17 jan 2018
Hadia Mohammad Abu Hilal 5 days
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported Tuesday that a five-day old baby died in the intensive care unit of the Al-Hilal Emirati Hospital in Gaza.
The infant, Hadia Mohammad Abu Hilal, died because of the lack of special medication required for the respiratory machine to function properly.
Her father, who is a pediatric surgeon at the European Hospital in Gaza, said that the medication needed was Calfactant, which is similar to a natural fluid in the lungs, and helps maintain effective breathing in premature infants whose lungs aren’t fully developed.
The death of the newborn was entirely preventable, according to medical experts, if the hospital’s neo-natal intensive care unit had been properly equipped with the basic medicine for treating premature infants.
This medicine, along with hundreds of others, has been prevented from entering Gaza by Israeli and Egyptian authorities for the past eleven years of siege.
Hundreds of Palestinian patients have died when they were prevented from leaving Gaza for treatment. Many more have died in hospitals in Gaza because of the lack of necessary medicine and equipment. Doctors and surgeons in Gaza complain of ancient equipment that they are unable to replace because of the Israeli and Egyptian siege, and the impossibility of finding spare parts for equipment when it gets broken.
Despite Israeli government assurances that the siege allows for entry of certain medicines, and allows patients to leave, eyewitnesses on the ground contradict the Israeli claims. They say that patients must apply for difficult-to-obtain Israeli permits, wait for hours at remote military bases in the middle of the desert (which is impossible for many patients because of their conditions), and then wait months to cross the Gaza-Egypt border for treatment.
In June of 2017, when 3 babies died in one week, the Hamas party in the Gaza Strip called on the international community to take immediate action to demand that Israel and Egypt end their siege on Gaza, which violates international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention. But no action was taken.
According to the January 2018 report on the Gaza siege by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “The exit of Palestinians from Gaza through the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing declined by almost 50 per cent in 2017 compared with 2016: on average, there were about 7,000 exits per month (as of 30 November), down from 13,200 exits per month in 2016. Prior to the start of the second Intifada in 2000, there were over half a million exits per month from Gaza, primarily for work in Israel.”
The report also stated, “By the end of November 2017, the approval rate for permit applications by Palestinian patients to travel via Erez was 54 per cent, down from 62 per cent in 2016. This is the lowest approval rate since 2006 when the World Health Organization (WHO) began monitoring patient access from Gaza. The decline is occurring alongside a gradual increase in the absolute number of referrals and related permit applications to West Bank hospitals in the wake of stricter constraints via the Rafah crossing.
“Most unsuccessful applications in 2017 were delayed, meaning that they were not processed in time rather than rejected on security grounds, i.e. no response was received by the date of the hospital appointment, requiring patients to re-schedule the missed appointment and submit another permit application. In situations such as cancer treatment, delays can have life-threatening implications for patient health.”
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported Tuesday that a five-day old baby died in the intensive care unit of the Al-Hilal Emirati Hospital in Gaza.
The infant, Hadia Mohammad Abu Hilal, died because of the lack of special medication required for the respiratory machine to function properly.
Her father, who is a pediatric surgeon at the European Hospital in Gaza, said that the medication needed was Calfactant, which is similar to a natural fluid in the lungs, and helps maintain effective breathing in premature infants whose lungs aren’t fully developed.
The death of the newborn was entirely preventable, according to medical experts, if the hospital’s neo-natal intensive care unit had been properly equipped with the basic medicine for treating premature infants.
This medicine, along with hundreds of others, has been prevented from entering Gaza by Israeli and Egyptian authorities for the past eleven years of siege.
Hundreds of Palestinian patients have died when they were prevented from leaving Gaza for treatment. Many more have died in hospitals in Gaza because of the lack of necessary medicine and equipment. Doctors and surgeons in Gaza complain of ancient equipment that they are unable to replace because of the Israeli and Egyptian siege, and the impossibility of finding spare parts for equipment when it gets broken.
