23 feb 2016
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday morning tightened the blockade imposed on Qabatiya town, south of Jenin city, for the second consecutive day.
Local sources told Quds Press that the Israeli army intensified its presence on Qabatiya mounts and among olive fields in al-Hasba area, east of the town.
They added that the IOF closed all main and secondary roads to the town with dirt mounds, pointing out that every time some residents cleared these roadblocks, they were replaced by new ones by Israeli bulldozers. Consequently, violent clashes broke out between local young men and Israeli soldiers in Qabatiya today morning, according to the same sources.
In early February, the Israeli army had blockaded Qabatiya for five days, during which they embarked on raiding homes and making arrests as punitive measures against the residents after three local young men carried out a shooting and stabbing attack in Occupied Jerusalem.
However, this renewed military blockade on Qabatiya took place after another local young man was killed last Sunday by soldiers after he allegedly carried out a stabbing attack at Beita intersection in Huwara town, south of Nablus.
Local sources told Quds Press that the Israeli army intensified its presence on Qabatiya mounts and among olive fields in al-Hasba area, east of the town.
They added that the IOF closed all main and secondary roads to the town with dirt mounds, pointing out that every time some residents cleared these roadblocks, they were replaced by new ones by Israeli bulldozers. Consequently, violent clashes broke out between local young men and Israeli soldiers in Qabatiya today morning, according to the same sources.
In early February, the Israeli army had blockaded Qabatiya for five days, during which they embarked on raiding homes and making arrests as punitive measures against the residents after three local young men carried out a shooting and stabbing attack in Occupied Jerusalem.
However, this renewed military blockade on Qabatiya took place after another local young man was killed last Sunday by soldiers after he allegedly carried out a stabbing attack at Beita intersection in Huwara town, south of Nablus.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Monday closed military checkpoints around the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank.
The Israeli forces blocked traffic and conducted combing operations in Howarah town to the south of the city for the pretext of searching for a young man holding a knife.
Palestinians had to take substitute long roads to avoid the traffic jam resulted.
Israeli troops as well suddenly closed, in both directions, another military barrier in Beit Forik town to the east of Nablus for unknown reasons.
The Israeli forces blocked traffic and conducted combing operations in Howarah town to the south of the city for the pretext of searching for a young man holding a knife.
Palestinians had to take substitute long roads to avoid the traffic jam resulted.
Israeli troops as well suddenly closed, in both directions, another military barrier in Beit Forik town to the east of Nablus for unknown reasons.
21 feb 2016
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The Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, MK Tzipi Hotovely from the Likud party has recently made statements claiming that there is no Israeli occupation because “there is no Palestinian state.”
Hotovely, speaking at the Israeli parliament (Knesset) on Friday said that occupation means occupying a sovereign state and that “there was never a Palestinian state,” instead, “Jordan ruled over the territories against the law.” Hotovely continued her speech by saying that Israelis have been fighting for independence through “legal defensive wars” after they “returned to the |
land of [their] forefathers, adding that the “Palestinian narrative negates the existence of Israel.”
Hotovely concludes by saying that Israel “has the obligation to refute the industry of lies” and speak the historic truth.
This rhetoric came shortly after the extremist right wing lawmaker, Anat Berko, has said that there has never been a Palestinian state because the letter “P” does not exist in Arabic language.
These claims sparked sarcasm amongst local and international activists, since the word “Palestine” is pronounced with an “F” in both Arabic and Hebrew.
Israel, which has been established on Palestinian land in 1947, has maintained a brutal military occupation on the occupied West Bank, which included illegal settlement expansion, kidnappings, home demolitions, executions and controls the movement of Palestinians within the West Bank by placing hunderds of checkpoints between the West Bank cities and villages.
Hotovely concludes by saying that Israel “has the obligation to refute the industry of lies” and speak the historic truth.
This rhetoric came shortly after the extremist right wing lawmaker, Anat Berko, has said that there has never been a Palestinian state because the letter “P” does not exist in Arabic language.
