29 mar 2015
Israeli forces opened fire on dozens of protesters marching on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip near Khan Younis on Sunday.
Witnesses said that Israeli forces opened fired on the protesters as they neared the border, adding that no injuries were reported.
Ma'an reports that the protest was called in opposition to the Israeli-administered blockade of the coastal strip as well as to delays in reconstruction.
Protesters were also commemorating the 39th Palestinian "Land Day."
Adham Abu Salima, spokesman for a local activist group, the National Committee for Breaking the Siege and Reconstruction, told Ma'an the protest had been called to mark "refusal" of the blockade and to stand up for Gazan families whose homes are in ruins.
Large swathes of the Gaza Strip remain in ruin following a 50-day Israeli assault last summer, which killed more than 2,300 Gazans and left 100,000 homeless.
However, reconstruction has been slow due to the restriction on imports the Israeli authorities impose as part of the blockade, which has been in place since 2007.
Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinian civilians near the border since the ceasefire agreement signed Aug. 26, 2014.
In February alone, there were a total of 26 incidents of shootings, incursions into the Strip, and arrests, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights.
The attacks come despite Israeli promises at the end of the ceasefire to ease restrictions on Palestinian access to the border region near the "security buffer zone."
A number of recent demonstrations in the occupied territories have marked Land Day, commemorating a general strike and marches that took place on Mar. 30, 1976 to protest Israeli land seizures.
Six unarmed Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured by Israeli forces that day.
See also: PA to "Pause" ICC Move in Exchange for Tax Revenues
Witnesses said that Israeli forces opened fired on the protesters as they neared the border, adding that no injuries were reported.
Ma'an reports that the protest was called in opposition to the Israeli-administered blockade of the coastal strip as well as to delays in reconstruction.
Protesters were also commemorating the 39th Palestinian "Land Day."
Adham Abu Salima, spokesman for a local activist group, the National Committee for Breaking the Siege and Reconstruction, told Ma'an the protest had been called to mark "refusal" of the blockade and to stand up for Gazan families whose homes are in ruins.
Large swathes of the Gaza Strip remain in ruin following a 50-day Israeli assault last summer, which killed more than 2,300 Gazans and left 100,000 homeless.
However, reconstruction has been slow due to the restriction on imports the Israeli authorities impose as part of the blockade, which has been in place since 2007.
Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinian civilians near the border since the ceasefire agreement signed Aug. 26, 2014.
In February alone, there were a total of 26 incidents of shootings, incursions into the Strip, and arrests, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights.
The attacks come despite Israeli promises at the end of the ceasefire to ease restrictions on Palestinian access to the border region near the "security buffer zone."
A number of recent demonstrations in the occupied territories have marked Land Day, commemorating a general strike and marches that took place on Mar. 30, 1976 to protest Israeli land seizures.
Six unarmed Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured by Israeli forces that day.
See also: PA to "Pause" ICC Move in Exchange for Tax Revenues
Dr. Essam Youssef, head of the Popular International Committee to Support Gaza Strip, urged the world along with the Arab and Islamic countries to save Gaza from a humanitarian disaster due to the continuation of the siege and the effects of the Israeli aggression and the delay in reconstruction.
In a statement on Sunday, Dr. Youssef stressed the necessity to work immediately on Gaza reconstruction.
He called on Egypt to allow the entry of all construction materials into the besieged enclave as part of its Arab and regional duty towards the Palestinian question.
He highlighted that the siege imposed on Gaza Strip is illegal, inhuman and immoral, emphasizing that the Arab leaders should strongly pressure for lifting the siege and obliging Israel to bear its responsibilities as an occupation power in full.
In a statement on Sunday, Dr. Youssef stressed the necessity to work immediately on Gaza reconstruction.
He called on Egypt to allow the entry of all construction materials into the besieged enclave as part of its Arab and regional duty towards the Palestinian question.
