15 may 2019
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR): During Protests In Commemoration of 71st Anniversary of Palestinian Nakba: Israeli Forces Wound 144 Palestinian Civilians, including 49 Children, 4 Women and 1 Paramedic:
On Wednesday, 15 May 2019, Israeli forces wounded 144 Palestinian civilians, including 49 children, 4 women, and 1 paramedic, in excessive use of force against the peaceful participants in the protests organized in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.
Those protests- which were called for by the Supreme National Authority of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege under the name of “Millions for Land and Return” in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba- were preceded by the Israeli forces’ military reinforcements along the border fence with the Gaza Strip, indicating a deliberate intent to use excessive force against the protesters.
PCHR’s fieldworkers monitored the deployment of dozens of Palestinian police officers to control the situation and try to prevent the protesters from approaching the border fence. Meanwhile, the protesters acted in a fully peaceful manner as there were no attempts to burn tires.
However, in very limited incidents, some protesters approached the border fence and tried to throw stones at the fence.
According to PCHR’s fieldworkers, the Israeli forces stationed in prone positions and in their military jeeps along the border fence with Israel continued to use excessive force against the protesters.
They fired live bullets and teargas canisters at the protesters, wounding dozens of them without posing any imminent threat or danger to the soldiers’ life.
The Israeli forces also used skunk water cannons against the protesters, particularly in Khan Younis and eastern al-Boreij, in addition to using drones that fire teargas canisters amid the protesters, who were hundreds of meters away from the border fence.
The incidents on 15 May 2019 were as follows:
At approximately 13:00, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started swarming to the five encampments established by the Supreme National Authority of Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege adjacent to the border fence with Israel in eastern Gaza Strip cities.
Hundreds of protesters, including children and women, gathered adjacent to the border fence with Israel in front of each encampment and its vicinity and protested between tens and hundreds of meters away from the fence.
The protesters chanted slogans, raised flags, and in very limited incidents attempted to approach the border fence and throw stones at the Israeli forces.
The Israeli shooting, which continued until around 18:00, resulted in the injury of 144 Palestinian civilians, including 49 children, 4 women and 1 paramedic, with live and rubber bullets and by being directly hit with teargas canisters.
Meanwhile, dozens of protesters, paramedics, journalists and PCHR’s fieldworkers suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures due to tear gas canisters that were fired by the Israeli forces from the military jeeps, riffles and drones in the eastern Gaza Strip.
The following table shows the number of civilian casualties due to the Israeli forces’ suppression of the Great March of Return since its beginning on 30 March 2018:
Killed Wounded
Total 206 12559
Children 44 2492
Women 2 382
Journalists 2 202
Medical personnel 3 203
Persons with disabilities 9 Undefined
Note:
Among those wounded, 548 are in serious condition and 137 had their lower or upper limbs amputated; 123 lower-limb amputations, 14 upper-limb amputations, and 25 children had their limbs amputated according to the Ministry of Health.
The number of those wounded only include those wounded with live bullets and directly hit with tear gas canisters, as there have been thousand others who suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.
PCHR reiterates Palestinians’ right to peaceful assembly to confront Israel and its forces’ denial of the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination, right to return and right to end the occupation of the Palestinian territory.
PCHR stresses that the Israeli forces should stop using excessive force and respond to the legitimate demands of the protesters, particularly in regard with lifting the closure that is the real solution to end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
PCHR emphasizes that continuously targeting civilians, who exercise their right to peaceful assembly or while carrying out their humanitarian duty, is a serious violation of the rules of international law, international humanitarian law, the ICC Rome Statute and Fourth Geneva Convention.
Thus, PCHR reiterates its call upon the ICC Prosecutor to open an official investigation in these crimes and to prosecute and hold accountable all those involved in issuing or applying orders within the Israeli forces either at the security or political echelons.
PCHR also emphasizes that the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention should fulfill their obligation under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
PCHR calls upon Switzerland, in its capacity as the Depository State for the Convention, to demand the High Contracting Parties to convene and ensure Israel’s respect for this Convention, noting that these grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions regarding the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the occupied territories.
