15 june 2018
The Israeli occupation forces on Thursday evening arrested a Palestinian young man in al-Khalil for allegedly carrying a sharp weapon.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that a Palestinian youth was caught hiding a knife in his clothes near the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil.
The paper added that the Palestinian was detained by an Israeli border guard unit and taken for interrogation.
Arrests over alleged knife possession are witnessed on a regular basis in the West Bank. The detained Palestinians are usually accused of attempting to carry out stabbing attacks against Israeli soldiers or settlers.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that a Palestinian youth was caught hiding a knife in his clothes near the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil.
The paper added that the Palestinian was detained by an Israeli border guard unit and taken for interrogation.
Arrests over alleged knife possession are witnessed on a regular basis in the West Bank. The detained Palestinians are usually accused of attempting to carry out stabbing attacks against Israeli soldiers or settlers.
The Kites Unit at the Great March of Return announced that it will fly 5,000 balloons and fire kites on the first day of Eid al-Fitr towards Israeli settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip.
The Kites Unit said during a press conference on Thursday that it would fly 5,000 balloons and fire kites on the morning of the first day of Eid from all areas of Gaza Strip towards the 1948 occupied territories.
“At a time when the siege is intensifying, and in light of the ongoing aggression and the continuation of the Great March of Return, we are preparing balloons and fire kites to burn the lands of Israeli settlers,” the Unit added.
“We will continue with all our strength until our goals are achieved, and the settlers will not enjoy security and stability until the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip is lifted,” said one of the unit's spokesmen.
The unit gave the occupation government a few days to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip, “Otherwise, we will make settlers living around the Gaza Strip live, just like us, under the siege of fire kites and balloons. The siege will no longer burn us alone.”
The spokesman pointed out that young people have developed their work individually and collectively, and that they will use balloons that will reach up to more than 40 kilometers to increase the area of fire.
Meanwhile, an Israeli drone targeted on Thursday a group of Palestinian youths east of al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
One of the survivors of the raid told the PIC: “The youths were flying fire kites and balloons from tents erected at the Great March of Return, before they were targeted by a drone with a missile that fell next to them and caused material damage to one of the tents.”
Two and a half hours later, a drone fired a second missile at another group preparing to launch kites, causing material damage to a water tank inside one of the tents and no injuries were reported.
Israeli settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip had suffered significant losses by those fire kites and balloons after vast tracts of their fields were damaged by resultant fires.
The Kites Unit said during a press conference on Thursday that it would fly 5,000 balloons and fire kites on the morning of the first day of Eid from all areas of Gaza Strip towards the 1948 occupied territories.
“At a time when the siege is intensifying, and in light of the ongoing aggression and the continuation of the Great March of Return, we are preparing balloons and fire kites to burn the lands of Israeli settlers,” the Unit added.
“We will continue with all our strength until our goals are achieved, and the settlers will not enjoy security and stability until the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip is lifted,” said one of the unit's spokesmen.
The unit gave the occupation government a few days to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip, “Otherwise, we will make settlers living around the Gaza Strip live, just like us, under the siege of fire kites and balloons. The siege will no longer burn us alone.”
The spokesman pointed out that young people have developed their work individually and collectively, and that they will use balloons that will reach up to more than 40 kilometers to increase the area of fire.
Meanwhile, an Israeli drone targeted on Thursday a group of Palestinian youths east of al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
One of the survivors of the raid told the PIC: “The youths were flying fire kites and balloons from tents erected at the Great March of Return, before they were targeted by a drone with a missile that fell next to them and caused material damage to one of the tents.”
Two and a half hours later, a drone fired a second missile at another group preparing to launch kites, causing material damage to a water tank inside one of the tents and no injuries were reported.
Israeli settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip had suffered significant losses by those fire kites and balloons after vast tracts of their fields were damaged by resultant fires.
13 june 2018
Violent clashes broke out on Wednesday evening after the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed the southern entrance to Nablus city in the northern West Bank.
A local source reported that clashes erupted between dozens of Palestinian youths and the IOF after the latter raided Nablus city coming from Huwara military checkpoint.
Meanwhile, a group of Palestinian youths attacked settler vehicles near Har Brakha settlement with stones and fireworks.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers were later deployed in large numbers in Kafr Qalil town in search for the youths.
