2 mar 2014
Egyptian Authorities continue closing Rafah crossing in front of Palestinian passengers for the third week in a row, according to borders and crossings administration in Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinians, including students and medical patients, have been stuck at both sides of the closed crossing.
Egypt opens the Rafah crossing once a week for Umra pilgrims, while the humanitarian cases are shouting for help.
The Rafah crossing has been the principal connection between Gaza's 1.8 million residents and the outside world since the imposition of an economic blockade by Israel beginning in 2007.
Egypt has frequently closed the terminal since the Egyptian coup in July. Hundreds of tunnels that Gazans used for years to import fuel, building materials, and other goods were also destroyed.
Egypt opens the Rafah crossing once a week for Umra pilgrims, while the humanitarian cases are shouting for help.
The Rafah crossing has been the principal connection between Gaza's 1.8 million residents and the outside world since the imposition of an economic blockade by Israel beginning in 2007.
Egypt has frequently closed the terminal since the Egyptian coup in July. Hundreds of tunnels that Gazans used for years to import fuel, building materials, and other goods were also destroyed.
1 mar 2014
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Activists from the Popular Resistance on Saturday destroyed parts of a checkpoint east of Nablus in response to Israel's policies of "assassinations" and land confiscation.
Around 10 masked youths smashed the control room and removed metal barriers at the Beit Furik checkpoint using a metal grinder. Organizers of the action said it was a response to the confiscation of Palestinians lands and the policy of Israeli assassinations, the latest of which was the killing of Muatazz Washaha, 24, as a result of Israeli shelling of his home in the town of Birzeit on Thursday. |
The checkpoint was not occupied by Israeli soldiers at the time of the action.
Washaha was affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and was killed during an Israeli arrest raid.
Thousands gathered on Friday for his funeral near Birzeit. Israeli forces opened fire on marchers after clashes broke out, injuring five with live bullets.
Washaha was affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and was killed during an Israeli arrest raid.
Thousands gathered on Friday for his funeral near Birzeit. Israeli forces opened fire on marchers after clashes broke out, injuring five with live bullets.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) closed all entrances to Yabad village, south of Jenin, at dawn Saturday and combed the village’s main alleys and streets. Local sources told the PIC reporter that IOF bulldozers blocked entrances to the village and set up roadblocks at its main entrances.
They said that the soldiers provoked citizens during the combing operation and prevented farmers from reaching their fields.
Sources in Jenin city said that IOF soldiers broke into the city also at dawn today and closed the main road and combed nearby neighborhoods.
They said that the soldiers provoked citizens during the combing operation and prevented farmers from reaching their fields.
Sources in Jenin city said that IOF soldiers broke into the city also at dawn today and closed the main road and combed nearby neighborhoods.
Thousands of Palestinians performed their Friday prayers at the sit-in tent that was erected recently near the Rafah border crossing by the national committee for breaking the siege in protest at the inhumane blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. Scores of citizens from different areas of Gaza flocked into the sit-in area to listen to the Friday khutba (sermon), which focused on the blockade and its impacts on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Spokesman for the sit-in protest Hammad Al-Raqab told a news conference following the prayers that the closure of the Rafah border crossing worsened the suffering of the Gaza population who already suffer from tight blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation.
Raqab appealed to the Egyptian authorities to reopen the crossing to end the intolerable situation in Gaza and facilitate the movement of passengers and goods.
"We will not stop our peaceful protest moves inside and outside Palestine until the siege has been broken," the spokesman stated.
He stressed that the Palestinians in Gaza would never surrender to starvation and subjugation and would stay defending their dignity and national constants.
He urged the world's free people and the advocates of the besieged people in Gaza to move to break the blockade by sea.
Spokesman for the sit-in protest Hammad Al-Raqab told a news conference following the prayers that the closure of the Rafah border crossing worsened the suffering of the Gaza population who already suffer from tight blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation.
Raqab appealed to the Egyptian authorities to reopen the crossing to end the intolerable situation in Gaza and facilitate the movement of passengers and goods.
"We will not stop our peaceful protest moves inside and outside Palestine until the siege has been broken," the spokesman stated.
He stressed that the Palestinians in Gaza would never surrender to starvation and subjugation and would stay defending their dignity and national constants.
He urged the world's free people and the advocates of the besieged people in Gaza to move to break the blockade by sea.
