22 feb 2019
A Palestinian lady was transferred to a hospital for urgent treatment shortly after heavily-armed Israeli forces cordoned off the southern occupied West Bank city of al-Khalil and wreaked havoc on Palestinian homes.
Local sources said Israeli soldiers ransacked civilian homes in al-Khalil, including the home of Palestinian citizen Mutassem al-Natsha.
The latter’s wife was rushed to a local hospital as a result of the panic wrought by the arbitrary assault.
At the same time, Israeli troops rolled into Dura town, to the south of al-Khalil, and ravaged Palestinian ex-prisoners’ homes.
Ex-prisoner Bassam al-Zeir said a full-armed patrol broke into his family home in Wad Abu al-Kamra neighborhood and forced the residents out, before they smashed the property and entrance gates.
The occupation forces further sealed off the access roads to the city with a set of flying military checkpoints, where Palestinian drivers and civilians have been made to endure exhaustive inspection.
Local sources said Israeli soldiers ransacked civilian homes in al-Khalil, including the home of Palestinian citizen Mutassem al-Natsha.
The latter’s wife was rushed to a local hospital as a result of the panic wrought by the arbitrary assault.
At the same time, Israeli troops rolled into Dura town, to the south of al-Khalil, and ravaged Palestinian ex-prisoners’ homes.
Ex-prisoner Bassam al-Zeir said a full-armed patrol broke into his family home in Wad Abu al-Kamra neighborhood and forced the residents out, before they smashed the property and entrance gates.
The occupation forces further sealed off the access roads to the city with a set of flying military checkpoints, where Palestinian drivers and civilians have been made to endure exhaustive inspection.
18 feb 2019
UNRWA on Sunday said that about 1.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are suffering from food insecurity.
UNRWA said in a monthly report for January 2019 that the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip led to high levels of unemployment and low purchasing power.
Over 68% of Gaza families are suffering from poverty and food insecurity, according to the report.
In another context, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the large number of victims among Palestinian demonstrators in the Great March of Return did not pose any threat to Israel.
"This raises serious concerns over the excessive use of force by Israel and continues to cause enormous pressure on the health system in Gaza, including the health services provided by UNRWA," OCHA said.
OCHA pointed out that 20% of those injured in the Great March of Return are children, confirming the death of 13 students from UNRWA schools in the protests.
UNRWA said that the 12-year-long Israeli blockade is illegal under international law and is a form of collective punishment which threatens the continuation of life-saving services in the Gaza Strip.
The UN agency added that 39% of the patients applying for permits were unable to leave the Gaza Strip through Erez crossing to complete their treatment outside the enclave.
UNRWA said in a monthly report for January 2019 that the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip led to high levels of unemployment and low purchasing power.
Over 68% of Gaza families are suffering from poverty and food insecurity, according to the report.
In another context, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the large number of victims among Palestinian demonstrators in the Great March of Return did not pose any threat to Israel.
"This raises serious concerns over the excessive use of force by Israel and continues to cause enormous pressure on the health system in Gaza, including the health services provided by UNRWA," OCHA said.
OCHA pointed out that 20% of those injured in the Great March of Return are children, confirming the death of 13 students from UNRWA schools in the protests.
UNRWA said that the 12-year-long Israeli blockade is illegal under international law and is a form of collective punishment which threatens the continuation of life-saving services in the Gaza Strip.
The UN agency added that 39% of the patients applying for permits were unable to leave the Gaza Strip through Erez crossing to complete their treatment outside the enclave.
17 feb 2019
A Palestinian security source in the Gaza Strip revealed on Saturday that the security forces confiscated a shipment of military boots containing GPS tracking microchips after searching a cargo truck at the Karam Abu Salem border crossing.
The source explained, on condition of anonymity, that a Gaza-bound truck laden with military boots arrived at the Abu Salem crossing a few days ago, but the security authorities on the Palestinian side searched the shipment and found out the tracking chips stashed inside the shoes.
