Palestinians Say One Dead in Israeli West Bank Raid

 Palestinians remove shattered glass from their apartment that was damaged by the demolition of the apartment upstairs by the Israeli army, that belongs to Palestinian Khaled al-Kharouf, during an overnight army raid in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians remove shattered glass from their apartment that was damaged by the demolition of the apartment upstairs by the Israeli army, that belongs to Palestinian Khaled al-Kharouf, during an overnight army raid in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP)
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Palestinians Say One Dead in Israeli West Bank Raid

 Palestinians remove shattered glass from their apartment that was damaged by the demolition of the apartment upstairs by the Israeli army, that belongs to Palestinian Khaled al-Kharouf, during an overnight army raid in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians remove shattered glass from their apartment that was damaged by the demolition of the apartment upstairs by the Israeli army, that belongs to Palestinian Khaled al-Kharouf, during an overnight army raid in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP)

Palestinian official media said Israeli troops shot a man dead in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday during a raid to demolish the apartments of two detained Palestinian suspects, while the military reported it had opened fire to quell a riot.

"The occupation soldiers fired bullets and tear gas, killing a young man who was hit in the chest," the Palestinian official news agency, Wafa, reported.

The military said in a statement to AFP: "During the demolition, a violent riot was instigated in the area, during which terrorists hurled rocks at the (Israeli) forces who responded with live fire.

"A hit was identified."

The Israeli troops had stormed Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority, to demolish the apartments of two Palestinians who are in custody on suspicion of carrying out an attack in the city earlier this year.

"Suddenly, they arrived and surrounded the neighborhood and then entered the house," Ahmed al-Barghouthi, brother of one of the detainees, told AFP.

"They told us that the house was going to be destroyed with explosives and ordered us to leave even though I'm ill and we have two elderly people in our family."

The Israeli military identified the two detained suspects whose apartments were targeted for demolition as Khaled al-Kharouf and Aysar Barghouthi.

It said the two men had killed Lara Tannous and Amer Mansour in a "terror attack adjacent to the town of Silwad" on January 7.

Israel routinely demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks, arguing that such measures act as a deterrent, while critics say they amount to collective punishment.

Violence has surged in the West Bank since war broke out between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on October 7. At least 619 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or settlers, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian official figures.

During the same period at least 18 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the territory, according to Israeli official figures.



Libyan Parliament Unilaterally Ends Terms of Presidential Council, GNU

East-based parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh. (Libyan parliament)
East-based parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh. (Libyan parliament)
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Libyan Parliament Unilaterally Ends Terms of Presidential Council, GNU

East-based parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh. (Libyan parliament)
East-based parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh. (Libyan parliament)

The east-based Libyan parliament unilaterally announced on Tuesday it was ending the term of the interim Government of National Unity (GNU), a move that could stoke more tensions in the struggle for power in the North African country.

Meeting in the city of Benghazi, the parliament unanimously voted to end the term of the GNU, headed by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, declaring its rival, the Government of National Stability, headed by Osama Hammad, as the sole “legitimate” government in the country until a new “unified” cabinet is chosen.

Parliament spokesman Abdullah Bleihaq added that the legislature also unanimously voted to name Speaker Aguilah Saleh as the high commander of the army in line with the constitutional declaration.

The decision means that parliament has removed the role of high commander of the army from the Presidential Council. It also announced that it agreed to a memo presented by 50 lawmakers to reinstate the 2011 constitutional declaration.

During the parliamentary session, Saleh told MPs that the term of the interim phase, which led to the formation of the Presidential Council and GNU, is effectively over. He called for reviewing the Geneva agreement that covers the interim phase.

He explained that a government’s term should last no more than a year, which can be extended for another one-year term. This means that the GNU had lost its legitimacy over five years ago.

He criticized the GNU for failing to perform its duties and holding parliamentary and presidential elections.

The parliament is seeking to form a unified authority that can rule and achieve justice, Saleh stressed, noting that the capital Tripoli has fallen under the control of armed gangs.

“I have never sought to extend my term as speaker of parliament. I did not conspire to postpone the elections and I refuse a return to fighting and the division of Libya,” he declared.

“We have offered several concessions to reach an agreement that appeases all parties, but some sides are eager to keep the situation as it is,” he stated, describing the current stage as “critical”.

Furthermore, he said the GNU’s greatest fault was failing to hold the parliamentary and presidential elections on time even though they had popular and international support.

The Presidential Council did not immediately comment on the parliament’s moves. Sources close to the council said its president, Mohammed al-Menfi, convened an emergency meeting with his deputies to discuss the parliament’s actions.

Menfi’s aide said Saleh had several legal misconceptions in his comments, reported local media.

Khalid al-Mishri, who is vying for the position of High Council of State, described as “void” the parliament’s decisions, saying they violate the political agreement that was signed in Morocco in 2015.