3 june 2015
Video
Palestinians, on Wednesday afternoon, protested the start of the Lights in Jerusalem festival, in the Damascus Gate area of the Old City, onlookers said.
A Ma'an reporter said that activists organized the event in response to the Israeli "Judization festival," which starts on Wednesday and ends on Saturday, June 11.
Israeli forces surrounded the activists in the Palestinian event and tried to stop all cultural and sport activities they were holding by threatening them and confiscating the speakers they used.
Israeli forces detained several participants and assaulted others.
Israeli forces also fired stun grenades and chased down participants including women and children in an attempt to clear out the area and allow the light festival to begin.
Soldiers Kidnap Three Palestinians Protesting “Jerusalem Light Festival”
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Wednesday evening, at least three Palestinians, participating in procession against the provocative Israeli march, on the sidelines of the so-called “Jerusalem Lights Festival,” that was organized by several Israeli government facilities and settlers’ groups.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that the soldiers fired concussion grenades at the Palestinians, and violently assaulted several young men, women and children, before kidnapping at least three.
Two of the kidnapped have been identified as the head of the Fateh Youth Group in Jerusalem Ahmad al-Ghoul, and Samer Abu ‘Aisha.
The Palestinians marched in the “Jerusalem Is Ours” possession carrying flags, and chanting slogans for the liberation of Palestine, and Jerusalem, while one protester managed to raise the Palestinian flag on the wall of Bab al-‘Amoud before the soldiers assaulted him, causing carious cuts and bruises.
The protesters also played the Palestinian national anthem and revolutionary songs, to counter the provocative Israeli procession in the occupied city.
Soldiers also fired gas bombs at the protesters causing scores to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation, while many suffered cuts and bruises after being chased, and assaulted, by the army.
The soldiers allowed Israeli groups and settlement organizations to march provocatively in Jerusalem, as part of the Lights Festival, carrying dozens of Israeli flags and chanting provocative slogans, especially in the occupied Old Jerusalem.
Palestinians, on Wednesday afternoon, protested the start of the Lights in Jerusalem festival, in the Damascus Gate area of the Old City, onlookers said.
A Ma'an reporter said that activists organized the event in response to the Israeli "Judization festival," which starts on Wednesday and ends on Saturday, June 11.
Israeli forces surrounded the activists in the Palestinian event and tried to stop all cultural and sport activities they were holding by threatening them and confiscating the speakers they used.
Israeli forces detained several participants and assaulted others.
Israeli forces also fired stun grenades and chased down participants including women and children in an attempt to clear out the area and allow the light festival to begin.
Soldiers Kidnap Three Palestinians Protesting “Jerusalem Light Festival”
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Wednesday evening, at least three Palestinians, participating in procession against the provocative Israeli march, on the sidelines of the so-called “Jerusalem Lights Festival,” that was organized by several Israeli government facilities and settlers’ groups.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that the soldiers fired concussion grenades at the Palestinians, and violently assaulted several young men, women and children, before kidnapping at least three.
Two of the kidnapped have been identified as the head of the Fateh Youth Group in Jerusalem Ahmad al-Ghoul, and Samer Abu ‘Aisha.
The Palestinians marched in the “Jerusalem Is Ours” possession carrying flags, and chanting slogans for the liberation of Palestine, and Jerusalem, while one protester managed to raise the Palestinian flag on the wall of Bab al-‘Amoud before the soldiers assaulted him, causing carious cuts and bruises.
The protesters also played the Palestinian national anthem and revolutionary songs, to counter the provocative Israeli procession in the occupied city.
Soldiers also fired gas bombs at the protesters causing scores to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation, while many suffered cuts and bruises after being chased, and assaulted, by the army.
The soldiers allowed Israeli groups and settlement organizations to march provocatively in Jerusalem, as part of the Lights Festival, carrying dozens of Israeli flags and chanting provocative slogans, especially in the occupied Old Jerusalem.
Israeli soldiers invaded, Wednesday, dozens of Palestinian communities in different parts of the occupied West Bank, searched and ransacked homes, and kidnapped at least thirteen Palestinians.
Media spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, Mohammad Awad, said several Israeli military vehicles invaded Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and kidnapped two Palestinians, after violently searching their homes.
The two, Bilal Mahmoud Awad, 19, and Mohammad Hussein Za’aqeeq, 21, are former political prisoners; the soldiers also searched several nearby homes, causing property damage.
