11 mar 2016
Israeli forces detained at least 250 Palestinian workers without work permits inside Israel by the end of the day Thursday, Israeli police said.
Israeli forces also raided 341 shops and work sites and administratively closed businesses that employ undocumented workers, police spokesperson Luba al-Samri said.
A total of 30 Israelis were also detained for assisting undocumented Palestinian workers, including driving the workers or providing employment and accommodation.
Israeli forces pledged to continue the search campaign for Palestinians working illegally in Israel “in order to maintain public safety in the country,” al-Samri said.
The detention campaign followed a deadly attack in the coastal city of Jaffa on Tuesday carried out by a Palestinian reportedly living and working in Israel illegally.
The Palestinian, identified as Bashar Masalha, 22, was a resident of the occupied West Bank town of Hajja. The attack left an American tourist dead and nine others injured, and was the second attack to take place inside Israel that day.
Following Tuesday’s attacks, Israeli Minister of Internal Security Gilad Erdan, ordered the police with “clear and strict directions to expel anyone who is illegally in Israel,” in addition to continuing to fight "terrorism" everywhere and making those involved in "terrorism pay an expensive price without exceptions,” according to al-Samri.
In addition to cracking down on Palestinians working illegally inside Israel, Israeli forces deported the family of a Palestinian killed after shooting two Israeli officers from Jerusalem to the West Bank. Israel has in the past revoked Jerusalem residency from family members of Palestinians who carry out attacks on Israelis.
In December, Erdan proposed legislation allowing Israeli police to close a business or a construction site for 30 days if residents of the West Bank were working there illegally, also imposing a fine on employers housing undocumented workers.
Tens of thousands of Palestinian workers are forced to seek a living by working in Israel as the growth of an independent Palestinian economy has been stifled in the West Bank under the ongoing Israeli military occupation, according to Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem.
Israeli forces also raided 341 shops and work sites and administratively closed businesses that employ undocumented workers, police spokesperson Luba al-Samri said.
A total of 30 Israelis were also detained for assisting undocumented Palestinian workers, including driving the workers or providing employment and accommodation.
Israeli forces pledged to continue the search campaign for Palestinians working illegally in Israel “in order to maintain public safety in the country,” al-Samri said.
The detention campaign followed a deadly attack in the coastal city of Jaffa on Tuesday carried out by a Palestinian reportedly living and working in Israel illegally.
The Palestinian, identified as Bashar Masalha, 22, was a resident of the occupied West Bank town of Hajja. The attack left an American tourist dead and nine others injured, and was the second attack to take place inside Israel that day.
Following Tuesday’s attacks, Israeli Minister of Internal Security Gilad Erdan, ordered the police with “clear and strict directions to expel anyone who is illegally in Israel,” in addition to continuing to fight "terrorism" everywhere and making those involved in "terrorism pay an expensive price without exceptions,” according to al-Samri.
In addition to cracking down on Palestinians working illegally inside Israel, Israeli forces deported the family of a Palestinian killed after shooting two Israeli officers from Jerusalem to the West Bank. Israel has in the past revoked Jerusalem residency from family members of Palestinians who carry out attacks on Israelis.
In December, Erdan proposed legislation allowing Israeli police to close a business or a construction site for 30 days if residents of the West Bank were working there illegally, also imposing a fine on employers housing undocumented workers.
Tens of thousands of Palestinian workers are forced to seek a living by working in Israel as the growth of an independent Palestinian economy has been stifled in the West Bank under the ongoing Israeli military occupation, according to Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem.
Israeli development continues on stolen Palestinian land near Bethlehem
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 03– 09 March 2016, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces continued systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories. 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child and 2 women, were killed in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem. 8 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces conducted 85 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 12 ones in occupied Jerusalem. 80 Palestinian civilians, including 25 children and 2 women, were abducted. Thirty of them, including 16 children and a woman were abducted in occupied Jerusalem. Among the abducted were a photojournalist and a doctor.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 6 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Jerusalem, including 2 women and a child. Moreover, they wounded 8 civilians, including 2 children, 3 of whom, including a child, were in the West Bank while the 5 others were in the Gaza Strip. Concerning the nature of the injuries, 7 civilians were hit with live bullets and a civilian was hit with a tear gas canister to the head
In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed 6 Palestinian civilians and wounded 3 others, including a child. All of them were hit with live bullets.
On 04 March 2016, in employment of lethal force, Israeli forces killed Amani Sebateen (34), from Hosan village, west of Bethlehem. They claimed that she ran over an Israeli soldier at “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of the city, and caused him minor wounds. It should be noted that Amani is a mother of 4 children.
In a similar crime, on 08 March 2016, Israeli Border Guard officers opened fire at Fadwa Abu Tair (50) from point blank range, claiming that she attempted to stab an Israeli soldier near the Iron Gate, one of the al-Aqsa Mosque gates in the Old City of East Jerusalem. As a result, she sustained 3 bullet wounds and was left bleeding to death for over half an hour.
In another crime committed on the same day, Israeli forces opened fire at Fo’ad Abu Rajab “al-Tamimi” (21) while he was on Saladin Street in occupied Jerusalem, as he opened fire at Israeli soldiers near the office of Jerusalem Electricity Company in the Old City. As a result, 2 Israeli police officers were wounded and the Palestinian young man was killed by several bullets, one of which, penetrated the head.
On 09 March 2016, Israeli forces opened fire at Abdul Malek Saleh Abu Kharoub (19) and Mohammed Jamal al-Kalouti (21), both from Jerusalem, near the New Gate, one of al-Aqsa Mosque gates in the Old City, following an armed clash after 2-hour chasing. As a result, one of the 2 Palestinians was shot dead while the other died upon arrival to Hadassa – Har HaTsofim Hospital in West Jerusalem.
Also on the same day, Israeli forces erecting a checkpoint under al-Zawiyah village’s bridge, west of Nablus, fired 20 bullets at Ahmed Yusef Isma’il Amer (17), from Mas’ha village, west of Salfit, after he stepped out of a vehicle and headed towards the Israeli soldiers. As a result, he was shot dead.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child. Two of them, including the child, were wounded during their participation in protests organized adjacent to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip. In addition, the 2 others were wounded during protests organized near the border fence, east of al-Shuja’iya neighbourhood, east of Gaza City. Three of them were hit with live bullets and the fourth was hit by a sound bomb to the head.
In the context of targeting border areas along the Gaza Strip, on 07 March 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the said fence, east of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at a Palestinian civilian (29) while he was only 10 meters away from the fence. As a result, he sustained a bullet wound to the right leg (the bullet entered and exited), after which, he was transported to al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir al-Balah to receive the necessary medical treatment.