A local source reported that clashes erupted between dozens of Palestinian youths and the IOF after the latter raided Nablus city coming from Huwara military checkpoint.
Meanwhile, a group of Palestinian youths attacked settler vehicles near Har Brakha settlement with stones and fireworks.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers were later deployed in large numbers in Kafr Qalil town in search for the youths.
11 june 2018
Israeli sources have reported, Monday, that a young Israeli woman was seriously injured in Afula city, allegedly after being stabbed by a Palestinian from northern West Bank.
Israeli daily Haaretz said the woman, 18 years of age, suffered severe wounds in the upper body, and was rushed to HaEmek Hospital.
The wounded woman managed to escape to a nearby café, where she was attacked and told people there that she was stabbed by “an Arab man.”
Haaretz added that the police chased and shot the suspected stabber, after he escaped the scene, and arrested him in possession of a knife.
The police opened an investigation into the incident, including the motives, and said that the detained man is from Jenin city, in northern West Bank.
Israeli Ynet News said the police shot the Palestinian, in his 30s, in his legs, after he “refused orders to stop, and started running.”
It also said that the circumstances of the attack remained unclear, and that the police have refused to confirm whether it was related to the conflict. video
Israeli daily Haaretz said the woman, 18 years of age, suffered severe wounds in the upper body, and was rushed to HaEmek Hospital.
The wounded woman managed to escape to a nearby café, where she was attacked and told people there that she was stabbed by “an Arab man.”
Haaretz added that the police chased and shot the suspected stabber, after he escaped the scene, and arrested him in possession of a knife.
The police opened an investigation into the incident, including the motives, and said that the detained man is from Jenin city, in northern West Bank.
Israeli Ynet News said the police shot the Palestinian, in his 30s, in his legs, after he “refused orders to stop, and started running.”
It also said that the circumstances of the attack remained unclear, and that the police have refused to confirm whether it was related to the conflict. video
10 june 2018
The Israeli occupation army has claimed a bunch of its soldiers escaped an attempt to run them over by a Palestinian driver at dawn Sunday during their presence in Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem, northwest of the West Bank.
According to the army radio, a Palestinian car boarded by Palestinians was accelerating towards a group of soldiers, who immediately opened fire at it.
After the shooting, the soldiers rounded up four passengers aboard the car and took them blindfolded and handcuffed to an interrogation center.
According to the army radio, a Palestinian car boarded by Palestinians was accelerating towards a group of soldiers, who immediately opened fire at it.
After the shooting, the soldiers rounded up four passengers aboard the car and took them blindfolded and handcuffed to an interrogation center.
9 june 2018
A group of Palestinian youths survived an Israeli airstrike in Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip, on Saturday afternoon.
Local sources reported that an Israeli drone fired one missile at a group of Palestinian youths without resulting in any casualties.
A spokesman for the Israeli occupation army claimed that an Israeli drone carried out a warning shot against a group of Palestinian youths in northern Gaza who were preparing to launch flaming kites and balloons toward neighboring Israeli settlements.
He continued to say that the Israeli army will act to prevent the use of flaming kites in all possible ways.
The Israeli army has failed to stop the use of flaming kites launched by peaceful protesters in Gaza on almost a daily basis in response to the Israeli crimes.
In another context, Hebrew media sources reported that the Israeli army on Saturday arrested a Palestinian who broke through the eastern border fence into Nahal Oz area in the 1948 occupied territories and found a slingshot in his possession.
Local sources reported that an Israeli drone fired one missile at a group of Palestinian youths without resulting in any casualties.
A spokesman for the Israeli occupation army claimed that an Israeli drone carried out a warning shot against a group of Palestinian youths in northern Gaza who were preparing to launch flaming kites and balloons toward neighboring Israeli settlements.
He continued to say that the Israeli army will act to prevent the use of flaming kites in all possible ways.
The Israeli army has failed to stop the use of flaming kites launched by peaceful protesters in Gaza on almost a daily basis in response to the Israeli crimes.
In another context, Hebrew media sources reported that the Israeli army on Saturday arrested a Palestinian who broke through the eastern border fence into Nahal Oz area in the 1948 occupied territories and found a slingshot in his possession.
