RSS
Do Arab Communities in Hebron Want to Make Peace with Israel?
People hold Fatah flags during a protest in support of the people of Gaza, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Hebron, in the West Bank, Oct. 27, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
Earlier this week, Elliot Kaufman of The Wall Street Journal published an article citing leading clans in Hebron declaring their desire to “break out of the Palestinian Authority, establish an Emirate of its own and join the Abraham Accords.”
The group is led by Sheikh Wadee’ al-Jaabari, the leader of Hebron’s most influential clan.
Kaufman writes that:
The first circle [of support] has eight major sheikhs, who together are believed to lead 204,000 local residents. The second circle lists 13 more sheikhs, who lead another 350,000. That makes a majority of the more than 700,000 people in the area. Both circles have sworn allegiance to Sheikh Jaabari in this matter.
The Sheikhs want to recognize Israel and live in peace beside Israel.
A group from the Jaabari family immediately released a video statement of condemnation of the move against the PA, which was posted on a Hamas Telegram channel:
In response to what was published in the media and on social networks, regarding an alleged political initiative to separate from the PA and establish the Hebron Emirate. To our great people:
1- The Al-Ja’abari clan has sacrificed hundreds of Martyrs, wounded, and prisoners on the land of Palestine.
2- We as the Al-Ja’abari clan, announce our complete disavowal, and we condemn what was done by one of the clan members, who we do not recognize, and he is not a resident of Hebron.
3- The Al-Ja’abari clan in Hebron and in all places inside and outside, emphasizes its commitment to Islamic and national principles, and to our people’s rights to self-determination, and to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, on all our national land (i.e., including Israel).
4- This is our permanent position in the present and in the future, and we will not deviate from it, whatever the circumstances may be.”
Posted text: “The Al-Ja’abari clan announces its disavowal of normalization with the occupation (i.e., Israel) and condemns the demand to ‘establish a tribal emirate’ in Hebron.”
[“Quds News Network” Telegram channel, July, 6, 2025]
Significantly, even though this is a declaration of war against the Palestinian Authority, the PA chose not to respond in its official media, as if nothing significant had happened.
The official PA daily did not even mention the story in Monday’s newspaper and WAFA, the official news agency, by 4:00 pm still had not mentioned it on its news site. Official PA TV, likewise, by midday had not mentioned it.
It’s possible that the PA does not want to lend credence to Palestinians organizing against its autocratic rule and is hoping that by ignoring it, the problem will dissipate. However, reading the article and seeing the depths of the hatred expressed toward the Palestinian Authority, it is likely the sheikhs wouldn’t have taken such a public step if they didn’t feel they had broad support of the people.
From semi-official Fatah Telegram source, there was one response of condemnation from “Hebron families”:
Families of the Hebron district respond to the report in the American newspaper “Wall Street Journal,” which stated that 5 prominent sheikhs from the city of Hebron want to join the normalization agreements with Israel and separate from the rule of the Palestinian Authority in the city.
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful…
In the shadow of the brutal attack by the Israeli occupation forces and its settlers on the Hebron district, and against the backdrop of the situation in the Strip of the brave, the Strip of heroes and the legendary steadfastness in Gaza – and in the shadow of the insistence of the occupation and its vile Zionist leaders, Ben Gvir and Smotrich, to swallow lands and take control of them, and to expand the settlements in the Hebron district…
Families of the Hebron district – the public of the city of Hebron –
From the depth of our belonging to this land, we emphasize that we will not be dragged after new “village associations,” under a new name…
And we will emphasize the following:
Firstly, The Palestinian Authority and its security mechanisms are a red line, and we will not agree to harm it, nor the Palestinian national project, for which thousands of Martyrs, wounded, and prisoners were sacrificed.
Secondly – We emphasize our firm rejection of the ‘village associations’ project in the Hebron district, and we say to those who receive payment [to act] against our people’s cause: ‘Return to the right path!’.
Thirdly – Hebron, the city of our master Abraham, the friend [of Allah], will continue to be unbreakable…
[Hebron] will continue to be a thorn in the throats of the traitors and those hired against our national cause.
Glory to the Martyrs, healing to the wounded, freedom to the prisoners.”
“Families of the Hebron district” [Jenin News, July 6, 2025]
Palestinian Media Watch will continue monitoring and reporting as this story updates, from official and unofficial sources.
The author is the Founder and Director of Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article first appeared.
The post Do Arab Communities in Hebron Want to Make Peace with Israel? first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
RSS
Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
RSS
Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.