At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 08 March 2016, Israeli Border Guard officers opened fire at a Palestinian woman from a point blank range claiming that she attempted to stab an Israeli soldier near the Iron Gate, one of al-Aqsa Mosque Gates in East Jerusalem’s Old City. As a result, she was hit with 3 bullets and left bleeding for more than half an hour on the ground until she drew her last breath.
According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ accounts to the fieldworker in the city, Fadwa Ahmed Mohammed Abu Teir (50) was walking between the Cotton Merchants and the Iron Gates when the Israeli soldiers shouted at her to stop. However, she did not respond and continued to walk. They then ran towards Fadwa and opened fire at her.
As a result, she was hit with 3 bullets; one of which penetrated her right eye and the two others penetrated her chest and abdomen. More than one eyewitness confirmed that they saw no knife or sharp tool in her hands. They added that the Israeli soldiers deliberately left Fadwa on the ground bleeding for more than half an hour and prevented Palestinians from approaching her or providing her the necessary first aid.
Dr. Amin Abu Ghazaleh from the Red Crescent clinic in the Old City of Jerusalem said that the Israeli soldiers prevented the Red Crescent crews for around 10 minutes from reaching Fadwa until the Israeli officers arrived and the medical crews were then allowed to check her. He added that the ten minutes have been enough to save Fawda’s life.
It should be mentioned that the killed woman lived in Um Touba neighbourhood, south of East Jerusalem, and was married with 5 children.
Luba al-Somari, Spokesperson of the Israeli police, said in a statement, “An Arab Jerusalemite woman from Um Touba neighbourhood stepped towards Israeli Border Guard officers, who were as usual in the area as part of the field readiness to maintain public safety. She pulled out a knife attempting to stab the border officers who opened fire after perceiving a “tangible threat”. They immediately neutralized the woman, but no Israeli injuries were reported.”
At approximately 17:10 on Tuesday, 08 March 2016, Israeli forces opened fire at a Palestinian armed young man, who opened fire at them near the Jerusalem District Electricity Company in Salah al-Deen Street in East Jerusalem’s Old City.
As a result, two Israeli officers were wounded while the Palestinian young man was hit with several bullets; one of which penetrated his head. Therefore, he immediately died on the scene.
According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ testimonies to the fieldworker in Jerusalem, when Fo’ad Qathaf ‘Abdullah Abu Rajab “al-Tamimi” (21) was in the parking of the electricity company in Salah al-Deen Street in Jerusalem, he opened fire from a riffle at the Israeli soldiers, who in response opened fire at him. The armed clash continued for around 10 minutes.
As a result, Fo’ad was killed and two police officers were wounded; one of whom sustained a serious wound.
It should be mentioned that the Israeli forces accompanied with Intelligence officers raided the Electricity Company and searched the guard’s room. They pushed who were there and confiscated the surveillance cameras. They also opened fire at the Company’s vehicles, damaging their windows and the vehicles’ body. The Israeli forces also completely closed Salah al-Deen Street and raided and searched “al-Dar Mall” building. They dispersed those who were near the vicinity of the scene and denied them access.
Around an hour later, large force of Israeli soldiers moved into al-‘Issawiyah village, northeast of Jerusalem, and surrounded a house belonging to Fo’ad’s family. Amist Israeli firing of rubber bullets and tear gas canisters to prevent anyone from approaching the house, the Israeli forces raided and searched the house. They also took photos of it from the inside and outside in addition to its measures. They also asked Fo’ad’s mother questions while they summoned his father and uncle for interrogation.
At approximately 08:40 on Wednesday, 09 March 2016, Israeli police officers opened fire at two Palestinian young men near the New Gate, one of the newest gates in the walls that surround Jerusalem’s Old City, following an armed clash between both of them. After chasing them for around 2 hours, one of the two young men was killed on the scene and the other was later announced dead when he arrived at “Hadassa – Har HaTsofim Hospital” in West Jerusalem.
According to Israeli forces, at approximately 07:10 on the aforementioned day, ‘Abdel Malek Saleh Abu Kharoub (19) and Mohammed Jamal al-Kaloti (21), both from Jerusalem, opened fire at an Israeli “Egged Cooperative” bus at the Ramot Junction, west of West Jerusalem, and drove a blue car away. The Israeli forces chased them and opened heavy fire at the car. They established checkpoints on the way to “Hatsnim” Street near the New Gate in Jerusalem, where the armed clash erupted.
As a result, Mohammed Jamal al-Kaloti immediately died while ‘Abdel Malek Abu Kharoub was transferred via an Israeli ambulance to “Hadassa – Har HaTsofim Hospital”, where he succumbed to his wounds. ‘Emad Abu ‘Ali (56) sustained serious wounds in his head when he was walking in the New Gate area where the armed clash happened. He was taken to Hadassa al-‘Issawiya to receive medical treatment.
House demolitions, demolition notices and attempts to seize civilian houses:
On Friday 04 March 2016, joint staffs from the Israeli municipality and forces moved into a number of neighborhoods in Silwan village, south of East Jerusalem’s Old City. They distributed administrative demolition orders to commercial and residential facilities under the pretext of building without a permit.
An eyewitness said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli municipality staffs moved into the neighborhoods of Al-Bustan, Beer Ayoub and Ein Al-Lozeh in Silwan and took pictures of several commercial and residential facilities as well as the neighborhoods’ streets. During the raid, they handed four civilians from Al-Bustan and Ein Al-Lozeh administrative demolition notices under the pretext of building without a permit.
An eyewitness said that municipality crews handed the notices to a commercial store in Ein Al-Lozeh; a house in Al-Bustan neighborhood and two houses in Ein Al-Lozeh. All the aforementioned facilities were built many years ago. Farhat Qaimari, one of the four affected civilians, said that the municipality staffs accompanied with Israeli forces raided his house in the neighborhood of Al-Bustan and handed him an administrative demolition notice under the pretext of building without a permit. He added that he has been living in the house for 10 years with his wife and four children.
Israeli Settlement activities:
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
At approximately 14:30 on Thursday, 04 March 2016, Israeli bulldozers levelled dozens dunums of agricultural lands in al-Zayaq area, east of Deir Balut village, west of Salfit. The levelled lands belong to Taysir Rushdi ‘Abdullah and his brothers to be annexed to “Leshem” settlement established in the eastern side of the village although a decision was issued by the Israeli Supreme Court to stop construction works and not to level this area. They also levelled large part of Deir Sam’an Archaeological Site in Kafr al-Deek village to annex it to the same settlement.
