GAZA CITY: Hamas’s armed wing urged the Israeli military to temporarily halt air strikes and withdraw from part of Gaza City on Sunday as it tried to locate two Israeli hostages it said it had lost contact with.
“The lives of the two prisoners are in real danger, and (Israeli) forces must immediately withdraw to the south of Street 8 and halt aerial operations for 24 hours starting from 18:00 today to allow attempts to rescue the prisoners,” the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement.
In an earlier announcement, the armed group said the loss of contact was due to Israeli military operations over the previous 48 hours in two southern Gaza City neighborhoods where Israeli forces have stepped up air and ground assaults.
In the past, the Islamist movement announced that it had lost contact with an Israeli-American hostage, who was released a few days after that announcement.
Since launching its offensive on Gaza City, the Israeli military has repeatedly ordered Palestinians to move south.
On Sunday, Gaza’s civil defense agency, a rescue force operating under Hamas authority, said 38 people had been killed by Israeli fire, including 14 in Gaza City.
Hamas urges Israel to halt strikes as it searches for two hostages
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Hamas urges Israel to halt strikes as it searches for two hostages
- The armed group said the loss of contact was due to Israeli military operations in southern Gaza City
Jordan, France discuss expanding cooperation in transport sector
- Minister of Transport Nidal Qatamin met French Ambassador to Jordan Franck Gellet
AMMAN: Jordan and France have discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation across the transport sector, including air, land, rail and maritime links, during talks in Amman on Saturday.
Minister of Transport Nidal Qatamin met French Ambassador to Jordan Franck Gellet to explore opportunities for strengthening technical and operational partnerships, as well as sharing expertise to support the modernization of Jordan’s transport infrastructure, Jordan News Agency reported.
The talks focused on improving planning, service delivery and operational systems in line with the kingdom’s growing transport needs.
“Jordanian-French relations are longstanding and built on mutual trust,” Qatamin said, highlighting Jordan’s commitment to deepening cooperation with France and benefiting from French experience in developing a modern and efficient transport system.
Gellet reaffirmed France’s readiness to broaden cooperation, particularly in infrastructure upgrades and enhancing service efficiency, adding that such efforts would support economic growth and facilitate trade and mobility.
Both sides agreed to maintain coordination and examine potential joint projects aligned with Jordan’s transport priorities, highlighting their intention to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sector, JNA added.
