10 sept 2015
The Defense Minister confirmed the statement on two different occasions, stating that no arrests had been made in order to avoid exposing intelligence sources in court.
Security forces know who was behind the deadly arson attack in Duma last month, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon confirmed during a meeting of the Likud youth branch Tuesday.
Ya'alon was asked whether security forces had apprehended those responsible for the Jewish terrorist attack which killed three members of the Dawabsheh family, to which he answered, "We know who is responsible, but we will not expose those findings in order to protect our intelligence sources."
Ya'alon arrived at the ceremony, a festive event welcoming the New Year with the Likud youth, and referred to the incident which shocked the whole country.
"We are facing difficulties in establishing solid evidence," Ya'alon said to the attendees. "Right now we are not prosecuting those responsible in order to not expose our intelligence sources in court."
Ya'alon reaffirmed his comments during a Thursday a briefing at the Kirya military base, which centered on the lack of progress made in the Shin Bet investigation. He compared the current situation faced by the defense establishment to attempts at solving the investigations of two terrorist attacks in the early 1990s, which were thought to have been carried out by terrorists from the Popular Front during his time as commander of the Judea and Samarea division.
"We didn’t have enough evidence at that point to charge them, even though we know that they had carried out the attacks," he said. "So we arrested 59 members of the Popular Front who lived in the Ramallah area, and placed them in an extended six month administrative detention, and they were released after two years," he added.
"The attacks stopped immediately after the arrests, but resumed soon after their release. We won't stop our efforts to gather the evidence which will lead to indictments of those responsible for the Duma attack," Ya'alon concluded. Naser Dawabsheh, a member of the family, responded to the statement saying, "Ya'alon's statement is not justified, Israel must immediately expose the murderers. They burned the whole society and not just Duma."
Dawabsheh continued to say, "I know the attack was a major incident for Israel, and that Israel wants to arrest them in order to show the world that it is a country which chases and apprehends murderers." But he also added that, "Even if they will be arrested, what will happen then? The court will just say they are crazy, and they will live out their lives in some hotel like the murderers of Mohamed Abu- Khdeir."
Member of Knesset Aida Toma-Suleiman (Joint Arab List) reacted to Ya'alon's comments saying, "The Minister of Defense, who left the Dawabsheh family to die, continues his flagrant scornful attitude by saying that they will not prosecute the criminal murderers - in order to not expose their sources."
The Joint List MK continued to say, "Would it even be possible to think that the defense establishment would act the same way if a Jewish family was murdered. Ya'alon's remarks confirm the forgiving attitude within the system towards settler terrorism, which allows for the next murder." The Dawabsheh family home was set alight on July 31st. An initial investigation revealed that masked men threw Molotov cocktails into two homes, and spray painted "Long live the messiah king," and "revenge" in Hebrew on the walls.
The Dawabsheh family was staying in one of the homes, while the other was vacant. The family woke up as a result of the fire, and tried to escape the flames with two of their children, four-year-old Ahmed and eighteen-month-old Ali. The family managed to escape, however infant Ali died as a result of his burns. Saed Dawabsheh, Ali's father, succumbed to his injures a week later. Ali's mother, Reham fought for her life for over a month, but she too succumbed to her wounds on Sunday. The condition of the family's eldest son, Ahmed, has improved slightly in recent weeks, but he continues to be treated in the intensive care unit at Beer Sheva's Soroka hospital.
Reham's funeral took place in Duma, with 2000 people in attendance. Marchers at her funeral procession could be heard chanting, "Oh, Hamas, oh, al Qassam, attack them, the blood of the martyrs is calling you," while others yelled "Stop the criminals and murderers."
Hussien, Reham's father, protested the lack of arrests made in the case. According to him. "There is no such thing as not finding them. It's not my job; it’s the Shin bet's. A whole family died here." According to the Dawabsheh family, they have yet to be updated on the progress of the situation in light of multiple requests to the relevant officials.
Security forces know who was behind the deadly arson attack in Duma last month, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon confirmed during a meeting of the Likud youth branch Tuesday.
Ya'alon was asked whether security forces had apprehended those responsible for the Jewish terrorist attack which killed three members of the Dawabsheh family, to which he answered, "We know who is responsible, but we will not expose those findings in order to protect our intelligence sources."
Ya'alon arrived at the ceremony, a festive event welcoming the New Year with the Likud youth, and referred to the incident which shocked the whole country.
"We are facing difficulties in establishing solid evidence," Ya'alon said to the attendees. "Right now we are not prosecuting those responsible in order to not expose our intelligence sources in court."
Ya'alon reaffirmed his comments during a Thursday a briefing at the Kirya military base, which centered on the lack of progress made in the Shin Bet investigation. He compared the current situation faced by the defense establishment to attempts at solving the investigations of two terrorist attacks in the early 1990s, which were thought to have been carried out by terrorists from the Popular Front during his time as commander of the Judea and Samarea division.
"We didn’t have enough evidence at that point to charge them, even though we know that they had carried out the attacks," he said. "So we arrested 59 members of the Popular Front who lived in the Ramallah area, and placed them in an extended six month administrative detention, and they were released after two years," he added.
"The attacks stopped immediately after the arrests, but resumed soon after their release. We won't stop our efforts to gather the evidence which will lead to indictments of those responsible for the Duma attack," Ya'alon concluded. Naser Dawabsheh, a member of the family, responded to the statement saying, "Ya'alon's statement is not justified, Israel must immediately expose the murderers. They burned the whole society and not just Duma."
Dawabsheh continued to say, "I know the attack was a major incident for Israel, and that Israel wants to arrest them in order to show the world that it is a country which chases and apprehends murderers." But he also added that, "Even if they will be arrested, what will happen then? The court will just say they are crazy, and they will live out their lives in some hotel like the murderers of Mohamed Abu- Khdeir."
Member of Knesset Aida Toma-Suleiman (Joint Arab List) reacted to Ya'alon's comments saying, "The Minister of Defense, who left the Dawabsheh family to die, continues his flagrant scornful attitude by saying that they will not prosecute the criminal murderers - in order to not expose their sources."
