7 may 2015
At least seven schoolchildren inhaled tear gas during clashes with Israeli troops Thursday morning in Arab al-Ramadin village south of Hebron in the southern West Bank, the local council reported.
Ahmad Suleiman, who heads the village's local council, said large numbers of Israeli troops stormed the area and destroyed the main electricity network.
As a result, angry schoolchildren clashed with the soldiers who showered them with tear gas hurting at least seven. Two children have been detained, according to Suleiman. This was the second time Israeli forces destroyed the village's electricity network, added Suleiman, who noted that the local council filed legal procedures at an Israeli court.
Ahmad Suleiman, who heads the village's local council, said large numbers of Israeli troops stormed the area and destroyed the main electricity network.
As a result, angry schoolchildren clashed with the soldiers who showered them with tear gas hurting at least seven. Two children have been detained, according to Suleiman. This was the second time Israeli forces destroyed the village's electricity network, added Suleiman, who noted that the local council filed legal procedures at an Israeli court.
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By: Charlie Hoyle
Hundreds of Palestinian villagers in the northern Jordan Valley have been forcibly displaced this week as Israel conducts unprecedented military drills around villages near Tubas.The army drills, which began on Sunday, have seen a large-scale mobilization of Israeli military vehicles around villages east and south of Tubas, with the Jordan Valley Solidarity group estimating that hundreds of tanks, helicopters, and heavy machinery have been moved into the area. The exercises are taking place in a closed military zone east of Tubas in Area C -- also home to several large Palestinian communities -- and have so far displaced 18 families from Khirbet Humsa, 30 families from Hammamat al-Maleh, five families from Frush Beit Dajan and 13 families from Ibziq, JVS says. |
Israeli military officials forced some of the farming communities to sign papers one week ago obliging them to leave their homes from May 3 until May 7, while other communities in al-Hadidya have been put on standby to be evacuated, meaning the length of the military drills is as yet undetermined.Villagers say that if they refuse to leave during the drills the Israeli army will simply destroy their homes."Either they leave or are forced to leave,"
Sarah Cobham, a volunteer with JVS told Ma'an from al-Hadidya, the buzz of military activity audible in the background.
"When people have to leave their homes they are given no support, so all they can do is stay with other people they know in the area and find people to help look after their animals. There is no compensation.
"Dust, explosions, smoke, and the sound of gunfire permeate the landscape as tanks and military vehicles launch artillery fire in the area, with the farming and herding communities left to worry about the crops and livestock that they left behind, primary sources of income for most families.
And their fears are well justified. On April 28, over 3,000 dunams of crops and trees were destroyed after a fire broke out due to army drills in the area, while 5,000 dunams of land were burnt near al-Hadidya on May 4 due to heavy military fire, JVS activists said.
The military drills involve over 50 tanks, heavy artillery fire, and targets set up, most notably in the village of Bardala, for military aircraft to bomb, meaning that extensive damage to the natural landscape and agricultural crops is inevitable.
Cobham, who was in Khirbet Humsa before the mass evacuation of villagers, said the atmosphere was "very, very tense," with families extremely angry and worried about what will happen to them.
"It's about the uncertainty in peoples' lives. They don't know how long the training is going on for, or if or when the road will be blocked, or when they can move. That's a major part of the impact."
"This military training right next to Palestinian homes is clearly part of the (Israeli) occupation's attempts to pressurize people to leave their land."
'Depopulated of Palestinians'
Israeli military training exercises in the Jordan Valley have increased dramatically since 2012 and are one of many tools used to forcibly displace rural Palestinian communities, JVS says, part of a historic process of creeping annexation of the valley by Israel's military.
Forming a third of the occupied West Bank and with 88 percent of its land classified as Area C -- under full Israeli security and administrative control -- the Jordan Valley has long been a strategic area of land unlikely to return to Palestinians following Israel's occupation in 1967.
