Several Palestinians Killed, Wounded by Israeli Gunfire in Jenin

Palestinian relatives of Youssef Radwan mourn him after he was killed near the Israeli-Gaza border fence. (Reuters)
Palestinian relatives of Youssef Radwan mourn him after he was killed near the Israeli-Gaza border fence. (Reuters)
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Several Palestinians Killed, Wounded by Israeli Gunfire in Jenin

Palestinian relatives of Youssef Radwan mourn him after he was killed near the Israeli-Gaza border fence. (Reuters)
Palestinian relatives of Youssef Radwan mourn him after he was killed near the Israeli-Gaza border fence. (Reuters)

Israeli troops raided the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank late Tuesday, killing three people and wounding some 30 others, according to Palestinian health officials. A fourth Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire in separate unrest in the Gaza Strip, officials said.

The bloodshed in Jenin was the latest in a deadly wave of fighting in the West Bank, where the Israeli military has stepped up its activities over the past year and a half in what it says is an effort to crack down on Palestinian militants. Tensions now appear to be spreading to Gaza.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said in its report that four Palestinians were killed and a dozen wounded by the Israeli gunfire in Jenin.

Israeli army spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said Tuesday on his X account that the Israeli forces are conducting an operation in Jenin camp while the Palestinian media reported armed clashes that flared following the storming of the camp.

Adraee mentioned in his post that an army-affiliated drone launched an attack on the camp.

Jenin Battalion - a military arm of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad - announced earlier targeting Israeli forces gatherings and vehicles.

In another context, the Israeli forces killed one Palestinian and wounded nine others on Tuesday during protests near the Israeli-Gaza border fence.

Gaza Health Ministry reported at least nine injured and one killed by Israeli gunfire in protests in eastern Khan Younis.

The dead is identified as 25-year-old Youssef Radwan.

Dozens of Palestinians gathered in three regions on the eastern outskirts of the Strip, while the Israeli army declared that its forces were responding with the protesters’ dispersal methods and snipers.

Five Palestinians were killed, and others were wounded by an explosive device near the Israeli-Gaza border fence during Thursday protests.

Protests are being organized near the fence on Friday and on patriotic occasions amid anticipation of a gradual escalation in the severity of clashes.



Iraqi Judiciary Faces Challenge After Trump’s Win, Arrest Warrant Issued

Trump at an election rally (AFP)
Trump at an election rally (AFP)
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Iraqi Judiciary Faces Challenge After Trump’s Win, Arrest Warrant Issued

Trump at an election rally (AFP)
Trump at an election rally (AFP)

Iraqi President Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani congratulated Donald Trump on his win in the US presidential election.

At the same time, Iraq’s parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee began discussing how to handle Trump, following an arrest warrant issued by the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council over his role in the deaths of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Committee member Mokhtar al-Moussawi said in a statement that, under Iraqi law, “Trump is considered a criminal,” but Iraq will engage with him normally due to national interests.

He stressed that Trump’s victory would not affect relations between Baghdad and Washington.

Al-Moussawi, a member of the Shiite Coordination Framework, explained to the press that the US operates as an institutional country and foreign policy doesn’t change much with different presidents.

He also noted that Trump did not recognize or respect the Iraqi government, pointing out that his previous visit to Iraq was limited to meeting US troops at the Al-Asad airbase. Still, Iraq will deal with Trump normally.

The parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee member concluded by saying, “If Trump visits Iraq, it will be hard to enforce the arrest warrant. Iraq’s national interests take priority, preventing the warrant from being carried out against him.”

Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council Chief, Faik Zidan, announced an arrest warrant for Trump over his role in the killings of Soleimani and al-Muhandis on January 7, 2021.

An official statement confirmed the warrant was based on Article 406 of Iraq’s Penal Code and that investigations would continue to identify other individuals involved, both Iraqi and foreign.

Iraqi legal expert Ali al-Tamimi explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that the judiciary acted based on a complaint from the plaintiff, meaning it is legally required to take action against anyone, whether inside or outside Iraq.

He stated that since the crime occurred in Iraq and targeted Iraqi figures, the case falls under Iraqi jurisdiction.

Al-Tamimi confirmed that the arrest warrant for Trump was issued under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which covers premeditated murder. As Trump is considered a partner in the operation, he said the legal procedure was correct.

In response to a question about enforcing the arrest warrant, al-Tamimi said it could be done through Interpol by submitting a request via Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, though this would be difficult in practice.

Another option would be for Iraq to join the 1948 Rome Statute, which allows prosecution for crimes like the assassination ordered by Trump. However, Iraq would need to first join the agreement.

Al-Tamimi also noted that, as a head of state, Trump has immunity under the Vienna Convention.