28 feb 2014
The High Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza said on Friday that it plans to escalate its efforts in the face of the continuing Israeli siege on Gaza.
Spokesman for the committee Hammad al-Raqb told Ma'an that the efforts would begin today with activities including mass phone calls to consulates and embassies calling for an end to the siege.
"After eight years of siege and after the closure of tunnels, the siege intensified and we have to raise our voice to influence public opinion to end the siege on Gaza," al-Raqb said.
"Palestinians launched two intifadas before, and will not fail to launch a third one" if Israeli forces continue to "starve and humiliate us," he added.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
Spokesman for the committee Hammad al-Raqb told Ma'an that the efforts would begin today with activities including mass phone calls to consulates and embassies calling for an end to the siege.
"After eight years of siege and after the closure of tunnels, the siege intensified and we have to raise our voice to influence public opinion to end the siege on Gaza," al-Raqb said.
"Palestinians launched two intifadas before, and will not fail to launch a third one" if Israeli forces continue to "starve and humiliate us," he added.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
A delegation of more than 100 women is planning to visit the Israeli blockaded Gaza Strip to meet Palestinian women in the coastal enclave on International Women's Day.
The members of the delegation come from countries such as France, Belgium, the United States and Ireland.
The participants are part of an international campaign called "Women Against the Blockade of Gaza." The group aims to discuss and address the difficulties faced by Palestinian women in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Non-governmental organization Code Pink: Women for Peace has said it is forming a US delegation of 15 women, who will join the international coalition.
The purpose of the delegation, it has said, is to show solidarity with the women of Gaza, to bring attention to the unbearable suffering caused by the Israeli blockade, to educate people back in their home countries, to push for opening the Gaza borders, and to bring solar lamps to help with the electricity shortage.
Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.
The humanitarian crisis facing Gaza has escalated as the only power plant in the Palestinian territory has stopped working since November 1 last year due to severe fuel shortage.
The members of the delegation come from countries such as France, Belgium, the United States and Ireland.
The participants are part of an international campaign called "Women Against the Blockade of Gaza." The group aims to discuss and address the difficulties faced by Palestinian women in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Non-governmental organization Code Pink: Women for Peace has said it is forming a US delegation of 15 women, who will join the international coalition.
The purpose of the delegation, it has said, is to show solidarity with the women of Gaza, to bring attention to the unbearable suffering caused by the Israeli blockade, to educate people back in their home countries, to push for opening the Gaza borders, and to bring solar lamps to help with the electricity shortage.
Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.
The humanitarian crisis facing Gaza has escalated as the only power plant in the Palestinian territory has stopped working since November 1 last year due to severe fuel shortage.
27 feb 2014
Palestinian Justice Minister Atallah Abu al-Sabah called on Egypt to bear its responsibilities and to lift Gaza siege through opening Rafah crossing permanently and without restrictions. Abu al-Sabah charged, during a press conference held at the Information Ministry headquarters, that Gaza siege is illegal and immoral punishment that violates international conventions and laws.
He considered Gaza siege as a war crime that requires the prosecution of occupation at international courts. The minster also hailed U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories Richard Falk's statements calling for ending Gaza siege.
He appealed to the international community to break its silence towards the Gaza siege that affects all life aspects in the Strip.
The Minister stressed the need for an international and regional intervention to end the human rights suffering in Gaza, calling for opening all Gaza's border crossings.
The minister asked the prosecutor general of the International Criminal Court to prosecute the leaders of the Zionist occupation for violating the rules of international and humanitarian law.
For its part, Palestinian trade unions called on the international community and human rights organizations to work on lifting the unjust siege on Gaza and on opening its border crossings permanently.
The union organized a solidarity vigil in front of the Rafah border crossing, where the participants held banners demanding the removal of the Gaza siege and the opening of border crossings.
Head of the union Sami Amassi said during the vigil that the siege has negatively affected life aspects in the Strip particularly the economic and construction field.
He pointed out that dozens of factories, companies, and workshops were closed due to the Israeli siege and movement restrictions, and the unemployment rate in the Strip reached 44.5 per cent.
On the other hand, Teachers Union head Khaled al-Mozain confirmed that the construction of 26 schools and 70 scientific laboratories has been halted due to the Israeli ban on construction materials in addition to power crisis.
