Nawaf Salam

Israel says Date for Opening Gaza's Rafah Crossing to be Announced at Later Stage

Israel said Thursday that the date for the opening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt would be announced at a later stage and that it would only be open for the movement of people. "The date for the opening of the Rafah crossing for the movement of people only will be announced at a later stage, once the Israeli side, together with ...

Israel Hostage Forum Urges Govt to Delay Next Stages of Truce if Hamas Fails to Return Bodies

An Israeli group campaigning for the return of all hostages held in Gaza on Thursday demanded that the government delay implementing the next stages of the truce if Hamas fails to return the remaining captives' bodies. In a statement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged the Israeli government to "immediately halt the implementation of ...

South Lebanon: Security, Diplomacy, and Reconstruction

While touring southern Lebanon on Thursday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that an international conference in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and security services – in preparation for several months – is expected to be held "soon." The event aims to address the urgent needs of the army, particularly in ...

The Sharm al-Sheikh Peace Summit: How Trump Became the ‘King of Presidents’

When Air Force One touched down in Sharm al-Sheikh on October 13, 2025, the Red Sea resort known for coral reefs and diplomacy turned into the epicenter of world politics. Cameras caught an image that would dominate headlines: Donald Trump standing between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, ...

Israel Confirms Identities of Two Deceased Hostages Returned Wednesday

The Israeli army announced on Thursday that it had identified the remains of hostages, Inbar Hayman and Mohammad al-Atrash, whose bodies had been returned to Israel the previous evening by Hamas. "Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine... (Israeli military) representatives ...

Israel Threatens To Resume Fighting if Hamas Does Not Respect Gaza Truce Deal

Israel's defence minister threatened Wednesday to resume fighting if Hamas does not honour the terms of a US-backed ceasefire that halted the war in Gaza. The statement from Defence Minister Israel Katz's office came after Hamas handed over the remains of two more deceased hostages, and said it would be unable to retrieve any more bodies ...

Israel Says Military Received Two Hostage Bodies from Red Cross in Gaza

Israel said its forces received two hostage bodies from the Red Cross on Wednesday, which had been returned under a US-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza. "Israel has received, through the Red Cross, two coffins containing the bodies of hostages who were handed over to the [Israeli military] and Shin Bet (security agency) forces inside the Gaza ...

UN Humanitarian Chief Says Israel Should Immediately Open Gaza Crossings to Aid

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher urged Israel on Wednesday to immediately open all crossings into Gaza for humanitarian aid, as called for in a US-backed ceasefire plan. "It should happen now. We want it to happen immediately as part of this agreement," Fletcher told AFP in an interview in Cairo, ahead of a planned trip to the Gaza ...

Israeli Drone Targets Car in South Lebanon, Driver Injured

An Israeli drone fired two guided missiles at a civilian “Rapid” vehicle on the Seddiqin-Kafra road in southern Lebanon on Wednesday evening, injuring the driver, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The attack occurred in the al-Asi area, near the “al-Rimal Cooperative,” prompting ambulances to rush to the scene. Initial reports ...

Disarming Hamas: How Could Gaza Be Demilitarized?

The peace plan co-signed on Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh by US President Donald Trump and the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey raises a crucial question: How would Hamas be disarmed? The Trump plan lays out a stark reality: Gaza must be demilitarized. To achieve this, a stabilization force will need to be created. On paper, the plan seems ...