At approximately 04:00 on Monday, 07 March 2016, Israeli forces accompanied with a vehicle belonging to the Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli Administration and a bulldozer moved into al-Jomjomah area, northeast of Halhoul, north of Hebron. The military bulldozers levelled a 200-square-meter barrack used for grazing sheep belonging to ‘Abdel Karim Mahmoud ‘Abdel Rahman Mer’eb (77).
The aforementioned civilian said to a PCHR fieldworker that the Israeli authorities handed a notice to Mer’eb to stop construction works on 20 February 2016, so he did all the necessary legal procedures mentioned in the notice. He hired a lawyer to submit a petition. However, the Civil Administration handed him a demolition notice on 20 February 2015. The Israeli bulldozer demolished the barrack without allowing him to evacuate the fodders. The losses were estimated to NIS 60,000.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
Israeli forces continued to target the border areas along the Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian civilian was wounded in the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip. 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded during peaceful protests organized near the border fence.
The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world.
This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people. The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall
Following the Friday prayer, on 04 March 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, near an UNRWA school for boys to organize a peaceful demonstration in protest against the Israeli attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers stationed along the border fence of “Beit Eil” settlement. Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters in response.
As a result, a 23-year-old male was hit with a live bullet to the right knee and was then taken to Palestine Medical Complex to receive medical treatment.
Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized demonstrations in protest at the Israeli polices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, at the western entrance to Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, al-Taweel Mount, near “Psagot” settlement, east of al-Bireh, and at the southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. Israeli soldiers used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them.
As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas canisters and sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 04 March 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shuja’iya neighborhood, east of the Gaza Strip, and threw stones at the soldiers stationed in the area. Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers opened fire at them in response.
As a result, 2 civilians were wounded with live bullets.
At approximately 14:30 on Friday, Israeli forces stationed at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip, fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at dozens of young men, who were on the road between the Palestinian and Israeli sides of the crossing. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers in protest at the Israeli attacks against the Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
As a result of the clashes which continued until 18:00, two civilians, including a child, were wounded.
Both of the abovementioned civilians were taken by a PRCS ambulance to the Indonesian Hospital in Jabalia refugee camp, where Salah’s injuries were classified as moderate, while Ghareeb’s injuries were classified as serious, which led to take him to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
At approximately 12:00 on Friday, 04 March 2016, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliya, and then made their way to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the entrance, Israeli forces fired live bullets at them.
As a result, 2 civilians, including a child, were wounded. The child, who was identified as Khalid Murad Ishtawi (9), was hit with a live bullet to the right thigh, while another civilian in his thirties was hit with a live bullet to the left thigh.
Also following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized protests in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah; and al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them.
As a result, many civilians suffered teas gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the international community act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them.
In addition, PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome Statute
For the full text of the report, click on the link
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 03– 09 March 2016, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces continued systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories. 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child and 2 women, were killed in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem. 8 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces conducted 85 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 12 ones in occupied Jerusalem. 80 Palestinian civilians, including 25 children and 2 women, were abducted. Thirty of them, including 16 children and a woman were abducted in occupied Jerusalem. Among the abducted were a photojournalist and a doctor.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 6 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Jerusalem, including 2 women and a child. Moreover, they wounded 8 civilians, including 2 children, 3 of whom, including a child, were in the West Bank while the 5 others were in the Gaza Strip. Concerning the nature of the injuries, 7 civilians were hit with live bullets and a civilian was hit with a tear gas canister to the head
In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed 6 Palestinian civilians and wounded 3 others, including a child. All of them were hit with live bullets.
On 04 March 2016, in employment of lethal force, Israeli forces killed Amani Sebateen (34), from Hosan village, west of Bethlehem. They claimed that she ran over an Israeli soldier at “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of the city, and caused him minor wounds. It should be noted that Amani is a mother of 4 children.
In a similar crime, on 08 March 2016, Israeli Border Guard officers opened fire at Fadwa Abu Tair (50) from point blank range, claiming that she attempted to stab an Israeli soldier near the Iron Gate, one of the al-Aqsa Mosque gates in the Old City of East Jerusalem. As a result, she sustained 3 bullet wounds and was left bleeding to death for over half an hour.
In another crime committed on the same day, Israeli forces opened fire at Fo’ad Abu Rajab “al-Tamimi” (21) while he was on Saladin Street in occupied Jerusalem, as he opened fire at Israeli soldiers near the office of Jerusalem Electricity Company in the Old City. As a result, 2 Israeli police officers were wounded and the Palestinian young man was killed by several bullets, one of which, penetrated the head.
On 09 March 2016, Israeli forces opened fire at Abdul Malek Saleh Abu Kharoub (19) and Mohammed Jamal al-Kalouti (21), both from Jerusalem, near the New Gate, one of al-Aqsa Mosque gates in the Old City, following an armed clash after 2-hour chasing. As a result, one of the 2 Palestinians was shot dead while the other died upon arrival to Hadassa – Har HaTsofim Hospital in West Jerusalem.
Also on the same day, Israeli forces erecting a checkpoint under al-Zawiyah village’s bridge, west of Nablus, fired 20 bullets at Ahmed Yusef Isma’il Amer (17), from Mas’ha village, west of Salfit, after he stepped out of a vehicle and headed towards the Israeli soldiers. As a result, he was shot dead.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child. Two of them, including the child, were wounded during their participation in protests organized adjacent to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip. In addition, the 2 others were wounded during protests organized near the border fence, east of al-Shuja’iya neighbourhood, east of Gaza City. Three of them were hit with live bullets and the fourth was hit by a sound bomb to the head.
In the context of targeting border areas along the Gaza Strip, on 07 March 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the said fence, east of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at a Palestinian civilian (29) while he was only 10 meters away from the fence. As a result, he sustained a bullet wound to the right leg (the bullet entered and exited), after which, he was transported to al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir al-Balah to receive the necessary medical treatment.
At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 08 March 2016, Israeli Border Guard officers opened fire at a Palestinian woman from a point blank range claiming that she attempted to stab an Israeli soldier near the Iron Gate, one of al-Aqsa Mosque Gates in East Jerusalem’s Old City. As a result, she was hit with 3 bullets and left bleeding for more than half an hour on the ground until she drew her last breath.
According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ accounts to the fieldworker in the city, Fadwa Ahmed Mohammed Abu Teir (50) was walking between the Cotton Merchants and the Iron Gates when the Israeli soldiers shouted at her to stop. However, she did not respond and continued to walk. They then ran towards Fadwa and opened fire at her.
