10 mar 2014
The Israeli forces installed Monday Iron-gate at the entrance to Hebron village of Beit Anoun, security sources said. Forces installed the metal gate in order to control the movement of traffic and passengers between villages and towns located to the east of Hebron.
They also set up a military checkpoint at the Al-Qarantina area in central Hebron, where they stopped vehicles traveling along the road and examined passengers’ ID cards in a humiliating manner.
They also stormed Dura, Idhna and Saʻir areas.
They also set up a military checkpoint at the Al-Qarantina area in central Hebron, where they stopped vehicles traveling along the road and examined passengers’ ID cards in a humiliating manner.
They also stormed Dura, Idhna and Saʻir areas.
Friends of humanity international appealed to the Egyptian authority to end its blockade on the population in the Gaza Strip and facilitate the movement of individuals and goods at Rafah border crossing. In a press release, the Vienna-based organization stated that the Palestinian population in Gaza has been under tight blockade long months since the military coup in Egypt and thus the current Egyptian authority has an obligation to take the humanitarian needs of the Gazans into account.
Friends of humanity said it had sent a letter to the Egyptian leadership to denounce the blockade and urge it to open the Rafah border crossing normally before passengers and goods.
The organization also expressed its dismay at the Egyptian deportation of multinational activists and its refusal to allow them to leave Cairo airport for the Gaza Strip.
Friends of humanity said it had sent a letter to the Egyptian leadership to denounce the blockade and urge it to open the Rafah border crossing normally before passengers and goods.
The organization also expressed its dismay at the Egyptian deportation of multinational activists and its refusal to allow them to leave Cairo airport for the Gaza Strip.
The Jordanian Lifeline for Gaza campaign said that Egypt's deportation of 58 multinational female activists from Cairo airport and its refusal to allow them to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip was a measure serving the Israeli occupation. The Jordanian campaign affirmed that among the activists were noted international female figures such as Jamila Bouhired, an Algerian nationalist who opposed the French colonial rule of her country, Mairead Maguire, an Irish Nobel peace laureate, and Medea Benjamin, an American political activist.
The campaign strongly denounced the Egyptian authorities at the airport for maltreating and disrespecting female activists known for advocating Arab issues, especially the Palestinian cause.
It noted that the activists had received prior approval to visit Gaza and were supposed to deliver medical supplies to the besieged Gaza Strip.
For his part, Hamdi Shaath, the government representative to the higher national committee for breaking Gaza siege, urged all pro-Palestinian activists around the world to activate their anti-blockade campaigns by land and sea to expose the violations committed by the besieging parties.
"We call upon the world's free people to organize land and sea convoys to break the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip," Shaath stated in a press release on Sunday.
He affirmed that the resumption of anti-siege aid convoys would contribute to exposing the besieging parties, especially the Israeli occupation, and prompt the Arab regimes to assume their responsibilities towards the population in Gaza.
The campaign strongly denounced the Egyptian authorities at the airport for maltreating and disrespecting female activists known for advocating Arab issues, especially the Palestinian cause.
It noted that the activists had received prior approval to visit Gaza and were supposed to deliver medical supplies to the besieged Gaza Strip.
For his part, Hamdi Shaath, the government representative to the higher national committee for breaking Gaza siege, urged all pro-Palestinian activists around the world to activate their anti-blockade campaigns by land and sea to expose the violations committed by the besieging parties.
"We call upon the world's free people to organize land and sea convoys to break the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip," Shaath stated in a press release on Sunday.
He affirmed that the resumption of anti-siege aid convoys would contribute to exposing the besieging parties, especially the Israeli occupation, and prompt the Arab regimes to assume their responsibilities towards the population in Gaza.
9 mar 2014
The Egyptian closure of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza Strip is threatening the lives of hundreds of seriously-ill patients, Maher Abu Sabha, the director of borders and crossings in Gaza, said on Sunday. Abu Sabha said in a radio statement that more than 6,000 passengers had registered with the interior ministry wishing to travel via the Rafah crossing, which has been closed for 32 days.
He underlined that hundreds of cancer patients and other chronic diseases were among those registering for travel for treatment abroad in view of the lack of treatment in Gaza Strip that has been under siege for eight years.
Moreover, hundreds of students and holders of resident permits abroad have also registered for travel via Rafah crossing and their future is in jeopardy as a result of delaying their travel, Abu Sabha warned.
The director of crossings renewed his demand for permanent opening of the Rafah crossing, the only outlet for Gaza people to the outside world, to alleviate the suffering of the Gaza inhabitants.
The Egyptian authorities declared opening the crossing on Sunday only for the return of pilgrims.
He underlined that hundreds of cancer patients and other chronic diseases were among those registering for travel for treatment abroad in view of the lack of treatment in Gaza Strip that has been under siege for eight years.
Moreover, hundreds of students and holders of resident permits abroad have also registered for travel via Rafah crossing and their future is in jeopardy as a result of delaying their travel, Abu Sabha warned.
