16 aug 2015
The Israeli occupation army on Sunday morning opened heavy machine gunfire at Palestinian farmers in the blockaded Gaza Strip, in a renewed violation of the ceasefire deal struck last summer.
A field observer working for the Quds Press said the Israeli occupation soldiers deployed at military sites and jeeps in eastern Rafah, to the south of Gaza, attacked Palestinian farmers and civilian homes with heavy spates of machine gunfire.
The Israeli army troops raked through the border fence while drones were hovering overheads, the same source further reported.
The attack is another chain in the series of Israeli violations of the Cairo-brokered ceasefire accord signed with Palestinian resistance factions on August 26.
An Israeli offensive on the blockaded Gaza Strip last summer took away the lives of at least 2,300 Palestinians, mostly civilian children and women, and left over 11,000 others wounded.
A field observer working for the Quds Press said the Israeli occupation soldiers deployed at military sites and jeeps in eastern Rafah, to the south of Gaza, attacked Palestinian farmers and civilian homes with heavy spates of machine gunfire.
The Israeli army troops raked through the border fence while drones were hovering overheads, the same source further reported.
The attack is another chain in the series of Israeli violations of the Cairo-brokered ceasefire accord signed with Palestinian resistance factions on August 26.
An Israeli offensive on the blockaded Gaza Strip last summer took away the lives of at least 2,300 Palestinians, mostly civilian children and women, and left over 11,000 others wounded.
IDF troops exercise on the Israeli-Syrian border
Military assessments foresee possible infiltration of terrorists with heavy weapons, rebel takeover of Druze village; IDF posts video documenting elimination of four Druze who laid explosives on border fence last April.
The IDF has already prepared plans to attack Syria in light of a recent military assessment that Iran has opened a new front against Israel on the Golan Heights.
Military exercises in the area over the last two weeks have focused primarily on a scenario of offensive operations inside Syrian territory in response to possible action from the Syrian border such as the infiltration of dozens of terrorists armed with anti-tank weapons, machine guns, grenades and light weapons into one of the communities along the border.
The exercises included possible IDF responses to such infiltrations with troops firing at fixed points on the Syrian side of the border. Simultaneously, officials expect a barrage of mortar bombs to be fired at communities in the Golan Heights during such a scenario.
Commanders in the field put theoretical defensive plans into action using aircraft and combat helicopters alongside tank-fire, artillery guns and even hundreds of reserve fighters who participated in the exercise.
The Northern Command estimates that despite the relative quiet on the Golan Heights, strategists suggest it is quite possible an errant jihadist organization pushed into a corner by Assad's army, or by competing organizations, could try to carry out an attack in Israel in order to draw it over the border, into Syria's civil war.
In light of this concern, the main jihadist organization in the Syrian Golan, Nusra Front, who hitherto has not fired a single shot toward Israel, may try to do so in the future.
Hezbollah – not only in Lebanon
The Northern Command does not believe the escalation will necessarily occur in the near future, but hope to be a few steps ahead in accordance with Northern Command Chief Aviv Kochavi’s new outlook. According to his perception, Hezbollah command's focus over the past decade has become broader and concerns not only Lebanon but also Syria, with emphasis on the terrorist organizations operating there.
The Syrian army now controls only two enclaves in the Golan Heights: the Quneitra area which leads to Damascus, in the center-north of the Heights and the Druze village Hader at the foot of Mount Hermon.
The remaining border areas are in the control of rebel groups, primarily Nusra Front, whereas Hezbollah militants are not operating near the border fence as most of them have left the Golan Heights in recent months to reinforce their postions on the Syria-Lebanon border, but hundreds still remain deep in the Golan Heights.
Regarding Islamic State, they have begun to move their focus from north and eastern Syria to the south during the past few months. They are still far from the border fence and are 70 kilometers from Israel in the Druze mountains.
With respect to the Druze, The Northern Command has drawn up plans to deal with a situation in which rebels try to occupy the Druze village of Hader. Many of the 12,000 inhabitants have relatives in Israeli Druze villages. The plans include Israel assistance and messages regarding these plans have already been sent to the various rebel groups.
New video shows elimination of terrorists on Israeli-Syrian border
Meanwhile, the IDF released new footage Sunday, depicting the precision bombing that killed four Druze who tried to plant explosive devices along the boarder fence dividing Israel and Syria.
On April 26, 2015, a little after 9pm, IDF soldiers in their observation post identified the four individuals approaching the border fence, equipped with backpacks which later proved to contain four explosive devices. They quickly sent troops to the scene fired at them. A combination of firepower and intelligence led to an accurate attack and elimination of the individuals within minutes of certain identification.
