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Palestine TV reported on Monday that the death toll from an Israeli bombing raid on eastern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip had risen to 44, in addition to 90 wounded, while Palestinians confirmed the continuation of air and artillery shelling in those areas.

Earlier, the Health Ministry announced in an official tally that 37 were killed and more than 120 were injured, some of them critically, as a result of the sustained attack on eastern Khan Younis.

Speaking from the Nasser Medical Complex to the Arab World Press (AWP), Marwan al-Hams, the Director of Field Hospitals in the Gaza Strip, said, “We have received dozens of martyrs and wounded people. The Nasser Medical Complex is packed with wounded people.”

He stated, “We cannot deal with these injuries easily because the numbers are huge. In the reception area, we are dealing with cases on the ground. There is no room in the internal wards to accommodate people. The intensive care unit is full of critical injuries. We call for an end to this war.”

Hams indicated, “The situation is very serious – there’s an enormous number of injuries. The Israeli occupation does not differentiate between civilians and others. It is bombing everyone. A very serious case is being handled right now inside a rikshaw. This is what the Israeli occupation is doing. These are the injuries… a small child. These are the targets of the Israeli occupation – women and children. Most of the martyrs are women and children who were inside their homes.”

Earlier on Monday, the Israeli army demanded that the residents of the eastern neighborhoods of Khan Younis evacuate immediately to the humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi, warning that remaining in the area had become dangerous.

The Palestinian Civil Defense reported that there over 400,000 people in the eastern areas of Khan Younis that the Israeli army demanded be evacuated, according to the Shehab news agency.

44 Killed in Israeli Shelling on Khan Younis – Palestinian Media

Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Mohammad Mustafa said that he views reform of the Palestinian Authority’s institutions from a national context as a necessity and a national interest, indicating that it is an accumulated and continuous process, not a cosmetic one, and its ultimate goal is to reach a governance system that is solid, robust and accountable.

In a comprehensive interview with AWP, Mustafa affirmed his confidence in overcoming the current stage amid the destruction and devastation caused by the war in the Gaza Strip, adding that now is the best time to work, not only to confront the ongoing circumstances, but also to develop a comprehensive vision that leads to ending the occupation and “achieving national rights to freedom and independence once and for all.”

Mustafa said that his plans include serious reforms in many areas.

> “We seek to improve financial standards, achieve transparency, enhance revenues, rationalise expenditures, develop education and all services, especially healthcare, reduce bureaucratic procedures, strengthen the rule of law, enhance the rule of law and its independence, combat corruption, emphasise human rights and freedom of expression, enhance the role of civil society and oversight bodies, and prepare for legislative and presidential elections.”

He added, “The next government, although its mandate comes in challenging circumstances, will work at all levels, horizontally and vertically, and we will spare no effort to reach the stage of the last day before the establishment of the state, and we are confident of establishing the structure of the state and build on previous efforts in a way that leads us to the last day before the establishment of our independent state, in accordance with international legitimacy and the recognition of the world.”

### “Zero Tolerance for Corruption”

Commenting on the common stereotype of the Palestinian Authority in the international media as a “corrupt authority,” Mustafa said that his government’s policy is “based on zero tolerance for any corruption in our national institutions. Our goal is full and comprehensive adherence to transparency standards. Through my practical experience while working at the World Bank and other places in the country, I am fully aware that the existence of an accountable government is crucial not only to garner international support and credibility, but most importantly, to gain the trust of our people who have suffered from decades of successive hardships and disasters.”

He added that his government will take a series of professional measures and will work to establish an executive office for institutional reform within the Prime Minister’s office, to develop, coordinate and implement reform plans across all government institutions, civil society institutions and the private sector in cooperation with institutions of the international community and specialized international organisations, such as the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme.

He explained, “There are plans being finalised that include details of the tasks and work that this office will do, including priorities, areas, and immediate actions that can be initiated.”

### Liberating Palestine “Once and For All”

Regarding the possibility of Palestine overcoming the current crisis amidst the massive destruction caused by the war, the Prime Minister-designate said that “the short and direct answer is: Yes, but the most important question is how?”

> “We are very aware of the magnitude of the horrors that are occurring. The scale of destruction and deprivation that we have been experiencing and continue to experience since the beginning of the occupation cannot be described or imagined. We have lost over 30,000 martyrs in less than six months, and the number is horrifying, especially since 13,000 of them are children. Every day, approximately 10 children lose a limb in the Gaza Strip due to the continuous bombing, and about 17,000 children have been left without one of their parents, in addition to 70,000 wounded. The Israeli war machine has destroyed approximately 60% of Gaza's homes, while all systems, such as education and healthcare have collapsed, in addition to the lack of water, food and electricity. All these crimes are broadcast live before the eyes of the world.”

“The war and aggression in the West Bank are also very dangerous. Settlements continue, settler violence and terrorism are increasing, checkpoints are turning cities into small cantons, and our economy is suffering due to the piracy of our money, to the point that paying salaries and living a stable life have become difficult tasks.”