He highlighted that the siege imposed on Gaza Strip is illegal, inhuman and immoral, emphasizing that the Arab leaders should strongly pressure for lifting the siege and obliging Israel to bear its responsibilities as an occupation power in full.
Former US president Jimmy Carter has urged the international community to end Israel's blockade on the embattled Gaza Strip and to seriously engage at the highest levels with the Palestinians, Egypt and Israel in rebuilding it.
In an article written by Carter and published last Friday by Washington Post newspaper, he stated that the Western governments are called to pressure Israel to renounce its insistence on tracking every bag of cement allowed into Gaza.
"Western governments should push Israel to drop its insistence on tracking every bag of cement. The evidence suggests that such fine-grained monitoring may be impossible, but tunneling can be prevented with a supervised peace agreement."
"Further, by insisting on such oversight, Israel may be compromising its security in the short term, given the misery and volatility in Gaza. Instead, Israel should align the import-export regime for Gaza with that of the West Bank, and Gaza crossing points should be reopened."
The US ex-president also called on Israel to integrate the economy of Gaza with that of the West Bank to allow for more normal development.
He stressed the need for granting freedom to self-governed Palestinians under a peace agreement in order to bring security for them and the Israelis, but he noted that it would be difficult for any country to broker such agreement while the Palestinians were divided.
He finally underlined that even if there was no peace agreement, lifting the blockade on Gaza and reconstructing it could do much to avert a renewed round of war.
In an article written by Carter and published last Friday by Washington Post newspaper, he stated that the Western governments are called to pressure Israel to renounce its insistence on tracking every bag of cement allowed into Gaza.
"Western governments should push Israel to drop its insistence on tracking every bag of cement. The evidence suggests that such fine-grained monitoring may be impossible, but tunneling can be prevented with a supervised peace agreement."
"Further, by insisting on such oversight, Israel may be compromising its security in the short term, given the misery and volatility in Gaza. Instead, Israel should align the import-export regime for Gaza with that of the West Bank, and Gaza crossing points should be reopened."
The US ex-president also called on Israel to integrate the economy of Gaza with that of the West Bank to allow for more normal development.
He stressed the need for granting freedom to self-governed Palestinians under a peace agreement in order to bring security for them and the Israelis, but he noted that it would be difficult for any country to broker such agreement while the Palestinians were divided.
He finally underlined that even if there was no peace agreement, lifting the blockade on Gaza and reconstructing it could do much to avert a renewed round of war.
28 mar 2015
Anas Qdeh, 21, had no idea that waving the Palestinian flag and flashing the V sign is a crime for which he will be shot by the Israeli Occupation forces (IOF) which fired explosive bullets directly at his legs while he was with scores of citizens about 10 meters away from the security fence separating Khan Younis from 1948 occupied lands.
We will never give up on our land
Qdeh told the PIC reporter: "On Friday March 20, I headed to our land east of al-Sanati in Greater Abasan where many youths gather every Friday to stress that this is our land and that we will never give up on it even if Israel isolated it.
The IOF imposed a buffer zone adjacent to the security fence along the borderline with the Gaza Strip stretching for distances ranging from 300-700 meters deep into the Strip and shoots whoever enters it.
Qdeh clarified the circumstances of his injury saying: "One of my friends wanted to take a picture of me waving the Palestinian flag with the V sign while we were in our land which the IOF is preventing us from reaching in Greater Abasan east of Khan Younis. However, the IOF soldiers started shooting at us and I was hit with an explosive bullet."
Explosive bullet
The bullet hit one of the youth's legs, and the shrapnel scattered to hit his other leg and his cousin Fawzi Qdeh who was nearby. Anas lied on the ground profusely bleeding before he was rushed to hospital to be urgently treated.
His cousin Fawzi Qdeh, 23, said with a smile drawn on his face that a piece of shrapnel is still lodged in his left shoulder and doctors told him that it is difficult to extract it at this stage.