The Joint List MK continued to say, "Would it even be possible to think that the defense establishment would act the same way if a Jewish family was murdered. Ya'alon's remarks confirm the forgiving attitude within the system towards settler terrorism, which allows for the next murder." The Dawabsheh family home was set alight on July 31st. An initial investigation revealed that masked men threw Molotov cocktails into two homes, and spray painted "Long live the messiah king," and "revenge" in Hebrew on the walls.
The Dawabsheh family was staying in one of the homes, while the other was vacant. The family woke up as a result of the fire, and tried to escape the flames with two of their children, four-year-old Ahmed and eighteen-month-old Ali. The family managed to escape, however infant Ali died as a result of his burns. Saed Dawabsheh, Ali's father, succumbed to his injures a week later. Ali's mother, Reham fought for her life for over a month, but she too succumbed to her wounds on Sunday. The condition of the family's eldest son, Ahmed, has improved slightly in recent weeks, but he continues to be treated in the intensive care unit at Beer Sheva's Soroka hospital.
Reham's funeral took place in Duma, with 2000 people in attendance. Marchers at her funeral procession could be heard chanting, "Oh, Hamas, oh, al Qassam, attack them, the blood of the martyrs is calling you," while others yelled "Stop the criminals and murderers."
Hussien, Reham's father, protested the lack of arrests made in the case. According to him. "There is no such thing as not finding them. It's not my job; it’s the Shin bet's. A whole family died here." According to the Dawabsheh family, they have yet to be updated on the progress of the situation in light of multiple requests to the relevant officials.
Human rights grassroots movement launches fundraising campaign to provide immediate assistance to 4-year-old and his grandfather; 'A broad mobilization of the Israeli public will send Dawabsheh family message of reform, solidarity, shared destiny and compassion.'
A human rights grassroots movement launched a campaign this week to raise money for four-year-old Ahmad Dawabsheh, who lost his father, mother and younger brother when in an arson attack at his family home in the village of Duma.
The campaign led by Tag Meir, which brings together organizations fighting hate crimes and racism, seeks to provide immediate assistance to the child and his grandfather Hussein.
Tag Meir said that "Israel will not be able to make up for the loss of the Dawabsheh family until it catches the murderers, and unfortunately so far no suspects have been caught in four arsons of inhabited houses in the past two years – in Sinjil, Khirbet Abu Falah, Khirbet Carmel and Duma. Ahmad and his grandfather can not wait for justice to be served."
The campaign began on Wednesday and has already raised a fifth of their initial goal. Donations will be directed into three main channels: The emergency channel, which will focus on Ahmad's medical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as assistance to his grandfather; the education channel, which will focus on future aid for the child; and new housing and support to the family.
Singer David Broza volunteered for The campaign, which is coordinated with the Dawabsheh family, and offered to perform for the donors. Other contributions are coming in from groups promoting coexistence in Jerusalem, who are offering donors tours of the Old City and the Mahane Yehuda market, a poetry workshop, a visit of the museum of Islam, and more.
Gadi Gvaryahu, chairman of Tag Meir, said that "A broad mobilization of the Israeli public will send the Dawabsheh family, and other minorities living amongs us, a message of reform, solidarity, shared destiny and compassion in the spirit of the Torah of Israel, the commandment to 'love him as yourself - for you were strangers in the land of Egypt' and 'peace, peace to the far and the near.'"
The grandfather, Hussein Dawabsheh, responded to the initiative, saying that "This is the opportunity to thank all those behind this campaign. We are proud of such people who support us."
"It is true that the initiative is welcome, but it will not bring back our lost family. I just hope that such incidents do not occur again," he added.
The Dawabsheh family home was set on fire at the end of July. Masked men threw Molotov cocktails into the house and fled. The baby Ali died in the fire and his father Saed died a week later from his wounds. The mother Reham's condition was extremely serious, and she eventually died. Ahmad's condition has improved significantly in recent weeks, but he remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Soroka Medical Center in Be'ersheva.
A human rights grassroots movement launched a campaign this week to raise money for four-year-old Ahmad Dawabsheh, who lost his father, mother and younger brother when in an arson attack at his family home in the village of Duma.
The campaign led by Tag Meir, which brings together organizations fighting hate crimes and racism, seeks to provide immediate assistance to the child and his grandfather Hussein.
Tag Meir said that "Israel will not be able to make up for the loss of the Dawabsheh family until it catches the murderers, and unfortunately so far no suspects have been caught in four arsons of inhabited houses in the past two years – in Sinjil, Khirbet Abu Falah, Khirbet Carmel and Duma. Ahmad and his grandfather can not wait for justice to be served."
The campaign began on Wednesday and has already raised a fifth of their initial goal. Donations will be directed into three main channels: The emergency channel, which will focus on Ahmad's medical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as assistance to his grandfather; the education channel, which will focus on future aid for the child; and new housing and support to the family.
Singer David Broza volunteered for The campaign, which is coordinated with the Dawabsheh family, and offered to perform for the donors. Other contributions are coming in from groups promoting coexistence in Jerusalem, who are offering donors tours of the Old City and the Mahane Yehuda market, a poetry workshop, a visit of the museum of Islam, and more.
Gadi Gvaryahu, chairman of Tag Meir, said that "A broad mobilization of the Israeli public will send the Dawabsheh family, and other minorities living amongs us, a message of reform, solidarity, shared destiny and compassion in the spirit of the Torah of Israel, the commandment to 'love him as yourself - for you were strangers in the land of Egypt' and 'peace, peace to the far and the near.'"
The grandfather, Hussein Dawabsheh, responded to the initiative, saying that "This is the opportunity to thank all those behind this campaign. We are proud of such people who support us."
"It is true that the initiative is welcome, but it will not bring back our lost family. I just hope that such incidents do not occur again," he added.