He stressed that Palestinians are at a dangerous juncture that raises questions about their ability to persevere and innovate a way out of this crisis, saying, “Therefore, we believe that this is the optimal time to work, not only to confront what is happening now, especially the priority of relief and then recovery for our people in the Gaza Strip, but also to develop a comprehensive vision that leads to ending the Israeli occupation and achieving national rights to freedom and independence, now, and once and for all.”

Mustafa believes that the tragedies caused by the “criminal war” have once again placed the Palestinian issue at the top of the world’s priorities.

He said, “It is our duty not to let these great sacrifices be in vain, and for this war to be the last in the liberation process, and to utilize everything that our great people created with their energy and capabilities, with comprehensive and collective participation behind such a vision that sets the ultimate goal of ending the occupation, and starts from the current situation at this moment - despite its tragedies – to draw up integrated plans that will lead us to there: stopping the war, relief, recovery, preparing for reconstruction, and in parallel working to empower and reform institutions, and establishing the rules of transparent, strong, and accountable governance, with full and comprehensive participation from all sectors of society, including civil society, diaspora, youth, women, forces, and factions.”

Despite describing the current situation as very difficult, Mustafa said that the Palestinians “can realistically address the humanitarian crisis, the economic crisis and the salary crisis, and even build the foundations of a solid economy, within a fair governance system. In short: we know the finish line and the vision is to map out the path from where we are to that end.”  
He continued, “Each of us has responsibilities, and the international community has great responsibilities that it must bear politically, financially, and most importantly in confronting the occupation state. The time has come to liberate Palestine – once and for all.”

Mustafa also expressed his belief that the world has now become more determined to bring about real change, “because it has understood the message that this conflict cannot end without the Palestinian people achieving their rights. Therefore, we believe that it is now important to chart a clear path to stop the war and the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, and work to crystallize a roadmap of the vision mentioned, leading to ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

He equally called for an immediate, comprehensive, and permanent ceasefire “that will put an end to these crimes and stop the bloodshed.”

> “What is required is to work with the international community to provide emergency humanitarian relief to our people in the Gaza Strip along with work to provide urgent basic services: electricity, water, education, health, and others. In parallel, working to launch an economic recovery process that enables the wheel of life to begin returning to normal. And then, of course, launching the reconstruction process, for which we are preparing all the details.”

### “An Arduous Task”

Regarding the government’s approach to achieving its vision in light of the difficult economic situation, Mustafa said, “We are fully aware that this is an arduous task due to the occupation’s control over our resources, the piracy of our funds, and our decades-long dependence on foreign aid, which has begun to gradually decrease in recent years.”

> “To confront this situation, we must work on several parallel paths. In the short term, we must find financial sources and leverage the international situation to stop the piracy of our funds. In the medium term, we must work on mechanisms that make these sources sustainable and immune to political blackmail. In the long term, we must diversify our sources of income and rationalise expenditures so that we can be on the right track to lay the foundations for a flexible national economy that is resilient and prosperous.”

Mustafa pointed out that there are significant financial obligations related to the rights of public employees and the rights of private sector suppliers, which are also related to services provided to the Palestinians, which must be addressed immediately. He said: “We are a strong and capable people, but we cannot do everything alone.”

“The situation is complex and difficult, but we must search and find solutions. With the help of the international community, our Arab brothers, and our private sector, including expatriates, we will be able to diversify our resources and create a flexible and prosperous economy that will reduce our dependence on foreign aid. I stress that achieving this must go hand in hand with the implementation of bold and decisive reform ideas based on realism, transparency and everyone’s participation.”

### “The Priority Mission”

Mustafa revealed that his government's priority mission is urgent humanitarian relief in the Gaza Strip. He said, “We are working on finalising detailed plans related to forming a specialised team to follow up on the issue, especially coordinating aid with all local and international parties, and developing a comprehensive plan for aid in cooperation with these parties, including quick measures on the ground that ensure the collection, distribution, and efficient and fair delivery of aid. Of course, this will be done in parallel with economic recovery plans.”

Concerning reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, he said, “We intend to propose a plan that includes the establishment of an independent and specialised body managed by a professional and specialised team of experts to undertake reconstruction and to establish a trust fund to collect, manage and disburse the required funds in a transparent manner.  The fund will be managed by one of the international institutions that has relevant experience such as the World Bank or the United Nations Development Programme.”

The Prime Minister-designate stressed that all detailed plans or those under preparation depend on integration and each party carrying out its responsibilities, including government institutions, ministries and civil society.

He said, “The authority and the specialised teams will work with the ministries and enable their work, and work with international institutions and coordinate and facilitate their work, and so on until each party assumes its responsibilities and implements what is required of it.”

Mustafa concluded, “I believe that sound and transparent governance, based on participation and comprehensive partnership for all parties, is the best way for the next government to achieve progress on the ground and to gain the confidence of our people and the international community alike.”

AWP Exclusive Interview with Palestinian Prime Minister-Designate 

Egypt has given the green light to five international energy companies to begin exploration operations in the western Mediterranean region for the first time by the end of this year and the beginning of next year, a source in Egypt\`s petroleum sector said.

