28 apr 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) shot and injured on Thursday evening a Palestinian young woman and arrested another at Beit Huroun checkpoint west of Ramallah following an alleged stabbing attack.
The IOF claimed that the two Palestinian females were arrested, one of whom was shot and injured by Israeli soldiers, after they allegedly attempted to stab a soldier near the Israeli illegal settlement of Beit Huroun.
The Israeli sources said that the two female detainees attempted to stab soldiers stationed at a security crossing adjacent to route 443. Israeli forces fired at one of them and arrested the second.
Palestinian Red Crescent crews were prevented from reaching the scene or to provide the injured young woman with medical aid.
Shortly following the alleged attack, Israeli forces closed all roads leading to the nearby village of Beit Ur al-Tahta. The incident comes a day after Israeli forces shot and killed a pregnant Palestinian woman and her 16-year-old brother after an alleged stabbing attack at Qalandiya military checkpoint near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
With the Palestinian death rate climbing as Israeli forces continue their crackdown on Palestinian protesters across the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip's border, Israel's controversial policy of extrajudicial killing is once again being questioned.
Amnesty International has recently released a report titled, "No Justification for deliberate attacks on civilians, unlawful killings by Israeli forces, or collective punishment of Palestinians". The report said that many of the Israeli killings come close to the definition of extrajudicial killings.
Israeli forces shoot, injure Palestinian, detain another after alleged stab attempt
wo Palestinian teens were arrested, one of whom was shot and injured by Israeli forces, after the two allegedly attempted to stab an Israeli soldier Thursday at a military checkpoint in the village of Beit Ur al-Tahta in the central occupied West Bank district of Ramallah.
An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that “assailants attempted to stab soldiers stationed at a security crossing adjacent to route 443. Responding to the imminent danger, forces fired towards one of the attackers and she is now receiving medical care."
She was taken to Israel's Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem where she was in moderate-to-serious condition, according to Israeli media.
The second assailant reportedly attempted to escape at the scene, but was later apprehended without being fired on and taken in for interrogation by Israeli forces.
According to Israeli news outlet The Jeruslam Post, the two were both 14-year-old females.
There were no injuries on the Israeli side.
The incident comes a day after Israeli forces shot and killed a pregnant Palestinian woman and her 16-year-old brother after they allegedly attempted to carry out a stab attack on border police at Qalandiya military checkpoint near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Witnesses at the scene said the two siblings posed no threat at the time the Israeli officer killed them.
Their deaths came in the wake of mass criticism towards what has been termed Israel’s policy of “extrajudicial executions” towards Palestinians, which most recently came under spotlight after an Israeli soldier was caught on film shooting a prone Palestinian through the head from feet away.
Popular Palestinian support for stab attacks -- widely explained by Palestinian and international leadership as a natural response to the effects of the ongoing Israeli military occupation -- has hovered below fifty percent for the past two months, according to polls, coinciding with a relative drop in the frequency of such attacks that initially surged in October.
A reduction in stab attacks has been attributed to security coordination between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, as well as to general public sentiments that the attacks are not effective in resistance against the occupation, according to polls.
The IOF claimed that the two Palestinian females were arrested, one of whom was shot and injured by Israeli soldiers, after they allegedly attempted to stab a soldier near the Israeli illegal settlement of Beit Huroun.
The Israeli sources said that the two female detainees attempted to stab soldiers stationed at a security crossing adjacent to route 443. Israeli forces fired at one of them and arrested the second.
Palestinian Red Crescent crews were prevented from reaching the scene or to provide the injured young woman with medical aid.
Shortly following the alleged attack, Israeli forces closed all roads leading to the nearby village of Beit Ur al-Tahta. The incident comes a day after Israeli forces shot and killed a pregnant Palestinian woman and her 16-year-old brother after an alleged stabbing attack at Qalandiya military checkpoint near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
With the Palestinian death rate climbing as Israeli forces continue their crackdown on Palestinian protesters across the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip's border, Israel's controversial policy of extrajudicial killing is once again being questioned.
