Mostafa Salem

Arab leaders to gather for postwar Gaza proposal to counter Trump’s ‘Riviera’ plan | CNN Arab leaders are set to meet in Saudi Arabia on Friday for the first time to formulate a response to US President Donald Trump’s plan for the US to take ownership of Gaza, expel its Palestinian popula...

Conflicting details have emerged about the Arab plan.

Read more here: edition.cnn.com/2025/02/21/m...

Originally announced by Egypt in early February as an “emergency summit,” the gathering will take place five weeks after Trump first floated his plan, showing the struggle among Arab states to craft a unified stance.

Arab leaders are set to meet in Saudi Arabia on Friday for the first time to formulate a response to US President Donald Trump’s plan for the US to take ownership of Gaza, expel its Palestinian population and turn it into a Middle Eastern “Riviera”

On Gaza, Hamas briefed other Palestinian factions on the deal. So far they seem to be accepting it in positive light. The deal has less written commitments rather more verbal ones. Also remains unclear how many Palestinian prisoners will be released in the first phase.

Israel is "ready for a ceasefire," an Israeli official tells CNN's Jeremy Diamond.
Netanyahu met finance minister Smotrich after Ben Gvir threatened resigning from government. Smotrich hasn't yet said the same. As it stands, even a resignation by Ben Gvir wouldn't collapse Netanyahu's government.

🤝The latest on the Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal:

A Qatari official said the agreement now is the closest we've been to in months but parties are still discussing "simple issues." No timeframe on when a deal will be reached. Implementation will also not be immediate after signing but close after.

Syrian rebels capture second major city as army withdraws from Hama | CNN Syria’s army said it is redeploying outside of Hama after rebels entered the central city.

After Syrian rebels quickly retook the city of Aleppo last week (and after the Biden admin urged “de-escalation”), dictator Bashar al-Assad’s army says they’re withdrawing from the strategic city of Homs. From @mostafasalemcnn.bsky.social and Eyad Kourdi:
www.cnn.com/2024/12/05/m...

Rebel groups have taken Syria’s second-biggest city. Here’s who they are | CNN Eight years ago, Syria’s civil war shifted in President Bashar Al-Assad’s favor after a Russian blitzkrieg on Aleppo helped him regain control over the country’s second biggest city.

Chatted w/ @mostafasalemcnn.bsky.social @cnn.com on the armed groups leading the offensive in Syria #SNA #HTS amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/12/...

Syrian rebels claim to have entered Aleppo | CNN Syrian opposition forces claim to have entered Aleppo city from the western side, according to a statement released on Friday by the newly formed rebel coalition, the Military Operations Command.

Syrian armed rebels claim to have entered the Syrian city of Aleppo after capturing a number of villages this week, reigniting a civil war that had been largely static for years. From @mostafasalemcnn.bsky.social and Eyad Kourdi: www.cnn.com/2024/11/29/w...

• Netanuyahu’s office said Israel “utterly rejects the absurd and false actions and accusations.” The move compels ICC members to arrest him but key powers, including Israel’s major ally the US, are not signatories.

• The court said it had “reasonable grounds” to believe Netanyahu bears criminal responsibility for war crimes including “starvation as a method of warfare” and “the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.”

• Today the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes over the war in Gaza. The court also issued a warrant for Hamas military leader, Mohammed Deif, who Israel said it killed in an airstrike in September.

Mideast news this AM:

- Israel striking southern Beirut for 5th consecutive day. IDF issued evac warnings in area, say targeting Hezbollah.

-Bloomberg: MBS not going to G20 in Rio due to ear sensitivity in long air travels. Putin not going and outgoing Biden admin likely influencing decision.