The director of crossings renewed his demand for permanent opening of the Rafah crossing, the only outlet for Gaza people to the outside world, to alleviate the suffering of the Gaza inhabitants.
The Egyptian authorities declared opening the crossing on Sunday only for the return of pilgrims.
Deputy Head of Energy Authority Fathi Hammad during Sunday conference
A government official warned that the power plant in Gaza may stop working in days as the fuel grant donated by Qatar is about to run out.
Deputy Head of Energy Authority Fathi Hammad Sunday said in a press conference that “Gaza would return to six hours of electricity schedule if Palestinian Authority continues to levy value added tax on the imported fuel,”
Five days left for the fuel to finish up, Hammad added, explaining that Qatar has remitted funds worth $32 million during the past four months as a tax on the diesel fuel bought from Israel .
He pointed out that he contacted with the Head of Energy Authority in Ramallah asking him to stop to collect the imposed tax for six or 12 months until the authority in Gaza gets the necessary funds.
called on the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah to revoke the tax on the fuel imports and consider the tightened blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.
On December 15, 2013, Gaza's lone power plant stirred to life following seven weeks of stopping, allowing for only six hours of electricity supplied from Israel via cables.
The plant provides some 30 percent of the coastal enclave's electricity needs, generating around 60 megawatts of electricity.
As the Egyptian military had destroyed about 80% of the cross-border tunnels as from July 2013, Gaza reeled from lack of fuel used for the power plant to generate electricity.
A government official warned that the power plant in Gaza may stop working in days as the fuel grant donated by Qatar is about to run out.
Deputy Head of Energy Authority Fathi Hammad Sunday said in a press conference that “Gaza would return to six hours of electricity schedule if Palestinian Authority continues to levy value added tax on the imported fuel,”
Five days left for the fuel to finish up, Hammad added, explaining that Qatar has remitted funds worth $32 million during the past four months as a tax on the diesel fuel bought from Israel .
He pointed out that he contacted with the Head of Energy Authority in Ramallah asking him to stop to collect the imposed tax for six or 12 months until the authority in Gaza gets the necessary funds.
called on the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah to revoke the tax on the fuel imports and consider the tightened blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.
On December 15, 2013, Gaza's lone power plant stirred to life following seven weeks of stopping, allowing for only six hours of electricity supplied from Israel via cables.
The plant provides some 30 percent of the coastal enclave's electricity needs, generating around 60 megawatts of electricity.
As the Egyptian military had destroyed about 80% of the cross-border tunnels as from July 2013, Gaza reeled from lack of fuel used for the power plant to generate electricity.
The last shipment of Qatar-donated diesel -- used to fuel the Gaza Strip's sole power plant -- is expected to run out within four or five days, a Palestinian official said Sunday.
The announcement comes after only around two months of steady electricity in the besieged coastal enclave, which suffers from a severe lack of fuel due to a seven-year-long economic blockade enforced jointly by Israel and Egypt.
Fathi al-Sheikh Khalil, deputy chairperson of the Gaza power authority, told Ma'an Sunday that the Qatari donation had helped operate two generators and made electricity available on the basis of eight hours on, eight hours off.
As the last of the fuel runs out, power availability will be reduced to six hours on, twelve hours off, as before the fuel was donated, Khalil said.
"We asked the Ramallah government to provide Gaza's power plant with tax-free fuel because the money we collect in electricity bills isn't enough to buy fuel to run two generators," he said.
Khalil added that the chairman of the power authority in Ramallah, Omar Kittana, "has been trying to convince the minister of finance to sell Gaza tax-free fuel for a year or half a year."
Qatar donated $10 million to Hamas authorities in Gaza for fuel in the wake of the humanitarian crisis caused by severe weather in the region in December.
But even before winter storm Alexa, Gaza had experienced extreme fuel shortages that cut off access to basic necessities for Gaza residents since early November.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006. Although enforcement from the Egyptian side eased following the 2011 revolution, since the July ouster of democratically-elected president Mohamed Morsi military authorities have tightened control.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
The announcement comes after only around two months of steady electricity in the besieged coastal enclave, which suffers from a severe lack of fuel due to a seven-year-long economic blockade enforced jointly by Israel and Egypt.
Fathi al-Sheikh Khalil, deputy chairperson of the Gaza power authority, told Ma'an Sunday that the Qatari donation had helped operate two generators and made electricity available on the basis of eight hours on, eight hours off.
As the last of the fuel runs out, power availability will be reduced to six hours on, twelve hours off, as before the fuel was donated, Khalil said.
"We asked the Ramallah government to provide Gaza's power plant with tax-free fuel because the money we collect in electricity bills isn't enough to buy fuel to run two generators," he said.
Khalil added that the chairman of the power authority in Ramallah, Omar Kittana, "has been trying to convince the minister of finance to sell Gaza tax-free fuel for a year or half a year."