Clashes took place between the invading soldiers and dozens of local youths, while many Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers also fired gas bombs at a number of homes in the town, causing families to suffer effects of tear gas inhalation.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded the home of Taiseer an-Nastsha, and violently searched it, causing property damage, and confiscated some amounts of cash. Taiseer is the father of Ma’moun an-Nastsha, who was killed by the army in 2010.
Similar invasions targeted Yatta town, south of Hebron, in addition to Tarqoumia and Beit Awwa towns, southwest of the city, leading to the abduction of two Palestinians, identified as Yousef Omar Sweity and Walid Ahmad Abu Turki.
In addition, the army invaded various communities in the northern West Bank district of Nablus, searched and ransacked homes, and kidnapped three Palestinians.
The three have been identified as Mahmoud Abdul-Qader Jouda, from Iraq al-Tayeh village, ‘Ala Husam Daoud Samara, from Beit Omreen village, and Mo’tasem Ghassan Ahmad ‘Antari, 20, from Deir Sharaf village. ‘Antari is a student of the Najah National University in Nablus.
Soldiers also invaded Beit Rameen village, north of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, and kidnapped Jamal Jamil Barham, 54, the head of the Arabic Studies Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and a senior political leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
His wife, Amira Barham, said a large military force stormed their home after surrounding it, conducted extensive and violent searches, and smashed a computer belonging to her college student son.
She added that the soldiers detained her in one room, guarded by two soldiers, and interrogated her husband and children in another room.
It is worth mentioning that the army also said it arrested two Palestinians in the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, and two in Abu Dis town, in occupied East Jerusalem.
On Tuesday evening, soldiers kidnapped Ahmad Jamal al-Hour, from Hebron; he was kidnapped in the Etzion military base after receiving an order for interrogation, just a few hours after the soldiers abducted his brother Taqieddin.
Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli navy ships attacked Palestinian fishing boats in Gaza waters, kidnapped five fishers, while the soldiers carried out a limited invasion into southern Gaza, and opened fire on local farmers, moderately wounding one Palestinian.
Media spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, Mohammad Awad, said several Israeli military vehicles invaded Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and kidnapped two Palestinians, after violently searching their homes.
The two, Bilal Mahmoud Awad, 19, and Mohammad Hussein Za’aqeeq, 21, are former political prisoners; the soldiers also searched several nearby homes, causing property damage.
Clashes took place between the invading soldiers and dozens of local youths, while many Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers also fired gas bombs at a number of homes in the town, causing families to suffer effects of tear gas inhalation.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded the home of Taiseer an-Nastsha, and violently searched it, causing property damage, and confiscated some amounts of cash. Taiseer is the father of Ma’moun an-Nastsha, who was killed by the army in 2010.
Similar invasions targeted Yatta town, south of Hebron, in addition to Tarqoumia and Beit Awwa towns, southwest of the city, leading to the abduction of two Palestinians, identified as Yousef Omar Sweity and Walid Ahmad Abu Turki.
In addition, the army invaded various communities in the northern West Bank district of Nablus, searched and ransacked homes, and kidnapped three Palestinians.
The three have been identified as Mahmoud Abdul-Qader Jouda, from Iraq al-Tayeh village, ‘Ala Husam Daoud Samara, from Beit Omreen village, and Mo’tasem Ghassan Ahmad ‘Antari, 20, from Deir Sharaf village. ‘Antari is a student of the Najah National University in Nablus.
Soldiers also invaded Beit Rameen village, north of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, and kidnapped Jamal Jamil Barham, 54, the head of the Arabic Studies Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and a senior political leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
His wife, Amira Barham, said a large military force stormed their home after surrounding it, conducted extensive and violent searches, and smashed a computer belonging to her college student son.
She added that the soldiers detained her in one room, guarded by two soldiers, and interrogated her husband and children in another room.
It is worth mentioning that the army also said it arrested two Palestinians in the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, and two in Abu Dis town, in occupied East Jerusalem.
On Tuesday evening, soldiers kidnapped Ahmad Jamal al-Hour, from Hebron; he was kidnapped in the Etzion military base after receiving an order for interrogation, just a few hours after the soldiers abducted his brother Taqieddin.
Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli navy ships attacked Palestinian fishing boats in Gaza waters, kidnapped five fishers, while the soldiers carried out a limited invasion into southern Gaza, and opened fire on local farmers, moderately wounding one Palestinian.
