31 dec 2017
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Turkish president Recep Erdogan on Saturday called on the US and Israel not to take steps that would escalate the current tension over Occupied Jerusalem.
The Turkish president's remarks were broadcast as a video message during the 16th Islamic Circle of North America-Muslim American Society Convention in Chicago, Illinois, which is one of the largest Muslim gatherings in North America.
Erdogan drew attention to the global conflicts and turbulences and called on the Muslim world to "understand its real strength.”
"It is time the Muslim world understand its real strength. We must not allow anyone to divide us based on ethnic, sectarian or cultural differences," he said.
Regarding the recent UN resolution against the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Erdogan stated: "The victory we gained on the issue of Jerusalem is an indicator of the many things we can achieve together through solidarity...This victory at the same time demonstrates to the world that there are values that cannot be bought with money. The blackmailing and threats prior to the voting have been futile."
“We are inviting the American and Israeli governments not to take steps that will escalate the tension. It is because Jerusalem is too precious to become a sacrifice for our own interests."
The Turkish president's remarks were broadcast as a video message during the 16th Islamic Circle of North America-Muslim American Society Convention in Chicago, Illinois, which is one of the largest Muslim gatherings in North America.
Erdogan drew attention to the global conflicts and turbulences and called on the Muslim world to "understand its real strength.”
"It is time the Muslim world understand its real strength. We must not allow anyone to divide us based on ethnic, sectarian or cultural differences," he said.
Regarding the recent UN resolution against the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Erdogan stated: "The victory we gained on the issue of Jerusalem is an indicator of the many things we can achieve together through solidarity...This victory at the same time demonstrates to the world that there are values that cannot be bought with money. The blackmailing and threats prior to the voting have been futile."
“We are inviting the American and Israeli governments not to take steps that will escalate the tension. It is because Jerusalem is too precious to become a sacrifice for our own interests."
29 dec 2017
Qatar called on all countries to suspend diplomatic delegations to occupied Jerusalem, and adhere to UN Security Council decisions.
The statement was issued Wednesday during the meeting of ministers council held at the Emiri Diwan in Doha, chaired by Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The Minister of Justice, Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Hassan bin Lahdan al-Mohannadi, said, after the meeting, that the council “welcomed the decision of the United Nations General Assembly issued on December 21, which affirmed the invalidity of any decisions and measures aimed at changing the character of Jerusalem.”
According to Al Ray, the Qatari council called on all countries to refrain from sending diplomatic missions to occupied Jerusalem, comply with Security Council resolutions concerning the city, and to refrain from recognizing any measures contrary to these resolutions.
Qatar expressed its hope that the international community would translate this resolution into practical steps to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace on the basis of the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
On December 6, US President Donald Trump announced occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and that he will transfer his country’s embassy to it, sparking anger around the world.
Up to initiative of Turkey and Yemen, the United Nations General Assembly passed, last Thursday, a resolution that considered the question of Jerusalem in the final status issue, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.
The UN resolution also requires all states to refrain from establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem pursuant to Security Council Resolution 478 of 1980.
The statement was issued Wednesday during the meeting of ministers council held at the Emiri Diwan in Doha, chaired by Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The Minister of Justice, Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Hassan bin Lahdan al-Mohannadi, said, after the meeting, that the council “welcomed the decision of the United Nations General Assembly issued on December 21, which affirmed the invalidity of any decisions and measures aimed at changing the character of Jerusalem.”
According to Al Ray, the Qatari council called on all countries to refrain from sending diplomatic missions to occupied Jerusalem, comply with Security Council resolutions concerning the city, and to refrain from recognizing any measures contrary to these resolutions.
Qatar expressed its hope that the international community would translate this resolution into practical steps to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace on the basis of the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
On December 6, US President Donald Trump announced occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and that he will transfer his country’s embassy to it, sparking anger around the world.
Up to initiative of Turkey and Yemen, the United Nations General Assembly passed, last Thursday, a resolution that considered the question of Jerusalem in the final status issue, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.
The UN resolution also requires all states to refrain from establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem pursuant to Security Council Resolution 478 of 1980.
A march was staged in Nablus on Thursday by the General Union of Persons with Disabilities to protest the U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and Israel’s cold-blooded execution of wheel-chaired Ibrahim Abu Thuraya.
Member of the union’s administrative board Emad Lubada said wheel-chaired Abu Thuraya, killed by the occupation army in protests held near Gaza borders a couple of weeks earlier, is an icon of the anti-occupation uprising.