Qatar donated $10 million to Hamas authorities in Gaza for fuel in the wake of the humanitarian crisis caused by severe weather in the region in December.
But even before winter storm Alexa, Gaza had experienced extreme fuel shortages that cut off access to basic necessities for Gaza residents since early November.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006. Although enforcement from the Egyptian side eased following the 2011 revolution, since the July ouster of democratically-elected president Mohamed Morsi military authorities have tightened control.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
Israeli forces erected temporary checkpoints at the entrance to the northern West Bank villages of Madama and Burin south of Nablus for the third consecutive day on Sunday.
Locals told Ma'an that Israeli troops have been inspecting all locals as they travel in and out of their villages, impeding their movement.
The Israeli crackdown against the two villages began three days ago when a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the vehicle of a Jewish settler traveling on the Israeli bypass road between the villages and the illegal Yitzhar settlement.
Three individuals were detained by Israeli forces in the villages on Wednesday following the incident.
The area around the villages south of Nablus is a frequent site of settler violence and Palestinian clashes with Israeli forces as it is located beside the notoriously violent Israeli settlement of Yitzhar.
In mid-February, local settlers threw rocks at Palestinian schoolchildren and attacked a local high school in two separate incidents that led to clashes.
Settlers frequently attack a number of local villages and prevent farmers from reaching their lands, according to UNOCHA, in addition to attacks on local olive trees themselves.
As a result, local youths sometimes respond by targeting vehicles belonging to settlers on the area's main roads.
Locals told Ma'an that Israeli troops have been inspecting all locals as they travel in and out of their villages, impeding their movement.
The Israeli crackdown against the two villages began three days ago when a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the vehicle of a Jewish settler traveling on the Israeli bypass road between the villages and the illegal Yitzhar settlement.
Three individuals were detained by Israeli forces in the villages on Wednesday following the incident.
The area around the villages south of Nablus is a frequent site of settler violence and Palestinian clashes with Israeli forces as it is located beside the notoriously violent Israeli settlement of Yitzhar.
In mid-February, local settlers threw rocks at Palestinian schoolchildren and attacked a local high school in two separate incidents that led to clashes.
Settlers frequently attack a number of local villages and prevent farmers from reaching their lands, according to UNOCHA, in addition to attacks on local olive trees themselves.
As a result, local youths sometimes respond by targeting vehicles belonging to settlers on the area's main roads.
We will not let our people die of hunger and blockade
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said that his Movement is aware of the enormity of the conspiracy being weaved against it and knows how to deal with this difficult phase wisely and efficiently. "Despite all the malicious intents against Hamas, Gaza and our brave resistance, and all attempts to drag us away into directions other than our real destination, which is the resistance of the occupation…Hamas is still a difficult number in all equations and much bigger than all plots," spokesman Barhoum stated in a press release on Saturday.
The spokesman emphasized that Hamas respects its responsibilities and commitments towards its people and their just national cause and would always be in the vanguard of the battle defending them and their rights.
He added that Hamas, no matter how big the challenge and the sacrifices facing it, would never forsake its people wherever they are and would not leave them die of hunger and blockade.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said that his Movement is aware of the enormity of the conspiracy being weaved against it and knows how to deal with this difficult phase wisely and efficiently. "Despite all the malicious intents against Hamas, Gaza and our brave resistance, and all attempts to drag us away into directions other than our real destination, which is the resistance of the occupation…Hamas is still a difficult number in all equations and much bigger than all plots," spokesman Barhoum stated in a press release on Saturday.
The spokesman emphasized that Hamas respects its responsibilities and commitments towards its people and their just national cause and would always be in the vanguard of the battle defending them and their rights.
He added that Hamas, no matter how big the challenge and the sacrifices facing it, would never forsake its people wherever they are and would not leave them die of hunger and blockade.
8 mar 2014
Egyptian authorities will open the Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip for two days starting Sunday, a Palestinian official said.
A Gaza ministry of interior official told Ma'an Saturday that a group of Umrah pilgrims would be allowed to pass through Rafah, and that a group of pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia would be allowed to return to the Strip.
The returning pilgrims have been waiting in Egypt for several days, the official said.
The Rafah crossing has been the principal connection between Gaza's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since the imposition of an economic blockade by the State of Israel beginning in 2007.
Egypt has frequently closed the terminal since the army ousted president Mohamed Morsi in July. Hundreds of tunnels that Gazans used for years to import fuel, building materials, and other goods were also destroyed.
A Gaza ministry of interior official told Ma'an Saturday that a group of Umrah pilgrims would be allowed to pass through Rafah, and that a group of pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia would be allowed to return to the Strip.
The returning pilgrims have been waiting in Egypt for several days, the official said.
The Rafah crossing has been the principal connection between Gaza's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since the imposition of an economic blockade by the State of Israel beginning in 2007.
Egypt has frequently closed the terminal since the army ousted president Mohamed Morsi in July. Hundreds of tunnels that Gazans used for years to import fuel, building materials, and other goods were also destroyed.