The source told Arab World Press (AWP) on condition of anonymity that Egypt has awarded 11 concessions to BP, ExxonMobil, Total, Chevron, and Shell with the aim of drilling between four and five wells with potential reserves.

He added that Abu Dhabi sovereign fund Mubadala will participate through an indirect agreement with one of the five main companies.

> "Mandatory exploratory drilling operations are scheduled to begin by the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025... The decision will have a positive impact on the country's production of natural gas, as the discovered areas are expected to increase the country's production capacity by about 25 percent, within one year after operations start", the source said.

He stressed that Egypt is counting heavily on the development of this promising region, which is expected to include one or two fields of the same size of production as Zohr field in the eastern Mediterranean.

He explained that the five companies had completed 3D seismic survey of the area, which exceeds 30,000 square kilometers, at a total cost of $115 million, after concluding 7 agreements with the five companies.

Exclusive - Egypt Greenlights Gas Exploration in Western Mediterranean Concessions “For the First Time”

Machinery worked to repair the damage to the Rafah crossing with Gaza on Friday in the hope of commencing aid deliveries to the besieged territory which has been subjected to Israeli bombardment for two weeks.

A correspondent for the Arab World Press (AWP) on the Palestinian side of the crossing reported that the crossing is still closed while the Egyptian machinery started operating today.

An official Palestinian source at the Rafah crossing told AWP on Friday that the Egyptian side was carrying out repairs to the gate of the crossing that is located at the southernmost point of the enclave.

The source, who preferred not to be named, explained that the Egyptian side had removed a concrete wall it had installed a few days ago.

They added, “Some heavy equipment on the Egyptian side was working on levelling the road to ease the passage of humanitarian relief trucks waiting for permission to cross into Gaza.”

The Israeli army shelled the Palestinian side of the crossing that links the Gaza Strip to Egypt more than once since the war broke out a couple of weeks ago following an attack by Palestinian factions on Israeli towns and sites surrounding the enclave on October 7.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that Israel would not prevent the passage of aid to Gaza from Egypt, adding that the decision was in response to a request from U.S. President Joe Biden.

Earlier today, CNN quoted unnamed sources as saying that the opening of the Rafah crossing for a humanitarian relief convoy to Gaza was not expected to happen on Friday, as roads on the Egyptian side of the buffer zone need to be repaired.

The news network quoted an informed source as saying, “I wouldn’t bet on these trucks entering today as there are many details being considered in order to ensure the sustainability of the aid.”

CNN also reported that U.S. officials now expect the first aid convoy to Gaza to go through “most likely on Saturday.”

It added that Israel would want to participate in a mechanism to monitor the humanitarian aid trucks bound for Gaza to verify what is being sent to the region.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that it was prepared for the humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and that what is lacking is its immediate and regular delivery.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Friday that the situation in Gaza was spiralling out of control in the absence of aid.

He said that the aid supplied by WHO to Gaza has been stranded on the border for four days and stressed the urgent need for a way to start delivering the life-saving aid.

Earlier on Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived at the Egyptian al-Arish Airport, near the Rafah crossing.

Egyptian Machinery Repairing Rafah Crossing in Readiness for Gaza Aid Delivery

Dozens of foreign nationals gathered in front of the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday, waiting to be allowed to leave the enclave, while the border gate remained closed due to the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza.

Kholoud Fayad, a Canadian passport holder, said, “I primarily reside in Saudi Arabia and I lived in Saudi Arabia all my life but I hold a Canadian passport because I also lived in Canada. My children are in Canada. The war started on Saturday and we were moved to the schools. It was a very distressing and very painful thing. It’s the first time in my life I have seen such scenes.”

Rowayda al-Masry, a Jordanian woman, said she came to the crossing twice.  
“They fired at it the first time and so we returned. We came here again but have not been able to go through so far,” she explained.

An Egyptian woman, Suad Badawy, appealed to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to “open the crossing for us. We are tired. I have children and my daughters-in-law. We were on a visit to Gaza.”

In Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said the Israeli government has not yet taken a position allowing the opening of the Rafah crossing on the Gaza side for the entry of aid or exit of citizens from third countries.

At a press conference with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna following their meeting in Cairo, Shoukry said, “Egypt is ready to send aid to Gaza and allow the exit of citizens from third countries and operate the Rafah crossing as normal.”

He also expressed hope of a “breakthrough” in this regard, warning, “The matter in Gaza is serious as the Palestinian people are in critical need. There is no water, food, medicine or shelter for those who were forced to flee.”

Meanwhile, Al-Qahera News broadcast said that an unnamed Egyptian source denied there was any appeasement deal in Gaza or the commencement of aid deliveries to the region.

In Israel, local media quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office as affirming that there is currently no ceasefire in Gaza.

The reports came after the U.S. embassy in Israel reported on Monday that the Rafah crossing would open at 9 a.m. local time but it was unclear whether people would be allowed to pass or how long it would remain open.