Israeli navy ships attacked, Wednesday, several Palestinian fishing boats in Gaza territorial waters, and kidnapped five fishers. Israeli army vehicles carried out a limited invasion into southern Gaza, opened fire moderately wounding one Palestinian.
Eyewitnesses said the navy ships fired rounds of live ammunition on Palestinian fishing boats, and surrounded them before kidnapping five fishers.
The kidnapped Palestinians have been identified as Haitham Tareq Abu Bakr, Mohammad Tareq Abu Bakr, Hasan Mahmoud Abu Sam'aan, Hasan Abdul-Rahman Abu Sam'aan and Mohammad Ali Morad.
They were forced into a navy ship, and were taken to an unknown destination.
Also on Wednesday, soldiers opened fire on a number of Palestinian farmers in their own lands, east of Khuza’a town, east of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis.
Medical sources said one Palestinian suffered a moderate injury, and was moved to a nearby hospital.
In addition several armored military vehicles carried out a limited invasion into Rafah.
Eyewitnesses said the navy ships fired rounds of live ammunition on Palestinian fishing boats, and surrounded them before kidnapping five fishers.
The kidnapped Palestinians have been identified as Haitham Tareq Abu Bakr, Mohammad Tareq Abu Bakr, Hasan Mahmoud Abu Sam'aan, Hasan Abdul-Rahman Abu Sam'aan and Mohammad Ali Morad.
They were forced into a navy ship, and were taken to an unknown destination.
Also on Wednesday, soldiers opened fire on a number of Palestinian farmers in their own lands, east of Khuza’a town, east of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis.
Medical sources said one Palestinian suffered a moderate injury, and was moved to a nearby hospital.
In addition several armored military vehicles carried out a limited invasion into Rafah.
Israeli soldiers opened fire, on Wednesday morning, on a number of Palestinian farmers in their own lands, east of Khuza’a town, east of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, moderately wounding one. A number of army vehicles also carried out a limited invasion into Rafah.
Medical sources said Farid Mohammad Najjar, 23 years of age, was shot in his leg, and was moved to a hospital in Khan Younis suffering a moderate, but stable, injury.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition into Palestinian agricultural lands, forcing the farmers to leave.
In addition, several armored Israeli military vehicles carried out a limited invasion into Rafah, in the southern part of the coastal region.
Locals said four military bulldozers, and a number of army vehicles, left the military base east of Rafah, and invaded Palestinian lands across the border fence.
The army, and the navy, conduct daily violations and assaults against the Palestinians in different parts of the besieged and impoverished Gaza Strip, increasing the suffering of the residents of the war-torn region.
Medical sources said Farid Mohammad Najjar, 23 years of age, was shot in his leg, and was moved to a hospital in Khan Younis suffering a moderate, but stable, injury.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition into Palestinian agricultural lands, forcing the farmers to leave.
In addition, several armored Israeli military vehicles carried out a limited invasion into Rafah, in the southern part of the coastal region.
Locals said four military bulldozers, and a number of army vehicles, left the military base east of Rafah, and invaded Palestinian lands across the border fence.
The army, and the navy, conduct daily violations and assaults against the Palestinians in different parts of the besieged and impoverished Gaza Strip, increasing the suffering of the residents of the war-torn region.
2 june 2015
Palestinian family members, including a 70-year-old elderly woman, were attacked at dawn Tuesday by Israeli occupation officers who rolled into Jerusalem’s town of Silwan and reduced two homes of the family’s own to rubble under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
Eye-witnesses said Israeli occupation policemen, escorted by army bulldozers, suddenly showed up in Wadi Helwa neighborhood, in Silwan, and broke into Abu Khaled’s family home at 4.30 a.m. moments before they aggressively attacked the family members, four among whom, including a 70-year-old elderly woman, were left wounded.
A PIC news reporter identified the injured family members as 22-year-old Hashem Abu Khaled, Nur al-Deen Abu Khaled, 22, Ezzedine Abu Khaled, 24, and Fatma Abu Khaled, 70.
The Israeli cops who cordoned off the area from all sides also pepper sprayed the family shortly before they started to knock down the two buildings via a bulldozer.
The house owner Nidhal Abu Khaled said the Israeli police locked up all family members inside the building and initiated the demolition procedure under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
He added that the targeted buildings, under construction since last November, cover 70 square meters each.