Amnesty International has recently released a report titled, "No Justification for deliberate attacks on civilians, unlawful killings by Israeli forces, or collective punishment of Palestinians". The report said that many of the Israeli killings come close to the definition of extrajudicial killings.
Israeli forces shoot, injure Palestinian, detain another after alleged stab attempt
wo Palestinian teens were arrested, one of whom was shot and injured by Israeli forces, after the two allegedly attempted to stab an Israeli soldier Thursday at a military checkpoint in the village of Beit Ur al-Tahta in the central occupied West Bank district of Ramallah.
An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that “assailants attempted to stab soldiers stationed at a security crossing adjacent to route 443. Responding to the imminent danger, forces fired towards one of the attackers and she is now receiving medical care."
She was taken to Israel's Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem where she was in moderate-to-serious condition, according to Israeli media.
The second assailant reportedly attempted to escape at the scene, but was later apprehended without being fired on and taken in for interrogation by Israeli forces.
According to Israeli news outlet The Jeruslam Post, the two were both 14-year-old females.
There were no injuries on the Israeli side.
The incident comes a day after Israeli forces shot and killed a pregnant Palestinian woman and her 16-year-old brother after they allegedly attempted to carry out a stab attack on border police at Qalandiya military checkpoint near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Witnesses at the scene said the two siblings posed no threat at the time the Israeli officer killed them.
Their deaths came in the wake of mass criticism towards what has been termed Israel’s policy of “extrajudicial executions” towards Palestinians, which most recently came under spotlight after an Israeli soldier was caught on film shooting a prone Palestinian through the head from feet away.
Popular Palestinian support for stab attacks -- widely explained by Palestinian and international leadership as a natural response to the effects of the ongoing Israeli military occupation -- has hovered below fifty percent for the past two months, according to polls, coinciding with a relative drop in the frequency of such attacks that initially surged in October.
A reduction in stab attacks has been attributed to security coordination between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, as well as to general public sentiments that the attacks are not effective in resistance against the occupation, according to polls.
Israeli soldiers opened fire, on Thursday morning, on a number of Palestinian farmers in their lands, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, and east of Gaza city.
The WAFA Palestinian News Agency said the soldiers, stationed across the border fence, fired many live rounds on the farmers, while working in their own lands, forcing them away.
WAFA said the two latest attacks targeted Palestinian lands east of Khan Younis city, in the southern part of the coastal region, and east of Gaza city.
The Israeli army conducts frequent violations against Palestinians, and their lands, in areas close to the border fence, in the northern and eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, an issue that prevents dozens of families from planning their lands.
Similar attacks also target Palestinian fishers in Gaza territorial waters, in direct violation of the Oslo accords, and every ceasefire agreement.
The WAFA Palestinian News Agency said the soldiers, stationed across the border fence, fired many live rounds on the farmers, while working in their own lands, forcing them away.
WAFA said the two latest attacks targeted Palestinian lands east of Khan Younis city, in the southern part of the coastal region, and east of Gaza city.
The Israeli army conducts frequent violations against Palestinians, and their lands, in areas close to the border fence, in the northern and eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, an issue that prevents dozens of families from planning their lands.
Similar attacks also target Palestinian fishers in Gaza territorial waters, in direct violation of the Oslo accords, and every ceasefire agreement.
The southeastern border of the Gaza Strip on Wednesday evening saw intensive Israeli military moves as flares were lightening up its sky.
An official field observer told Quds Press that the border area between Kissufim military post and al-Sanatti area, east of Khan Younis town, had witnessed on Wednesday night active movement of military troops and armored vehicles, including tanks.
As usual during such overnight military moves, he said, flare bombs were heavily fired over the area.