Despite Israeli government assurances that the siege allows for entry of certain medicines, and allows patients to leave, eyewitnesses on the ground contradict the Israeli claims. They say that patients must apply for difficult-to-obtain Israeli permits, wait for hours at remote military bases in the middle of the desert (which is impossible for many patients because of their conditions), and then wait months to cross the Gaza-Egypt border for treatment.
In June of 2017, when 3 babies died in one week, the Hamas party in the Gaza Strip called on the international community to take immediate action to demand that Israel and Egypt end their siege on Gaza, which violates international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention. But no action was taken.
According to the January 2018 report on the Gaza siege by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “The exit of Palestinians from Gaza through the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing declined by almost 50 per cent in 2017 compared with 2016: on average, there were about 7,000 exits per month (as of 30 November), down from 13,200 exits per month in 2016. Prior to the start of the second Intifada in 2000, there were over half a million exits per month from Gaza, primarily for work in Israel.”
The report also stated, “By the end of November 2017, the approval rate for permit applications by Palestinian patients to travel via Erez was 54 per cent, down from 62 per cent in 2016. This is the lowest approval rate since 2006 when the World Health Organization (WHO) began monitoring patient access from Gaza. The decline is occurring alongside a gradual increase in the absolute number of referrals and related permit applications to West Bank hospitals in the wake of stricter constraints via the Rafah crossing.
“Most unsuccessful applications in 2017 were delayed, meaning that they were not processed in time rather than rejected on security grounds, i.e. no response was received by the date of the hospital appointment, requiring patients to re-schedule the missed appointment and submit another permit application. In situations such as cancer treatment, delays can have life-threatening implications for patient health.”
Israeli settlers, on Wednesday, broke into a school in the village of Beit Ta’mir, east of Bethlehem, and damaged some of its content, said local government sources.
WAFA reported that, according to Hasan Briejeh, representative of the wall and settlements committee, Israeli settlers broke into the Challenge 5 School, breaking a door and tearing a tent inside the school.
He said the families prevented the settlers from inflicting more damage to the school, and chased them away.
The school, which was rebuilt in September 2017, has been named “Challenge 5 School,” because it was the fifth school to be constructed by the ministry in areas threatened by Israeli settlement construction and expansion.
WAFA reported that, according to Hasan Briejeh, representative of the wall and settlements committee, Israeli settlers broke into the Challenge 5 School, breaking a door and tearing a tent inside the school.
He said the families prevented the settlers from inflicting more damage to the school, and chased them away.
The school, which was rebuilt in September 2017, has been named “Challenge 5 School,” because it was the fifth school to be constructed by the ministry in areas threatened by Israeli settlement construction and expansion.
Israeli Ofer military court on Wednesday afternoon extended the detention of the Palestinian teenager Ahed al-Tamimi, 16, until the end of the month to complete the investigation procedures.
The extension order, which was made for the fifth time, was issued upon request by Israeli military prosecution for the claim of preparing an indictment against the detained girl.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested Ahed during a dawn raid on December 19 in Nabi Saleh village near Ramallah under the pretext of slapping an Israeli soldier as she was attempting to drive him out of her family's property 4 days earlier.
The extension order, which was made for the fifth time, was issued upon request by Israeli military prosecution for the claim of preparing an indictment against the detained girl.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested Ahed during a dawn raid on December 19 in Nabi Saleh village near Ramallah under the pretext of slapping an Israeli soldier as she was attempting to drive him out of her family's property 4 days earlier.
16 jan 2018
Israeli Ofer military court sentenced on Tuesday a Palestinian girl, from al-Khalil, to prison plus a fine of 2500 shekels.
According to PIC reporter, Razan Abu Sal, 13, was sentenced to four months in prison.
Since 2000, at least 8,000 Palestinian children have been arrested and prosecuted in an Israeli military detention system notorious for the systematic ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children.
Each year approximately 500-700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12 years, are detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system. The most common charge is stone throwing.
According to PIC reporter, Razan Abu Sal, 13, was sentenced to four months in prison.
Since 2000, at least 8,000 Palestinian children have been arrested and prosecuted in an Israeli military detention system notorious for the systematic ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children.