The four terrorists, Syrian Druze from the village of Hader, were eliminated when they tried to deploy the devices at three locations along the border fence, near Majdal Shams. The area represents one of the Assad regime’s last two remaining enclaves in the Syrian Golan. According to the IDF, Hezbollah and Iran took advantage of this in order to draft four of the Assad supporters, suppling them with explosive projectiles and sending them to the Israeli border.
The goal was to deliver a serious blow to the IDF's ground forces patrolling in the area.
Military assessments foresee possible infiltration of terrorists with heavy weapons, rebel takeover of Druze village; IDF posts video documenting elimination of four Druze who laid explosives on border fence last April.
The IDF has already prepared plans to attack Syria in light of a recent military assessment that Iran has opened a new front against Israel on the Golan Heights.
Military exercises in the area over the last two weeks have focused primarily on a scenario of offensive operations inside Syrian territory in response to possible action from the Syrian border such as the infiltration of dozens of terrorists armed with anti-tank weapons, machine guns, grenades and light weapons into one of the communities along the border.
The exercises included possible IDF responses to such infiltrations with troops firing at fixed points on the Syrian side of the border. Simultaneously, officials expect a barrage of mortar bombs to be fired at communities in the Golan Heights during such a scenario.
Commanders in the field put theoretical defensive plans into action using aircraft and combat helicopters alongside tank-fire, artillery guns and even hundreds of reserve fighters who participated in the exercise.
The Northern Command estimates that despite the relative quiet on the Golan Heights, strategists suggest it is quite possible an errant jihadist organization pushed into a corner by Assad's army, or by competing organizations, could try to carry out an attack in Israel in order to draw it over the border, into Syria's civil war.
In light of this concern, the main jihadist organization in the Syrian Golan, Nusra Front, who hitherto has not fired a single shot toward Israel, may try to do so in the future.
Hezbollah – not only in Lebanon
The Northern Command does not believe the escalation will necessarily occur in the near future, but hope to be a few steps ahead in accordance with Northern Command Chief Aviv Kochavi’s new outlook. According to his perception, Hezbollah command's focus over the past decade has become broader and concerns not only Lebanon but also Syria, with emphasis on the terrorist organizations operating there.
The Syrian army now controls only two enclaves in the Golan Heights: the Quneitra area which leads to Damascus, in the center-north of the Heights and the Druze village Hader at the foot of Mount Hermon.
The remaining border areas are in the control of rebel groups, primarily Nusra Front, whereas Hezbollah militants are not operating near the border fence as most of them have left the Golan Heights in recent months to reinforce their postions on the Syria-Lebanon border, but hundreds still remain deep in the Golan Heights.
Regarding Islamic State, they have begun to move their focus from north and eastern Syria to the south during the past few months. They are still far from the border fence and are 70 kilometers from Israel in the Druze mountains.
With respect to the Druze, The Northern Command has drawn up plans to deal with a situation in which rebels try to occupy the Druze village of Hader. Many of the 12,000 inhabitants have relatives in Israeli Druze villages. The plans include Israel assistance and messages regarding these plans have already been sent to the various rebel groups.
New video shows elimination of terrorists on Israeli-Syrian border
Meanwhile, the IDF released new footage Sunday, depicting the precision bombing that killed four Druze who tried to plant explosive devices along the boarder fence dividing Israel and Syria.
On April 26, 2015, a little after 9pm, IDF soldiers in their observation post identified the four individuals approaching the border fence, equipped with backpacks which later proved to contain four explosive devices. They quickly sent troops to the scene fired at them. A combination of firepower and intelligence led to an accurate attack and elimination of the individuals within minutes of certain identification.
The four terrorists, Syrian Druze from the village of Hader, were eliminated when they tried to deploy the devices at three locations along the border fence, near Majdal Shams. The area represents one of the Assad regime’s last two remaining enclaves in the Syrian Golan. According to the IDF, Hezbollah and Iran took advantage of this in order to draft four of the Assad supporters, suppling them with explosive projectiles and sending them to the Israeli border.
The goal was to deliver a serious blow to the IDF's ground forces patrolling in the area.
15 aug 2015
Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian and foreign activists on Friday during a memorial in the village of Susiya south of Hebron for 18-month-old Ali Dawabsha who was killed in an arson attack by Israeli settlers on July 30, a spokesperson from the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said.
No injuries were reported.
