Getting the Israel-Hamas ceasefire to the next phase will be difficult. Here’s why

CAIRO: Forces fighting alongside Sudan’s army said on Friday they had intercepted a substantial quantity of military supplies from a convoy destined for the rival Rapid Support Forces in North Darfur.

The RSF denied that a convoy had been attacked, telling Reuters the statement from the Joint Forces was “incorrect and mere lies.” Reuters was unable to verify the claims independently.
The Joint Forces, which include former rebel groups allied with the Sudanese army, accused the RSF of bringing in supplies for the indiscriminate shelling of neighborhoods in Al-Fasher, the army’s last holdout in the Darfur region, and Omdurman, as well as camps for displaced people.

The RSF has launched repeated attacks in North Darfur, including at the famine-stricken Zamzam camp south of Al-Fasher earlier this month.
The RSF denies indiscriminate shelling of residential areas or targeting civilians and accuses the Joint Forces of using human shields.
The convoy, intercepted southeast of Al-Fasher, contained a large amount of military supplies, including 10,000 rounds of 40mm artillery shells, 12,000 rounds of howitzer shells, and various rockets and bombs, the Joint Forces statement said.
The Joint Forces said they also “neutralized” foreign mercenaries.
In recent months, the Joint Forces said they had intercepted Colombian mercenaries, prompting apologies from the South American country.
A power struggle between Sudan’s army and the RSF erupted into warfare in April 2023 ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule, triggering a massive displacement and hunger crisis.
On Thursday, the UN human rights chief Volker Turk warned of further escalation in Sudan and said there was a growing risk of deaths from starvation on a wide scale.
Sudan is facing the abyss and potentially hundreds of thousands of deaths unless the devastating war in the country ends and aid pours in, he warned.
Turk painted a bleak outlook for Sudan, where famine has already taken hold and millions have fled their homes amid intense fighting between rival forces.
“Sudan is a powder keg, on the verge of a further explosion into chaos, and at increasing risk of atrocity crimes and mass deaths from famine,” Turk warned the UN Human Rights Council.
He called the country “the world’s largest humanitarian catastrophe.”
“We are looking into the abyss. Humanitarian agencies warn that without action to end the war, deliver emergency aid, and get agriculture back on its feet, hundreds of thousands of people could die.”
Turk said more than 600,000 people were “on the brink of starvation,” with famine reported to have taken hold in five areas, including the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur.
Turk said five more areas could face famine in the next three months, while 17 are considered at risk.
He said an estimated 8.8 million people had been forced from their homes within Sudan, while 3.5 million more have fled across borders.
“This is the biggest displacement crisis in the world,” he said.
“Some 30.4 million people need assistance, from health care to food and other humanitarian support,” he said.
Presenting his annual report on the human rights situation in Sudan, Turk said some of the acts it documented may constitute war crimes and other atrocity crimes.
Turk said the Sudanese people had endured “unfathomable suffering and pain” since the conflict began, “with no peaceful solution in sight.”
Responding to the report, Sudanese Justice Minister Muawiya Osman blamed the RSF for starting the war and accused them of having “forced people out of their regions, humiliating them, and trying to cleanse specific regions from their original populations, just like West Darfur.”
He accused the RSF of “blocking humanitarian deliveries.”

NEW YORK: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the Arab world to show unity ahead of a major summit next week to discuss the rebuilding of Gaza, which he said has become “a nexus of death, displacement, hunger, and disease” following 15 months of Israeli military action in the enclave.
A unified response among Arab nations “will help guide the way forward” in efforts to bring stability to the region, he said.
The UN chief will attend the Extraordinary Summit of the League of Arab States in Cairo next Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Guterres reiterated the UN’s rejection of any ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and emphasized the need to establish a unified Palestinian government that enjoys the support of its people.
“There must be no long-term Israeli military presence in Gaza, and any transitional arrangements should aim to achieve a unified Palestinian government,” he said.
Guterres also called for urgent de-escalation in the West Bank, urging an end to settlement expansion and violence against civilians.
The UN secretary-general reiterated his call for a two-state solution, underscoring the need for Israel and Palestine to coexist peacefully in accordance with international law.
“The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, chart their own future, and live in freedom and security,” he said, stressing that the only path to lasting peace is through a negotiated two-state solution with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
In Cairo, Guterres is expected to outline these key priorities to leaders from across the Arab world, calling for unified action to bring stability to the region.
“Their unified position will help guide the way forward,” he said.
The Cairo summit represents a critical moment for international diplomacy as efforts intensify to secure a lasting resolution to the Gaza crisis and lay the groundwork for future peace in the region, amid a fragile ceasefire.
Since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, Gaza has experienced unprecedented destruction.
“Hospitals, schools, and water facilities have been destroyed and reduced to rubble,” Guterres said. He warned that “the risk of further destruction looms over the population.”
The UN chief urged all parties involved in the ceasefire and hostage deal to uphold their commitments.
“The parties must spare no effort to avoid a breakdown of this deal,” Guterres said. “The coming days are critical,” he warned, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safe, dignified, and unconditional release of hostages, alongside the continued flow of humanitarian aid to those in desperate need.
He called for the humanitarian lifeline to remain open and for continued support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Since the temporary ceasefire was brokered, humanitarian agencies have managed to scale up operations in Gaza, delivering essential aid, food, water, and medical supplies.
“With the right conditions and access, we can do far more,” Guterres said.
However, the UN chief made it clear that ending the immediate humanitarian crisis is only the first step.
He called for a comprehensive political framework to address Gaza’s long-term recovery, which must be grounded in international law and ensure the preservation of Palestinian sovereignty.
Guterres also called for tangible steps toward peace and stability, based on “clear principles.”
“This means staying true to the bedrock of international law,” he said. “It means preventing any form of ethnic cleansing. It means there should be no long-term Israeli military presence in Gaza.
“It means addressing Israel’s legitimate security concerns. It means accountability for violations of international law.”