Egyptian FM urges Gaza truce in talks with US senators

Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry poses for a photo with with US Congressional Friends of Egypt Caucus. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
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Updated 06 December 2023
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Egyptian FM urges Gaza truce in talks with US senators

  • Shoukry said Cairo was keen to forge a strategic partnership with Washington

CAIRO: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry began his US visit on Wednesday by calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during meetings with Senate members.

He held talks with Dem. Chris Coons, Rep. Ted Cruz, Rep. Marco Rubio, Rep. Lindsey Graham and Dem. Ben Cardin, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Shoukry highlighted the importance of achieving an immediate truce, protecting Palestinian civilians and ensuring regular access to humanitarian aid.

He reaffirmed Egypt’s position, rejecting all forms of forced displacement or resettlement of Palestinian refugees and displaced people outside their lands.

The foreign minister also said Egypt would stand with the US administration’s opposition to ideas that aim to kill the Palestinian cause and exacerbate the destabilization of the region.

Shoukry said Cairo was keen to forge a strategic partnership with Washington.

He added that the turbulent regional and international situation requires a strategic partnership between the two countries and a mutual will to establish peace in the region.

Shoukry’s meetings also covered aspects of bilateral cooperation and ways to strengthen economic and military ties, said Ahmed Abu Zaid, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman.


Syrian government says it controls prison in Raqqa with Daesh-linked detainees

Updated 43 min 23 sec ago
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Syrian government says it controls prison in Raqqa with Daesh-linked detainees

  • Prison holds detainees linked to Daesh, and witnessed ⁠clashes in its vicinity between advancing Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters

Syria’s Interior Ministry said on Friday it had taken over Al-Aktan prison in the city of Raqqa ​in northeastern Syria, a facility that was formerly under the control of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The prison has been holding detainees linked to the militant group Daesh, and witnessed clashes in its vicinity this week between advancing Syrian government forces and the SDF.

It ‌was not ‌immediately clear how many ‌Daesh ⁠detainees ​remain in Al-Aktan ‌prison as the US military has started transferring up to 7,000 prisoners linked to the militant Islamist group from Syrian jails to neighboring Iraq. US officials say the detainees are citizens of many countries, including in Europe.

“Specialized teams were ⁠formed from the counter-terrorism department and other relevant authorities to ‌take over the tasks of guarding ‍and securing the prison ‍and controlling the security situation inside it,” ‍the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Under a sweeping integration deal agreed on Sunday, responsibility for prisons housing Daesh detainees was meant to be transferred to ​the Syrian government.

The SDF said on Monday it was battling Syrian government forces near ⁠Al-Aktan and that the seizure of the prison by the government forces “could have serious security repercussions that threaten stability and pave the way for a return to chaos and terrorism.”

The US transfer of Daesh prisoners follows the rapid collapse of Kurdish-led forces in northeast Syria. Concerns over prison security intensified after the escape on Tuesday of roughly 200 low-level Daesh fighters from Syria’s ‌Shaddadi prison. Syrian government forces later recaptured many of them.