During the memorial, activists and local children were flying kites above a nearby illegal Israeli settlement when Israeli soldiers in the area responded with opening fire at the kite flyers, a PSCC spokesperson told Ma'an News Agency.
An Israeli army spokesperson did not immediately respond for comment.
Organizers said the memorial signified that the arson attack on the 18-month-old was just one piece of a series of crimes committed by the state of Israel and Israeli settlers across the Palestine territory.
Activities went on until late in the evening, as night-guard committees provided protection for residents and activists.
Head of PSCC Munther Amireh, said that the organized activities came under the committee's local and international campaign to support the resistance of villagers in Susiya against Israel and settlements.
Last month Israeli authorities ordered the demolition of around half of the homes in Susiya, sparking international outrage.
Susiya has been under imminent threat of demolition since May, when the Israeli High Court approved the demolition of the villagers' homes and tents and possible relocation of the villages around 300 Bedouin residents.
The court case has been ongoing since 2012, when residents of Susiya applied for the Israeli Civil Administration to approve an outline plan for northern part of the village.
Susiya villagers reportedly built homes in 1986 on agricultural land they owned, after being evicted by Israel from their previous dwellings on land declared as an archaeological site.
Situated in Area C, an area covering 60 percent of the West Bank which is under full Israeli control, villagers of Susiya must apply for construction permits from the Israeli Civil Administration.
In practice only a handful of Palestinian applications for construction or expansion on existing structures are approved, with only six percent of Palestinian building permit requests granted by Israel between 2000 and 2012.
Unable to get "legal" permission, Palestinians are faced with either leaving or building illegally. Israel currently refuses to recognize 35 Bedouin villages in the Negev, which collectively house nearly 90,000 people.
No injuries were reported.
During the memorial, activists and local children were flying kites above a nearby illegal Israeli settlement when Israeli soldiers in the area responded with opening fire at the kite flyers, a PSCC spokesperson told Ma'an News Agency.
An Israeli army spokesperson did not immediately respond for comment.
Organizers said the memorial signified that the arson attack on the 18-month-old was just one piece of a series of crimes committed by the state of Israel and Israeli settlers across the Palestine territory.
Activities went on until late in the evening, as night-guard committees provided protection for residents and activists.
Head of PSCC Munther Amireh, said that the organized activities came under the committee's local and international campaign to support the resistance of villagers in Susiya against Israel and settlements.
Last month Israeli authorities ordered the demolition of around half of the homes in Susiya, sparking international outrage.
Susiya has been under imminent threat of demolition since May, when the Israeli High Court approved the demolition of the villagers' homes and tents and possible relocation of the villages around 300 Bedouin residents.
The court case has been ongoing since 2012, when residents of Susiya applied for the Israeli Civil Administration to approve an outline plan for northern part of the village.
Susiya villagers reportedly built homes in 1986 on agricultural land they owned, after being evicted by Israel from their previous dwellings on land declared as an archaeological site.
Situated in Area C, an area covering 60 percent of the West Bank which is under full Israeli control, villagers of Susiya must apply for construction permits from the Israeli Civil Administration.
In practice only a handful of Palestinian applications for construction or expansion on existing structures are approved, with only six percent of Palestinian building permit requests granted by Israel between 2000 and 2012.
Unable to get "legal" permission, Palestinians are faced with either leaving or building illegally. Israel currently refuses to recognize 35 Bedouin villages in the Negev, which collectively house nearly 90,000 people.
Israeli soldiers at noon Saturday attacked Palestinian citizens during a sit-in staged in Nablus' southern town of Hawara to show solidarity with captive Muhammad Allan who has been on a hunger strike for 60 days.
The PIC reporter said that scores of Palestinian citizens organized a sit-in close to a mosque in Hawara town where Israeli patrols were stationed.
The Israeli soldiers tried to forcibly disperse the sit-in by beating up a number of the demonstrators.
The participants raised photos of the hunger striker and chanted slogans calling for his release.
The PIC reporter said that scores of Palestinian citizens organized a sit-in close to a mosque in Hawara town where Israeli patrols were stationed.
The Israeli soldiers tried to forcibly disperse the sit-in by beating up a number of the demonstrators.
The participants raised photos of the hunger striker and chanted slogans calling for his release.
Suspect shot by soldiers and is now receiving treatment at the scene, his condition unknown; earlier this week, another Israeli was stabbed not far from the scene of Saturday's attack.
A Palestinian terrorist stabbed a soldier at a checkpoint Route 443 near Beit Horon in the West Bank on Saturday, not far from where another Israeli was stabbed on Sunday, the IDF said.
