21 sept 2014
Information Ministry undersecretary, Ihab al-Ghasin, on Saturday dubbed mounting talks on the entrenchment of an “illegal immigration” phenomenon an overstated fuss, calling instead for the launch of regular follow-ups to keep tabs on the affair. Ghussain said in a press conference held in Gaza on Saturday: “We found out after meticulous scrutiny of the names of “illegal” migrants who arrived in foreign territories that most of the refugees left the Gaza Strip via legal means, using the Rafah crossing.”
“A large number of migrants have been residing outside of the Strip for several years, particularly in Egypt,” he added.
In Ghussain’s terms, a small number of citizens who left the Gaza Strip through illegal ways did so via tunnels dug up over the past few months, before authorities detected the tunnels and indicted the persons responsible for the affair.
The incident has taken more than its fair share of dramatization, Ghussain said, adding: “This is cheer nonsense. We are talking about a nation that has never left its native soil even during the most atrocious of all wars, compared to the millions who departed their mother lands. The bulk of our diaspora have come back home during the offensive to corroborate their devotion to their land even in the hardest circumstances ever.”
Ghussain held the Israeli occupation and the blockade responsible for Gaza’s economic breakdown and unprecedented upsurge in unemployment rates.
He further slammed the international community for its silence vis-à-vis the siege and its reluctance to impeach Israel’s war criminals.
He called for opening the Rafah crossing as an efficient way-out to smooth the access of passengers and goods out of and into Gaza and enhance the Strip’s work mechanisms.
Ghussain urged the Arab countries to meet Palestinian refugees’ rights to live in safety and open up new prospects before Palestinian graduates as the only way-out of illegal immigration to the West.
The Palestinian official denounced bidding and political exploitation of the cause, calling rather for pulling resources to work out the affair and mitigate Palestinians’ agony.
All of Gaza’s employees have been ready since the first days of the formation of the unity government to carry out their allotted missions and cooperate with it in the very best way possible, Ghussain emphasized.
He hailed Palestinians’ determination to overthrow the Israeli colonizer and cling to every single inch of their lands until their last breath.
“A large number of migrants have been residing outside of the Strip for several years, particularly in Egypt,” he added.
In Ghussain’s terms, a small number of citizens who left the Gaza Strip through illegal ways did so via tunnels dug up over the past few months, before authorities detected the tunnels and indicted the persons responsible for the affair.
The incident has taken more than its fair share of dramatization, Ghussain said, adding: “This is cheer nonsense. We are talking about a nation that has never left its native soil even during the most atrocious of all wars, compared to the millions who departed their mother lands. The bulk of our diaspora have come back home during the offensive to corroborate their devotion to their land even in the hardest circumstances ever.”
Ghussain held the Israeli occupation and the blockade responsible for Gaza’s economic breakdown and unprecedented upsurge in unemployment rates.
He further slammed the international community for its silence vis-à-vis the siege and its reluctance to impeach Israel’s war criminals.
He called for opening the Rafah crossing as an efficient way-out to smooth the access of passengers and goods out of and into Gaza and enhance the Strip’s work mechanisms.
Ghussain urged the Arab countries to meet Palestinian refugees’ rights to live in safety and open up new prospects before Palestinian graduates as the only way-out of illegal immigration to the West.
The Palestinian official denounced bidding and political exploitation of the cause, calling rather for pulling resources to work out the affair and mitigate Palestinians’ agony.
All of Gaza’s employees have been ready since the first days of the formation of the unity government to carry out their allotted missions and cooperate with it in the very best way possible, Ghussain emphasized.
He hailed Palestinians’ determination to overthrow the Israeli colonizer and cling to every single inch of their lands until their last breath.
20 sept 2014
The Maan News Agency has reported that one Palestinian was killed, on Saturday at dawn, and two were arrested by Egyptian soldiers as they exited a border tunnel in Sinai.
Maan quoted Egyptian security sources saying the three exited a tunnel in the "Unknown Soldier" area, in the Egyptian city of Rafah, and that the “soldiers opened fire at them after they refused to stop when ordered to.”
The Egyptian army claimed the three tried to run back into the tunnel before the soldiers opened fire, killing one and arresting the two others.
The Egyptian Security has asked the army to increase the alert level across the border area, reportedly after receiving info that armed groups, from different areas, intend to infiltrate into Sinai through border tunnels.
Maan quoted Egyptian security sources saying the three exited a tunnel in the "Unknown Soldier" area, in the Egyptian city of Rafah, and that the “soldiers opened fire at them after they refused to stop when ordered to.”