Jeff Halper, co-founder and director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, told Ma'an that since 1948 Israel has viewed the Jordan Valley as its "security border" and there is no possibility, even within the framework of a two-state solution, that it will revert back to Palestinians.
"The Jordan Valley is special in that it is seen as central to Israel's security and from that point of view its non negotiable. There has been a process of Judaization and it has largely been de-populated of Palestinians."
Halper says that before Israel's 1967 occupation, around 250,000 Palestinians lived in the Jordan Valley, a number that today only stands at 50,000, most of whom live in Jericho. Mass house demolitions, settlement construction, and the establishment of Israeli agricultural production zones have essentially replaced the Palestinian population, with any remaining land declared as closed military areas.
"Military activities have always been a cover for displacement. Over time they will pass the land over to settlers. It's a layered process,"Halper said. The unpredictability of the training drills leaves rural Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley anxious about when they will be displaced, and whether the next time will be permanent.
Palestinians in the Jordan Valley are one of the most vulnerable groups to displacement, with over 60 percent of the 6,000 Palestinians forcibly displaced since 2008 belonged to herding or Bedouin communities, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Rashid Sawaftah, coordinator of the Jordan Valley Solidarity, told Ma'an that the communities are essentially under siege and forced to put their lives on hold while the drills take place. Unable to return to their homes, and with most roads blocked, families take refuge under trees and in the open while they wait to return amid an uncertain future.
"Training exercises, all this of kind of violence, affects all the families," he said. "People are very sad and the children cannot understand this kind of pressure and insecurity." "It is a way to transfer people from the land."
Sarah Cobham, a volunteer with JVS told Ma'an from al-Hadidya, the buzz of military activity audible in the background.
"When people have to leave their homes they are given no support, so all they can do is stay with other people they know in the area and find people to help look after their animals. There is no compensation.
"Dust, explosions, smoke, and the sound of gunfire permeate the landscape as tanks and military vehicles launch artillery fire in the area, with the farming and herding communities left to worry about the crops and livestock that they left behind, primary sources of income for most families.
And their fears are well justified. On April 28, over 3,000 dunams of crops and trees were destroyed after a fire broke out due to army drills in the area, while 5,000 dunams of land were burnt near al-Hadidya on May 4 due to heavy military fire, JVS activists said.
The military drills involve over 50 tanks, heavy artillery fire, and targets set up, most notably in the village of Bardala, for military aircraft to bomb, meaning that extensive damage to the natural landscape and agricultural crops is inevitable.
Cobham, who was in Khirbet Humsa before the mass evacuation of villagers, said the atmosphere was "very, very tense," with families extremely angry and worried about what will happen to them.
"It's about the uncertainty in peoples' lives. They don't know how long the training is going on for, or if or when the road will be blocked, or when they can move. That's a major part of the impact."
"This military training right next to Palestinian homes is clearly part of the (Israeli) occupation's attempts to pressurize people to leave their land."
'Depopulated of Palestinians'
Israeli military training exercises in the Jordan Valley have increased dramatically since 2012 and are one of many tools used to forcibly displace rural Palestinian communities, JVS says, part of a historic process of creeping annexation of the valley by Israel's military.
Forming a third of the occupied West Bank and with 88 percent of its land classified as Area C -- under full Israeli security and administrative control -- the Jordan Valley has long been a strategic area of land unlikely to return to Palestinians following Israel's occupation in 1967.
Jeff Halper, co-founder and director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, told Ma'an that since 1948 Israel has viewed the Jordan Valley as its "security border" and there is no possibility, even within the framework of a two-state solution, that it will revert back to Palestinians.
"The Jordan Valley is special in that it is seen as central to Israel's security and from that point of view its non negotiable. There has been a process of Judaization and it has largely been de-populated of Palestinians."
Halper says that before Israel's 1967 occupation, around 250,000 Palestinians lived in the Jordan Valley, a number that today only stands at 50,000, most of whom live in Jericho. Mass house demolitions, settlement construction, and the establishment of Israeli agricultural production zones have essentially replaced the Palestinian population, with any remaining land declared as closed military areas.
