Several Israelis, Palestinians Wounded In West Bank Clashes

An Israeli soldier stands guard near the Qalandiya checkpoint, June 20, 2017. Photo: Reuters / Ammar Awad
An Israeli soldier stands guard near the Qalandiya checkpoint, June 20, 2017. Photo: Reuters / Ammar Awad
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Several Israelis, Palestinians Wounded In West Bank Clashes

An Israeli soldier stands guard near the Qalandiya checkpoint, June 20, 2017. Photo: Reuters / Ammar Awad
An Israeli soldier stands guard near the Qalandiya checkpoint, June 20, 2017. Photo: Reuters / Ammar Awad

Violent clashes erupted Monday morning between Palestinians and Israeli troops at a Jerusalem refugee camp in the West Bank leaving injuries on both sides.

Six Israeli border troops were hurt when residents from the Qalandiya refugee camp rioted and hurled cinderblocks and other heavy objects at officers from roofs.

On the Palestinian side, five youths were wounded during the clashes that went on for five hours.

According to eyewitnesses, occupation forces stormed the camp and citizens assumed they were after arresting a group of youths who were against the settlement plots.

However, the Israeli army spokesman said that the forces wanted to arrest traders of stolen cars.

An official from Fatah Movement said that the Israeli occupation wanted to arrest the sons of martyr Khaled Hamad.

The official said Israeli forces wanted to cause panic among Palestinians and make them refrain from participating in protests against the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee's decision to build 9,000 new settlement units in Bnei Atarot.

The residents of Jerusalem and the suburbs, including residents of Qalandiya, consider this plan a threat to the establishment of a Palestinian state, which promoted a number of Palestinians to protest.

Also, a group of Palestinians prepared an ambush for the Israeli soldiers attacked them with stones, hot water, and heavy tools as they advanced.

The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry said that the Palestinians were injured from live fire, adding that they were immediately admitted to surgery at Ramallah hospital in an effort to save their lives.



Iraqi Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Hamas Hasn't Requested Transfer of Leadership to Baghdad

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani welcomes his Palestinian counterpart Mohammad Mustafa in Baghdad, June 6, 2024. (Government media)
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani welcomes his Palestinian counterpart Mohammad Mustafa in Baghdad, June 6, 2024. (Government media)
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Iraqi Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Hamas Hasn't Requested Transfer of Leadership to Baghdad

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani welcomes his Palestinian counterpart Mohammad Mustafa in Baghdad, June 6, 2024. (Government media)
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani welcomes his Palestinian counterpart Mohammad Mustafa in Baghdad, June 6, 2024. (Government media)

The Iraqi government dismissed on Tuesday local and Western media reports saying the leadership of the Palestinian Hamas movement was planning on leaving Qatar and relocating to Iraq.

The reports said Hamas’ decision follows weeks of pressure from Qatar to accept a Gaza ceasefire proposal.

“Hamas offices will not be opened in Baghdad as the media reports claimed. We have not received a request for the transfer of Hamas leaders or the opening of an official office in Iraq,” the political advisor to the Prime Minister, Fadi Al-Shammari, told Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday.

A source close to the government told Asharq Al-Awsat that the relocation of Hamas leaders Khaled Meshaal and Ismail Haniyeh to Baghdad is highly unlikely.

“Hamas has not asked the Iraqi government to open an office or move their headquarters to Baghdad,” he stressed, dismissing as “baseless” reports about the issue.

Western media had said the Iraqi government had approved the move last month following discussions between Haniyeh and representatives from the Iraqi and Iranian governments.

They said the potential move was also reviewed separately last month by Haniyeh and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.

The United States’ The National quoted a senior Iraqi MP as saying: “There is no consensus among Iraqi political groups on Hamas’ move to Baghdad. Some, especially the Kurds and some Sunnis, fear it will deepen differences with the United States.”

Meanwhile, Iraqi media outlets said Hamas this month opened a PR and media office in Baghdad with official government approval.

The Iraqi “Kataib al Imam Ali” faction, led by Shibl al-Zaidi, who is on the US sanctions list, revealed that some of its members attended an official opening ceremony of a Hamas political office in Baghdad.

Ambiguous file

Despite the official Iraqi government denial, Iraqi MP Sajjad Salem said the transfer of Hamas’ leadership remains a “vague and mysterious” issue.

“A lot has been said of the issue behind the political scenes, but most of it is inaccurate and unclear,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Iraq has no problem with receiving Palestinian refugees, whether politicians or ordinary citizens, given their severe suffering Gaza and since Iraq is a signatory to international agreements related to refugees. However, we are not ready to drag Iraq to a problem that is too great for it to handle,” Salem added.

He stressed that Baghdad is willing to help the Palestinians, but warned that “outlaw groups may view Hamas’ relocation as a clear violation of government powers.”

“Iraq does not need to insert itself in the war of the axes or in regional and international conflicts that do not serve its national interests,” Salem said.

Furthermore, he ruled out the possibility of Hamas leaders moving to Iraq given the unstable security situation and the religious and sectarian considerations and sensitivities existing in the country.