Palestinian Nursing Union also has issued during the protest vigil an urgent appeal to all international trade unions to intervene to end the siege imposed on the Palestinian people and patients in order to alleviate their suffering.
He considered Gaza siege as a war crime that requires the prosecution of occupation at international courts. The minster also hailed U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories Richard Falk's statements calling for ending Gaza siege.
He appealed to the international community to break its silence towards the Gaza siege that affects all life aspects in the Strip.
The Minister stressed the need for an international and regional intervention to end the human rights suffering in Gaza, calling for opening all Gaza's border crossings.
The minister asked the prosecutor general of the International Criminal Court to prosecute the leaders of the Zionist occupation for violating the rules of international and humanitarian law.
For its part, Palestinian trade unions called on the international community and human rights organizations to work on lifting the unjust siege on Gaza and on opening its border crossings permanently.
The union organized a solidarity vigil in front of the Rafah border crossing, where the participants held banners demanding the removal of the Gaza siege and the opening of border crossings.
Head of the union Sami Amassi said during the vigil that the siege has negatively affected life aspects in the Strip particularly the economic and construction field.
He pointed out that dozens of factories, companies, and workshops were closed due to the Israeli siege and movement restrictions, and the unemployment rate in the Strip reached 44.5 per cent.
On the other hand, Teachers Union head Khaled al-Mozain confirmed that the construction of 26 schools and 70 scientific laboratories has been halted due to the Israeli ban on construction materials in addition to power crisis.
Palestinian Nursing Union also has issued during the protest vigil an urgent appeal to all international trade unions to intervene to end the siege imposed on the Palestinian people and patients in order to alleviate their suffering.
26 feb 2014
A Palestinian old woman died at Erez (Beit Hanun) crossing in northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday while en route to a hospital in the West Bank.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qudra, the health ministry spokesman in Gaza, told the PIC reporter that 77-year-old Widad Salim Deeb was on her way to Nablus in the West Bank to undergo a heart surgery.
Israeli occupation forces manning Gaza border crossing, Beit Hanun, deliberately humiliate and delay passengers regardless of their conditions and on some occasions try to recruit them as informants.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qudra, the health ministry spokesman in Gaza, told the PIC reporter that 77-year-old Widad Salim Deeb was on her way to Nablus in the West Bank to undergo a heart surgery.
Israeli occupation forces manning Gaza border crossing, Beit Hanun, deliberately humiliate and delay passengers regardless of their conditions and on some occasions try to recruit them as informants.
On the roof of Gaza City's children's hospital, a pristine row of solar panels gleams in the sunlight, an out-of-place symbol of modern, clean energy in the impoverished Strip.
As the coastal Palestinian territory lives through the worst fuel shortage in its history, many of Gaza's 1.6 million inhabitants are beginning to see solar power not just as a viable alternative, but perhaps as the only solution to the energy crisis.
"We were forced to consider relying on solar power alone after the energy crisis that events in Egypt brought about," said hospital director Nabil al-Burqani, referring to the closure of cross-border tunnels which halted the fuel supply into Gaza.
"We need solar energy in order to keep up care for babies in the maternity ward," he told AFP.
"If there's just a minute-long cut to the electricity that runs the baby incubators, a child could die."
Gazans have learned to live with daily power outages of up to 12 hours that have affected private homes, schools, hospitals, businesses, and water and sanitation plants.
The ruling Hamas movement has blamed the crisis on Egypt's destruction of cross-border tunnels which had been used for importing fuel, a decision implemented after the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
The tunnels had played a key role in Gaza's economy since 2006, when Israel imposed a blockade after the capture of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants in a cross-border raid. The restrictions were tightened the following year when Hamas seized power.
Safer than generators
By harnessing the energy of the intense sunlight that beats down on the coastal enclave most of the year, Gazans are optimistic they can overcome the crisis in the long term.
And initial setup costs -- which include buying and installing panels and converters, and the batteries needed to run them -- are potentially outweighed by the benefits.
The project at the children's hospital, which was partly funded by British relief charity Sawaed, was set up in January 2013 at a cost of $100,000 and is now providing 20 kilowatts of electricity per day.
Elsewhere, a Kuwaiti donation of $6 million is paying for the construction of five new schools, all of which will be equipped with solar panels, the education ministry said.
But the solar drive is not limited only to large-scale foreign-funded projects.
