At UN, Arab nations say they want a ‘Gazan Riviera’ in an independent Palestinian state

Arab countries do want to see a Riviera in Gaza, but “a Palestinian Gazan Riviera in the independent and internationally recognized state of Palestine,” Kuwait’s permanent representative to the UN said on Friday. (AN Photo)
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Updated 14 February 2025
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At UN, Arab nations say they want a ‘Gazan Riviera’ in an independent Palestinian state

  • Kuwaiti envoy hails international community’s ‘firm stance’ in rejecting displacement of Palestinians
  • Palestinian envoy: ‘We’re not asking for anything beyond the right to live in peace in our own land’

NEW YORK: Arab countries do want to see a Riviera in Gaza, but “a Palestinian Gazan Riviera in the independent and internationally recognized state of Palestine,” Kuwait’s permanent representative to the UN said on Friday.

Reflecting on the historical resilience of places destroyed by war, Tarek AlBanai emphasized that Gaza, with international support, could rebuild and flourish.

“Like any other country that has been devastated by war, like London in World War II, or Dresden, Warsaw, Stalingrad, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, everybody got together, built their cities back, and today they’re some of the most amazing cities around the world,” he said. “So like any other place in the world, this is how Gaza will be rebuilt.”

Speaking on behalf of the UN group of Arab countries, AlBanai condemned any actions aimed at displacing Palestinians from Gaza, which he said would be a violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the forcible transfer of civilians from occupied territories.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to empty Gaza of its more than 2 million Palestinians and turn it into a “Riviera of the Middle East.”

At a press conference in New York, AlBanai was joined by a united front of ambassadors from across the Arab world, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, all of whom categorically rejected any mass transfer of Palestinians.

“We commend the international community’s firm stance in rejecting these proposals and reaffirming their illegality under international law,” AlBanai stated.

“The Arab Group is unwavering in its call for an immediate ceasefire, a return of Palestinian civilians to their homes, and the cessation of Israeli aggression in both Gaza and the West Bank.”

AlBanai, whose country holds the presidency of the Arab Group for February, called for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, adopted with broad support, which calls for a complete ceasefire, the restoration of Palestinian homes and neighborhoods, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance on a large scale.

He also reiterated the international community’s commitment to a two-state solution, consistent with international law.

Palestinian Ambassador Riad Mansour stressed the importance of the international community's support for his people’s right to self-determination, and urged the UN to hold Israel accountable for its actions in the Occupied Territories.

“We’re united behind the full implementation of Resolution 2735, which the Security Council must uphold,” Mansour declared.

“The Palestinian people are resilient and we’ll rebuild Gaza, but we need the world’s support to stop the aggression and prevent further crimes against humanity.”

He also called on the international community to stop the forced displacement of Palestinians and respect their desire to return to their ancestral lands.

“Why is it so surprising that we, the Palestinian people, should be allowed to return to the places where we have memories, where we have stories, where we have connections?” Mansour asked passionately.

AlBanai and Mansour praised the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the US, noting their critical roles in navigating the obstacles to achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.

They said the international community’s support for the ceasefire is essential for lasting peace in the region.

Mansour also outlined several key steps that the UNSC and the UN General Assembly must take in the coming weeks to move forward with the implementation of a permanent ceasefire and the rebuilding of Gaza.

These steps include continued support for the Palestinian government and a commitment to ending the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.

“We’re not asking for anything beyond the right to live in peace in our own land,” Mansour said. “We want a just and lasting peace, and the path forward is clear: the establishment of a two-state solution, the end of the occupation, and the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state.

“The international community has the opportunity now to pave the way for peace and support the creation of an independent Palestinian state.”


At least 58 corpses found in Libyan hospital, ministry says

Updated 56 min 10 sec ago
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At least 58 corpses found in Libyan hospital, ministry says

  • The corpses found on Monday are the second set of unidentified remains discovered in recent days