Rafah Crossing Crowded with Foreign Nationals Waiting to Leave Gaza

Sam Werberg, the U.S. State Department’s regional spokesperson, said the current visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the Middle East is “one of the most important visits he has ever made to the region.”

In exclusive statements to AWP, Werberg said that Blinken’s top priority during the visit was “the release of American hostages as well as hostages from other countries.” He said the second priority was “talking to Israeli officials to understand their needs and self-defence capabilities” while the third priority was “monitoring the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.”

The U.S. official said his country had “grave concerns about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, holding Hamas responsible for the situation there and accusing it of “robbing the Palestinian people of their money and future.”

Hamas and other Palestinian factions launched a surprise attack across the borders on Israeli towns and settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip, known as the ‘Gaza Envelope,’ resulting in at least 1,300 killed and dozens of others taken hostage.

Israel responded with heavy attacks on Gaza that have claimed the lives of more than 2,300 so far, in addition to injuring nearly 10,000. Entire neighbourhoods were razed to the ground, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee and a comprehensive blockade was imposed on the densely populated enclave, leading to power outages, cuts to the water supply and a lack of fuel.

Werberg pointed out that talks with the Israeli side focus on the importance of protecting civilians in Gaza but also take into consideration Israel’s response to Hamas attacks, as its rocket attacks on Israel continue.

He added in the statements that have been translated from Arabic by AWP, “We do not dictate to Israel how to defend itself. At the same time, we emphasise in our discussions with Israel the importance of protecting the civilians.”

Regarding the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, Werberg said, “We have had some discussions with Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Jordan to explore the possibility of sending humanitarian aid directly to the Palestinian people.”

He added, “We want to offer humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and we are holding discussions with the Israeli side to urge them to avoid causing any harm to civilians.”

Werberg also emphasised that his country will continue working on delivering aid to Gaza, saying “We will continue to do so and we expect that in the coming days there will be a possibility of delivering humanitarian relief directly to the Palestinian people.”

He expressed hope that the step taken by the White House in “appointing a special envoy for humanitarian affairs in the Middle East” would help make progress in delivering humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. He added that the U.S. will “try to work with Egypt to open humanitarian corridors.”

Werberg denied any plans by the U.S. to “displace the Palestinian people or drive them out of their homes.”

He asserted that the U.S. “will monitor the situation in the region and has concerns about the expansion of this conflict to other places in the area or the intervention of other parties such as Iran and Hezbollah.”

The U.S. diplomat affirmed that Washington’s deployment of some aircraft carriers to the region was a “message to any party that might seek to exploit this situation.”

Werberg also said that the current U.S. administration “believes in a two-state solution as the only solution to the Palestinian issue.”

However, he ruled out negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides “because Hamas is still launching attacks by firing rockets from civilian areas inside the Gaza Strip to civilian areas inside Israel.”

Blinken returned to Israel today, with Washington seeking to contain the crisis and prevent further escalation, after a tour that began with Israel and moved between Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE.

Blinken Focuses on Hostage Release, Civilian Protection on Middle East Visit - Spox Tells AWP

In the heart of Bethlehem, body movements, melodies and words melt together on the stage to form an artistic scene telling the story of a young Palestinian woman who has lived through turbulent times in several locations.

An artist named Bayan Shabib, from the Ishtar Theatre group, takes the stage to tell the story of an exceptional woman who overcomes the journey of exile to eventually return to her motherland after decades of waiting.

Melodies accompany all the performances at the Bethlehem International Performing Arts Festival (BIPAF), which, for its organizers, serves as a documentation of moments in time and highlights heroic tales of resilience and defiance.

Bayan said, in statements to the Arab World Press (AWP), “This performance falls within the framework of dismantling psychological and cultural barriers of the concepts of asylum and the homeland.”

She explained, “\[Our show\] explores the complex psychologies of those who have suffered from dispersion and being away from their land. It mixes physical art and critical literature to create a performance telling one story that represents the issues of many.”

For Bayan, the festival is a touching and engaging moment showing how art can be a means of conveying stories and feelings, which makes the audience realise how powerful art is in expressing humanity and unity in light of the major challenges facing the Palestinian people.

The performance by Ishtar Theatre group is part of a week-long series of performances.  
The 2nd edition of BIPAF kicked off on Wednesday as organized by Dar al-Kalima Charity Foundation and Diyar Theatre.

Reverend Dr. Mitri al-Raheb, the founder and chairman of Dar al-Kalima, stressed the importance of art in conveying messages to the world in a contemporary way.  
“Art in Palestine has a role to play in bolstering resilience and defiance,” Rahib said in statements to AWP.

He noted that the event organisers sought to give an international dimension to the shows through participation by artists and groups from the United States and Europe to introduce their messages and experiences on stage.

“The festival offers a chance to merge international artists with young Palestinian artists, who often face difficulties travelling freely,” he added, emphasising the richness of the Palestinian artistic experience despite all the hardships facing the Palestinian cause.  
The BIPAF events will conclude on Tuesday.

