Security forces clash again with Warraq residents as angry protest erupts

Security forces clashed Monday afternoon with residents of Warraq Island near the Qollali ferry crossing, after young men protesting checkpoint restrictions on ferry access sparked an argument, a local source told Al Manassa.

The clashes came despite recent efforts by security agencies to ease tensions. The group “We Are Staying on Warraq Island” had recently received an unprecedented offer that included land in the island’s residential area, allowing residents who wished to remain to build new homes in exchange for their existing ones.

The source, who witnessed the events, said an argument with several police officers quickly escalated when security forces used batons, prompting stone‑throwing from both sides. Several residents were injured, including a relative of the source who sustained a confirmed skull fracture. An unknown number of young men were detained, though the source said he personally saw between three and four.

The source said the clashes broke out as the ferry was crowded with students heading home at the end of the school day, making it difficult to determine how many people were injured or detained. The clashes continued until about 6:30 pm.

After the clashes, a small protest broke out on the island and reached the area where security forces were stationed. Participants condemned what they described as renewed security attacks on residents.

The Qollali ferry area in the Warraq urban district is one of the main flashpoints for repeated clashes between security forces and residents, who use it as a main access point to the island. This is due to strict inspections intended to prevent construction materials from entering the island.

The government bans construction materials from entering the island to halt urban expansion, as part of ongoing plans to relocate as many residents as possible ahead of luxury real estate projects. The plan was first announced in 2017 and has faced opposition from large sections of the island’s residents, at times leading to deadly confrontations, including the killing of an island resident by police nine years ago.