ATTACK ON BAGHDAD PALESTINIANS KILLS FOUR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002286 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016 TAGS: PREF KPAL PINS PHUM PNAT KDEM IZ JO SY SUBJECT: ATTACK ON BAGHDAD PALESTINIANS KILLS FOUR REF: BAGHDAD 1659 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARGARET SCOBEY, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) On the morning of June 26, the Palestinian "compound" in Baghdad's Baladiat neighborhood was reportedly attacked by unknown assailants. Saeed al-Jafari from the Palestinian Human Rights organization told PolFSN that four residents were killed and nine injured in the melee. PLO representative Dalil Mikaeel al-Qusous called PolOff frantically requesting MNF-I assistance to stop the attackers. ¶2. (C) MNF-I forces arrived soon after Qusous' call, and the attackers withdrew. Saeed al Jafari told PolFSN in a later conversation that men in commando uniforms with civilian cars had been responsible for the attack. Neither Jafari nor Qusous could say how many assailants were involved. When asked June 28 who he thought was responsible, Qusous said he did not know. ¶3. (C) UNAMI Human Rights lead Elio Tamburi (strictly protect) reported to PolOff June 26 that the UN was extremely concerned about this latest attack and intended to engage with MNF-I on protection of the Palestinian compound. Qusous told PolOff June 28 that some Baladiat residents had fled the neighborhood to stay with relatives in other areas. He said the wounded did not go to hospitals for treatment, fearing that they would be killed if they did so. Qusous expressed continued concern over the threat to the Palestinian community in Baghdad. Khalilzad