"Military activities have always been a cover for displacement. Over time they will pass the land over to settlers. It's a layered process,"Halper said. The unpredictability of the training drills leaves rural Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley anxious about when they will be displaced, and whether the next time will be permanent.
Palestinians in the Jordan Valley are one of the most vulnerable groups to displacement, with over 60 percent of the 6,000 Palestinians forcibly displaced since 2008 belonged to herding or Bedouin communities, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Rashid Sawaftah, coordinator of the Jordan Valley Solidarity, told Ma'an that the communities are essentially under siege and forced to put their lives on hold while the drills take place. Unable to return to their homes, and with most roads blocked, families take refuge under trees and in the open while they wait to return amid an uncertain future.
"Training exercises, all this of kind of violence, affects all the families," he said. "People are very sad and the children cannot understand this kind of pressure and insecurity." "It is a way to transfer people from the land."
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) advanced into Palestinian lands to the east of Rafah, in southern Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip and leveled lands amid arbitrary shooting.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that four Israeli military bulldozers advanced into lands to the east of al-Shawkeh neighborhood in Rafah for a limited distance estimated at 150 meters.
The Israeli bulldozers leveled and razed lands amid intermittent firing at agricultural lands. No casualties have been reported.
The IOF opened its machineguns fire at the eastern outskirts of the blockaded enclave three times this week and arrested three Palestinian minors for trying to cross the security fence east of Rafah.
This comes as Israel has violated the ceasrefire hundreds of time, in observers call "a one-sided" ceasefire".
Local sources told the PIC reporter that four Israeli military bulldozers advanced into lands to the east of al-Shawkeh neighborhood in Rafah for a limited distance estimated at 150 meters.
The Israeli bulldozers leveled and razed lands amid intermittent firing at agricultural lands. No casualties have been reported.
The IOF opened its machineguns fire at the eastern outskirts of the blockaded enclave three times this week and arrested three Palestinian minors for trying to cross the security fence east of Rafah.
This comes as Israel has violated the ceasrefire hundreds of time, in observers call "a one-sided" ceasefire".
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, earlier on
Thursday, seven Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, shot and
seriously injured one resident, during military invasions targeting
several Palestinian communities. Several residents suffer the effects of
tear gas inhalation south of Hebron.
Media sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, said dozens of soldiers invaded the al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of the city, searched and ransacked several homes, and kidnapped two Palestinians, identified as Ezzeddin Abu Sill, 17, and Mohammad Nayef Badawi, 17.
The army also searched a number of homes, near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron city, and interrogated several families, before kidnapping two brothers identified as Mousa Sayyed Ahmad, 19, and Mohannad Sayyed Ahmad, 17.
The army further invaded Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, also searched homes, and kidnapped one Palestinian identified as Mohammad Hani ‘Aadi.
Soldiers also invaded Khirbit Um Sidra village, south of Hebron, and started removing electricity networks.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded the ‘Arab ar-Ramadin village, south of Hebron, clashed with dozens of local youths, causing injuries, and kidnapped a Palestinian teen after beating him up.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers attacked and kidnapped Moheeb Hasan Zagharna, 17, and took him to an unknown destination.
Dozens of schoolchildren of the ‘Arab ar-Ramadin School suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, during clashes that took place after the soldiers destroyed a nearby electricity network.
In related news, Israeli military sources said two soldiers were injured when their jeep flipped over during an invasion into Taffouh village, west of Hebron. The army moved the two soldiers to a hospital for treatment.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded the al-Far’a refugee camp, north of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and clashed with dozens of local youths, seriously wounding one Palestinian, and kidnapped another.
Medical sources said the soldiers shot Rabea’ Jamal Mubarak, 22, with two live round to the back and abdomen, and that the young man was moved to the Rafidia Hospital, in Nablus, suffering a serious but stable injury.
