7 jan 2016
Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, affirmed its willingness to participate in forming a national unity government after convening a session for the provisional leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
In a press statement on Wednesday evening, Hamas’s spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called on the Palestinian Authority to pave the way for achieving the formation of a national consensus government as well as for halting the discrimination policy against the people of Gaza.
Abu Zuhri stressed the need to make certain political decisions that respect the sacrifices of the Palestinian people; most significant: ending the security coordination with Israel.
Hamas: We are ready for elections, and Abbas's claim "untrue"
The Hamas Movement has categorically denied that it opposes holding Palestinian elections, describing recent remarks by president Mahmoud Abbas in this regards as "untrue and unfounded."
Abbas claimed in a speech on Wednesday that Hamas had told him of its opposition to the holding of elections.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri denied such a claim and affirmed his Movement's willingness to participate in all forms of elections in accordance with the Cairo reconciliation agreement.
As for the issue of the Rafah border crossing, spokesman Abu Zuhri reiterated that his Movement wants the Palestinian government to assume its responsibilities for Gaza and the Rafah crossing, without giving pretexts.
The spokesman affirmed that Hamas has the right to hold consultations with the factions that proposed the recent initiative for ending the crisis of the Rafah crossing.
He also condemned Abbas for saying that the Egyptian authorities had the right to close the Rafah crossing, describing his remarks in this regard as an unacceptable justification for the closure of the crossing.
For his part, senior Hamas official and lawmaker Ismail al-Ashqar asserted that his Movement is "ready for the elections if held tomorrow", and accused Abbas of attempting to hold others responsible for his problems.
In a press statement on Wednesday evening, Hamas’s spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called on the Palestinian Authority to pave the way for achieving the formation of a national consensus government as well as for halting the discrimination policy against the people of Gaza.
Abu Zuhri stressed the need to make certain political decisions that respect the sacrifices of the Palestinian people; most significant: ending the security coordination with Israel.
Hamas: We are ready for elections, and Abbas's claim "untrue"
The Hamas Movement has categorically denied that it opposes holding Palestinian elections, describing recent remarks by president Mahmoud Abbas in this regards as "untrue and unfounded."
Abbas claimed in a speech on Wednesday that Hamas had told him of its opposition to the holding of elections.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri denied such a claim and affirmed his Movement's willingness to participate in all forms of elections in accordance with the Cairo reconciliation agreement.
As for the issue of the Rafah border crossing, spokesman Abu Zuhri reiterated that his Movement wants the Palestinian government to assume its responsibilities for Gaza and the Rafah crossing, without giving pretexts.
The spokesman affirmed that Hamas has the right to hold consultations with the factions that proposed the recent initiative for ending the crisis of the Rafah crossing.
He also condemned Abbas for saying that the Egyptian authorities had the right to close the Rafah crossing, describing his remarks in this regard as an unacceptable justification for the closure of the crossing.
For his part, senior Hamas official and lawmaker Ismail al-Ashqar asserted that his Movement is "ready for the elections if held tomorrow", and accused Abbas of attempting to hold others responsible for his problems.
6 jan 2016
The Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said that “Egypt is free to close Rafah crossing”.
We have accepted the proposal backed by Palestinian factions for Rafah crossing crisis although it was not good; however Hamas has yet to reply to the initiative, Abbas said.
Abbas made his statements during a speech delivered in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem during Orthodox Christmas celebrations.
He blamed Hamas for “procrastinating” in handing over the Rafah crossing after “it refuses to join the unity government and participate in the next elections,” according to Abbas’ statements.
Commenting on Abbas’allegations, senior leader in Hamas Movement Salah Bardawil denied that his group received any official invitation for joining the unity government.
"Hamas is committed to the agreements signed with Fatah Group, mainly holding the PLO leadership meeting and forming a new Palestinian National Council," Bardawil added.
On the other hand, Abbas said his Palestinian Authority will remain and will not be dissolved.