Individual families, if they can afford the initial outlay, are also switching to solar, which promises to be a much safer alternative than generators.
After the fuel crisis kicked in, mobile back-up generators quickly became commonplace, but were often unsafe, causing a string of deaths through explosions, fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Shadi Jawwad bought solar panels for his home in the central Gaza Strip after getting a bank loan.
"There's no electricity or fuel to run the generators or the power station in Gaza, but we can use the sun," the 44-year-old government worker said.
"My own solar set-up cost 5,000 shekels ($1,400), and with it I can get enough electricity to light my home and keep the television on for several hours, even during the regular power cuts to the main supply," Jawwad told AFP.
"This is a safe way of keeping my home running ... And I only make one down-payment to set up the solar power system, rather than having to buy more petrol every day for my generator at fluctuating and often extortionate prices."
Figures released by the UN humanitarian agency OCHA show that in November, Gaza received less than 20,000 liters of fuel per week, down from nearly a million liters a day when the tunnels were operating.
Gaza's sole power station ground to a halt on Nov. 1 after diesel stocks ran out. It only went back online 50 days later after a delivery of Israeli fuel which was paid for by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
But the need to seek alternatives to carbon-based fuels appears to be sinking in.
On its website, Gaza's energy authority says it is looking to introduce "a strategy to encourage solar energy use," in the hope that by 2020, solar power will account for 20 percent of the territory's energy consumption.
For now, it is relying on a stock of solar equipment which was brought through the tunnels before Egypt shut them.
As the coastal Palestinian territory lives through the worst fuel shortage in its history, many of Gaza's 1.6 million inhabitants are beginning to see solar power not just as a viable alternative, but perhaps as the only solution to the energy crisis.
"We were forced to consider relying on solar power alone after the energy crisis that events in Egypt brought about," said hospital director Nabil al-Burqani, referring to the closure of cross-border tunnels which halted the fuel supply into Gaza.
"We need solar energy in order to keep up care for babies in the maternity ward," he told AFP.
"If there's just a minute-long cut to the electricity that runs the baby incubators, a child could die."
Gazans have learned to live with daily power outages of up to 12 hours that have affected private homes, schools, hospitals, businesses, and water and sanitation plants.
The ruling Hamas movement has blamed the crisis on Egypt's destruction of cross-border tunnels which had been used for importing fuel, a decision implemented after the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
The tunnels had played a key role in Gaza's economy since 2006, when Israel imposed a blockade after the capture of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants in a cross-border raid. The restrictions were tightened the following year when Hamas seized power.
Safer than generators
By harnessing the energy of the intense sunlight that beats down on the coastal enclave most of the year, Gazans are optimistic they can overcome the crisis in the long term.
And initial setup costs -- which include buying and installing panels and converters, and the batteries needed to run them -- are potentially outweighed by the benefits.
The project at the children's hospital, which was partly funded by British relief charity Sawaed, was set up in January 2013 at a cost of $100,000 and is now providing 20 kilowatts of electricity per day.
Elsewhere, a Kuwaiti donation of $6 million is paying for the construction of five new schools, all of which will be equipped with solar panels, the education ministry said.
But the solar drive is not limited only to large-scale foreign-funded projects.
Individual families, if they can afford the initial outlay, are also switching to solar, which promises to be a much safer alternative than generators.
After the fuel crisis kicked in, mobile back-up generators quickly became commonplace, but were often unsafe, causing a string of deaths through explosions, fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Shadi Jawwad bought solar panels for his home in the central Gaza Strip after getting a bank loan.
"There's no electricity or fuel to run the generators or the power station in Gaza, but we can use the sun," the 44-year-old government worker said.
"My own solar set-up cost 5,000 shekels ($1,400), and with it I can get enough electricity to light my home and keep the television on for several hours, even during the regular power cuts to the main supply," Jawwad told AFP.
"This is a safe way of keeping my home running ... And I only make one down-payment to set up the solar power system, rather than having to buy more petrol every day for my generator at fluctuating and often extortionate prices."
Figures released by the UN humanitarian agency OCHA show that in November, Gaza received less than 20,000 liters of fuel per week, down from nearly a million liters a day when the tunnels were operating.
Gaza's sole power station ground to a halt on Nov. 1 after diesel stocks ran out. It only went back online 50 days later after a delivery of Israeli fuel which was paid for by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
But the need to seek alternatives to carbon-based fuels appears to be sinking in.
