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Palestinian-US Officials Discuss Tensions with Israel

Israeli soldiers combing the vicinity of the Elon Moreh settlement near Nablus (AFP)
Israeli soldiers combing the vicinity of the Elon Moreh settlement near Nablus (AFP)
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Palestinian-US Officials Discuss Tensions with Israel

Israeli soldiers combing the vicinity of the Elon Moreh settlement near Nablus (AFP)
Israeli soldiers combing the vicinity of the Elon Moreh settlement near Nablus (AFP)

The Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Hussein al-Sheikh, met in Ramallah with the US Special Representative for Palestinian Affairs, Hady Amr, to discuss the recent field tensions with Israel.

In a statement by the German News Agency, Sheikh said that he briefed Amr on the latest political and field developments and the Israeli escalatory measures against the Palestinian people.

Sheikh stressed the need for an effective and influential American intervention in placing pressure on Israel and forcing it to stop its escalatory measures against the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian territories witnessed a decrease in tension during the past two days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu banned Israelis from entering al-Aqsa Mosque for the last ten days of Ramadan Month.

The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem said the Israeli authorities had tightened entry restrictions for Palestinians at al-Aqsa Mosque and its gates.

Tensions grew after the Israeli police stormed al-Aqsa Mosque, followed by the launch of rockets on Israeli targets from the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria. Israel responded with several strikes.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also condemned the Israeli “oppressive and racist” tight restrictions imposed against Palestinian Christians, which aim to limit the number of Christians’ access to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem’s Old City during the Holy Light ceremony on Saturday.

The Palestinian ministry in a statement slammed the Israeli measures as a collective punishment that targets the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem and its holy sites, denouncing them as a gross encroachment on the city's legal and historical status quo.

On Wednesday, the churches of Jerusalem complained of Israeli restrictions on those celebrating the Holy Saturday, which has been taking place in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for nearly 2,000 years in the Holy City.

Meanwhile, Palestinian sources reported 17 Palestinian operations during the past 24 hours against Israeli targets in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including three shootings, the throwing of Molotov cocktails, and several clashes that broke out between Palestinian shooters and the Israeli army in Tubas in the West Bank, without causing any casualties.

The Palestinian Prisoners Club said that the Israeli army arrested 12 Palestinians following raids in separate areas of the West Bank governorates.

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ISIS Flag Raised in Kirkuk Village

Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk
Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk
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ISIS Flag Raised in Kirkuk Village

Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk
Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk

Iraqi security forces on Friday encircled a village in Kirkuk province, located 250 kilometers north of Baghdad, after an ISIS flag was raised there.

The move comes amid statements from Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein about the resurgence of the terrorist group, which he said is reorganizing following the collapse of ISIS's Syrian stronghold.

In a phone conversation with UK Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, Hussein warned that ISIS is rebuilding its strength, having seized significant weaponry left behind by the Syrian military’s collapse. This has allowed the group to expand its control in the region.

Hussein also raised alarms about the potential fallout from ISIS members escaping prisons and the situation at the Al-Hol camp, which holds the families of ISIS fighters in northeastern Syria, warning it could destabilize security in both Syria and Iraq.

He stressed the need for a political process in Syria that includes all components of society, and highlighted the importance of sustained international aid to the Syrian people.

Falconer expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the Aqaba meetings, which included British participation, emphasizing the need for continued dialogue to monitor developments in Syria.

He also voiced concerns over the potential for armed clashes between ISIS remnants and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), stressing that Syria cannot afford more internal conflict.

ISIS Flag in Kirkuk

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said Baghdad has presented a plan for Syria following the recent shifts in the region and remains prepared for all possibilities. On Friday, Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk. The village, located in the Daqouq district south of Kirkuk, is believed to harbor ISIS remnants.

An Iraqi security source confirmed that the forces had surrounded the village of Khalid in Daqouq and launched a search operation for the perpetrators. Last week, a similar incident occurred in the Hawija district of Kirkuk.

Iraqi-Jordanian Coordination

Sudani also reiterated Iraq’s commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and expressed readiness to support a comprehensive political process in the country without intervening in its internal affairs. In an interview with Iraqiya TV, Sudani stated that Iraq is concerned about the situation in Syria, particularly regarding the presence of armed groups and ISIS elements. He confirmed that joint operations with Jordan and the US-led coalition have already begun.

The Prime Minister called on Syria’s new leadership to ensure respect for the country’s diverse components and avoid excluding any group. He emphasized that Iraq, as a key member of the anti-ISIS coalition, remains committed to confronting any terrorist threat at its borders.

Sudani assured that Iraq faces no external threats or demands and is pursuing responsible dialogue based on mutual respect, shared interests, and securing its borders, which are now better fortified than ever.

The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria has raised concerns over the fate of approximately 50,000 former ISIS fighters detained in camps in northern Syria. With the region in chaos, there are growing fears of these detention centers being breached, potentially paving the way for the group’s resurgence.