He clarified that he was rearing his goats in al-Santai lush fields, and when he saw the youths gathering and chanting he joined them to see what was going on and to take photos.
Every Friday, scores of Palestinians spontaneously gather near the security fence waving flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans.
We will never give up on our land
Qdeh told the PIC reporter: "On Friday March 20, I headed to our land east of al-Sanati in Greater Abasan where many youths gather every Friday to stress that this is our land and that we will never give up on it even if Israel isolated it.
The IOF imposed a buffer zone adjacent to the security fence along the borderline with the Gaza Strip stretching for distances ranging from 300-700 meters deep into the Strip and shoots whoever enters it.
Qdeh clarified the circumstances of his injury saying: "One of my friends wanted to take a picture of me waving the Palestinian flag with the V sign while we were in our land which the IOF is preventing us from reaching in Greater Abasan east of Khan Younis. However, the IOF soldiers started shooting at us and I was hit with an explosive bullet."
Explosive bullet
The bullet hit one of the youth's legs, and the shrapnel scattered to hit his other leg and his cousin Fawzi Qdeh who was nearby. Anas lied on the ground profusely bleeding before he was rushed to hospital to be urgently treated.
His cousin Fawzi Qdeh, 23, said with a smile drawn on his face that a piece of shrapnel is still lodged in his left shoulder and doctors told him that it is difficult to extract it at this stage.
He clarified that he was rearing his goats in al-Santai lush fields, and when he saw the youths gathering and chanting he joined them to see what was going on and to take photos.
Every Friday, scores of Palestinians spontaneously gather near the security fence waving flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans.
The Israeli Army Saturday opened
machine gunfire and launched a missile toward Palestinian agricultural
land along the eastern Gaza borders, according to WAFA correspondence.
A loud explosion and the sound of numerous shots were heard to the east of Al Shuja'eyya neighborhood, spreading a state of fear and panic among residents and their children, particularly school students nearby the area.
Israeli soldiers stationed at watch towers along the borders, to the east of Gaza city, fired of a missile and opened a hail of gunfire toward Palestinians' agricultural land, causing damages and financial losses to properties.
Israel has unanimously declared large swathes of land along the Gaza border a buffer zone, which extends between 300 and 500 meters from the border with Israel.
The Israeli army and border police have repeatedly opened fire through the border despite an Egyptian brokered ceasefire agreement reached on 26 Aug 2014. which was supposed to put an end to hostilities between Israel and Palestinian factions.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 17 percent of Gaza's total land area and 35 percent of its agricultural land were within the buffer zone as of 2010, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of more than 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
IOF opens fire at Palestinian farmers east of Gaza
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened machinegun fire at Palestinian farmers to the east of Gaza on Saturday morning.
A Palestinian field monitor said the IOF soldiers stationed in military bases and vehicles to the east of Zeitoun neighborhood in southeast Gaza City opened machinegun fire at Palestinian farmers and houses in that border area.
The shooting coincided with unusual moves of the IOF within the borderline in addition to intensive flying of surveillance drones. No casualties were reported.
The attack is another episode in the series of Israeli daily violations of the Cairo-brokered truce accord signed in the wake of last summer’s offensive on the besieged coastal enclave, which killed over 2,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
A loud explosion and the sound of numerous shots were heard to the east of Al Shuja'eyya neighborhood, spreading a state of fear and panic among residents and their children, particularly school students nearby the area.
Israeli soldiers stationed at watch towers along the borders, to the east of Gaza city, fired of a missile and opened a hail of gunfire toward Palestinians' agricultural land, causing damages and financial losses to properties.
Israel has unanimously declared large swathes of land along the Gaza border a buffer zone, which extends between 300 and 500 meters from the border with Israel.