The activist stressed Palestinians’ firm rejection of Trump’s Jerusalem move, saying the holy city will forever remain Palestine’s eternal capital.
Member of the Committee to Coordinate between National Faction, Emad al-Deen Eshteiwi, lauded the iron will and strong-determination displayed by the persons with disabilities in the occupied Palestinian territories and their commitment to defend their land and speak up for their cause.
Eshteiwi further hailed Abu Thuraya, whom he said stood firm to the Israeli colonizers.
Eshteiwi urged the national and international human rights bodies to take legal action over Israel’s extra-judicial murder of Abu Thuraya.
Member of the union’s administrative board Emad Lubada said wheel-chaired Abu Thuraya, killed by the occupation army in protests held near Gaza borders a couple of weeks earlier, is an icon of the anti-occupation uprising.
The activist stressed Palestinians’ firm rejection of Trump’s Jerusalem move, saying the holy city will forever remain Palestine’s eternal capital.
Member of the Committee to Coordinate between National Faction, Emad al-Deen Eshteiwi, lauded the iron will and strong-determination displayed by the persons with disabilities in the occupied Palestinian territories and their commitment to defend their land and speak up for their cause.
Eshteiwi further hailed Abu Thuraya, whom he said stood firm to the Israeli colonizers.
Eshteiwi urged the national and international human rights bodies to take legal action over Israel’s extra-judicial murder of Abu Thuraya.
25 dec 2017
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights documented an Israeli soldier killing of a Palestinian youth during a Friday demonstration on the Gaza Strip border.
The Euro-Med stressed that pictures footage of the incident and witnesses’ testimonies show Israeli soldiers are avenging the lives of Palestinians.
This policy has been adopted by soldiers for years and has even received support from Israeli leaders, the Euro-Med said.
29-year-old Mohammed Mohaisen from the Gaza Strip, died of his wounds sustained after an Israeli soldier shot him in the chest at less than 50 meters.
According to eyewitnesses, Mohaisen was among dozens of protesters who gathered on the eastern border of Gaza City on Friday, opposing President Trump's Jerusalem declaration.
Journalist Saber Nour al-Din, who documented the incident, said: Muhammad did not pose any threat to the Israeli forces and did not even attempt to cross the border. But an Israeli soldier targeted him anyway."
The footage showed Mohaisen standing less than 50 meters away from Israeli soldiers in a military vehicle.
He appeared to have thrown stones at the soldiers from behind the fence. It clearly shows that he did not pose imminent threat of death to the Israeli forces; there was no justification for targeting him. The way Mohaisen was killed is not a today Israeli policy. It has been in place for years in the Palestinian territories, both in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but it is more visible on the border with the Gaza Strip, where there is a separation fence between Israeli soldiers and demonstrators. However, Israeli forces do not hesitate to target demonstrators with live ammunition and in the upper parts of the body.
Since the outbreak of protests against President Trump's decision, seven Palestinians have been killed and more than 600 were wounded on the Gaza border. Through these practices, Israel violates both the international humanitarian law and human rights law, where troops are permitted to lethal use of force and firearms only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect human life. The international law permits the use of firearms only "when less extreme measures are insufficient".
"While Israeli military orders stipulate that it is prohibited to fire at the upper part of the body except to avoid the risk of death or serious body harm, Israeli soldiers repeatedly violated these rules, both in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip," said Mirza Bishara, a Euro-Med's legal researcher. "The impunity Israeli soldiers enjoy encourages them to continue on with this arbitrary policy,” Bishara added.
"Unfortunately, this policy is encouraged by Israeli ministers and MPs who make inflammatory and irresponsible statements on the Palestinians, including encouraging soldiers to shoot them to death. Those leaders are as responsible for these killings as soldiers," Bishara stressed.
The Euro-Med assured that the Israeli authorities' record of conducting investigations into cases of arbitrary killing is weak and lacks credibility.
The Euro-Med called upon states parties to the Geneva Conventions and the UN to pressure Israel to stop its disregard for the lives of Palestinians, to hold responsible soldiers accountable, and to abide by the basic principles of the United Nations on the Use of Force and Firearms by law enforcement officials.
Also read: Israel: International law strictly regulates the use of force in the context of protests and demonstrations, and the lethal use of firearms should only be employed as the last resort when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life, Zeid said.
The Euro-Med stressed that pictures footage of the incident and witnesses’ testimonies show Israeli soldiers are avenging the lives of Palestinians.
