23 may 2019
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has allowed the Palestinian Authority security forces to receive US-funded armored vehicles from Jordan and announced it prevented shipments of child balloons from entering the Gaza Strip.
According to Israel’s channel 12, the Israeli authorities in Ashdod port obtained information from security officials about the presence of shipments of about one million balloons intended for Gaza.
The IOA claimed the balloons would have been used by groups in Gaza to launch arson and explosive attacks on Israeli areas, adding that a man was exploiting his Israeli nationality to evade security checks on the shipments he was intending to export to Gaza.
Meanwhile, the IOA allowed the PA to receive new military vehicles for its security forces in the West Bank to use them in their campaigns against Palestinian citizens and to protect Israel’s security and citizens.
The vehicles were funded by the US but equipped and armored in Jordan, where PA security elements were trained to drive and use them.
According to Israel’s channel 12, the Israeli authorities in Ashdod port obtained information from security officials about the presence of shipments of about one million balloons intended for Gaza.
The IOA claimed the balloons would have been used by groups in Gaza to launch arson and explosive attacks on Israeli areas, adding that a man was exploiting his Israeli nationality to evade security checks on the shipments he was intending to export to Gaza.
Meanwhile, the IOA allowed the PA to receive new military vehicles for its security forces in the West Bank to use them in their campaigns against Palestinian citizens and to protect Israel’s security and citizens.
The vehicles were funded by the US but equipped and armored in Jordan, where PA security elements were trained to drive and use them.
by Haneen Abed Elnaby
“No one knows what the next day will be like. Hope is the only thing that keeps me moving forward. Coping with cancer is only possible when I take it one day at a time, and value the present.”
Those are the words of my Aunt Hanan, 55 years young. And, she was diagnosed with breast, ovarian and colon cancer—all at the same time. Since the colon cancer is advanced (stage IV), she likely won’t live more than three to five years—and, that is with proper treatment. She has a strong will to live, though, and knowing my aunt, she can beat the odds. (Her name means “tenderness,” but she has a will of steel.) But, she needs help, fast. I want to believe in miracles. And, so, I share her story:
I have 11 aunts (yes, you read that correctly!), but Aunt Hanan is my favorite. Part of the reason, of course, is that two of her daughters are my best friends, so I spend a lot of time in their home. But, it’s more than that. At night, when I am there, I burrow into bed with my cousins and she tucks us in, sitting down beside us like when we were children. She tells us stories from the Quran, and her low, soothing, melodic voice—strong with confidence and conviction—filled me with a deep sense of peace, lulling me off to sleep. I treasured my nights, there.
But, my aunt’s entire world—and thus mine—changed in December, 2015, when a routine colonoscopy found a tumor that turned out to be cancerous. Three weeks later, she was in the operating theater, to remove the tumor, when cancer was found on one of her ovaries, as well. Then, the physicians found the beginnings of cancer in her left breast.
It came as a shock to everyone, me included. Imagine that a woman who is as close to you as your mom is drowning and tries to catch your hand. You frantically reach out, trying to save her, but your effort is in vain. That is exactly how I felt.
For the next three years, my aunt received 30 doses of chemotherapy; the only time when she wasn’t having those toxic chemicals injected into her veins was about five months when Israel refused to let her travel out of Gaza. (According to the World Health Organization, nuclear medicine scanning, which is needed for staging cancers, radiotherapy equipment and some specialized surgeries are unavailable in Gaza. As for chemotherapy, more than half of the needed drugs dropped to less than a month’s supply, throughout 2018.)
Many patients are forced to leave Gaza, to get the care they need. But, 39 percent of applications for exit permits were unsuccessful, last year. For some, their health spirals downward before then, even resulting in death. Yet, Israel never offers a reason for its delays and denials.
“No one knows what the next day will be like. Hope is the only thing that keeps me moving forward. Coping with cancer is only possible when I take it one day at a time, and value the present.”