The Israeli army and border police have repeatedly opened fire through the border despite an Egyptian brokered ceasefire agreement reached on 26 Aug 2014. which was supposed to put an end to hostilities between Israel and Palestinian factions.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 17 percent of Gaza's total land area and 35 percent of its agricultural land were within the buffer zone as of 2010, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of more than 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
IOF opens fire at Palestinian farmers east of Gaza
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened machinegun fire at Palestinian farmers to the east of Gaza on Saturday morning.
A Palestinian field monitor said the IOF soldiers stationed in military bases and vehicles to the east of Zeitoun neighborhood in southeast Gaza City opened machinegun fire at Palestinian farmers and houses in that border area.
The shooting coincided with unusual moves of the IOF within the borderline in addition to intensive flying of surveillance drones. No casualties were reported.
The attack is another episode in the series of Israeli daily violations of the Cairo-brokered truce accord signed in the wake of last summer’s offensive on the besieged coastal enclave, which killed over 2,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
Palestinian medical sources have reported, on Friday evening, that three Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation after Israeli soldiers fired gas bombs, and live rounds, targeting farmers in Palestinian lands, east of Rafah and Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The sources said the soldiers, stationed on military towers across the border fence with Gaza, targeted farmers and residents near ‘Abasan and Khuza’a towns, east of Khan Younis.
Three Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and received treatment by local medics.
The soldiers also fired gas bombs on villagers east of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
In addition, Israeli military war jets extensively flew over different parts of the Gaza Strip, while Israeli navy ships opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats in Gaza waters; no injuries were reported.
The sources said the soldiers, stationed on military towers across the border fence with Gaza, targeted farmers and residents near ‘Abasan and Khuza’a towns, east of Khan Younis.
Three Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and received treatment by local medics.
The soldiers also fired gas bombs on villagers east of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
In addition, Israeli military war jets extensively flew over different parts of the Gaza Strip, while Israeli navy ships opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats in Gaza waters; no injuries were reported.
25 mar 2015
Al-Qassam Brigades operative receives 15-year prison term for setting ambush in bid to kill or kidnap Israeli soldiers in the Strip during Operation Protective Edge.
A Be'er Sheva court sentenced a Hamas operative to 15-and-a-half years in prison on Tuesday for attempted murder in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge. The defendant had been arrested after an ambush he had set to kidnap Israeli soldiers was thwarted by the IDF's heavy artillery cover.
Mohammed Abu Draz joined the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades some five years ago and underwent training which included the building and deployment of explosive devices, urban warfare techniques, methods to infiltrate Israel, how to conduct ambushes against the IDF, and how to kidnap soldiers using terror tunnels.
During the summer war he was ordered to cause the deaths of soldiers and attempt a kidnapping in a bird to use the abducted troops as leverage to release Palestinian security detainees. Abu Draz received the directives from his Hamas commanders to hole up in a specified house near a mosque armed with an explosive device and set an ambush for Israeli soldiers.
Other operatives were instructed to wait by a tunnel dug near a kindergarten to either kill or kidnap soldiers. The militants were prevented from firing towards the soldiers only due to the heavy artillery cover from the IDF. Abu Draz and some of the other terrorists were arrested by the IDF within the house they had been using for the ambush.
In the ruling, the judges wrote that "there is no doubt that the defendant's acts were serious and grave. He placed IDF soldiers in imminent danger and it was only due to the skill of the soldiers that no lives were lost due to the actions of the defendants and his friends."
A Be'er Sheva court sentenced a Hamas operative to 15-and-a-half years in prison on Tuesday for attempted murder in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge. The defendant had been arrested after an ambush he had set to kidnap Israeli soldiers was thwarted by the IDF's heavy artillery cover.
Mohammed Abu Draz joined the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades some five years ago and underwent training which included the building and deployment of explosive devices, urban warfare techniques, methods to infiltrate Israel, how to conduct ambushes against the IDF, and how to kidnap soldiers using terror tunnels.
