Author: Steven Sahiounie

US Insistence on Palestinian Deportation: Will Trump Succeed? In a contentious statement, U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that “Washington has done a lot for Egypt and Jordan,” clearly signaling U.S. pressure on these nations to accept a proposal to deport Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to their territories. This statement, which smacks of political blackmail, has been met with official rejection from both Cairo and Amman, amidst warnings of its severe implications for regional stability. Egypt’s Stance: Firm Rejection and Escalation Concerns Hani Khalaf, former Assistant Foreign Minister of Egypt, emphasized Egypt’s fundamental objections to this proposal. In an…

Egyptian Protest Near Rafah Border Against “Trump’s Plan” On Friday, hundreds of Egyptians participated in a demonstration close to Egypt’s border with Gaza, protesting against a plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The controversial plan suggested relocating Palestinians from the war-torn Gaza Strip to Egypt and Jordan. Al-Qahera News Channel broadcasted footage showing hundreds of protesters waving both Egyptian and Palestinian flags near the Rafah border crossing, a heavily guarded military zone accessible only with official escorts. Last week, Trump proposed what he termed as a plan to “clear” Gaza, suggesting that Jordan and Egypt should accept Palestinians…

Guardiola Comments on Facing Real Madrid in the Champions League Pep Guardiola, the Spanish manager of English club Manchester City, has labeled the frequent encounters between his team and Spanish giants Real Madrid as akin to a “derby”. This statement comes after the teams were drawn against each other once again in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage. Manchester City, under Guardiola’s leadership, will face Real Madrid, who hold a record 15 Champions League titles, in the Round of 16. This matchup follows City’s qualification after defeating Club Brugge 3-1 in their last group stage match. Meanwhile, Scottish team Celtic…

European Trio Urges Israel Not to Ban UNRWA Activities Berlin, Paris, and London issued a joint statement on Friday, expressing deep concern over Israel’s decision to impose a ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). In this statement, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, her French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, and British Prime Minister David Lammy called on Israel to reconsider its decision to implement the ban. They emphasized that currently, “no other entity or UN agency has the capacity, infrastructure, or experience to perform the functions that UNRWA does.” The diplomats highlighted that UNRWA is…

UNRWA ‘continues to deliver’ as Israeli ban comes into effect UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA on Thursday upheld its commitment to support millions across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) as Israel’s order for it to cease operations went into effect. “UNRWA continues to deliver assistance and services to the communities we serve,” the agency said in a post on the social media platform X. “Our clinics across the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem are open while the humanitarian operation in Gaza continues.” No official word Last October, the Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, passed two laws that called…

Pentagon Reveals Details of Military Helicopter Crash in Washington The Pentagon on Thursday disclosed that the three soldiers aboard the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which collided with an American Airlines passenger jet on Wednesday, were experienced and equipped with night-vision goggles during their annual training mission at the time of the incident. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated in a video message that a special team of investigators has already arrived at the crash site near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. He expects soon to have answers regarding whether the helicopter was in its designated airspace and at the…

The World in a Predicament: What is the Peacebuilding Commission and Why is it More Crucial Than Ever? In a world described as being in a “predicament,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has underscored the urgent need for peacebuilding efforts. Speaking at the 19th session of the Organizational Committee of the UN Peacebuilding Commission on Thursday, Guterres highlighted the essential tools provided by the peacebuilding architecture, which includes the Commission, the Peacebuilding Support Office, and the Peacebuilding Fund. These entities work in tandem with UN country teams to translate aspirations into tangible realities. Guterres warned of the global spread of…

Trump’s Envoy: Gaza Reconstruction Might Take 10 to 15 Years President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, stated on Thursday that the Gaza Strip has been almost entirely destroyed, predicting that the reconstruction process could take from 10 to 15 years. During an interview with the news site Axios at the end of his visit to the region, Witkoff emphasized, “There’s almost nothing left of Gaza,” adding, “The reconstruction might take from ten years to fifteen years.” He continued, describing the situation on the ground: “Residents are moving north to return to their homes, see what has happened, and…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On January 27, the European Union took the first step to ease sanctions on Syria, while the process is contingent upon the progress made by the new leadership in Damascus, following the December 8 departure of President Assad. The first restrictions likely to be eased concern the banking, energy, and transport sectors. They are considered essential to accelerating the war-torn country’s reconstruction, strengthening stability, and normalizing financial relations with the EU, which remains Syria’s biggest international donor. On January 6, the US issued a six-month sanctions exemption for transactions with governing institutions in Syria…

Zero Growth for the European Economy in Q4 2024 Official data has revealed that the European economy experienced zero growth on a quarterly basis in the last quarter of 2024. This stagnation comes amidst a backdrop where Germany, the largest economy in the Eurozone, has seen economic contraction for two consecutive years. According to Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the 20-nation Eurozone showed no increase in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of the same year. The Eurozone economy slowed down in the final quarter, following a modest growth…