Eye-witnesses said Israeli occupation policemen, escorted by army bulldozers, suddenly showed up in Wadi Helwa neighborhood, in Silwan, and broke into Abu Khaled’s family home at 4.30 a.m. moments before they aggressively attacked the family members, four among whom, including a 70-year-old elderly woman, were left wounded.
A PIC news reporter identified the injured family members as 22-year-old Hashem Abu Khaled, Nur al-Deen Abu Khaled, 22, Ezzedine Abu Khaled, 24, and Fatma Abu Khaled, 70.
The Israeli cops who cordoned off the area from all sides also pepper sprayed the family shortly before they started to knock down the two buildings via a bulldozer.
The house owner Nidhal Abu Khaled said the Israeli police locked up all family members inside the building and initiated the demolition procedure under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
He added that the targeted buildings, under construction since last November, cover 70 square meters each.
Israeli soldiers invaded, Tuesday, Silwan town, south of the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, demolished three homes, near the al-Magharba Gate, and the Salah Ed-Deen Street, and kidnapped two Palestinians. Video Video 2
Resident Nidal Abu Khaled, owner of two of the demolished homes, said the soldiers stormed his property, approximately at 4:30 at dawn, and attacked the family with pepper-spray before forcing them out.
The soldiers then demolished the two homes, and kidnapped Nidal’s nephew, Hisham Abu Khaled.
One of the homes was 180 square/meters while the other is 80 square/meters; they were built last year, and the family filed numerous appeals in Israeli court, but a ruling against the two building was finalized earlier in May.
He added that the army invaded the area two weeks ago, but could not demolish the building due to the existence of many stairs leading to the building, but today, the soldiers came equipped with special machinery that enabled the destruction of his property.
In addition, soldiers demolished an apartment on the top third floor of a residential building in Salah Ed-Deen Street, belonging to resident Rafiq Salayma.
Salayma said he has been living in the building, along with his eight other family members, for the last six years.
The soldiers demolished it because its sealing collapsed during the snowstorm, this past winter, and the family managed to fix it, but the City Council ordered its destruction.
Resident Nidal Abu Khaled, owner of two of the demolished homes, said the soldiers stormed his property, approximately at 4:30 at dawn, and attacked the family with pepper-spray before forcing them out.
The soldiers then demolished the two homes, and kidnapped Nidal’s nephew, Hisham Abu Khaled.
One of the homes was 180 square/meters while the other is 80 square/meters; they were built last year, and the family filed numerous appeals in Israeli court, but a ruling against the two building was finalized earlier in May.
He added that the army invaded the area two weeks ago, but could not demolish the building due to the existence of many stairs leading to the building, but today, the soldiers came equipped with special machinery that enabled the destruction of his property.
In addition, soldiers demolished an apartment on the top third floor of a residential building in Salah Ed-Deen Street, belonging to resident Rafiq Salayma.
Salayma said he has been living in the building, along with his eight other family members, for the last six years.
The soldiers demolished it because its sealing collapsed during the snowstorm, this past winter, and the family managed to fix it, but the City Council ordered its destruction.
Heavy machinegun fire unleashed by the Israeli occupation navy off Gaza’s northern shores at dawn Tuesday left three Palestinian fishermen injured.
Quds Press quoted head of the Union of Gaza’s Fishermen, Nizar Ayash, as stating that the Israeli occupation navy showered Palestinian fishing boats setting sail in Gaza’s northern sea with waves of machinegun fire.
Three Palestinian fishermen onboard of a fishing vessel sustained wounds in the process.
The casualties were rushed to the Shifa Hospital in Gaza to be treated for the inflicted wounds.
The other Palestinian fishermen went ashore for fear of escalated aggression by the Israeli naval forces.
Earlier on Monday afternoon, the Israeli occupation navy kidnapped five Palestinian fishermen fishing in Gaza waters and docked their boat in an Israeli-run port in the 1948 occupied territories.
Gaza fishermen navigating within the unilaterally-imposed six-nautical-miles fishing zone in the Gaza Sea have been permanent targets of Israeli warships.
A ceasefire deal between Palestinian resistance factions and the Israeli occupation on August 26, struck in the wake of last summer’s military offensive on the blockaded coastal enclave, stipulated that Israel would expand the fishing zone off Gaza’s coast up to 6 nautical miles from shore and would continue to expand this area gradually.