Palestinians Perform Stories of Resilience and Hope at Bethlehem Festival

For fifty years fuelled by his love for documenting history, Makram Salama has been collecting everything related to twentieth-century Egyptian cinema at his home in the city of Alexandria, northern Egypt.

Salama recounts falling in love with cinema since his childhood in the city of Naga Hammadi in Upper Egypt, where he used to watch films at the city’s three cinemas every week.

Upon relocating to the coastal city of Alexandria, his passion expanded to collecting photographs and old film posters, as well as film distribution documents, until his house started to resemble a museum for Egyptian cinema’s precious cultural heritage.

Salama said, "I collected posters of Oum Kulthoum, \[Mohamed\] Abdel Wahab, Abdel Halim Hafez and Hussein Sedki. I got the Hussein Sedki poster from his office."

"Mohamed Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser, and those three, I found them among 9000 \[film\] negatives that were with some guy in a bag, so I took them home."

He added, "The existing collection includes all the presidents of Egypt, starting from Mohamed Naguib to \[Anwar\] Sadat, and is present in its entirety. There is also the opening of the High Dam, the railway, the post office, and all public life in Egypt is documented on negatives and because this is the original image, I keep it with me."

Salama explains his enthusiasm for cinema and history, expressing his concern that, “I feel that history is being lost, so I collect these things and revive them by preserving them and displaying them to the people."

Film Enthusiast in Alexandria Turns His Home into a Museum of Egyptian Cinema

A Spanish film opened the 28th edition of the European Film Festival in the Lebanese capital on Monday evening, where more than 25 new films are to be screened at the Sursock Palace Museum in central Beirut.

Sandra De Waele, European Union Ambassador to Lebanon, opened this year’s edition, which she described as coming amid existing challenges in the country.

In statements to Arab World Press (AWP), De Waele said, “We have been holding it for three decades so there are 30 years of cultural exchange through cinema between Europe and Lebanon. The festival continues and develops with a loyal audience. We are pleased to provide a platform for Lebanese producers to watch films and also to stimulate the Lebanese cinema industry.”

“On one hand, \[Lebanese cinema\] is very fruitful and on the other, it suffers from the challenges facing the country. I think the festival this year is far more important than in previous years,” she added.

The event, held in association with the EU member states, will run until October 4. In addition to the film “Ramona” by Spanish director Andrea Bagni, the lineup includes European productions as well as the Lebanese film “Riverbed”.

The festival will also screen movies for children and young people from the most deprived social and economic backgrounds due to the economic crisis Lebanon has been going through since 2019.

The festival features a short film competition, in which 12 films by Lebanese directors will compete. Awards will enable winners to attend an international festival in Europe next year.

The young Lebanese director, Shazah Hashim, who will be taking part in this category said, “It is certainly very important to be aware of what is happening in European cinema and get to know about the films there. As a Lebanese, it means a lot to me to attend the European Film Festival to learn about the movies and to be part of the competition.”

The activities of the festival will move to various regions within Lebanon, including Hermel, Sidon, Tripoli and Zahleh in an effort to promote European cultural production.

Spanish Film “Ramona” Opens the 28th European Film Festival in Beirut

Residents of al-Sharif village in Upper Egypt’s Beni Suef governorate mourned the deaths and buried the bodies of scores of its villagers who were killed in Storm Daniel that hit the Libyan city of Derna.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) announced the death of at least 250 Egyptians in Derna, 74 of whom are from Beni Suef.

A staggering 68 victims were from al-Sharif village, and six others from the villages of Fazzara, Kambash, Bani Etman, and Suds in the Biba directorate.

The Egyptian Health Ministry ambulances carrying the victims’ bodies struggled to make their way through the village due to the large crowds that gathered at the village entrance and all the way to the cemetery.

Hassan Abdul Salheen Bensawi Hassan counted the names of his cousins and their children, whose bodies arrived alongside the body of his own son.

Hassan said his son Ali, a father of four, "had gone to Derna to earn a decent living three years ago and never once came back, and today he came back dead."

Villager Hajj Mohamed Fathi Abou Radi, who buried his brother-in-law, said that many Egyptians are either still missing or their bodies have not been returned from Derna.

He said, "We now demand that they help the poor people whose bodies have not been found. My neighbour received the bodies of two of his sons, but the third is still missing."

Egyptian Village Mourns Scores of People Who Died in Derna, Libya following Storm Daniel

Umm Ahmed, a displaced person from the town of al-Teh currently living in the Maaret Masrin refugee camp in Idlib, northern Syria, wonders how she can afford a tin of olive oil for the staggering price of 80 US dollars and still be able to provide for her family and fix their tent ahead of the approaching winter.

Local supplies have decreased due to exporting large quantities of olive oil which has doubled its price from 40 to 80 US dollars per bottle, depriving many Idlib families from buying it.  
 

Olive oil is an essential staple in the diet of many families in Syria and is usually eaten as a dip with bread after mixing it with thyme and other herbs and served with tea.