Palestinian government in Gaza Strip condemned Egyptian authorities' decision to prevent solidarity women delegation's access to the besieged Strip after detaining the delegation members at Cairo International Airport then deporting them. Egyptian authorities have barred a solidarity women delegation, comprising 83 women from Arab and foreign countries, from entering Gaza Strip to mark the International Women's Day with Palestinian women in the besieged Strip.
Gaza Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mohammed Al-Madhoun condemned, on Thursday, barring access of international women delegation, led by the Algerian icon Djamila Bouhired, to Gaza to mark the International Women's Day.
He described the solidarity convoys to break the Israeli siege as the lifeline to the besieged enclave.
Gaza Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mohammed Al-Madhoun condemned, on Thursday, barring access of international women delegation, led by the Algerian icon Djamila Bouhired, to Gaza to mark the International Women's Day.
He described the solidarity convoys to break the Israeli siege as the lifeline to the besieged enclave.
7 mar 2014
Israeli occupation forces closed on Friday, a street in the village of Beit Ummar in Hebron province.
Coordinator of Popular Resistance Committee to resist wall and settlement, Mohammed Awad, said that Israeli forces closed Abu al-Touk Street adjacent to al-Quds-al-Khalil Street using cement blocks.
It's worth mentioning that this area resides 200 people and that this street is considered the only street that leads to this area.
Coordinator of Popular Resistance Committee to resist wall and settlement, Mohammed Awad, said that Israeli forces closed Abu al-Touk Street adjacent to al-Quds-al-Khalil Street using cement blocks.
It's worth mentioning that this area resides 200 people and that this street is considered the only street that leads to this area.
An Italian convoy upon arriving at the Palestinian side of Rafah crossing after being stuck in Egypt for a week
Egypt said on Thursday it stopped a delegation of women activists from reaching the Gaza Strip as it feared for their safety while travelling through the restive Sinai Peninsula. About 100 women from Europe and the United States intended to go to the Palestinian enclave through Egypt's Rafah border crossing to celebrate International Women's Day on Saturday.
But the Egyptian authorities stopped them at Cairo airport, and have already deported Northern Irish Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire and American anti-war activist Medea Benjamin who wanted to join the delegation.
On Thursday, the authorities had prevented about 45 activists, mostly from France, from entering the country, an organiser of the delegation told AFP.
Prior to travelling, the group had asked to pass through the Rafah crossing in northern Sinai, but the authorities urged them to abandon the trip, foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty said.
The group was told "the timing was not appropriate... given the current extraordinary security conditions in northern Sinai and the difficulty of ensuring the security of the activist group until they reached the Rafah crossing," he said.
On Thursday, Egyptian authorities proposed 27 of the activists be deported, but they refused as they did want to leave without the other women, the organiser said.
But Egypt allowed about 30 women to enter the country, and this group was trying to reach Gaza, the organiser said, adding the delegation was still negotiating with the authorities.
The Rafah terminal saw frequent closures since the Egyptian military deposed the freely-elected president in early July 2013.
Since then, Egypt has repeatedly closed the Rafah border crossing, leading to an extreme decline in the number of solidarity and aid delegations bound for Gaza.
A government committee report published recently marked a significant decrease in the number of aid delegations to Gaza during January and February of 2014.
Foreign ministry’s ‘Government Committee to Break the Siege’ said it received three delegations of 32 members last January.
The number of delegations decreased by 95% compared to the same period last year, where the committee received 97 delegations of 2500 supporters, the committee added.
The Rafah crossing has been the principal connection between Gaza's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since the imposition of an economic blockade by Israel beginning in 2007.
AFP contributed to this report.
Egypt said on Thursday it stopped a delegation of women activists from reaching the Gaza Strip as it feared for their safety while travelling through the restive Sinai Peninsula. About 100 women from Europe and the United States intended to go to the Palestinian enclave through Egypt's Rafah border crossing to celebrate International Women's Day on Saturday.
But the Egyptian authorities stopped them at Cairo airport, and have already deported Northern Irish Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire and American anti-war activist Medea Benjamin who wanted to join the delegation.
On Thursday, the authorities had prevented about 45 activists, mostly from France, from entering the country, an organiser of the delegation told AFP.
Prior to travelling, the group had asked to pass through the Rafah crossing in northern Sinai, but the authorities urged them to abandon the trip, foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty said.
The group was told "the timing was not appropriate... given the current extraordinary security conditions in northern Sinai and the difficulty of ensuring the security of the activist group until they reached the Rafah crossing," he said.
On Thursday, Egyptian authorities proposed 27 of the activists be deported, but they refused as they did want to leave without the other women, the organiser said.
But Egypt allowed about 30 women to enter the country, and this group was trying to reach Gaza, the organiser said, adding the delegation was still negotiating with the authorities.
The Rafah terminal saw frequent closures since the Egyptian military deposed the freely-elected president in early July 2013.
