In a significant diplomatic move, the foreign ministers of eight influential regional states—the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Turkey, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the State of Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates—welcomed the invitation extended by US President Donald Trump to join the “Peace Council.” These countries announced their joint decision to formally join, and each will begin completing its legal and constitutional procedures to sign the accession documents, thus joining Egypt, Pakistan, and the UAE, which had already announced their acceptance.

Historical background and diplomatic context

This initiative comes in the context of decades of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has witnessed numerous rounds of negotiations and international mediation efforts that have failed to achieve a lasting solution. The United States has long played the role of the primary mediator in many previous peace attempts. The formation of a council comprising major regional and Islamic powers such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia represents a significant shift in approach, aiming to build unified international and regional momentum to support the peace process, thus lending any future agreement greater political weight and broader guarantees.

The importance of the alliance and its expected impact

The significance of this alliance lies in the political, economic, and religious weight of the participating states. The presence of pivotal Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Jordan, and Qatar, alongside major non-Arab Islamic powers like Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia, sends a powerful message about the broad consensus on the need for a just end to the conflict. This council is expected to contribute to mobilizing the necessary resources to support the reconstruction of Gaza, provide political support for consolidating the ceasefire, and exert concerted diplomatic pressure on the parties involved to commit to a peaceful solution.

Council objectives and commitment to international resolutions

The ministers reaffirmed their countries’ full support for the peace efforts led by President Trump, emphasizing their commitment to supporting the mission of the Peace Council as a transitional body. The Council’s mandate is based on the comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza, as adopted by UN Security Council Resolution 2803. Its main objectives include establishing a permanent ceasefire, overseeing the reconstruction of Gaza’s devastated infrastructure, and, most importantly, advancing a just and lasting peace that fulfills the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, thereby ensuring security and stability for all peoples and states in the region.

Rifaat al-Assad, the uncle of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and one of the most prominent and ruthless figures in the decades-long Assad family rule, has died at the age of 88. His death comes shortly after the fall of his nephew's regime in December 2014, bringing to a close the life of a controversial figure whose name is linked to one of the bloodiest chapters in modern Syrian history.

Historical context: The Hama massacre

The name Rifaat al-Assad cannot be mentioned without recalling the events of the 1982 Hama massacre . At the time, Rifaat commanded the Defense Brigades, a semi-autonomous and well-equipped military force whose primary mission was to protect the regime of his brother, Hafez al-Assad. When an armed uprising led by the Muslim Brotherhood erupted in the city of Hama, the Defense Brigades were tasked with suppressing it. The result was a brutal military campaign that lasted for weeks, during which the city was indiscriminately bombarded and its old quarters destroyed, resulting in the deaths of between 10,000 and 40,000 civilians, according to various estimates. This massacre cemented the title "Butcher of Hama," which haunted Rifaat al-Assad until his death.

A power struggle and a long exile

Rifaat's career was not limited to military repression; it was also marked by political ambition. In 1984, after his brother Hafez al-Assad suffered a heart attack, Rifaat attempted a coup to seize power, deploying his forces in the streets of Damascus. However, the attempt failed after their mother intervened, and he was exiled from Syria and nominally appointed vice president, beginning a long period of exile in Europe, moving between France and Spain. During his exile, he amassed a considerable fortune, which raised suspicions that it had been plundered from the Syrian treasury.

Significance and impact: legal proceedings and a symbolic end

Internationally, Rifaat al-Assad faced legal proceedings in several European countries. In France, he was convicted of money laundering and embezzling Syrian public funds, receiving a prison sentence and the confiscation of his luxury real estate holdings. Swiss authorities also opened an investigation against him for alleged war crimes related to his role in the Hama massacre. These prosecutions represented a significant symbol in the effort to achieve justice for the victims and hold those responsible for major crimes accountable.

Rifaat al-Assad unexpectedly returned to Syria in 2021, fleeing a prison sentence in France. His stay was short-lived, however. With the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, he left the country again, reportedly traveling to the United Arab Emirates via Lebanon. His death today, while still at large, marks the biological end of a symbol of repression, but it also leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of thousands of Syrians who had hoped to see him face justice in a Syrian court for the crimes he is accused of.