31 mar 2014
Young Palestinians on Monday morning crossed into the buffer zone east of Khuza'a village, southern Gaza Strip, and fixed a Palestine flag on the fence. Dozens of youths placed Palestine flags on the border fence and land, and then were fired on by nearby Israeli gun machine and thus forced to leave the area, Safa Press Agency said.
No injuries were reported.
The young men approached the border fence to plant olive trees in an event marking the 46th anniversary of Land Day, and organized by the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the news outlet said.
The participants raised slogans reading "On Land Day.. Yes to an escalated popular resistance to protect the land,” and “No to settlement construction and land confiscation."
A DFLP member Talal Abu Zarifa told Safa that “We are here to impose a fait accompli in our own way as the [Israeli] occupation is imposing a 300 meter buffer zone,”
Abu Zarifa added that the buffer zone contradicts with the Israel-resistance agreement reached in November 2012 under the auspices of Egypt after the [eight-day] Israeli aggression,”
“There is nothing to negotiate amid land grab and settlement measures," he added, calling on President Mahmoud Abbas to comply with the Palestinian consensus on this regard, leave the negotiations and end the division by adopting a unity strategy for struggle.
The buffer zone is between 500 meters and 1500 meters into the Strip, effectively turning local farms into no-go zones.
According to UNOCHA, 17 percent of Gaza's total land area and 35 percent of its agricultural land were within the buffer zone as of 2010, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of more than 100,000 Gazans.
No injuries were reported.
The young men approached the border fence to plant olive trees in an event marking the 46th anniversary of Land Day, and organized by the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the news outlet said.
The participants raised slogans reading "On Land Day.. Yes to an escalated popular resistance to protect the land,” and “No to settlement construction and land confiscation."
A DFLP member Talal Abu Zarifa told Safa that “We are here to impose a fait accompli in our own way as the [Israeli] occupation is imposing a 300 meter buffer zone,”
Abu Zarifa added that the buffer zone contradicts with the Israel-resistance agreement reached in November 2012 under the auspices of Egypt after the [eight-day] Israeli aggression,”
“There is nothing to negotiate amid land grab and settlement measures," he added, calling on President Mahmoud Abbas to comply with the Palestinian consensus on this regard, leave the negotiations and end the division by adopting a unity strategy for struggle.
The buffer zone is between 500 meters and 1500 meters into the Strip, effectively turning local farms into no-go zones.
According to UNOCHA, 17 percent of Gaza's total land area and 35 percent of its agricultural land were within the buffer zone as of 2010, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of more than 100,000 Gazans.
To mark the occasion of Land Day, one thousand olive saplings were planted on Palestinian land threatened with seizure by Israel in ‘Arraba, near Jenin, on Monday.
The saplings were jointly planted by the Palestinian Agricultural relief Committees (PARC) and ‘Arraba Municipality, in lands adjacent to Mabo Dothan settlement, WAFA reports.
Assistant Governor of Jenin, Kamal Abu al-Rub called for organizing more peaceful popular activities to confront settlement and land seizure, denouncing Israeli policies of building the expansionist apartheid wall in Yaʻbad and ‘Arraba.
Mayor ‘Arraba Rula al-Shaʻer underscored the importance of drawing up a national program for the purpose of reinforcing the Palestinians’ steadfastness, particularly in areas threatened with settlement expansion.
Coordinator of PARC Mohammad Jaradat stated that his association recruited two lawyers who would provide Palestinian farmers with the legal assistance required to protect their lands against being seized by Israeli settlers.
In Gaza, Israeli Forces, stationed at the borders of the Strip, Monday, opened fire on a group of Palestinian youngsters as they raised the Palestinian flag on the borders to the east of Khan Yunes, marking Land Day, according to WAFA correspondent.
He said that a number of youth climbed the separation wall and raised the Palestinian flag, marking the day. Dozens of Palestinians also organized an activity to mark the day by planting olive trees near the borders.
Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers stationed at military towers along the borders opened live fire on the youth and launched tear gas canisters towards them, resulting in several suffocation cases.
