Fatah Accuses Qatar’s Ambassador of Insulting Palestinian Leadership

Qatari envoy Mohammed Al-Emadi (C) leaves a press conference at the Dar al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, on February 19, 2018. Hospital workers tried to approach Al-Emadi as he left, but were pushed back by Hamas policemen. (AFP Photo/Mohammed Abed)
Qatari envoy Mohammed Al-Emadi (C) leaves a press conference at the Dar al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, on February 19, 2018. Hospital workers tried to approach Al-Emadi as he left, but were pushed back by Hamas policemen. (AFP Photo/Mohammed Abed)
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Fatah Accuses Qatar’s Ambassador of Insulting Palestinian Leadership

Qatari envoy Mohammed Al-Emadi (C) leaves a press conference at the Dar al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, on February 19, 2018. Hospital workers tried to approach Al-Emadi as he left, but were pushed back by Hamas policemen. (AFP Photo/Mohammed Abed)
Qatari envoy Mohammed Al-Emadi (C) leaves a press conference at the Dar al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, on February 19, 2018. Hospital workers tried to approach Al-Emadi as he left, but were pushed back by Hamas policemen. (AFP Photo/Mohammed Abed)

The Fatah Movement accused on Sunday Qatar’s ambassador to Gaza Mohammed al-Emadi of overpassing his humanitarian role in the Gaza Strip by contributing to enhance division and to insult Palestinian leaderships, including President Mahmoud Abbas.

Munir al-Jaghoub, who heads Fatah's Information Department in the Office of Mobilization and Organization, told Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday that ambassador al-Emadi is the last person entitled to offer advices in the issue of division.

“We don’t take orders or instructions from him or anyone else. We are clearly aware of our role and we are keen on ending the division and returning Gaza to the hands of the Palestinian legitimacy. We will prevent any force to remove it from the limits of our responsibilities,” al-Jaghoub said.

In a meeting held recently with reports in the Gaza Strip, al-Emadi said he told Palestinian President that if he wants to gain a lot of popularity, he should be the president of all Palestinians, by leaving politics behind.

Al-Emadi had also lashed out at the Palestinian Authority and Egypt, saying both sides and Israel are to blame for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

The Qatari ambassador currently resides at Al Matshal hotel in Gaza, where he had booked an entire suite to manage the works of his mission.

His presence pushed a visiting Egyptian security delegation to refuse to stay at the same hotel. Instead, the delegation is staying at a hotel facing Al Matshal.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Fatah said that “the Qatari envoy’s latest comments voice an “incomprehensible and offensive” stance towards the Palestinian Authority.

The Fatah statement also called on al-Emadi to withdraw his comments, which tone with campaigns that aim to strengthen divide and sow divisions among the Palestinians.
“Gaza is a pillar of the Palestinian cause and there is a national responsibility towards it,” the statement added.



WHO Aims to Begin 2nd Phase of Polio Campaign in Gaza on Oct. 14

A Palestinian child is vaccinated against polio, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa/File Photo
A Palestinian child is vaccinated against polio, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa/File Photo
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WHO Aims to Begin 2nd Phase of Polio Campaign in Gaza on Oct. 14

A Palestinian child is vaccinated against polio, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa/File Photo
A Palestinian child is vaccinated against polio, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa/File Photo

A World Health Organization official on Friday said the organization has sent a request to Israel to begin the second phase of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza from Oct. 14.

"We have asked the Israeli authorities to consider a similar scheme that we had for the first round, something they call 'tactical pauses' (in fighting) during the working hours of the campaign," said Ayadil Saparbekov, WHO lead for emergencies in the occupied Palestinian territory, Reuters reported.

He said negotiations were ongoing and that a meeting with Israeli authorities about the next phase of the campaign was planned for Sunday.