PARIS: France Thursday saluted an Arab plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority, adding Islamist militant group Hamas should be “entirely” excluded from running it. The proposal that Arab leaders endorsed on Tuesday “constitutes a serious and credible basis to respond to reconstruction, governance and security needs after the Gaza war,” French foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said. But “the plan must entirely exclude Hamas from governing Gaza, where it must be disarmed and give Israel serious security guarantees.”

LONDON: Britain on Thursday removed 24 Syrian entities from its sanctions list and unfroze their assets, including the Central Bank of Syria, other banks and petroleum companies. The West is rethinking its approach to Syria after insurgent forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham ousted Bashar Assad as president in December. Last month, European Union countries suspended a range of sanctions against Syria. Britain’s foreign office did not give further details on the lifting of the sanctions and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Syrian government media official did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

NEW YORK: The UN Security Council on Thursday expressed grave concern over the signing of a charter to establish a parallel governing authority in Sudan, warning that the move risks exacerbating the fragmentation of the war-torn country and worsening its already dire humanitarian situation. Council members said that any such unilateral action will undermine Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and therefore threatens the stability of the country and the wider region. Sudanese political groups and armed movements aligned with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on Tuesday signed what they billed “a transitional charter” in Nairobi, endorsing “a secular state for Sudan” and paving the way for a parallel government in RSF-controlled areas. The Sudanese government has rejected the move, saying it encourages the division of African countries and violates their sovereignty. Members of the Security Council called on both parties involved in the conflict to seek an immediate halt to hostilities and to engage, “in good faith,” in diplomatic efforts toward a durable ceasefire. They also welcomed calls by the African Union and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to urgently declare a ceasefire during Ramadan. The 15-member body, tasked with maintaining international peace and security, also called for all parties to comply with their commitments outlined in the Jeddah Declaration. They emphasized “the importance of a genuine, inclusive, and transparent national dialogue leading to a free, fair and democratically elected national government, following a civilian-led transitional period, to realize the aspirations of the Sudanese people for a peaceful, stable and prosperous future, in full accordance with the principles of national ownership.” Council members further urged all countries to halt any external interference “which seeks to foment conflict and instability, to support efforts for durable peace, to abide by their obligations under international law, and to implement relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2750,” which was adopted last year to renew the arms embargo on Sudan. The Security Council also called on warring parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and resolution 2736. Resolution 2736, adopted in June 2024, demanded the RSF halt a siege and de-escalate fighting in North Darfur’s capital Al-Fashir. Since the beginning of the conflict in early 2023, humanitarian officials have decried the weaponization of hunger in Sudan and lamented the lack of access to the millions in need, which has caused famine to return to some parts of the country, including Zamzam camp.