On its website, Gaza's energy authority says it is looking to introduce "a strategy to encourage solar energy use," in the hope that by 2020, solar power will account for 20 percent of the territory's energy consumption.
For now, it is relying on a stock of solar equipment which was brought through the tunnels before Egypt shut them.
The Egyptian authorities will open the Rafah border crossing with Gaza Strip on Wednesday to allow the return of Palestinians from Saudi Arabia after performing the minor pilgrimage or Umrah. The general department for crossings in Gaza said in a statement that no other categories of passengers would be allowed in or out of the Strip.
It noted that the crossing was closed before traffic of passengers for the past 20 days, adding that many students, sick people, and holders of residences in other countries were harmed due to the closure.
Hundreds of passengers are waiting on the outside gates of the terminal in the hope that the Egyptian authorities will allow them to travel.
More than 5,000 citizens wishing to travel in the besieged enclave had registered their names with the interior ministry in Gaza. The ministry was compelled to close the registration process until the crossing is open.
It noted that the crossing was closed before traffic of passengers for the past 20 days, adding that many students, sick people, and holders of residences in other countries were harmed due to the closure.
Hundreds of passengers are waiting on the outside gates of the terminal in the hope that the Egyptian authorities will allow them to travel.
More than 5,000 citizens wishing to travel in the besieged enclave had registered their names with the interior ministry in Gaza. The ministry was compelled to close the registration process until the crossing is open.
The Israeli buffer zone has deepened Palestinians' suffering in Gaza Strip, where it denied farmers' access to their lands, totaling 35% of the agricultural lands in Gaza Strip estimated at 17% of the whole area of the Strip. Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) have issued a report under the title "Under Fire" [PDF] addressing Israeli violations in Access Restricted Areas (ARA) in the Gaza Strip.
The report highlighted "the suffering experienced by civilians, farmers and fishermen due to restrictions imposed on the freedom of movement in those areas, the frequent targeting of civilians with live ammunition, house demolitions and restrictions imposed on fishing areas."
The report was launched in London with the participation of lawyer Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, via Skype.
The report confirmed "the farmers' inability to access their lands, totaling 62.6 km2, i.e. 35% of the agricultural lands in the Gaza Strip or 17% of the whole area of the Gaza Strip."
The Israeli authorities have imposed a buffer zone eastern the border fence along Gaza Strip ranging between 300 and 1000 meters.
The report also addressed the Israeli denial of the right to fish in 85% of the fishing area according to Oslo Accords.
Statistics and data are provided on the losses in lives and property due to the Israeli practices in that area. The report also tackles the financial and economic loss that afflicts civilians, farmers and fishermen and which is further exacerbated by the closure. The report indicated that the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in 2012 did not help in altering the situation in ARA.
The report has drawn attention to the fact that Israeli forces use live ammunition when targeting civilians in the ARA without taking into consideration the principles of distinction and proportionality, which is considered a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The report also emphasized that Israel does not respect the international standards related to the use of force and in many instances, directly resort to the use of lethal force.
The report confirmed that many relief foundations fail to understand the nature of the suffering of the ARA residents. "The relief foundations' main focus is on finding shelter for residents whose houses have been demolished without paying attention to their real loss (homes and livelihood) or addressing the underlying cause of this; the ARA policy imposed by the Israeli authorities."
The report concluded with a number of recommendations addressed to Israel, calling for lifting the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip as it is considered a collective punishment against Palestinian civilians, respecting international humanitarian law, and not using lethal force against Palestinian civilians.
It also called for stopping targeting farmers and fishermen in the ARA, stressing the need to allow the ARA residents to go back to their property immediately and remove all obstacles to achieve that.
The report called for ceasing the ARA imposed on the sea and allowing fishing according to the Oslo Accords, and to allow exportation and importation from and to the Palestinian territories, and to bring Israeli officials to account for violations of international law, and to direct international support for the border areas.
The report highlighted "the suffering experienced by civilians, farmers and fishermen due to restrictions imposed on the freedom of movement in those areas, the frequent targeting of civilians with live ammunition, house demolitions and restrictions imposed on fishing areas."
The report was launched in London with the participation of lawyer Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, via Skype.
The report confirmed "the farmers' inability to access their lands, totaling 62.6 km2, i.e. 35% of the agricultural lands in the Gaza Strip or 17% of the whole area of the Gaza Strip."