Public Document
**************************************
Follow PCHR on Facebook and Twitter
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12 , El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: [email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
On Wednesday, 15 May 2019, Israeli forces wounded 144 Palestinian civilians, including 49 children, 4 women, and 1 paramedic, in excessive use of force against the peaceful participants in the protests organized in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.
Those protests- which were called for by the Supreme National Authority of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege under the name of “Millions for Land and Return” in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba- were preceded by the Israeli forces’ military reinforcements along the border fence with the Gaza Strip, indicating a deliberate intent to use excessive force against the protesters.
PCHR’s fieldworkers monitored the deployment of dozens of Palestinian police officers to control the situation and try to prevent the protesters from approaching the border fence. Meanwhile, the protesters acted in a fully peaceful manner as there were no attempts to burn tires.
However, in very limited incidents, some protesters approached the border fence and tried to throw stones at the fence.
According to PCHR’s fieldworkers, the Israeli forces stationed in prone positions and in their military jeeps along the border fence with Israel continued to use excessive force against the protesters.
They fired live bullets and teargas canisters at the protesters, wounding dozens of them without posing any imminent threat or danger to the soldiers’ life.
The Israeli forces also used skunk water cannons against the protesters, particularly in Khan Younis and eastern al-Boreij, in addition to using drones that fire teargas canisters amid the protesters, who were hundreds of meters away from the border fence.
The incidents on 15 May 2019 were as follows:
At approximately 13:00, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started swarming to the five encampments established by the Supreme National Authority of Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege adjacent to the border fence with Israel in eastern Gaza Strip cities.
Hundreds of protesters, including children and women, gathered adjacent to the border fence with Israel in front of each encampment and its vicinity and protested between tens and hundreds of meters away from the fence.
The protesters chanted slogans, raised flags, and in very limited incidents attempted to approach the border fence and throw stones at the Israeli forces.
The Israeli shooting, which continued until around 18:00, resulted in the injury of 144 Palestinian civilians, including 49 children, 4 women and 1 paramedic, with live and rubber bullets and by being directly hit with teargas canisters.
Meanwhile, dozens of protesters, paramedics, journalists and PCHR’s fieldworkers suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures due to tear gas canisters that were fired by the Israeli forces from the military jeeps, riffles and drones in the eastern Gaza Strip.
The following table shows the number of civilian casualties due to the Israeli forces’ suppression of the Great March of Return since its beginning on 30 March 2018:
Killed Wounded
Total 206 12559
Children 44 2492
Women 2 382
Journalists 2 202
Medical personnel 3 203
Persons with disabilities 9 Undefined
Note:
Among those wounded, 548 are in serious condition and 137 had their lower or upper limbs amputated; 123 lower-limb amputations, 14 upper-limb amputations, and 25 children had their limbs amputated according to the Ministry of Health.
The number of those wounded only include those wounded with live bullets and directly hit with tear gas canisters, as there have been thousand others who suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.
PCHR reiterates Palestinians’ right to peaceful assembly to confront Israel and its forces’ denial of the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination, right to return and right to end the occupation of the Palestinian territory.
PCHR stresses that the Israeli forces should stop using excessive force and respond to the legitimate demands of the protesters, particularly in regard with lifting the closure that is the real solution to end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
PCHR emphasizes that continuously targeting civilians, who exercise their right to peaceful assembly or while carrying out their humanitarian duty, is a serious violation of the rules of international law, international humanitarian law, the ICC Rome Statute and Fourth Geneva Convention.
Thus, PCHR reiterates its call upon the ICC Prosecutor to open an official investigation in these crimes and to prosecute and hold accountable all those involved in issuing or applying orders within the Israeli forces either at the security or political echelons.