During the summer war he was ordered to cause the deaths of soldiers and attempt a kidnapping in a bird to use the abducted troops as leverage to release Palestinian security detainees. Abu Draz received the directives from his Hamas commanders to hole up in a specified house near a mosque armed with an explosive device and set an ambush for Israeli soldiers.
Other operatives were instructed to wait by a tunnel dug near a kindergarten to either kill or kidnap soldiers. The militants were prevented from firing towards the soldiers only due to the heavy artillery cover from the IDF. Abu Draz and some of the other terrorists were arrested by the IDF within the house they had been using for the ambush.
In the ruling, the judges wrote that "there is no doubt that the defendant's acts were serious and grave. He placed IDF soldiers in imminent danger and it was only due to the skill of the soldiers that no lives were lost due to the actions of the defendants and his friends."
Alternative Information Center (AIC)
Tel Aviv University (TAU) recently awarded scholarships to 850 students who took part in Israel's military attack on the Gaza Strip last summer.
The “President's Scholarship for Service in Operation Protective Edge”, up to NIS 2,000 per student, was awarded as tuition credit to the winners.
Tel Aviv University (TAU) recently awarded scholarships to 850 students who took part in Israel's military attack on the Gaza Strip last summer. The “President's Scholarship for Service in Operation Protective Edge”, up to NIS 2,000 per student, was awarded as tuition credit to the winners.
Already during the attack, which killed some 2,200 Palestinians and wounded over 10,800, Tel Aviv University President Joseph Klafter announced that such scholarships would be made available through a dedicated fundraising campaign.
At the height of the attack, TAU posted on its English-language website that “President Prof. Klafter expressed his deep appreciation for those students who have left their studies to serve their country, noting that the purpose of the scholarships is to help them catch up on class time they are missing so as to not jeopardize the completion of their degrees and research.”
Klafter was further quoted that “many TAU students and graduates have served in all of Israel’s wars and military operations, including in the current conflict, in roles throughout the various levels of command. Moreover, many of our researchers have won the Israel Defense Prize for their activities in the service of the State.”
Students doing a regular BA or MA programme at the university, who were students during the 2013-2014 academic year and served for at least seven days through an emergency military call-up during the attack, and who are continuing their studies in the 2014-2015 academic year, were eligible for the scholarship.
Tel Aviv University (TAU) recently awarded scholarships to 850 students who took part in Israel's military attack on the Gaza Strip last summer.
The “President's Scholarship for Service in Operation Protective Edge”, up to NIS 2,000 per student, was awarded as tuition credit to the winners.
Tel Aviv University (TAU) recently awarded scholarships to 850 students who took part in Israel's military attack on the Gaza Strip last summer. The “President's Scholarship for Service in Operation Protective Edge”, up to NIS 2,000 per student, was awarded as tuition credit to the winners.
Already during the attack, which killed some 2,200 Palestinians and wounded over 10,800, Tel Aviv University President Joseph Klafter announced that such scholarships would be made available through a dedicated fundraising campaign.
At the height of the attack, TAU posted on its English-language website that “President Prof. Klafter expressed his deep appreciation for those students who have left their studies to serve their country, noting that the purpose of the scholarships is to help them catch up on class time they are missing so as to not jeopardize the completion of their degrees and research.”
Klafter was further quoted that “many TAU students and graduates have served in all of Israel’s wars and military operations, including in the current conflict, in roles throughout the various levels of command. Moreover, many of our researchers have won the Israel Defense Prize for their activities in the service of the State.”
Students doing a regular BA or MA programme at the university, who were students during the 2013-2014 academic year and served for at least seven days through an emergency military call-up during the attack, and who are continuing their studies in the 2014-2015 academic year, were eligible for the scholarship.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stationed at two military positions to the east of central Gaza Strip opened heavy machinegun fire at Palestinian land on Tuesday night.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers in Malaka and Camera military sites opened indiscriminate and intensive fire at Palestinian land to the east of Juhr al-Deek village and Breij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip.