Undercover soldiers also kidnapped a man identified as Ahmad Rashad Sawalma, 48 years of age.
In addition, soldiers invaded Beit Sahour city, in the West Bank district of Bethlehem, and searched a home belonging to resident Rafat Qosta Issa; the army withdrew later without conducting any arrests.
Soldiers also invaded Kufur Qaddoum, near the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, and attacked a resident, causing various cuts and bruises.
Palestinian youth injured, others choke on gas in Tubas
A Palestinian youngster was injured and another was arrested by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Thursday during the wave of overnight clashes that burst out at El Far’a refugee camp, in the northern West Bank district of Tubas.
The 22-year-old Rabi’ Jamal Mubarak sustained serious wounds after he was shot by the IOF in his chest and groin, local medics reported.
The casualty was rushed to the Turkish public hospital in Tubas and was afterwards transferred to the Rafidia clinic in Nablus.
Local sources said the IOF further apprehended the Palestinian citizen Ahmad Rashad Sawalma, 47, after having raided his family home and wreaked havoc on it.
The IOF troops targeted the unarmed Palestinian protestors with randomly-shot volleys of gunfire and tear gas, resulting in violent confrontations.
Dozens of Palestinian citizens reportedly choked on tear gas and received on-the-sport treatment in the process.
Media sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, said dozens of soldiers invaded the al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of the city, searched and ransacked several homes, and kidnapped two Palestinians, identified as Ezzeddin Abu Sill, 17, and Mohammad Nayef Badawi, 17.
The army also searched a number of homes, near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron city, and interrogated several families, before kidnapping two brothers identified as Mousa Sayyed Ahmad, 19, and Mohannad Sayyed Ahmad, 17.
The army further invaded Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, also searched homes, and kidnapped one Palestinian identified as Mohammad Hani ‘Aadi.
Soldiers also invaded Khirbit Um Sidra village, south of Hebron, and started removing electricity networks.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded the ‘Arab ar-Ramadin village, south of Hebron, clashed with dozens of local youths, causing injuries, and kidnapped a Palestinian teen after beating him up.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers attacked and kidnapped Moheeb Hasan Zagharna, 17, and took him to an unknown destination.
Dozens of schoolchildren of the ‘Arab ar-Ramadin School suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, during clashes that took place after the soldiers destroyed a nearby electricity network.
In related news, Israeli military sources said two soldiers were injured when their jeep flipped over during an invasion into Taffouh village, west of Hebron. The army moved the two soldiers to a hospital for treatment.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded the al-Far’a refugee camp, north of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and clashed with dozens of local youths, seriously wounding one Palestinian, and kidnapped another.
Medical sources said the soldiers shot Rabea’ Jamal Mubarak, 22, with two live round to the back and abdomen, and that the young man was moved to the Rafidia Hospital, in Nablus, suffering a serious but stable injury.
Undercover soldiers also kidnapped a man identified as Ahmad Rashad Sawalma, 48 years of age.
In addition, soldiers invaded Beit Sahour city, in the West Bank district of Bethlehem, and searched a home belonging to resident Rafat Qosta Issa; the army withdrew later without conducting any arrests.
Soldiers also invaded Kufur Qaddoum, near the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, and attacked a resident, causing various cuts and bruises.
Palestinian youth injured, others choke on gas in Tubas
A Palestinian youngster was injured and another was arrested by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Thursday during the wave of overnight clashes that burst out at El Far’a refugee camp, in the northern West Bank district of Tubas.
The 22-year-old Rabi’ Jamal Mubarak sustained serious wounds after he was shot by the IOF in his chest and groin, local medics reported.
The casualty was rushed to the Turkish public hospital in Tubas and was afterwards transferred to the Rafidia clinic in Nablus.
Local sources said the IOF further apprehended the Palestinian citizen Ahmad Rashad Sawalma, 47, after having raided his family home and wreaked havoc on it.
