4 sept 2015
Sheikh Majdi Abu al-Hija, whose house was demolished shortly before his arrest, affirmed that no question was directed to him during his detention that lasted for few days.
Abu al-Hija was arrested few days ago after the demolition of his home at the hands of Israeli soldiers.
"They brought me out and then asked me ironically if I want to take anything from my house after they completely destroyed it," he narrated.
His statement came during a press conference held Thursday on the ruins of his demolished home in Jenin few hours after his release.
“I was with my family when Israeli forces surrounded the home and the neighboring buildings at 9.30 pm. They then asked me through loudspeakers to get out along with my family members.”
"They took us to my neighbor’s home, and there they started asking me about each member of my family," he continued.
When I confirmed, he added, to the Israeli officer that no one of my family members remained inside our home, I heard five big explosions.
An Israeli bulldozer then arrived at the scene and started totally demolishing the home after targeting it with five rocket-propelled grenades.
The demolition process lasted till dawn hours. The Israeli soldiers then brought him out and asked him if he wants to take anything out of the destroyed home.
“I was taken to Salem military camp to be then moved to Dotan military camp and Megiddo prison where I spent few days before my release. No question was directed to me during my detention.”
Abu al-Hija declared during the conference his intention to prosecute the Israeli occupation authorities for the demolition of his home.
Abu al-Hija was released Thursday after three days of his detention and the demolition of his home under the pretext of “harboring wanted persons.”
Majdi Abu al-Hija, 46, is an ex-detainee who spent eight years in Israeli jails. His two brothers were killed by Israeli gunfire in 1993 and 2002.
Abu al-Hija was arrested few days ago after the demolition of his home at the hands of Israeli soldiers.
"They brought me out and then asked me ironically if I want to take anything from my house after they completely destroyed it," he narrated.
His statement came during a press conference held Thursday on the ruins of his demolished home in Jenin few hours after his release.
“I was with my family when Israeli forces surrounded the home and the neighboring buildings at 9.30 pm. They then asked me through loudspeakers to get out along with my family members.”
"They took us to my neighbor’s home, and there they started asking me about each member of my family," he continued.
When I confirmed, he added, to the Israeli officer that no one of my family members remained inside our home, I heard five big explosions.
An Israeli bulldozer then arrived at the scene and started totally demolishing the home after targeting it with five rocket-propelled grenades.
The demolition process lasted till dawn hours. The Israeli soldiers then brought him out and asked him if he wants to take anything out of the destroyed home.
“I was taken to Salem military camp to be then moved to Dotan military camp and Megiddo prison where I spent few days before my release. No question was directed to me during my detention.”
Abu al-Hija declared during the conference his intention to prosecute the Israeli occupation authorities for the demolition of his home.
Abu al-Hija was released Thursday after three days of his detention and the demolition of his home under the pretext of “harboring wanted persons.”
Majdi Abu al-Hija, 46, is an ex-detainee who spent eight years in Israeli jails. His two brothers were killed by Israeli gunfire in 1993 and 2002.
3 sept 2015
Israeli soldiers invaded, Thursday, the Taybeh village, east of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and demolished four Palestinian homes and three sheds.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that several military vehicles, accompanied by armored bulldozers, invaded the village, and demolished the properties that belong to members of the ‘Arab al-Ka’abna Bedouin family.
A family member told WAFA that the structures housed 25 family members, and that the total losses exceed 40.000 Israeli Shekels.
He added that the family only received the demolition orders two weeks ago, and did not have enough time to appeal them.
Area C is the largest division of the occupied West Bank, comprising 60% of the total territory; it falls under full Israeli military and security control; the occupation army, and its “Civil Administration Office,” solely controls all constructions, planning and zoning laws.
Israel’s illegal settlements are in Area C, while Israel controls all constructions, including construction permits and zoning laws.
Area C also contains the vast majority of the natural resources, and open areas, including the Jordan Valley and the West Bank’s Plains.
Although Area C is under full Israeli control, they lack basic services and infrastructure and adequate access to water, while Israel’s illegal colonies receive all services and constant flow of water for personal and recreational use, such as swimming pools and resorts.
The Israeli Civil Administration only allocated %1 of Area C for Palestinian development, while %99 are off-limits, or at least under strict Israel's laws preventing Palestinian constructions and development.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that several military vehicles, accompanied by armored bulldozers, invaded the village, and demolished the properties that belong to members of the ‘Arab al-Ka’abna Bedouin family.