However, the Israeli occupation has never fulfilled the pledge, regularly breaching the truce accord by opening fire on Palestinian fishermen who put out to see on a daily basis to seek a living for their starved children in the blockaded Strip.
Quds Press quoted head of the Union of Gaza’s Fishermen, Nizar Ayash, as stating that the Israeli occupation navy showered Palestinian fishing boats setting sail in Gaza’s northern sea with waves of machinegun fire.
Three Palestinian fishermen onboard of a fishing vessel sustained wounds in the process.
The casualties were rushed to the Shifa Hospital in Gaza to be treated for the inflicted wounds.
The other Palestinian fishermen went ashore for fear of escalated aggression by the Israeli naval forces.
Earlier on Monday afternoon, the Israeli occupation navy kidnapped five Palestinian fishermen fishing in Gaza waters and docked their boat in an Israeli-run port in the 1948 occupied territories.
Gaza fishermen navigating within the unilaterally-imposed six-nautical-miles fishing zone in the Gaza Sea have been permanent targets of Israeli warships.
A ceasefire deal between Palestinian resistance factions and the Israeli occupation on August 26, struck in the wake of last summer’s military offensive on the blockaded coastal enclave, stipulated that Israel would expand the fishing zone off Gaza’s coast up to 6 nautical miles from shore and would continue to expand this area gradually.
However, the Israeli occupation has never fulfilled the pledge, regularly breaching the truce accord by opening fire on Palestinian fishermen who put out to see on a daily basis to seek a living for their starved children in the blockaded Strip.
At least 15 Palestinian civilians were rounded up by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Tuesday following a wave of violent clashes rocking different governorates of the West Bank.
Sources based in Nablus City said the Israeli occupation patrols rolled into the environs of Joseph Tomb overnight Monday.
A round of clashes broke out in the area after the invading IOF patrols attacked a group of Palestinian unarmed protestors with randomly shot spates of tear gas canisters and stun grenades.
Earlier, on Monday afternoon the Israeli troops sealed off the main entrance to Nablus’ northern town of Berka under the pretext of Molotov Cocktails.
The raid culminated in the abduction of at least 15 allegedly-wanted Palestinian citizens from different cities the West Bank at dawn time on Tuesday.
Israeli sources said the mass-abduction raid targeted Jenin, Ramallah, al-Khalil, Jericho and Occupied Jerusalem.
The IOF captured the Palestinian citizen Khaled Saleh Abu Zina, 50, and his 17-year-old son Riadh after they broke into their family home in the Jenin refugee camp.
Clashes flared up around the camp after Palestinian citizens voiced their protest at the abrupt assault.
The IOF attacked the protestors with heavy volleys of gunfire, resulting in a number of suffocation cases.
The IOF further kidnapped the 19-year-old youngster Baraa Ibrahim Hamed after they scoured his family home in Ramallah’s eastern town of Sliwad without prior notice, the captive’s mother reported.
Sources based in Nablus City said the Israeli occupation patrols rolled into the environs of Joseph Tomb overnight Monday.
A round of clashes broke out in the area after the invading IOF patrols attacked a group of Palestinian unarmed protestors with randomly shot spates of tear gas canisters and stun grenades.
Earlier, on Monday afternoon the Israeli troops sealed off the main entrance to Nablus’ northern town of Berka under the pretext of Molotov Cocktails.
The raid culminated in the abduction of at least 15 allegedly-wanted Palestinian citizens from different cities the West Bank at dawn time on Tuesday.
Israeli sources said the mass-abduction raid targeted Jenin, Ramallah, al-Khalil, Jericho and Occupied Jerusalem.
The IOF captured the Palestinian citizen Khaled Saleh Abu Zina, 50, and his 17-year-old son Riadh after they broke into their family home in the Jenin refugee camp.
Clashes flared up around the camp after Palestinian citizens voiced their protest at the abrupt assault.
The IOF attacked the protestors with heavy volleys of gunfire, resulting in a number of suffocation cases.
The IOF further kidnapped the 19-year-old youngster Baraa Ibrahim Hamed after they scoured his family home in Ramallah’s eastern town of Sliwad without prior notice, the captive’s mother reported.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF)stormed at dawn Tuesday Jenin refugee camp and carried out an arrest campaign, which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.