Those are the words of my Aunt Hanan, 55 years young. And, she was diagnosed with breast, ovarian and colon cancer—all at the same time. Since the colon cancer is advanced (stage IV), she likely won’t live more than three to five years—and, that is with proper treatment. She has a strong will to live, though, and knowing my aunt, she can beat the odds. (Her name means “tenderness,” but she has a will of steel.) But, she needs help, fast. I want to believe in miracles. And, so, I share her story:
I have 11 aunts (yes, you read that correctly!), but Aunt Hanan is my favorite. Part of the reason, of course, is that two of her daughters are my best friends, so I spend a lot of time in their home. But, it’s more than that. At night, when I am there, I burrow into bed with my cousins and she tucks us in, sitting down beside us like when we were children. She tells us stories from the Quran, and her low, soothing, melodic voice—strong with confidence and conviction—filled me with a deep sense of peace, lulling me off to sleep. I treasured my nights, there.
But, my aunt’s entire world—and thus mine—changed in December, 2015, when a routine colonoscopy found a tumor that turned out to be cancerous. Three weeks later, she was in the operating theater, to remove the tumor, when cancer was found on one of her ovaries, as well. Then, the physicians found the beginnings of cancer in her left breast.
It came as a shock to everyone, me included. Imagine that a woman who is as close to you as your mom is drowning and tries to catch your hand. You frantically reach out, trying to save her, but your effort is in vain. That is exactly how I felt.
For the next three years, my aunt received 30 doses of chemotherapy; the only time when she wasn’t having those toxic chemicals injected into her veins was about five months when Israel refused to let her travel out of Gaza. (According to the World Health Organization, nuclear medicine scanning, which is needed for staging cancers, radiotherapy equipment and some specialized surgeries are unavailable in Gaza. As for chemotherapy, more than half of the needed drugs dropped to less than a month’s supply, throughout 2018.)
Many patients are forced to leave Gaza, to get the care they need. But, 39 percent of applications for exit permits were unsuccessful, last year. For some, their health spirals downward before then, even resulting in death. Yet, Israel never offers a reason for its delays and denials.
“The challenges we as doctors face are many,” says Dr. Rasmi Qishta, her physician. “For example, we often lack the right medicines. Sometimes, we are able to start to give a patient a course of treatment, but then run short.
The gap affects patients in a very bad way. We also have no access to radiation therapy or atomic scanning equipment. That’s important to help us figure out exactly where the carcinoma is located. Likewise, in Gaza, we don’t have the tools to study cancer cells to determine the right way to fight them. As a result, we must send many patients to Jerusalem. That’s assuming they can get an exit permit.”
Chemotherapy was not enough for my aunt. Last year, she received the news that, in addition to her ovaries, part of her colon had to be removed. And, that meant she needed a colostomy, in which the lower part of her intestine is replaced by a bag for collecting waste, worn on the outside of her body.
“When I lost my hair during chemotherapy, I was ok,” says my aunt. “But, the colostomy is hard; the skin around the (exit) tube is painful most of the time. And, it’s not temporary; I have to live with it.”
A colostomy, also, is not cheap. While the local Ministry of Health gives cancer patients colostomy bags free, every month, they are of poor quality, leaving the skin even more sore than usual. Thus, my aunt buys her own bags, which cost 70 shekels (about $20) each. She requires 30 every month, totaling $600. That’s in addition to other expenses, such as the medicine.
Even with a loving family and a crowd of friends, cancer is lonely. Very lonely. No matter how strong and deep your support system, cancer is a journey that must be taken alone. Still, I fight against that.
I have talked to her doctor many times, asking what can be done.
“Her case is very complicated, since cancer is spreading throughout her body,” says Dr. Qishta.
Hope is all we have and all we seek. That, and the money needed to afford the treatment to help her stay comfortable.