The Israeli authorities have imposed a buffer zone eastern the border fence along Gaza Strip ranging between 300 and 1000 meters.
The report also addressed the Israeli denial of the right to fish in 85% of the fishing area according to Oslo Accords.
Statistics and data are provided on the losses in lives and property due to the Israeli practices in that area. The report also tackles the financial and economic loss that afflicts civilians, farmers and fishermen and which is further exacerbated by the closure. The report indicated that the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in 2012 did not help in altering the situation in ARA.
The report has drawn attention to the fact that Israeli forces use live ammunition when targeting civilians in the ARA without taking into consideration the principles of distinction and proportionality, which is considered a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The report also emphasized that Israel does not respect the international standards related to the use of force and in many instances, directly resort to the use of lethal force.
The report confirmed that many relief foundations fail to understand the nature of the suffering of the ARA residents. "The relief foundations' main focus is on finding shelter for residents whose houses have been demolished without paying attention to their real loss (homes and livelihood) or addressing the underlying cause of this; the ARA policy imposed by the Israeli authorities."
The report concluded with a number of recommendations addressed to Israel, calling for lifting the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip as it is considered a collective punishment against Palestinian civilians, respecting international humanitarian law, and not using lethal force against Palestinian civilians.
It also called for stopping targeting farmers and fishermen in the ARA, stressing the need to allow the ARA residents to go back to their property immediately and remove all obstacles to achieve that.
The report called for ceasing the ARA imposed on the sea and allowing fishing according to the Oslo Accords, and to allow exportation and importation from and to the Palestinian territories, and to bring Israeli officials to account for violations of international law, and to direct international support for the border areas.
25 feb 2014
The Egyptian army on Tuesday afternoon bombed two homes in Egyptian Rafah city opposite to al-Salam neighborhood in southern Gaza Strip. Safa Press reported that Egyptian army destroyed two houses out of three implanted with bombs in the morning.
The Egyptian army bombed dozens of homes bordering Gaza strip since the deposition of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3rd, citing the presence of underground tunnels.
A military spokesman said earlier that the army destroyed about 1200 tunnels along the Egyptian-Palestinian border used by the Palestinian to smuggle basic items banned from access via the Israeli-controlled Karam Abu Salem crossing.
The 1.7 Gaza population has since been experiencing a severe shortage of construction materials.
The import of basic construction materials to Gaza has been severely restricted since the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip was effective in June 2007.
The Egyptian army bombed dozens of homes bordering Gaza strip since the deposition of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3rd, citing the presence of underground tunnels.
A military spokesman said earlier that the army destroyed about 1200 tunnels along the Egyptian-Palestinian border used by the Palestinian to smuggle basic items banned from access via the Israeli-controlled Karam Abu Salem crossing.
The 1.7 Gaza population has since been experiencing a severe shortage of construction materials.
The import of basic construction materials to Gaza has been severely restricted since the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip was effective in June 2007.
The Palestinian Ministry of Information considers -the U.S. Congress Appropriations Committee's bill to ban assisting the Palestinian State until the latter stops the so-called incitement against Israel -as a political fallacy, and a distortion of the facts as well as full support of the occupation to continue its crimes against our people.
The Ministry stresses in a press release Tuesday that the axiomatic logic puts the U.S lawmakers and politicians before their duties to end the last and longest occupation in modern history, which commits all forms of killing and illegal settlement, violates the International law and ignores all the resolutions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly relevant to Palestine, since 1947 until now.
Some Congress members' biasness to the State of occupation prevented the hearing of the American official reports on the Israeli refusal to activate the Joint Committee to prevent incitement that the US recently tried to activate, and their maneuvers to prevent recognizing the rights of our people for having freedom and independence.
Its worth mentioning that the ministry would like to remind the US political parties, and defenders of the occupation that the Palestinian people shall have the right to recall the dreams of Martin Luther King for freedom and salvation, to stop supporting discrimination and biasness to the occupation and refrain from ignoring our just rights.
The ministry re-stresses that the U.S Appropriations Committee and Congress members should read and see the many Israeli violations against our people in the US media, and that they should work to stop the daily Israeli right-wing settlers' crimes against our people and their properties, and worship places, as well.
