Yasmeen Altaji gives a round-up of today’s trends
Trending Middle East
Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire extended, while Egypt and Jordan reject ‘emptying’ of Gaza
This is trending your daily rundown of news from the Middle East and around the world brought to you by The National. From Abu Dhabi, I'm Yasmin Al-Tajee. Here are today's headlines. The ceasefire between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel will be extended until February 18 and monitored by the US. The White House said on Sunday, "The governments of Lebanon, Israel and the US will also begin negotiations," for the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023. The White House added in a statement, "Israel and Lebanon signed what was initially a 60-day ceasefire on November 27. It followed clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters that escalated into a full-scale war, killing thousands and driving hundreds of thousands from their homes." Egypt on Sunday said it rejects the emptying of Palestinian territories of their inhabitants, regardless of whether this is done through forced or voluntary eviction. The statement appeared to have been issued in response to US President Donald Trump's comments this weekend that he would like to see Jordan and Egypt take more Palestinians from Gaza. The statement did not directly mention the American leader or cite his remarks. Separately, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi reaffirmed Jordan's policy, in a joint statement with the U.N. senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza's "Sigrid Khag". Our constants in the kingdom are clear. Keeping the Palestinians on their land is a Jordanian constant that has not changed and will not change. And the UAE has sent 100 lorries carrying more than 1,440 tons of aid to Gaza since the Israel-Hama ceasefire began earlier this month. Food supplies, relief packages, shelter tents, and other essential items were sent on five convoys, State News Agency Wham reported on Saturday. A humanitarian aid team from the UAE, based in Al-Aireish, northern Egypt, has been supervising the loading of the convoys before they enter the Rafah border crossing. That's all for this morning's headlines. You can get these stories at our site and visit the nationalnews.com/podcasts for more like this. It's me, El Taji, The National. (upbeat music) (upbeat music)