As a result, she was hit with 3 bullets; one of which penetrated her right eye and the two others penetrated her chest and abdomen. More than one eyewitness confirmed that they saw no knife or sharp tool in her hands. They added that the Israeli soldiers deliberately left Fadwa on the ground bleeding for more than half an hour and prevented Palestinians from approaching her or providing her the necessary first aid.
Dr. Amin Abu Ghazaleh from the Red Crescent clinic in the Old City of Jerusalem said that the Israeli soldiers prevented the Red Crescent crews for around 10 minutes from reaching Fadwa until the Israeli officers arrived and the medical crews were then allowed to check her. He added that the ten minutes have been enough to save Fawda’s life.
It should be mentioned that the killed woman lived in Um Touba neighbourhood, south of East Jerusalem, and was married with 5 children.
Luba al-Somari, Spokesperson of the Israeli police, said in a statement, “An Arab Jerusalemite woman from Um Touba neighbourhood stepped towards Israeli Border Guard officers, who were as usual in the area as part of the field readiness to maintain public safety. She pulled out a knife attempting to stab the border officers who opened fire after perceiving a “tangible threat”. They immediately neutralized the woman, but no Israeli injuries were reported.”
At approximately 17:10 on Tuesday, 08 March 2016, Israeli forces opened fire at a Palestinian armed young man, who opened fire at them near the Jerusalem District Electricity Company in Salah al-Deen Street in East Jerusalem’s Old City.
As a result, two Israeli officers were wounded while the Palestinian young man was hit with several bullets; one of which penetrated his head. Therefore, he immediately died on the scene.
According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ testimonies to the fieldworker in Jerusalem, when Fo’ad Qathaf ‘Abdullah Abu Rajab “al-Tamimi” (21) was in the parking of the electricity company in Salah al-Deen Street in Jerusalem, he opened fire from a riffle at the Israeli soldiers, who in response opened fire at him. The armed clash continued for around 10 minutes.
As a result, Fo’ad was killed and two police officers were wounded; one of whom sustained a serious wound.
It should be mentioned that the Israeli forces accompanied with Intelligence officers raided the Electricity Company and searched the guard’s room. They pushed who were there and confiscated the surveillance cameras. They also opened fire at the Company’s vehicles, damaging their windows and the vehicles’ body. The Israeli forces also completely closed Salah al-Deen Street and raided and searched “al-Dar Mall” building. They dispersed those who were near the vicinity of the scene and denied them access.
Around an hour later, large force of Israeli soldiers moved into al-‘Issawiyah village, northeast of Jerusalem, and surrounded a house belonging to Fo’ad’s family. Amist Israeli firing of rubber bullets and tear gas canisters to prevent anyone from approaching the house, the Israeli forces raided and searched the house. They also took photos of it from the inside and outside in addition to its measures. They also asked Fo’ad’s mother questions while they summoned his father and uncle for interrogation.
At approximately 08:40 on Wednesday, 09 March 2016, Israeli police officers opened fire at two Palestinian young men near the New Gate, one of the newest gates in the walls that surround Jerusalem’s Old City, following an armed clash between both of them. After chasing them for around 2 hours, one of the two young men was killed on the scene and the other was later announced dead when he arrived at “Hadassa – Har HaTsofim Hospital” in West Jerusalem.
According to Israeli forces, at approximately 07:10 on the aforementioned day, ‘Abdel Malek Saleh Abu Kharoub (19) and Mohammed Jamal al-Kaloti (21), both from Jerusalem, opened fire at an Israeli “Egged Cooperative” bus at the Ramot Junction, west of West Jerusalem, and drove a blue car away. The Israeli forces chased them and opened heavy fire at the car. They established checkpoints on the way to “Hatsnim” Street near the New Gate in Jerusalem, where the armed clash erupted.
As a result, Mohammed Jamal al-Kaloti immediately died while ‘Abdel Malek Abu Kharoub was transferred via an Israeli ambulance to “Hadassa – Har HaTsofim Hospital”, where he succumbed to his wounds. ‘Emad Abu ‘Ali (56) sustained serious wounds in his head when he was walking in the New Gate area where the armed clash happened. He was taken to Hadassa al-‘Issawiya to receive medical treatment.
House demolitions, demolition notices and attempts to seize civilian houses:
On Friday 04 March 2016, joint staffs from the Israeli municipality and forces moved into a number of neighborhoods in Silwan village, south of East Jerusalem’s Old City. They distributed administrative demolition orders to commercial and residential facilities under the pretext of building without a permit.
An eyewitness said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli municipality staffs moved into the neighborhoods of Al-Bustan, Beer Ayoub and Ein Al-Lozeh in Silwan and took pictures of several commercial and residential facilities as well as the neighborhoods’ streets. During the raid, they handed four civilians from Al-Bustan and Ein Al-Lozeh administrative demolition notices under the pretext of building without a permit.
An eyewitness said that municipality crews handed the notices to a commercial store in Ein Al-Lozeh; a house in Al-Bustan neighborhood and two houses in Ein Al-Lozeh. All the aforementioned facilities were built many years ago. Farhat Qaimari, one of the four affected civilians, said that the municipality staffs accompanied with Israeli forces raided his house in the neighborhood of Al-Bustan and handed him an administrative demolition notice under the pretext of building without a permit. He added that he has been living in the house for 10 years with his wife and four children.
Israeli Settlement activities:
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
At approximately 14:30 on Thursday, 04 March 2016, Israeli bulldozers levelled dozens dunums of agricultural lands in al-Zayaq area, east of Deir Balut village, west of Salfit. The levelled lands belong to Taysir Rushdi ‘Abdullah and his brothers to be annexed to “Leshem” settlement established in the eastern side of the village although a decision was issued by the Israeli Supreme Court to stop construction works and not to level this area. They also levelled large part of Deir Sam’an Archaeological Site in Kafr al-Deek village to annex it to the same settlement.
At approximately 04:00 on Monday, 07 March 2016, Israeli forces accompanied with a vehicle belonging to the Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli Administration and a bulldozer moved into al-Jomjomah area, northeast of Halhoul, north of Hebron. The military bulldozers levelled a 200-square-meter barrack used for grazing sheep belonging to ‘Abdel Karim Mahmoud ‘Abdel Rahman Mer’eb (77).
The aforementioned civilian said to a PCHR fieldworker that the Israeli authorities handed a notice to Mer’eb to stop construction works on 20 February 2016, so he did all the necessary legal procedures mentioned in the notice. He hired a lawyer to submit a petition. However, the Civil Administration handed him a demolition notice on 20 February 2015. The Israeli bulldozer demolished the barrack without allowing him to evacuate the fodders. The losses were estimated to NIS 60,000.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
Israeli forces continued to target the border areas along the Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian civilian was wounded in the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip. 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded during peaceful protests organized near the border fence.