According to Hassan Haj Moussa, owner of an olive field in the town of Sarjah, south of the governorate, a good harvest season is on the horizon despite a wave of cold weather that damaged olive trees a few months ago.

He believes that "the high cost of oil is due to legal and illegal exports to Spain and elsewhere, causing prices to rise insanely. A tin of oil \[16 litres\], which used to cost between 30 and 50 \[US\] dollars, is sold today for between 75 and 85 dollars."

He described what happened as "a crime" against the people, adding that many families "rely on olive oil for food and as a staple at home. Oil is essential to have in the home, like bread."  
The governorate of Idlib is Syria’s highest olive producer with nearly 100,000 hectares and more than 11 million trees producing around 200 kilograms of oil.

Youssef Ghandoura, an olive and oil merchant in the town of Kurin, southern Idlib, expects oil prices to decrease during the new season, saying that "we are heading towards a good season, thank God, in which prices may decline because there will be self-sufficiency and surplus of goods."  
 

Tamam al-Hamoud, General Director of Agriculture in Idlib, agrees with Ghandoura that the current season will retain old oil prices "especially since we are implementing the agricultural schedule during the local production period, and exporting is prohibited until self-sufficiency is achieved for our fellow citizens."

He added, "The expected production of olive fruits for this year is approximately 115,000 tonnes, 100,000 tonnes allocated for pressing and 15,000 tonnes for local consumption as a table variety, and the expected production of oil is approximately 22,000 tonnes, 13,000 tonnes for local consumption and 9,000 tonnes for export."

Increasing Demand for Exports Elevate Olive Oil Prices in Syria’s Idlib to Record Levels

Advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister said on Wednesday that the security agreement signed by Baghdad and Iran this week to disarm military groups and close their headquarters in Iraqi Kurdistan was not a “spur of the moment” decision and that it contributes to creating stable relations between the two countries.

Hisham al-Rakabi, media advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, said in an interview with AWP in Baghdad that the Iraqi government “rejects these groups in Iraq because their presence violates the Iraqi constitution.”

On Monday, Iraq and Iran announced signing a security agreement that raised concerns among Iranian opposition groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan for decades.

Despite the joint announcement of the agreement, those Iranian opposition groups say that they have not received any requests to leave Kurdistan, affirming their continued presence in the autonomous northern Iraqi region.

In an interview with AWP, Hussein Yazdanpana, president of the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), called for the return of US forces to the region to put an end to what he described as “Iran’s meddling in Iraqi affairs and in the affairs of the Kurdistan region.”

Yazdanpana stressed that his party’s forces “will not withdraw from their positions.”  
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said that “if the agreement is not implemented on time, we will fulfill our responsibilities towards the terrorist groups in Iraqi Kurdistan.”

Nonetheless, al-Rakabi told AWP that the “issue is related to how there can be strong relations between neighbouring countries. It conveys important messages, such as transparency, good treatment and concern between both countries, and safeguarding of the common interests of the region’s people as well as neighbouring countries.”

He added, “The Iraqi government, on many occasions, declared its refusal to allow Iraq to become a stage for any hostile military and security actions against any neighbouring country.”

“The Prime Minister has frequently emphasised that Iraq rejects all these practices and takes the necessary measures to prevent armed groups from threatening the security and safety of neighbouring countries. Therefore, this agreement was built on six principles. At the same time, the Iraqi government sends a message to all the neighbouring countries that Iraq’s constitution and political system refuse to compromise the security and safety of neighbouring countries, and therefore an agreement was reached between the two countries. Consequently, the agreement stipulates an end to the armed presence on the borders, as well as the disarmament of those groups and the handover of wanted individuals to both countries.”

For more than four decades, the Iraqi Kurdistan region has been hosting Iranian Kurdish opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, the two wings of the Komala Kurdistan Party in Iran, the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) , the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), the Iranian wing of Turkish opposition Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the Communist Iranian Party, the Organization of Iranian Kurdistan Struggle (Khabat) , and the Kurdistan Serbesti Party (PSK).

Fighters of these parties are located inside Iranian Kurdistan, while a number of their headquarters are spread out in the outskirts of the Sulaymaniyah and Erbil governorates and the Koysanjaq and Soran districts in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Al-Rakabi earlier told AWP that the security agreement includes “three articles: preventing the infiltration of militants with the deployment of border guards, handing over wanted persons after issuing arrest warrants in accordance with the law, and disarming and removing the \[military\] camps.”

Responding to a question about reported US military movements in the area, especially near the Syrian borders, al-Rakabi said that “Iraq is not concerned with movements outside Iraq's borders.”

“All movements that take place outside the borders of Iraq, Iraq will not be involved in. However, we are monitoring and following developments in the region. We hope that the issue will remain free from any security measure or action because Iraq’s stability is linked to the region’s stability, and the stability of the region is part of the stability of Iraq and the rest of the Middle East.”

Iraqi Government Advisor: Security Agreement with Iran “Not a Spur of the Moment” Decision

Thousands of people of Niger prayed for peace at one of the largest mosques in the Nigerien capital Niamey as foreign pressures have been mounting to secure the release of elected President Mohamed Bazoum and end one of the most serious of crises in West Africa during the past years.

