Israeli Police Attack Palestinians Celebrating Isra Wal Miraj in Jerusalem

Palestinians celebrating Isra Wal Miraj at Bab al-Aomud (Wafa)
Palestinians celebrating Isra Wal Miraj at Bab al-Aomud (Wafa)
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Israeli Police Attack Palestinians Celebrating Isra Wal Miraj in Jerusalem

Palestinians celebrating Isra Wal Miraj at Bab al-Aomud (Wafa)
Palestinians celebrating Isra Wal Miraj at Bab al-Aomud (Wafa)

Israeli police attacked Palestinians at Bab al-Amoud in Jerusalem who were celebrating al-Isra Wal Miraj Muslim holiday, a religious festival marking Prophet Mohammad's journey to the heavens.

Tensions grew in the city as more people arrived at al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Israeli police assaulted and clashed with the Palestinians before bringing a sewage water vehicle to disperse the protesters.

Dozens of Palestinians were injured and others were detained. Sources in Jerusalem said the occupation forces arrested at least four civilians, including a child, after assaulting them.

Clashes also erupted in other areas in the Old City as the number of Palestinians arriving at the Mosque to celebrate the occasion increased, including Jerusalemites and residents from the West Bank.

Thousands of Palestinians performed the noon prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque and participated in religious celebrations.

Meanwhile, the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood is witnessing tensions for the second week after far-right Knesset member Itamar Ben Gvir stormed the area and established a makeshift office on the land of Salem's family.

Ben Gvir insists on staying in the neighborhood, despite the tensions that led to widespread confrontations and warnings of Israeli officials that it might escalate the situation in the West Bank and break the calm in the Gaza Strip, as happened last year before the 11-day Gaza war.

The confrontations in Bab al-Amoud raise doubts about an Israeli decision to reduce tensions in the region before Ramadan, which this year falls at the beginning of April.

The Israeli authorities had decided to forgo the iron barriers at the Bab al-Amoud area this year during Ramadan month. It will instead allow cultural activities, including opening Ramadan tents and kiosks selling food and sweets, to maintain calm.

However, the Palestinians' first celebration in the region held after the decision was met with police violence.



Iraqi Judiciary Faces Challenge After Trump’s Win, Arrest Warrant Issued

Trump at an election rally (AFP)
Trump at an election rally (AFP)
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Iraqi Judiciary Faces Challenge After Trump’s Win, Arrest Warrant Issued

Trump at an election rally (AFP)
Trump at an election rally (AFP)

Iraqi President Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani congratulated Donald Trump on his win in the US presidential election.

At the same time, Iraq’s parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee began discussing how to handle Trump, following an arrest warrant issued by the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council over his role in the deaths of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Committee member Mokhtar al-Moussawi said in a statement that, under Iraqi law, “Trump is considered a criminal,” but Iraq will engage with him normally due to national interests.

He stressed that Trump’s victory would not affect relations between Baghdad and Washington.

Al-Moussawi, a member of the Shiite Coordination Framework, explained to the press that the US operates as an institutional country and foreign policy doesn’t change much with different presidents.

He also noted that Trump did not recognize or respect the Iraqi government, pointing out that his previous visit to Iraq was limited to meeting US troops at the Al-Asad airbase. Still, Iraq will deal with Trump normally.

The parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee member concluded by saying, “If Trump visits Iraq, it will be hard to enforce the arrest warrant. Iraq’s national interests take priority, preventing the warrant from being carried out against him.”

Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council Chief, Faik Zidan, announced an arrest warrant for Trump over his role in the killings of Soleimani and al-Muhandis on January 7, 2021.

An official statement confirmed the warrant was based on Article 406 of Iraq’s Penal Code and that investigations would continue to identify other individuals involved, both Iraqi and foreign.

Iraqi legal expert Ali al-Tamimi explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that the judiciary acted based on a complaint from the plaintiff, meaning it is legally required to take action against anyone, whether inside or outside Iraq.

He stated that since the crime occurred in Iraq and targeted Iraqi figures, the case falls under Iraqi jurisdiction.

Al-Tamimi confirmed that the arrest warrant for Trump was issued under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which covers premeditated murder. As Trump is considered a partner in the operation, he said the legal procedure was correct.

In response to a question about enforcing the arrest warrant, al-Tamimi said it could be done through Interpol by submitting a request via Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, though this would be difficult in practice.

Another option would be for Iraq to join the 1948 Rome Statute, which allows prosecution for crimes like the assassination ordered by Trump. However, Iraq would need to first join the agreement.

Al-Tamimi also noted that, as a head of state, Trump has immunity under the Vienna Convention.