An Israeli military spokeswoman told Ma'an that the Palestinians in the area were "tampering with the security fence."
"Soldiers opened fire into the air" and the Palestinians dispersed, she said.
Land Day marks the death of six Palestinian citizens of Israel, who took part in a general strike in protest of an Israeli decision to confiscate privately owned Palestinian lands on March 30, 1976.
Israeli forces frequently shoot at farmers and other civilians inside the Gaza Strip if they approach large swathes of land near the border that the military has deemed off-limits to Palestinians.
According to OCHA, 17 percent of Gaza's total land area and 35 percent of its agricultural land were within the buffer zone as of 2010, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of more than 100,000 Gazans.
The saplings were jointly planted by the Palestinian Agricultural relief Committees (PARC) and ‘Arraba Municipality, in lands adjacent to Mabo Dothan settlement, WAFA reports.
Assistant Governor of Jenin, Kamal Abu al-Rub called for organizing more peaceful popular activities to confront settlement and land seizure, denouncing Israeli policies of building the expansionist apartheid wall in Yaʻbad and ‘Arraba.
Mayor ‘Arraba Rula al-Shaʻer underscored the importance of drawing up a national program for the purpose of reinforcing the Palestinians’ steadfastness, particularly in areas threatened with settlement expansion.
Coordinator of PARC Mohammad Jaradat stated that his association recruited two lawyers who would provide Palestinian farmers with the legal assistance required to protect their lands against being seized by Israeli settlers.
In Gaza, Israeli Forces, stationed at the borders of the Strip, Monday, opened fire on a group of Palestinian youngsters as they raised the Palestinian flag on the borders to the east of Khan Yunes, marking Land Day, according to WAFA correspondent.
He said that a number of youth climbed the separation wall and raised the Palestinian flag, marking the day. Dozens of Palestinians also organized an activity to mark the day by planting olive trees near the borders.
Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers stationed at military towers along the borders opened live fire on the youth and launched tear gas canisters towards them, resulting in several suffocation cases.
An Israeli military spokeswoman told Ma'an that the Palestinians in the area were "tampering with the security fence."
"Soldiers opened fire into the air" and the Palestinians dispersed, she said.
Land Day marks the death of six Palestinian citizens of Israel, who took part in a general strike in protest of an Israeli decision to confiscate privately owned Palestinian lands on March 30, 1976.
Israeli forces frequently shoot at farmers and other civilians inside the Gaza Strip if they approach large swathes of land near the border that the military has deemed off-limits to Palestinians.
According to OCHA, 17 percent of Gaza's total land area and 35 percent of its agricultural land were within the buffer zone as of 2010, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of more than 100,000 Gazans.
Clashes erupted Sunday between Palestinian youths who threw stones and Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at an Israeli military checkpoint, west of the West Bank city of Tulkarem. Local sources said that a student rally started from Palestinian Technical University- Kadoorie on Sunday marking Land Day. The rally headed to an Israeli military checkpoint, west of Tulkarem, that is erected on Palestinian Kadoorie village, in order to plant trees near the separation apartheid wall.
The forces fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets that caused injuries and suffocation cases among the Palestinians.
In a relevant vein, several Israeli military vehicles stormed al-Muqata’a street and al-Itisalat district in Tulkarem on Sunday, Palestinian youths chased them throwing stones. Israeli forces fired tear gas and sound grenades that caused suffocation cases among the youths.
The occupation forces carry out night storms everyday in Tulkarem and its surroundings. However, the forces stormed the city surprisingly at daylight on Sunday.
The forces fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets that caused injuries and suffocation cases among the Palestinians.
In a relevant vein, several Israeli military vehicles stormed al-Muqata’a street and al-Itisalat district in Tulkarem on Sunday, Palestinian youths chased them throwing stones. Israeli forces fired tear gas and sound grenades that caused suffocation cases among the youths.
The occupation forces carry out night storms everyday in Tulkarem and its surroundings. However, the forces stormed the city surprisingly at daylight on Sunday.