Since then, Egypt has repeatedly closed the Rafah border crossing, leading to an extreme decline in the number of solidarity and aid delegations bound for Gaza.
A government committee report published recently marked a significant decrease in the number of aid delegations to Gaza during January and February of 2014.
Foreign ministry’s ‘Government Committee to Break the Siege’ said it received three delegations of 32 members last January.
The number of delegations decreased by 95% compared to the same period last year, where the committee received 97 delegations of 2500 supporters, the committee added.
The Rafah crossing has been the principal connection between Gaza's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since the imposition of an economic blockade by Israel beginning in 2007.
AFP contributed to this report.
6 mar 2014
by Huda Julie Webb-Pullman
What the? Israel carries out ANOTHER blatant act of piracy in international waters? And expects the world to believe the fiction they were headed for Gaza? A country under Israeli naval blockade for the last seven years???
Even the BB boys Bush and Blair managed better Words of Mass Deception than THAT!
Of course it is AIPAC week, so we can expect a series of attention-seeking missiles across the bows to distract the public from the spectacle of servility and sycophancy assaulting our senses from Washington. But a freaking great shipload of M302’s to go where even Gaza’s fishermen fear to row?!! I don’t think so.
Such nonsense is surpassed only by Netanyahu’s AIPAC-aired demand for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, which is neither part of the agreed negotiating terms nor even part of any recognised approach to international diplomacy. Does EVERY country have to recognise Israel as such? When and where can we all join the “Israel is a Jewish state” club? At the same time as we join the “Egypt and the Ukraine are democracies” clubs, perhaps?
Not only is it AIPAC week, but also Ukraine week, where the self-proclaimed government in Kiev just appointed dual Israeli-Ukranian citizen Igor Kolomoysky as governor of Dnepropetrovsk. He also happens to be the third richest man in the Ukraine, which may help overcome the difficulty of governing a Ukranian region from his home in Switzerland…
And Cairo week was also a bit of a coup, with a court managingto ban the activities of Palestinian political party Hamas in Egypt. Who cares about legal niceties such as presenting evidence, or the right to mount a defence when you have enough kangaroos jumping around to keep all eyes off who is filling their pouches?
And Gaza week – well, that is every week. Forget the truce – that is only for the Palestinians. Israel assassinated two young men this week in a drone strike, in a blatant breach. And militants aren’t their only targets. From the scrap collector shot in the head to the middle-aged woman shot in the stomach, the football players shot in the legs and feet to end their potential careers, civilians are being killed and maimed daily. Since 20 December 2013, 55 Gazan civilians have been injured ON THEIR OWN SIDE OF THE BORDER by Israeli soldiers – 43 by live fire, 10 by rubber-coated metal bullets, and two hit in the head by canisters.
But that’s Israel. That’s Egypt. That’s Gaza.
Gaza, the elephant at the so-called peace talks.
Gaza, already reeling from seven years of siege and the theft of its water by Israel, now facing certain strangulation from the south.
Gaza, the Yarmouk about to happen, but from which everyone turns away.
Gaza, bordered by the magnificent Mediterranean – but which they can barely enter. Gaza, Bordered by Egypt, whose enmity has now been slammed on the tabletop, and by Israel, whose ongoing crimes speak for themselves – to a deaf world.
Gaza, land of life and love, and love of life and Allah, whatever the faction.
Gaza, between the devils and the deep blue sea.
Huda Julie Webb-Pullman is a New Zealand activist and writer who lived in Gaza for over three years. She has written on social and political justice issues for New Zealand Independent News website SCOOP since 2003, as well as for websites in Australia, Canada, the US, and Latin America, and participated in several human rights observation missions. She contributed this article to ALRAY.
What the? Israel carries out ANOTHER blatant act of piracy in international waters? And expects the world to believe the fiction they were headed for Gaza? A country under Israeli naval blockade for the last seven years???
Even the BB boys Bush and Blair managed better Words of Mass Deception than THAT!
Of course it is AIPAC week, so we can expect a series of attention-seeking missiles across the bows to distract the public from the spectacle of servility and sycophancy assaulting our senses from Washington. But a freaking great shipload of M302’s to go where even Gaza’s fishermen fear to row?!! I don’t think so.
Such nonsense is surpassed only by Netanyahu’s AIPAC-aired demand for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, which is neither part of the agreed negotiating terms nor even part of any recognised approach to international diplomacy. Does EVERY country have to recognise Israel as such? When and where can we all join the “Israel is a Jewish state” club? At the same time as we join the “Egypt and the Ukraine are democracies” clubs, perhaps?
Not only is it AIPAC week, but also Ukraine week, where the self-proclaimed government in Kiev just appointed dual Israeli-Ukranian citizen Igor Kolomoysky as governor of Dnepropetrovsk. He also happens to be the third richest man in the Ukraine, which may help overcome the difficulty of governing a Ukranian region from his home in Switzerland…
And Cairo week was also a bit of a coup, with a court managingto ban the activities of Palestinian political party Hamas in Egypt. Who cares about legal niceties such as presenting evidence, or the right to mount a defence when you have enough kangaroos jumping around to keep all eyes off who is filling their pouches?
