Musings From Abroad

Israel/Palestine Crisis: Egypt blocks mass influx of Gaza refugees

Published

1 year ago

October 20, 2023

Egypt has insisted it will not allow any mass influx of refugees from Gaza into it to set a precedent for “the displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank into Jordan.”

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Thursday when he met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said Israel’s air strikes on the Rafah crossing, which is located between his nation and Gaza, led to the failure of aid delivery to the territory’s 2.4 million people.

The two leaders’ meeting took place in Gaza which has endured a brutal 13-day Israeli bombing in retribution for a shocking cross-border raid by Hamas on October 7 that left at least 1,400 people dead, the majority of them civilians and foreigners.

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said, “The displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt means the same displacement will take place for Palestinians from the West Bank into Jordan.

“Subsequently, the Palestinian state that we are talking about, and that the world is talking about will become impossible to implement — because the land is there, but the people are not. Therefore, I warn of the danger of this matter,” Sisi added.

According to Sisi, “developments on the ground and the repeated bombings by Israel of the Palestinian side of the crossing have prevented its operation,” not that Egypt “did not close” the crossing.

Gaza is almost without fuel, food, water, or electricity, and about 3,000 people have died there. The only route to the besieged area that Israel does not control is via the Rafah crossing, and pressure has grown for aid to be permitted through there.

Related Topics:Featured Israel Israel/Palestine Crisis Palestine

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Musings From Abroad

Brazilian meatpacker JBS invests $2.5 billion in Nigeria, builds six facilities

Published

12 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Brazilian meatpacker JBS says it has inked a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian government for a $2.5 billion investment plan that will include the construction of six new plants in the African nation.

Three of the plants would deal in poultry, two in beef, and one in pork, according to a statement from JBS.

In accordance with the memorandum of understanding, JBS stated that it would develop a five-year investment plan in Nigeria, which would include budget estimates, feasibility studies, and an action plan for the development of the local supply chain.

The Nigerian government would then guarantee the sanitary, regulatory, and economic conditions required for the project’s viability, JBS continued.

Musings From Abroad

China’s Xi meets with Morocco’s Crown Prince

Published

13 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Morocco’s official media reports that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, visited Morocco briefly on Thursday.

According to Morocco’s MAP, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan welcomed Xi in Casablanca. The visit demonstrated the close ties of camaraderie, collaboration, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, it said.

China’s official broadcaster, CCTV, said that Xi and Hassan had a “cordial conversation” at the airport after being received by the Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

After attending the G20 Summit in Brazil, Xi paid the visit.

In recent years, China has increased its investments in Morocco’s rail and infrastructure. Morocco is desirable for Chinese electric car battery manufacturers because of its proximity to Europe, free trade agreements with important EU and US markets, and an established automotive sector.

Morocco was chosen by Chinese EV battery company Gotion High Tech in June to establish Africa’s first gigafactory, which will cost $1.3 billion in total.