PCHR also emphasizes that the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention should fulfill their obligation under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
PCHR calls upon Switzerland, in its capacity as the Depository State for the Convention, to demand the High Contracting Parties to convene and ensure Israel’s respect for this Convention, noting that these grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions regarding the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the occupied territories.
Public Document
**************************************
Follow PCHR on Facebook and Twitter
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12 , El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: [email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
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At least 30 Palestinian protesters were shot and injured with Israeli live ammunition, on Wednesday, during mass protests commemorating the 71st anniversary of Nakba Day or "catastrophe" near the return camps along the eastern borders of the besieged Gaza Strip.
Local sources confirmed that thousands of Palestinian protesters in Gaza, which has suffered from a 12-year-long Israeli siege, arrived to the eastern borders via buses to demand their right of return as refugees to their original homelands, now in present-day Israel. Sources said that Israeli forces opened heavy fire and fired tear-gas bombs towards the protests. Medical sources confirmed that 30 Palestinians were shot and injured with |
live ammunition, while dozens of others suffered from severe tear-gas suffocation.
Sources added that Israeli forces and snipers were deployed across the borders.
May 15th 1948, known as the Nakba or “catastrophe,” re-focuses the world’s attention on the 750,000 Palestinians displaced during and after the establishment of the state of Israel, and the more than five million Palestinians who remain refugees as they wait to return to their lands in Israel.
It is noteworthy that Palestinians in Gaza have been participating for over a year in "The Great March of Return" protests along Gaza's borders, which began on March 30th 2018, during which Israeli forces killed at least 305 Palestinians, including 59 children, 10 women, and one elderly, and injured 17,335 others.
Sources added that Israeli forces and snipers were deployed across the borders.
May 15th 1948, known as the Nakba or “catastrophe,” re-focuses the world’s attention on the 750,000 Palestinians displaced during and after the establishment of the state of Israel, and the more than five million Palestinians who remain refugees as they wait to return to their lands in Israel.
It is noteworthy that Palestinians in Gaza have been participating for over a year in "The Great March of Return" protests along Gaza's borders, which began on March 30th 2018, during which Israeli forces killed at least 305 Palestinians, including 59 children, 10 women, and one elderly, and injured 17,335 others.
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Thousands of Palestinians took part in marking the 71st anniversary of Nakba Day or “catastrophe,” which coincides on May 15th, re-focuses the world’s attention on the 750,000 Palestinians displaced during and after the establishment of the state of Israel, and the more than five million Palestinians who remain refugees as they wait to return to their lands in Israel.
The main West Bank rally was held in Ramallah City, in the central occupied West Bank, during which Palestinians gathered at the grave of the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, from where thousands marched towards the city center, holding up placards, Palestinian flags, and black flags as a symbol of mourning for Nakba Day. Palestinians carried keys signifying their determination to return to their |
original homelands, now in present-day Israel, which they were forced out from in 1948.
Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Ishtayeh, as well as members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Fatah Central Committee, political factions, and civic leaders, participated in the mass march.
At 12 p.m., Palestinians stood in silence as sirens sounded for 71 seconds symbolizing the 71 years of the Palestinian catastrophe.
Many rallies commemorating the 71st anniversary of the Nakba were also held in other West Bank cities and towns.
Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Ishtayeh, as well as members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Fatah Central Committee, political factions, and civic leaders, participated in the mass march.
At 12 p.m., Palestinians stood in silence as sirens sounded for 71 seconds symbolizing the 71 years of the Palestinian catastrophe.
Many rallies commemorating the 71st anniversary of the Nakba were also held in other West Bank cities and towns.
Thousands of Palestinians took part in marking the 71st anniversary of Nakba Day or “catastrophe,” which coincides on May 15th, re-focuses the world’s attention on the 750,000 Palestinians displaced during and after the establishment of the state of Israel, and the more than five million Palestinians who remain refugees as they wait to return to their lands in Israel.
Marking the 71st anniversary of Nakba or “catastrophe,” which coincides on May 15th, the Palestinian National Council (PNC), the Palestinian parliament in exile, addressed the parliaments of the world and demanded support for the Palestinian people’s rights and return to their homeland they were forced out from in May 1948.