An official field observer told Quds Press that the border area between Kissufim military post and al-Sanatti area, east of Khan Younis town, had witnessed on Wednesday night active movement of military troops and armored vehicles, including tanks.
As usual during such overnight military moves, he said, flare bombs were heavily fired over the area.
Nizar Ayyash, head of the Palestinian fishermen syndicate said that the Israeli navy forces have been intensively targeting Gazan fishermen since the fishing zone was increased from 6 to 9 nautical milies.
24 Fishermen have been arrested and 9 boats have been confiscated since then, he added. Ayyash told the PIC reporter that the Israeli aggressive practices against fishermen in Gaza affected the season of sardine fishing which ends after one month only.
The Oslo Accords signed by the Palestinian Authority and Israel allows fishermen in Gaza to sail through 20 nautical miles.
Israeli navy forces, however, do not allow Palestinians to sail into more than 6 nautical miles since the eruption of al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000.
24 Fishermen have been arrested and 9 boats have been confiscated since then, he added. Ayyash told the PIC reporter that the Israeli aggressive practices against fishermen in Gaza affected the season of sardine fishing which ends after one month only.
The Oslo Accords signed by the Palestinian Authority and Israel allows fishermen in Gaza to sail through 20 nautical miles.
Israeli navy forces, however, do not allow Palestinians to sail into more than 6 nautical miles since the eruption of al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000.
27 apr 2016
Nine Israeli army vehicles on Wednesday morning moved some 150 meters into eastern al-Bureij refugee camp, in central Gaza Strip.
A PIC journalist quoted eyewitnesses as saying that four Israeli army bulldozers, three military tanks, and two troop-carriers moved 150 meters into Palestinians’ cultivated lands in eastern al-Bureij camp and leveled the area.
Shortly afterwards, the Israeli occupation troops moved southwards to the border area in Deir al-Balah city.
The incursion is another chain in the series of Israeli violations of the ceasefire deal struck in the wake of the 2014 offensive on the besieged coastal enclave of Gaza.
A PIC journalist quoted eyewitnesses as saying that four Israeli army bulldozers, three military tanks, and two troop-carriers moved 150 meters into Palestinians’ cultivated lands in eastern al-Bureij camp and leveled the area.
Shortly afterwards, the Israeli occupation troops moved southwards to the border area in Deir al-Balah city.
The incursion is another chain in the series of Israeli violations of the ceasefire deal struck in the wake of the 2014 offensive on the besieged coastal enclave of Gaza.
26 apr 2016
Israeli naval forces detained Tuesday night two Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Beit Lahya north of Gaza Strip, while fishing boats were targeted while sailing off Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
Palestinian media sources identified the two detained fishermen as Aahed and Munis Zayid. Israeli forces also confiscated their fishing boat before taking them to an unknown location, the sources added.
Meanwhile, Palestinian fishing boats came under fire while sailing off the coast of Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported during the attack.
However, the fishermen were forced to leave the sea. The IOF carries out attacks on land and at sea of the Gaza Strip on a near-daily basis, often putting Palestinian fishermen and farmers and their livelihoods at risk.
Palestinian media sources identified the two detained fishermen as Aahed and Munis Zayid. Israeli forces also confiscated their fishing boat before taking them to an unknown location, the sources added.
Meanwhile, Palestinian fishing boats came under fire while sailing off the coast of Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported during the attack.
However, the fishermen were forced to leave the sea. The IOF carries out attacks on land and at sea of the Gaza Strip on a near-daily basis, often putting Palestinian fishermen and farmers and their livelihoods at risk.
journalist Omar Nazal
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) violently suppressed a solidarity sit-in outside Ofer prison west of Ramallah calling for the release of Palestinian imprisoned journalist Omar Nazal.
According to Quds Press, Israeli forces fired teargas bombs and stun grenades at the participants, injuring two journalists. The event was organized by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate amid large participation of Palestinian and foreign journalists.