“The PA is our achievement and we will not give it up,” Abbas declared.
He renewed his adherence to peaceful protests “because we are against violence and extremism.”
He also stressed his adherence to peace talks with Israel.
“The Executive Committee and the Central Committee of the PLO as well as commanders of Palestinian Authority security services will hold meetings next week to give the final decision and we will adhere with whatever they decide,” Abbas said Wednesday.
Commentators described Abbas's remarks as "disgrace" since he extends a hand to the Israeli occupation while strangling Palestinians mainly in the Gaza Strip with the other.
We have accepted the proposal backed by Palestinian factions for Rafah crossing crisis although it was not good; however Hamas has yet to reply to the initiative, Abbas said.
Abbas made his statements during a speech delivered in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem during Orthodox Christmas celebrations.
He blamed Hamas for “procrastinating” in handing over the Rafah crossing after “it refuses to join the unity government and participate in the next elections,” according to Abbas’ statements.
Commenting on Abbas’allegations, senior leader in Hamas Movement Salah Bardawil denied that his group received any official invitation for joining the unity government.
"Hamas is committed to the agreements signed with Fatah Group, mainly holding the PLO leadership meeting and forming a new Palestinian National Council," Bardawil added.
On the other hand, Abbas said his Palestinian Authority will remain and will not be dissolved.
“The PA is our achievement and we will not give it up,” Abbas declared.
He renewed his adherence to peaceful protests “because we are against violence and extremism.”
He also stressed his adherence to peace talks with Israel.
“The Executive Committee and the Central Committee of the PLO as well as commanders of Palestinian Authority security services will hold meetings next week to give the final decision and we will adhere with whatever they decide,” Abbas said Wednesday.
Commentators described Abbas's remarks as "disgrace" since he extends a hand to the Israeli occupation while strangling Palestinians mainly in the Gaza Strip with the other.
Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, mourned its member Ahmad Kawazba, 17, from Saeer town in al-Khalil and thousands of Palestinians bade him farewell on Wednesday. He was killed by Israeli gunfire on Tuesday after carrying out an anti-occupation stabbing operation.
In a statement, Hamas Movement hailed the braveness of martyr Kawazba and perceived his attack as a heroic action. He is the son of Hamas leader in Saeer Sheikh Younis Kawazba, the statement pointed out.
Hamas said that the escalating Israeli crimes will not weaken the determination of the Palestinian people to continue the Jerusalem Intifada until the accomplishment of its goals.
Thousands of Palestinians bade farewell to martyr Kawazba on Wednesday. The funeral proceeded in the streets of Saeer village amid angry anti-Israel chanting. His body was buried in the cemetery of martyrs in the village.
Ahmad Kawazba on Tuesday carried out an anti-occupation stabbing attack at the junction of Gush Etzion settlement in northern al-Khalil leading to a moderate injury of an Israeli soldier. Israeli troops immediately shot him dead and hours later delivered his body to his family.
In a statement, Hamas Movement hailed the braveness of martyr Kawazba and perceived his attack as a heroic action. He is the son of Hamas leader in Saeer Sheikh Younis Kawazba, the statement pointed out.
Hamas said that the escalating Israeli crimes will not weaken the determination of the Palestinian people to continue the Jerusalem Intifada until the accomplishment of its goals.
Thousands of Palestinians bade farewell to martyr Kawazba on Wednesday. The funeral proceeded in the streets of Saeer village amid angry anti-Israel chanting. His body was buried in the cemetery of martyrs in the village.
Ahmad Kawazba on Tuesday carried out an anti-occupation stabbing attack at the junction of Gush Etzion settlement in northern al-Khalil leading to a moderate injury of an Israeli soldier. Israeli troops immediately shot him dead and hours later delivered his body to his family.