~We Are Not Numbers/Days of Palestine
The gap affects patients in a very bad way. We also have no access to radiation therapy or atomic scanning equipment. That’s important to help us figure out exactly where the carcinoma is located. Likewise, in Gaza, we don’t have the tools to study cancer cells to determine the right way to fight them. As a result, we must send many patients to Jerusalem. That’s assuming they can get an exit permit.”
Chemotherapy was not enough for my aunt. Last year, she received the news that, in addition to her ovaries, part of her colon had to be removed. And, that meant she needed a colostomy, in which the lower part of her intestine is replaced by a bag for collecting waste, worn on the outside of her body.
“When I lost my hair during chemotherapy, I was ok,” says my aunt. “But, the colostomy is hard; the skin around the (exit) tube is painful most of the time. And, it’s not temporary; I have to live with it.”
A colostomy, also, is not cheap. While the local Ministry of Health gives cancer patients colostomy bags free, every month, they are of poor quality, leaving the skin even more sore than usual. Thus, my aunt buys her own bags, which cost 70 shekels (about $20) each. She requires 30 every month, totaling $600. That’s in addition to other expenses, such as the medicine.
Even with a loving family and a crowd of friends, cancer is lonely. Very lonely. No matter how strong and deep your support system, cancer is a journey that must be taken alone. Still, I fight against that.
I have talked to her doctor many times, asking what can be done.
“Her case is very complicated, since cancer is spreading throughout her body,” says Dr. Qishta.
Hope is all we have and all we seek. That, and the money needed to afford the treatment to help her stay comfortable.
~We Are Not Numbers/Days of Palestine
21 may 2019
The Israeli occupation announced Tuesday that it extended the permitted fishing zone around the Gaza Strip to 15 nautical miles (27.8 kilometers) as part of its understandings with the Egyptian mediators to alleviate the siege on the coastal enclave.
Quds Press quoted a Palestinian liaison officer as saying that the Israeli occupation authority informed the Palestinian side of its intention to extend the fishing zone to 15 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza as of 06:00 am on Tuesday.
The Israeli navy finished deploying buoys during the past two days to mark the permitted fishing areas off the coast of Gaza.
Quds Press quoted a Palestinian liaison officer as saying that the Israeli occupation authority informed the Palestinian side of its intention to extend the fishing zone to 15 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza as of 06:00 am on Tuesday.
The Israeli navy finished deploying buoys during the past two days to mark the permitted fishing areas off the coast of Gaza.
19 may 2019
A 5-year old Palestinian child from Gaza who was finally allowed permission to travel to Jerusalem for a complicated brain surgery was forced to travel alone when Israeli authorities denied her parents permission to accompany her. She died soon after the surgery.
According to the Palestinian Minister of Health Mai Alkaila, Aisha Lulu, 5 years old, from al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, died after returning to Gaza from surgery in Jerusalem, and a harrowing journey through numerous Israeli checkpoints that she had to endure alone.
Alkaila stated, “How can a little child travel alone through Israeli checkpoints without being escorted by her mother, father or brother to provide her with affection and psychological support during treatment?”
According to the Palestinian Wafa News Agency, none of Lulu’s family members were allowed by Israel to be on her side in hospital as applications by her family members to accompany her to Jerusalem for her complicated brain surgery were denied.
In a press statement, Alkaila added, “Aisha had to fight her disease alone, in a blatant disregard to international agreements, covenants and treaties on human rights, children’s rights, the right to health and access to health services in a safe manner,.”
According to Wafa, Aisha suffered psychologically throughout the entire ordeal, and was seen crying and calling for her mother loudly to be beside her in the hospital.
Alkaila called on the international community to intervene, and to demand that Israel allow parents to accompany Palestinian children who are forced to leave the Gaza Strip for surgery.
Due to the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza since 2007, hundreds of Palestinian patients have died from being denied proper medical treatment.
The hospitals in Gaza remain severely under-equipped, and sick Palestinians must travel to Israel or abroad because of the lack of treatment inside Gaza.