PNC addressed the regional and international parliamentary associations, foremost among them the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which includes 176 member parliaments, on the Nakba anniversary that befell the Palestinian people in 1948 by Zionists after dozens of massacres resulted in the killing of more than 15,000 Palestinians and the displacement of more than half of the Palestinian people.
PNC sent identical letters by its head, Saleem al-Zaanoun, to more than 11 Arab, Islamic, African, European, Latin and international parliamentary associations and federations in which he confirmed that “the catastrophic consequences of the Nakba are still ongoing, accompanied by attempts to revoke the right of self-determination for our people, and denying the right to return to homeland, and depriving the Palestinian people from an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Al-Zaanoun explained that this year’s anniversary coincided with the leaks of plans and proposals of the American so-called deal of the Century, “which goes beyond all relevant UN resolutions, particularly the revocation of the right of return of Palestinian refugees to their homes in accordance with Resolution 194, in addition to the cancelation of UNRWA, the witness on the tragedy of refugees, which was established by Resolution 302 of 1949.”
Al-Zaanoun also emphasized “the adherence to the inalienable Palestinian national rights, foremost of which is the right of return, the end of the Israeli occupation, the establishment of a Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with the relevant international resolutions, and the inadmissibility of turning the occupation into a normal situation, and the justification for its aggression, occupation and procedures which contradict with the principles, rules and provisions of international law, and successive resolutions of international legitimacy in this regard.”
Al-Zaanoun explained in the letters that “Israel, the occupying state, continues its crimes and occupation of our people through the legislation of the Knesset (Israeli parliament), and that it still considers itself above international law, refuses to implement the UN resolutions on the rights of our people, and practicing policy of imposing facts, especially settlements, on the occupied Palestinian territories.”
He called on the heads of the parliamentary associations and their members “to join efforts to overcome the injustice imposed on our people, support their struggle for freedom and return, and force the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, to stop legitimizing the occupation, its crimes and terrorizing our people.”
He also called upon the governments of the world, especially the European governments, “to support the Palestinian people and practically help them to get rid of the occupation, and to live in freedom and dignity in their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Al-Zaanoun reaffirmed that “we are the original owners of the country, despite the displacement of more than 800,000 of our people from their homeland and prevent them from returning to it, and despite the crimes of ethnic cleansing, during which the Zionist gangs committed more than 70 massacres, and destroyed more than 531 villages and cities in full. However our people are determined to stay in their land. Knowing that, by the end of 2018, the total number of Palestinian people in the world reached 13.1 million, indicating that the number of Palestinians has increased more than nine times since the1948 Nakba. More than half of them (6.48 million) live in historic Palestine, and out of them (1.57 million) live in the territories occupied in 1948.”
He warned that "the coming danger lies in Zionist ideology, which has helped ethnic cleansing since before 1948, and its work is still alive and ongoing, and it seems that time is working on behalf of the Israeli supporters of the transfer of the Palestinians and the recurrence of the Nakba, the Palestinian Holocaust, whereby they foster their strength in Israel day after day."
The letters concluded, “We, the Palestinian National Council, salute our people in the homeland and the Diaspora, who have demonstrated in the squares, parks and capitals of the world to express the commitment to their right to return to their homeland Palestine; a right that does not fall by aging, it’s an individual and collective right guaranteed by the resolutions of international legitimacy and international human rights instruments. PNC also paid tribute to our people in the homeland for their steadfastness in their land.”
Marking the 71st anniversary of Nakba or “catastrophe,” which coincides on May 15th, the Palestinian National Council (PNC), the Palestinian parliament in exile, addressed the parliaments of the world and demanded support for the Palestinian people’s rights and return to their homeland they were forced out from in May 1948.
PNC addressed the regional and international parliamentary associations, foremost among them the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which includes 176 member parliaments, on the Nakba anniversary that befell the Palestinian people in 1948 by Zionists after dozens of massacres resulted in the killing of more than 15,000 Palestinians and the displacement of more than half of the Palestinian people.
