UNITED NATIONS: The United States, Saudi Arabia and several other Arab and Muslim-majority nations including Egypt and Turkiye called Friday for the UN Security Council to quickly adopt a US resolution endorsing Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.
“The United States, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and Türkiye express our joint support for the Security Council Resolution currently under consideration,” the countries said in a joint statement, adding they were seeking the measure’s “swift adoption.”
Last week the Americans officially launched negotiations within the 15-member Security Council on a text that would follow up on a ceasefire in the two-year war between Israel and Hamas and endorse Trump’s plan.
“We emphasize that this is a sincere effort, and the Plan provides viable path toward peace and stability, not only between the Israelis and the Palestinians, but for the entire region.
A draft of the resolution seen Thursday by AFP “welcomes the establishment of the Board of Peace,” a transitional governing body for Gaza — that Trump would theoretically chair — with a mandate running until the end of 2027.
It would authorize member states to form a “temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF)” that would work with Israel and Egypt and newly trained Palestinian police to help secure border areas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip.
Unlike previous drafts, the latest mentions a possible future Palestinian state.
Friday’s joint statement comes as Russia circulated a competing draft resolution to Council members that does not authorize the creation of a board of peace or the immediate deployment of an international force in Gaza, according to the text seen Friday by AFP.
The Russian version welcomes “the initiative that led to the ceasefire” but does not name Trump.
It calls on the UN secretary general to “identify options for implementing the provisions” of the peace plan and to promptly submit a report that also addresses the possibilities of deploying an international stabilization force in war-ravaged Gaza.
The United States has called the ceasefire “fragile,” and warned Thursday of the risks of not adopting its draft.
“Attempts to sow discord now — when agreement on this resolution is under active negotiation — has grave, tangible, and entirely avoidable consequences for Palestinians in Gaza,” a spokesperson for the US mission at the United Nations said in a statement.
While it seemed until now that Council members supported principles of the peace plan, diplomatic sources noted there were multiple questions about the US text, particularly regarding the absence of a monitoring mechanism by the Council, the role of the Palestinian Authority, and details of the ISF’s mandate.
US, Saudi Arabia urge ‘swift adoption’ of UN Gaza resolution
https://arab.news/4zp76
US, Saudi Arabia urge ‘swift adoption’ of UN Gaza resolution
- Other Arab and Muslim-majority nations including Egypt and Turkiye join call for UN Security Council to quickly adopt a US resolution endorsing peace plan
Syrian authorities bust smuggling ring, tighten border controls
- Smugglers' boat collides with rocks as it attempted to flee pursuing as Coast Guard vessels
- The boat was about to illegally transport passengers from the Syrian coast of Tartus coast to Cyprus
DAMASCUS: Syrian Coast Guard forces have arrested members of a human smuggling network operating in the western town of Tartus, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported Saturday.
Authorities pounced on the smugglers as they were about to transport passengers from the Tartus coast to Cyprus by illegal means, the state media said, citing a statement from the General Authority of Ports and Customs.
"The operation resulted in the arrest of all those involved, including the organizers of the trip," said the report, adding that the smugglers' boat attempted to escape as Coast Guard vessels surrounded it, but collided with rocks.
No details were made available on how many suspects were arrested and how many passengers were rescued. Criminal charges are being prepared against the arrested suspects, SANA said.
New restrictions on commercial transit
In a separate move to regulate trade and border security, the ports and customs authority has issued a new policy restricting truck access at land crossings and seaports.
Commercial trucks will now only be permitted entry for loading or unloading upon presentation of an original receipt from the Ministry of Transport’s freight office.
The transfer of cargo between Syrian and non-Syrian vehicles must now take place strictly within designated customs yards at border crossings.
Trucks passing through Syria in transit remain permitted, provided they are under a mandatory customs escort between entry and exit points.