These claims sparked sarcasm amongst local and international activists, since the word “Palestine” is pronounced with an “F” in both Arabic and Hebrew.
Israel, which has been established on Palestinian land in 1947, has maintained a brutal military occupation on the occupied West Bank, which included illegal settlement expansion, kidnappings, home demolitions, executions and controls the movement of Palestinians within the West Bank by placing hunderds of checkpoints between the West Bank cities and villages.
Israeli intelligence officers Saturday morning stopped Palestinians’ cars on Jeet town’s junction to the west of Nablus city and checked cell phones of Palestinian youths.
One of the passengers who was searched by Israeli forces told the PIC reporter that Israeli officers, in civil uniforms, targeted taxi cabs and asked for passengers’ IDs and mobile phones.
When a passenger objected to opening his private phone, the Israeli officer yielded at him and said “You, Arabs, are terrorism supporters”, he added.
One of the passengers who was searched by Israeli forces told the PIC reporter that Israeli officers, in civil uniforms, targeted taxi cabs and asked for passengers’ IDs and mobile phones.
When a passenger objected to opening his private phone, the Israeli officer yielded at him and said “You, Arabs, are terrorism supporters”, he added.
18 feb 2016
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday evening set up roadblocks during campaigns in different towns of Jenin.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the IOF closed all entrances to Sanur, southwest of Jenin, and erected barriers on the road connecting the towns of Meithalun, Jaba and Qabatiya.
The sources added that Israeli troops, deployed at the entrances to al-Azzawiya town south of Jenin, also embarked on intercepting and searching passing cars and citizens.
Meanwhile, the IOF conducted military drills on the plain of Yabad town in Jenin.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the IOF closed all entrances to Sanur, southwest of Jenin, and erected barriers on the road connecting the towns of Meithalun, Jaba and Qabatiya.
The sources added that Israeli troops, deployed at the entrances to al-Azzawiya town south of Jenin, also embarked on intercepting and searching passing cars and citizens.
Meanwhile, the IOF conducted military drills on the plain of Yabad town in Jenin.
Marah Diab 10
A 10-year-old Palestinian girl breathed her last on Wednesday morning after she could not gain access out of the blockaded Gaza Strip to receive treatment in 1948 Occupied Palestine.
Mourning his little kid, the father Abdul Halim Diab told the PIC that his child, Marah Diab, had been suffering from a renal failure for more than six years, during which she had undergone kidney flush in Gaza hospitals.
He said Marah succumbed to her illness because she was prevented from receiving treatment outside of blockaded Gaza.
The father held the Health Minister, Jawad Awad, and the head of the External Medical Treatment Department, Amira al-Hindi, responsible for the death of his daughter.
“We’d got a permission to transfer Marah to 1948 Occupied Palestine for treatment and for urgent kidney transplantation but the two officials turned blind eyes to Marah’s case, in a flagrant violation of all ethics, social norms, and humanitarian laws,” the father said.
“Had Marah not been from blockaded Gaza, things would have been quite different,” he added.
The father urged the Palestinian Authority (PA) President, Mahmoud Abbas, to take up his responsibility vis-à-vis 25 Palestinian children diagnosed with the same disease that took away Marah’s life and are hospitalized in the same medical center where she died. Video
A 10-year-old Palestinian girl breathed her last on Wednesday morning after she could not gain access out of the blockaded Gaza Strip to receive treatment in 1948 Occupied Palestine.
Mourning his little kid, the father Abdul Halim Diab told the PIC that his child, Marah Diab, had been suffering from a renal failure for more than six years, during which she had undergone kidney flush in Gaza hospitals.
He said Marah succumbed to her illness because she was prevented from receiving treatment outside of blockaded Gaza.
The father held the Health Minister, Jawad Awad, and the head of the External Medical Treatment Department, Amira al-Hindi, responsible for the death of his daughter.