The IOF troops targeted the unarmed Palestinian protestors with randomly-shot volleys of gunfire and tear gas, resulting in violent confrontations.
Dozens of Palestinian citizens reportedly choked on tear gas and received on-the-sport treatment in the process.
Israeli soldiers opened fire, on Thursday at dawn, on a number of Palestinian farmers east of Deir al-Balah, in Central Gaza, while navy ships opened fire on fishing boats in Gaza territorial waters.
Media sources said the soldiers fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition into Palestinian agricultural lands, south of Deir al-Balah, forcing the farmers to leave their lands fearing addition military escalation.
The sources stated that the live rounds were fired from military towers, surrounding the Kissufim base, across the border fence with Gaza.
In addition, Israeli navy ships fired rounds of live ammunition targeting a number of fishing boats, in Palestinian territorial waters.
One of the boats was damaged nearly 4 miles from the Gaza coast, and the fishers had to swim back to shore, to avoid further navy fire.
The Israeli army and navy conduct daily assaults and violations against the Palestinians, their lands and property in different parts of the besieged coastal region.
Media sources said the soldiers fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition into Palestinian agricultural lands, south of Deir al-Balah, forcing the farmers to leave their lands fearing addition military escalation.
The sources stated that the live rounds were fired from military towers, surrounding the Kissufim base, across the border fence with Gaza.
In addition, Israeli navy ships fired rounds of live ammunition targeting a number of fishing boats, in Palestinian territorial waters.
One of the boats was damaged nearly 4 miles from the Gaza coast, and the fishers had to swim back to shore, to avoid further navy fire.
The Israeli army and navy conduct daily assaults and violations against the Palestinians, their lands and property in different parts of the besieged coastal region.
6 may 2015
Israeli military boats on Wednesday afternoon opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats near the shore of the central Gaza Strip, security sources said.
Local security sources said Israeli boats opened fire at boats near Deir al-Balah. No injuries were reported.
An Israeli army spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Local security sources said Israeli boats opened fire at boats near Deir al-Balah. No injuries were reported.
An Israeli army spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Besieged Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank's Jordan Valley have called on the international community to immediately intervene to halt Israeli military training in the area, which has already resulted in the temporary deportation of residents from four villages from their homes and threatens the future livelihood of these communities.
Massive Israeli military training in the northern Jordan Valley began on Sunday, with forces using live ammunition around the homes and farms of Palestinian communities. The army ordered residents from four villages to leave their homes for the duration of the training (until Thursday): 18 families from Humsa, 30 families from Hammamaat al Maleh, 5 families from Frush Beit Dejan and 13 families from Ibziq.
The families have not been given anywhere to stay, nor have they been given any type of support. Most of the deported families have babies and small children.
Families in the village of Al Hadidiya were told that they may have to move for some of this period, although they were given no official documents.
“One of the greatest fears of local Palestinians is that land in the area will be set fire to - many of them have fields of wheat that are just due to be harvested, and this could destroy their entire crops”, says Rashid Sawafta, coordinator of the local group Jordan Valley Solidarity. “If scrub land is burnt by the army it will devastate the grazing land of cow, sheep and goat farmers”, Sawafta added.
“These are very real fears. On 28 April a similar military exercise in the same area of Humsa Fouqa...resulted in the destruction of 3,000 to 4,000 dunams of crops and trees after the shootings and ammunitions of the Israeli army started fire on the land and Palestinian firefighter crews were prevented from reaching the area.”
Deported residents, almost all of whom make a living from farming and livestock, will further be unable to provide food and ensure adequate shelter for their sheep, goats and other animals.
Jordan Valley Solidarity has called on the international community to take immediate action to protect the affected communities. In its appeal, JVS notes that the Israeli military actions are “tantamount to ethnic cleansing in that it directly puts pressure on Palestinian families to leave the area and not return.”
