DAA, transitional govt. talks; demands to hear Leader Ocalan top headlines

Newspapers this morning highlighted the ongoing discussions between the Autonomous Administration and the transitional government in Syria, the growing calls for the release of Leader Ocalan, and questions surrounding the timing of the Gaza agreement following two years of war.

The files concerning ongoing meetings between committees of the Autonomous Administration and the transitional government in Damascus dominated the newspapers’ agendas, amid intensive discussions on mechanisms to integrate the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian Ministry of Defense.

Al-Arab newspaper in London reported that “major questions are being raised regarding the sudden breakthrough in the negotiation process between the two sides after months of stagnation,” asking whether these developments are linked to “recent US diplomatic moves that coincided with events in Gaza.”

Observers told the newspaper that “it is too early to talk about a comprehensive agreement, as the gap between the SDF and Damascus remains regarding the nature of Syria’s future system and a number of core contentious issues.”

Rising calls for the release of Leader Abdullah Ocalan

Al-Sharq Al-Awsat focused on meetings of the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Committee in the Turkish Parliament, noting the obstacles hindering the activation of the dialogue process.

The newspaper cited Bülent Arınç, former Speaker of the Turkish Parliament and one of the founders of the Justice and Development Party, calling for direct talks with Leader Ocalan in Imrali prison, saying: “If no one volunteers, success will not be achieved. We must have courage and take risks, and if necessary, I will go to Imrali and meet Ocalan myself.”

Arınç added that “a general amnesty is the only step capable of addressing human rights violations, social unrest, and prison overcrowding,” considering this demand “as much humanitarian as it is legal,” and affirming that “the right to hope is a fundamental principle in international law, which can include Leader Ocalan and other prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment.”

Gaza agreement… Why now after all the killing and destruction?

Regarding Palestine, Lebanon’s An-Nahar newspaper published an extensive report analyzing the reasons for the delayed Gaza agreement, two years after the war.

The newspaper argued that the right-wing Israeli government sought to prolong the war to achieve strategic objectives in the Gaza Strip, primarily displacement and settlement expansion, initially benefiting from international support, before facing internal pressures, political divisions, economic decline, and a deteriorating international image.

Analysts indicated that the shift in the US stance was a decisive factor in reaching the agreement, as recognition of the Palestinian state and discussions of imposing sanctions on Israel prompted Washington to exert direct pressure to halt the fighting.

The newspaper reported that “coordinated pressure from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey forced Hamas leadership to accept the deal,” following warnings that continued refusal would lead to political isolation and the loss of Arab backing.

Some analysts believe the agreement resulted from “changed calculations by both parties,” noting that “Trump imposed an agreement serving Israel’s interests, halting the massacre without ending the occupation or the blockade,” while Hamas accepted it after relaxing its demands under humanitarian pressure.

Others noted that Israel’s attempted assassination of Hamas negotiators in Doha “was the event that accelerated the negotiations and pushed Washington to take decisive action,” with Netanyahu later forced to accept Trump’s 20-point plan, which included a ceasefire and the formation of a technocratic government in Gaza under international supervision.

Although the agreement did not meet all Palestinian demands, observers see it as a glimmer of hope for a new beginning in Gaza after a war that left tens of thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.

A-H 

ANHA