“We’d got a permission to transfer Marah to 1948 Occupied Palestine for treatment and for urgent kidney transplantation but the two officials turned blind eyes to Marah’s case, in a flagrant violation of all ethics, social norms, and humanitarian laws,” the father said.
“Had Marah not been from blockaded Gaza, things would have been quite different,” he added.
The father urged the Palestinian Authority (PA) President, Mahmoud Abbas, to take up his responsibility vis-à-vis 25 Palestinian children diagnosed with the same disease that took away Marah’s life and are hospitalized in the same medical center where she died. Video
16 feb 2016
A human rights report released Monday denied Israeli claims on easing restrictions on the blockaded Gaza Strip.
A report by the Palestinian Human Rights Center on the situation of Gaza’s border-crossings in January 2016 warned of Israel’s attempts to institutionalize the siege imposed on Gaza for the 10th year running, in a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian laws.
The report kept record of ongoing restrictions on the import of basic products and goods, along with reconstruction materials.
The center also pointed out Israel’s closure of the Karem Abu Salem commercial crossing for 10 days (amounting to 32.2% of the month).
Restrictions on Gaza’s exports to the occupied West Bank and 1948 Occupied Palestine were also documented by the study. Gaza’s exports during the month of January have been estimated at 6% only of the overall export rate before June 2007, when the siege was not yet imposed.
The report documented the difficulties in Palestinians’ access out of and into blockaded Gaza via the Beit Hanun border crossing. Such Israeli restrictions blocked the movement of two million Gazans.
The center called on the international community and the parties involved in the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to immediately step in and urge the Israeli occupation to lift the siege and open the border crossings before Gaza’s stranded passengers and humanitarian cases.
A report by the Palestinian Human Rights Center on the situation of Gaza’s border-crossings in January 2016 warned of Israel’s attempts to institutionalize the siege imposed on Gaza for the 10th year running, in a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian laws.
The report kept record of ongoing restrictions on the import of basic products and goods, along with reconstruction materials.
The center also pointed out Israel’s closure of the Karem Abu Salem commercial crossing for 10 days (amounting to 32.2% of the month).
Restrictions on Gaza’s exports to the occupied West Bank and 1948 Occupied Palestine were also documented by the study. Gaza’s exports during the month of January have been estimated at 6% only of the overall export rate before June 2007, when the siege was not yet imposed.
The report documented the difficulties in Palestinians’ access out of and into blockaded Gaza via the Beit Hanun border crossing. Such Israeli restrictions blocked the movement of two million Gazans.
The center called on the international community and the parties involved in the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to immediately step in and urge the Israeli occupation to lift the siege and open the border crossings before Gaza’s stranded passengers and humanitarian cases.
The Egyptian authorities on Monday evening closed the Rafah border crossing after they opened it for three days in both directions for the travel of a limited number of passengers.
The interior ministry in Gaza said that the Egyptian side informed it of its intention to close the crossing again after it was partially and exceptionally opened for three days.
The ministry added that the Egyptian authorities on Monday refused the entry of three buses of Palestinian passengers into the country and sent them back to Gaza.
The movement of passengers at the crossing stopped yesterday after the departure of10 buses, according to the ministry.
The interior ministry in Gaza said that the Egyptian side informed it of its intention to close the crossing again after it was partially and exceptionally opened for three days.
The ministry added that the Egyptian authorities on Monday refused the entry of three buses of Palestinian passengers into the country and sent them back to Gaza.
The movement of passengers at the crossing stopped yesterday after the departure of10 buses, according to the ministry.
15 feb 2016
The Israeli authorities have revoked "hundreds" of entry permits from Gaza to Israel, a senior official in the Palestinian liaison office told Ma'an on Monday.
The official, who spoke to Ma’an on condition of anonymity, said the permits had been revoked as Gazan permit holders arrived at the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.
The revocations first began three weeks ago, the official said, adding that the Israeli authorities had not given any explanation to the permit owners.