Each year approximately 500-700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12 years, are detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system. The most common charge is stone throwing.
Israeli police on Tuesday rounded up seven Palestinian children after storming their homes in Jabal al-Zaitoun neighborhood in Occupied Jerusalem. The detained minors were transferred to one of the Israeli detention centers in the city.
The lawyer of Wadi Helweh Information Center, Mohammad Mahmoud, said that the captives were identified as follows:
Naim Ashayer, 11,
Mohammad Ashayer, 14,
Ali Abu al-Hawa, 14,
Sufiyan Abu al-Hawa, 14,
Mohammad Abu al-Hawa, 14,
Amir Abu al-Hawa, 16, and
Adnan al-Hadra, 17.
The lawyer of Wadi Helweh Information Center, Mohammad Mahmoud, said that the captives were identified as follows:
Naim Ashayer, 11,
Mohammad Ashayer, 14,
Ali Abu al-Hawa, 14,
Sufiyan Abu al-Hawa, 14,
Mohammad Abu al-Hawa, 14,
Amir Abu al-Hawa, 16, and
Adnan al-Hadra, 17.
The Israeli prison authorities transferred on Monday a jailed Palestinian minor to the Ramla prison clinic after his health has taken a turn for the worse.
16-year-old Anas Hamarsha was taken from Megiddo jail to Ramla prison clinic after he suddenly lost his ability to stand on his feet, his family said.
The minor’s family held the Israeli occupation responsible for the health deterioration rocking their son’s body.
Anas was kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces on October 7, 2017 from his family’s home. He has been diagnosed with Perthes disease, a rare childhood condition that affects the hip.
It occurs when the blood supply to the head of the femur (thighbone) is disrupted. Without an adequate blood supply, the bone cells die, a process called avascular necrosis.
16-year-old Anas Hamarsha was taken from Megiddo jail to Ramla prison clinic after he suddenly lost his ability to stand on his feet, his family said.
The minor’s family held the Israeli occupation responsible for the health deterioration rocking their son’s body.
Anas was kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces on October 7, 2017 from his family’s home. He has been diagnosed with Perthes disease, a rare childhood condition that affects the hip.
It occurs when the blood supply to the head of the femur (thighbone) is disrupted. Without an adequate blood supply, the bone cells die, a process called avascular necrosis.
15 jan 2018
Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at dawn, the West Bank city of Bethlehem, al-Khader and Teqoua’ towns, south and east of the city, searched homes and abducted two Palestinians, in addition to summing a child, only ten years of age, for interrogation.
The soldiers also invaded ‘Azzoun town, east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, and searched many homes, after forcing the families out in the cold.
The Bethlehem office of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported that the soldiers abducted a former political prisoner, identified as Mohammad Adeeb Mousa, in his thirties, after invading and searching his home, and confiscated his Taxi.
The soldiers also invaded the home of Ahmad Hasan Salah, and searched the property, before summoning his child, Ahmad, only ten years of age, for interrogation in Etzion military base and security center, south of Bethlehem.
In addition, the soldiers abducted Faisal Yousef Sha’er, 17, from his home in Teqoua’ town, east of Bethlehem, after breaking into his family’s home and violently searching it.
The soldiers also invaded ‘Azzoun town, east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, before breaking into and ransacking dozens of homes, especially in the eastern area, near the Annexation Wall, and downtown area.
Media sources in Qalqilia said the soldiers removed entire families out of their homes, and forced them to wait in the cold, and under the rain, while searching their properties; the families had to wait for about two hours.
Although the soldiers withdrew from the town, they installed a roadblock at its northern entrance, and started stopping and searching dozens of cars, while interrogating scores of residents and examining their ID cards.
The soldiers also invaded ‘Azzoun town, east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, and searched many homes, after forcing the families out in the cold.
The Bethlehem office of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported that the soldiers abducted a former political prisoner, identified as Mohammad Adeeb Mousa, in his thirties, after invading and searching his home, and confiscated his Taxi.