Male and female worshippers’ faces were haunted by anxiety at a mosque that bears the name of the late Libyan leader in Niamey as some of them said they were gathered for peace in a situation, as one put it, “requires great bravery.”

“We are here at the Grand Mosque of Muammar Gaddafi to do the Friday prayers. We are praying for the people of Niger and for peace. Niger is facing a crisis in which the people are needed to show huge courage. Let us seize this opportunity to call on those who caused this crisis to go away. They are the French,” said Hassan Issa Hamza in statements to the Arab World Press (AWP) outside the mosque.

“We are not afraid. We are ready to fight and defend our lands in the hope of a better future,” he emphasized.

For his part, Marima Hamidou spoke of “bad things happening,” saying it would be good to stick to the preachers to get the blessings of peace.

“Everything is not fine in Niger … We hope God would defend our country. We condemn anyone who undermine our country and pray to God that their schemes fail,” she said.  
Weeks have passed since the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) armies alliance has announced an agreement to deal a strike to “bring Bazoum back to power he had been ousted from on July 26,” and still the two sides are in negotiation in an attempt to reach a peaceful solution.

On Friday, Niger’s current authorities asked the French ambassador to leave the West African country.

Since the July 30 coup d’etat, Niger has come under strict financial and trade sanctions imposed by the ECOWAS. The coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani rejected the threats made by ECOWAS and pledged “tough resistance” against any military intervention.

Prayers for Peace in Niger as Foreign Pressures, Military Intervention Threats Grow

A spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon on Friday said the mission is applying Resolution 1701 pending the issuance of a new expected resolution by the UN Security Council by the end of this month.

Amid watching in Beirut for the expected resolution and fears over a possible amendment allowing the UN force to move in patrols without escort by the Lebanese army, Andrea Tenenti referred to many speculations ahead of the day a resolution is released.

“There are too many speculations these days before Monday tranquil the discussion is ongoing in New York. We are here to implement the resolutions. This is up to the Security Council – to the 15 members of the Security Council – to decide how to move forward,” said Tenenti in an interview with the Arab World Press (AWP) in al-Naqoura city, southern Lebanon.

“As of now, and the last many years the security council has been always very supportive of the role of the mission, of 1701 so we maintain our role in ,first of all, the backbone of our mandates to support the army Lebanese, to assist the Lebanese army, to work in close coordination with the Lebanese army, to assist local communities, and of course to preserve stability in the south of Lebanon. This is what we have been doing, what we are doing now, what we will be doing to implement fully 1701 in relation again to the resolution that will expire at the end of the month and there will be a new resolution on the 31st of August. It is up to the security council,” he said.

The past few months have witnessed tensions between the Lebanese and Israelis sides on the borders as Lebanon accused Israel of having violated its territorial waters.  
The UNIFIL spokesperson, however, insists that “the situation is volatile but calm,” underlining the importance of the tripartite meetings that bring together the Lebanese and Israeli armies with UNIFIL.

“We're always very optimistic about the future and I say if there is a will, there is a way. Force commander, the leadership, is very much in touch with the parties to discuss the way forward. We had more than 160 tripartite meetings. The parties have always been committed to 1701 and also the difference between rhetoric and reality. The reality on the ground is that there is no appetite for a conflict and the parties have been meeting even last week in tripartite meetings to ensure there is full implementation of 1701 or to discuss it,” said Tenenti.

Resolution 1701 Still Effective Pending New One by UN, Says UNIFIL Spokesman

Acting Governor of Banque du Liban (BdL) Wassim Mansouri said on Friday that public-sector employees’ salaries for August will be paid in U.S. dollars, noting, however, that the bank cannot confirm if this is going to be “permanent.”

In a press conference at the BdL headquarters in Beirut, Mansouri said the bank will not lend to the government to cut the state budget deficit.

He pointed out that the public-sector employees’ salaries will be paid based on an exchange rate of 85,500 Lebanese liras per U.S. dollar.

“The priorities mentioned are determined by the government and the capabilities of BdL to help transfer money into foreign currency, which only covers a limited portion of the mentioned ministries. However, this might not be feasible next month. Even if it was secured for the coming month, this same might not be the case with the month after that. These are conventional monetary solutions, but sustainability is not inherent in what we are doing today,” said Mansouri.  
 

The acting governor of Lebanon’s central bank warned that the monetary conditions in the country “cannot tolerate any procrastination,” asserting that monetary stability is a priority and must be protected by all traditional monetary means.

“The monetary stability secured by BdL is linked to  economic and security conditions. The bank can‘t maintain this stability without the cooperation of the parliament and government,” he explained.

Speaking on the foreign currency reserves, Mansouri said they will not be touched, adding “any measures to be taken will be outside of these reserves.” He noted that an agreement was reached to secure the needs of the army and the security agencies without affecting the country’s foreign currency reserves.