The Dawabsheh family home was set on fire at the end of July. Masked men threw Molotov cocktails into the house and fled. The baby Ali died in the fire and his father Saed died a week later from his wounds. The mother Reham's condition was extremely serious, and she eventually died. Ahmad's condition has improved significantly in recent weeks, but he remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Soroka Medical Center in Be'ersheva.
8 sept 2015
Clashes erupted in occupied East Jerusalem, overnight Monday, following the death of Riham Dawabsha, the mother of an 18-month-old toddler who was burned alive in an arson attack carried out by Israeli settlers in July.
The East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Wadi al-Joz, Silwan and al-Tour witnessed clashes, as Palestinians also marked a year since the death of Muhammad Sunuqrut, a teenager who was killed by Israeli police in Wadi al-Joz last year.
Witnesses told Ma'an News Agency that Israeli forces deployed across Wadi al-Joz, around noon on Monday and during the night, reportedly raided Sunuqrut's family home.
Soldiers were said to have fired a stun grenade, while locals responded by throwing stones and fireworks.
Separately, in the neighborhood of Silwan, clashes erupted in the Beir Ayoub area. A local monitoring group, the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, said that Israeli forces fired stun grenades indiscriminately, injuring two Palestinians.
The information center added that Israeli forces violently assaulted three Palestinian children on their way home in Silwan. The children were identified as Ahmad Shwiki, 15, Muhammad Kaqour, 14, and Muhammad Awwad, 14.
Clashes also erupted in the al-Tour neighborhood of East Jerusalem. Palestinian youth reportedly directed fireworks at the illegal Jewish outpost of Beit Orot.
An Israeli police spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
Riham Dawabsha succumbed to her wounds late Sunday, more than five weeks after she suffered third degree burns across 90 percent of her body during a settler attack on her family home in the northern West Bank.
Her 18-month old son, Ali, was killed in the attack, while her husband, Saad, succumbed to his wounds a little over a week later. She is survived only by her four-year-old son, Ahmad, who remains in hospital.
Hamas led Palestinian factions in a call for action in the wake of her death, calling on military wings to "strongly respond to Israel's reckless attitude toward the Palestinians."
PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat also called for Israel to be "stopped and held accountable," warning that if it is not, "Riham will not be the last victim of Israeli terror."
Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem were also marking the death of Muhammad Sunuqrat last year. The Palestinian teen died on Sept. 7, 2014, a week after he was shot by Israeli police in Wadi al-Joz.
His father told Ma'an that his son was walking to the mosque when he was shot, saying it was an unprovoked attack.
The East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Wadi al-Joz, Silwan and al-Tour witnessed clashes, as Palestinians also marked a year since the death of Muhammad Sunuqrut, a teenager who was killed by Israeli police in Wadi al-Joz last year.
Witnesses told Ma'an News Agency that Israeli forces deployed across Wadi al-Joz, around noon on Monday and during the night, reportedly raided Sunuqrut's family home.
Soldiers were said to have fired a stun grenade, while locals responded by throwing stones and fireworks.
Separately, in the neighborhood of Silwan, clashes erupted in the Beir Ayoub area. A local monitoring group, the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, said that Israeli forces fired stun grenades indiscriminately, injuring two Palestinians.
The information center added that Israeli forces violently assaulted three Palestinian children on their way home in Silwan. The children were identified as Ahmad Shwiki, 15, Muhammad Kaqour, 14, and Muhammad Awwad, 14.
Clashes also erupted in the al-Tour neighborhood of East Jerusalem. Palestinian youth reportedly directed fireworks at the illegal Jewish outpost of Beit Orot.
An Israeli police spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
Riham Dawabsha succumbed to her wounds late Sunday, more than five weeks after she suffered third degree burns across 90 percent of her body during a settler attack on her family home in the northern West Bank.
Her 18-month old son, Ali, was killed in the attack, while her husband, Saad, succumbed to his wounds a little over a week later. She is survived only by her four-year-old son, Ahmad, who remains in hospital.
Hamas led Palestinian factions in a call for action in the wake of her death, calling on military wings to "strongly respond to Israel's reckless attitude toward the Palestinians."
PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat also called for Israel to be "stopped and held accountable," warning that if it is not, "Riham will not be the last victim of Israeli terror."
Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem were also marking the death of Muhammad Sunuqrat last year. The Palestinian teen died on Sept. 7, 2014, a week after he was shot by Israeli police in Wadi al-Joz.
His father told Ma'an that his son was walking to the mosque when he was shot, saying it was an unprovoked attack.
A day after her death in an Israeli hospital from wounds sustained when Israeli settlers firebombed her family home just over a month ago, Reham Dawabsha's funeral was held in her village south of Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank on Monday.
Reham Dawabsha was 27, having just marked her birthday on September 5th, hours before she died.
Her baby, Ali Saad Dawabsha, was burnt to death during the Israeli terrorist attack by right-wing Israeli settlers on July 30th. Reham's husband, Saad, and 4-year old son, Ahmad, were also severely burned all over their bodies.
Her husband succumbed to his wounds on August 8th, the couple's wedding anniversary. Now 4-year old Ahmad is the only member of the family left alive. He remains in critical condition in an Israeli hospital, having suffered from third degree burns on 60% of his body.
Thousands of Palestinians gathered at the entrance to Douma village, south of the city of Nablus, on Monday, to mourn for Reham Dawabsha.
According to reporter Alison Deger from Mondoweiss, on Saturday, while receiving treatment at Tel Hashomer hospital, the largest medical facility in the Middle East, an infection in grafted skin spread throughout Riham’s body. Her organs began shutting down, according to her brother-in-law Nasser Dawabshe. Hospital staff then notified Riham’s family of her deteriorating condition, and assisted in arranging travel permits for the West Bank relatives into Israel.
But by the time they arrived, it was too late. Reham had succumbed to her wounds, joining her baby and husband in death.
At the funeral on Monday, many students from the school where Reham worked as a math teacher marched in the funeral procession, along with her fellow teachers and staff.
Numerous Palestinian public officials made statements, including legislators, cabinet members and the Governor of the Nablus District, Akram al-Rujoub.