More photos
Massive Israeli military training in the northern Jordan Valley began on Sunday, with forces using live ammunition around the homes and farms of Palestinian communities. The army ordered residents from four villages to leave their homes for the duration of the training (until Thursday): 18 families from Humsa, 30 families from Hammamaat al Maleh, 5 families from Frush Beit Dejan and 13 families from Ibziq.
The families have not been given anywhere to stay, nor have they been given any type of support. Most of the deported families have babies and small children.
Families in the village of Al Hadidiya were told that they may have to move for some of this period, although they were given no official documents.
“One of the greatest fears of local Palestinians is that land in the area will be set fire to - many of them have fields of wheat that are just due to be harvested, and this could destroy their entire crops”, says Rashid Sawafta, coordinator of the local group Jordan Valley Solidarity. “If scrub land is burnt by the army it will devastate the grazing land of cow, sheep and goat farmers”, Sawafta added.
“These are very real fears. On 28 April a similar military exercise in the same area of Humsa Fouqa...resulted in the destruction of 3,000 to 4,000 dunams of crops and trees after the shootings and ammunitions of the Israeli army started fire on the land and Palestinian firefighter crews were prevented from reaching the area.”
Deported residents, almost all of whom make a living from farming and livestock, will further be unable to provide food and ensure adequate shelter for their sheep, goats and other animals.
Jordan Valley Solidarity has called on the international community to take immediate action to protect the affected communities. In its appeal, JVS notes that the Israeli military actions are “tantamount to ethnic cleansing in that it directly puts pressure on Palestinian families to leave the area and not return.”
More photos
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested Wednesday a Palestinian citizen from Beit Umar town to the north of al-Khalil, which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.
Local sources reported that several Israeli military troops stormed different parts of Beit Umar town and broke into a number of local homes before the arrest of the citizen Amir Alqam.
Violent clashes broke out shortly after IOF brutally stormed and searched several homes in the town. Heavy tear gas canisters, sound bombs, and rubber bullets were fired during the confrontations, the sources added.
IOF also nabbed the citizen Yosri Msalma after they raided and violently searched his home in Beit Awa town to the west of the city only few hours after his release from PA jails.
The two detainees were taken to unknown detention centers for investigation.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued Tuesday evening their military training to the west of al-Khalil amid heavy fire of live ammunition and tear gas bombs.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that Israeli forces embarked on live ammunition military training in the area for several days running.
The drills came as part of the Israeli largest military training in the West Bank. The military exercises were mainly concentrated in the area extending between the Jordan Valley and Nablus.
Local residents complained of the ongoing drills in the area as they continue to hear the sounds of gunfire and explosions coming from the training sites that lasted till late hours at night.
Local sources reported that several Israeli military troops stormed different parts of Beit Umar town and broke into a number of local homes before the arrest of the citizen Amir Alqam.
Violent clashes broke out shortly after IOF brutally stormed and searched several homes in the town. Heavy tear gas canisters, sound bombs, and rubber bullets were fired during the confrontations, the sources added.
IOF also nabbed the citizen Yosri Msalma after they raided and violently searched his home in Beit Awa town to the west of the city only few hours after his release from PA jails.
The two detainees were taken to unknown detention centers for investigation.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued Tuesday evening their military training to the west of al-Khalil amid heavy fire of live ammunition and tear gas bombs.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that Israeli forces embarked on live ammunition military training in the area for several days running.
The drills came as part of the Israeli largest military training in the West Bank. The military exercises were mainly concentrated in the area extending between the Jordan Valley and Nablus.
Local residents complained of the ongoing drills in the area as they continue to hear the sounds of gunfire and explosions coming from the training sites that lasted till late hours at night.
Members of the Israeli Ateret Cohanim settlement group invaded, on Wednesday at dawn, three apartments belonging to the Abu Nab Palestinian family, in the Central Neighborhood, in Silwan town in Jerusalem, and occupied them.
The group alleges Jewish residents owned the apartments before 1948, when Israel was established in the historic land of Palestine.
