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.

ISTANBUL: Outlawed Kurdish group PKK and all groups allied with it must disarm “immediately,” a Turkish defense ministry source said on Thursday, apparently referring to Kurdish forces in Syria. “The PKK and all groups affiliated with it must end all terrorist activities, dissolve and immediately and unconditionally lay down their weapons,” the source said. Last week, PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan urged his militant group to dissolve and his fighters to lay down their arms in a historic call. The 75-year-old founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party has been jailed since 1999. The PKK, which has engaged in a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state in which tens of thousands of people have died, declared a ceasefire on Saturday and said it would comply with Ocalan’s call. But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has backed the peace move, was quick to warn that if the promises weren’t kept, the military would continue its anti-PKK operations. “We always keep our iron fist ready in case the hand we extend is left hanging in the air or bitten,” he said on Saturday. Since January 1, 478 “terrorists” have been “neutralized” in anti-PKK military operations, the source said, of which 195 were in Iraq and 283 in Syria.

TEL AVIV, Israel: Israel on Monday denied entry to two European Union lawmakers, accusing one of promoting boycotts of the country. Lynn Boylan, who chairs the European Parliament EU-Palestine delegation, and Rima Hassan were refused entry at Ben-Gurion airport and ordered to return to Europe. Interior Minister Moshe Arbel said French politician Hassan has “consistently worked to promote boycotts against Israel in addition to numerous public statements both on social media and in media interviews.” No reasons were immediately given for Boylan being denied entry. Hassan was born in Aleppo, Syria, and, like Boylan, is a member of The Left group in the EU parliament. On Friday, The Left group called for the immediate suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement – a pact that underpins their relations – given the International Court of Justice investigation into crimes committed against Palestinians in Gaza. Boylan said she had planned to meet with Palestinian Authority officials, representatives of civil society organizations and people living under Israeli occupation. Boylan is a member of the Sinn Fein party in Ireland, which has been among the most vocal countries in criticizing the Israeli government over its treatment of Palestinians. “This utter contempt from Israel is the result of the international community failing to hold them to account,” Boylan said in a statement. “Israel is a rogue state, and this disgraceful move shows the level of utter disregard that they have for international law. Europe must now hold Israel to account.” Israeli legislators passed a law this month that prohibits entry to people who have denied Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack or expressed support for the international prosecution of Israeli soldiers. The law, which applies to non-citizens and non-residents of Israel, builds on previous legislation that denied entry to anyone calling for a boycott of Israel. The law also bans the entry of Holocaust deniers. The original law was seen by opponents as an attempt by Israel to silence critics. It was used on multiple occasions to bar entry to activists who support the Palestinian-led boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, known as BDS. Supporters portray BDS as nonviolent activism based on a similar campaign against apartheid South Africa. Israel views the movement as an attack on its very legitimacy and accuses some organizers of antisemitism, allegations they deny. Hassan, who hails from the French hard-left France Unbowed, called for a rally outside EU headquarters where the meeting took place on Monday, and where some protesters had gathered. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar was on a diplomatic visit to Brussels for the EU-Israel Association Council. The council does not meet frequently, and Monday’s meeting was called amid pressure from Spain and Ireland to suspend the forum over Israel’s actions in Gaza. Saar met with several European leaders in Brussels. Earlier on Monday, Saar told reporters Israel was used to facing criticism and ready to approach all discussions with an open mind. “It’s OK as long as the criticism is not connected to the delegitimization, demonization or double standards, which from time to time are things we see in the attacks against Israel,” he said.