In addition, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, issued a statement on the death of Reham Dawabsha, saying, “I am deeply saddened by the death of Reham Dawabsha on the eve of her 27th birthday...Reham is the third victim of the 31 July terrorist attack in Douma village which killed her husband and infant son, and wounded her four-year old son Ahmed.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and especially with little Ahmed, now orphaned due to this heinous act. I reiterate and strengthen my earlier call for justice. Acknowledging the wide condemnations issued at the time of the incident by Israeli and Palestinian leaders, I am nevertheless concerned by the lack of progress in identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators of this outrage.
"The tragedy of the Dawabsha family serves as a shocking example of the destructive nature of extremism. It is incumbent upon political, religious and community leaders to speak out and to act decisively against those who incite and perpetrate hatred on all sides."
Israeli authorities say they have been "unable to solve" the murder of the three members of the Dawabsha family by right-wing Israeli extremists, despite the fact that Palestinian residents of the village saw four men run from the house after setting it on fire, and returning to the nearby illegal Israeli settlement.
No one has been charged with the crime - several right-wing extremist leaders were brought in for questioning, but were released soon after. None were from the nearby illegal Israeli settlement where the eyewitnesses saw the men run to after perpetrating the attack.
Reham Dawabsha was 27, having just marked her birthday on September 5th, hours before she died.
Her baby, Ali Saad Dawabsha, was burnt to death during the Israeli terrorist attack by right-wing Israeli settlers on July 30th. Reham's husband, Saad, and 4-year old son, Ahmad, were also severely burned all over their bodies.
Her husband succumbed to his wounds on August 8th, the couple's wedding anniversary. Now 4-year old Ahmad is the only member of the family left alive. He remains in critical condition in an Israeli hospital, having suffered from third degree burns on 60% of his body.
Thousands of Palestinians gathered at the entrance to Douma village, south of the city of Nablus, on Monday, to mourn for Reham Dawabsha.
According to reporter Alison Deger from Mondoweiss, on Saturday, while receiving treatment at Tel Hashomer hospital, the largest medical facility in the Middle East, an infection in grafted skin spread throughout Riham’s body. Her organs began shutting down, according to her brother-in-law Nasser Dawabshe. Hospital staff then notified Riham’s family of her deteriorating condition, and assisted in arranging travel permits for the West Bank relatives into Israel.
But by the time they arrived, it was too late. Reham had succumbed to her wounds, joining her baby and husband in death.
At the funeral on Monday, many students from the school where Reham worked as a math teacher marched in the funeral procession, along with her fellow teachers and staff.
Numerous Palestinian public officials made statements, including legislators, cabinet members and the Governor of the Nablus District, Akram al-Rujoub.
In addition, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, issued a statement on the death of Reham Dawabsha, saying, “I am deeply saddened by the death of Reham Dawabsha on the eve of her 27th birthday...Reham is the third victim of the 31 July terrorist attack in Douma village which killed her husband and infant son, and wounded her four-year old son Ahmed.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and especially with little Ahmed, now orphaned due to this heinous act. I reiterate and strengthen my earlier call for justice. Acknowledging the wide condemnations issued at the time of the incident by Israeli and Palestinian leaders, I am nevertheless concerned by the lack of progress in identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators of this outrage.
"The tragedy of the Dawabsha family serves as a shocking example of the destructive nature of extremism. It is incumbent upon political, religious and community leaders to speak out and to act decisively against those who incite and perpetrate hatred on all sides."
Israeli authorities say they have been "unable to solve" the murder of the three members of the Dawabsha family by right-wing Israeli extremists, despite the fact that Palestinian residents of the village saw four men run from the house after setting it on fire, and returning to the nearby illegal Israeli settlement.
No one has been charged with the crime - several right-wing extremist leaders were brought in for questioning, but were released soon after. None were from the nearby illegal Israeli settlement where the eyewitnesses saw the men run to after perpetrating the attack.
7 sept 2015
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Reham Dawabsha 27
Israeli media sources have reported that Reham Dawabsha died of her serious wounds, shortly after midnight on Sunday night, after a deterioration in her health condition, despite a slight improvement earlier in the day. Her child was burnt to death in the attack, her husband died of his wounds later, and her other child, Ahmad, 5, suffered second-degree burns to 60% of his body. Dr. Mohammad Dawabsha told the Maan News Agency that doctors at the Israeli Hospital called him before Reham died, telling him that she might pass away at any given moment due to a sudden collapse in her health condition. Reham, 27 years of age, suffered serious burns after Israeli terrorists |
firebombed her home, in Douma village, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on July 31st, as the family slept.
The firebombing of the home caused the death of her child, Sa’ad Dawabsha was seriously injured, and died of his wounds on August 8th.
Video
The firebombing of the home caused the death of her child, Sa’ad Dawabsha was seriously injured, and died of his wounds on August 8th.
Video
1 sept 2015
Four Palestinian citizens were killed and 348 others were detained by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) during the past month of August, the Ahrar Center for Prisoner Studies and Human Rights documented.
According to the report, four Palestinian citizens were shot dead by the IOF and 348 others were arrested.
The Ahrar center identified the four casualties as 37-year-old Saad Mohamed Dawabsheh, who succumbed to the wounds sustained in an arson attack by Israeli settlers; 20-year-old Anas Montasser; Rafiq Taj, 21; and Mohamed Bassem al-Atrash, 22.
348 Palestinians were detained by the IOF across the West Bank, Occupied Jerusalem, and the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Occupied Jerusalem hit a record high of 109 arrestees, followed by 253 in West Bank provinces, and four in the Gaza Strip.
The report further documented an upsurge in Israeli attacks on Palestinian fishermen over the past few months.
22 women, including a journalist and Muslim sit-inners at al-Aqsa, were arrested during the month of August.
At least 35 Palestinian minors were also arrested during the same period.
According to the report, four Palestinian citizens were shot dead by the IOF and 348 others were arrested.