The Egyptian army claimed the three tried to run back into the tunnel before the soldiers opened fire, killing one and arresting the two others.
The Egyptian Security has asked the army to increase the alert level across the border area, reportedly after receiving info that armed groups, from different areas, intend to infiltrate into Sinai through border tunnels.
19 sept 2014
Ahmad Riyadh al-Haddad 21
The al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, has reported that one of its fighters was killed while working in a tunnel, in Gaza City.
The Brigades said that Ahmad Riyadh al-Haddad, age 21, was killed on Thursday evening in a siege-busting tunnel.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qodra, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, confirmed the death of al-Haddad, and said the slain fighter is from Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, west of Gaza City.
The al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, has reported that one of its fighters was killed while working in a tunnel, in Gaza City.
The Brigades said that Ahmad Riyadh al-Haddad, age 21, was killed on Thursday evening in a siege-busting tunnel.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qodra, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, confirmed the death of al-Haddad, and said the slain fighter is from Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, west of Gaza City.
28 june 2014
The Palestinian ministry of interior in Gaza categorically denied Egyptian security claims that terrorists of the Islamic state in Iraq and al-Sham known as Da'ish infiltrated into Sinai through Gaza tunnels. Spokesman for the ministry Iyad Bazam said on Saturday that such claims are blatant lies and part of the ongoing Egyptian smear campaign against the Gaza Strip.
Bazam affirmed that all tunnels between Gaza and Egypt do not exist after the Egyptian army destroyed all of them.
The spokesman added that the border area between Gaza and Egypt are under tight control by the Palestinian national security forces.
Bazam affirmed that all tunnels between Gaza and Egypt do not exist after the Egyptian army destroyed all of them.
The spokesman added that the border area between Gaza and Egypt are under tight control by the Palestinian national security forces.
25 june 2014
Image from March 15, when the Egyptian army demolished 4 houses using explosives, which had tunnels under them
The Egyptian Army destroyed two tunnels on the Egyptian-Gazan border, bringing the total number of tunnels ruined to 1,736. Security sources said that Egyptian border guards have continued their intensive activity to deal with smugglers and armed groups which aim to compromise national security at all levels. The western military region is managed by border guards in cooperation with the Air Force and have succeeded in seizing an individual in possession of 30 shotguns in the area of Salloum.
They also seized three SUVs which had no license plates and were loaded with a large quantity of cigarettes, and destroyed a fourth with the help of air traffic control on the border with Libya.
In Al-Arish, the border guards of the Second Army Field arrested six armed individuals and seized an SUV and six motorcycles without license plates, as well as a truck carrying 100 kilogrammes of explosives. Six cars loaded with large quantities of food, medicines and goods which were to be smuggled were also seized.
The Gaza Strip tunnels are passages that have been dug along the border between Gaza Strip and Egypt.
The tunnels had been a lifeline for the flow of food, clothing, building materials, and fuel into the besieged Gaza strip.
The blockade severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and led to frequent humanitarian for the people there.
The Egyptian Army destroyed two tunnels on the Egyptian-Gazan border, bringing the total number of tunnels ruined to 1,736. Security sources said that Egyptian border guards have continued their intensive activity to deal with smugglers and armed groups which aim to compromise national security at all levels. The western military region is managed by border guards in cooperation with the Air Force and have succeeded in seizing an individual in possession of 30 shotguns in the area of Salloum.
They also seized three SUVs which had no license plates and were loaded with a large quantity of cigarettes, and destroyed a fourth with the help of air traffic control on the border with Libya.
In Al-Arish, the border guards of the Second Army Field arrested six armed individuals and seized an SUV and six motorcycles without license plates, as well as a truck carrying 100 kilogrammes of explosives. Six cars loaded with large quantities of food, medicines and goods which were to be smuggled were also seized.
The Gaza Strip tunnels are passages that have been dug along the border between Gaza Strip and Egypt.
The tunnels had been a lifeline for the flow of food, clothing, building materials, and fuel into the besieged Gaza strip.
The blockade severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and led to frequent humanitarian for the people there.
21 june 2014
Member of Hamas's political bureau Khalil Al-Hayya said that Israel's persistence in shedding the Palestinian blood makes his Movement more determined to continue its armed struggle against the occupation. Hayya made his remarks during the funeral ceremony for five resistance fighters from Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas who died on Thursday when a tunnel they were in collapsed in Al-Shujaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza city.
"We have taken this path while we know for sure that our blood and souls could be taken from us," the Hamas official said.