The two injured journalists were identified as the photographer for Reuters Saed Hawari and news reporter for a Jordanian channel Hafed Abu Sabra.
The participants held photos of the imprisoned journalist Nazal and chanted slogans calling for his immediate release and a stop to Israeli systematic violations against journalists.
Nazal was arrested last Saturday at Karama crossing that links between Jordan and West Bank while on his way to Jordan to participate in an international press conference in Bosnia.
There are currently 19 Palestinian journalists in Israeli jails, most of them are held in administrative detention according to which hundreds of Palestinians are held without charge or trial.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) violently suppressed a solidarity sit-in outside Ofer prison west of Ramallah calling for the release of Palestinian imprisoned journalist Omar Nazal.
According to Quds Press, Israeli forces fired teargas bombs and stun grenades at the participants, injuring two journalists. The event was organized by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate amid large participation of Palestinian and foreign journalists.
The two injured journalists were identified as the photographer for Reuters Saed Hawari and news reporter for a Jordanian channel Hafed Abu Sabra.
The participants held photos of the imprisoned journalist Nazal and chanted slogans calling for his immediate release and a stop to Israeli systematic violations against journalists.
Nazal was arrested last Saturday at Karama crossing that links between Jordan and West Bank while on his way to Jordan to participate in an international press conference in Bosnia.
There are currently 19 Palestinian journalists in Israeli jails, most of them are held in administrative detention according to which hundreds of Palestinians are held without charge or trial.
On Tuesday morning, several Israeli army vehicles, and bulldozers, invaded Palestinian agricultural lands, east of Gaza city, and uprooted them, in addition to firing live rounds and smoke bombs.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said three Israeli tanks, and three armored bulldozers, advanced approximately 150 meters into Palestinian farmlands, and uprooted them.
WAFA added that the army vehicles came from “Nahal Oz” military base, across the border fence, east of the Sheja’eyya neighborhood, east of Gaza city.
The soldiers also demolished a concrete wall, near the Karni Crossing, east of Gaza city, and fired smoke bombs in addition to several live rounds.
The army carries out frequent limited invasions into Palestinian lands, close to the border fence, in the northern and eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, and prevents the Palestinian from entering their own lands.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said three Israeli tanks, and three armored bulldozers, advanced approximately 150 meters into Palestinian farmlands, and uprooted them.
WAFA added that the army vehicles came from “Nahal Oz” military base, across the border fence, east of the Sheja’eyya neighborhood, east of Gaza city.
The soldiers also demolished a concrete wall, near the Karni Crossing, east of Gaza city, and fired smoke bombs in addition to several live rounds.
The army carries out frequent limited invasions into Palestinian lands, close to the border fence, in the northern and eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, and prevents the Palestinian from entering their own lands.
Israeli soldiers have kidnapped, on Tuesday at dawn and on Monday evening, four Palestinians, including a 12-year-old child in occupied East Jerusalem. The army claims the three other Palestinians are from Nablus, and “planned to carry out an attack in Jerusalem.”
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) in occupied Jerusalem, said the soldiers invaded the town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and kidnapped a child.
Silwanic stated that the soldiers kidnapped Adam Jibreel Salaima, only 12 years of age, while heading to school in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood.
The soldiers also chased many schoolchildren in Ayman al-‘Abbassi Street, pushing most of them to seek shelter in nearby Palestinian homes. Adam was kidnapping after the soldiers invaded some of these homes.
Silwanic said that dozens of soldiers invaded the town, and were extensively deployed in various neighborhoods while scores of settlers, living in a number of illegal outposts in the town, celebrated in the streets.
In addition, the soldiers harassed many children walking to school, in the Schools Street, in Ras al-Amoud, and fired sound bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets.
In related news, Israeli media sources said a security force of Yamam Unit, arrested on Tuesday at night, three Palestinians from the northern West Bank district of Nablus.