Today, Sunday 30th March, is Palestinian Land Day! To commemorate and celebrate Palestinian resistance to Israel’s ongoing land expropriation, colonisation, occupation and apartheid, yesterday afternoon the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign brought some Palestinian culture to the streets of Dublin, performing the Dabka, the traditional Palestinian style of dancing (similar to Irish set dancing) to the GPO. Palestinians, Irish and internationals gave it socks, danicng all afternoon!
What is Land Day?
On 30th March 1976 Israeli military forces shot and killed six young Palestinian citizens of Israel. These young men were among thousands protesting the Israeli government’s expropriation of Palestinian land. The tragic events are now marked every year by commemorating Land Day.
Thirty-eight years after the first Land Day demonstrations, Israel continues its expropriation and colonization of Palestinian land. Israel continues to expand its illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, forcing Palestinians from their land. Palestinians also face dispossession and displacement inside Israel. Inside Israel, Palestinian citizens still face severe discrimination regarding access to land and housing and in the Naqab/Negev desert the Israeli government entertains ideas about driving tens of thousands of Palestinian Bedouins from their ancestral homelands to make way for the ‘Judaization’ of the area.
For all of these ongoing crimes Israel has acted with impunity, as the international community has failed to take action to stop them. Therefore, international civil society has mobilised in support of the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel until it ends its occupation and fulfills its obligations under international law.
Source: Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
What is Land Day?
On 30th March 1976 Israeli military forces shot and killed six young Palestinian citizens of Israel. These young men were among thousands protesting the Israeli government’s expropriation of Palestinian land. The tragic events are now marked every year by commemorating Land Day.
Thirty-eight years after the first Land Day demonstrations, Israel continues its expropriation and colonization of Palestinian land. Israel continues to expand its illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, forcing Palestinians from their land. Palestinians also face dispossession and displacement inside Israel. Inside Israel, Palestinian citizens still face severe discrimination regarding access to land and housing and in the Naqab/Negev desert the Israeli government entertains ideas about driving tens of thousands of Palestinian Bedouins from their ancestral homelands to make way for the ‘Judaization’ of the area.
For all of these ongoing crimes Israel has acted with impunity, as the international community has failed to take action to stop them. Therefore, international civil society has mobilised in support of the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel until it ends its occupation and fulfills its obligations under international law.
Source: Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Three Palestinians, including a boy, were injured Saturday evening during clashes erupted between dozen of Palestinian youths and Israeli occupation forces in Kufr Qaddoum village, east of the West Bank city of Qalqilya. Local sources said that Ahmed Mofid,23, and Khaled Murad,9, was injured with metal bullets in foot while Ahmed Abdulfattah,17, was injured in the back. Dozens of Palestinians, including boys, who suffered suffocation were treated immediately.
Israeli soldiers cracked down on a peaceful rally took place in the village to mark the Land Day. The soldiers used live, rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas, the sources added.
The sources noted that it is the first time occupation forces uses live bullets intensively since Kufr Qaddoum protests started before three years.
In a relevant vein, Israeli occupation forces arrested Saturday Palestinian Mohammed Abu Maria,33, at the entrance of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, and captured his vehicle.
Israeli soldiers cracked down on a peaceful rally took place in the village to mark the Land Day. The soldiers used live, rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas, the sources added.
The sources noted that it is the first time occupation forces uses live bullets intensively since Kufr Qaddoum protests started before three years.
In a relevant vein, Israeli occupation forces arrested Saturday Palestinian Mohammed Abu Maria,33, at the entrance of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, and captured his vehicle.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened machinegun fire at a group of Palestinian young men who were demonstrating near the border fence east of Khuza’a town to the east of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, on Monday morning. A field observer said that dozens of young men marched from Khuza’a toward the border fence to plant olive trees on the occasion of Land Day.
He said that participants raised Palestinian flags and chanted slogans affirming insistence not to surrender an inch of national soil and affirming rejection of negotiations.