And Gaza week – well, that is every week. Forget the truce – that is only for the Palestinians. Israel assassinated two young men this week in a drone strike, in a blatant breach. And militants aren’t their only targets. From the scrap collector shot in the head to the middle-aged woman shot in the stomach, the football players shot in the legs and feet to end their potential careers, civilians are being killed and maimed daily. Since 20 December 2013, 55 Gazan civilians have been injured ON THEIR OWN SIDE OF THE BORDER by Israeli soldiers – 43 by live fire, 10 by rubber-coated metal bullets, and two hit in the head by canisters.
But that’s Israel. That’s Egypt. That’s Gaza.
Gaza, the elephant at the so-called peace talks.
Gaza, already reeling from seven years of siege and the theft of its water by Israel, now facing certain strangulation from the south.
Gaza, the Yarmouk about to happen, but from which everyone turns away.
Gaza, bordered by the magnificent Mediterranean – but which they can barely enter. Gaza, Bordered by Egypt, whose enmity has now been slammed on the tabletop, and by Israel, whose ongoing crimes speak for themselves – to a deaf world.
Gaza, land of life and love, and love of life and Allah, whatever the faction.
Gaza, between the devils and the deep blue sea.
Huda Julie Webb-Pullman is a New Zealand activist and writer who lived in Gaza for over three years. She has written on social and political justice issues for New Zealand Independent News website SCOOP since 2003, as well as for websites in Australia, Canada, the US, and Latin America, and participated in several human rights observation missions. She contributed this article to ALRAY.
Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, has lashed out at the Egyptian authorities for disallowing a group of female solidarity activists from entering Cairo Airport en route to the Gaza Strip. Barhoum described in a statement on Thursday on his Facebook page the detention of those activists at Cairo Airport as an oppressive measure.
He said that the measure represented a further step in tightening the siege on Gaza and isolating it, in addition to representing a big step backward in Egypt’s role in support of the Palestine cause in general and Gaza in particular.
The growing pressure and siege on Gaza calls for greater regional and international solidarity with the besieged enclave, Barhoum said, calling for sending sea and land convoys to Gaza and fore pressuring decision-makers worldwide to end the siege on Gaza and to alleviate the suffering of its population.
The Egyptian authorities refused to allow entry of Arab and foreign female activists into Cairo on Wednesday on their way to Gaza Strip to celebrate the international women day and to denounce the siege on the coastal enclave.
He said that the measure represented a further step in tightening the siege on Gaza and isolating it, in addition to representing a big step backward in Egypt’s role in support of the Palestine cause in general and Gaza in particular.
The growing pressure and siege on Gaza calls for greater regional and international solidarity with the besieged enclave, Barhoum said, calling for sending sea and land convoys to Gaza and fore pressuring decision-makers worldwide to end the siege on Gaza and to alleviate the suffering of its population.
The Egyptian authorities refused to allow entry of Arab and foreign female activists into Cairo on Wednesday on their way to Gaza Strip to celebrate the international women day and to denounce the siege on the coastal enclave.
Egyptian authorities have barred a solidarity women delegation, comprising 62 women from Arab and foreign countries, from having access to Gaza Strip in order to mark the International Women's Day with Palestinian women in the besieged Strip. Egyptian authorities in Cairo airport prevented a delegation of women activists from entry to the blockaded Palestinian Strip via Rafah crossing as a prelude to deport them on Thursday morning, according to Egyptian security sources.
The sources added that the women activists, led by the Algerian independence icon Djamila Bouhired, reached Cairo airport coming from France, Belgium, United States and Austria. It is expected that a number of women human rights activists will join the solidarity delegation in the coming hours.
The women activists have protested in Cairo airport against Egyptian authorities' decision to bar their access to the besieged Strip.
The French consul arrived at the airport in an attempt to convince the international activists to travel into Gaza Strip via Israeli border crossings; however they refused to do so.
Egyptian authorities also detained and deported Northern Irish Nobel Laureate and peace activist Mairead Maguire on Wednesday while on her way to visit Gaza as part of the women delegation.
Airport police have also detained and deported American anti-war activist Medea Benjamin, also part of the delegation. She told AFP her arm was broken by the policemen.
"We were taken to the detention center and questioned and held for eight hours, and were told we would not be allowed entry into Cairo and would be put on a plane," she told AFP by telephone from Britain after her expulsion.
Many international human rights activists declared their intention to join a delegation of women activists in solidarity with Palestinian women in Gaza Strip and to demand an end to the Israeli continued siege.
The sources added that the women activists, led by the Algerian independence icon Djamila Bouhired, reached Cairo airport coming from France, Belgium, United States and Austria. It is expected that a number of women human rights activists will join the solidarity delegation in the coming hours.