They added that the three Palestinians were “illegally staying in Jerusalem”, and were allegedly “planning an attack in the city”. They were moved to a detention center for interrogation.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) in occupied Jerusalem, said the soldiers invaded the town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and kidnapped a child.
Silwanic stated that the soldiers kidnapped Adam Jibreel Salaima, only 12 years of age, while heading to school in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood.
The soldiers also chased many schoolchildren in Ayman al-‘Abbassi Street, pushing most of them to seek shelter in nearby Palestinian homes. Adam was kidnapping after the soldiers invaded some of these homes.
Silwanic said that dozens of soldiers invaded the town, and were extensively deployed in various neighborhoods while scores of settlers, living in a number of illegal outposts in the town, celebrated in the streets.
In addition, the soldiers harassed many children walking to school, in the Schools Street, in Ras al-Amoud, and fired sound bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets.
In related news, Israeli media sources said a security force of Yamam Unit, arrested on Tuesday at night, three Palestinians from the northern West Bank district of Nablus.
They added that the three Palestinians were “illegally staying in Jerusalem”, and were allegedly “planning an attack in the city”. They were moved to a detention center for interrogation.
25 apr 2016
Israeli soldiers closed, on Monday morning, the main entrance of the Hebron Emergency Center, run by the Hebron Health Committees, by placing concrete blocks, completely sealing it, and deployed dozens of soldiers on its rooftop.
Dr. Ramzi Abu Yousef, director of the Health Work Committees (HWC) in Hebron, said many soldiers occupied the center’s rooftop, and turned it into a military base.
Abu Yousef warned of the consequences of this violation, especially since the center receives hundreds of patients on a daily basis, and added that the center provides its medical services to more than 60.000 Palestinians.
“For years now, the center has been subject to frequent Israeli military violations, including many invasions, and the soldiers even fired gas bombs at it,” Abu Yousef said, “They also repeatedly sprayed it with waste-water mixed with chemicals, in addition to harassing the patients and their families, and the various measures restricting their freedom of movement.”
The HWC voiced an urgent appeal to various human right groups to intervene, and provide the needed protection to Palestinian health centers, in addition to pressuring Israel into halting its serious violations.
“People who need medical care have the right to receive it, but Israel continues to violate it,” the HWC added, “International Humanitarian Law stresses on the importance of unrestricted access to medical facilities.”
Dr. Ramzi Abu Yousef, director of the Health Work Committees (HWC) in Hebron, said many soldiers occupied the center’s rooftop, and turned it into a military base.
Abu Yousef warned of the consequences of this violation, especially since the center receives hundreds of patients on a daily basis, and added that the center provides its medical services to more than 60.000 Palestinians.
“For years now, the center has been subject to frequent Israeli military violations, including many invasions, and the soldiers even fired gas bombs at it,” Abu Yousef said, “They also repeatedly sprayed it with waste-water mixed with chemicals, in addition to harassing the patients and their families, and the various measures restricting their freedom of movement.”
The HWC voiced an urgent appeal to various human right groups to intervene, and provide the needed protection to Palestinian health centers, in addition to pressuring Israel into halting its serious violations.
“People who need medical care have the right to receive it, but Israel continues to violate it,” the HWC added, “International Humanitarian Law stresses on the importance of unrestricted access to medical facilities.”
Israeli navy ships opened fire, earlier Monday, on a number of Palestinian fishing boats in Gaza waters, in the northern part of the coastal region.
The fishers had to sail back to shore in order to avoid further assaults and violations; the attack led to property damage but no injuries.
On April 3, Israel unilaterally decided to extend the fishing zone, off some parts of the Gaza coast, to nine miles, instead of six.
The areas, where the fishing zone was increased, extend from Wadi Gaza, west of Gaza city, until the western part of Rafah, in the southern part of the coastal region.
Israel frequently and unilaterally reduced it to six, then three, and to six again, before eventually increasing it, in certain areas, to nine nautical miles.