The observer said that the young men managed to cross the fence and raise the Palestinian flag there but IOF soldiers opened heavy gunfire at the youths, who threw stones at them. No casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes launched mock raids on Gaza for the second day running Monday.
An eyewitness said that an Israeli F16 dropped a number of bombs in the sea off Gaza coast causing big explosions that were heard all over the enclave.
Israeli warplanes have been flying at low altitudes over the Gaza Strip over the past few days raising fears among inhabitants of possible raids.
He said that participants raised Palestinian flags and chanted slogans affirming insistence not to surrender an inch of national soil and affirming rejection of negotiations.
The observer said that the young men managed to cross the fence and raise the Palestinian flag there but IOF soldiers opened heavy gunfire at the youths, who threw stones at them. No casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes launched mock raids on Gaza for the second day running Monday.
An eyewitness said that an Israeli F16 dropped a number of bombs in the sea off Gaza coast causing big explosions that were heard all over the enclave.
Israeli warplanes have been flying at low altitudes over the Gaza Strip over the past few days raising fears among inhabitants of possible raids.
The Palestinian people protests yearly against the confiscation of 21 thousand dunums of land in the Jalil, Al-Muthalath and the Naqab on the 30th of March 1976, the Israeli response resulted in the death of six young demonstrators.
On the occasion of Land Day, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)issued a press release as follows:
Jerusalem; Systematically Judaizing
The Israeli occupation authorities demolish Palestinian houses and impose obstacles and constraints on building licenses for Palestinians. According to Al-Maqdisi Institute, during 2000 - 2013, the Israeli authorities demolished 1,230 buildings in East Jerusalem (the areas annexed by Israel in 1967). This has resulted in the displacement of 5,419 people, including 2,832 children and 1,423 women.
The estimated losses to Palestinians of the demolition of buildings in Jerusalem total around three and half million US dollars. (This does not include the large fines imposed on so-called construction violations.) Data indicate an increase in cases where residents have to demolish their own houses: 320 people have been forced to demolish their own homes since 2000.
The highest rate of self-demolition was recorded in 2010 with 70 demolitions compared to 49 in 2009.
Data indicate that the total area of residential houses demolished in Jerusalem during 2013 increased in comparison with 2012. A total area of 6,196 m2 was affected during 2013: the area of non-residential establishments demolished totaled 1,150 m2.
Data from Israeli human rights organizations indicate that more than 25 thousand houses have been demolished in Palestine since 1967.
Half of Israeli settlers live in Jerusalem governorate
There were 482 Israeli locations in the West Bank (including settlements, outposts and military bases) by the end of 2013. Data indicate that the total number of settlers in the West Bank was 563,546 at the end of 2012; 277,501 settlers live in Jerusalem governorate and constitute 49.2% of all settlers occupying the West Bank: 203,176 of them live in areas of Jerusalem annexed by Israel in 1967. In demographic terms, the proportion of settlers to the Palestinian population in West Bank is around 21 settlers per 100 Palestinians compared with 69 settlers per 100 Palestinians in Jerusalem governorate.
Israeli settlers use 50 million m3 of stolen water from the Palestinians to cultivate the land seized by the Israeli occupation
According to Israeli statistics, the total cultivated area in Israeli settlements in the West Bank during 2012 was 86 km2. The majority of land is irrigated with around 50 million m3 of stolen water from the Palestinians per year. Irrigated areas cultivated by Palestinians are about 78 km2 consuming around 30 million m3 of water per year only due to the Israeli restrictions. The areas cultivated and water consumed by settlers would provide 100 thousand job opportunities for Palestinians in the West Bank if they were able to take advantage of them. This would contribute to GDP and the share of agriculture to the economy. It would also reduce the unemployment rate. In addition, a large agricultural area is located at the borders of the eastern Gaza Strip, but cannot be utilized by Palestinians because of Israeli measures.
Israel controls more than 85% of land of historical Palestine
Historical land area of Palestine reached, 27,000 km2, Israel uses more than 85% of the total area of the land, while the Palestinian comprise 48% of the total population and use less than 15% only of the land, a Palestinian therefore has less than a fifth of the area available to an Israeli.
