The foreign ministers of Germany and France visited Syria on Friday to convey a strong message about the potential for a “political new beginning” between Europe and Syria following the ousting of Bashar Assad by Islamist insurgents. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot engaged in discussions with Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria’s current leader, as well as representatives from civil society. Baerbock emphasized the importance of including all Syrians, irrespective of their ethnic or religious backgrounds, in the political process, ensuring they have rights and protections. Al-Sharaa indicated that the country could take up to four years to hold elections due to the necessary political discussions and constitution revisions that must take place.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 42 individuals, including children, as hostilities continued overnight into Friday. These events come amid renewed ceasefire negotiations, which are set to take place in Qatar after facing multiple delays. In Israel, warning sirens were activated due to missiles launched from Yemen. According to local health officials, the ongoing bombardments and ground invasion in Gaza have claimed more than 45,600 Palestinian lives, with women and children constituting over half of the casualties. These officials do not differentiate between civilians and combatants in their reports.
The conflict erupted after a Hamas-led militant attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities, primarily among civilians, and around 250 individuals were taken hostage, with around 100 still believed to be held in Gaza, where at least a third are suspected to be dead.
In related developments, Palestinian health workers and the Israeli military are in disagreement over evacuation orders for two hospitals in Gaza. Al-Awda Hospital stated on Friday that they were instructed by the Israeli military to evacuate immediately, although no further details were provided. At the same time, a nurse from the Indonesian Hospital indicated that their facility also received evacuation orders, but they remained with patients who could not walk, requesting ambulances for safe evacuation. Meanwhile, the Israeli military denied any orders for evacuations, reiterating that there was no need for hospitals to evacuate.
Last week, Israeli forces had reportedly expelled injured Palestinians from another hospital in northern Gaza, where patients described distressing conditions during their forced ousting. Israel has asserted that Hamas was utilizing hospitals as operational bases.
Within the United Nations, discussions are ongoing regarding the severe impact of the conflict on Gaza’s medical facilities. Human rights chief Volker Türk indicated that a recent report highlighted 136 strikes on hospitals and medical centers, resulting in considerable fatalities among medical staff and further destruction of healthcare infrastructure. Israel has consistently accused Hamas of using hospitals for military purposes while claiming that its forces endeavor to safeguard such facilities.
Ceasefire discussions are also being revisited in Qatar. Hamas has stated that indirect negotiations would recommence, aligning with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorization for a delegation to continue negotiating with Hamas’s representatives in Qatar. The ongoing negotiations have faced several interruptions, yet Netanyahu remains intent on fully dismantling Hamas. White House spokesperson John Kirby described the renewed Israeli delegation to Qatar as a positive development, expressing optimism regarding the urgency and feasibility of a new agreement.
Meanwhile, escalating violence in Gaza has resulted in at least ten individuals being killed from Israeli aerial attacks on Friday alone. Reports confirm that separate airstrikes across the territory led to further casualties, including children, as officials continue to report on tragic events following each wave of Israeli strikes.
Amid the ongoing turmoil, freelance journalist Omar al-Derawi was identified among those killed in the recent airstrikes, with mourners acknowledging his death alongside a press vest found at the scene. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that over 130 Palestinian journalists have lost their lives since the onset of the conflict, and restrictions on foreign reporters’ access to Gaza persist.
As the high-ranking diplomats from Germany and France engage with Syria’s ruling leadership, they reiterated their commitment to an inclusive political transition, emphasizing the necessity of a future that prioritizes women and encompasses people from all ethnic and religious backgrounds. During their meeting with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leaders conveyed that while Europe is prepared to support a new direction for Syria, it would not fund Islamist entities.
Additionally, tensions have flared at the Lebanese-Syrian border, leading to clashes that injured five Lebanese soldiers. The Lebanese military reported that soldiers fired warning shots in response to attempts from Syrians to reopen an illegal border crossing. After a round of fire exchanges, more army personnel were reported injured.
Finally, the two foreign ministers expressed their emotions while touring their nations’ long-closed embassies in Syria’s capital. The visit marked the first official engagement from European diplomats in Syria since the recent political upheaval, with Barrot expressing a fragile optimism for a stable and peaceful future in the region.