The terrorist was shot by other soldiers at the checkpoint and arrested. He was receiving treatment at the scene, but his condition is not currently known.
The soldier, who was lightly wounded in his hand, was also being treated at the scene.
Israeli security forces closed off the area following the attack.
Youth shot and wounded after attacking soldier
A Palestinian young man was shot and injured after he attacked an Israeli soldier with a knife at the Ofer military road barrier west of Ramallah city afternoon Saturday.
Hebrew media reported that the young man was arrested after he was shot at, and identified him as Mohammed Nassim from Beit Anan village in occupied Jerusalem.
The media report would not specify the condition of the wounded soldier, but added that military reinforcements were sent to the scene and closed off the entire area.
For its part, a Hebrew website said that the soldier was only slightly wounded and was treated on the field.
The Palestinian youth approached the soldiers at the roadblock and asked for water then drew a knife and attacked one of them, according to the website.
The attack is the last in a series of “lone-wolf” attacks carried out by Palestinian young men in the West Bank against Israeli soldiers and settlers in retaliation to the escalating settlers’ attacks on citizens, the most brutal of which was burning a Palestinian baby alive in Duma village in Nablus. The baby’s father died a few days later while his mother and little brother are still in intensive care due to the severe burns suffered in the arson attack on their home.
A Palestinian terrorist stabbed a soldier at a checkpoint Route 443 near Beit Horon in the West Bank on Saturday, not far from where another Israeli was stabbed on Sunday, the IDF said.
The terrorist was shot by other soldiers at the checkpoint and arrested. He was receiving treatment at the scene, but his condition is not currently known.
The soldier, who was lightly wounded in his hand, was also being treated at the scene.
Israeli security forces closed off the area following the attack.
Youth shot and wounded after attacking soldier
A Palestinian young man was shot and injured after he attacked an Israeli soldier with a knife at the Ofer military road barrier west of Ramallah city afternoon Saturday.
Hebrew media reported that the young man was arrested after he was shot at, and identified him as Mohammed Nassim from Beit Anan village in occupied Jerusalem.
The media report would not specify the condition of the wounded soldier, but added that military reinforcements were sent to the scene and closed off the entire area.
For its part, a Hebrew website said that the soldier was only slightly wounded and was treated on the field.
The Palestinian youth approached the soldiers at the roadblock and asked for water then drew a knife and attacked one of them, according to the website.
The attack is the last in a series of “lone-wolf” attacks carried out by Palestinian young men in the West Bank against Israeli soldiers and settlers in retaliation to the escalating settlers’ attacks on citizens, the most brutal of which was burning a Palestinian baby alive in Duma village in Nablus. The baby’s father died a few days later while his mother and little brother are still in intensive care due to the severe burns suffered in the arson attack on their home.
14 aug 2015
The occupation forces attacked a group of children while walking in “Maragha” neighborhood in Silwan.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the occupation forces attacked the 9-year old Qassam Eyad Al-A’war, 5-year old Mohammad Kamal Al-A’war and the 7-year old Mohammad Ahmad Al-A’war while they were heading home from summer camp.
Eyad Al-A’war, Qassam’s father, explained that he was on the roof of his house and heard the sound of a sound grenade and children screaming. He managed to get to the area where the occupation forces were surrounding the three children under the pretext of “throwing stones towards a settler”; the forces fired a sound grenade towards the children and pushed them to the ground.
Al-A’war added that verbal altercations broke out between him and the occupation forces who were forced to withdraw from the area. The forces came afterwards to his house and checked his ID and asked about his son Qassam.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the occupation forces attacked the 9-year old Qassam Eyad Al-A’war, 5-year old Mohammad Kamal Al-A’war and the 7-year old Mohammad Ahmad Al-A’war while they were heading home from summer camp.
Eyad Al-A’war, Qassam’s father, explained that he was on the roof of his house and heard the sound of a sound grenade and children screaming. He managed to get to the area where the occupation forces were surrounding the three children under the pretext of “throwing stones towards a settler”; the forces fired a sound grenade towards the children and pushed them to the ground.
Al-A’war added that verbal altercations broke out between him and the occupation forces who were forced to withdraw from the area. The forces came afterwards to his house and checked his ID and asked about his son Qassam.
Dozens of Palestinians suffered severe tear-gas inhalation on Friday as Israeli forces suppressed weekly Friday marches across the occupied West Bank, local sources said.
Murad Ishteiwi, coordinator of a local popular committee in the town of Kufr Qaddum near Qalqilya said that clashes broke out in the village after Israeli forces attacked the march minutes after it set off.