Israeli occupation approves over 2,000 housing units monthly
During 2013, more than eight thousand dunums of land were confiscated from Palestinians and more than 15 thousand horticultural trees were destroyed, causing considerable damage to the Palestinian environment. The Israeli occupation authorities also approved the establishment of more than 23 thousand housing units concentrated in settlements around Jerusalem governorate, according to the annual report issued by the International Relations Department of the PLO.
Israeli occupation plunders the natural resources of the West Bank
International law prohibits Israel from exploiting the natural resources of the occupied territories, but Israel continues regardless and treats Palestinian land as its own. Israel has taken over the management of tourist sites in the Jordan valley: Solomon's caves, Al Fashkha spring and the protected area of Wadi Al-Qilt.
Israel exploits the Palestinian beaches of the Dead Sea and prevents Palestinians from developing tourism in this region by disposing of wastewater and solid waste from Israeli settlements and industrial zones in these areas according to the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B'Tselem) .
The occupation authorities have started to drill and explore for oil and natural gas in the West Bank to deprive Palestinians of these resources.
On the occasion of Land Day, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)issued a press release as follows:
Jerusalem; Systematically Judaizing
The Israeli occupation authorities demolish Palestinian houses and impose obstacles and constraints on building licenses for Palestinians. According to Al-Maqdisi Institute, during 2000 - 2013, the Israeli authorities demolished 1,230 buildings in East Jerusalem (the areas annexed by Israel in 1967). This has resulted in the displacement of 5,419 people, including 2,832 children and 1,423 women.
The estimated losses to Palestinians of the demolition of buildings in Jerusalem total around three and half million US dollars. (This does not include the large fines imposed on so-called construction violations.) Data indicate an increase in cases where residents have to demolish their own houses: 320 people have been forced to demolish their own homes since 2000.
The highest rate of self-demolition was recorded in 2010 with 70 demolitions compared to 49 in 2009.
Data indicate that the total area of residential houses demolished in Jerusalem during 2013 increased in comparison with 2012. A total area of 6,196 m2 was affected during 2013: the area of non-residential establishments demolished totaled 1,150 m2.
Data from Israeli human rights organizations indicate that more than 25 thousand houses have been demolished in Palestine since 1967.
Half of Israeli settlers live in Jerusalem governorate
There were 482 Israeli locations in the West Bank (including settlements, outposts and military bases) by the end of 2013. Data indicate that the total number of settlers in the West Bank was 563,546 at the end of 2012; 277,501 settlers live in Jerusalem governorate and constitute 49.2% of all settlers occupying the West Bank: 203,176 of them live in areas of Jerusalem annexed by Israel in 1967. In demographic terms, the proportion of settlers to the Palestinian population in West Bank is around 21 settlers per 100 Palestinians compared with 69 settlers per 100 Palestinians in Jerusalem governorate.
Israeli settlers use 50 million m3 of stolen water from the Palestinians to cultivate the land seized by the Israeli occupation
According to Israeli statistics, the total cultivated area in Israeli settlements in the West Bank during 2012 was 86 km2. The majority of land is irrigated with around 50 million m3 of stolen water from the Palestinians per year. Irrigated areas cultivated by Palestinians are about 78 km2 consuming around 30 million m3 of water per year only due to the Israeli restrictions. The areas cultivated and water consumed by settlers would provide 100 thousand job opportunities for Palestinians in the West Bank if they were able to take advantage of them. This would contribute to GDP and the share of agriculture to the economy. It would also reduce the unemployment rate. In addition, a large agricultural area is located at the borders of the eastern Gaza Strip, but cannot be utilized by Palestinians because of Israeli measures.
Israel controls more than 85% of land of historical Palestine
Historical land area of Palestine reached, 27,000 km2, Israel uses more than 85% of the total area of the land, while the Palestinian comprise 48% of the total population and use less than 15% only of the land, a Palestinian therefore has less than a fifth of the area available to an Israeli.