IOF daily opens fire at various Gaza border areas and on certain occasions enter into the enclave and bulldoze land.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers in Malaka and Camera military sites opened indiscriminate and intensive fire at Palestinian land to the east of Juhr al-Deek village and Breij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip.
IOF daily opens fire at various Gaza border areas and on certain occasions enter into the enclave and bulldoze land.
24 mar 2015
Israeli occupation forces, Monday morning, opened fire towards Palestinian farmers and agricultural lands east of the central Gaza Strip.
Witnesses told Safa news agency that Israeli soldiers and military vehicles that were stationed along the border and in military towers east of the central of Gaza strip, fired tear gas and live ammunition towards the farmers.
They pointed out, according to Al Ray, that the farmers tried to reach their agricultural lands near the border and that Israel prevented them by opening fire, with no causalities reported.
Israeli forces are firing on farmers and fishermen repeatedly and daily, in clear violation of the Egyptian brokered truce agreement signed between the Palestinian resistance and "Israel" under after the recent aggression on Gaza strip last summer.
Witnesses told Safa news agency that Israeli soldiers and military vehicles that were stationed along the border and in military towers east of the central of Gaza strip, fired tear gas and live ammunition towards the farmers.
They pointed out, according to Al Ray, that the farmers tried to reach their agricultural lands near the border and that Israel prevented them by opening fire, with no causalities reported.
Israeli forces are firing on farmers and fishermen repeatedly and daily, in clear violation of the Egyptian brokered truce agreement signed between the Palestinian resistance and "Israel" under after the recent aggression on Gaza strip last summer.
23 mar 2015
UNRWA commissioner-general Pierre Krahenbuhl has called Sunday on donor countries to honor the financial pledges they made for the Gaza Strip during the reconstruction conference in Cairo.
He also called on the Israeli authorities to lift the blockade imposed Gaza Strip since 2007.
During the inauguration of a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Krahenbuhl said that the blockade on the Gaza Strip was no longer acceptable.
The school is the first to be reconstructed in the Gaza Strip following the 51-day Israeli offensive that started in early July 2014.
He urged the international community and donor organizations to fulfill their pledges to help rebuild Gaza.
During his short speech, he also called for opening an investigation into targeting and attacks on UNRWA schools that left dozens of casualties during the Israeli summer aggression on the Strip.
Israel's latest offensive on the Gaza Strip left thousands of Palestinian homes and public facilities including UNRWA-run schools either in total or partial ruin.
He also called on the Israeli authorities to lift the blockade imposed Gaza Strip since 2007.
During the inauguration of a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Krahenbuhl said that the blockade on the Gaza Strip was no longer acceptable.
The school is the first to be reconstructed in the Gaza Strip following the 51-day Israeli offensive that started in early July 2014.
He urged the international community and donor organizations to fulfill their pledges to help rebuild Gaza.
During his short speech, he also called for opening an investigation into targeting and attacks on UNRWA schools that left dozens of casualties during the Israeli summer aggression on the Strip.
Israel's latest offensive on the Gaza Strip left thousands of Palestinian homes and public facilities including UNRWA-run schools either in total or partial ruin.
A Palestinian man inspects the damage at a UN school at the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip after the area was hit by Israeli shelling on July 30, 2014
The United Nations Palestine refugee agency UNRWA, on Sunday, inaugurated the first school associated with the organization to be built in the Gaza Strip since Israel's summer assault laid waste to hundreds of educational institutions.
The Khuzaa Preparatory School was inaugurated Sunday, according to Ma'an, and is the first of several schools the agency plans to build across the tiny coastal enclave, which saw homes, schools, and places of worship targeted repeatedly by Israeli bombs during the July-August offensive.
UNRWA commissioner-general Pierre Krähenbühl was present at the inauguration on Sunday, where he delivered a short speech urging the international community and donor organizations to fulfill their pledges to help rebuild Gaza.