7 june 2018
The Israeli occupation army has announced the formation of a special unit to deal with dozens of incendiary kites that are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli border areas.
The Hebrew media said that a small team has been assigned to intercept such kites in Gaza airspace immediately after they are launched.
After spotting the kite in the air, the team will fly a drone to drop it within 40 seconds before it enters Israeli airspace to cause damage, Israeli news reports stated.
According to the Israeli army, the kites, which have firebombs attached to them, have caused extensive damage to forests and fields near the border since the March of Return rallies kicked off on March 30.
Some 200 kites caused 198 fires, in which 9,000 dunums of cultivated land were burned, Israeli military statistics said.
The Hebrew media said that a small team has been assigned to intercept such kites in Gaza airspace immediately after they are launched.
After spotting the kite in the air, the team will fly a drone to drop it within 40 seconds before it enters Israeli airspace to cause damage, Israeli news reports stated.
According to the Israeli army, the kites, which have firebombs attached to them, have caused extensive damage to forests and fields near the border since the March of Return rallies kicked off on March 30.
Some 200 kites caused 198 fires, in which 9,000 dunums of cultivated land were burned, Israeli military statistics said.
6 june 2018
Hebrew sources reported that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday arrested a Palestinian citizen for allegedly attempting to carry out a car-ramming attack near Nablus, north of the West Bank.
Website "0404" said that the IOF chased the Palestinian who was driving a tractor near Emmanuel settlement near Nablus and arrested him.
The website claimed that the detainee attempted to hit a group of Israeli soldiers with his tractor.
The Palestinian detainee, whose identity is still unknown, was taken to an unknown destiny for interrogation.
Website "0404" said that the IOF chased the Palestinian who was driving a tractor near Emmanuel settlement near Nablus and arrested him.
The website claimed that the detainee attempted to hit a group of Israeli soldiers with his tractor.
The Palestinian detainee, whose identity is still unknown, was taken to an unknown destiny for interrogation.
5 june 2018
Public security minister says IDF snipers should shoot Palestinians in Gaza as they fly incendiary kites across the border into Israel; 'The IDF's targeted assassinations must also apply to these kite-flyers.'
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said Tuesday that Israeli snipers should shoot Palestinians in Gaza who are spotted flying incendiary kites over the border into Israel.
Palestinians are sending kites dangling coal embers or burning rags across the Gaza border to set fire to farmland and forests, in a new tactic that an Israeli minister said should be countered with "targeted assassinations".
"I expect the IDF to handle these kite-flyers exactly as they would any terrorist, and the IDF's targeted assassinations must also apply to these kite-flyers," Erdan said.
Israel has drafted in civilian drone enthusiasts as army reservists, instructing them to fly their remote-controlled aircraft into the kites, an Israeli general said.
"If their drone ends up getting lost in the process, we compensate them," the general told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The army has also fitted larger surveillance drones with weighted fishing lines or blades that can snag or slash kite strings in mid-air, the general said.
But he acknowledged the limitations of such measures, saying: "We'll probably end up having to shoot kite-flyers too."
According to Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, 600 such kites have been sent from the strip so far, while 400 have been intercepted by Israeli security forces using technological means.
“Two-hundred succeeded in reaching our territory and they burned 9,000 dunams of crops and forests,” Lieberman said on Monday, adding that Israel would not accept the kites as a daily norm.
"It began spontaneously. We never thought we would achieve such good results," said Shadi, one of five Palestinian teenagers preparing kites with fabric dipped in diesel and lubricant oil in a Gaza field.
"The idea is simple: use the simplest tools to cause damage and losses on the Occupation (Israel)," said Shadi, 19, wearing a "V for Vendetta" mask favored by protesters in many parts of the world and who, like the others, declined to give his last name.
No one has been hurt by the fires, but some 2,250 acres (910 hectares) of fields and nature reserves, already parched after a dry winter, have been burned by flames stoked by Mediterranean winds, causing $2.5 million in damage, Israel's government said.
Daniel Ben-David, a forestry official for Israel's quasi-governmental Jewish National Fund, said some kites had been decorated with swastikas or the Palestinian national colours, but more recently were made of transparent nylon sheeting.
Some had leaflets attached. "Prepare for a scorching summer," read one, in Hebrew.