"We will keep digging tunnels and make rockets until we avenge the death of our martyrs and liberate our prisoners. We will remain stepping forward on the path of resistance and struggle," he added.
"We have taken this path while we know for sure that our blood and souls could be taken from us," the Hamas official said.
"We will keep digging tunnels and make rockets until we avenge the death of our martyrs and liberate our prisoners. We will remain stepping forward on the path of resistance and struggle," he added.
Palestinians on Saturday attended the funeral of five men who died in an explosion in Gaza City days before, a Ma'an reporter said.
Several members of Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades attended the funeral, which took place in the al-Omari mosque in Gaza City.
Five members of the Brigades and a firefighter died in an explosion while training inside a tunnel in the al-Tuffah neighborhood of the city on Thursday.
The dead Hamas fighters were identified as Salman Naim al-Harazin, Ahmad Khalil Ayyad, Ibrahim Salih al-Qar'an, Raed Kamil Marshoud, and Khalil al-Gharabli, all from al-Shujaiyeh neighborhood.
Several members of Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades attended the funeral, which took place in the al-Omari mosque in Gaza City.
Five members of the Brigades and a firefighter died in an explosion while training inside a tunnel in the al-Tuffah neighborhood of the city on Thursday.
The dead Hamas fighters were identified as Salman Naim al-Harazin, Ahmad Khalil Ayyad, Ibrahim Salih al-Qar'an, Raed Kamil Marshoud, and Khalil al-Gharabli, all from al-Shujaiyeh neighborhood.
Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip have reported that local rescue teams managed to locate the bodies of all slain Palestinians, killed Thursday, under the rubble of a siege-busting tunnel in Gaza.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said that five of its fighters were killed after being buried under the rubble of the collapsed tunnel, and that a sixth Palestinian, member of a rescue team, was also killed during the rescue efforts.
It stated that Salman Naim al-Harazin, Ahmad Khalil Ayyad, Ibrahim Salih al-Qar'an, Raed Kamil Marshoud, and Khalil al-Gharabli, died in the tunnel accident, and that the fighters are from the Shuja’eyya neighborhood, in Gaza.
The Brigades added that the sixth slain Palestinian, member of the Civil Defense rescue teams, identified as Tawfiq Mas’oud, was killed during the efforts to locate and retrieve the bodies of the slain fighters.
Mas’oud in from Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Updated From
6 Dead in Gaza Tunnel Explosion
Chris Carlson - IMEMC & Agencies
Fri, 20 Jun 2014 00:19:32
Five members of al-Qassam Brigades and a Palestinian firefighter have died in an explosion which occurred inside a tunnel near a Hamas military site in eastern Gaza City.
Witnesses told Ma'an News Agency that an explosion shook a house in the al-Tuffah neighborhood, where ambulances and civil defense rushed to the scene.
Firefighter Hussein Tawfiq Masoud from Rafah, age 28, died after inhaling gas in the tunnel. The Hamas fighters have been identified as Salman Naim al-Harazin, Ahmad Khalil Ayyad, Ibrahim Salih al-Qar'an, Raed Kamil Marshoud, and Khalil al-Gharabli. All were from al-Shujaiyeh neighborhood.
Earlier, in the same neighborhood, Gaza was targeted by an Israeli airstrike.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said that five of its fighters were killed after being buried under the rubble of the collapsed tunnel, and that a sixth Palestinian, member of a rescue team, was also killed during the rescue efforts.
It stated that Salman Naim al-Harazin, Ahmad Khalil Ayyad, Ibrahim Salih al-Qar'an, Raed Kamil Marshoud, and Khalil al-Gharabli, died in the tunnel accident, and that the fighters are from the Shuja’eyya neighborhood, in Gaza.
The Brigades added that the sixth slain Palestinian, member of the Civil Defense rescue teams, identified as Tawfiq Mas’oud, was killed during the efforts to locate and retrieve the bodies of the slain fighters.
Mas’oud in from Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Updated From
6 Dead in Gaza Tunnel Explosion
Chris Carlson - IMEMC & Agencies
Fri, 20 Jun 2014 00:19:32
Five members of al-Qassam Brigades and a Palestinian firefighter have died in an explosion which occurred inside a tunnel near a Hamas military site in eastern Gaza City.
Witnesses told Ma'an News Agency that an explosion shook a house in the al-Tuffah neighborhood, where ambulances and civil defense rushed to the scene.
Firefighter Hussein Tawfiq Masoud from Rafah, age 28, died after inhaling gas in the tunnel. The Hamas fighters have been identified as Salman Naim al-Harazin, Ahmad Khalil Ayyad, Ibrahim Salih al-Qar'an, Raed Kamil Marshoud, and Khalil al-Gharabli. All were from al-Shujaiyeh neighborhood.