PNC sent identical letters by its head, Saleem al-Zaanoun, to more than 11 Arab, Islamic, African, European, Latin and international parliamentary associations and federations in which he confirmed that “the catastrophic consequences of the Nakba are still ongoing, accompanied by attempts to revoke the right of self-determination for our people, and denying the right to return to homeland, and depriving the Palestinian people from an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Al-Zaanoun explained that this year’s anniversary coincided with the leaks of plans and proposals of the American so-called deal of the Century, “which goes beyond all relevant UN resolutions, particularly the revocation of the right of return of Palestinian refugees to their homes in accordance with Resolution 194, in addition to the cancelation of UNRWA, the witness on the tragedy of refugees, which was established by Resolution 302 of 1949.”
Al-Zaanoun also emphasized “the adherence to the inalienable Palestinian national rights, foremost of which is the right of return, the end of the Israeli occupation, the establishment of a Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with the relevant international resolutions, and the inadmissibility of turning the occupation into a normal situation, and the justification for its aggression, occupation and procedures which contradict with the principles, rules and provisions of international law, and successive resolutions of international legitimacy in this regard.”
Al-Zaanoun explained in the letters that “Israel, the occupying state, continues its crimes and occupation of our people through the legislation of the Knesset (Israeli parliament), and that it still considers itself above international law, refuses to implement the UN resolutions on the rights of our people, and practicing policy of imposing facts, especially settlements, on the occupied Palestinian territories.”
He called on the heads of the parliamentary associations and their members “to join efforts to overcome the injustice imposed on our people, support their struggle for freedom and return, and force the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, to stop legitimizing the occupation, its crimes and terrorizing our people.”
He also called upon the governments of the world, especially the European governments, “to support the Palestinian people and practically help them to get rid of the occupation, and to live in freedom and dignity in their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Al-Zaanoun reaffirmed that “we are the original owners of the country, despite the displacement of more than 800,000 of our people from their homeland and prevent them from returning to it, and despite the crimes of ethnic cleansing, during which the Zionist gangs committed more than 70 massacres, and destroyed more than 531 villages and cities in full. However our people are determined to stay in their land. Knowing that, by the end of 2018, the total number of Palestinian people in the world reached 13.1 million, indicating that the number of Palestinians has increased more than nine times since the1948 Nakba. More than half of them (6.48 million) live in historic Palestine, and out of them (1.57 million) live in the territories occupied in 1948.”
He warned that "the coming danger lies in Zionist ideology, which has helped ethnic cleansing since before 1948, and its work is still alive and ongoing, and it seems that time is working on behalf of the Israeli supporters of the transfer of the Palestinians and the recurrence of the Nakba, the Palestinian Holocaust, whereby they foster their strength in Israel day after day."
The letters concluded, “We, the Palestinian National Council, salute our people in the homeland and the Diaspora, who have demonstrated in the squares, parks and capitals of the world to express the commitment to their right to return to their homeland Palestine; a right that does not fall by aging, it’s an individual and collective right guaranteed by the resolutions of international legitimacy and international human rights instruments. PNC also paid tribute to our people in the homeland for their steadfastness in their land.”
14 may 2019
A global coalition launched today a campaign against the international home-renting company, Airbnb, for reversing its decision to delist properties in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, according to a press release.
In April, Airbnb confirmed it would not implement a planned delisting of Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law, in the occupied West Bank and would “donate proceeds from any of these bookings to international humanitarian aid organizations,” even though the listings are “at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians."
The global coalition is requesting that people worldwide should deactivate their Airbnb accounts on May 15th on Nakba Day or “catastrophe.” So far, thousands of people across the world, from Chile to Indonesia, have answered the coalition's call to action and have committed to #deactivateAirbnb.