"When Israel delivers permits to Palestinians, they make announcements about it in media, but in reality a majority of permits are revoked later," the official said. They added that more than 300 permits had been revoked in the last three weeks.
Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed that a number of permits had been revoked recently, although they would not say how many.
"Due to a decision by security forces, several entrance permits for crossings into Israel from the Gaza Strip have been rescinded due to information indicating improper use of issued permits," COGAT told Ma'an.
"The aim of this move is to prevent further abuse of permits for malicious purposes."
The body said there were more than 1,000 crossings from Gaza into Israel via the Erez crossing every day, "for the purposes of business and trade, prayers at the Temple Mount, medical treatments, academic studies abroad, and more."
COGAT added that there were 186,184 entries from Gaza into Israel throughout 2015, although it did not specify how many people this extended to.
Palestinians detained at Erez are often interrogated for several hours, sometimes for days, before they are either allowed into Israel or sent back to Gaza.
Israel has revoked entry permits for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and Gaza in the past, often during times of high tension.
The Gaza Strip has been under a crippling military blockade since Hamas took power there in 2007.
The UN has warned that unless current trends are altered, the coastal enclave could become uninhabitable for residents in just five years.
"The social, health and security-related ramifications of the high population density and overcrowding are among the factors that may render Gaza unlivable by 2020," the UN's development agency said last year.
The official, who spoke to Ma’an on condition of anonymity, said the permits had been revoked as Gazan permit holders arrived at the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.
The revocations first began three weeks ago, the official said, adding that the Israeli authorities had not given any explanation to the permit owners.
"When Israel delivers permits to Palestinians, they make announcements about it in media, but in reality a majority of permits are revoked later," the official said. They added that more than 300 permits had been revoked in the last three weeks.
Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed that a number of permits had been revoked recently, although they would not say how many.
"Due to a decision by security forces, several entrance permits for crossings into Israel from the Gaza Strip have been rescinded due to information indicating improper use of issued permits," COGAT told Ma'an.
"The aim of this move is to prevent further abuse of permits for malicious purposes."
The body said there were more than 1,000 crossings from Gaza into Israel via the Erez crossing every day, "for the purposes of business and trade, prayers at the Temple Mount, medical treatments, academic studies abroad, and more."
COGAT added that there were 186,184 entries from Gaza into Israel throughout 2015, although it did not specify how many people this extended to.
Palestinians detained at Erez are often interrogated for several hours, sometimes for days, before they are either allowed into Israel or sent back to Gaza.
Israel has revoked entry permits for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and Gaza in the past, often during times of high tension.
The Gaza Strip has been under a crippling military blockade since Hamas took power there in 2007.
The UN has warned that unless current trends are altered, the coastal enclave could become uninhabitable for residents in just five years.
"The social, health and security-related ramifications of the high population density and overcrowding are among the factors that may render Gaza unlivable by 2020," the UN's development agency said last year.
Haj and Umrah companies in the southern provinces of the Gaza Strip appealed for the revival of the season of Umrah which is about to collapse because of the continuous closure of Rafah border crossing.
In a press conference on Sunday, the firms directed their appeal to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas along with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz. Awad Abu Mathkour, head of the Haj and Umrah company society, said “all of the contracts required with Saudi Arabia to manage Umrah journeys have been prepared and we are waiting for the Rafah crossing to be opened so that the journeys can be launched to Saudi Arabia”.
He pointed out that 79 Palestinian Haj and Umrah companies are threatened with closure due to the paralysis of Umrah season. 12,000 names have been registered so far at those companies for Umrah, he pointed out. Awad said the time needed to rescue the season is a period of three months after two months have passed in vein.
The Egyptian authorities continue the closure of Rafah border crossing with Gaza before Palestinian travelers and have been preventing the Umrah journeys for two and a half months. The Rafah crossing was exceptionally opened on Saturday and Sunday.