TRIPOLI: At least 58 unidentified corpses were found on Monday in a hospital in Tripoli that was under the control of a militia whose leader was killed last week, the interior ministry said.
The corpses were found in a morgue refrigerator in Abu Salim Accidents Hospital in the densely populated Abu Salim neighborhood, following a report from the hospital, the ministry said in a statement.
Pictures of corpses with numbers and censored faces were posted by the ministry, showing remains in various states of decomposition on steel carriers and beds. Some of the remains were burnt. An investigation was underway to establish the identities of the deceased.
“So far, 23 corpses have been examined, and all necessary legal procedures have been taken, including documenting data and collecting samples,” the ministry said.
Abu Salim was home to a militia known as the Stabilization Support Apparatus, whose chief, Abdulghani Kikli, widely known as Ghaniwa, was killed in unconfirmed circumstances last Monday.
Kikli’s killing led to the sudden defeat of the SSA by factions aligned to internationally recognized Prime Minister Abdulhamid Al-Dbeibah of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
On Tuesday, Dbeibah ordered armed groups to be dismantled, triggering the fiercest clashes Tripoli had seen in years between two armed groups. The clashes killed at least eight civilians, according to the United Nations.
The corpses found on Monday are the second set of unidentified remains discovered in recent days. On Saturday, officials said nine corpses had been found in a morgue refrigerator in Al-Khadra hospital, another SSA-controlled hospital in the Abu Salim neighborhood.
The militia had not reported the corpses to the relevant authorities, the interior ministry said.
Dbeibah said on Saturday that eliminating militias was an “ongoing project,” as a ceasefire after last week’s clashes remained in place.
The GNU posted a video on Monday showing bulldozers demolishing the so-called 77 camp, one of the biggest facilities that was under control of SSA. The camp is to be turned into a national park.
Libya has had little stability since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising ousted longtime autocrat Muammar Qaddafi. The country split in 2014 between rival eastern and western factions, though an outbreak of major warfare paused with a truce in 2020.


Netanyahu says UK-French-Canada condemnation gives ‘huge prize’ to Hamas

Updated 20 May 2025
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Netanyahu says UK-French-Canada condemnation gives ‘huge prize’ to Hamas

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday hit back at condemnation of his country’s military offensive in Gaza by the leaders of France, Canada and Britain saying they had given a “huge prize” to Hamas.
“By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed and by demanding a Palestinian state, the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities,” Netanyahu said in a statement, referring to the October 2023 attack that set off the Gaza war.


Palestinian hospital chief calls for pressure on Israel

Updated 20 May 2025
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Palestinian hospital chief calls for pressure on Israel

HELSINKI: An East Jerusalem hospital chief told AFP on Monday that Gaza was in a “catastrophic” state after weeks of a complete blockade of humanitarian aid and called on countries to act to end the suffering of civilians.
Fadi Atrash, chief executive of the Augusta Victoria-Hospital in East Jerusalem — which helps Palestinians from the occupied territories and Gaza — said he could no longer “find the words” to describe the crisis faced by people in war-torn Gaza.
“We are facing a very, very critical and catastrophic situation,” he said, with all components of the health care system destroyed, and health care workers “running out of energy.”
Augusta Victoria, which had a hospital in Gaza that has been destroyed in Israeli bombings now provides health care in Gaza with the limited resources available, Atrash said.
Atrash visited Finland — which has not recognized Palestine as a state — on Monday as part of a tour of the Nordic countries.
“My main message for the Nordic countries is to put pressure to stop the war, to stop the killing.”
Humanitarian food, medical and fuel supplies have been blocked from entering Gaza for 11 weeks, and the World Health Organization has warned that two million people face starvation.
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb joined other European leaders on Monday to call on Israel to guarantee the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Stubb also said “forced displacement of populations is a war crime and cannot form part of any solution,” in a post on X.
Israel this month approved an expanded military offensive in Gaza but has agreed to let limited aid into Gaza.


Gaza civil defense says 91 killed in Israeli strikes Monday

Updated 20 May 2025
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Gaza civil defense says 91 killed in Israeli strikes Monday

GAZA CITY: A Gaza civil defense official said that 91 people were killed in strikes and attacks throughout Monday as Israel steps up an offensive in the Palestinian territory.
The deaths had been recorded since the early hours of Monday, according to Mohammed Al-Mughayyir, an official in the civil defense agency of the Hamas-run territory. The department had earlier given a toll of 52 dead.


Yemen’s Houthis threaten Israeli port

Updated 20 May 2025
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Yemen’s Houthis threaten Israeli port

SANAA: Yemen’s Houthis said Monday that they would target Haifa port in Israel as part of a “naval blockade” in response to Israeli escalation in the Gaza war.
The Houthis would “begin working to enforce a naval blockade of the port of Haifa,” said military spokesman Yehya Saree.
“All companies with ships present in or heading to this port are hereby notified that, as of the time of this announcement, the aforementioned port has been included in the target bank,” the Houthi spokesman added.
The move was “in response to the Israeli enemy’s escalation of its brutal aggression against our people and in Gaza,” he said, adding their attacks on Israel would “cease once the aggression on Gaza ends and the blockade is lifted.”
Earlier on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country will “take control” of the whole of Gaza, as rescuers reported dozens killed in a newly intensified offensive.