5 jan 2016
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Makarim Wibisono, yesterday submitted his resignation to the President of the Human Rights Council after Israel had repeatedly denied him access to the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) stresses that Israel's continuous banning of Special Rapporteurs from entering the oPt is part of the Israeli policy to conceal the truth relevant to the commission of war crimes and grave violations of human rights against the Palestinians, who are the original owners of the land.
Moreover, PCHR highlights that the international community should take a serious position to stop the Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and to put an end to the Israeli non-compliance with the international law.
Mr. Wibisono mentioned in his resignation that repeated requests for access, both written and oral, had been unsuccessful for over 18 months. He also did not receive any reply from Israel to his latest request in October 2015.
Furthermore, Mr. Wibisono underscored that his mandate would not be fulfilled without having direct access to the Palestinian victims in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
"Unfortunately, my efforts to help improve the lives of Palestinian victims of violations under the Israeli occupation have been frustrated every step of the way… It is my sincere hope that whoever succeeds me will manage to resolve the current impasse, and so reassure the Palestinian people that after nearly half a century of occupation the world has not forgotten their plight and that universal human rights are indeed universal," said Mr. Wibisono.
Mr. Wibisono will present his last report to the 31st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2016. This report concludes his only 21-month mandate for which he was assigned by the Human Rights Council in June 2014. His resignation will be put into effect on 13 March 2016.
The Israeli authorities continued to deny the Special Rapporteurs access to the oPt, as according to the spokesperson of Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the oPt that was approved by 47 Member States in the Human Rights Council is "biased and distorted".
This was also agreed on by Israel's ally the USA. In addition, Israel kept banning Richard Falk, former UN Special Rapporteur, from entering the oPt during his 6-year mandate.
It should be mentioned that the Special Rapporteur's Mandate is part of the UN Mechanisms to protect human rights pursuant to a Mechanism known as "Special Procedures".
The Special Procedures include independent human rights experts carrying out their duties free of charge with mandates to report human rights violations from a thematic or country-specific perspective.
The Human Rights Council established the position of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the oPt in 1993 and the mandate has so far been renewed.
PCHR denounces banning the Special Rapporteur from entering the oPt and the international community's negativity that renders Israel as an outlaw State.
This ban comes as part of a series of obstacles imposed by the Israeli authorities before all UN inquiry missions; the last of which was the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission following the 2014 Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.
PCHR warns against the Israeli practices, which reflect the size of Israeli crimes against Palestinians and efforts made to hide those crimes from the world.
PCHR also calls upon:
1. The International community to pressurize Israel to allow the unconditional entry of all UN missions to the oPt;
2. The Human Rights Council and all international mechanisms to exert extra efforts to convey the reality of Israeli violations against Palestinians to the whole world;
3. The UN to activate its human rights mechanisms to face the blatant Israeli challenge of UN Mechanisms and violation of Palestinian rights in the oPt; and
4. All the competent parties at the international level to put an end to the impunity granted to Israel that led to the increase of violations against Palestinians.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) stresses that Israel's continuous banning of Special Rapporteurs from entering the oPt is part of the Israeli policy to conceal the truth relevant to the commission of war crimes and grave violations of human rights against the Palestinians, who are the original owners of the land.
Moreover, PCHR highlights that the international community should take a serious position to stop the Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and to put an end to the Israeli non-compliance with the international law.
Mr. Wibisono mentioned in his resignation that repeated requests for access, both written and oral, had been unsuccessful for over 18 months. He also did not receive any reply from Israel to his latest request in October 2015.
Furthermore, Mr. Wibisono underscored that his mandate would not be fulfilled without having direct access to the Palestinian victims in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
"Unfortunately, my efforts to help improve the lives of Palestinian victims of violations under the Israeli occupation have been frustrated every step of the way… It is my sincere hope that whoever succeeds me will manage to resolve the current impasse, and so reassure the Palestinian people that after nearly half a century of occupation the world has not forgotten their plight and that universal human rights are indeed universal," said Mr. Wibisono.