In a press conference on Sunday, the firms directed their appeal to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas along with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz. Awad Abu Mathkour, head of the Haj and Umrah company society, said “all of the contracts required with Saudi Arabia to manage Umrah journeys have been prepared and we are waiting for the Rafah crossing to be opened so that the journeys can be launched to Saudi Arabia”.
He pointed out that 79 Palestinian Haj and Umrah companies are threatened with closure due to the paralysis of Umrah season. 12,000 names have been registered so far at those companies for Umrah, he pointed out. Awad said the time needed to rescue the season is a period of three months after two months have passed in vein.
The Egyptian authorities continue the closure of Rafah border crossing with Gaza before Palestinian travelers and have been preventing the Umrah journeys for two and a half months. The Rafah crossing was exceptionally opened on Saturday and Sunday.
Mousa Abu Marzouk, member of Hamas political bureau, said “Israel is the only party that benefits from sabotaging the security of Sinai and imposing siege on Gaza”.
Talking to Quds Press, Abu Marzouk called on the Egyptians as well as the Palestinians not to give the Israelis a chance for that. “Gaza Strip is suffering from the closure of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in light of the absence of security in Sinai”, he elaborated.
He pointed out that the areas of Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid, Arish and Bir al-Abed attract residents, but the lack of security prevented citizens from inhabiting them.
Talking to Quds Press, Abu Marzouk called on the Egyptians as well as the Palestinians not to give the Israelis a chance for that. “Gaza Strip is suffering from the closure of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in light of the absence of security in Sinai”, he elaborated.
He pointed out that the areas of Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid, Arish and Bir al-Abed attract residents, but the lack of security prevented citizens from inhabiting them.
The Egyptian authorities announced their intent to extend the opening of the Rafah border crossing, in southern Gaza, for another day.
Palestinian news outlets quoted a well-informed source from the border crossing committee as stating that the Egyptian side decided to keep the Rafah crossing open on Monday so as to allow stranded passengers and humanitarian cases access out of the blockaded Gaza Strip.
The Egyptian authorities on Saturday morning denied 54 Palestinians access out of the blockaded Gaza Strip via the Rafah border-crossing, while 595 passengers passed through.
The Egyptian authorities had been blocking Palestinians’ access out of the Rafah crossing for 70 days running, preventing sick passengers, students, and merchants from getting out of the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Palestinian news outlets quoted a well-informed source from the border crossing committee as stating that the Egyptian side decided to keep the Rafah crossing open on Monday so as to allow stranded passengers and humanitarian cases access out of the blockaded Gaza Strip.
The Egyptian authorities on Saturday morning denied 54 Palestinians access out of the blockaded Gaza Strip via the Rafah border-crossing, while 595 passengers passed through.
The Egyptian authorities had been blocking Palestinians’ access out of the Rafah crossing for 70 days running, preventing sick passengers, students, and merchants from getting out of the blockaded Gaza Strip.
14 feb 2016
The Egyptian authorities on Saturday morning denied 54 Palestinians access out of the blockaded Gaza Strip via the Rafah border-crossing, while 595 passengers passed through the crossing.
The border-crossings committee said in a statement: “The Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah crossing after they had kept it closed for 70 days before Palestinian passengers.”
Over 25,000 Palestinian passengers, registered in lists made by the Interior Ministry, have been awaiting Egypt’s permission to pass through the Rafah border crossing.
The Egyptian authorities had been blocking Palestinians’ access out of the Rafah crossing for 70 days running, preventing sick passengers, students, and merchants from getting out of the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Interior ministry calls on Egypt to extend opening of Rafah crossing
The Palestinian ministry of interior has appealed to the Egyptian authorities to extend the opening of the Rafah border crossing for additional days to allow the travel of more passengers. Spokesman for the ministry Iyad al-Bazam stated on his Facebook page that there still thousands of people with humanitarian cases who direly need to cross into Egypt.