The women activists have protested in Cairo airport against Egyptian authorities' decision to bar their access to the besieged Strip.
The French consul arrived at the airport in an attempt to convince the international activists to travel into Gaza Strip via Israeli border crossings; however they refused to do so.
Egyptian authorities also detained and deported Northern Irish Nobel Laureate and peace activist Mairead Maguire on Wednesday while on her way to visit Gaza as part of the women delegation.
Airport police have also detained and deported American anti-war activist Medea Benjamin, also part of the delegation. She told AFP her arm was broken by the policemen.
"We were taken to the detention center and questioned and held for eight hours, and were told we would not be allowed entry into Cairo and would be put on a plane," she told AFP by telephone from Britain after her expulsion.
Many international human rights activists declared their intention to join a delegation of women activists in solidarity with Palestinian women in Gaza Strip and to demand an end to the Israeli continued siege.
Palestinian workers have organized on Wednesday a protest vigil demanding lifting Israeli ban on construction materials, and calling on the international community to put an end to the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza Strip for 8 consecutive years. The protest vigil was organized by the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions outside a building under suspended construction due to lack of building materials.
The participants held banners and chanted slogans calling for ending Israeli ban on construction materials and the ongoing siege on Gaza Strip.
MP Marwen Abu Ras stated that construction materials crisis in the besieged Strip has caused a sharp economic decline.
He called on Arab and Islamic countries to support Palestinian workers, expressing surprise at a decision by an Egyptian court against Gaza Strip in reference to classifying Hamas as "a terrorist movement".
For their part, the participant workers confirmed during the vigil that they had been facing very difficult living conditions especially during the past 6 months, calling for putting an end to their suffering.
For his part, head of the Palestine Federation of Trade Unions Sami Amassi stated that the unemployment rate in Gaza has continued to climb reaching 45% due to the continued Israeli restrictions on the besieged Strip amid an Arab and Islamic countries' silence and passive position.
Gaza's industrial zone has been significantly affected due to the continued siege, where 97% of factories and workshops have shut down, he noted, adding that 100 sewing factories were closed, which led to thousands of jobless workers in Gaza.
The participants held banners and chanted slogans calling for ending Israeli ban on construction materials and the ongoing siege on Gaza Strip.
MP Marwen Abu Ras stated that construction materials crisis in the besieged Strip has caused a sharp economic decline.
He called on Arab and Islamic countries to support Palestinian workers, expressing surprise at a decision by an Egyptian court against Gaza Strip in reference to classifying Hamas as "a terrorist movement".
For their part, the participant workers confirmed during the vigil that they had been facing very difficult living conditions especially during the past 6 months, calling for putting an end to their suffering.
For his part, head of the Palestine Federation of Trade Unions Sami Amassi stated that the unemployment rate in Gaza has continued to climb reaching 45% due to the continued Israeli restrictions on the besieged Strip amid an Arab and Islamic countries' silence and passive position.
Gaza's industrial zone has been significantly affected due to the continued siege, where 97% of factories and workshops have shut down, he noted, adding that 100 sewing factories were closed, which led to thousands of jobless workers in Gaza.
A government committee marked a significant decrease in the number of aid delegations to Gaza during January and February. In a report monitoring the movement of aid and solidarity convoys to Gaza, foreign ministry’s ‘Government Committee to Break the Siege’ said it received three delegations of 32 members last January.
The report said that the number of delegations decreased by 95% compared to the same period last year, where the committee received 97 delegations of 2500 supporters.
Alaa al-Batta, a committee official, stated in the report that the Egyptian authorities refused to allow any delegation to enter Gaza despite the diligent efforts made by the committee.
Batta called on Egyptian authorities to allow the Gaza-bound solidarity convoys into the besieged territory, stressing the need for Egypt to deal with this matter as just humanitarian.
As part of its work, ‘Government Committee to Break the Siege’ make constant contacts with international and human rights organizations to brief them on the difficult humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Gaza has been under an extreme economic blockade since 2007, exacerbated by Israel since was allowing limited quantities of construction supplies destined for international projects.
Since Egyptian military’s disposition of president Morsi in July 2013, Egypt opens the Rafah crossing only for two loose days on a 10-day basis.
The authorities used to cite security reasons for the Rafah border closure.
Applications for travel has been closed for weeks so far after the number of Gaza applicants reached 5000, according to the interior ministry.
The report said that the number of delegations decreased by 95% compared to the same period last year, where the committee received 97 delegations of 2500 supporters.
Alaa al-Batta, a committee official, stated in the report that the Egyptian authorities refused to allow any delegation to enter Gaza despite the diligent efforts made by the committee.
Batta called on Egyptian authorities to allow the Gaza-bound solidarity convoys into the besieged territory, stressing the need for Egypt to deal with this matter as just humanitarian.
As part of its work, ‘Government Committee to Break the Siege’ make constant contacts with international and human rights organizations to brief them on the difficult humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Gaza has been under an extreme economic blockade since 2007, exacerbated by Israel since was allowing limited quantities of construction supplies destined for international projects.