The soldiers also invaded the home of Ahmad Hasan Salah, and searched the property, before summoning his child, Ahmad, only ten years of age, for interrogation in Etzion military base and security center, south of Bethlehem.
In addition, the soldiers abducted Faisal Yousef Sha’er, 17, from his home in Teqoua’ town, east of Bethlehem, after breaking into his family’s home and violently searching it.
The soldiers also invaded ‘Azzoun town, east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, before breaking into and ransacking dozens of homes, especially in the eastern area, near the Annexation Wall, and downtown area.
Media sources in Qalqilia said the soldiers removed entire families out of their homes, and forced them to wait in the cold, and under the rain, while searching their properties; the families had to wait for about two hours.
Although the soldiers withdrew from the town, they installed a roadblock at its northern entrance, and started stopping and searching dozens of cars, while interrogating scores of residents and examining their ID cards.
13 jan 2018
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Saturday arrested two Palestinian young men during raids into Zabouba town, west of Jenin, and detained a child for a couple of hours near Ya'bad.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers stormed Zabouba, searched a number of houses and arrested Kamel Jaradat, 30, and Ahmad Jaradat, 16.
They added that the IOF combed the areas close to the separation wall in the town and assaulted citizens.
In another context, the IOF arrested the 13-year-old Hamad Atatra near Ya'bad at the pretext of approaching the separation wall. Atatra was transferred to Salem military camp, interrogated then released hours later.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers stormed Zabouba, searched a number of houses and arrested Kamel Jaradat, 30, and Ahmad Jaradat, 16.
They added that the IOF combed the areas close to the separation wall in the town and assaulted citizens.
In another context, the IOF arrested the 13-year-old Hamad Atatra near Ya'bad at the pretext of approaching the separation wall. Atatra was transferred to Salem military camp, interrogated then released hours later.
12 jan 2018
|
|
The ongoing Israeli harassment and targeted oppression of the Tamimi family, organizers in the anti-colonial land defense and popular resistance in the Palestinian village of Nabi Saleh, continued in the pre-dawn hours of 11 January.
While 16-year-old activist Ahed Tamimi and her mother Nariman remain in Israeli prison, facing a series of charges before an Israeli military court, Israeli occupation forces raided the family home of Manal and Bilal Tamimi, seizing their 19-year-old son Mohammed. Manal, Mohammed’s mother, was released one week ago after nearly a week in Israeli prison. Mohammed smiled and raised his fingers in the “victory” sign as he was taken from his family home surrounded by occupation soldiers. Manal later reported on Facebook that her son is currently being held in the infamous Petah Tikva interrogation center. He is the latest member of the Tamimi family to be targeted in an ongoing series of raids and and arrests in the village of Nabi Saleh and the neighboring village of Deir Nizam, both near Ramallah. Nabi Saleh, a village of 600, has become a center of popular organizing and indigenous land defense after the illegal settlement of Halamish has stolen the village’s agricultural land as well as its spring. Ahed and Nariman’s imprisonment has drawn international |
attention; Ahed’s cousin Nour is also facing several charges before an Israeli military court. The military courts have a conviction rate of over 99 percent, and the two women are charged with incitement for political posts on social media, “assault” on an occupation soldier on their family’s land, and throwing stones, among other allegations.
The “assault” charges refer to the livestreamed interaction in which Ahed and Nour demand an occupation soldier leave their home; he was attempting to move to higher ground on the family’s land in order to position himself to shoot at demonstrators in the village. After being slapped by the soldier, Ahed slapped the occupation soldier with her bare hand.
Ahed’s 15-year-old cousin Mohammed was shot in the head by a rubber-coated metal bullet and was in a coma for days; he continues to struggle with serious injuries. Last week, another Tamimi cousin, Musa’ab, 17, was shot and killed by occupation forces in the village of Deir Nizam, the first Palestinian killed in 2018.
As the repression targeting the Tamimi family has continued and intensified, Palestinian and international support for Ahed Tamimi and her family has only grown. Ahed, who has traveled to South Africa, Europe, Lebanon and elsewhere to speak about the Palestinian struggle, is an internationally-known leader in the indigenous land defense movement. She has been involved in the movement in Nabi Saleh since she was only 11 years old.