PIC reporter said that large-scale clashes broke out when IOF soldiers stormed the camp amid heavy fire of tear gas bombs. A number of breathing problems were reported during the clashes.
During the raid, a number of local citizens were arrested including a leader in Jihad movement and his 17-year-old son after brutally breaking into his home.
More than ten other homes were stormed and violently searched, the sources added.
PIC reporter said that large-scale clashes broke out when IOF soldiers stormed the camp amid heavy fire of tear gas bombs. A number of breathing problems were reported during the clashes.
During the raid, a number of local citizens were arrested including a leader in Jihad movement and his 17-year-old son after brutally breaking into his home.
More than ten other homes were stormed and violently searched, the sources added.
1 june 2015
Israeli naval boats, Monday, opened machine gunfire on Palestinian fishing boats and detained five fishermen offshore the Sudaniya to the northwest of Gaza.
Israeli naval boats, Monday, opened machine gunfire on Palestinian fishing boats and detained five fishermen offshore the Sudaniya to the northwest of Gaza.
According to WAFA correspondence, Israeli naval boats opened machine gunfire on fishing boats sailing within the unilaterally-imposed six-nautical-miles fishing zone offshore Gaza city and detained five fishermen.
The detained fishermen were identified as Rami, 28, Muhammad and Zaki al-Najjar as well as ‘Adel, 42, and Yousef Abu Rayyala, 18. They were taken to the Israeli seaport of Ashdod.
Israeli naval boats routinely open fire on Palestinian fishermen sailing within the six-nautical-miles zone and farmlands along the border, flagrantly violating the ceasefire deal.
Israel and the Palestinian factions inked a ceasefire deal on August 26, ending the latest 2014 Israeli onslaught on Gaza that claimed the lives of over 2,200 people, overwhelmingly civilians.
The ceasefire deal stipulated that Israel would immediately ease the blockade imposed on the strip and expand the fishing zone off Gaza's coast, allowing fishermen to sail as far as six nautical miles from shore, and would continue to expand the area gradually.
Israel has however failed to do so, repeatedly violating the ceasefire deal through opening fire on Palestinian fishermen within the fishing zone and reducing their income.
Continuing the Cairo-brokered talks on other key issues was repeatedly postponed in the wake of November attacks against Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai Peninsula.
Israel has imposed a tightened blockade since 2007 after Hamas won the democratic legislative election and took over power in the strip.
The current six-nautical-mile fishing zone falls drastically short of the twenty nautical miles allocated to Palestinian fishermen in the 1993 Oslo Accords.
Israeli naval boats, Monday, opened machine gunfire on Palestinian fishing boats and detained five fishermen offshore the Sudaniya to the northwest of Gaza.
According to WAFA correspondence, Israeli naval boats opened machine gunfire on fishing boats sailing within the unilaterally-imposed six-nautical-miles fishing zone offshore Gaza city and detained five fishermen.
The detained fishermen were identified as Rami, 28, Muhammad and Zaki al-Najjar as well as ‘Adel, 42, and Yousef Abu Rayyala, 18. They were taken to the Israeli seaport of Ashdod.
Israeli naval boats routinely open fire on Palestinian fishermen sailing within the six-nautical-miles zone and farmlands along the border, flagrantly violating the ceasefire deal.
Israel and the Palestinian factions inked a ceasefire deal on August 26, ending the latest 2014 Israeli onslaught on Gaza that claimed the lives of over 2,200 people, overwhelmingly civilians.
The ceasefire deal stipulated that Israel would immediately ease the blockade imposed on the strip and expand the fishing zone off Gaza's coast, allowing fishermen to sail as far as six nautical miles from shore, and would continue to expand the area gradually.
Israel has however failed to do so, repeatedly violating the ceasefire deal through opening fire on Palestinian fishermen within the fishing zone and reducing their income.
Continuing the Cairo-brokered talks on other key issues was repeatedly postponed in the wake of November attacks against Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai Peninsula.
Israel has imposed a tightened blockade since 2007 after Hamas won the democratic legislative election and took over power in the strip.
The current six-nautical-mile fishing zone falls drastically short of the twenty nautical miles allocated to Palestinian fishermen in the 1993 Oslo Accords.
31 may 2015
Rescue personnel train during a previous drill
Sirens will sound across the country as civilians, Home Front Command, IDF and emergency services hold five-day annual practice.
Israel is in for days of mock explosions, sirens and missile and terror attacks as its security and rescue services on Sunday launched a five-day drill across the country.