"Closing the crossing today means that the suffering of about 24,000 people with humanitarian cases will continue to exist, and this will pose a threat to the lives of patients, and the future of students and holders of residence permits and foreign passports," Bazam stated.
He expressed hope that the Egyptian leadership would consider the difficult humanitarian conditions in Gaza and extend the opening of the crossing. The Egyptian authorities opened on Saturday the Rafah crossing for two days for the first time since the start of the current year.
Haneyya urges Egypt to open Rafah crossing permanently
Deputy head of Hamas's political bureau Ismail Haneyya has called on the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah border crossing permanently. "There are thousands of people on waiting lists, and we hope that the crossing can always remain open," Haneyya stated on Saturday.
"We are open to any initiative that would end the tragedy of the continued closure of the Rafah crossing," he said. However, the Hamas official expressed his thanks to the Egyptian authorities for opening the crossing for two days and allowing the travel of citizens with humanitarian cases.
He reiterated that his Movement in Gaza has no security or military involvement in events happening in Egypt or any other country and does not interfere in others' affairs.
Haneyya also appealed to the Egyptian authorities to work on getting back the four Palestinians who had been kidnapped in August last year from a passenger bus near the Rafah crossing and ending the suffering of their families.
The border-crossings committee said in a statement: “The Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah crossing after they had kept it closed for 70 days before Palestinian passengers.”
Over 25,000 Palestinian passengers, registered in lists made by the Interior Ministry, have been awaiting Egypt’s permission to pass through the Rafah border crossing.
The Egyptian authorities had been blocking Palestinians’ access out of the Rafah crossing for 70 days running, preventing sick passengers, students, and merchants from getting out of the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Interior ministry calls on Egypt to extend opening of Rafah crossing
The Palestinian ministry of interior has appealed to the Egyptian authorities to extend the opening of the Rafah border crossing for additional days to allow the travel of more passengers. Spokesman for the ministry Iyad al-Bazam stated on his Facebook page that there still thousands of people with humanitarian cases who direly need to cross into Egypt.
"Closing the crossing today means that the suffering of about 24,000 people with humanitarian cases will continue to exist, and this will pose a threat to the lives of patients, and the future of students and holders of residence permits and foreign passports," Bazam stated.
He expressed hope that the Egyptian leadership would consider the difficult humanitarian conditions in Gaza and extend the opening of the crossing. The Egyptian authorities opened on Saturday the Rafah crossing for two days for the first time since the start of the current year.
Haneyya urges Egypt to open Rafah crossing permanently
Deputy head of Hamas's political bureau Ismail Haneyya has called on the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah border crossing permanently. "There are thousands of people on waiting lists, and we hope that the crossing can always remain open," Haneyya stated on Saturday.
"We are open to any initiative that would end the tragedy of the continued closure of the Rafah crossing," he said. However, the Hamas official expressed his thanks to the Egyptian authorities for opening the crossing for two days and allowing the travel of citizens with humanitarian cases.
He reiterated that his Movement in Gaza has no security or military involvement in events happening in Egypt or any other country and does not interfere in others' affairs.
Haneyya also appealed to the Egyptian authorities to work on getting back the four Palestinians who had been kidnapped in August last year from a passenger bus near the Rafah crossing and ending the suffering of their families.
Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) barred 30 Palestinians from travelling abroad via al-Karamah crossing which is the only pathway for Palestinians in the West Bank to the world through Jordan.
Palestinian police in Ramallah said, in a press statement on Saturday, that Israeli authorities barred 30 Palestinians from travel under the pretext of security purposes.
Israeli authorities impose tightened restrictions on Palestinians who travel outside of the West Bank especially the families of prisoners and martyrs and ban most of them from travel.
Palestinian police in Ramallah said, in a press statement on Saturday, that Israeli authorities barred 30 Palestinians from travel under the pretext of security purposes.
Israeli authorities impose tightened restrictions on Palestinians who travel outside of the West Bank especially the families of prisoners and martyrs and ban most of them from travel.
