Fatah Slams Emadi, Accuses him of Encouraging Division

Qatari special envoy to the Gaza Strip Muhammad al-Emadi speaks during an interview in his office with AFP in Gaza City. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)
Qatari special envoy to the Gaza Strip Muhammad al-Emadi speaks during an interview in his office with AFP in Gaza City. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)
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Fatah Slams Emadi, Accuses him of Encouraging Division

Qatari special envoy to the Gaza Strip Muhammad al-Emadi speaks during an interview in his office with AFP in Gaza City. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)
Qatari special envoy to the Gaza Strip Muhammad al-Emadi speaks during an interview in his office with AFP in Gaza City. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)

Fatah movement led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas slammed Qatari special envoy to the Gaza Strip Muhammad al-Emadi, accusing him of spurring division among Palestinians.

Munir al-Jaghoub, head of Fatah Information Department in the Office of Mobilization and Organization, responded to recent statements made by Emadi saying he should have been “fair” in describing the situation in Gaza.

The description he has given is an attempt to reinforce separation through the so-called truce agreements, which are funded by foreign parties, said the Fatah official.

Jaghoub added that the PA has no role in the Strip where Hamas rules through the force of arms. Despite this situation, the Palestinian Authority continues to fulfill its obligations and duties towards Gaza’s people.

Hamas has been the de facto rulers of Gaza since it ousted forces loyal to Abbas in deadly fighting in 2007.

Jaghoub affirmed that holding the Authority responsible for tragic conditions in Gaza is a desperate attempt not to admit the failure of truce attempts. The sole solution to the crisis comes by ending all aspects of the coup and the return of the legitimate government to Gaza to practice its role.

Earlier, Emadi accused the PA, Egypt and the Palestinian factions of rivalry and prolonging divisions.

Palestinians in Gaza are the real victims of the siege and the internal political dispute, said Emadi, adding that he was pessimistic because many parties are benefiting politically and financially in keeping Gaza's situation deadlocked.

He also slammed Egypt and Hamas for benefitting financially from goods that enter Gaza.

Gaza, alone, imports commodities for USD45 million monthly from Egypt. The Egyptian intelligence gets USD15 million as a commission and Hamas gets USD12 million for taxes, while the remaining is the actual value of goods, he added.



Iraq’s PMF Reinforces Deployment on Border with Syria 

A PMF vehicle is seen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. (Security media)
A PMF vehicle is seen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. (Security media)
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Iraq’s PMF Reinforces Deployment on Border with Syria 

A PMF vehicle is seen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. (Security media)
A PMF vehicle is seen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. (Security media)

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq announced that their forces have deployed in new areas near the border with Syria.

Army commander Amir Rashid Yarallah also toured the border area in western Nineveh near Syria.

No reason was given for the reinforcements, but they took places a day after fierce fighting on the Lebanese-Syrian border and four days after Baghdad announced the killing of the head of ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

The US Central Command said Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, or “Abu Khadija,” was killed in Iraq’s Anbar province in an operation in cooperation with Iraqi intelligence and security forces.

Iraqi authorities have tightened border security since the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December to prevent the infiltration of gunmen and members of ISIS to the country.

The PMF said its new reinforcements are in line with a deployment plan launched by the Nineveh operations command to boost security and stability in the area.

Forces are equipped with medium and heavy weapons and they will monitor the border to protect the country against any possible threat, it added.

Field sources in al-Anbar said they did not detect any unusual military activity near the border with Syria.

Also on Tuesday, the PMF stated that it did not record any security breach along the border with Syria.

Anbar operations commander Qassem Mosleh told the Iraqi News Agency that his forces are highly trained and armed. Effective cooperation is ongoing with all security agencies, including the army and police.

Moreover, he highlighted the high coordination with tribes in the area that have provided information about ISIS terrorist gangs.

Foreign Miniter Fuad Hussein had received in Baghdad last week his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani for talks on “joint security challenges”.