Mr. Wibisono will present his last report to the 31st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2016. This report concludes his only 21-month mandate for which he was assigned by the Human Rights Council in June 2014. His resignation will be put into effect on 13 March 2016.
The Israeli authorities continued to deny the Special Rapporteurs access to the oPt, as according to the spokesperson of Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the oPt that was approved by 47 Member States in the Human Rights Council is "biased and distorted".
This was also agreed on by Israel's ally the USA. In addition, Israel kept banning Richard Falk, former UN Special Rapporteur, from entering the oPt during his 6-year mandate.
It should be mentioned that the Special Rapporteur's Mandate is part of the UN Mechanisms to protect human rights pursuant to a Mechanism known as "Special Procedures".
The Special Procedures include independent human rights experts carrying out their duties free of charge with mandates to report human rights violations from a thematic or country-specific perspective.
The Human Rights Council established the position of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the oPt in 1993 and the mandate has so far been renewed.
PCHR denounces banning the Special Rapporteur from entering the oPt and the international community's negativity that renders Israel as an outlaw State.
This ban comes as part of a series of obstacles imposed by the Israeli authorities before all UN inquiry missions; the last of which was the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission following the 2014 Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.
PCHR warns against the Israeli practices, which reflect the size of Israeli crimes against Palestinians and efforts made to hide those crimes from the world.
PCHR also calls upon:
1. The International community to pressurize Israel to allow the unconditional entry of all UN missions to the oPt;
2. The Human Rights Council and all international mechanisms to exert extra efforts to convey the reality of Israeli violations against Palestinians to the whole world;
3. The UN to activate its human rights mechanisms to face the blatant Israeli challenge of UN Mechanisms and violation of Palestinian rights in the oPt; and
4. All the competent parties at the international level to put an end to the impunity granted to Israel that led to the increase of violations against Palestinians.
4 jan 2016
Israeli authorities have officially reached out to the Palestinian Authority for assistance in finding a shooting suspect responsible for an attack in Tel Aviv late last week, Hebrew media reported.
Israeli news site Walla reported that Israeli forces believe the suspect in a shooting that left two Israelis dead and seven others injured on Friday could have fled to the occupied West Bank.
Israeli intelligence reportedly delivered security details about the shooter, identified as Mohammed Melhem, 29 and a Palestinian citizen of Israel from the town of Wadi Ara.
Melhem fled the scene after he opened fire on Dizengoff street in Tel Aviv, the second attack in the Israeli coastal city since Nov. 19 when two Israelis were stabbed and killed near Tel Aviv's Panorama building.
Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom said in initial reports on Friday that paramedics arrived to the scene and treated nine victims.
An Israeli police spokesperson confirmed that two were killed and medics reported the injured to include two in severe condition and five in moderate condition.
Israeli media reported that some of those injured were hit by broken glass that shattered when the attacker opened fire.
Video footage from a surveillance camera showed a man shopping in a market on the street of the attack before grabbing a gun out of his backpack and opening fire outside the store.
The family of the suspect told Israeli daily Haaretz that his cousin had been killed by Israeli Border Police after which he suffered from depression before attacking a soldier with a screwdriver in 2007, reportedly in revenge for his cousins death.
The suspect also served jail time for attempting to steal a gun from an Israeli soldier, as well as drug possession.
Israeli news site Walla reported that Israeli forces believe the suspect in a shooting that left two Israelis dead and seven others injured on Friday could have fled to the occupied West Bank.
Israeli intelligence reportedly delivered security details about the shooter, identified as Mohammed Melhem, 29 and a Palestinian citizen of Israel from the town of Wadi Ara.
Melhem fled the scene after he opened fire on Dizengoff street in Tel Aviv, the second attack in the Israeli coastal city since Nov. 19 when two Israelis were stabbed and killed near Tel Aviv's Panorama building.
Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom said in initial reports on Friday that paramedics arrived to the scene and treated nine victims.
An Israeli police spokesperson confirmed that two were killed and medics reported the injured to include two in severe condition and five in moderate condition.