A family member told WAFA that the structures housed 25 family members, and that the total losses exceed 40.000 Israeli Shekels.
He added that the family only received the demolition orders two weeks ago, and did not have enough time to appeal them.
Area C is the largest division of the occupied West Bank, comprising 60% of the total territory; it falls under full Israeli military and security control; the occupation army, and its “Civil Administration Office,” solely controls all constructions, planning and zoning laws.
Israel’s illegal settlements are in Area C, while Israel controls all constructions, including construction permits and zoning laws.
Area C also contains the vast majority of the natural resources, and open areas, including the Jordan Valley and the West Bank’s Plains.
Although Area C is under full Israeli control, they lack basic services and infrastructure and adequate access to water, while Israel’s illegal colonies receive all services and constant flow of water for personal and recreational use, such as swimming pools and resorts.
The Israeli Civil Administration only allocated %1 of Area C for Palestinian development, while %99 are off-limits, or at least under strict Israel's laws preventing Palestinian constructions and development.
Hundreds of Israeli settlers stormed late yesterday Nablus city under heavy protection of Israeli forces who imposed a tight security cordon on the eastern neighborhoods of the city.
The settlers arrived in several buses at Balata town, heavily escorted by Israeli military vehicles, in order to perform Jewish prayers at the site of Yossef Tomb east of the city. Their break-in lasted for several hours.
Clashes broke out between Israeli forces and local youths who protested against the settlers’ provocative break-in into their town.
During the clashes, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and stun grenades at the young men to disperse them, which resulted in dozens of breathing problems due to tear gas inhalation.
Israeli settlers routinely break into Youssef Tomb, believing that it belongs to the biblical patriarch, Joseph. However, archeologists said that the site is only a few centuries old, while Palestinians affirm that it contains the remains of a Muslim sheikh named Yossef Dweikat.
Following the 1967 War, Israel confiscated the site and a small Jewish seminary was built there in the eighties of the past century. The site was also used as a military outpost.
In al-Khalil, Israeli forces stormed at dawn today a Palestinian home to the south of the city after blowing up its door. Money and jewelry were confiscated during the raid.
Several neighboring towns were also stormed amid heavy presence of Israeli soldiers. No arrests were reported.
Along the same line, dozens of Palestinian vehicles were stopped and searched during the raids.
In Jenin, similar raids were carried out in Yabad town at dawn today, while make-shift checkpoints were erected across the town.
During the raid, Israeli soldiers threatened to evacuate a whole neighborhood in the town under the pretext of being located near an Israeli outpost.
The settlers arrived in several buses at Balata town, heavily escorted by Israeli military vehicles, in order to perform Jewish prayers at the site of Yossef Tomb east of the city. Their break-in lasted for several hours.
Clashes broke out between Israeli forces and local youths who protested against the settlers’ provocative break-in into their town.
During the clashes, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and stun grenades at the young men to disperse them, which resulted in dozens of breathing problems due to tear gas inhalation.
Israeli settlers routinely break into Youssef Tomb, believing that it belongs to the biblical patriarch, Joseph. However, archeologists said that the site is only a few centuries old, while Palestinians affirm that it contains the remains of a Muslim sheikh named Yossef Dweikat.
Following the 1967 War, Israel confiscated the site and a small Jewish seminary was built there in the eighties of the past century. The site was also used as a military outpost.
In al-Khalil, Israeli forces stormed at dawn today a Palestinian home to the south of the city after blowing up its door. Money and jewelry were confiscated during the raid.
Several neighboring towns were also stormed amid heavy presence of Israeli soldiers. No arrests were reported.
Along the same line, dozens of Palestinian vehicles were stopped and searched during the raids.
In Jenin, similar raids were carried out in Yabad town at dawn today, while make-shift checkpoints were erected across the town.
During the raid, Israeli soldiers threatened to evacuate a whole neighborhood in the town under the pretext of being located near an Israeli outpost.
A horde of Jewish settlers on Wednesday bulldozed Palestinian cultivated plots of land and built dirt roads in Qaryut town, south of Nablus city.
Anti-settlement activist Bashar al-Qaryuti stated that the settlers used heavy machinery to bulldoze cultivated lands south of Qaryut before they embarked on building and fencing agricultural routes.
Qaryuti added that the seized area is part of a vast tract of Palestinian land amounting to 400 dunums, which is legally dealt with at Israeli court after settlers have already appropriated it and prevented its owners from reaching it.
He stressed that the settlers violated an Israeli court order barring anyone from making any changes to this area until a verdict was issued regarding its rightful owners.