The Ministry stresses in a press release Tuesday that the axiomatic logic puts the U.S lawmakers and politicians before their duties to end the last and longest occupation in modern history, which commits all forms of killing and illegal settlement, violates the International law and ignores all the resolutions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly relevant to Palestine, since 1947 until now.
Some Congress members' biasness to the State of occupation prevented the hearing of the American official reports on the Israeli refusal to activate the Joint Committee to prevent incitement that the US recently tried to activate, and their maneuvers to prevent recognizing the rights of our people for having freedom and independence.
Its worth mentioning that the ministry would like to remind the US political parties, and defenders of the occupation that the Palestinian people shall have the right to recall the dreams of Martin Luther King for freedom and salvation, to stop supporting discrimination and biasness to the occupation and refrain from ignoring our just rights.
The ministry re-stresses that the U.S Appropriations Committee and Congress members should read and see the many Israeli violations against our people in the US media, and that they should work to stop the daily Israeli right-wing settlers' crimes against our people and their properties, and worship places, as well.
24 feb 2014
Ministry of Economy said that (Israel) has allowed 180 truckloads into Gaza Strip through Karam Abu Salem crossing, south eastern Rafah governorate. Undersecretary Hatem Oweidah told ALRAY that the allowed trucks are loaded with cargo designated for commercial and agricultural sectors.
Limited amounts of fuels including diesel fuel for the Gaza’s power plant were entered as well, he said.
He added that one truckload of green herbs is scheduled for export to Europe.
The occupation authorities closes Karam abu Salem crossing repeatedly allegedly for security reasons and Jewish holidays, conversely affecting the every the everyday life in Gaza, as it is the only commercial crossing that connects the Gaza Strip with the outside world.
The import of basic construction materials to Gaza has been severely restricted since the imposition of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip in June 2007, following the Hamas’s rise to power.
Since July 2013 and the subsequent crackdown on the smuggling tunnels with Egypt, which stood as the lifeline for the 1.7 Gaza population, the enclave has been suffering a severe shortage of construction materials.
Limited amounts of fuels including diesel fuel for the Gaza’s power plant were entered as well, he said.
He added that one truckload of green herbs is scheduled for export to Europe.
The occupation authorities closes Karam abu Salem crossing repeatedly allegedly for security reasons and Jewish holidays, conversely affecting the every the everyday life in Gaza, as it is the only commercial crossing that connects the Gaza Strip with the outside world.
The import of basic construction materials to Gaza has been severely restricted since the imposition of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip in June 2007, following the Hamas’s rise to power.
Since July 2013 and the subsequent crackdown on the smuggling tunnels with Egypt, which stood as the lifeline for the 1.7 Gaza population, the enclave has been suffering a severe shortage of construction materials.
Egypt's closure of tunnels and Israel's ban on shipping building materials into the Gaza Strip left more than 70.000 construction workers, professionals and engineers jobless, the Palestinian contractors union said on Sunday. Nabil Abu Muailaq the Director of the union told ALRAY that 30,000 workers in various economic sectors have been affected directly and another 40,000 were affected indirectly due to this siege .
He pointed out that the construction and service sectors and industries depending on them, such as craft workshop and transportation equipment stopped working as a result of the siege and closure imposed on the enclave.
He made clear that 95 percent of construction companies are completely cracked and 5 present are still working at Qatari and UN projects .
The construction sector is considered the biggest one that employs workers and contributes in 27 percent of GDP which is about 135 million dollars during the second quarter of 2013.
Israel froze shipments of building materials to the Gaza Strip after discovering an alleged "terror tunnel" entering its borders from the adjoining territory.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2007.
The blockade was imposed following the victory of the Hamas in the 2006 Palestinian elections and the subsequent 2007 events.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
He pointed out that the construction and service sectors and industries depending on them, such as craft workshop and transportation equipment stopped working as a result of the siege and closure imposed on the enclave.
He made clear that 95 percent of construction companies are completely cracked and 5 present are still working at Qatari and UN projects .
The construction sector is considered the biggest one that employs workers and contributes in 27 percent of GDP which is about 135 million dollars during the second quarter of 2013.
Israel froze shipments of building materials to the Gaza Strip after discovering an alleged "terror tunnel" entering its borders from the adjoining territory.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2007.
The blockade was imposed following the victory of the Hamas in the 2006 Palestinian elections and the subsequent 2007 events.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