Israeli media reported that some of those injured were hit by broken glass that shattered when the attacker opened fire.
Video footage from a surveillance camera showed a man shopping in a market on the street of the attack before grabbing a gun out of his backpack and opening fire outside the store.
The family of the suspect told Israeli daily Haaretz that his cousin had been killed by Israeli Border Police after which he suffered from depression before attacking a soldier with a screwdriver in 2007, reportedly in revenge for his cousins death.
The suspect also served jail time for attempting to steal a gun from an Israeli soldier, as well as drug possession.
2 jan 2016
The Hizb al-Tahrir political organization on Friday praised individual attacks recently carried out by Palestinians but said the power of “Muslim armies” was needed to end Israeli military occupation.
A senior Hizb al-Tahrir leader active in the group’s Palestine branch, Musab Abu Arqub, told Ma’an in an interview that the group viewed the wave of attacks that began in October as a “popular reaction to the Israeli occupation.”
“Individual attacks annoy and agonize the occupation, but they won’t be enough to achieve the needed liberation,” Abu Arqub said.
Hizb al-Tahrir -- a pan-Islamic political organization with the goal of uniting all Muslims into one state with an elected Caliph as its head -- was founded in Jerusalem in 1953.
The group has had a vocal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory since and believes that the establishment of an Islamic caliphate would end Israeli military occupation.
Musab Abu Arqub told Ma’an that one of the party’s main goals in Palestine was to raise awareness that the most legitimate and practical way for “liberating Palestine comes through jihad by heavily-equipped Muslim armies.”
“We call upon the people of Palestine to raise their voices and concentrate their efforts on urging Muslim armies to support Palestine and al-Aqsa mosque, and expel the Jews from the blessed land of Palestine,” the senior leader said.
When asked about the role of Hizb al-Tahrir supporters in regards to violations carried out by Israel at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Abu Arqub told Ma’an that the group has been active in defending the holy site “side by side along with the Murabiteen.”
The Murabiteen is a group composed of volunteers who often stay inside the compound with the aim of preventing groups of right-wing Jews from entering.
The group was banned in September by the Israeli defense minister on the grounds that their activities were "a main factor in creating the tension and violence" at the compound.
Under the new legal conditions, anyone who organizes, finances or participates in the groups' activities could face trial.
When asked about Hiz al-Tahrir’s stance on the Islamic state group, Abu Arqub said that the group was “nonsense and worthless from a religious point of view” as it “lacks the legitimate requirements of an Islamic caliphate.”
Hizb al-Tahrir has largely avoided confrontation with Israeli authorities due to the group’s believed lack of participation in armed activity against Israel.
The group has typically carried out its mission through public addresses, hanging posters, and releasing statements, but its vocal criticism of Palestinian political parties has in the past led to the arrest of Hizb al-Tahrir supporters by Palestinian forces.
Speaking on divisions between Palestinian factions, Abu Arqub told Ma’an that political rivalries “do not represent the people of Palestine.”
The Hizb al-Tahrir official said the group rejects negotiations with Israel on the grounds that they “give occupation legitimacy,” adding that acceptance of a Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders would be “a crime,” regardless of who makes the decision.
“We have already warned Hamas of following in the footsteps of Fatah and joining an authority under occupation,” Abu Arqub said, referring to the Palestinian Authority created through the Oslo Accords.
Abu Arqub condemned Palestinian leadership in both the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip for “forcibly prohibiting” the group's activities by denying the group access to public places and by “warning owners of conference halls against hosting symposiums” organized by the group.
A senior Hizb al-Tahrir leader active in the group’s Palestine branch, Musab Abu Arqub, told Ma’an in an interview that the group viewed the wave of attacks that began in October as a “popular reaction to the Israeli occupation.”
“Individual attacks annoy and agonize the occupation, but they won’t be enough to achieve the needed liberation,” Abu Arqub said.