Israeli forces had set up a military checkpoint at the village’s entrance earlier in the day and declared the town a closed military zone, preventing people from entering. The march in Kufr Qaddum is held regularly in protest of the Jewish-only Qadumim settlement built on what villagers say is their land, as well as against a blockade of the village’s main street that has been closed by Israeli forces for 13 years.
This week hundreds of locals marched carrying pictures of 18-month-old Ali Dawabsha and his father Saad who were killed in an arson attack carried out by extremist Israeli settlers late last month. Protesters in the village of Bilin, west of Ramallah, held Palestinian flags and signs condemning Israeli violations, coordinator of a local popular committee Abdullah Abu Rahmeh told Ma'an.
The group demanded protection for children in addition support for prisoners, particularly Muhammad Allan who's health has seriously deteriorated after 60 days of hunger strike, Abu Rahmeh added.
In addition to dozens who suffered from tear-gas inhalation at the marches -- including children and foreign activists -- Israeli forces reportedly used live fire, tear-gas bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets. Protesters reported that Israeli forces used a drone to film those marching.
Israeli forces also sprayed skunk-water, a foul-smelling liquid often used to disperse protesters, at both Bilin and Kufr Qaddum protests. Many villages in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem participate in weekly Friday protests, including the villages of Billin, Nabi Saleh, Nillin, and al-Masara.
Israeli forces have received criticism for excessive use force as well as lethal methods of crowd control that often result in death or injury of protestors.
Murad Ishteiwi, coordinator of a local popular committee in the town of Kufr Qaddum near Qalqilya said that clashes broke out in the village after Israeli forces attacked the march minutes after it set off.
Israeli forces had set up a military checkpoint at the village’s entrance earlier in the day and declared the town a closed military zone, preventing people from entering. The march in Kufr Qaddum is held regularly in protest of the Jewish-only Qadumim settlement built on what villagers say is their land, as well as against a blockade of the village’s main street that has been closed by Israeli forces for 13 years.
This week hundreds of locals marched carrying pictures of 18-month-old Ali Dawabsha and his father Saad who were killed in an arson attack carried out by extremist Israeli settlers late last month. Protesters in the village of Bilin, west of Ramallah, held Palestinian flags and signs condemning Israeli violations, coordinator of a local popular committee Abdullah Abu Rahmeh told Ma'an.
The group demanded protection for children in addition support for prisoners, particularly Muhammad Allan who's health has seriously deteriorated after 60 days of hunger strike, Abu Rahmeh added.
In addition to dozens who suffered from tear-gas inhalation at the marches -- including children and foreign activists -- Israeli forces reportedly used live fire, tear-gas bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets. Protesters reported that Israeli forces used a drone to film those marching.
Israeli forces also sprayed skunk-water, a foul-smelling liquid often used to disperse protesters, at both Bilin and Kufr Qaddum protests. Many villages in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem participate in weekly Friday protests, including the villages of Billin, Nabi Saleh, Nillin, and al-Masara.
Israeli forces have received criticism for excessive use force as well as lethal methods of crowd control that often result in death or injury of protestors.
A round of violent clashes broke out at dawn Friday after the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rolled into the Jenin refugee camp, in the northern West Bank.
Local sources said the Israeli occupation troops attacked a group of Palestinian unarmed youths with random spates of gunfire, tear gas canisters, and stun grenades.
The IOF also stormed an automobile repair shop owned by the Palestinian citizen Mussa al-Badawi and seized a vehicle.
A number of Palestinian civilians were aggressively attacked in the process.
The IOF further moved into the nearby Wad Burkin area, where an army troop was deployed for long whiles.
Local sources said the Israeli occupation troops attacked a group of Palestinian unarmed youths with random spates of gunfire, tear gas canisters, and stun grenades.
The IOF also stormed an automobile repair shop owned by the Palestinian citizen Mussa al-Badawi and seized a vehicle.
A number of Palestinian civilians were aggressively attacked in the process.
The IOF further moved into the nearby Wad Burkin area, where an army troop was deployed for long whiles.
13 aug 2015
Israeli forces abducted at least 12 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, overnight on Wednesday, according to local reports.
Two of the Palestinians were taken in the Jordan Valley, two close to Ramallah, two near Bethlehem, and one in southwest Jenin,an Israeli military spokesperson said.
Israeli forces also detained two men from villages near Hebron. The two men have been identified as Ismail Youssef Tmeizi, 35, from Ithna and Mushir Abd al-Qader al-Shahatit, 29, from the Kharsa village in Dura.