In Gaza, kite-maker Shadi said his group had never used swastikas on their kites. He confirmed that transparent plastic was the best material as it made the kites almost invisible against the sky.
Even if the protests wind down, he and others will continue to send the kites—some of which carry the photos of Palestinians killed in the demonstrations—he said.
"Each kite costs us 10 shekels ($2.80). We pay it for it out of our own pockets," Shadi said.
A senior White House envoy, Jason Greenblatt, described the kites as "not harmless playthings or metaphors for freedom (but) propaganda and indiscriminate weapons".
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said Tuesday that Israeli snipers should shoot Palestinians in Gaza who are spotted flying incendiary kites over the border into Israel.
Palestinians are sending kites dangling coal embers or burning rags across the Gaza border to set fire to farmland and forests, in a new tactic that an Israeli minister said should be countered with "targeted assassinations".
"I expect the IDF to handle these kite-flyers exactly as they would any terrorist, and the IDF's targeted assassinations must also apply to these kite-flyers," Erdan said.
Israel has drafted in civilian drone enthusiasts as army reservists, instructing them to fly their remote-controlled aircraft into the kites, an Israeli general said.
"If their drone ends up getting lost in the process, we compensate them," the general told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The army has also fitted larger surveillance drones with weighted fishing lines or blades that can snag or slash kite strings in mid-air, the general said.
But he acknowledged the limitations of such measures, saying: "We'll probably end up having to shoot kite-flyers too."
According to Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, 600 such kites have been sent from the strip so far, while 400 have been intercepted by Israeli security forces using technological means.
“Two-hundred succeeded in reaching our territory and they burned 9,000 dunams of crops and forests,” Lieberman said on Monday, adding that Israel would not accept the kites as a daily norm.
"It began spontaneously. We never thought we would achieve such good results," said Shadi, one of five Palestinian teenagers preparing kites with fabric dipped in diesel and lubricant oil in a Gaza field.
"The idea is simple: use the simplest tools to cause damage and losses on the Occupation (Israel)," said Shadi, 19, wearing a "V for Vendetta" mask favored by protesters in many parts of the world and who, like the others, declined to give his last name.
No one has been hurt by the fires, but some 2,250 acres (910 hectares) of fields and nature reserves, already parched after a dry winter, have been burned by flames stoked by Mediterranean winds, causing $2.5 million in damage, Israel's government said.
Daniel Ben-David, a forestry official for Israel's quasi-governmental Jewish National Fund, said some kites had been decorated with swastikas or the Palestinian national colours, but more recently were made of transparent nylon sheeting.
Some had leaflets attached. "Prepare for a scorching summer," read one, in Hebrew.
In Gaza, kite-maker Shadi said his group had never used swastikas on their kites. He confirmed that transparent plastic was the best material as it made the kites almost invisible against the sky.
Even if the protests wind down, he and others will continue to send the kites—some of which carry the photos of Palestinians killed in the demonstrations—he said.
"Each kite costs us 10 shekels ($2.80). We pay it for it out of our own pockets," Shadi said.
A senior White House envoy, Jason Greenblatt, described the kites as "not harmless playthings or metaphors for freedom (but) propaganda and indiscriminate weapons".
The Israeli Shin Bet security service said a cell that planned anti-occupation attacks against Israeli leaders was nabbed in Occupied Jerusalem.
The cell allegedly planned to carry out attacks on the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, and the US consulate in Occupied Jerusalem.
The list of arrestees included Muhammed Jamal Rushd, a 30-year-old Palestinian from Shuafat refugee camp, in eastern Occupied Jerusalem, and the mastermind behind the anti-occupation plot.
The cell allegedly planned to carry out attacks on the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, and the US consulate in Occupied Jerusalem.
The list of arrestees included Muhammed Jamal Rushd, a 30-year-old Palestinian from Shuafat refugee camp, in eastern Occupied Jerusalem, and the mastermind behind the anti-occupation plot.
The International Red Cross have informed a Palestinian family from Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, that their son is the young man who was shot and killed, Monday, by Israeli soldiers at the border fence, in southern Gaza.
The slain Palestinian has been identified as Ramzi Najjar, a relative and a neighbor of the Palestinian medic, Razan Najjar, 22, who was shot and killed by Israeli forces while helping treat wounded protesters, on Friday June 1st, 2018.
