Published February 7, 2025last updated February 7, 2025Germany’s chancellor has disagreed with Trump’s plans to send Gaza Palestinians to nearby Arab states. Meanwhile, Iran’s Khamenei said fresh talks with the US would not be “smart, wise or honorable.” DW has more.
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Although much of Gaza is uninhabitable, Palestinians want to stay in their homelandImage: Amir Cohen/REUTERSSkip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to know German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rebukes Trump’s Gaza takeover proposal Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said negotiations with the US would not solve the region’s problems US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit the Middle East next week Here’s a look at headlines on Israel, Gaza, Lebanon and the wider Middle East on Friday, February 7, 2025:
Skip next section HRW warns of consequences of US aid freeze in SyriaFebruary 7, 2025
HRW warns of consequences of US aid freeze in SyriaZac Crellin
Human Rights Watch has warned that the Trump administration’s cuts to overseas aid could worsen “life-threatening conditions” in camps in Syria that hold relatives of members of the “Islamic State” group.
“The US government’s suspension of foreign aid to non-governmental organizations operating in these camps is exacerbating life-threatening conditions, risking further destabilization of a precarious security situation,” HRW said in a statement on Friday.
Trump’s aid freeze casts doubt on assistance programsTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Hiba Zayadin, a senior Middle East researcher at HRW, said the situation in the camps would need to be included in discussions about Syria’s future.
“People detained unlawfully in al-Hol and Roj camps should not be left to languish forever,” he said.
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Skip next section Rubio to visit Middle East next weekFebruary 7, 2025
Rubio to visit Middle East next weekZac Crellin
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make his first official visit to the Middle East next week, a State Department official said on Thursday.
Rubio will first attend the Munich Security Conference in Germany before traveling to Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia from February 13-18.
The US official said Rubio would discuss Gaza and Donald Trump’s plan to disrupt the “status quo” in the region, Reuters reported.
https://p.dw.com/p/4q9uX
Skip next section Iran’s Khamenei warns against fresh nuclear talks with USFebruary 7, 2025
Iran’s Khamenei warns against fresh nuclear talks with USZac Crellin
Ali Khamenei addressed army officers in Tehran on FridayImage: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP/picture allianceIran’s supreme leader on Friday urged his government not to negotiate with the Trump administration after the US president proposed fresh nuclear talks.
“You should not negotiate with such a government. It is unwise. It is not intelligent. It is not honorable to negotiate,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said during a meeting with army commanders.
Khamenei said the United States had already “ruined, violated and tore up” a 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration. Donald Trump, a Republican, pulled out of the deal in 2018, during his first presidential term.
“We must understand this correctly: They should not pretend that if we sit down at the negotiating table with that government, problems will be solved,” Khamenei said.
“No problem will be solved by negotiating with America,” he said, citing previous “experience.”
On Wednesday, Trump suggested striking a “verified nuclear peace agreement” with Iran which insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Under the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran had agreed to scale back its nuclear program and submit to international inspections, in exchange for sanctions relief.
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Skip next section German Chancellor Scholz emphasizes ‘complete rejection’ of Trump’s Gaza plan February 7, 2025
German Chancellor Scholz emphasizes ‘complete rejection’ of Trump’s Gaza plan Saim Dušan Inayatullah
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he did not support a proposal by US President Donald Trump to permanently move Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip.
“We must not resettle the population of Gaza to Egypt,” Scholz said at a campaign event ahead of Germany’s February 23 elections.
Scholz expressed his “complete rejection” of the proposal.
The chancellor called for countries to prevent further escalation in the Middle East and work to ensure peaceful coexistence between Israel and a future Palestinian state.
Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza sparks global backlashTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Earlier this week, Trump said the United States would take “ownership” of Gaza as he spoke at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He also said Gaza Palestinians could be resettled in other countries in the region. Multiple Arab governments quickly issued statements rejecting the idea.
On Wednesday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reiterated Berlin’s position that the Gaza Strip belongs to the Palestinians, adding that any expulsion from Gaza would be contrary to international law.
https://p.dw.com/p/4qAHZ
Skip next section Welcome to our coverageFebruary 7, 2025
Welcome to our coverageZac Crellin | Saim Dušan Inayatullah | Wesley Dockery
This blog will have all the latest developments in the Middle East region, from the newest reactions to Trump’s Gaza takeover proposal to the latest happenings in Lebanon, Syria, Iran and elsewhere.
In addition to the latest news, DW will bring you in-depth analysis and video of events happening in the region.
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