The men were detained after Israeli forces raided and searched their homes, locals said.
Additionally, Israeli forces stormed several neighborhoods and detained three young Palestinians in the southern West Bank town of Beit Ummar north of Hebron, a local spokesman told Ma'an News Agency.
Muhammad Ayyad Awad from the town’s popular committee identified the teens as 19-year-old Ammar Sadim Sleibi, 17-year-old Muataz Muhammad Abu Mariya, and 18-year-old Muhammad Shihdah Sleibi.
According to Awad, Israeli troops used police dogs during the detention raids. He added that the soldiers assaulted the detainees and “damaged doors and furniture in their homes.”
The abductions come just one day after Israeli forces took into their custody three teenagers from Beit Ummar. A total of 17 Palestinians have been arrested in the town since the beginning of August.
Three other Palestinians were taken close the city of Nablus, overnight Tuesday.
Israeli forces regularly detain Palestinians throughout the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, often on the pretext of alleged "security threats".
Palestinian watchdog Addameer estimates that 40 percent of the Palestinian male population has been detained at some point in their lives.
Israeli soldiers also raided the al-Basha Bakery area of the Ad-Doha, west of the city, sparking clashes with locals, WAFA additionally reports.
Forces fired tear gas canisters, stun grenades and live bullets, injuring two Palestinian locals in their thighs. The two injured locals were admitted into a Beit Jala hospital for immediate medical treatment.
Two of the Palestinians were taken in the Jordan Valley, two close to Ramallah, two near Bethlehem, and one in southwest Jenin,an Israeli military spokesperson said.
Israeli forces also detained two men from villages near Hebron. The two men have been identified as Ismail Youssef Tmeizi, 35, from Ithna and Mushir Abd al-Qader al-Shahatit, 29, from the Kharsa village in Dura.
The men were detained after Israeli forces raided and searched their homes, locals said.
Additionally, Israeli forces stormed several neighborhoods and detained three young Palestinians in the southern West Bank town of Beit Ummar north of Hebron, a local spokesman told Ma'an News Agency.
Muhammad Ayyad Awad from the town’s popular committee identified the teens as 19-year-old Ammar Sadim Sleibi, 17-year-old Muataz Muhammad Abu Mariya, and 18-year-old Muhammad Shihdah Sleibi.
According to Awad, Israeli troops used police dogs during the detention raids. He added that the soldiers assaulted the detainees and “damaged doors and furniture in their homes.”
The abductions come just one day after Israeli forces took into their custody three teenagers from Beit Ummar. A total of 17 Palestinians have been arrested in the town since the beginning of August.
Three other Palestinians were taken close the city of Nablus, overnight Tuesday.
Israeli forces regularly detain Palestinians throughout the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, often on the pretext of alleged "security threats".
Palestinian watchdog Addameer estimates that 40 percent of the Palestinian male population has been detained at some point in their lives.
Israeli soldiers also raided the al-Basha Bakery area of the Ad-Doha, west of the city, sparking clashes with locals, WAFA additionally reports.
Forces fired tear gas canisters, stun grenades and live bullets, injuring two Palestinian locals in their thighs. The two injured locals were admitted into a Beit Jala hospital for immediate medical treatment.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Thursday rounded up four Palestinian youngsters from the southern West Bank province of al-Khalil and four others from Jerusalem’s al-Issawiya neighborhood.
Local sources said the IOF soldiers rolled into Dura town, in al-Khalil, in three army jeeps and wreaked havoc on civilians' homes shortly before they kidnapped the ex-prisoner Mushir al-Shahatit from his family home and dragged him to an unknown destination.
The IOF pitched a makeshift roadblock near Beit Awa, southwest of al-Khalil, and another near the main entrance to the Fawar refugee camp, where Palestinians’ IDs and vehicles were meticulously inspected.
The IOF further kidnapped three Palestinian youngsters during an abrupt raid on al-Khalil’s northern town of Beit Ummar, activist Mohamed Awad said.
He added that the IOF troops attacked the Palestinian young protesters with heavy spates of rubber bullets during the clashes that broke out during the raid.
The IOF reportedly kidnapped six Palestinians from Beit Ummar in no more than a 24 hours’ time.
Four more Palestinian youths were apprehended by the IOF in Occupied Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said the Israeli army troops stormed al-Issawiya town at the crack of dawn and ravaged civilian homes before they ultimately abducted the youngsters.
Random volleys of tear gas canisters and stun grenades were randomly unleashed by the IOF troops to disband the non-violent Palestinian protesters.