The Ahrar center identified the four casualties as 37-year-old Saad Mohamed Dawabsheh, who succumbed to the wounds sustained in an arson attack by Israeli settlers; 20-year-old Anas Montasser; Rafiq Taj, 21; and Mohamed Bassem al-Atrash, 22.
348 Palestinians were detained by the IOF across the West Bank, Occupied Jerusalem, and the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Occupied Jerusalem hit a record high of 109 arrestees, followed by 253 in West Bank provinces, and four in the Gaza Strip.
The report further documented an upsurge in Israeli attacks on Palestinian fishermen over the past few months.
22 women, including a journalist and Muslim sit-inners at al-Aqsa, were arrested during the month of August.
At least 35 Palestinian minors were also arrested during the same period.
23 aug 2015
Ibrahim Ihsan Dmeida 30
A member of Hamas’ military died on Sunday morning, sources in Gaza told Ma'an.
The sources said 30-year-old Ibrahim Ihsan Dmeida from Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip went into coma late on Saturday night shortly before he passed away.
Dmeida was being treated of wounds he sustained previously when an explosive device went off severing his foot and hand in 2006.
During 2006, Israeli Security Forces fired some 14,000 artillery shells into the Gaza Strip.
Israel has maintained a strict blockade on Gaza since 2006 that has severely limited all imports and exports, ravaging the economy of the tiny coastal enclave and causing recurring humanitarian crises. The blockade has had a particularly debilitating effect for hospitals and clinics in Gaza, as repeated Israeli military assaults have depleted their supplies even as restocking is an impossibility.
A member of Hamas’ military died on Sunday morning, sources in Gaza told Ma'an.
The sources said 30-year-old Ibrahim Ihsan Dmeida from Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip went into coma late on Saturday night shortly before he passed away.
Dmeida was being treated of wounds he sustained previously when an explosive device went off severing his foot and hand in 2006.
During 2006, Israeli Security Forces fired some 14,000 artillery shells into the Gaza Strip.
Israel has maintained a strict blockade on Gaza since 2006 that has severely limited all imports and exports, ravaging the economy of the tiny coastal enclave and causing recurring humanitarian crises. The blockade has had a particularly debilitating effect for hospitals and clinics in Gaza, as repeated Israeli military assaults have depleted their supplies even as restocking is an impossibility.
22 aug 2015
A report issued by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) showed the escalation of Israeli violations against Palestinian civilians in their occupied territories during 11-17 August, 2015.
OCHA revealed that Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinians, 21 and 22 years old, in two separate incidents on 15 and 17 August respectively, reportedly following the stabbing of Israeli soldiers near Beita village and at the Z’atara checkpoint, both in the Nablus governorate.
The UN office pointed out that a Palestinian woman died from wounds sustained the previous week, when unexploded ordnance (UXO) detonated in a house in Rafah, bringing to five the number of fatalities from the incident, and injuries to over 50, according to medical sources. Since the cease-fire of August 2014, 16 Palestinians, including one child, have been killed in UXO incidents, and over 170, including 22 children, injured.
During the week, 27 Palestinians, including five children, were injured across the West Bank, during clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian stone-throwers, it pointed out.
The majority of injuries (21) took place during the weekly demonstration in Kafr Qaddum (Qalqiliya) against the closure of the village’s main entrance. In one incident, a 52-year-old man and land owner participating in a demonstration against the construction of the Barrier in Beit Jala (Bethlehem) was hospitalized due to heart failure complications, following an altercation with an Israeli soldier, OCHA added.
It documented that the Israeli forces arrested 78 Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territories, the vast majority in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, one Palestinian was arrested as he arrived at Erez Crossing, after he had received a permit to travel into the West Bank. "Four other Palestinians were arrested near the fence surrounding Gaza, after crossing into Israel without Israeli authorization."
Three Israeli settler attacks resulting in injury to Palestinians and their property were recorded. These include the physical assault of two Palestinians, 16 and 18 years old, in ‘Azzun ‘Atma (Qalqiliya) and a 31-year-old Palestinian was physically assaulted while working in the settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev located in the Jerusalem governorate. An arson attack was recorded in the Bedouin community of ‘Ein Samiya (Ramallah), resulting in damage to a residential tent, it highlighted.
Additionally (not included in the count), a ten-year-old child was injured when run over by an Israeli-plated vehicle near Yatma (Nablus); and clashes erupted between Palestinians and around 15 Israeli settlers after the latter raided the village of Awarta (Nablus), and reportedly attempted to kidnap two Palestinians, the UN report pointed out.
According to Israeli media, one Israeli settler was injured as a result of Palestinian stone-throwing at Israeli-plated vehicles near Beit Ummar (Hebron), it stated.
OCHA mentioned, in its report, that the Israeli authorities demolished 35 Palestinian-owned structures, including six donor-funded and 16 residential structures across the West Bank, for lack of Israeli-issued building permits, displacing a total of 92 Palestinians, including 55 children, and otherwise affecting 81 Palestinians.
Of the total, 78 Palestinians, including 49 children, were displaced in the communities of Az Za’ayyem Bedouin, Khan al Ahmar Abu Falah, Bir Miskoob and Wadi Sneysel on 17 August, the largest number of people displaced in the West Bank in a single day since October 2012, it underlined.
The report said these are among the 46 Area C Bedouin communities in the central West Bank at risk of forcible transfer due to a plan advanced by the Israeli authorities to relocate the residents to one of three designated sites.
The remaining 14 Palestinians were displaced in Al-Jiftlik Abu al ‘Ajaj community (Jericho governorate) in the Jordan Valley on 11 August. This is the 15th time the residents of Al-Jiftlik Abu al ‘Ajaj have experienced demolition incidents since 2014, it highlighted.
OCHA’s report stated that in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces opened fire towards civilians in the Access Restricted Areas (ARA) on land and at sea, on at least nine occasions. No casualties were reported. On four occasions Israeli forces entered and leveled land inside Gaza.