Earlier, in the same neighborhood, Gaza was targeted by an Israeli airstrike.
19 june 2014
Five members of Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades and a Palestinian firefighter died in an explosion inside a tunnel in the al-Tuffah neighborhood near a Hamas military site in eastern Gaza City on Thursday.
The dead Hamas fighters were identified as Raid Marshoud, Ibrahim al-Arqan, Khalil al-Ghurabli, Ahmad Ayyad and Salim al-Harrazin, while the firefighter's identity was not yet clear.
Witnesses told Ma'an that an explosion shook a house in the al-Tuffah neighborhood, and ambulances and civil defense services rushed to the scene.
A day earlier the same neighborhood area was targeted by an Israeli airstrike.
The dead Hamas fighters were identified as Raid Marshoud, Ibrahim al-Arqan, Khalil al-Ghurabli, Ahmad Ayyad and Salim al-Harrazin, while the firefighter's identity was not yet clear.
Witnesses told Ma'an that an explosion shook a house in the al-Tuffah neighborhood, and ambulances and civil defense services rushed to the scene.
A day earlier the same neighborhood area was targeted by an Israeli airstrike.
17 june 2014
The tunnel discovered by Israeli forces in March 2014 near the border with Gaza
Israeli security workers have inspected the “Third Eye” tunnel, discovered in recent months to the southeast of the Gaza Strip, and conducted filming inside, amid tight security of army soldiers. According to local Safa agency, a convoy of 12 citizen cars and six buses, coming from the Gaza envelope settlement of the ‘Third Eye’ via the Kissufim route, entered the tunnel and spent about one hour filming.
Military jeeps deployed around to provide the protection of the delegation, the agency said.
The Israeli occupation army announced on March 21, 2014 that it found a tunnel leading hundreds of meters into the 1948 occupied territories.
Three Israeli settlers have been missing since Thursday. They are feared to be abducted by Palestinians in order for future prisoner exchange deal, given that they are over 5000 Palestinians held captive in Israeli prison, around 190 of them are held without trial or charge.
Israeli security workers have inspected the “Third Eye” tunnel, discovered in recent months to the southeast of the Gaza Strip, and conducted filming inside, amid tight security of army soldiers. According to local Safa agency, a convoy of 12 citizen cars and six buses, coming from the Gaza envelope settlement of the ‘Third Eye’ via the Kissufim route, entered the tunnel and spent about one hour filming.
Military jeeps deployed around to provide the protection of the delegation, the agency said.
The Israeli occupation army announced on March 21, 2014 that it found a tunnel leading hundreds of meters into the 1948 occupied territories.
Three Israeli settlers have been missing since Thursday. They are feared to be abducted by Palestinians in order for future prisoner exchange deal, given that they are over 5000 Palestinians held captive in Israeli prison, around 190 of them are held without trial or charge.
3 may 2014
Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, on Saturday at dawn [May 3, 2014], the northern West Bank city of Nablus, the Balata refugee camp, and nearby communities; one soldier was reportedly injured during clashes with resistance fighters in Balata.
Eyewitnesses said dozens of soldiers invaded the city, and drove in its streets before invading Balata for the second time in less than twelve hours, and that the army fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition during the invasion.
Israeli sources claimed the army located, during its invasion into Balata, two tunnels loaded with weapons and ammunition.
The sources added that a commander of the Nahal Brigade of the Israeli army was mildly injured in the camp, as the army was breaking into and searching dozens of homes.
According to the state-run Israeli Radio, soldiers of the Nahal Brigade initiated a large-scale invasion into Balata searching for Palestinian fighters, largely in regard to an incident in which Palestinian gunmen opened fire at the commander’s vehicle, just two days ago.
It added that the commander was injured by a homemade explosive that detonated near him when fighters hurled the explosive at him as he, and other soldiers, occupied a rooftop in the refugee camp.
The army concluded its invasion into the refugee camp during the morning hours, Saturday.
In addition, clashes took place on Saturday, at dawn, when several Israeli military jeeps invaded various neighborhoods in Nablus. Soldiers also kidnapped one Palestinian at Za’tara roadblock, south of Nablus.
Another invasion was carried out into the an-Naqoura village, west of Nablus, while a number ofl Israeli settler militants also invaded the village, local sources said.
Several military vehicles also invaded Aseera al-Qebliyya village, near Nablus, while the soldiers also broke into and searched several homes after detonating their doors, causing property damage.