Hizb al-Tahrir -- a pan-Islamic political organization with the goal of uniting all Muslims into one state with an elected Caliph as its head -- was founded in Jerusalem in 1953.
The group has had a vocal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory since and believes that the establishment of an Islamic caliphate would end Israeli military occupation.
Musab Abu Arqub told Ma’an that one of the party’s main goals in Palestine was to raise awareness that the most legitimate and practical way for “liberating Palestine comes through jihad by heavily-equipped Muslim armies.”
“We call upon the people of Palestine to raise their voices and concentrate their efforts on urging Muslim armies to support Palestine and al-Aqsa mosque, and expel the Jews from the blessed land of Palestine,” the senior leader said.
When asked about the role of Hizb al-Tahrir supporters in regards to violations carried out by Israel at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Abu Arqub told Ma’an that the group has been active in defending the holy site “side by side along with the Murabiteen.”
The Murabiteen is a group composed of volunteers who often stay inside the compound with the aim of preventing groups of right-wing Jews from entering.
The group was banned in September by the Israeli defense minister on the grounds that their activities were "a main factor in creating the tension and violence" at the compound.
Under the new legal conditions, anyone who organizes, finances or participates in the groups' activities could face trial.
When asked about Hiz al-Tahrir’s stance on the Islamic state group, Abu Arqub said that the group was “nonsense and worthless from a religious point of view” as it “lacks the legitimate requirements of an Islamic caliphate.”
Hizb al-Tahrir has largely avoided confrontation with Israeli authorities due to the group’s believed lack of participation in armed activity against Israel.
The group has typically carried out its mission through public addresses, hanging posters, and releasing statements, but its vocal criticism of Palestinian political parties has in the past led to the arrest of Hizb al-Tahrir supporters by Palestinian forces.
Speaking on divisions between Palestinian factions, Abu Arqub told Ma’an that political rivalries “do not represent the people of Palestine.”
The Hizb al-Tahrir official said the group rejects negotiations with Israel on the grounds that they “give occupation legitimacy,” adding that acceptance of a Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders would be “a crime,” regardless of who makes the decision.
“We have already warned Hamas of following in the footsteps of Fatah and joining an authority under occupation,” Abu Arqub said, referring to the Palestinian Authority created through the Oslo Accords.
Abu Arqub condemned Palestinian leadership in both the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip for “forcibly prohibiting” the group's activities by denying the group access to public places and by “warning owners of conference halls against hosting symposiums” organized by the group.
A statistical report prepared by the media center for Jerusalem and al-Aqsa affairs showed that about 14,064 Israeli settlers and intelligence and security officials carried out desecration break-ins at al-Aqsa Mosque during 2015.
Most of the intruders were settlers and members of Jewish groups and organizations which champion accelerating the construction of the alleged temple, while there was a decrease in the number of incursions by Israeli ministers and political figures.
Statistics showed that about 12,256 settlers stormed al-Aqsa, while 1,056 members of the Israeli intelligence stormed al-Aqsa Mosque and the roofed buildings within it, 445 soldiers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque in their military uniform under the pretext of the so-called "military guidance and exploration tours" program, while about 307 of the Israelis who stormed the Mosque were officers or other staff of the so-called "Israel Antiquities Authority".
The study showed that the incursions often increase during the seasons of the Jewish holidays, where the month of September had witnessed the largest number of intruders (1,670), the year's second largest number of intruders was recorded in April (1,398); those two months coincide with the spring and summer Jewish holiday seasons.
The study concluded that the total number of the Israeli intruders this year significantly approximates the number of intruders the year before; where the total number of intruders reached about 14,952 in 2014.
While the statistics showed that the total numbers of intruders in the two years; 2014 and 2015, were close, but what distinguished 2015 was that the number of incursions by ministers of the Israeli government had decreased, where the Israeli Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel broke into al-Aqsa Mosque twice, the first was on 26-7 in "Tisha B'Av", the other was on 13-9 during the Jewish New Year holiday.