The press release said that “Israeli settlements are considered war crimes under international law and are responsible for the displacement of Palestinians and the theft of their land. By doing business in these settlements, Airbnb and other international companies are contributing to the economic viability of settlements and are normalizing Israeli annexation of Palestinian land.”
Despite the intense documentation and scrutiny from prominent human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, Airbnb is choosing to directly promote discrimination, oppression, and injustice – and failing to uphold its corporate responsibility to respect human rights, the press release said.
Salem Barahmeh, executive director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy, "It is time to end this culture of impunity that has allowed the occupation, oppression and dispossession of the Palestinian people to continue.”
Barahmeh added, "International companies are complicit in perpetuating this injustice and must be held accountable. Through the #deactivateAirbnb campaign, people can choose whether to be complicit in supporting war crimes or ending them.”
On May 15th, the 1948 Nakba or “catastrophe” will be commemorated for the 71st year, re-focusing the world’s attention on the 750,000 Palestinians displaced during and after the establishment of the state of Israel, and the more than five million Palestinians who remain refugees as they wait to return to their lands in Israel.
In April, Airbnb confirmed it would not implement a planned delisting of Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law, in the occupied West Bank and would “donate proceeds from any of these bookings to international humanitarian aid organizations,” even though the listings are “at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians."
The global coalition is requesting that people worldwide should deactivate their Airbnb accounts on May 15th on Nakba Day or “catastrophe.” So far, thousands of people across the world, from Chile to Indonesia, have answered the coalition's call to action and have committed to #deactivateAirbnb.
The press release said that “Israeli settlements are considered war crimes under international law and are responsible for the displacement of Palestinians and the theft of their land. By doing business in these settlements, Airbnb and other international companies are contributing to the economic viability of settlements and are normalizing Israeli annexation of Palestinian land.”
Despite the intense documentation and scrutiny from prominent human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, Airbnb is choosing to directly promote discrimination, oppression, and injustice – and failing to uphold its corporate responsibility to respect human rights, the press release said.
Salem Barahmeh, executive director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy, "It is time to end this culture of impunity that has allowed the occupation, oppression and dispossession of the Palestinian people to continue.”
Barahmeh added, "International companies are complicit in perpetuating this injustice and must be held accountable. Through the #deactivateAirbnb campaign, people can choose whether to be complicit in supporting war crimes or ending them.”
On May 15th, the 1948 Nakba or “catastrophe” will be commemorated for the 71st year, re-focusing the world’s attention on the 750,000 Palestinians displaced during and after the establishment of the state of Israel, and the more than five million Palestinians who remain refugees as they wait to return to their lands in Israel.
13 may 2019
Despite the displacement of more than 800,000 Palestinians following the 1948 Nakba or “catastrophe” and the displacement of more than 200,000 Palestinians after the 1967 war, the Palestinian world population totaled 13.1 million by the end of 2018, which means that the number of Palestinians in the world has doubled more than nine times since the events of the 1948 Nakba, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said on Monday.
Marking the 71st Nakba anniversary, which coincides on May 15th, PCBS said more than half of the Palestinian population live in historic Palestine by the end of 2018 where their number reached 6.48 million, 1.57 million of them live in the territories occupied in 1948 currently called Israel, 2.95 million in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and around 1.96 million in the Gaza Strip.
The data showed that 49% of the Palestinian population lives in historic Palestine where Jews constitute 51% at the end of 2018.
On May 15th, the 1948 Nakba or “catastrophe” will be commemorated for the 71st year, re-focusing the world’s attention on the 750,000 Palestinians displaced during and after the establishment of the state of Israel, and the more than five million Palestinians who remain refugees as they wait to return to their lands in Israel.
Records of the United Nations Relief and Work Agency in the Near East (UNRWA) reported on January 1st 2018 that the total number of Palestinian refugees was 6.02 million, 28.4% of whom live in 58 camps (10 in Jordan, nine in Syria, 12 in Lebanon, 19 in the West Bank and eight in Gaza).