Local sources said the soldiers detained and interrogated several Palestinians in the village, to withdraw later on.
Eyewitnesses said dozens of soldiers invaded the city, and drove in its streets before invading Balata for the second time in less than twelve hours, and that the army fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition during the invasion.
Israeli sources claimed the army located, during its invasion into Balata, two tunnels loaded with weapons and ammunition.
The sources added that a commander of the Nahal Brigade of the Israeli army was mildly injured in the camp, as the army was breaking into and searching dozens of homes.
According to the state-run Israeli Radio, soldiers of the Nahal Brigade initiated a large-scale invasion into Balata searching for Palestinian fighters, largely in regard to an incident in which Palestinian gunmen opened fire at the commander’s vehicle, just two days ago.
It added that the commander was injured by a homemade explosive that detonated near him when fighters hurled the explosive at him as he, and other soldiers, occupied a rooftop in the refugee camp.
The army concluded its invasion into the refugee camp during the morning hours, Saturday.
In addition, clashes took place on Saturday, at dawn, when several Israeli military jeeps invaded various neighborhoods in Nablus. Soldiers also kidnapped one Palestinian at Za’tara roadblock, south of Nablus.
Another invasion was carried out into the an-Naqoura village, west of Nablus, while a number ofl Israeli settler militants also invaded the village, local sources said.
Several military vehicles also invaded Aseera al-Qebliyya village, near Nablus, while the soldiers also broke into and searched several homes after detonating their doors, causing property damage.
Local sources said the soldiers detained and interrogated several Palestinians in the village, to withdraw later on.
5 apr 2014
Egyptian army and police forces killed four members of "militant groups" and destroyed eight tunnels into the Gaza Strip in operations across the Sinai Peninsula on Saturday, security sources said.
Egyptian forces reportedly raided a number of areas where Wahhabi "insurgents" were based in al-Salam village, al-Kashef village, al-Muhajir neighborhood of El-Arish, Abu Tuweila and al-Joura neighborhoods of Sheikh Zuqeid, and Jouz abu Raed neighborhood in Rafah.
Eight tunnels leading into the Gaza Strip were also destroyed during the raids, security sources said. The tunnels were used to smuggle goods into the besieged Palestinian coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for nearly seven years.
The sources added that 36 members of armed groups were detained during the raids, including Tawfiq Abu Mlih, who they said is a leader in the Ansar Beit al-Maqdis organization that has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks targeting Egyptian security forces in recent months.
The sources said that security forces defused an explosive device and seized a number of weapons, cars, and motorcycles during the raids.
Egyptian armed forces launched large scale military action against militants in the Sinai Peninsula earlier in September, in what officials described as the largest mobilization of force in the area since the 1973 war with Israel.
The military action comes in the wake of rising instability and almost daily attacks in the region, following a July coup by the Egyptian military which unseated President Mohammad Morsi.
Since then, Muslim Brotherhood activists have held weekly demonstrations in protest against the coup, while the army has consolidated its grip on power and violently repressed protests against its rule, killing around 1,400 according to Amnesty International.
At the same time, Wahhabi militant groups have stepped up a violent campaign of attacks against the government, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula.
Egyptian forces reportedly raided a number of areas where Wahhabi "insurgents" were based in al-Salam village, al-Kashef village, al-Muhajir neighborhood of El-Arish, Abu Tuweila and al-Joura neighborhoods of Sheikh Zuqeid, and Jouz abu Raed neighborhood in Rafah.
Eight tunnels leading into the Gaza Strip were also destroyed during the raids, security sources said. The tunnels were used to smuggle goods into the besieged Palestinian coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for nearly seven years.
The sources added that 36 members of armed groups were detained during the raids, including Tawfiq Abu Mlih, who they said is a leader in the Ansar Beit al-Maqdis organization that has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks targeting Egyptian security forces in recent months.
The sources said that security forces defused an explosive device and seized a number of weapons, cars, and motorcycles during the raids.
Egyptian armed forces launched large scale military action against militants in the Sinai Peninsula earlier in September, in what officials described as the largest mobilization of force in the area since the 1973 war with Israel.
The military action comes in the wake of rising instability and almost daily attacks in the region, following a July coup by the Egyptian military which unseated President Mohammad Morsi.
Since then, Muslim Brotherhood activists have held weekly demonstrations in protest against the coup, while the army has consolidated its grip on power and violently repressed protests against its rule, killing around 1,400 according to Amnesty International.
At the same time, Wahhabi militant groups have stepped up a violent campaign of attacks against the government, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula.
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