Also in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians held 29 demonstrations, primarily in protest against a possible reduction in UNRWA services due to the Agency’s financial crisis, and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention centers, namely, Mohammed Allan who has been on hunger strike for over 60 days in protest at his administrative detention without charge or trial since November 2014, it added.
The UN report pointed out that the Egyptian authorities exceptionally opened the Rafah crossing on 17 August in both directions, for the first time since 25 June, allowing 949 Palestinians into Gaza, and 474 Palestinians, mainly patients, students and dual nationals to exit Gaza. The Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing has been continuously closed, including for humanitarian assistance, since 24 October 2014, except for 26 days of partial openings.
OCHA revealed that Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinians, 21 and 22 years old, in two separate incidents on 15 and 17 August respectively, reportedly following the stabbing of Israeli soldiers near Beita village and at the Z’atara checkpoint, both in the Nablus governorate.
The UN office pointed out that a Palestinian woman died from wounds sustained the previous week, when unexploded ordnance (UXO) detonated in a house in Rafah, bringing to five the number of fatalities from the incident, and injuries to over 50, according to medical sources. Since the cease-fire of August 2014, 16 Palestinians, including one child, have been killed in UXO incidents, and over 170, including 22 children, injured.
During the week, 27 Palestinians, including five children, were injured across the West Bank, during clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian stone-throwers, it pointed out.
The majority of injuries (21) took place during the weekly demonstration in Kafr Qaddum (Qalqiliya) against the closure of the village’s main entrance. In one incident, a 52-year-old man and land owner participating in a demonstration against the construction of the Barrier in Beit Jala (Bethlehem) was hospitalized due to heart failure complications, following an altercation with an Israeli soldier, OCHA added.
It documented that the Israeli forces arrested 78 Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territories, the vast majority in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, one Palestinian was arrested as he arrived at Erez Crossing, after he had received a permit to travel into the West Bank. "Four other Palestinians were arrested near the fence surrounding Gaza, after crossing into Israel without Israeli authorization."
Three Israeli settler attacks resulting in injury to Palestinians and their property were recorded. These include the physical assault of two Palestinians, 16 and 18 years old, in ‘Azzun ‘Atma (Qalqiliya) and a 31-year-old Palestinian was physically assaulted while working in the settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev located in the Jerusalem governorate. An arson attack was recorded in the Bedouin community of ‘Ein Samiya (Ramallah), resulting in damage to a residential tent, it highlighted.
Additionally (not included in the count), a ten-year-old child was injured when run over by an Israeli-plated vehicle near Yatma (Nablus); and clashes erupted between Palestinians and around 15 Israeli settlers after the latter raided the village of Awarta (Nablus), and reportedly attempted to kidnap two Palestinians, the UN report pointed out.
According to Israeli media, one Israeli settler was injured as a result of Palestinian stone-throwing at Israeli-plated vehicles near Beit Ummar (Hebron), it stated.
OCHA mentioned, in its report, that the Israeli authorities demolished 35 Palestinian-owned structures, including six donor-funded and 16 residential structures across the West Bank, for lack of Israeli-issued building permits, displacing a total of 92 Palestinians, including 55 children, and otherwise affecting 81 Palestinians.
Of the total, 78 Palestinians, including 49 children, were displaced in the communities of Az Za’ayyem Bedouin, Khan al Ahmar Abu Falah, Bir Miskoob and Wadi Sneysel on 17 August, the largest number of people displaced in the West Bank in a single day since October 2012, it underlined.
The report said these are among the 46 Area C Bedouin communities in the central West Bank at risk of forcible transfer due to a plan advanced by the Israeli authorities to relocate the residents to one of three designated sites.
The remaining 14 Palestinians were displaced in Al-Jiftlik Abu al ‘Ajaj community (Jericho governorate) in the Jordan Valley on 11 August. This is the 15th time the residents of Al-Jiftlik Abu al ‘Ajaj have experienced demolition incidents since 2014, it highlighted.
OCHA’s report stated that in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces opened fire towards civilians in the Access Restricted Areas (ARA) on land and at sea, on at least nine occasions. No casualties were reported. On four occasions Israeli forces entered and leveled land inside Gaza.
Also in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians held 29 demonstrations, primarily in protest against a possible reduction in UNRWA services due to the Agency’s financial crisis, and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention centers, namely, Mohammed Allan who has been on hunger strike for over 60 days in protest at his administrative detention without charge or trial since November 2014, it added.
The UN report pointed out that the Egyptian authorities exceptionally opened the Rafah crossing on 17 August in both directions, for the first time since 25 June, allowing 949 Palestinians into Gaza, and 474 Palestinians, mainly patients, students and dual nationals to exit Gaza. The Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing has been continuously closed, including for humanitarian assistance, since 24 October 2014, except for 26 days of partial openings.
Islamic Jihad Movement denied in a statement issued Saturday that any of its members were in the car that has been targeted in an Israeli air strike on the Syrian Golan Heights on Friday.
The Syrian state TV source reported Friday that an Israeli air strike hit a car in a village in the Syrian Golan, killing five civilians.
An Israeli military official claimed that the people killed were “Palestinian militants from Islamic Jihad.”
"These are all lies ... Islamic Jihad has no armed presence outside Palestine," a group spokesman said.
The Israeli allegations aim at mixing up cards and creating flimsy pretexts to carry out attacks, he added.
The Syrian state TV source reported Friday that an Israeli air strike hit a car in a village in the Syrian Golan, killing five civilians.
An Israeli military official claimed that the people killed were “Palestinian militants from Islamic Jihad.”
"These are all lies ... Islamic Jihad has no armed presence outside Palestine," a group spokesman said.
The Israeli allegations aim at mixing up cards and creating flimsy pretexts to carry out attacks, he added.
21 aug 2015
The Israeli Air Force carried out Friday a drone strike on Quneitra area in the Golan Heights, killing five civilians, Syrian state TV reported.
On the other hand, Israeli military sources claimed that Israeli Air Force targeted a car carrying members responsible for firing rockets yesterday in the Galilee and occupied Golan.