The school is located in the town of Khuzaa, east of Khan Younis and near the Israeli border, an area severely damaged by Israel during the assault.
More than half of all homes in the town of around 10,000 were flattened by Israel. Many in the area still live in temporary housing as they wait for Israel to allow more reconstruction material into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade for the last eight years.
The school in Khuzaa is one of the first to go up to hopefully replace the more than 200 schools that sustained extensive damage due to Israeli bombing.
More than two dozen schools were completely demolished by Israeli attacks, while at least 232 were damaged.
During the war, hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans sheltered in UN-run schools.
As a result of Israeli attacks on the schools, scores of Palestinians were killed. UN officials complained that the killings occurred despite the fact that they had given the exact coordinates of the schools to Israeli authorities.
In total, more than 2,200 Palestinians were killed during the assault, around 11,000 were injured, and more than 100,000 were left homeless.
The United Nations Palestine refugee agency UNRWA, on Sunday, inaugurated the first school associated with the organization to be built in the Gaza Strip since Israel's summer assault laid waste to hundreds of educational institutions.
The Khuzaa Preparatory School was inaugurated Sunday, according to Ma'an, and is the first of several schools the agency plans to build across the tiny coastal enclave, which saw homes, schools, and places of worship targeted repeatedly by Israeli bombs during the July-August offensive.
UNRWA commissioner-general Pierre Krähenbühl was present at the inauguration on Sunday, where he delivered a short speech urging the international community and donor organizations to fulfill their pledges to help rebuild Gaza.
The school is located in the town of Khuzaa, east of Khan Younis and near the Israeli border, an area severely damaged by Israel during the assault.
More than half of all homes in the town of around 10,000 were flattened by Israel. Many in the area still live in temporary housing as they wait for Israel to allow more reconstruction material into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade for the last eight years.
The school in Khuzaa is one of the first to go up to hopefully replace the more than 200 schools that sustained extensive damage due to Israeli bombing.
More than two dozen schools were completely demolished by Israeli attacks, while at least 232 were damaged.
During the war, hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans sheltered in UN-run schools.
As a result of Israeli attacks on the schools, scores of Palestinians were killed. UN officials complained that the killings occurred despite the fact that they had given the exact coordinates of the schools to Israeli authorities.
In total, more than 2,200 Palestinians were killed during the assault, around 11,000 were injured, and more than 100,000 were left homeless.
22 mar 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) conducted surprise military drill along Gaza borders on Sunday.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said the exercises aim at examining the Israeli army’s readiness to handle any emergencies.
The IOF recently conducted military exercises in the West Bank cities for the same purpose.
The Hebrew newspaper also said the exercises come within a plan to strengthen the ground forces’ weapons in the wake of the Israeli failure in last summer’s aggression on Gaza.
It elaborated that the main assignment of the new Chief of the General Staff in Israeli Army Gadi Eizenkot is to strengthen and prioritize the ground forces in terms of budgets and military plans for better preparation for any coming “war”.
The newspaper disclosed that the military investigations conducted in the wake of the last summer’s Israeli aggression on Gaza showed gaps in the extent of the readiness of the Israeli ground forces against the Palestinian resistance, particularly Hamas fighters.
According to observers, the Israeli authorities, by such moves, try to justify its failure in last summer’s aggression on the blockaded enclave.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said the exercises aim at examining the Israeli army’s readiness to handle any emergencies.
The IOF recently conducted military exercises in the West Bank cities for the same purpose.
The Hebrew newspaper also said the exercises come within a plan to strengthen the ground forces’ weapons in the wake of the Israeli failure in last summer’s aggression on Gaza.
It elaborated that the main assignment of the new Chief of the General Staff in Israeli Army Gadi Eizenkot is to strengthen and prioritize the ground forces in terms of budgets and military plans for better preparation for any coming “war”.