According to Wafa, last month, the World Health Organization said out of 2,004 patient applications submitted in March for an Israeli permit to cross Erez crossing between Gaza and Israel for health care outside the besieged Gaza Strip, only 1,293 (65%) of the total were approved, and 74 patient applications were denied permission, including four children under the age of 18 years.
According to the Palestinian Minister of Health Mai Alkaila, Aisha Lulu, 5 years old, from al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, died after returning to Gaza from surgery in Jerusalem, and a harrowing journey through numerous Israeli checkpoints that she had to endure alone.
Alkaila stated, “How can a little child travel alone through Israeli checkpoints without being escorted by her mother, father or brother to provide her with affection and psychological support during treatment?”
According to the Palestinian Wafa News Agency, none of Lulu’s family members were allowed by Israel to be on her side in hospital as applications by her family members to accompany her to Jerusalem for her complicated brain surgery were denied.
In a press statement, Alkaila added, “Aisha had to fight her disease alone, in a blatant disregard to international agreements, covenants and treaties on human rights, children’s rights, the right to health and access to health services in a safe manner,.”
According to Wafa, Aisha suffered psychologically throughout the entire ordeal, and was seen crying and calling for her mother loudly to be beside her in the hospital.
Alkaila called on the international community to intervene, and to demand that Israel allow parents to accompany Palestinian children who are forced to leave the Gaza Strip for surgery.
Due to the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza since 2007, hundreds of Palestinian patients have died from being denied proper medical treatment.
The hospitals in Gaza remain severely under-equipped, and sick Palestinians must travel to Israel or abroad because of the lack of treatment inside Gaza.
According to Wafa, last month, the World Health Organization said out of 2,004 patient applications submitted in March for an Israeli permit to cross Erez crossing between Gaza and Israel for health care outside the besieged Gaza Strip, only 1,293 (65%) of the total were approved, and 74 patient applications were denied permission, including four children under the age of 18 years.
16 may 2019
Israeli authorities have decided to drastically reduce the permitted fishing zone off Gaza’s coast "until further notice," on Thursday.
Head of the Palestinian Fishermen Union in Gaza, Zakariya Bakr, told Ma'an that Israeli authorities reduced the permitted fishing zone from 12 nautical miles to only five.
Bakr said that the Israeli naval forces prevented Palestinian fishermen from retrieving their fishing nets seven nautical miles off Gaza’s coast.
Bakr also pointed out that the Israeli navy opened heavy fire at fishermen who attempted to pass the five nautical miles, forcing them to sail back to shore in fear for their lives.
Israeli practices undermined the fishermen’s ability to make a living at sea.
It is noteworthy that only six days ago, Israeli authorities allowed the expansion of the permitted fishing zone to 12 nautical miles.
Palestinian fishermen, who try to make a living off the shores of the blockaded coastal enclave face daily risks, including routine harassment from Israeli naval forces, confiscation of boats and materials, detention and live fire.
According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 1994, a permitted fishing range of 20 nautical miles was agreed on between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In practice, Israel only allowed fishing up to 12 nautical miles until 2006, when the fishing zone was reduced to six and later to three.
Head of the Palestinian Fishermen Union in Gaza, Zakariya Bakr, told Ma'an that Israeli authorities reduced the permitted fishing zone from 12 nautical miles to only five.
Bakr said that the Israeli naval forces prevented Palestinian fishermen from retrieving their fishing nets seven nautical miles off Gaza’s coast.
Bakr also pointed out that the Israeli navy opened heavy fire at fishermen who attempted to pass the five nautical miles, forcing them to sail back to shore in fear for their lives.
Israeli practices undermined the fishermen’s ability to make a living at sea.
It is noteworthy that only six days ago, Israeli authorities allowed the expansion of the permitted fishing zone to 12 nautical miles.
Palestinian fishermen, who try to make a living off the shores of the blockaded coastal enclave face daily risks, including routine harassment from Israeli naval forces, confiscation of boats and materials, detention and live fire.