He was shot, on Monday afternoon, near the border fence, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, after cutting sections of the border fence. Other Palestinians, who were with Ramzi, managed to escape unharmed.
The Israeli army is holding his body and refusing to transfer it back to his family and claimed that the Palestinian “was carrying an axe to kill Israelis.”
His sister said that Ramzi was saddened and angered by the death of Razan, and that he was telling her about the great stuff Razan is doing, describing her as the angel of mercy, helping all the wounded, and her ongoing care, dedication, selfless giving and support to the injured Palestinians.
She added that her brother and friends were always present at the Return Camp, helping the people, bringing them water, and doing whatever we could to assist.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qedra, the spokesperson of the Health Ministry in Gaza, said in Twitter and Facebook posts that the soldiers have killed 123 Palestinians, including 13 children, and injured 13672 others, including hundreds of suffered serious wounds, mainly after being shot with expanding bullets, since March 30th.
He denounced the Israeli army’s use of sniper fire to kill and main the protesters, and for using gas bombs of unknown components that cause serious complications, impacting the neurological and the respiratory systems.
Dr. al-Qedra also said that, besides killing the two medics, the soldiers injured 223 others, and caused damage to 37 ambulances, in addition to targeting Palestinian journalists, killing two, identified as Yasser Mortaja and Ahmad Abu Hussein, in addition to wounding 144 others.
The slain Palestinian has been identified as Ramzi Najjar, a relative and a neighbor of the Palestinian medic, Razan Najjar, 22, who was shot and killed by Israeli forces while helping treat wounded protesters, on Friday June 1st, 2018.
He was shot, on Monday afternoon, near the border fence, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, after cutting sections of the border fence. Other Palestinians, who were with Ramzi, managed to escape unharmed.
The Israeli army is holding his body and refusing to transfer it back to his family and claimed that the Palestinian “was carrying an axe to kill Israelis.”
His sister said that Ramzi was saddened and angered by the death of Razan, and that he was telling her about the great stuff Razan is doing, describing her as the angel of mercy, helping all the wounded, and her ongoing care, dedication, selfless giving and support to the injured Palestinians.
She added that her brother and friends were always present at the Return Camp, helping the people, bringing them water, and doing whatever we could to assist.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qedra, the spokesperson of the Health Ministry in Gaza, said in Twitter and Facebook posts that the soldiers have killed 123 Palestinians, including 13 children, and injured 13672 others, including hundreds of suffered serious wounds, mainly after being shot with expanding bullets, since March 30th.
He denounced the Israeli army’s use of sniper fire to kill and main the protesters, and for using gas bombs of unknown components that cause serious complications, impacting the neurological and the respiratory systems.
Dr. al-Qedra also said that, besides killing the two medics, the soldiers injured 223 others, and caused damage to 37 ambulances, in addition to targeting Palestinian journalists, killing two, identified as Yasser Mortaja and Ahmad Abu Hussein, in addition to wounding 144 others.
Palestinian young men at dawn Tuesday detonated a homemade explosive device at a military watchtower at the main entrance to Beit Ummar town, north of al-Khalil city in the occupied West Bank.
A reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) explained that violent clashes broke out at dawn between local young men and Israeli soldiers at the main entrance to Beit Ummar, during which an improvised bomb was thrown at the army watchtower there.
He added that the bomb exploded near the military tower, causing panic among the soldiers in the area.
Consequently, Israeli army reinforcements from the illegal settlement of Etzion rushed to the area, declared it a closed military zone, and launched a campaign to look for the youths who attacked the observation post.
Homes were ransacked, and passing cars on nearby roads were intercepted and searched during the campaign. No arrests have been made, according to local sources.
A reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) explained that violent clashes broke out at dawn between local young men and Israeli soldiers at the main entrance to Beit Ummar, during which an improvised bomb was thrown at the army watchtower there.
He added that the bomb exploded near the military tower, causing panic among the soldiers in the area.
Consequently, Israeli army reinforcements from the illegal settlement of Etzion rushed to the area, declared it a closed military zone, and launched a campaign to look for the youths who attacked the observation post.
Homes were ransacked, and passing cars on nearby roads were intercepted and searched during the campaign. No arrests have been made, according to local sources.