“The problem is that these needs are also present within the ministries and all state institutions but these sums cannot be provided all at once despite the ministries’ urgent needs,” he said.  
Mansouri appealed to all political and parliamentary powers to remove the monetary authority and its needs from any political tugs-of-war.

He also warned of the danger of having Lebanon isolated from the global financial system, which would pose a significant threat to the economy, people’s lives and the future of the banking sector.  
 

“I must ring an alarm bell to warn of the current stagnation in the adoption of reform laws which will undermine sound and sustainable economic stability and will expose Lebanon to the risks of isolation from the global financial system. This has a significant impact on the economy, citizens’ lives and the future of the banking sector,” he warned.

Banque Du Liban Interim Governor: August Salary to be Paid in Dollars

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein discussed several issues with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, on Tuesday, including water and the presence of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq.

Following their meeting, the Iraqi minister said in a joint press conference that the pair discussed "Baghdad obtaining a fair share of water," and that Fidan "proposed the formation of a permanent committee to discuss the water issue between the two countries".

The Iraqi News Agency quoted Fuad as saying that he "had an important and practical meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister, and the Iraqi-Turkish relations are important for both parties, and we care about them. The fact that our relationship is broad, important, and continuous sometimes highlights some complications, and our principle is to reach a solution through talks".

He added that the two countries’ economic and trade ties are "in a state of continuous increase” and said that there are nearly 850 Turkish companies working in Iraq, mostly in the construction and building sector, and that about 700,000 Iraqis live in Turkey.

"We discussed facilitating granting Iraqis entry \[visas\] to Turkey, and we touched on draft memorandums of understanding and the need to expedite their conclusion," Hussein said.

The Iraqi Foreign Minister tackled the security and military situations and the Turkish military presence in Iraq, saying that this matter was at the heart of the discussions.

"We are committed to the Iraqi constitution, and no one is allowed to use Iraqi land to attack its neighbours," he added.

The Turkish Foreign Minister said that he had discussed with his Iraqi counterpart the fight against terrorism, as he told Hussein that Turkey would not allow the PKK to "poison our relationship with Iraq".

"We must not remain indifferent to its (PKK) challenge to Iraqi sovereignty," Fidan added.  
"The PKK has actually occupied Sulaymaniyah, Makhmur, Sinjar and the Qandil Mountains, and seeks to unite these areas with the corridor it established between Syria and Iraq by ignoring the borders," he added.

The Turkish Foreign Minister indicated that his country "is providing Iraq with all the support in its fight against the PKK," and that it wants Baghdad to officially designate the party as a "terrorist organisation".

"We are ready to work with Iraq in the war against any \[terrorist organisation\], whatever its name is, \[whether\] ISIS or the PKK," the Turkish minister added.

During the conference, Fidan called on all countries in the region to support the Route of Development project and said, "we will work for the elevation of relations between the two countries to the highest levels and to solve existing problems." He also expressed Turkey's support for the government of Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani.

Iraqi and Turkish Foreign Ministers Discuss Water, Turkish Military Presence and PKK

Morocco mourned 24 people on Sunday evening after they were killed in a traffic accident after their minibus plunged into a ravine in a mountainous area near the city of Azilal.

Local authorities said that the victims were on their way to attend the weekly market in the nearby city of Demnate, when their vehicle overturned and fell down a steep mountain slope.

Eyewitnesses said that the victims were invited to Demnate by a local resident who had just returned from performing Hajj.

They added that the vehicle’s driver "may have had a car malfunction and did not use the brakes at the bend, causing it to fall down the mountain. Some of \[the victims\] were accompanied by their children or siblings."

The accident is one of the worst road disasters in Morocco since 23 people were killed and 36 wounded in a similar bus accident in the city of Khouribga, east of Casablanca, last August.

According to official statistics, there were around 3209 road accident fatalities in Morocco last year.

Morocco Mourns 24 People Killed in Road Accident in Central Province

Inhabitants of the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh in Lebanon were out on Tuesday to examine the destruction left by battles that went on for three days between Islamist groups and Fatah Movement’s National Security Forces (NSF) after a truce was effective yesterday.

Efforts are underway to consolidate the truce, brokered Monday evening, after clashes have reportedly erupted once again.

Lebanon’s local National News Agency (NNA) said machine-gun fire and rocket firing have been heard all over the southern Lebanon city of Sidon, where the camp is located.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) on Monday said the clashes left one person killed and 40 others wounded, including a person from the agency staff.

According to Association 302 to Defend Refugees Rights, an independent media outlet concerned with news about Palestinian refugees, said the clashes caused the destruction of infrastructure facilities of water, electricity, sewerage system and roads in addition to the burning down of 700 houses.

Stores, vehicles, water tanks and mosques have been damaged in the clashes, the association said in a statement.

Quoting a statement by UNRWA Monday evening, the association noted that the armed violence in the Ain al-Hilweh camp left 11 refugees killed and 40 others, including an UNRWA employee, wounded.

Two UNRWA schools were damaged too as about 2,000 people have fled from the camp that houses 80,000 Palestinian refugees.

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