Since Egyptian military’s disposition of president Morsi in July 2013, Egypt opens the Rafah crossing only for two loose days on a 10-day basis.
The authorities used to cite security reasons for the Rafah border closure.
Applications for travel has been closed for weeks so far after the number of Gaza applicants reached 5000, according to the interior ministry.
3 mar 2014
Yousuf Rezqa , the political advisor to Palestinian PM in Gaza, said that the Egyptian stance towards opening the Rafah crossing is still unclear leading to aggravating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. He said in a statement to Safa Monday, “ To open Rafah crossing for three days every half month , Egypt restricts the Palestinian right of movement.”
He demanded the Egyptian Authorities to open the crossing permanently in front of Palestinian passengers, pointing out that the Egyptian intelligence and the Egyptian ambassador in Ramallah are still discussing the point.
“The political and security decision that determines opening Rafah crossing go against what is announced, however its goals are ambiguous and no one in the strip knows the real reason behind it,” he added.
He denounced the security reasons , claimed by Egypt, for closing the crossing , especially those related to Sinai, stressing that they are not the direct reason .
“The Palestinian citizen has the right of free movement under the international law,” he confirmed, adding, “ imposing the blockade on the people of a country, denying them the right of movement is illegal.
Egyptian authorities continue closing Rafah crossing for the third week in a raw, hindering the traveling of thousands of Gazans including patients and students.
He demanded the Egyptian Authorities to open the crossing permanently in front of Palestinian passengers, pointing out that the Egyptian intelligence and the Egyptian ambassador in Ramallah are still discussing the point.
“The political and security decision that determines opening Rafah crossing go against what is announced, however its goals are ambiguous and no one in the strip knows the real reason behind it,” he added.
He denounced the security reasons , claimed by Egypt, for closing the crossing , especially those related to Sinai, stressing that they are not the direct reason .
“The Palestinian citizen has the right of free movement under the international law,” he confirmed, adding, “ imposing the blockade on the people of a country, denying them the right of movement is illegal.
Egyptian authorities continue closing Rafah crossing for the third week in a raw, hindering the traveling of thousands of Gazans including patients and students.
Palestinian deputy minister of economy Hatem Oweida called on Egypt to necessarily activate the economic cooperation file with the Gaza Strip, and contribute to lifting the Gazan population out of the grinding blockade imposed on them for nearly eight years. Oweida made his remarks on Sunday in the radio program "an interview with an official" that is hosted by the ministry of information in Gaza.
"The continued Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip restricts the movements of goods, especially building materials, food supplies and medicines that has reached levels not meeting the needs of the population in the Gaza Strip," the deputy minister of economy stated.
He appealed to the international community to urgently move to end the blockade on Gaza and ensure the free movement of goods and individuals at Gaza crossings according to the international law.
The official noted that Egypt's closure of the Rafah border crossing and tunnels worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza, affirming that the Rafah tunnels had met the vital needs of the Gaza population by at least 40 percent.
"The continued Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip restricts the movements of goods, especially building materials, food supplies and medicines that has reached levels not meeting the needs of the population in the Gaza Strip," the deputy minister of economy stated.
He appealed to the international community to urgently move to end the blockade on Gaza and ensure the free movement of goods and individuals at Gaza crossings according to the international law.
The official noted that Egypt's closure of the Rafah border crossing and tunnels worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza, affirming that the Rafah tunnels had met the vital needs of the Gaza population by at least 40 percent.
The interior and national security ministry in the Gaza Strip has asked Egypt to re-open the Rafah border crossing immediately and on permanent basis. The ministry asked the Egyptian authorities in a statement on Sunday to bear its ethical and legal responsibility and not to be a partner with Israel in besieging Gaza.
It said that Cairo opened the Rafah crossing for 88 days only since June 30 last year and on separate intervals, adding that the Egyptian authorities opened the crossing for nine days only this year for humanitarian cases.
There is no logical justification for closure of the Rafah crossing, the ministry said, pointing out that Israel was retaining Beit Hanun and Karm Abu Salem crossings open almost permanently.
The ministry called on the Arab League, human rights organizations, and the world community to intervene and pressure Egypt into opening the crossing, warning that thousands were stranded due to the closure including sick people.
The Egyptian authorities have been closing the border crossing for 25 consecutive days.
It said that Cairo opened the Rafah crossing for 88 days only since June 30 last year and on separate intervals, adding that the Egyptian authorities opened the crossing for nine days only this year for humanitarian cases.
There is no logical justification for closure of the Rafah crossing, the ministry said, pointing out that Israel was retaining Beit Hanun and Karm Abu Salem crossings open almost permanently.
The ministry called on the Arab League, human rights organizations, and the world community to intervene and pressure Egypt into opening the crossing, warning that thousands were stranded due to the closure including sick people.
The Egyptian authorities have been closing the border crossing for 25 consecutive days.