Most of the intruders were settlers and members of Jewish groups and organizations which champion accelerating the construction of the alleged temple, while there was a decrease in the number of incursions by Israeli ministers and political figures.
Statistics showed that about 12,256 settlers stormed al-Aqsa, while 1,056 members of the Israeli intelligence stormed al-Aqsa Mosque and the roofed buildings within it, 445 soldiers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque in their military uniform under the pretext of the so-called "military guidance and exploration tours" program, while about 307 of the Israelis who stormed the Mosque were officers or other staff of the so-called "Israel Antiquities Authority".
The study showed that the incursions often increase during the seasons of the Jewish holidays, where the month of September had witnessed the largest number of intruders (1,670), the year's second largest number of intruders was recorded in April (1,398); those two months coincide with the spring and summer Jewish holiday seasons.
The study concluded that the total number of the Israeli intruders this year significantly approximates the number of intruders the year before; where the total number of intruders reached about 14,952 in 2014.
While the statistics showed that the total numbers of intruders in the two years; 2014 and 2015, were close, but what distinguished 2015 was that the number of incursions by ministers of the Israeli government had decreased, where the Israeli Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel broke into al-Aqsa Mosque twice, the first was on 26-7 in "Tisha B'Av", the other was on 13-9 during the Jewish New Year holiday.
The Hamas Movement has called on the Palestinian masses in the West Bank to keenly participate in the funerals of the martyrs, whose bodies were released by the Israelis on Friday.
Funeral processions and burial ceremonies for the martyrs will be held on Saturday and Sunday in al-Khalil, Ramallah and Nablus, according to a press release issued by Hamas in the West Bank.
"The righteous martyrs, who sacrificed their blood and lives for the freedom and dignity of our people, deserve massive popular participation from their people, befitting their sacrifices and their families' patience for their detention," the Movement said.
Funeral processions and burial ceremonies for the martyrs will be held on Saturday and Sunday in al-Khalil, Ramallah and Nablus, according to a press release issued by Hamas in the West Bank.
"The righteous martyrs, who sacrificed their blood and lives for the freedom and dignity of our people, deserve massive popular participation from their people, befitting their sacrifices and their families' patience for their detention," the Movement said.
1 jan 2016
179 Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli forces and settlers in 2015, the Palestinian Heath Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
The Health Ministry said that 179 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces and settlers in Occupied Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and within the Green Line.
Since the start of the Jerusalem Intifada in early October 2015, Israeli forces have killed 144 Palestinians including 27 minors and seven women.
The Health Ministry said that 179 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces and settlers in Occupied Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and within the Green Line.
Since the start of the Jerusalem Intifada in early October 2015, Israeli forces have killed 144 Palestinians including 27 minors and seven women.
The Hamas Movement has affirmed that al-Quds intifada (uprising) will continue to develop and escalate in 2016 as long as the Palestinian land is still under occupation.
Hamas spokesman Husam Badran stated on Thursday that 2016 would be seeing different forms of intifada and resistance operations against the occupation.
Badran also mourned the death of 22-year-old Hasan Bazzour, who carried out a vehicular attack at Beita junction in Nablus earlier on the same day, and described him as a "hero."
"The heroic operation of martyr Hasan Bazzour has taken place as the Palestinian people are saying farewell to the current year and receiving a fresh one, which will be a year for anger and growing revolt in the face of the Zionist occupation," he underscored.
Hamas spokesman Husam Badran stated on Thursday that 2016 would be seeing different forms of intifada and resistance operations against the occupation.
Badran also mourned the death of 22-year-old Hasan Bazzour, who carried out a vehicular attack at Beita junction in Nablus earlier on the same day, and described him as a "hero."
"The heroic operation of martyr Hasan Bazzour has taken place as the Palestinian people are saying farewell to the current year and receiving a fresh one, which will be a year for anger and growing revolt in the face of the Zionist occupation," he underscored.
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