He added that the seized shoes looked very similar to the ones used by members of the resistance factions in Gaza, affirming that it was highly likely the Israeli intelligence was behind this shipment.
The source explained, on condition of anonymity, that a Gaza-bound truck laden with military boots arrived at the Abu Salem crossing a few days ago, but the security authorities on the Palestinian side searched the shipment and found out the tracking chips stashed inside the shoes.
He added that the seized shoes looked very similar to the ones used by members of the resistance factions in Gaza, affirming that it was highly likely the Israeli intelligence was behind this shipment.
15 feb 2019
The head of the UN Antonio Guterres urged Israel on Friday to remove restrictions on Palestinian freedom of movement.
This came during the inaugural meeting of a UN committee focused on Palestinian rights in New York.
"I urge Israel to lift restrictions on the movement of people and goods, which also hamper the efforts of the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies, without naturally jeopardizing legitimate security concerns," Guterres said.
He pointed out that 2 million Palestinians "remain mired in increasing poverty and unemployment, with limited access to adequate health, education, water and electricity.
"Palestinians have endured more than a half-century of occupation and denial of their legitimate right to self-determination," he said. "Young people see little prospect of a better future."
The UN head took further issue with Israel's continued development of settlements in the occupied West Bank, emphasizing they are illegal under international law and are encroaching further into the region.
"They deepen the sense of mistrust and undermine the two-State solution," he said, referring to the long-sought but never realized aspiration to establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
This came during the inaugural meeting of a UN committee focused on Palestinian rights in New York.
"I urge Israel to lift restrictions on the movement of people and goods, which also hamper the efforts of the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies, without naturally jeopardizing legitimate security concerns," Guterres said.
He pointed out that 2 million Palestinians "remain mired in increasing poverty and unemployment, with limited access to adequate health, education, water and electricity.
"Palestinians have endured more than a half-century of occupation and denial of their legitimate right to self-determination," he said. "Young people see little prospect of a better future."
The UN head took further issue with Israel's continued development of settlements in the occupied West Bank, emphasizing they are illegal under international law and are encroaching further into the region.
"They deepen the sense of mistrust and undermine the two-State solution," he said, referring to the long-sought but never realized aspiration to establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
14 feb 2019
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Thursday at dawn, several areas in the central West Bank governorate of Ramallah, and abducted eight Palestinians, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has confirmed.
The PPS said several army jeeps invaded Kufur Ni’ma village, west of Ramallah, searched and ransacked many homes, before abducting Suleiman Sa’da, Mohammad Abul-‘Al, Nafez Abdul-‘Al, Jabr Ibrahim al-‘Anani and Fadi Abu ‘Aadi.
It added that the soldiers conducted extensive and violent searches of homes in the village, and illegally confiscated cash from the home of a former political prisoner, identified as Rashad Ahmad Za’rour.
In addition, the soldiers also invaded and searched homes in the al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, before abducting Qussai Hmeidat, Yousef Zobeidi and Ibrahim Nasr Zobeidi.
In related news, the soldiers installed two roadblocks on the Jenin-Nablus road, and near Barta’a village, southwest of Jenin, in northern West Bank, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and interrogated scores of Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
The PPS said several army jeeps invaded Kufur Ni’ma village, west of Ramallah, searched and ransacked many homes, before abducting Suleiman Sa’da, Mohammad Abul-‘Al, Nafez Abdul-‘Al, Jabr Ibrahim al-‘Anani and Fadi Abu ‘Aadi.
It added that the soldiers conducted extensive and violent searches of homes in the village, and illegally confiscated cash from the home of a former political prisoner, identified as Rashad Ahmad Za’rour.
In addition, the soldiers also invaded and searched homes in the al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, before abducting Qussai Hmeidat, Yousef Zobeidi and Ibrahim Nasr Zobeidi.