The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world.
This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people. The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall
Following the Friday prayer, on 04 March 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, near an UNRWA school for boys to organize a peaceful demonstration in protest against the Israeli attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers stationed along the border fence of “Beit Eil” settlement. Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters in response.
As a result, a 23-year-old male was hit with a live bullet to the right knee and was then taken to Palestine Medical Complex to receive medical treatment.
Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized demonstrations in protest at the Israeli polices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, at the western entrance to Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, al-Taweel Mount, near “Psagot” settlement, east of al-Bireh, and at the southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. Israeli soldiers used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them.
As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas canisters and sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 04 March 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shuja’iya neighborhood, east of the Gaza Strip, and threw stones at the soldiers stationed in the area. Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers opened fire at them in response.
As a result, 2 civilians were wounded with live bullets.
At approximately 14:30 on Friday, Israeli forces stationed at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip, fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at dozens of young men, who were on the road between the Palestinian and Israeli sides of the crossing. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers in protest at the Israeli attacks against the Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
As a result of the clashes which continued until 18:00, two civilians, including a child, were wounded.
Both of the abovementioned civilians were taken by a PRCS ambulance to the Indonesian Hospital in Jabalia refugee camp, where Salah’s injuries were classified as moderate, while Ghareeb’s injuries were classified as serious, which led to take him to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
At approximately 12:00 on Friday, 04 March 2016, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliya, and then made their way to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the entrance, Israeli forces fired live bullets at them.
As a result, 2 civilians, including a child, were wounded. The child, who was identified as Khalid Murad Ishtawi (9), was hit with a live bullet to the right thigh, while another civilian in his thirties was hit with a live bullet to the left thigh.
Also following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized protests in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah; and al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them.
As a result, many civilians suffered teas gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the international community act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them.
In addition, PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome Statute
For the full text of the report, click on the link
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Friday stormed the office of the Filastin al-Yawm TV Channel in the occupied West Bank and arrested three journalists, including the office director.
A PIC journalist said the IOF arrested the director of the Filastin al-Yawm TV Channel, journalist Farouq Alyat, from his own family home in Birzeit town, in Ramallah. Heavily-armed occupation troops broke into the headquarters of the Filastin al-Yawm TV Channel and the Trans Media Company in the Bank al-Quds apartment, in al-Bireh, and confiscated their equipment before they posted a military order ruling for shutting down the Filastin al-Yawm TV office.
Photojournalist Muhammad Amr and broadcasting technician Shabib Shbeib were arrested by the occupation soldiers in the assault. The break-in comes just a few hours after the Israeli cabinet, on Thursday, opted for shutting down Palestinian media channels which broadcast incitement for anti-occupation activism against Israelis and expanding prosecution against those who incite.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Union firmly condemned the assault, saying it rather makes part of a series of preplanned Israeli crimes against Palestinian journalists and mass media.
The group called on the Arab and international journalists’ unions to express their condemnation of such Israeli violations and to urge the Israeli cabinet to backtrack on its oppressive measures against Palestinian journalists.
A PIC journalist said the IOF arrested the director of the Filastin al-Yawm TV Channel, journalist Farouq Alyat, from his own family home in Birzeit town, in Ramallah. Heavily-armed occupation troops broke into the headquarters of the Filastin al-Yawm TV Channel and the Trans Media Company in the Bank al-Quds apartment, in al-Bireh, and confiscated their equipment before they posted a military order ruling for shutting down the Filastin al-Yawm TV office.
Photojournalist Muhammad Amr and broadcasting technician Shabib Shbeib were arrested by the occupation soldiers in the assault. The break-in comes just a few hours after the Israeli cabinet, on Thursday, opted for shutting down Palestinian media channels which broadcast incitement for anti-occupation activism against Israelis and expanding prosecution against those who incite.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Union firmly condemned the assault, saying it rather makes part of a series of preplanned Israeli crimes against Palestinian journalists and mass media.
The group called on the Arab and international journalists’ unions to express their condemnation of such Israeli violations and to urge the Israeli cabinet to backtrack on its oppressive measures against Palestinian journalists.
The Israeli security cabinet on Thursday approved a set of measures against Palestinian anti-occupation activists, in a move aimed at aborting the underway Jerusalem Intifada.
According to Israeli news outlets, the Israeli cabinet pushed for cutting down the time it takes to knock down the homes of Palestinian anti-occupation protesters.
Among the steps on the agenda were fast-tracking legislation to crackdown on those employing or assisting Palestinians who enter 1948 Occupied Palestine in search of a living, along with the cancellation of work permits held by family members and close acquaintances of activists.
The cabinet further approved shutting down Palestinian media channels which broadcast incitement for anti-occupation activism against Israelis and expanding prosecution against those who incite.
The cabinet further approved immediate work to seal off gaps in the security fence in Occupied Jerusalem and to complete construction of the apartheid barrier in the area of Tarkumiya, south of al-Khalil.
According to Israeli news outlets, the Israeli cabinet pushed for cutting down the time it takes to knock down the homes of Palestinian anti-occupation protesters.
Among the steps on the agenda were fast-tracking legislation to crackdown on those employing or assisting Palestinians who enter 1948 Occupied Palestine in search of a living, along with the cancellation of work permits held by family members and close acquaintances of activists.
The cabinet further approved shutting down Palestinian media channels which broadcast incitement for anti-occupation activism against Israelis and expanding prosecution against those who incite.
The cabinet further approved immediate work to seal off gaps in the security fence in Occupied Jerusalem and to complete construction of the apartheid barrier in the area of Tarkumiya, south of al-Khalil.
10 mar 2016
The Israeli government has embarked on studying the possibility of exiling the families of the Palestinians who carried out attacks on Israelis to other West Bank areas, the Hebrew newspaper Maariv said on Thursday.
According to the newspaper, the government seeks to banish the families who glorify the actions of their sons and incite violence from their residential places to other areas in the West Bank, where their movement will be restricted under certain conditions.
The government is considering taking this measure after it has failed to extract a court verdict allowing it to exile families of attackers to Gaza or other countries.
According to the newspaper, the government seeks to banish the families who glorify the actions of their sons and incite violence from their residential places to other areas in the West Bank, where their movement will be restricted under certain conditions.
The government is considering taking this measure after it has failed to extract a court verdict allowing it to exile families of attackers to Gaza or other countries.