The campaign culminated in the abduction of the Palestinian young man Lafi Abu Latifa from the Qalandiya refugee camp.
Local sources said the IOF soldiers rolled into Dura town, in al-Khalil, in three army jeeps and wreaked havoc on civilians' homes shortly before they kidnapped the ex-prisoner Mushir al-Shahatit from his family home and dragged him to an unknown destination.
The IOF pitched a makeshift roadblock near Beit Awa, southwest of al-Khalil, and another near the main entrance to the Fawar refugee camp, where Palestinians’ IDs and vehicles were meticulously inspected.
The IOF further kidnapped three Palestinian youngsters during an abrupt raid on al-Khalil’s northern town of Beit Ummar, activist Mohamed Awad said.
He added that the IOF troops attacked the Palestinian young protesters with heavy spates of rubber bullets during the clashes that broke out during the raid.
The IOF reportedly kidnapped six Palestinians from Beit Ummar in no more than a 24 hours’ time.
Four more Palestinian youths were apprehended by the IOF in Occupied Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said the Israeli army troops stormed al-Issawiya town at the crack of dawn and ravaged civilian homes before they ultimately abducted the youngsters.
Random volleys of tear gas canisters and stun grenades were randomly unleashed by the IOF troops to disband the non-violent Palestinian protesters.
The campaign culminated in the abduction of the Palestinian young man Lafi Abu Latifa from the Qalandiya refugee camp.
Fences around Gaza-adjacent communities can now automatically detect possible infiltrations and instantly alert troops, as concerns rise over Hamas attack tunnels; drill checks effectiveness.
Israel has installed new "smart" fences around Gaza-adjacent communities in the wake of Operation Protective Edge, featuring the ability to recognize suspicious activity and send troops to the scene in seconds.
Reports have surfaced in recent days, both from Israeli and Palestinian sources, that Hamas has accelerated its construction of hidden attack tunnels. On Tuesday, Ibrahim Adel Shehadeh Shaer, a Hamas operative in Israeli custody, told the Shin Bet of the organization's plans to use tunnels in a future conflict. Hamas also claimed on Wednesday that it had captured an Israeli drone and made it operational.
Gaza-adjacent communities have been preparing for another round of escalation. Since the end of last year's conflict, residents received a new "protection package" suited to the threats they faced during Operation Protective Edge.
New smart fences have been built and made operational around communities that lacked them. The smart fence permits immediate detection of infiltrations, triggering deployment of the community's security coordinator and military units stationed in the area.
Eyal Hajbi, chief security officer for Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, observed the fence construction over the last few weeks. "Currently all the fences surrounding the communities have been upgraded, and lighting and technological measures have been installed to complete the defenses," he said.
"This was a mission we worked on in cooperation with the Home Front Command and the Southern Command," added Hajbi. "It's a project in which a large amount of funds was invested, and all parties banded together in order to advance it and reach the point we're at now."
Israel has installed new "smart" fences around Gaza-adjacent communities in the wake of Operation Protective Edge, featuring the ability to recognize suspicious activity and send troops to the scene in seconds.
Reports have surfaced in recent days, both from Israeli and Palestinian sources, that Hamas has accelerated its construction of hidden attack tunnels. On Tuesday, Ibrahim Adel Shehadeh Shaer, a Hamas operative in Israeli custody, told the Shin Bet of the organization's plans to use tunnels in a future conflict. Hamas also claimed on Wednesday that it had captured an Israeli drone and made it operational.
Gaza-adjacent communities have been preparing for another round of escalation. Since the end of last year's conflict, residents received a new "protection package" suited to the threats they faced during Operation Protective Edge.
New smart fences have been built and made operational around communities that lacked them. The smart fence permits immediate detection of infiltrations, triggering deployment of the community's security coordinator and military units stationed in the area.
Eyal Hajbi, chief security officer for Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, observed the fence construction over the last few weeks. "Currently all the fences surrounding the communities have been upgraded, and lighting and technological measures have been installed to complete the defenses," he said.
"This was a mission we worked on in cooperation with the Home Front Command and the Southern Command," added Hajbi. "It's a project in which a large amount of funds was invested, and all parties banded together in order to advance it and reach the point we're at now."
12 aug 2015
The occupation forces along with a settler assaulted a Christian young man and severely beat him near Al-Silsileh Gate. The settler pushed the young man and a group of Special Forces immediately arrived and assaulted the young man causing him to lose consciousness; he was carried and transferred to Al-Silsileh gate police station.
For the second consecutive day, the occupation police prevented a group of women from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque and arrested two young men and transferred them to Al-Silsileh gate police station.
