Updated October 27th, 2023 at 17:26 IST

Sweden reportedly withdrew the residence permit of an Iraqi man who staged a series of public desecrations of the Quran this year but put his deportation on hold, saying his life would be in danger if he were returned to Iraq.

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Sweden reportedly withdrew the residence permit of an Iraqi man who staged a series of public desecrations of the Quran this year but put his deportation on hold, saying his life would be in danger if he were returned to Iraq.

Sweden’s Migration Agency made the decision this week after determining that Salwan Momika had provided false information in his application for asylum, Swedish broadcaster TV4 reported Thursday.

An order of deportation was issued but placed on hold for security reasons, a Migration Agency official told the television station Thursday. Swedish media say Momika was granted a residence permit in 2021.

“The decision was made yesterday and means that this person's status and residence permit will be revoked and that he will be deported,” agency spokesman Jesper Tengroth was quoted as saying.

However, Tengroth added that “this person risks being subjected to torture and inhuman treatment if he returns to his home country. We have therefore decided that there is an obstacle to enforcing the deportation.”

Momika angered Muslims both in Sweden and abroad with anti-Islam protests in which he burned or otherwise desecrated the Quran. Swedish authorities allowed his demonstrations , citing freedom of speech, but his actions raised alarm among government and security officials who warned they could make Sweden a target for Islamic extremists.

Swedish police also filed preliminary hate speech charges against him.

Last week two Swedish soccer fans were killed before a match in Brussels in an attack by a gunman who specifically targeted Swedes, according to Sweden’s prime minister. Belgian authorities said the alleged gunman, who was shot dead by police following a manhunt, posted a video online after the attack in which he said the Quran was “a red line for which he is ready to sacrifice himself.”

Momika said he didn't want to put Sweden at risk but was exercising his right to criticize Islam under freedom of speech. He told TV4 he would appeal the decision to withdraw his residence permit.

“They want me to leave the country,” he was quoted as saying. “They told me to find a country that can receive me; otherwise it’s Iraq.”

Momika told TV4 he had no plans to leave Sweden and denied having given false information in his asylum application.

Tengroth wouldn't give details on what information in the application was false.

Israel and US intelligence heads on Thursday held the trilateral meeting in Qatar, Doha with the Arab partners to discuss the negotiations for securing the release of the hostages in exchange for a humanitarian pause in Gaza. The heads held a dialogue to felicitate more humanitarian aid in to the besieged Gaza, a diplomatic source familiar with developments told the American broadcaster CNN.

The trilateral talks included the US intelligence agency CIA’s Director William Burns, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad’s head David Barnea and Qatari officials. During the meeting, the officials suggested a draft plan for the Hamas to release at least 10 to 20 civilian hostages in exchange for the short ceasefire that would last 2-3 days. The pause would be used to supply the humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza strip, the officials reportedly discussed.

Burns was a part of the crucial meeting between Barnea and the Qatari prime minister as they discussed about the release of the hostages in Hamas’ captivity since the Oct 7 raid. The meeting in Doha comes days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a dialogue with Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani about the release of the American hostages over the phone. Blinken was briefed about the status of the negotiations with the Hamas by Qatar, a mediator between the Arabs, Israelis, Palestinian Hamas, and Egypt. two sources were cited as saying by agencies.

Biden lauds efforts of regional partners in negotiations

US President Joe Biden previously lauded the efforts of United States’ regional partners for paving the way that enabled the injured Palestinians and the foreign nationals including the Americans to leave the besieged strip of Gaza. “I personally spent a lot of time speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and President Sissi of Egypt and others, to make sure that we could open this access for people to get out,” Biden said during a speech in Northfield, Minnesota.  

“I want to thank our partners, in particular Qatar, who worked so closely with us to support negotiations to facilitate the departure of these citizens,” said the US President. Biden furthermore stated that more work needs to be done to “significantly step up the flow of critical humanitarian assistance into Gaza.”

A warning was issued by the World Health Organization, stating that the Gaza Strip has faced an increased risk of disease spreading as a result of Israeli air bombardments, on Wednesday. These bombardments have disrupted the health system and access to clean water, and have led to people crowding in shelters.

“As deaths and injuries in Gaza continue to rise due to intensified hostilities, intense overcrowding and disrupted health, water, and sanitation systems pose an added danger: the rapid spread of infectious diseases,” said WHO.  Further, it added, “Some worrying trends are already emerging.”

Gaza faces Humanitarian crisis

The humanitarian organisation has highlighted that the lack of fuel in the densely populated enclave had caused desalination plants to shut down, which has led to an increased risk of bacterial infections like diarrhoea spreading. According to them, more than 33,551 cases of diarrhoea had been reported since mid-October, the bulk of which were among children under five. A significant increase in the number of affected children was noted compared to an average of 2,000 cases per month in that age group throughout 2021 and 2022, according to the World Health Organization.

The collection of solid waste has been disrupted by the lack of fuel, leading to an environment conducive to the rapid and widespread proliferation of insects and rodents capable of carrying and transmitting diseases, as highlighted by WHO. It was stated that maintaining basic infection prevention measures at health facilities is "almost impossible," thereby increasing the risk of infection resulting from trauma, surgery, and childbirth. The warning emphasized that disrupted routine vaccination activities, along with a lack of medicines for treating communicable diseases, further heighten the risk of accelerated disease spread.

Key Hamas stronghold secured after 10-hour battle, IDF claims

As per the latest update, The Israel Defence Forces has claimed that it has secured a key Hamas stronghold after a 10-hour battle, reported Sky News. Troops belonging to the Nahal Brigade, one of the IDF's main infantry units, secured what it called a stronghold named "Outpost 17" in West Jabaliya in northern Gaza. Further, the Israeli troops have claimed that they have engaged in fighting "above ground and in an underground route" and suggested that Hamas may have used some of its vast tunnel networks during the battle.

"The fighters completed the takeover of the outpost after 10 hours of fighting, during which they eliminated terrorists, seized many weapons, uncovered terrorist tunnel shafts, including a shaft located near a kindergarten and leading to an extensive underground route," read the IDF update, reported Sky News.

President Biden and PM Modi

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