Yariv Oppenheimer, leader of the Peace Now organization, condemned on Wednesday Israel’s extrajudicial executions of Palestinian anti-occupation activists on allegations that they carried out attacks against Israelis.
“This is how it goes from neutralizing terrorists to execution without trial”, Oppenheimer told Israel’s Channel 10 as he referred to a series of videos corroborating his remarks.
He blasted the Israeli media for ignoring what he describes as extra-judicial executions, saying “In the present atmosphere, no one in the Israeli mass media dares to report and deal with the issue.”
A poll recently broadcast by the Israeli Channel Two showed that 75% of Israelis incite for field execution of Palestinians who carry out anti-occupation attacks. 24% only voted no.
Over recent months, the Israeli occupation army stepped up cold-blooded executions of Palestinian protesters and activists under the pretext that they carried out anti-occupation attacks against Israeli targets.
“This is how it goes from neutralizing terrorists to execution without trial”, Oppenheimer told Israel’s Channel 10 as he referred to a series of videos corroborating his remarks.
He blasted the Israeli media for ignoring what he describes as extra-judicial executions, saying “In the present atmosphere, no one in the Israeli mass media dares to report and deal with the issue.”
A poll recently broadcast by the Israeli Channel Two showed that 75% of Israelis incite for field execution of Palestinians who carry out anti-occupation attacks. 24% only voted no.
Over recent months, the Israeli occupation army stepped up cold-blooded executions of Palestinian protesters and activists under the pretext that they carried out anti-occupation attacks against Israeli targets.
9 mar 2016
United States Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday said Israel could not stop violent acts carried out by Palestinians solely through physical force, the Associated Press reported.
Biden landed in Tel Aviv Tuesday as multiple attacks were carried out by Palestinian individuals in Israel and occupied Palestinian territory. The day’s incidents left four Palestinians and one American tourist dead.
The vice president condemned the attacks -- as well as the failure by Palestinian leadership to condemn the attacks -- during a joint press conference, according to AP.
"The kind of violence we saw yesterday, the failure to condemn it, the rhetoric that incites that violence, the retribution that it generates, has to stop,” Biden said, specifically targeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Fatah party, which he said "glorified" Tuesday’s attacks.
Slamming Palestinian leadership and its alleged incitement of Palestinian violence, Biden said while such violence must be stopped, doing so “cannot and will not be done just by physical force.”
The slight criticism echoed condemnations by international leaders and rights groups of Israel’s harsh reaction against Palestinian communities for attacks carried out by individuals, termed by many as collective punishment.
Biden’s visit came days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned trip to the US.
Israeli media reported the PM canceled the trip after the White House was unable to arrange a meeting between him and Obama, allegations the White House denied.
White House Press Secretary Jon Earnest in a press briefing on Tuesday denied Netanyahu’s move was “a snub” to the US, referring to the incident as “simply a matter of scheduling.”
Earnest added that Biden’s visit was viewed as an opportunity for the vice president to strengthen relations between the US and Israel.
Earnest clarified that Biden did not intend to engage in negotiations over US military aid to Israel, a topic that has spurred controversy among the two parties in recent months.
Despite Earnest’s comments, Israeli officials told Israeli daily Haaretz that Biden on Wednesday encouraged Netanyahu to sign a new deal for military aid while Obama was still in office.
After the terms of the aid agreement became unclear in February, Netanyahu said he would wait for the next US president to sign a deal, if the current administration was “unable to meet Israel’s security needs.”
Israel reportedly requested at least $5 billion in annual military aid from the US that would be fixed for the ten years to follow, far surpassing the $3 billion per year currently received by Israel through a military aid agreement set to end by 2018.
While US-Israel relations have seen a series of diplomatic disputes over the past year, Israel remains the number one long-time recipient of US military aid, and Biden made clear during his visit that the US would continue to contribute to Israel’s “defense” needs.
Biden’s visit is his first to Israel since 2010, when Israel announced the construction of 1,600 homes for illegal Jewish-only settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.
Biden landed in Tel Aviv Tuesday as multiple attacks were carried out by Palestinian individuals in Israel and occupied Palestinian territory. The day’s incidents left four Palestinians and one American tourist dead.
The vice president condemned the attacks -- as well as the failure by Palestinian leadership to condemn the attacks -- during a joint press conference, according to AP.
"The kind of violence we saw yesterday, the failure to condemn it, the rhetoric that incites that violence, the retribution that it generates, has to stop,” Biden said, specifically targeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Fatah party, which he said "glorified" Tuesday’s attacks.
Slamming Palestinian leadership and its alleged incitement of Palestinian violence, Biden said while such violence must be stopped, doing so “cannot and will not be done just by physical force.”
The slight criticism echoed condemnations by international leaders and rights groups of Israel’s harsh reaction against Palestinian communities for attacks carried out by individuals, termed by many as collective punishment.
Biden’s visit came days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned trip to the US.
Israeli media reported the PM canceled the trip after the White House was unable to arrange a meeting between him and Obama, allegations the White House denied.
White House Press Secretary Jon Earnest in a press briefing on Tuesday denied Netanyahu’s move was “a snub” to the US, referring to the incident as “simply a matter of scheduling.”
Earnest added that Biden’s visit was viewed as an opportunity for the vice president to strengthen relations between the US and Israel.
Earnest clarified that Biden did not intend to engage in negotiations over US military aid to Israel, a topic that has spurred controversy among the two parties in recent months.
Despite Earnest’s comments, Israeli officials told Israeli daily Haaretz that Biden on Wednesday encouraged Netanyahu to sign a new deal for military aid while Obama was still in office.
After the terms of the aid agreement became unclear in February, Netanyahu said he would wait for the next US president to sign a deal, if the current administration was “unable to meet Israel’s security needs.”
Israel reportedly requested at least $5 billion in annual military aid from the US that would be fixed for the ten years to follow, far surpassing the $3 billion per year currently received by Israel through a military aid agreement set to end by 2018.
While US-Israel relations have seen a series of diplomatic disputes over the past year, Israel remains the number one long-time recipient of US military aid, and Biden made clear during his visit that the US would continue to contribute to Israel’s “defense” needs.
Biden’s visit is his first to Israel since 2010, when Israel announced the construction of 1,600 homes for illegal Jewish-only settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli forces before dawn on Wednesday made preparations for the punitive demolition of the home of a Palestinian who carried out a deadly attack in Jaffa the night before, locals said.
Locals told Ma’an that the Israeli military raided the family house of 22-year-old Bashar Masalha in the occupied West Bank village of Hajja before taking measurements of the home.