Witnesses said that the occupation police stationed at Al-Aqsa Gates prevented 15 women from entering Al-Aqsa for no reason; note that they had a list of names for females banned from entering Al-Aqsa but the duration or reason were not classified.
In a related matter, the occupation police arrested the young man Tamer Shala’ta.
For the second consecutive day, the occupation police prevented a group of women from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque and arrested two young men and transferred them to Al-Silsileh gate police station.
Witnesses said that the occupation police stationed at Al-Aqsa Gates prevented 15 women from entering Al-Aqsa for no reason; note that they had a list of names for females banned from entering Al-Aqsa but the duration or reason were not classified.
In a related matter, the occupation police arrested the young man Tamer Shala’ta.
Two Palestinians were injured Wednesday morning at the hands of Jewish settlers and Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF).
Local sources said that a group of Jewish settlers assaulted a Palestinian worker called Loai al-Bakri during his presence at his work place in north of Occupied Jerusalem. He was beaten severely leading to wounds in his head and face.
The sources added that the settlers attempted to abduct the Palestinian worker, but had to flee when a group of Palestinian workers confronted them. The injured worker was taken to hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers at dawn Wednesday severely beat up a Palestinian youth from al-Khalil city after storming his house.
The IOF soldiers stormed Palestinian houses and searched them thoroughly in the city. The IOF soldiers attacked the young man Ahmad Farajallah in the process. Meanwhile, the ex-detainee Nasim al-Qawasmeh was arrested, local sources revealed.
The IOF soldiers blew up doors of Palestinian houses during the raids, the sources pointed out.
Local sources said that a group of Jewish settlers assaulted a Palestinian worker called Loai al-Bakri during his presence at his work place in north of Occupied Jerusalem. He was beaten severely leading to wounds in his head and face.
The sources added that the settlers attempted to abduct the Palestinian worker, but had to flee when a group of Palestinian workers confronted them. The injured worker was taken to hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers at dawn Wednesday severely beat up a Palestinian youth from al-Khalil city after storming his house.
The IOF soldiers stormed Palestinian houses and searched them thoroughly in the city. The IOF soldiers attacked the young man Ahmad Farajallah in the process. Meanwhile, the ex-detainee Nasim al-Qawasmeh was arrested, local sources revealed.
The IOF soldiers blew up doors of Palestinian houses during the raids, the sources pointed out.
Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Gaza City early Wednesday, witnesses said.
The fishermen said that they came under fire as they were sailing off the coast of Sudaniyya in northwestern Gaza City. No injuries were reported, but some of the boats were hit with gunshots, causing the fishermen to return to shore.
Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinian fisherman and farmers since the ceasefire agreement signed Aug. 26, 2014 that ended a devastating 50-day Israeli military offensive against the Gaza Strip.
In many cases there were casualties. The attacks come despite Israeli promises at the end of the ceasefire to ease restrictions on Palestinian access to both the sea and the border region near the "security buffer zone."
Palestinian fishermen face daily risks in order to make a living, including routine harassment from Israeli naval forces, confiscation of boats and materials, detention, and potentially death.
At least three Palestinian fishermen have been shot dead by Israeli forces since last September. Israeli forces often allege that fishermen deviate from the designated fishing zone and pose a security threat.
Israel promised last year to extend the fishing zone to six nautical miles as part of the ceasefire that ended last summer's devastating Gaza war. However, the zone's exact limits remain ambiguous and rights groups say Israeli authorities have not respected the agreement.
The fishermen said that they came under fire as they were sailing off the coast of Sudaniyya in northwestern Gaza City. No injuries were reported, but some of the boats were hit with gunshots, causing the fishermen to return to shore.
Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinian fisherman and farmers since the ceasefire agreement signed Aug. 26, 2014 that ended a devastating 50-day Israeli military offensive against the Gaza Strip.
In many cases there were casualties. The attacks come despite Israeli promises at the end of the ceasefire to ease restrictions on Palestinian access to both the sea and the border region near the "security buffer zone."
Palestinian fishermen face daily risks in order to make a living, including routine harassment from Israeli naval forces, confiscation of boats and materials, detention, and potentially death.
At least three Palestinian fishermen have been shot dead by Israeli forces since last September. Israeli forces often allege that fishermen deviate from the designated fishing zone and pose a security threat.
Israel promised last year to extend the fishing zone to six nautical miles as part of the ceasefire that ended last summer's devastating Gaza war. However, the zone's exact limits remain ambiguous and rights groups say Israeli authorities have not respected the agreement.
