developments in Syria with US President Donald Trump in a phone call. He said on Wednesday that their call was “fruitful” and that they spoke about the joint battle against Daesh in Syria.
He also urged Kurds in Turkiye not to fall for “provocations” by militants and said his government would continue to carry out the peace process with the PKK.