Under the Oslo agreements, the Palestinians are supposed to be able to fish and sail within twenty nautical miles, but Israel kept unilaterally decreasing it.
The fishers had to sail back to shore in order to avoid further assaults and violations; the attack led to property damage but no injuries.
On April 3, Israel unilaterally decided to extend the fishing zone, off some parts of the Gaza coast, to nine miles, instead of six.
The areas, where the fishing zone was increased, extend from Wadi Gaza, west of Gaza city, until the western part of Rafah, in the southern part of the coastal region.
Israel frequently and unilaterally reduced it to six, then three, and to six again, before eventually increasing it, in certain areas, to nine nautical miles.
Under the Oslo agreements, the Palestinians are supposed to be able to fish and sail within twenty nautical miles, but Israel kept unilaterally decreasing it.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Monday stormed several towns across Jenin province, in the northern occupied West Bank, and sealed off the area with makeshift checkpoints.
A PIC journalist quoted local sources as stating that Israeli army patrols rolled into the southern neighborhood in Yabad town at the crack of dawn and have been deployed across residential alleys.
The IOF soldiers combed the town before they stormed the nearby Zabda and Emriha towns. A series of ambushes was set up by the occupation troops across the olive orchards during the assault.
The IOF soldiers have also been deployed across the al-Sahl Road, adjacent to Yabad town.
A PIC journalist quoted local sources as stating that Israeli army patrols rolled into the southern neighborhood in Yabad town at the crack of dawn and have been deployed across residential alleys.
The IOF soldiers combed the town before they stormed the nearby Zabda and Emriha towns. A series of ambushes was set up by the occupation troops across the olive orchards during the assault.
The IOF soldiers have also been deployed across the al-Sahl Road, adjacent to Yabad town.
The Mezan Center for Human Rights on Sunday raised alarm bells over the surge in Israeli attacks on Palestinian fishermen in the blockaded Gaza Strip. The Mezan center spoke out against the arbitrary abductions and confiscations to which Gaza’s fishermen have been subjected on a quasi-daily basis.
The most recent among these violations occurred on Sunday morning as the Israeli occupation navy arrested two fishermen in western Beit Lahia, to the north of the Gaza Strip, and confiscated their vessels after they opened fire on the fishing boats setting sail off Gaza shores.
Mezan identified the two fishermen as 23-year-old Ibrahim al-Sultan and 19-year-old Urans al-Sultan. The center quoted Uran’s father as stating that his son and relative were arrested moments after they threw their nets within 600 meters of Gaza’s waters. The Israeli navy boats chased them down and opened fire on the boats before they forced the two fishermen to take off their clothes and swim towards the Israeli gunboat. The two fishermen were forced to leave the area for fear of being killed while the occupation navy seized their boats.
The Mezan Center spoke up for Palestinians’ right to set sail across Gaza waters, adding that Palestinian fishermen have been the permanent target of Israeli attacks despite an earlier deal expanding the fishing zone to nine nautical miles.
The most recent among these violations occurred on Sunday morning as the Israeli occupation navy arrested two fishermen in western Beit Lahia, to the north of the Gaza Strip, and confiscated their vessels after they opened fire on the fishing boats setting sail off Gaza shores.
Mezan identified the two fishermen as 23-year-old Ibrahim al-Sultan and 19-year-old Urans al-Sultan. The center quoted Uran’s father as stating that his son and relative were arrested moments after they threw their nets within 600 meters of Gaza’s waters. The Israeli navy boats chased them down and opened fire on the boats before they forced the two fishermen to take off their clothes and swim towards the Israeli gunboat. The two fishermen were forced to leave the area for fear of being killed while the occupation navy seized their boats.
The Mezan Center spoke up for Palestinians’ right to set sail across Gaza waters, adding that Palestinian fishermen have been the permanent target of Israeli attacks despite an earlier deal expanding the fishing zone to nine nautical miles.