Protests are continuing around the world to demand Ahed’s freedom and that of the other 6,200 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails. Upcoming protests are scheduled in London (on both 12 January and 13 January), Saint-Etienne, Brussels, Rosario, Montevideo, Sydney, Toulouse, Dublin, Braga, Porto, Lisbon, Rome, New York City, Portland, Copenhagen, Berlin, Washington, DC, Arlington and elsewhere.
Street visual actions are also taking place to highlight Ahed’s case and the Palestinian struggle for freedom. In London, grassroots activists put up “guerilla” transit ads and posters on bus stops and Tube trains throughout the city. @Protestencil on Twitter has made the stencil-style posters available for download and use in supporters’ local cities.
London Palestine Action has highlighted the ongoing appearance of these “adhacks” throughout London, bringing Ahed’s case and the struggle of Palestinian child prisoners to the streets of the UK capital. Italian activists in Venice replicated the posters on the streets of the city as well:
On the streets of Berlin, Jewish Antifa Berlin shared images of large stickers and posters highlighting Ahed Tamimi’s case and those of the Tamimi women posted on signboards and advertising spaces around the German capital city. Women in Berlin are also organizing a bloc for the women’s march on 21 January that will highlight Ahed’s case.
An international action week is taking place from 10 to 20 January, focusing on pressure on national parliamentarians in countries around the world to speak out about the case of Ahed Tamimi, including actions targeting Dutch, French, German and Portuguese politicians. In addition, UK minister of state for the Middle East Alistair Burt responded to questions from Labour MP Julie Elliott on 10 January by noting that “the soldiers should not be there and the young woman should not have needed to do what she did.” This followed an earlier Early Day Motion submitted by a multi-party group of parliamentarians on Ahed’s case.
The “assault” charges refer to the livestreamed interaction in which Ahed and Nour demand an occupation soldier leave their home; he was attempting to move to higher ground on the family’s land in order to position himself to shoot at demonstrators in the village. After being slapped by the soldier, Ahed slapped the occupation soldier with her bare hand.
Ahed’s 15-year-old cousin Mohammed was shot in the head by a rubber-coated metal bullet and was in a coma for days; he continues to struggle with serious injuries. Last week, another Tamimi cousin, Musa’ab, 17, was shot and killed by occupation forces in the village of Deir Nizam, the first Palestinian killed in 2018.
As the repression targeting the Tamimi family has continued and intensified, Palestinian and international support for Ahed Tamimi and her family has only grown. Ahed, who has traveled to South Africa, Europe, Lebanon and elsewhere to speak about the Palestinian struggle, is an internationally-known leader in the indigenous land defense movement. She has been involved in the movement in Nabi Saleh since she was only 11 years old.
Protests are continuing around the world to demand Ahed’s freedom and that of the other 6,200 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails. Upcoming protests are scheduled in London (on both 12 January and 13 January), Saint-Etienne, Brussels, Rosario, Montevideo, Sydney, Toulouse, Dublin, Braga, Porto, Lisbon, Rome, New York City, Portland, Copenhagen, Berlin, Washington, DC, Arlington and elsewhere.
Street visual actions are also taking place to highlight Ahed’s case and the Palestinian struggle for freedom. In London, grassroots activists put up “guerilla” transit ads and posters on bus stops and Tube trains throughout the city. @Protestencil on Twitter has made the stencil-style posters available for download and use in supporters’ local cities.
London Palestine Action has highlighted the ongoing appearance of these “adhacks” throughout London, bringing Ahed’s case and the struggle of Palestinian child prisoners to the streets of the UK capital. Italian activists in Venice replicated the posters on the streets of the city as well:
On the streets of Berlin, Jewish Antifa Berlin shared images of large stickers and posters highlighting Ahed Tamimi’s case and those of the Tamimi women posted on signboards and advertising spaces around the German capital city. Women in Berlin are also organizing a bloc for the women’s march on 21 January that will highlight Ahed’s case.
