Ramallah: A key figure who was an iconic symbol of the Palestinians’ refusal to sell land and property to colonists in occupied East Jerusalem died on the day he returned from a week-long visit to Saudi Arabia where he had performed Umrah.
Mohammad Khalil Al Abbasi (locally known as Abu Khalil Al Abbasi), 61, arrived in occupied East Jerusalem and attended Al Aqsa Mosque where he performed Isha prayers before going home. As he switched the lights on in the house where he lived alone, a fire erupted and he was unable to escape.
Preliminary investigations by the Israeli regime into the fire have revealed the fire was caused by a gas leak.
Among occupied East Jerusalem Palestinians, Abu Khalil was known for his refusal to sell his three-storey house in the Al Farouq neighbourhood of Jabal Al Mukkaber to colonists who had reportedly offered him blank cheques for the site.
Colonists attempting to expand into occupied Jerusalem often lure indigenous Palestinians to sell them their homes with large amounts of cash. Those who refuse are often approached by hired Palestinian frontmen pretending to buy the property for Palestinians. The Israeli regime regularly bulldozes Palestinian homes in occupied Jerusalem under the pretext of a lack of a building permit from the authorities. The regime also regularly evacuates Palestinians from their homes in occupied Jerusalem under armed guard to house Jews.
Mazen Abu Qalbain, a political activist, said that Abu Khalil was famous for his unending support for the Palestinian stand in the holy city.
“The man was loved all over the holy city, which has mourned him dramatically,” he told Gulf News. “Abu Khalil was a serious problem for the Israeli colonists and truly was a thorn in their sides. The offers colonists made to him have been described as the highest in the history of [occupied] Jerusalem.”
Colonists allegedly tried to buy Abu Khalil’s house via Arab undercover collaborators but he refused to sell.
Residents of occupied East Jerusalem have expressed serious concerns about the possible involvement of colonists in Abu Khalil’s sudden death. “The circumstances of the death are extremely vague and uncovering the truth requires deep investigations which the Israeli police cannot achieve in occupied East Jerusalem,” said Abu Qalbain.