According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 1994, a permitted fishing range of 20 nautical miles was agreed on between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In practice, Israel only allowed fishing up to 12 nautical miles until 2006, when the fishing zone was reduced to six and later to three.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported that Israeli soldiers abducted, on Thursday at dawn, at least nine Palestinians from their homes, in several parts of the occupied West Bank, after the army invaded and searched them.
The PPS in Ramallah, in central West Bank, said the soldiers abducted Mohammad Ali Shreiteh, Yazan Ahmad Abu Qare’ and Mohammad Faisal Ladadwa, from al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiyya village, and Ahmad Ra’fat from Kobar.
The soldiers also invaded and searched homes in Jenin governorate, in northern West Bank, and abducted a young man, identified as Ali Yousef Kamil, from Qabatia town, south of Jenin city.
The PPS office in Nablus, in northern West Bank, said the soldiers also invaded ‘Orif village, south of the city, searched homes and abducted Omar Faleh Safadi, 20.
In addition, the soldiers abducted Mohammad Mousa al-Abbassi, 16, from his home in Silwan town, in the center of occupied East Jerusalem.
Another young man from Silwan, identified as Yazan Siyam, was abducted in Bab al-‘Amoud area, in Jerusalem’s Old City, before the soldiers took him to an interrogation facility in the city.
Furthermore, the soldiers abducted Mohammad Ahmad al-‘Ayasa, 43, from his home in Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem.
In related news, the soldiers installed many roadblocks across the West Bank, especially around Hebron, in the southern part, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
The PPS in Ramallah, in central West Bank, said the soldiers abducted Mohammad Ali Shreiteh, Yazan Ahmad Abu Qare’ and Mohammad Faisal Ladadwa, from al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiyya village, and Ahmad Ra’fat from Kobar.
The soldiers also invaded and searched homes in Jenin governorate, in northern West Bank, and abducted a young man, identified as Ali Yousef Kamil, from Qabatia town, south of Jenin city.
The PPS office in Nablus, in northern West Bank, said the soldiers also invaded ‘Orif village, south of the city, searched homes and abducted Omar Faleh Safadi, 20.
In addition, the soldiers abducted Mohammad Mousa al-Abbassi, 16, from his home in Silwan town, in the center of occupied East Jerusalem.
Another young man from Silwan, identified as Yazan Siyam, was abducted in Bab al-‘Amoud area, in Jerusalem’s Old City, before the soldiers took him to an interrogation facility in the city.
Furthermore, the soldiers abducted Mohammad Ahmad al-‘Ayasa, 43, from his home in Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem.
In related news, the soldiers installed many roadblocks across the West Bank, especially around Hebron, in the southern part, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
12 may 2019
The Kerem Shalom and the Erez (Beit Hanoun) border crossings in the besieged Gaza Strip were reopened by Israeli authorities, on Sunday morning, after closing for over a week during the Israeli escalation.
Both of the border crossings were open and operating in accordance with the previously established timelines.
There are three crossings into the Gaza Strip; two are controlled by Israel and one by Egypt. The Gaza-Israel crossings are the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, that is specifically for pedestrians, and Kerem Shalom in the southern Gaza Strip for the entry of goods and fuel.
The Gaza-Egypt crossing is the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, but is often closed and lacks infrastructure for it to be a main commercial crossing.
The Israeli escalation, which started on May 4th and lasted for 48 hours, claimed the lives of 27 Palestinians, including an infant, toddler, and two pregnant mothers, and at least 154 others were injured. In addition, four Israelis were killed.
Israeli warplanes carried out about 320 airstrikes across Gaza, while over 600 home-made rockets were launched from Gaza towards southern Israel.
Both of the border crossings were open and operating in accordance with the previously established timelines.
There are three crossings into the Gaza Strip; two are controlled by Israel and one by Egypt. The Gaza-Israel crossings are the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, that is specifically for pedestrians, and Kerem Shalom in the southern Gaza Strip for the entry of goods and fuel.