The newspaper disclosed that the military investigations conducted in the wake of the last summer’s Israeli aggression on Gaza showed gaps in the extent of the readiness of the Israeli ground forces against the Palestinian resistance, particularly Hamas fighters.
According to observers, the Israeli authorities, by such moves, try to justify its failure in last summer’s aggression on the blockaded enclave.
21 mar 2015
At least three Palestinians were injured Friday evening by Israeli gunfire to the east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip.
The PIC reporter quoted medics as saying that three citizens were shot and injured after Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened their heavy machinegun fire at a group of people.
The three injured citizens were transferred to hospital in moderate and light conditions, medics added.
Israel routinely violates the truce agreement reached on August 26 last year that ended its brutal summer aggression on Gaza.
The PIC reporter quoted medics as saying that three citizens were shot and injured after Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened their heavy machinegun fire at a group of people.
The three injured citizens were transferred to hospital in moderate and light conditions, medics added.
Israel routinely violates the truce agreement reached on August 26 last year that ended its brutal summer aggression on Gaza.
19 mar 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) advanced to a limited extent into southern Gaza Strip on Thursday morning and bulldozed lands.
Quds Press said four army bulldozers escorted by a military vehicle advanced into eastern Rafah and leveled land.
Leveling of lands took place amid intense firing at Palestinians’ houses and shooting of smoke bombs. The inhabitants had to leave their farms, the agency said.
The incursion is another episode in the series of Israeli daily violations of the Cairo-brokered truce accord signed in the wake of last summer’s offensive on the besieged coastal enclave, which killed over 2,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
Quds Press said four army bulldozers escorted by a military vehicle advanced into eastern Rafah and leveled land.
Leveling of lands took place amid intense firing at Palestinians’ houses and shooting of smoke bombs. The inhabitants had to leave their farms, the agency said.
The incursion is another episode in the series of Israeli daily violations of the Cairo-brokered truce accord signed in the wake of last summer’s offensive on the besieged coastal enclave, which killed over 2,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
Israeli navy ships attacked, on Thursday morning, a number of fishing boats in Palestinian waters near Gaza City, and fired rounds of live ammunition at them.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said a number of Israeli Navy boats fired several rounds of live ammunition on a number of fishing boats, less the four miles from the Gaza shore.
The navy also chased the Palestinian fishing boats, forcing them to sail back to shore, in the Sudaniyya area, northwest of Gaza City.
The attack is part of daily Israeli assaults against Gaza fishers, and also comes in direct violation of all previously mediated ceasefire agreements, in addition to violating the Oslo Accords.
The current six-nautical-mile fishing zone also falls drastically short of the twenty nautical miles allocated to Palestinian fishermen in the 1993 Oslo Accords, and comes in direct violation of every ceasefire agreement, including the latest ceasefire deal, mediated by Egypt, on August 26, 2014.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said a number of Israeli Navy boats fired several rounds of live ammunition on a number of fishing boats, less the four miles from the Gaza shore.
The navy also chased the Palestinian fishing boats, forcing them to sail back to shore, in the Sudaniyya area, northwest of Gaza City.
The attack is part of daily Israeli assaults against Gaza fishers, and also comes in direct violation of all previously mediated ceasefire agreements, in addition to violating the Oslo Accords.
The current six-nautical-mile fishing zone also falls drastically short of the twenty nautical miles allocated to Palestinian fishermen in the 1993 Oslo Accords, and comes in direct violation of every ceasefire agreement, including the latest ceasefire deal, mediated by Egypt, on August 26, 2014.
Truce violations List of names Pictures of martyrs
Days: Aug: 26 - 25 - 24 - 23 - 22 - 21 - 20 - 19 - 18 - 17 - 16 - 15 - 14 - 13 - 12 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1
July: 31 - 30 - 29 - 28 - 27 - 26 - 25 - 24 - 23 - 22 - 21 - 20 - 19 - 18 - 17 - 16 - 15 - 14 - 13 - 12 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 8