Israeli occupation approves over 2,000 housing units monthly
During 2013, more than eight thousand dunums of land were confiscated from Palestinians and more than 15 thousand horticultural trees were destroyed, causing considerable damage to the Palestinian environment. The Israeli occupation authorities also approved the establishment of more than 23 thousand housing units concentrated in settlements around Jerusalem governorate, according to the annual report issued by the International Relations Department of the PLO.
Israeli occupation plunders the natural resources of the West Bank
International law prohibits Israel from exploiting the natural resources of the occupied territories, but Israel continues regardless and treats Palestinian land as its own. Israel has taken over the management of tourist sites in the Jordan valley: Solomon's caves, Al Fashkha spring and the protected area of Wadi Al-Qilt.
Israel exploits the Palestinian beaches of the Dead Sea and prevents Palestinians from developing tourism in this region by disposing of wastewater and solid waste from Israeli settlements and industrial zones in these areas according to the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B'Tselem) .
The occupation authorities have started to drill and explore for oil and natural gas in the West Bank to deprive Palestinians of these resources.
Israeli soldiers violently attacked several nonviolent protests held by Palestinians across the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem marking the 38th anniversary of Palestine's Land Day, leading to dozens of injuries and several arrests.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that the army attacked and wounded dozens of Palestinians with gas bombs, live rounds and rubber-coated metal bullets, and physically assaulted several residents.
It said that at least one Palestinian was kidnapped in occupied Jerusalem, and several others were wounded, including a woman who suffered burns in her face, after the soldiers assaulted the protesters in Bab al-‘Amoud area, in the center of occupied Jerusalem.
The army also kidnapped another Palestinian in the Sultan Suleiman Street, in occupied Jerusalem, and injured a woman after attacking her and spraying her face with chemically modified pepper spray.
Abeer Zayyad of the Jerusalem First Campaign said the protesters were holding rallies to express their determination and steadfastness in their own land, and to protest the ongoing Israeli occupation and crimes against the Palestinian people.
She added that the army first kidnapped Khaled Husseini, coordinator of the campaign, on Sunday morning. Then, hundreds of soldiers and police officers were deployed in Bab al-‘Amoud, where they assaulted the nonviolent protesters.
In addition, the Follow-up Committee in al-Eesawiyya town, of occupied Jerusalem, said that the soldiers shot and wounded one young man, and kidnapped three others, during dawn clashes which took place on Sunday, after dozens of soldiers invaded the area.
Raed Abu Ryala, coordinator of the committee, told WAFA that the soldiers invaded several homes in Obeid neighborhood, violently searching them and causing excessive property damage, and assaulting Palestinians with pepper spray and batons, leading to several injuries.
Resident Ahmad Ali Obeid was also shot by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the leg, before the army kidnapped Mofid Shafiq Obeid, Wahib Mahmoud Obeid, and Mohammad Aziz Obeid.
In the Hebron district, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, soldiers also attacked several protests marking Land Day.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in nearby Beit Ummar town, Mohammad Awad, said the army fired rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades at the nonviolent protesters as they marched towards the Jerusalem-Hebron Road near the town.
Awad added that the soldiers also sprayed the protesters with sewage water in an attempt to force them to disperse.
The Hebron Defense Committee also organized a nonviolent protest, in cooperation with national political factions east of Hebron city, close to the illegal Keryat Arba’ settlement, and marched marking Land Day and demanding Israel to return the Rajaby home to its Palestinian owners. Israeli settlers now illegally occupy the home.
The protesters marched carrying Palestinian flags and posters demanding the Israeli High Court to void its illegitimate decision which granted the settlers ownership over the Palestinian home, WAFA said.
Member of the Hebron Defense Committee, Mohammad al-Jabreeny, said the Palestinians chose to mark Land Day by protesting near the rugby home to affirm their rejection of the decision of the Israeli court, and to affirm that the property is located within the occupied State of Palestine, a state recognized by the United Nations, therefore, the Israeli occupation has no legitimacy.
