New Assassinations in Syria’s Hol Camp

A general view of al-Hol displacement camp in Hasakeh, northeastern Syria, April 1, 2019. (Reuters)
A general view of al-Hol displacement camp in Hasakeh, northeastern Syria, April 1, 2019. (Reuters)
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New Assassinations in Syria’s Hol Camp

A general view of al-Hol displacement camp in Hasakeh, northeastern Syria, April 1, 2019. (Reuters)
A general view of al-Hol displacement camp in Hasakeh, northeastern Syria, April 1, 2019. (Reuters)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday that seven assassinations were documented in the al-Hol camp in Syria’s Hasakeh province in the past two weeks.

Al-Hol is one of a half dozen displacement and refugee camps in northeastern Syria for families from ISIS-controlled areas.

Reliable sources told the Observatory that the Asayish security forces found two Iraqi brothers and one child, killed in their tent in the Hol camp.

The London-based watchdog also documented another assassination, whereby unknown gunmen killed Tuesday an Iraqi refugee working for the Asayish.

Clashes took place between members of Asayish and the gunmen who carried out the assassination. Security forces managed to arrest one of the attackers.

On Sunday, Observatory sources reported that a female Iraqi refugee was shot dead while in front of her tent.

On December 28, the monitor said another female Iraqi refugee was also killed in the camp after being shot by unidentified gunmen in front of her tent.

Three days earlier, gunmen assassinated an Iraqi refugee. Sources said the victim was a former collaborator with the Syrian Democratic Forces intelligence service.

Separately, hundreds of Qamishli residents and Asayish members attended Tuesday the funeral of Bashar Nayef Ahmed, an Asayish element, who was killed last Saturday “while performing his military duties”. There was no information about how he was killed.



Hamas, Two Other Palestinian Groups Say Gaza Ceasefire Deal 'Closer Than Ever'

Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. (Reuters)
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Hamas, Two Other Palestinian Groups Say Gaza Ceasefire Deal 'Closer Than Ever'

Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023. (Reuters)

Hamas and two other Palestinian militant groups said on Saturday that a Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel is "closer than ever", provided Israel does not impose new conditions.

"The possibility of reaching an agreement (for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal) is closer than ever, provided the enemy stops imposing new conditions," Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said in a rare joint statement issued after talks in Cairo on Friday.

Last week, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States were held in Doha, rekindling hope of an agreement.

A Hamas leader told AFP on Saturday that talks had made "significant and important progress" in recent days.

"Most points related to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange issues have been agreed upon," he said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.

"Some unresolved points remain, but they do not hinder the process. The agreement could be finalized before the end of this year, provided it is not disrupted by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's new conditions."