The drill involves the Home Front Command, the Ministry of Defense’s National Emergency Authority (NEA), government ministries, local authorities, security organizations, the education system, and public and private entities. The exercises will end Thursday.
The "Turning Point” drill is this year focusing on Home Front preparedness for a conventional event, and its relationship with government ministries, rescue services and local authorities, as well as readiness for an emergency.
The drill will place special emphasis on the preparedness of the national infrastructure (electricity, water, gas and so on) for emergencies, as well as upgrading the coordination and cooperation between all ministries, which will be led by the NEA. Part of the drill will take place in the Northern Command and cover responses to an ongoing security situation involving multiple agencies.
On Tuesday, sirens will sound across Israel at 11:05 am and at 7:05 pm, with the exception of communities bordering the Gaza Strip, as part of the Home Front command drill. The aim is to give all Israelis practice in entering their chosen protected space, both in the workplace and at home, as well as testing the state of the country's sirens system.
The alert will also appear on radio and television and online, and half an hour before the siren people will receive a "personal message" on their phones. If a real emergency occurs during the drill, a second siren will sound and a formal announcement will be distributed through the media. The annual exercise, which is entering its eighth year, was planned in advance as part of the training for 2015.
The annual exercise will also take place in educational institutions and kindergartens across the country, with students entering protected spaces. The drill will also be implemented at army bases, government offices and public institutions.
All essential services, including hospitals, will continue to operate as usual during the week, and all conferences and mass gatherings will continue as planned. All traffic, including public transport and private cars, should not stop when the siren sounds.
In the event of difficulties and problems hearing the sirens, or for information on shelters, the public can contact the Home Front Information Center by calling 104, their local authority’s information desk, or the visit the Home Front Command website www.oref.org.il. During the week, parallel exercises will be held by the Air Force and Navy, during which there will be heavy traffic by military vehicles, aircraft and sea vessels throughout the country.
Sirens will sound across the country as civilians, Home Front Command, IDF and emergency services hold five-day annual practice.
Israel is in for days of mock explosions, sirens and missile and terror attacks as its security and rescue services on Sunday launched a five-day drill across the country.
The drill involves the Home Front Command, the Ministry of Defense’s National Emergency Authority (NEA), government ministries, local authorities, security organizations, the education system, and public and private entities. The exercises will end Thursday.
The "Turning Point” drill is this year focusing on Home Front preparedness for a conventional event, and its relationship with government ministries, rescue services and local authorities, as well as readiness for an emergency.
The drill will place special emphasis on the preparedness of the national infrastructure (electricity, water, gas and so on) for emergencies, as well as upgrading the coordination and cooperation between all ministries, which will be led by the NEA. Part of the drill will take place in the Northern Command and cover responses to an ongoing security situation involving multiple agencies.
On Tuesday, sirens will sound across Israel at 11:05 am and at 7:05 pm, with the exception of communities bordering the Gaza Strip, as part of the Home Front command drill. The aim is to give all Israelis practice in entering their chosen protected space, both in the workplace and at home, as well as testing the state of the country's sirens system.
The alert will also appear on radio and television and online, and half an hour before the siren people will receive a "personal message" on their phones. If a real emergency occurs during the drill, a second siren will sound and a formal announcement will be distributed through the media. The annual exercise, which is entering its eighth year, was planned in advance as part of the training for 2015.
The annual exercise will also take place in educational institutions and kindergartens across the country, with students entering protected spaces. The drill will also be implemented at army bases, government offices and public institutions.
All essential services, including hospitals, will continue to operate as usual during the week, and all conferences and mass gatherings will continue as planned. All traffic, including public transport and private cars, should not stop when the siren sounds.
In the event of difficulties and problems hearing the sirens, or for information on shelters, the public can contact the Home Front Information Center by calling 104, their local authority’s information desk, or the visit the Home Front Command website www.oref.org.il. During the week, parallel exercises will be held by the Air Force and Navy, during which there will be heavy traffic by military vehicles, aircraft and sea vessels throughout the country.
A number of Palestinian civilians choked on tear gas while a youngster was kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in the clashes that rocked Jenin’s town of Yabad at dawn Sunday.
Eye-witnesses said clashes flared up in Yabad town, south of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, after the Israeli occupation forces attacked a group of unarmed Palestinian protestors with heavy spates of bullet fire and tear gas canisters.