Member of the Central Committee of the leftist Palestinian People Party (PPP), Fahmi Shahin, said that Palestinians are facing a serious Israeli military escalation, land theft and ongoing illegitimate Israeli settlement activities.
Shahin added that the Palestinian people are also facing American pressures and attempts aiming at obliging them to abandon their legitimate, internationally guaranteed, rights in their homeland, and added that the Palestinians will remain steadfast, and will continue their national resistance against the occupation and its settlements.
Member of the Union of Palestinian Women Committees, Sara Mteir, said Palestinians will continue their resistance, and will remain steadfast until the liberation of their land despite the destruction of homes and property carried out by the occupation forces.
The National Committee against the Wall and Settlements in the al-Tiwani area, south of Hebron, in cooperation with student groups at the al-Quds Open University, planted trees in Palestinian lands which Israel intends to illegally confiscate so that it can expand the Ma’on illegal settlement, built on Palestinian lands.
In Tulkarem, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, several Palestinians were injured, mainly due to effects of tear gas inhalation, after Israeli soldiers attacked their nonviolent Land Day protest, west of the city.
The protest started in front of the Polytechnic College and, as the protesters headed towards the Israeli roadblock in the area, soldiers fired several gas bombs at them, leading to clashes with local youth.
The residents also planted olive saplings in lands belonging to the college, near the Annexation Wall in the area.
Tulkarem Governor, Lieutenant Abdullah Kamil, and various officials, representatives of private and governmental organizations, security officials and national factions, participated in the protest.
Kamil said that land is the core of the struggle, the symbol of life to the Palestinian people who lost thousands of residents to Israeli violence, while hundreds of thousands have been injured and imprisoned.
“This day is the day of every Palestinian, its hold all symbols of resistance and steadfastness of every Palestinian in every part of occupied Palestine, including historic Palestine,” he said. “This day reflects the strong bond between the Palestinians and their historic land of Palestine."
As Palestinians marked Land Day, the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu allocated NIS 177 Million for illegal settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli soldiers invaded numerous Palestinian communities across the West Bank, and kidnapped several Palestinians.
The army broke into and searched dozens of homes and interrogated several Palestinians in their own homes, and on roadblocks spread across the occupied West Bank.
On Saturday, several fanatic Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian homes near the Rajaby house, hurling stones at them and at several Palestinian cars.
Palestinians started marking land day back on March 30, 1976, when Israel illegally annexed thousands of dunams of Palestinian lands and private property, and considered those lands as part of the state.
The Palestinians marched to protest the decision and, back then, the army shot and killed six Palestinians, and injured dozens of others.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that the army attacked and wounded dozens of Palestinians with gas bombs, live rounds and rubber-coated metal bullets, and physically assaulted several residents.
It said that at least one Palestinian was kidnapped in occupied Jerusalem, and several others were wounded, including a woman who suffered burns in her face, after the soldiers assaulted the protesters in Bab al-‘Amoud area, in the center of occupied Jerusalem.
The army also kidnapped another Palestinian in the Sultan Suleiman Street, in occupied Jerusalem, and injured a woman after attacking her and spraying her face with chemically modified pepper spray.
Abeer Zayyad of the Jerusalem First Campaign said the protesters were holding rallies to express their determination and steadfastness in their own land, and to protest the ongoing Israeli occupation and crimes against the Palestinian people.
She added that the army first kidnapped Khaled Husseini, coordinator of the campaign, on Sunday morning. Then, hundreds of soldiers and police officers were deployed in Bab al-‘Amoud, where they assaulted the nonviolent protesters.
In addition, the Follow-up Committee in al-Eesawiyya town, of occupied Jerusalem, said that the soldiers shot and wounded one young man, and kidnapped three others, during dawn clashes which took place on Sunday, after dozens of soldiers invaded the area.
Raed Abu Ryala, coordinator of the committee, told WAFA that the soldiers invaded several homes in Obeid neighborhood, violently searching them and causing excessive property damage, and assaulting Palestinians with pepper spray and batons, leading to several injuries.