This policy has been adopted by soldiers for years and has even received support from Israeli leaders, the Euro-Med said.
29-year-old Mohammed Mohaisen from the Gaza Strip, died of his wounds sustained after an Israeli soldier shot him in the chest at less than 50 meters.
According to eyewitnesses, Mohaisen was among dozens of protesters who gathered on the eastern border of Gaza City on Friday, opposing President Trump's Jerusalem declaration.
Journalist Saber Nour al-Din, who documented the incident, said: Muhammad did not pose any threat to the Israeli forces and did not even attempt to cross the border. But an Israeli soldier targeted him anyway."
The footage showed Mohaisen standing less than 50 meters away from Israeli soldiers in a military vehicle.
He appeared to have thrown stones at the soldiers from behind the fence. It clearly shows that he did not pose imminent threat of death to the Israeli forces; there was no justification for targeting him. The way Mohaisen was killed is not a today Israeli policy. It has been in place for years in the Palestinian territories, both in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but it is more visible on the border with the Gaza Strip, where there is a separation fence between Israeli soldiers and demonstrators. However, Israeli forces do not hesitate to target demonstrators with live ammunition and in the upper parts of the body.
Since the outbreak of protests against President Trump's decision, seven Palestinians have been killed and more than 600 were wounded on the Gaza border. Through these practices, Israel violates both the international humanitarian law and human rights law, where troops are permitted to lethal use of force and firearms only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect human life. The international law permits the use of firearms only "when less extreme measures are insufficient".
"While Israeli military orders stipulate that it is prohibited to fire at the upper part of the body except to avoid the risk of death or serious body harm, Israeli soldiers repeatedly violated these rules, both in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip," said Mirza Bishara, a Euro-Med's legal researcher. "The impunity Israeli soldiers enjoy encourages them to continue on with this arbitrary policy,” Bishara added.
"Unfortunately, this policy is encouraged by Israeli ministers and MPs who make inflammatory and irresponsible statements on the Palestinians, including encouraging soldiers to shoot them to death. Those leaders are as responsible for these killings as soldiers," Bishara stressed.
The Euro-Med assured that the Israeli authorities' record of conducting investigations into cases of arbitrary killing is weak and lacks credibility.
The Euro-Med called upon states parties to the Geneva Conventions and the UN to pressure Israel to stop its disregard for the lives of Palestinians, to hold responsible soldiers accountable, and to abide by the basic principles of the United Nations on the Use of Force and Firearms by law enforcement officials.
Also read: Israel: International law strictly regulates the use of force in the context of protests and demonstrations, and the lethal use of firearms should only be employed as the last resort when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life, Zeid said.
Israeli occupation forces have killed 12 Palestinian protesters and left hundreds injured in occupied Palestinian territories since U.S. President Donald Trump’s move on Jerusalem.
Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a report that 12 Palestinians were killed by the occupation forces since December 7.
Among 666 persons left injured in Gaza were 164 children and 15 women.
The list of wounded persons included 183 from northern Gaza Strip, 209 from Gaza, 61 from the Central Province, 136 from Khan Younis, and 77 from Rafah.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces had targeted paramedics 15 times, including attacks on ambulances in an attempt to undermine rescuing wounded protesters.
The 12 casualties are identified as: Mahmoud al-Mesri, Maher Atallah, Mahmoud al-Atel, Mohamed al-Safady, Hussein Nasrallah, Mustafa al-Sultan, Ibrahim Thuraya, Yasser Sukar, Zakaria al-Kafarna, Mohamed Muheissen, Sherif Shalash, and Mohamed al-Dahdouh.
Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a report that 12 Palestinians were killed by the occupation forces since December 7.
Among 666 persons left injured in Gaza were 164 children and 15 women.
The list of wounded persons included 183 from northern Gaza Strip, 209 from Gaza, 61 from the Central Province, 136 from Khan Younis, and 77 from Rafah.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces had targeted paramedics 15 times, including attacks on ambulances in an attempt to undermine rescuing wounded protesters.
The 12 casualties are identified as: Mahmoud al-Mesri, Maher Atallah, Mahmoud al-Atel, Mohamed al-Safady, Hussein Nasrallah, Mustafa al-Sultan, Ibrahim Thuraya, Yasser Sukar, Zakaria al-Kafarna, Mohamed Muheissen, Sherif Shalash, and Mohamed al-Dahdouh.