The forces searched Masalha’s home hours after he stabbed and killed an American tourist and injured nine other Israelis. Masalha was shot dead on scene.
Hajja was sealed by military forces following the attack late Tuesday, as was the village of al-Zawiya after 17-year-old resident Abd Al-Rahman Radad stabbed and injured an Israeli in the Tel Aviv suburb of Petah Tikvah.
The Israeli army confirmed to Ma’an that Hajja and al-Zawiya were still closed Wednesday evening following “security assessments” of the area.
All entrance and exit to the villages was still being prevented with the exception of humanitarian cases, according to the army spokesperson.
Israeli authorities have typically carried out punitive measures on Palestinian communities following individual attacks on Israelis that increased in October and have continued well into this year.
Such measures have been widely condemned by international rights organizations as collective punishment, particularly the Israeli policy of punitive home demolition.
Israeli rights group B’Tselem has slammed the policy as “court sanctioned revenge,” as demolitions punish family members of Palestinians who have already been killed following attacks or suspected attacks on Israelis.
Israeli authorities have also revoked work permits for family or community members of those who carry out attacks, while on several occasions cutting off communities for days or weeks at a time.
Last month the Palestinian village of Qabatiya was sealed for three consecutive days after three residents of the town carried out a deadly attack in Jerusalem.
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah had decried the closure at the time, saying: “Ongoing Israeli policies of collective punishment, field executions, and blockading Palestinian cities, villages, and refugee camps will worsen the security situation in the area.
“By confining our people and suffocating them with military checkpoints, Israel is violating all international laws and conventions,” Hamdallah said.
Locals told Ma’an that the Israeli military raided the family house of 22-year-old Bashar Masalha in the occupied West Bank village of Hajja before taking measurements of the home.
The forces searched Masalha’s home hours after he stabbed and killed an American tourist and injured nine other Israelis. Masalha was shot dead on scene.
Hajja was sealed by military forces following the attack late Tuesday, as was the village of al-Zawiya after 17-year-old resident Abd Al-Rahman Radad stabbed and injured an Israeli in the Tel Aviv suburb of Petah Tikvah.
The Israeli army confirmed to Ma’an that Hajja and al-Zawiya were still closed Wednesday evening following “security assessments” of the area.
All entrance and exit to the villages was still being prevented with the exception of humanitarian cases, according to the army spokesperson.
Israeli authorities have typically carried out punitive measures on Palestinian communities following individual attacks on Israelis that increased in October and have continued well into this year.
Such measures have been widely condemned by international rights organizations as collective punishment, particularly the Israeli policy of punitive home demolition.
Israeli rights group B’Tselem has slammed the policy as “court sanctioned revenge,” as demolitions punish family members of Palestinians who have already been killed following attacks or suspected attacks on Israelis.
Israeli authorities have also revoked work permits for family or community members of those who carry out attacks, while on several occasions cutting off communities for days or weeks at a time.
Last month the Palestinian village of Qabatiya was sealed for three consecutive days after three residents of the town carried out a deadly attack in Jerusalem.
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah had decried the closure at the time, saying: “Ongoing Israeli policies of collective punishment, field executions, and blockading Palestinian cities, villages, and refugee camps will worsen the security situation in the area.
“By confining our people and suffocating them with military checkpoints, Israel is violating all international laws and conventions,” Hamdallah said.
The Israeli MK and former foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday evening toured Bab al-Amoud area near al-Aqsa Mosque.
Photos were published in Israeli websites showing Lieberman while provocatively roaming in the area under heavy police protection.
MK Lieberman also held a press conference in the area, where he called on Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu to expel Palestinian families of those suspected in carrying out anti-occupation attacks.
"Netanyahu’s policy has brought us to a very old period where Israelis were afraid to go out safely", he said.
Photos were published in Israeli websites showing Lieberman while provocatively roaming in the area under heavy police protection.
MK Lieberman also held a press conference in the area, where he called on Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu to expel Palestinian families of those suspected in carrying out anti-occupation attacks.
"Netanyahu’s policy has brought us to a very old period where Israelis were afraid to go out safely", he said.
The Arab Organization for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) conducted field research in the Occupied Palestinian Territories between January and December 2015 so as to document human rights violations committed by the Palestinian Authority's security apparatuses.
The research revealed that more than 1392 Palestinians were arrested for political reasons in various parts of the West Bank, 22 of whom were charged with carrying out anti-Israeli activities.
Another 323 were summoned for questioning before being released on the same day, Some of those arrested were summoned several times throughout the year. A recorded 273 were summoned and detained in June alone. Detainees included 25 women, 27 children, 68 journalists, 41 teachers and 422 university and school students.
The largest number of detainees, approximately 969, comprised Palestinians who had been previously freed from Israeli jails.
AOHR UK also documented 37 instances of individuals being subjected to torture whilst under arrest, including physical assaults with batons and ropes, being hung from windows and doors, being held in stress positions for hours, and near-death strangulations.
A number of detainees were held in solitary confinement for several months, prompting a number of them to go on open-ended hunger strikes to protest again the inhumane treatment and torture, and demand their immediate release.
The PA Security forces also seized personal belongings and property belonging to 76 Palestinians during the course of the arrests including ID cards, mobile phones, computers, cars, sums of money and various documents.
On fourteen occasions, the PA security forces used live bullets to intimidate Palestinians, injuring a 12-year-old child on one occasion.
At least 43 Palestinians were brutally beaten, and one was hit by a car during the course of his arrest. Security forces also held four Palestinians in custody so as to force members of their family who were sought by the security services, to hand themselves in. A man and a woman were also banned from travelling outside the West Bank.
The PA security forces often refused to comply with court orders for the release of detainees. At least 26 Palestinians remained in custody even after the court ordered their release. Another 11 Palestinians were held under “administrative detention” by the governor of their respective towns.
Only court decisions extending detainees’ remand in custody are usually routinely implemented, as was the case with verdicts sentencing four Palestinians to prison for periods ranging between 3 to 10 years. One of those Palestinians was sentenced in absentia since he is currently detained in Israel where it is expected he will be sentenced to life imprisonment.
Security forces cracked down on many peaceful protests held to oppose human rights violations by Palestinian security forces and Israeli occupation troops. At least 33 peaceful protests were disrupted and stopped in the West Bank, with officers, some dressed in plain clothes, assaulting protesters and seizing personal belongings, banners and brochures. Media outlets were often banned from covering these protests.
The research revealed that more than 1392 Palestinians were arrested for political reasons in various parts of the West Bank, 22 of whom were charged with carrying out anti-Israeli activities.
