Location at a glance: Syria has new government – Gaza at the next ceasefire?

Syria’s Islamist transition President Ahmed al-Sharaa has appointed a new government to advance the conversion of the country four months after the fall of long-term power holder Bashar al-Assad. The cabinet presented by Sharaa in the evening consists of 22 ministers and replaces a transitional government that had taken over the state business in December after Assad’s fall through a rebel alliance. Meanwhile, there is cautious hope for a new ceasefire in the Gaza War between Israel and Islamist Hamas.

The formation of the new Syrian government is “an explanation of our common will to build a new state,” said Schaara. The state institutions were to be rebuilt based on “responsibility and transparency”.

The new cabinet belongs to one of the most prominent faces of Syrian civil society: Raed al-Saleh, head of the rescue organization Weißhelme, became Minister for Emergency and Disaster Management. For the first time, a woman was also appointed to the government: Hind Kabawat will be responsible as a minister for social and work. She is a Christian. This can be understood as a message to the western countries that demand that women and minorities are included in the political process in Syria.

Rebellen keep key items

At the same time, former rebel representatives kept their key departments: ASAAD al-Scheibani remains Foreign Minister, Marhaf Abu Kasra Defense Minister. Another former rebel leader who had previously acted as head of security is now Minister of the Interior. A prime minister was not appointed. It is expected that temporary president Scharaa leads the work of the cabinet.

Scharaa recently signed a preliminary constitution for the transition phase scheduled for five years. The Islamist tries to accept the western countries who have linked their support to political reforms and respect for human rights. Schaara wants to ensure that the paralyzing international economic sanctions will be lifted again, which were imposed more than a decade ago to put Assad’s power apparatus under pressure.

Recently, a military mission against Assad supporters with hundreds of deaths in the coastal region in the northwest of the country – including many civilians – caused new distrust. A rebel alliance led by Islamist Haiat Tahrir al-Scham (HTS) had taken control in Damascus on December 8th. Assad fled to Russia. The previous transitional government was led by the then head of government of the rebel stronghold Idlib, Mohammed al-Bashir. He acts as a minister of energy in the new government.

The government in the neighboring country of Israel is still skeptical about the new Islamist leaders. The Armed Forces of the Jewish state repeatedly attack military facilities in Syria and point out that they were a threat.

Hope for new Gaza custody rest

Meanwhile, in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip there is cautious hope for a new ceasefire. The Palestinian terrorist organization agreed to leave five hostages released for a new 50-day break.

Egypt was agreed to a corresponding proposal, it said. The fire break is said to begin Ramadan on the festival after the end of the Muslim fasting month. The days to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr begin in the Palestinian areas and many other countries this Sunday.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that his government had made a counter offer in coordination with the United States. According to the news page “Ynet”, Israel’s leadership demands the release of ten deported. According to Israeli information, 24 hostages from Israel are currently being recorded in the Gaza Strip, plus the remains of 35 kidnapped. In the evening, according to media reports, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Israeli cities such as the Coastal metropolis Tel Aviv for a deal with Hamas to release the release of the.

Israel’s army expands soil offensive in Rafah

Meanwhile, Israel’s army in Gaza continues with military hardness against Hamas. In Rafah in the south of the sealed coastal strip, she claimed to be a soil offensive in another quarter of the city.

Israel resumed the massive attacks in the Gaza Strip in March after both sides could not agree on the extension of a fire break. Israeli media suspected that Hamas also wanted to achieve a new ceasefire in order to reconcile protests against their rule in the Gaza Strip. Because of the attacks of Israel, this is currently not possible.

The war was triggered by the attack by Hamas and other extremist groups in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 others were delayed as hostages in the Gaza strips. In the course of the war, more than 50,000 people were killed, according to the health authorities controlled by Hamas. One third of it is therefore children and adolescents. The information cannot be checked independently. However, international organizations such as the UN consider them largely credible.