The Palestinian young protestors responded to the attack by hurling stones at the Israeli occupation troops.
Eye-witnesses said a number of Palestinian civilians sustained breathing difficulties due to heavy gas inhalation while others were aggressively beaten by the Israeli soldiers stationed across the area.
The Israeli assault culminated in the abduction of the 14-year-old Palestinian minor Yussef Burhan Turkman.
A makeshift military checkpoint was swiftly pitched up by the IOF shortly afterwards, the same sources added.
Eye-witnesses said clashes flared up in Yabad town, south of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, after the Israeli occupation forces attacked a group of unarmed Palestinian protestors with heavy spates of bullet fire and tear gas canisters.
The Palestinian young protestors responded to the attack by hurling stones at the Israeli occupation troops.
Eye-witnesses said a number of Palestinian civilians sustained breathing difficulties due to heavy gas inhalation while others were aggressively beaten by the Israeli soldiers stationed across the area.
The Israeli assault culminated in the abduction of the 14-year-old Palestinian minor Yussef Burhan Turkman.
A makeshift military checkpoint was swiftly pitched up by the IOF shortly afterwards, the same sources added.
A horde of Israeli fanatic settlers, escorted by border cops, on Saturday evening attacked and injured a Palestinian family living in Jerusalem’s Old city after the latter protested the abuse of their children.
Family member Ahmad Jaber said in a press statement clashes burst out after Israeli border police, who have seized the second floor of the family’s multi-story apartment in al-Sa’diya neighborhood, harassed a group of Palestinian children.
The heavily-armed Israeli soldiers attacked the Jaber family and the other natives of al-Sa’diya quarter with randomly-shot barrages of rubber bullets and pepper gas.
The family members had also been heavily beaten by the Israeli officers and vandals as they voiced their protest over the abuse of their children.
45-year-old Tawfiq Jaber and his elderly mother, reportedly in her 60’s of age, along with his wife and two sons, sustained injuries and bruises in the assault.
Family member Ahmad Jaber said in a press statement clashes burst out after Israeli border police, who have seized the second floor of the family’s multi-story apartment in al-Sa’diya neighborhood, harassed a group of Palestinian children.
The heavily-armed Israeli soldiers attacked the Jaber family and the other natives of al-Sa’diya quarter with randomly-shot barrages of rubber bullets and pepper gas.
The family members had also been heavily beaten by the Israeli officers and vandals as they voiced their protest over the abuse of their children.
45-year-old Tawfiq Jaber and his elderly mother, reportedly in her 60’s of age, along with his wife and two sons, sustained injuries and bruises in the assault.
A number of extremist Israeli settlers attacked, late on Saturday night after midnight, a Palestinian home in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, by throwing rocks and several Molotov cocktails at the building, as the family slept.
Palestinian nonviolent activist, Emad Abu Shamsiyya, said the fanatics first threw stones at the property, in Tel Romeida neighborhood, and then hurled several Molotov cocktails causing fires to spread all over the exterior of the building.
“I woke my children up, and we rushed out of the building to avoid being trapped in the fire,” he said, “the neighbors rushed to save us, and we managed to extinguish the fire but all of our exterior furniture and belongings were completely burnt.”
He added that extremist Israeli settlers, living in illegal colonies in the center of the city, are responsible for numerous assaults and violations against the residents and their property.
On Saturday, a number of Israeli extremists assaulted at least seven Palestinians in the same area, and tried to stab them.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers were shouting and cursing at the Palestinians, and physically assaulted several residents, while the soldiers did not attempt to stop them.
Palestinian nonviolent activist, Emad Abu Shamsiyya, said the fanatics first threw stones at the property, in Tel Romeida neighborhood, and then hurled several Molotov cocktails causing fires to spread all over the exterior of the building.
“I woke my children up, and we rushed out of the building to avoid being trapped in the fire,” he said, “the neighbors rushed to save us, and we managed to extinguish the fire but all of our exterior furniture and belongings were completely burnt.”
He added that extremist Israeli settlers, living in illegal colonies in the center of the city, are responsible for numerous assaults and violations against the residents and their property.
On Saturday, a number of Israeli extremists assaulted at least seven Palestinians in the same area, and tried to stab them.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers were shouting and cursing at the Palestinians, and physically assaulted several residents, while the soldiers did not attempt to stop them.
