BEIRUT, Jan 3: German and French foreign ministers are traveling to Damascus to signal the possibility of a “political new beginning” between Europe and Syria, according to the German minister.
Germany’s Annalena Baerbock and France’s Jean-Noel Barrot are scheduled to meet with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the group that ousted Bashar Assad, and representatives from Syrian civil society on Friday.
Baerbock emphasized that this “new beginning” can only happen if the emerging Syrian society ensures political inclusion and rights for all individuals, irrespective of their ethnic or religious backgrounds.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes on Thursday and Friday resulted in at least 50 fatalities, including raids on a large tent camp that Israel has repeatedly targeted, despite it being designated as a humanitarian safe zone. Israel stated that the strikes aimed to eliminate a high-ranking police officer and blames Hamas for the civilian casualties.
Local health officials report that Israel’s conflict in Gaza has claimed over 45,500 Palestinian lives, with women and children constituting more than half of the casualties. The officials do not differentiate between civilians and combatants in their reports.
The conflict began following Hamas-led militants’ assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, and the abduction of approximately 250 people. Currently, around 100 hostages are believed to be in Gaza, with at least a third thought to be deceased.
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French and German foreign ministers visit Syria, indicating that a “new beginning” between Europe and Syria is possible.
DAMASCUS — The foreign ministers of France and Germany are visiting Damascus, marking the first official visit by EU diplomats to Syria since the ousting of former President Bashar Assad. The German minister described this as a clear sign that a “new beginning” is achievable between Europe and Syria.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot initiated the visit on Friday by meeting with Christian religious leaders in Damascus. He stated via the social media platform X that both countries are endorsing a peaceful and urgent transition for the benefit of the Syrian people and regional stability.
Barrot and Baerbock are expected to engage with Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), now the de facto ruling party in Syria.
Baerbock remarked that a “political new beginning between Europe and Syria” hinges on creating a new Syrian society that accommodates all groups in the political arena and grants them rights and protection.
She warned against delaying elections or allowing steps that threaten to Islamize the justice and education systems, stressing the importance of protecting against revenge actions against entire population groups and excluding extremism.
Since Assad’s removal in a rapid opposition offensive, Damascus has welcomed numerous visits from Arab and Western nations that had severed ties with his government during the ongoing civil war, now nearing 14 years.
Nevertheless, Western nations have yet to lift sanctions imposed on Syria under Assad or to retract the classification of HTS as a terrorist organization, although the U.S. did recently annul a $10 million bounty on al-Sharaa.
Israeli military reports missile launched from Yemen triggered air raid sirens in Jerusalem and central Israel.
JERUSALEM — The Israeli military announced that a missile fired from Yemen set off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and central Israel early Friday morning.
The incident startled millions and prompted a rush to air raid shelters.
No immediate injuries or damage were reported, although a faint explosion, likely from the missile or interceptors, was heard in Jerusalem.
The Israeli Defense Forces later stated that the missile had been intercepted. Reports indicate that shrapnel fell in Modi’in, central Israel, and details are being verified.
Israel has conducted several long-range airstrikes in Yemen, approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) away, but these strikes have not deterred ongoing attacks.
The Houthis have vowed to persist in their strikes against Israel until the conflict in Gaza concludes.
A surge of Israeli airstrikes results in at least 24 deaths in Gaza, raising the day’s toll to 50.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli airstrikes in the Maghazi and Nuseirat refugee camps in central Gaza claimed at least 24 lives late Thursday into early Friday.
The casualties were transported to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, heightening the day’s death toll to a minimum of 50.
The Israeli army did not provide immediate commentary on the strikes, maintaining that they target militants and attributing civilian deaths to Hamas.
Previous airstrikes already took dozens more lives across central and southern Gaza, including in a large tent camp designated as a humanitarian safe zone that has faced repeated assaults. Israel’s military contends that the latest strike killed a senior police officer linked to Hamas activities against Israeli forces.
WHO emphasizes the need for Israel to permit more sick and injured individuals to exit Gaza.
GENEVA — The Director-General of the UN World Health Organization stated that Israel is allowing only a minimal number of sick and injured Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to seek necessary medical treatment abroad.
Since the war erupted in October 2023, the WHO has assisted in the evacuation of at least 5,383 patients, leaving over 12,000 Palestinians still awaiting permission to leave Gaza, as reported by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday.
The evacuation rate fell dramatically after Israeli troops seized control of the Rafah border crossing in May, with only 436 patients evacuated since then, according to Tedros.
He asserted, “At this rate, it would take 5 to 10 years to evacuate all these critically ill patients, including thousands of children. In the interim, their conditions worsen, resulting in deaths.”
Tedros urged Israel to enhance its approval rates for medical evacuations, especially for children, and to allow all feasible corridors and border crossings to be utilized. Israel controls all access points to Gaza.
COGAT, the Israeli military authority overseeing humanitarian matters for Palestinians, stated it strives to expedite medical evacuations, which are subject to security checks. They did not respond to inquiries regarding the latest WHO statistics. (AP)
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