Marking the 71st Nakba anniversary, which coincides on May 15th, PCBS said more than half of the Palestinian population live in historic Palestine by the end of 2018 where their number reached 6.48 million, 1.57 million of them live in the territories occupied in 1948 currently called Israel, 2.95 million in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and around 1.96 million in the Gaza Strip.
The data showed that 49% of the Palestinian population lives in historic Palestine where Jews constitute 51% at the end of 2018.
On May 15th, the 1948 Nakba or “catastrophe” will be commemorated for the 71st year, re-focusing the world’s attention on the 750,000 Palestinians displaced during and after the establishment of the state of Israel, and the more than five million Palestinians who remain refugees as they wait to return to their lands in Israel.
Records of the United Nations Relief and Work Agency in the Near East (UNRWA) reported on January 1st 2018 that the total number of Palestinian refugees was 6.02 million, 28.4% of whom live in 58 camps (10 in Jordan, nine in Syria, 12 in Lebanon, 19 in the West Bank and eight in Gaza).
A global coalition launched a campaign, today, against the international tourism company, Airbnb, for reversing its decision to delist properties in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, according to a press release.
WAFA reports that the coalition is asking people from around the world to deactivate their Airbnb accounts on Nakba Day, 15 May. So far, thousands of people across the world, from Chile to Indonesia, have answered the coalition’s call to action and have committed to #deactivateAirbnb.
Israeli settlements are considered war crimes, under international law. They are responsible for the displacement of Palestinians and the theft of their land. By doing business in these settlements, Airbnb and other international companies are contributing to the economic viability of settlements and are normalizing Israeli annexation of Palestinian land, said the press release.
Despite the intense documentation and scrutiny from prominent human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, Airbnb is choosing to directly promote discrimination, oppression, and injustice – and failing to uphold its corporate responsibility to respect human rights, it said.
“It is time to end this culture of impunity that has allowed the occupation, oppression and dispossession of the Palestinian people to continue,” said Salem Barahmeh, executive director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy.
“International companies are complicit in perpetuating this injustice and must be held accountable. Through the #deactivateAirbnb campaign, people can choose whether to be complicit in supporting war crimes or ending them,” he added.
May 15 commemorates the expulsion of almost two thirds of the Palestinian population from their homes and land in 1948.
The ‘Nakba’, meaning ‘catastrophe’ in Arabic continues to this day, as Palestinians are forcibly expelled from their lands to make way for illegal settlements, which can then be advertised as vacation rentals by international companies.
(photo: bdsmovement.net)
WAFA reports that the coalition is asking people from around the world to deactivate their Airbnb accounts on Nakba Day, 15 May. So far, thousands of people across the world, from Chile to Indonesia, have answered the coalition’s call to action and have committed to #deactivateAirbnb.
Israeli settlements are considered war crimes, under international law. They are responsible for the displacement of Palestinians and the theft of their land. By doing business in these settlements, Airbnb and other international companies are contributing to the economic viability of settlements and are normalizing Israeli annexation of Palestinian land, said the press release.
Despite the intense documentation and scrutiny from prominent human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, Airbnb is choosing to directly promote discrimination, oppression, and injustice – and failing to uphold its corporate responsibility to respect human rights, it said.
“It is time to end this culture of impunity that has allowed the occupation, oppression and dispossession of the Palestinian people to continue,” said Salem Barahmeh, executive director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy.
“International companies are complicit in perpetuating this injustice and must be held accountable. Through the #deactivateAirbnb campaign, people can choose whether to be complicit in supporting war crimes or ending them,” he added.
May 15 commemorates the expulsion of almost two thirds of the Palestinian population from their homes and land in 1948.
The ‘Nakba’, meaning ‘catastrophe’ in Arabic continues to this day, as Palestinians are forcibly expelled from their lands to make way for illegal settlements, which can then be advertised as vacation rentals by international companies.
(photo: bdsmovement.net)
11 may 2019
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Thousands of people gathered on Saturday for a demonstration in London, called for by the Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) and allied organizations, especially Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), to mark the seventy first anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe), which coincides this year with talk about a new deal that will liquidate the Palestinian issue.