According to the Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic), approximately 20 settlers, accompanied by armed guards and undercover forces of the Israeli military, invaded the neighborhood, and headed towards the apartment building.
The settlers then smashed the front doors of the three apartments, and occupied them.
The owners, all family members, left their apartments on Tuesday evening, to visit one of their brothers who lives in historic Palestine, Silwanic said.
During the attack, cousins of the building’s owners, intercepted the settlers and clashed with them, especially when the assailants tried to blockade some windows, and sprayed the Palestinians with pepper-spray.
Neighbors told Silwanic that they phoned Ahmad Abu Nab and his brothers, Mohammad and Nasser, who rushed back to their building to find it surrounded by Israeli soldiers.
The army then kidnapped the three brothers, and took them to an interrogation facility.
Fifteen members of the Abu Nab family have been living in the apartment building since 1968, after renting it from its owners, members of the Abdul-Razeq Palestinian family.
Israeli settlement groups, including Elad and Ateret Cohanim, claim that the building was a synagogue before 1948.
The two groups are responsible for dozens of incidents in which they occupied homes in Silwan using many methods, including forgery, and in some cases offering large amounts to some owners, who were eventually seduced and sold the property, Silwanic said.
There are 39 illegal Israeli settlement outposts in Silwan, six of them in the Central Neighborhood, 28 in Wadi Hilweh and Beidoun neighborhoods, two outposts in the al-Farooq neighborhood, one in Ras al-‘Amoud, one in the ath-Thoury neighborhood, and one in Wadi ar-Rababa.
The group alleges Jewish residents owned the apartments before 1948, when Israel was established in the historic land of Palestine.
According to the Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic), approximately 20 settlers, accompanied by armed guards and undercover forces of the Israeli military, invaded the neighborhood, and headed towards the apartment building.
The settlers then smashed the front doors of the three apartments, and occupied them.
The owners, all family members, left their apartments on Tuesday evening, to visit one of their brothers who lives in historic Palestine, Silwanic said.
During the attack, cousins of the building’s owners, intercepted the settlers and clashed with them, especially when the assailants tried to blockade some windows, and sprayed the Palestinians with pepper-spray.
Neighbors told Silwanic that they phoned Ahmad Abu Nab and his brothers, Mohammad and Nasser, who rushed back to their building to find it surrounded by Israeli soldiers.
The army then kidnapped the three brothers, and took them to an interrogation facility.
Fifteen members of the Abu Nab family have been living in the apartment building since 1968, after renting it from its owners, members of the Abdul-Razeq Palestinian family.
Israeli settlement groups, including Elad and Ateret Cohanim, claim that the building was a synagogue before 1948.
The two groups are responsible for dozens of incidents in which they occupied homes in Silwan using many methods, including forgery, and in some cases offering large amounts to some owners, who were eventually seduced and sold the property, Silwanic said.
There are 39 illegal Israeli settlement outposts in Silwan, six of them in the Central Neighborhood, 28 in Wadi Hilweh and Beidoun neighborhoods, two outposts in the al-Farooq neighborhood, one in Ras al-‘Amoud, one in the ath-Thoury neighborhood, and one in Wadi ar-Rababa.
A number of extremist Israeli settlers attacked, late on Tuesday at night, a Palestinian man from Hebron, as he was near Sorra village, west of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Media sources in Nablus said the settlers stopped a car driven by Rajeh Mosallam Nasrallah, from the ath-Thaheriyya town, in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, and sprayed his face with pepper-spray, while one of them tried to stab him.
The Palestinian managed escape, while the extremists started throwing stones on him as he fled the scene, but were unable to injure him.
Media sources in Nablus said the settlers stopped a car driven by Rajeh Mosallam Nasrallah, from the ath-Thaheriyya town, in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, and sprayed his face with pepper-spray, while one of them tried to stab him.
The Palestinian managed escape, while the extremists started throwing stones on him as he fled the scene, but were unable to injure him.