In related news, the soldiers installed two roadblocks on the Jenin-Nablus road, and near Barta’a village, southwest of Jenin, in northern West Bank, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and interrogated scores of Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
12 feb 2019
The Israeli occupation forces on Monday evening closed off the main access road between Ramallah and al-Jalazoun with an iron gate, blocking Palestinians’ free access out of and into the area.
According to local sources, the Israeli military closed off the Ramallah-Jalazoun thoroughfare, in the central occupied West Bank, at nightfall and prevented Palestinians from passing through the area.
Dozens of Palestinian vehicles lined up in the street, attempting to reach their destinations via the closed thoroughfare.
According to local sources, the Israeli military closed off the Ramallah-Jalazoun thoroughfare, in the central occupied West Bank, at nightfall and prevented Palestinians from passing through the area.
Dozens of Palestinian vehicles lined up in the street, attempting to reach their destinations via the closed thoroughfare.
10 feb 2019
The Israeli police on Saturday evening arrested a Palestinian child and young man in Qalandia refugee camp in Occupied Jerusalem.
A local source said that the Israeli police kidnapped Mohammed Aslan, 16, and Abdulmalek Abu Latifa, 19, at Qalandia checkpoint.
Meanwhile, groups of Israeli settlers launched rock-throwing attacks on Palestinian vehicles in Ras Karkar village in Ramallah.
Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli forces imposed a closure on the area following the settler attack.
A local source said that the Israeli police kidnapped Mohammed Aslan, 16, and Abdulmalek Abu Latifa, 19, at Qalandia checkpoint.
Meanwhile, groups of Israeli settlers launched rock-throwing attacks on Palestinian vehicles in Ras Karkar village in Ramallah.
Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli forces imposed a closure on the area following the settler attack.
7 feb 2019
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday evening kidnapped a Palestinian citizen in al-Khalil and set up makeshift checkpoints in other areas of the West Bank.
According to local sources, Israeli soldiers kidnapped Imad Abu Samra, from Yatta city, and appropriated his car and money he was carrying with him.
In a separate incident, the IOF set up a checkpoint at the junction of Beit Einun, north of al-Khalil, and embarked on intercepting and searching passing vehicles.
The IOF also intensified its presence and deployed several road barriers in different areas of southern Jenin, where soldiers stopped cars and interrogated passengers.
According to local sources, Israeli soldiers kidnapped Imad Abu Samra, from Yatta city, and appropriated his car and money he was carrying with him.
In a separate incident, the IOF set up a checkpoint at the junction of Beit Einun, north of al-Khalil, and embarked on intercepting and searching passing vehicles.
The IOF also intensified its presence and deployed several road barriers in different areas of southern Jenin, where soldiers stopped cars and interrogated passengers.
3 feb 2019
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Sunday the construction of a new overground barrier around Gaza Strip.
The construction works have been started on Thursday, Israel Hayom paper quoted Netanyahu as saying. The overground section will be 65 kilometers (40 miles) long and will be six meters (20 feet) high.
"The border is uniquely suited to the threats from the Gaza Strip and will give a comprehensive solution to preventing entry into Israel," Netanyahu, who also heads the Army Ministry, claimed.
The construction works have been started on Thursday, Israel Hayom paper quoted Netanyahu as saying. The overground section will be 65 kilometers (40 miles) long and will be six meters (20 feet) high.
"The border is uniquely suited to the threats from the Gaza Strip and will give a comprehensive solution to preventing entry into Israel," Netanyahu, who also heads the Army Ministry, claimed.
29 jan 2019
Gaza's Ministry of Interior and National Security on Monday evening announced that Rafah crossing will be opened in both directions on Tuesday, as informed by the Egyptian authorities.
The Gaza-Egypt terminal has not been opened since the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority pulled its employees from the crossing on 6 January.
The Palestinian factions rejected the move and described it as a "blow to the Egyptian efforts to achieve reconciliation."
The Palestinian Authority in early November 2017 was officially handed over the control over Gaza crossings in accordance with a Hamas-Fatah agreement signed in Cairo at the time.