Another 323 were summoned for questioning before being released on the same day, Some of those arrested were summoned several times throughout the year. A recorded 273 were summoned and detained in June alone. Detainees included 25 women, 27 children, 68 journalists, 41 teachers and 422 university and school students.
The largest number of detainees, approximately 969, comprised Palestinians who had been previously freed from Israeli jails.
AOHR UK also documented 37 instances of individuals being subjected to torture whilst under arrest, including physical assaults with batons and ropes, being hung from windows and doors, being held in stress positions for hours, and near-death strangulations.
A number of detainees were held in solitary confinement for several months, prompting a number of them to go on open-ended hunger strikes to protest again the inhumane treatment and torture, and demand their immediate release.
The PA Security forces also seized personal belongings and property belonging to 76 Palestinians during the course of the arrests including ID cards, mobile phones, computers, cars, sums of money and various documents.
On fourteen occasions, the PA security forces used live bullets to intimidate Palestinians, injuring a 12-year-old child on one occasion.
At least 43 Palestinians were brutally beaten, and one was hit by a car during the course of his arrest. Security forces also held four Palestinians in custody so as to force members of their family who were sought by the security services, to hand themselves in. A man and a woman were also banned from travelling outside the West Bank.
The PA security forces often refused to comply with court orders for the release of detainees. At least 26 Palestinians remained in custody even after the court ordered their release. Another 11 Palestinians were held under “administrative detention” by the governor of their respective towns.
Only court decisions extending detainees’ remand in custody are usually routinely implemented, as was the case with verdicts sentencing four Palestinians to prison for periods ranging between 3 to 10 years. One of those Palestinians was sentenced in absentia since he is currently detained in Israel where it is expected he will be sentenced to life imprisonment.
Security forces cracked down on many peaceful protests held to oppose human rights violations by Palestinian security forces and Israeli occupation troops. At least 33 peaceful protests were disrupted and stopped in the West Bank, with officers, some dressed in plain clothes, assaulting protesters and seizing personal belongings, banners and brochures. Media outlets were often banned from covering these protests.
8 mar 2016
Maryam Abu Daqqa, politburo member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), said that the Jerusalem Intifada will continue against the will of Israel, which, he said, cannot end the uprising.
Abu Daqqa called for national unity and establishing a central leadership to direct the Intifada and said that Palestinian women are involved in the Palestinian resistance action in all of its forms including participation in the uprising and the anti-siege and anti-Separation Wall events.
Abu Daqqa’s statements came to coincide with the International Women's Day which falls on March 08. She also said on this occasion that Palestinian women play a key role in resistance as well as building the society.
Abu Daqqa called for national unity and establishing a central leadership to direct the Intifada and said that Palestinian women are involved in the Palestinian resistance action in all of its forms including participation in the uprising and the anti-siege and anti-Separation Wall events.
Abu Daqqa’s statements came to coincide with the International Women's Day which falls on March 08. She also said on this occasion that Palestinian women play a key role in resistance as well as building the society.
The Palestinian Specialist in the contemporary History of Jerusalem Mutasem Nasser said that the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has been seeking in vein since 1967 to find monuments that date back to the Suleiman or David eras in Occupied Jerusalem.
Quds Press quoted Nasser as saying that the Israeli archaeologist Israel Finkelstein affirmed more than once that Israel has not found out any Jewish archaeological discoveries since year 1967 under the Aqsa Mosque or any other location in Occupied Jerusalem based on his studies and research.
Nasser’s statements refuted Radio Israel's allegations that Israeli archaeologists discovered Jewish monuments in Silwan town near Occupied Jerusalem which date back to the first temple 2500 years ago.
He said that Silwan is a targeted town by the Israeli authorities and they attempted to call it “Town of David”.
The Palestinian specialist Nasser said the Israeli allegations have political Zionist goals aiming at demolishing the Aqsa Mosque. He pointed to the presence of discrepancies in the Israeli narrations on finding Jewish discoveries in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli sources have been issuing contradictory reports on finding monuments as they once reported discoveries beneath the town of Silwan and, in another occasion; they reported news on monuments under the Aqsa Mosque, he said.
Quds Press quoted Nasser as saying that the Israeli archaeologist Israel Finkelstein affirmed more than once that Israel has not found out any Jewish archaeological discoveries since year 1967 under the Aqsa Mosque or any other location in Occupied Jerusalem based on his studies and research.
Nasser’s statements refuted Radio Israel's allegations that Israeli archaeologists discovered Jewish monuments in Silwan town near Occupied Jerusalem which date back to the first temple 2500 years ago.
He said that Silwan is a targeted town by the Israeli authorities and they attempted to call it “Town of David”.
The Palestinian specialist Nasser said the Israeli allegations have political Zionist goals aiming at demolishing the Aqsa Mosque. He pointed to the presence of discrepancies in the Israeli narrations on finding Jewish discoveries in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli sources have been issuing contradictory reports on finding monuments as they once reported discoveries beneath the town of Silwan and, in another occasion; they reported news on monuments under the Aqsa Mosque, he said.
Fatah spokesman Ra'fat Aliyan has warned that there will be serious consequences for holding Jewish settlers' weddings at the Aqsa Mosque.
This came after rabbi Bentzi Gophstein, head of the terrorist group Lehava, announced that his son, Elyashiv, had tied the knot last Thursday at the Aqsa Mosque, claiming the action was aimed at emphasizing the religious right of the Jews to rebuild their temple.
Describing Gophstein's step as a serious violation against the Aqsa Mosque, Aliyan stressed that such provocative acts against the Islamic holy site would not go unnoticed and would evoke more angry reactions from the Palestinians.
He called on Jordan and all Arab and Islamic countries to urgently move to stop such violation from happening again and protect the Aqsa Mosque. He also urged the Palestinian factions to escalate their resistance operations against the Israeli occupation in response to the persistent Israeli violations against the Mosque.
This came after rabbi Bentzi Gophstein, head of the terrorist group Lehava, announced that his son, Elyashiv, had tied the knot last Thursday at the Aqsa Mosque, claiming the action was aimed at emphasizing the religious right of the Jews to rebuild their temple.
Describing Gophstein's step as a serious violation against the Aqsa Mosque, Aliyan stressed that such provocative acts against the Islamic holy site would not go unnoticed and would evoke more angry reactions from the Palestinians.
He called on Jordan and all Arab and Islamic countries to urgently move to stop such violation from happening again and protect the Aqsa Mosque. He also urged the Palestinian factions to escalate their resistance operations against the Israeli occupation in response to the persistent Israeli violations against the Mosque.