The rally was attended by many important personalities, something which the president of the Manchester branch of PFB, Baha’ Bader, considered to be a reflection of the acceptance of the Palestinian narrative despite the omnipresence of Zionist narrative. |
For his part the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Husam Zumullut, stressed the utter rejection of the Palestinian people and their leadership of all that has been leaked about the suspicious deal.
In the meantime, the Chairman of PFB, Hafiz Al-Karmi, renewed a call for the British Government to apologize for the historical mistake of what is known as the Balfour Declaration and work for protecting the Palestinians.
The Palestinian student, who came to Britain recently to study, Ahed Al-Tamimi, was present at the rally to stress that she is going to continue her struggle in defense of Palestinian rights.
Labor MP, Richard Burgon, saw in the masses that attended the rally a message of support for the Labor Party’s plans to recognize the State of Palestine and stressed the Palestinians’ right to live in peace.
The spokesman for the PFB, Adnan Humaidan, accused the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, of being biased in favor of the Israeli occupation and of closing her ears to the calls of the demonstrators to stop arming and supporting the occupation while turning a blind eye to its crimes such as the killing of the baby Saba Abu Arrar and thousands of Palestinian children before her.
The demonstrators carried placards against the American President, Donald Trump, and his suspicious plans against the Palestinians and called for support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The speech of the British Palestinian youth, Leanne Mohamed, was received with a lot of applause. She participates in and speaks at most demonstrations that support Palestinian rights. She was disqualified from participating in the finals of Jack Petchey Speak-out challenge because of her insistence to talk about Palestine.
While another British Palestinian youth, Haneen Khalil, gave a speech in the name of OLIVE for Palestinian Youth. She stressed her rejection to negotiations with Israel before it agrees to the right of return of all Palestinian refugees.
In a message that was read on behalf of the Labor leader, Jeremy Corbyn, at the demonstration he said: “We cannot stand by or stay silent at the continuing denial of the rights and justice of the Palestinian people. The labor party is united in condemning the human rights abuses taking place in Gaza and the Israeli forces shooting unarmed Palestinian demonstrators for simply demanding their rights under international law.”
In the meantime, the Chairman of PFB, Hafiz Al-Karmi, renewed a call for the British Government to apologize for the historical mistake of what is known as the Balfour Declaration and work for protecting the Palestinians.
The Palestinian student, who came to Britain recently to study, Ahed Al-Tamimi, was present at the rally to stress that she is going to continue her struggle in defense of Palestinian rights.
Labor MP, Richard Burgon, saw in the masses that attended the rally a message of support for the Labor Party’s plans to recognize the State of Palestine and stressed the Palestinians’ right to live in peace.
The spokesman for the PFB, Adnan Humaidan, accused the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, of being biased in favor of the Israeli occupation and of closing her ears to the calls of the demonstrators to stop arming and supporting the occupation while turning a blind eye to its crimes such as the killing of the baby Saba Abu Arrar and thousands of Palestinian children before her.
The demonstrators carried placards against the American President, Donald Trump, and his suspicious plans against the Palestinians and called for support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The speech of the British Palestinian youth, Leanne Mohamed, was received with a lot of applause. She participates in and speaks at most demonstrations that support Palestinian rights. She was disqualified from participating in the finals of Jack Petchey Speak-out challenge because of her insistence to talk about Palestine.
While another British Palestinian youth, Haneen Khalil, gave a speech in the name of OLIVE for Palestinian Youth. She stressed her rejection to negotiations with Israel before it agrees to the right of return of all Palestinian refugees.
In a message that was read on behalf of the Labor leader, Jeremy Corbyn, at the demonstration he said: “We cannot stand by or stay silent at the continuing denial of the rights and justice of the Palestinian people. The labor party is united in condemning the human rights abuses taking place in Gaza and the Israeli forces shooting unarmed Palestinian demonstrators for simply demanding their rights under international law.”