An international action week is taking place from 10 to 20 January, focusing on pressure on national parliamentarians in countries around the world to speak out about the case of Ahed Tamimi, including actions targeting Dutch, French, German and Portuguese politicians. In addition, UK minister of state for the Middle East Alistair Burt responded to questions from Labour MP Julie Elliott on 10 January by noting that “the soldiers should not be there and the young woman should not have needed to do what she did.” This followed an earlier Early Day Motion submitted by a multi-party group of parliamentarians on Ahed’s case.
|
|
Ahed Tamimi has made international headlines. The 16-year-old Palestinian's defiant slapping of an Israeli soldier was heard across the world as footage of the incident went viral.
Tamimi, an already prominent activist, was later detained and she remains behind bars, charged with 12 different offences. But Ahed Tamimi is not alone. There are hundreds of Ahed Tamimis and there have been thousands before her. Video According to the latest official figures, 331 Palestinian minors are currently held in Israeli prisons. And since 2000, at least 8,000 Palestinian minors have been arrested |
and prosecuted in the Israeli military detention system, according to advocacy group Defence for Children International Palestine.
The most common conviction? Stone throwing. Critics of the system say minors should not be processed through what they call kangaroo courts and that the real goal is to discourage resistance to occupation. Israel says the minors have committed serious crimes and often threatened State security.
So where does the truth lie? The Stream discusses with experts on Thursday.
The most common conviction? Stone throwing. Critics of the system say minors should not be processed through what they call kangaroo courts and that the real goal is to discourage resistance to occupation. Israel says the minors have committed serious crimes and often threatened State security.
So where does the truth lie? The Stream discusses with experts on Thursday.
11 jan 2018
Israeli occupation forces killed 15 Palestinian children in the besieged Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, in 2017, Defense for Children International-Palestine revealed on Tuesday.
The human rights organization said, in a report, that 12 children were shot dead, four of them during protests and three in ambushes setup by the army.
Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces also killed five children during alleged attempts to carry out stabbing attacks.
The report pointed out, according to Days of Palestine, that a child was killed by artillery shelling in the Gaza Strip, and another by the explosion of a suspicious body while herding sheep near the city of Tubas in the northern West Bank while another died from injuries sustained in 2014.
The organization stressed that the Israeli army takes advantage of the lack of accountability to kill more children.
In related news, Israeli Minister of Agriculture Ori Ariel remarked, on Wednesday, that he had not heard any news about deaths under Israeli strikes in Gaza.
Speaking to Israeli general radio, the Israeli minister said that he wanted “qualitative” responses to alleged Palestinian rockets attacks.
“For months, I haven’t heard about news and wounded in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip,” he told the Israeli radio.
He wondered: “Which is the weapon we use when we strike the Gaza Strip that does not cause death and injuries among the Gazans?”
He continued: “When the Israeli forces trike Gaza, we only see smokes rising from the rubble of Palestinian houses and later on, no news about casualties.”
The human rights organization said, in a report, that 12 children were shot dead, four of them during protests and three in ambushes setup by the army.
Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces also killed five children during alleged attempts to carry out stabbing attacks.
The report pointed out, according to Days of Palestine, that a child was killed by artillery shelling in the Gaza Strip, and another by the explosion of a suspicious body while herding sheep near the city of Tubas in the northern West Bank while another died from injuries sustained in 2014.
The organization stressed that the Israeli army takes advantage of the lack of accountability to kill more children.
In related news, Israeli Minister of Agriculture Ori Ariel remarked, on Wednesday, that he had not heard any news about deaths under Israeli strikes in Gaza.
Speaking to Israeli general radio, the Israeli minister said that he wanted “qualitative” responses to alleged Palestinian rockets attacks.
“For months, I haven’t heard about news and wounded in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip,” he told the Israeli radio.
He wondered: “Which is the weapon we use when we strike the Gaza Strip that does not cause death and injuries among the Gazans?”
He continued: “When the Israeli forces trike Gaza, we only see smokes rising from the rubble of Palestinian houses and later on, no news about casualties.”