The Israeli military did not comment on the reported casualties but said it carried out a raid Friday morning on "part of the terror cell responsible for the rocket fire at northern Israel on Thursday."
Spokesperson for Israeli Army said Iran and Islamic Jihad movement were behind Thursday's rocket attack.
For its part, the Islamic Jihad Movement categorically denied the Israeli claim that it was responsible for firing rockets from Syria at the Galilee.
Earlier Thursday, Israel's channel 10 quoted an Israeli military source as saying that the armed wing of Islamic Jihad had fired, at the behest of Iran, four rockets from Syria at the Israeli side of the upper Galilee.
Israeli raid on Syria kills 5 civilians
At least five civilians have reportedly been killed in an Israeli air strike on an area in Syria’s strategic southwestern province of Quneitra close to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Syria’s state-run television network reported that the attack targeted a "civilian car" in the village of Kom, located some 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of the capital, Damascus, before midnight Thursday, and close to a popular market.
Quneitra governor Ahmad Sheikh Abdul-Qader said the airstrike was carried out on the road leading to the village of Khan Arnabeh, which lies near Kom.
The development came a day after Israeli military aircraft bombed an area in Quneitra in what the Tel Aviv regime claimed was a response to an earlier rocket attack from the Syrian soil into northern Israel. The Israeli attack left one person dead and seven others wounded, Syrian TV reported.
The Israeli military said in a statement on Thursday that “four rockets were launched from the Syrian Golan Heights, landing in the Upper Galilee” mountainous area near the Lebanese border and the Israeli-occupied side of Golan. “No injuries have been reported” due to the incident, according to the statement.
The Israeli military also released a statement, saying, "This was the work of (Palestinian) Islamic Jihad... and we consider the Syrian government responsible for the firing and it will suffer the consequences."
The Syrian government says Tel Aviv and its Western and regional allies are aiding the Takfiri terrorist groups operating inside Syria.
The Syrian army has repeatedly seized huge quantities of Israeli-made weapons and advanced military equipment from the foreign-backed militants inside Syria.
The foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which flared in March 2011, has reportedly claimed more than 240,000 lives up until now.
The United Nations says the militancy has displaced more than 7.2 million Syrians internally, and forced over four million others to take refuge in neighboring countries, including Jordan and Lebanon.
Israeli army kills Islamic Jihad members in Syria airstrikes
Israel's army targeted members of Islamic Jihad on Friday in the Syrian Golan Heights, a spokesperson said, in attacks which killed at least five people.
Syrian state television reported that five unarmed civilians were killed in the raids, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said the strikes killed two pro-regime militiamen travelling in a car.
An Israeli army spokesperson said the attacks targeted Islamic Jihad members, without specifying how many were killed.
It followed more than a dozen Israeli raids on Syrian army positions in the Golan Heights on Thursday, which killed at least one person, in response to cross-border rocket fire which Israel blamed on Islamic Jihad.
On Thursday, Islamic Jihad denied Israeli reports claiming that the group took responsibility for rocket fire from Syria into northern Israel. Islamic Jihad Spokesman Daoud Shibah told Ma'an: "We categorically deny that Islamic Jihad took responsibility for the rockets fired into the Galilee."
He added that such reports are "malignant" attempts to divert attention from Israeli crimes against prisoners and hunger striker Muhammad Allan.
Israel responds to Syria rocket fire with artillery, air strikes
Israel launched artillery and air strikes against Syrian army positions in the Golan Heights on Thursday night in response to rocket fire, military sources said.
The army launched "five to six" strikes against Syrian positions, the sources said, after four rockets crashed in the Galilee region of northern Israel and in the occupied Golan, in attacks that did not cause any casualties.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group had earlier reported that the Israeli army had launched strikes on regime positions in the Syrian-held sector of the Golan and that Syrian troops were killed in the strikes.
The state-run Syrian news agency SANA for its part said an Israeli helicopter had fired rockets on Quneitra in the Syrian sector of the Golan Heights. The strikes hit two local government buildings but caused only material damage, it said.
Israel had warned the government in war-wracked Syria that it would "suffer the consequences" after Thursday's rocket attacks, which it said had been masterminded by a senior Iranian official. "This was the work of Islamic Jihad, an organisation financed and working for Iran, and we consider the Syrian government responsible for the firing and it will suffer the consequences," the army had said in a statement.
It was referring to a Palestinian political party which is based in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, in a statement, accused Iran of seeking to "open a new terrorist front against Israel on the Golan Heights".
Thursday's tit-for-tat strikes came as Muhammad Allan, a Palestinian detainee who Islamic Jihad says is one of its members, ended a two-month hunger strike over his detention without trial by the Israeli authorities.
The Islamic Jihad denied the military's accusation, saying it was not behind the rocket fire. "This is an attempt by the (Israeli) occupier to turn attention away from the crimes it is committing against the Palestinian prisoners, and in particular Muhammad Allan," a statement by the group said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yaalon visited northern Israel on Tuesday to meet military officials. Israel seized 1,200 square kilometers (460 square miles) of the Golan from neighboring Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it 14 years later, in a move never recognized by the international community.
Since the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, the Golan has been tense, with a growing number of rockets and mortar rounds hitting the Israeli side, mostly stray, prompting occasional armed responses.
Islamic Jihad denies responsibility for rocket attack on Galilee
The Islamic Jihad Movement has categorically denied the Israeli claim that it was responsible for firing rockets from Syria at the occupied land of Galilee.
Spokesman for the Movement Dawoud Shihab described the Israeli claim in this regard as a barefaced attempt to divert attention from the issue of prisoner Mohamed Allan.
Shihab stressed that the weapon of Islamic Jihad is only used inside occupied Palestine, warning Israel of fabricating lies to justify intended attacks on the Movement and its leaders.
Israel's channel 10 quoted an Israeli military source as saying that the armed wing of Islamic Jihad had fired, at the behest of Iran, four rockets from Syria at the Israeli side of the upper Galilee.
On the other hand, Israeli military sources claimed that Israeli Air Force targeted a car carrying members responsible for firing rockets yesterday in the Galilee and occupied Golan.