The Gaza-Egypt terminal has not been opened since the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority pulled its employees from the crossing on 6 January.
The Palestinian factions rejected the move and described it as a "blow to the Egyptian efforts to achieve reconciliation."
The Palestinian Authority in early November 2017 was officially handed over the control over Gaza crossings in accordance with a Hamas-Fatah agreement signed in Cairo at the time.
28 jan 2019
Israeli forces set up several checkpoints at all the entrances of the northern occupied West Bank city of Qalqiliya, on Monday afternoon.
A Ma'an reporter said that Israeli forces set up checkpoints at the eastern and southern entrances of Qaliqliya, another checkpoint on the northern entrance of Azzun and another on the entrance of Izbat al-Tabib.
Israeli forces also installed an iron gate at the main road near the Zawata town in the northern West Bank district of Nablus; Palestinian security sources said that Israeli forces set up an iron gate at the main road between Zawata and Ijnisinya towns.
A Ma'an reporter said that Israeli forces set up checkpoints at the eastern and southern entrances of Qaliqliya, another checkpoint on the northern entrance of Azzun and another on the entrance of Izbat al-Tabib.
Israeli forces also installed an iron gate at the main road near the Zawata town in the northern West Bank district of Nablus; Palestinian security sources said that Israeli forces set up an iron gate at the main road between Zawata and Ijnisinya towns.
27 jan 2019
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip on Saturday condemned the humanitarian organizations' continued neglect of Gaza hospitals' urgent need for fuel.
The Ministry warned of "imminent paralysis" in the health sector due to the worsening crisis.
Spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qedra, said in a press statement that the current situation requires an immediate and responsible action by humanitarian organizations to save the lives of hundreds of patients and children.
"The fuel grant supervised by the UN ended in November 2018, and no other grant has been allocated to the hospitals yet," al-Qedra said.
Al-Qedra pointed out that the Ministry of Health has taken tough austerity measures to manage the acute fuel shortage mainly through the use of small power generators and rescheduled services. However, the crisis is worsening, and soon these measures will become useless, he added.
He added that Gaza health facilities now need 300,000 liters of diesel per month, instead of the usual 540,000 liters, in view of the improvement witnessed in the electricity distribution schedule recently thanks to the Qatari fuel grant.
"With every additional hour of power outage we need about 2,000 liters of fuel to ensure the continuation of our health services," the Ministry of Health said.
The Ministry praised the fuel aid offered by the Turkish foundation IHH, Advocacy Committee in Jordan, and some local gas stations to several health facilities in Gaza.
It stressed that individual initiatives are highly appreciated but unfortunately they are not enough.
Five Gaza major hospitals a few days ago closed their doors following the depletion of the fuel used to run alternative generators during power outages.
The Ministry warned of "imminent paralysis" in the health sector due to the worsening crisis.
Spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qedra, said in a press statement that the current situation requires an immediate and responsible action by humanitarian organizations to save the lives of hundreds of patients and children.
"The fuel grant supervised by the UN ended in November 2018, and no other grant has been allocated to the hospitals yet," al-Qedra said.
Al-Qedra pointed out that the Ministry of Health has taken tough austerity measures to manage the acute fuel shortage mainly through the use of small power generators and rescheduled services. However, the crisis is worsening, and soon these measures will become useless, he added.
He added that Gaza health facilities now need 300,000 liters of diesel per month, instead of the usual 540,000 liters, in view of the improvement witnessed in the electricity distribution schedule recently thanks to the Qatari fuel grant.
"With every additional hour of power outage we need about 2,000 liters of fuel to ensure the continuation of our health services," the Ministry of Health said.
The Ministry praised the fuel aid offered by the Turkish foundation IHH, Advocacy Committee in Jordan, and some local gas stations to several health facilities in Gaza.
It stressed that individual initiatives are highly appreciated but unfortunately they are not enough.
Five Gaza major hospitals a few days ago closed their doors following the depletion of the fuel used to run alternative generators during power outages.