Resident Ahmad Ali Obeid was also shot by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the leg, before the army kidnapped Mofid Shafiq Obeid, Wahib Mahmoud Obeid, and Mohammad Aziz Obeid.
In the Hebron district, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, soldiers also attacked several protests marking Land Day.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in nearby Beit Ummar town, Mohammad Awad, said the army fired rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades at the nonviolent protesters as they marched towards the Jerusalem-Hebron Road near the town.
Awad added that the soldiers also sprayed the protesters with sewage water in an attempt to force them to disperse.
The Hebron Defense Committee also organized a nonviolent protest, in cooperation with national political factions east of Hebron city, close to the illegal Keryat Arba’ settlement, and marched marking Land Day and demanding Israel to return the Rajaby home to its Palestinian owners. Israeli settlers now illegally occupy the home.
The protesters marched carrying Palestinian flags and posters demanding the Israeli High Court to void its illegitimate decision which granted the settlers ownership over the Palestinian home, WAFA said.
Member of the Hebron Defense Committee, Mohammad al-Jabreeny, said the Palestinians chose to mark Land Day by protesting near the rugby home to affirm their rejection of the decision of the Israeli court, and to affirm that the property is located within the occupied State of Palestine, a state recognized by the United Nations, therefore, the Israeli occupation has no legitimacy.
Member of the Central Committee of the leftist Palestinian People Party (PPP), Fahmi Shahin, said that Palestinians are facing a serious Israeli military escalation, land theft and ongoing illegitimate Israeli settlement activities.
Shahin added that the Palestinian people are also facing American pressures and attempts aiming at obliging them to abandon their legitimate, internationally guaranteed, rights in their homeland, and added that the Palestinians will remain steadfast, and will continue their national resistance against the occupation and its settlements.
Member of the Union of Palestinian Women Committees, Sara Mteir, said Palestinians will continue their resistance, and will remain steadfast until the liberation of their land despite the destruction of homes and property carried out by the occupation forces.
The National Committee against the Wall and Settlements in the al-Tiwani area, south of Hebron, in cooperation with student groups at the al-Quds Open University, planted trees in Palestinian lands which Israel intends to illegally confiscate so that it can expand the Ma’on illegal settlement, built on Palestinian lands.
In Tulkarem, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, several Palestinians were injured, mainly due to effects of tear gas inhalation, after Israeli soldiers attacked their nonviolent Land Day protest, west of the city.
The protest started in front of the Polytechnic College and, as the protesters headed towards the Israeli roadblock in the area, soldiers fired several gas bombs at them, leading to clashes with local youth.
The residents also planted olive saplings in lands belonging to the college, near the Annexation Wall in the area.
Tulkarem Governor, Lieutenant Abdullah Kamil, and various officials, representatives of private and governmental organizations, security officials and national factions, participated in the protest.
Kamil said that land is the core of the struggle, the symbol of life to the Palestinian people who lost thousands of residents to Israeli violence, while hundreds of thousands have been injured and imprisoned.
“This day is the day of every Palestinian, its hold all symbols of resistance and steadfastness of every Palestinian in every part of occupied Palestine, including historic Palestine,” he said. “This day reflects the strong bond between the Palestinians and their historic land of Palestine."
As Palestinians marked Land Day, the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu allocated NIS 177 Million for illegal settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli soldiers invaded numerous Palestinian communities across the West Bank, and kidnapped several Palestinians.
The army broke into and searched dozens of homes and interrogated several Palestinians in their own homes, and on roadblocks spread across the occupied West Bank.
On Saturday, several fanatic Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian homes near the Rajaby house, hurling stones at them and at several Palestinian cars.
Palestinians started marking land day back on March 30, 1976, when Israel illegally annexed thousands of dunams of Palestinian lands and private property, and considered those lands as part of the state.
The Palestinians marched to protest the decision and, back then, the army shot and killed six Palestinians, and injured dozens of others.