The Gaza-Egypt crossing is the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, but is often closed and lacks infrastructure for it to be a main commercial crossing.
The Israeli escalation, which started on May 4th and lasted for 48 hours, claimed the lives of 27 Palestinians, including an infant, toddler, and two pregnant mothers, and at least 154 others were injured. In addition, four Israelis were killed.
Israeli warplanes carried out about 320 airstrikes across Gaza, while over 600 home-made rockets were launched from Gaza towards southern Israel.
10 may 2019
Israeli authorities have reopened the Kerem Shalom border crossing and allowed the entry of fuel into the besieged Gaza Strip, on Friday.
According to Hebrew-language news outlets, Israeli authorities decided to reopen Gaza’s main commercial crossing, known as Kerem Shalom, in order to allow the entry of fuel.
There are three crossings into the Gaza Strip; two are controlled by Israel and one by Egypt. The Gaza-Israel crossings are the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, that is specifically for pedestrians, and Kerem Shalom in the southern Gaza Strip for the entry of goods and fuel. The Gaza-Egypt crossing is the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, but is often closed and lacks infrastructure for it to be a main commercial crossing.
In January, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) warned of the deteriorating situation of the Palestinian patients in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing crisis of fuel shortage.
PCHR called upon the Palestinian Authority (PA) and international organizations to urgently intervene since then to ensure the rapid flow of fuel needed for the operation of generators in the health facilities in the Gaza Strip.
According to Hebrew-language news outlets, Israeli authorities decided to reopen Gaza’s main commercial crossing, known as Kerem Shalom, in order to allow the entry of fuel.
There are three crossings into the Gaza Strip; two are controlled by Israel and one by Egypt. The Gaza-Israel crossings are the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, that is specifically for pedestrians, and Kerem Shalom in the southern Gaza Strip for the entry of goods and fuel. The Gaza-Egypt crossing is the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, but is often closed and lacks infrastructure for it to be a main commercial crossing.
In January, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) warned of the deteriorating situation of the Palestinian patients in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing crisis of fuel shortage.
PCHR called upon the Palestinian Authority (PA) and international organizations to urgently intervene since then to ensure the rapid flow of fuel needed for the operation of generators in the health facilities in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli authorities decided to expand the permitted fishing zone off Gaza’s coast, on Friday, to 12 nautical miles after drastically reducing the zone to only six over a week ago.
Head of the Fishermen Union in Gaza, Nizar Ayyash, said that Israeli authorities notified Palestinians in the Gaza Strip of their decision to allow the expansion of the permitted fishing zone starting from 10 a.m. on Friday morning.
Over a week ago, Israeli authorities reduced the permitted fishing zone to six nautical miles and destroyed Palestinian fishing nets nine nautical miles off Gaza’s coast.
The decision to reduce the fishing zone came after the Hamas movement allegedly fired six rockets, one of which landed near the coast of Ashdod City, in southern Israel, while the others were directed towards the sea.
According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 1994, a permitted fishing range of 20 nautical miles was agreed on between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In practice, Israel only allowed fishing up to 12 nautical miles until 2006, when the fishing zone was reduced to six and later to three.
Head of the Fishermen Union in Gaza, Nizar Ayyash, said that Israeli authorities notified Palestinians in the Gaza Strip of their decision to allow the expansion of the permitted fishing zone starting from 10 a.m. on Friday morning.
Over a week ago, Israeli authorities reduced the permitted fishing zone to six nautical miles and destroyed Palestinian fishing nets nine nautical miles off Gaza’s coast.
The decision to reduce the fishing zone came after the Hamas movement allegedly fired six rockets, one of which landed near the coast of Ashdod City, in southern Israel, while the others were directed towards the sea.
According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 1994, a permitted fishing range of 20 nautical miles was agreed on between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In practice, Israel only allowed fishing up to 12 nautical miles until 2006, when the fishing zone was reduced to six and later to three.