The Israeli military did not comment on the reported casualties but said it carried out a raid Friday morning on "part of the terror cell responsible for the rocket fire at northern Israel on Thursday."
Spokesperson for Israeli Army said Iran and Islamic Jihad movement were behind Thursday's rocket attack.
For its part, the Islamic Jihad Movement categorically denied the Israeli claim that it was responsible for firing rockets from Syria at the Galilee.
Earlier Thursday, Israel's channel 10 quoted an Israeli military source as saying that the armed wing of Islamic Jihad had fired, at the behest of Iran, four rockets from Syria at the Israeli side of the upper Galilee.
Israeli raid on Syria kills 5 civilians
At least five civilians have reportedly been killed in an Israeli air strike on an area in Syria’s strategic southwestern province of Quneitra close to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Syria’s state-run television network reported that the attack targeted a "civilian car" in the village of Kom, located some 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of the capital, Damascus, before midnight Thursday, and close to a popular market.
Quneitra governor Ahmad Sheikh Abdul-Qader said the airstrike was carried out on the road leading to the village of Khan Arnabeh, which lies near Kom.
The development came a day after Israeli military aircraft bombed an area in Quneitra in what the Tel Aviv regime claimed was a response to an earlier rocket attack from the Syrian soil into northern Israel. The Israeli attack left one person dead and seven others wounded, Syrian TV reported.
The Israeli military said in a statement on Thursday that “four rockets were launched from the Syrian Golan Heights, landing in the Upper Galilee” mountainous area near the Lebanese border and the Israeli-occupied side of Golan. “No injuries have been reported” due to the incident, according to the statement.
The Israeli military also released a statement, saying, "This was the work of (Palestinian) Islamic Jihad... and we consider the Syrian government responsible for the firing and it will suffer the consequences."
The Syrian government says Tel Aviv and its Western and regional allies are aiding the Takfiri terrorist groups operating inside Syria.
The Syrian army has repeatedly seized huge quantities of Israeli-made weapons and advanced military equipment from the foreign-backed militants inside Syria.
The foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which flared in March 2011, has reportedly claimed more than 240,000 lives up until now.
The United Nations says the militancy has displaced more than 7.2 million Syrians internally, and forced over four million others to take refuge in neighboring countries, including Jordan and Lebanon.
Israeli army kills Islamic Jihad members in Syria airstrikes
Israel's army targeted members of Islamic Jihad on Friday in the Syrian Golan Heights, a spokesperson said, in attacks which killed at least five people.
Syrian state television reported that five unarmed civilians were killed in the raids, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said the strikes killed two pro-regime militiamen travelling in a car.
An Israeli army spokesperson said the attacks targeted Islamic Jihad members, without specifying how many were killed.
It followed more than a dozen Israeli raids on Syrian army positions in the Golan Heights on Thursday, which killed at least one person, in response to cross-border rocket fire which Israel blamed on Islamic Jihad.
On Thursday, Islamic Jihad denied Israeli reports claiming that the group took responsibility for rocket fire from Syria into northern Israel. Islamic Jihad Spokesman Daoud Shibah told Ma'an: "We categorically deny that Islamic Jihad took responsibility for the rockets fired into the Galilee."
He added that such reports are "malignant" attempts to divert attention from Israeli crimes against prisoners and hunger striker Muhammad Allan.
Israel responds to Syria rocket fire with artillery, air strikes
Israel launched artillery and air strikes against Syrian army positions in the Golan Heights on Thursday night in response to rocket fire, military sources said.
The army launched "five to six" strikes against Syrian positions, the sources said, after four rockets crashed in the Galilee region of northern Israel and in the occupied Golan, in attacks that did not cause any casualties.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group had earlier reported that the Israeli army had launched strikes on regime positions in the Syrian-held sector of the Golan and that Syrian troops were killed in the strikes.
The state-run Syrian news agency SANA for its part said an Israeli helicopter had fired rockets on Quneitra in the Syrian sector of the Golan Heights. The strikes hit two local government buildings but caused only material damage, it said.
Israel had warned the government in war-wracked Syria that it would "suffer the consequences" after Thursday's rocket attacks, which it said had been masterminded by a senior Iranian official. "This was the work of Islamic Jihad, an organisation financed and working for Iran, and we consider the Syrian government responsible for the firing and it will suffer the consequences," the army had said in a statement.
It was referring to a Palestinian political party which is based in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, in a statement, accused Iran of seeking to "open a new terrorist front against Israel on the Golan Heights".
Thursday's tit-for-tat strikes came as Muhammad Allan, a Palestinian detainee who Islamic Jihad says is one of its members, ended a two-month hunger strike over his detention without trial by the Israeli authorities.
The Islamic Jihad denied the military's accusation, saying it was not behind the rocket fire. "This is an attempt by the (Israeli) occupier to turn attention away from the crimes it is committing against the Palestinian prisoners, and in particular Muhammad Allan," a statement by the group said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yaalon visited northern Israel on Tuesday to meet military officials. Israel seized 1,200 square kilometers (460 square miles) of the Golan from neighboring Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it 14 years later, in a move never recognized by the international community.
Since the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, the Golan has been tense, with a growing number of rockets and mortar rounds hitting the Israeli side, mostly stray, prompting occasional armed responses.
Islamic Jihad denies responsibility for rocket attack on Galilee
The Islamic Jihad Movement has categorically denied the Israeli claim that it was responsible for firing rockets from Syria at the occupied land of Galilee.
Spokesman for the Movement Dawoud Shihab described the Israeli claim in this regard as a barefaced attempt to divert attention from the issue of prisoner Mohamed Allan.
Shihab stressed that the weapon of Islamic Jihad is only used inside occupied Palestine, warning Israel of fabricating lies to justify intended attacks on the Movement and its leaders.
Israel's channel 10 quoted an Israeli military source as saying that the armed wing of Islamic Jihad had fired, at the behest of Iran, four rockets from Syria at the Israeli side of the upper Galilee.
