Iraq’s Sadr Demands 4 Arab Countries to Allow His Supporters to Head to Palestine

 A man holds the Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Mosul, Iraq, October 14, 2023. (Reuters)
A man holds the Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Mosul, Iraq, October 14, 2023. (Reuters)
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Iraq’s Sadr Demands 4 Arab Countries to Allow His Supporters to Head to Palestine

 A man holds the Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Mosul, Iraq, October 14, 2023. (Reuters)
A man holds the Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Mosul, Iraq, October 14, 2023. (Reuters)

Head of the Sadrist movement in Iraq cleric Moqtada al-Sadr urged the countries neighboring Palestine to allow his supporters to head to its border so that they could provide donations to those in need.

In a statement to the governments of “brotherly” Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria, he hoped they would “allow their Sadrist brothers in Iraq peaceful passage to the borders of beloved Palestine where they can offer donations, such as water, food, medicine and fuel.”

The delivery of the aid to Gaza would be organized with these governments, he added.

Moreover, he hoped the governments would allow their “Sadrist brothers” to hold a million-strong sit-in at the Palestinian borders in these four countries in the “coming days”.

“Your position will go down honorably in history,” Sadr added, pledging that the demonstrators would respect the law and rally in complete peace.

Meanwhile, former Iraqi President Barham Salih urged the international community to exert serious efforts to stop the “barbaric war” against children, women and the elderly in Gaza.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said this “blind violence and barbaric inhumane war must stop.”

“The targeting of civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable,” he stressed, describing them as “flagrant” violations of international law.

He underlined the need to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to the besieged people in Gaza and end the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Furthermore, he said the situation was “extremely dangerous” and continues to escalate. “The international community must, therefore, work seriously to end the war and prevent further escalation that could be destructive on the entire Middle East and even the world.”

“We must always remember that there can be no peace or stability in the region without a just solution to the cause of the Palestinian people,” Salih added. The solution must secure their legitimate rights in determining their fate and establishment of an independent state.

“This cycle of violence and humanitarian catastrophe must end,” he demanded.



Palestinians in Jenin Observe a General Strike

A Palestinian police officer attempts to disperse demonstrators during a protest against clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin on December 21, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
A Palestinian police officer attempts to disperse demonstrators during a protest against clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin on December 21, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
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Palestinians in Jenin Observe a General Strike

A Palestinian police officer attempts to disperse demonstrators during a protest against clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin on December 21, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
A Palestinian police officer attempts to disperse demonstrators during a protest against clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin on December 21, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)

Palestinians in the volatile northern West Bank town of Jenin are observing a general strike called by militant groups to protest a rare crackdown by Palestinian security forces.
An Associated Press reporter in Jenin heard gunfire and explosions, apparently from clashes between militants and Palestinian security forces. It was not immediately clear if anyone was killed or wounded. There was no sign of Israeli troops in the area.
Shops were closed in the city on Monday, the day after militants killed a member of the Palestinian security forces and wounded two others.
Militant groups called for a general strike across the territory, accusing the security forces of trying to disarm them in support of Israel’s half-century occupation of the territory.
The Western-backed Palestinian Authority is internationally recognized but deeply unpopular among Palestinians, in part because it cooperates with Israel on security matters. Israel accuses the authority of incitement and of failing to act against armed groups.
The Palestinian Authority blamed Sunday’s attack on “outlaws.” It says it is committed to maintaining law and order but will not police the occupation.
The Palestinian Authority exercises limited authority in population centers in the West Bank. Israel captured the territory in the 1967 Mideast War, and the Palestinians want it to form the main part of their future state.
Israel’s current government is opposed to Palestinian statehood and says it will maintain open-ended security control over the territory. Violence has soared in the West Bank following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza, which ignited the war there.