He also said that groups of settlers from Eli settlement have been continuing for more than a week to bulldoze and reclaiming Palestinian-owned lands west of the town in order to use it for agricultural purposes.
Anti-settlement activist Bashar al-Qaryuti stated that the settlers used heavy machinery to bulldoze cultivated lands south of Qaryut before they embarked on building and fencing agricultural routes.
Qaryuti added that the seized area is part of a vast tract of Palestinian land amounting to 400 dunums, which is legally dealt with at Israeli court after settlers have already appropriated it and prevented its owners from reaching it.
He stressed that the settlers violated an Israeli court order barring anyone from making any changes to this area until a verdict was issued regarding its rightful owners.
He also said that groups of settlers from Eli settlement have been continuing for more than a week to bulldoze and reclaiming Palestinian-owned lands west of the town in order to use it for agricultural purposes.
2 sept 2015
Dozens of young men from Silwan attempted to confront the settlers of Ateret Cohanim and prevent them from taking over and seizing the apartment of the late Jihad Sarhan in the “Middle Neighborhood” in Batn Al-Hawa. The young men were able to force the settlers who broke into the apartment using ropes to leave but the occupation forces provided the settlers with full protection enabling them to break into the apartment again and take it over.
Breaking into the apartment of Jihad Sarhan using ropes
Sarhan’s family explained to Wadi Hilweh Information Center that a group of settlers living in the building of Jamal Sarhan (sold to Ateret Cohanim last week) raided the apartment of Jihad Sarhan using ropes.
The settlers broke into the apartment through the windows of Jamal Sarhan’s building and dropped some furniture. The neighbors heard the noise only to find out that several settlers had already broken into the apartment.
Sarhan’s family added that a group of settler had broken into their uncle’s apartment and were able to reach the area of “Al-Hosh” (courtyard) within minutes; settlers were forced to leave after clashes broke out between the two sides.
The occupation forces outburst the door of Sarhan’s family’s “Hosh”
The family added that large forces including Special Forces outburst the main door of the apartment which had been closed for a while and provided the settlers with full protection to seize the apartment under the pretext of having an order from the Israeli court; note that the apartment has been empty for the last three years.
Arrests, clashes and the injury of 21 young men
The Information Center added that violent clashes and altercations using hands broke out in the “Hosh” between the forces and settlers on one side and the young men who attempted to confront the take-over process on another. During the clashes, the forces severely beat the young men with the butts of their guns and batons, and fired tear-gas and sound grenades in addition to rubber bullets.
Eight members of Sarhan family and one young man were injured with rubber bullets in the face, back and limbs. They also suffered several bruises due to being beat up with the butts of guns on their heads.
After seizing and taking over the apartment, the forces raided the house of Ahmad Sarhan and precisely searched it. They arrested the 16-year old Maher Samer Sarhan and the 22-year old Samah Sarhan. In the morning hours, the forces raided the house Mohammad Maher Sarhan and Ali Sarhan in provocative way.
Clashes spread to the neighborhoods of Batn Al-Hawa and Bi’er Ayoub and Al-Ein Street where 13 young men were injured by rubber bullets and shrapnel of sound grenades. Also, dozens of locals suffocated during the clashes due to random firing of tear gas by the occupation forces.
The center explained that the apartment is adjacent to the building of Jamal Sarhan that was sold to the settlers last Thursday and it is possible that the apartment of Jihad Sarhan was part of the deal done by Jamal.
Eight settlement outposts in the neighborhood of Batn Al-Hawa
The number of settlement outposts in the Middle Neighborhood increased to 8 where all of them were sold by their owners. The first was taken over in 2005 (Bet Yonatan), the second is House of Honey and three buildings were seized last year (Qawasmi and Rajabi), three apartments owned by Abu Nab family were seized this year as well as Jamal Sarhan’s building and Jihad Sarhan’s apartment.
Breaking into the apartment of Jihad Sarhan using ropes
Sarhan’s family explained to Wadi Hilweh Information Center that a group of settlers living in the building of Jamal Sarhan (sold to Ateret Cohanim last week) raided the apartment of Jihad Sarhan using ropes.
The settlers broke into the apartment through the windows of Jamal Sarhan’s building and dropped some furniture. The neighbors heard the noise only to find out that several settlers had already broken into the apartment.
Sarhan’s family added that a group of settler had broken into their uncle’s apartment and were able to reach the area of “Al-Hosh” (courtyard) within minutes; settlers were forced to leave after clashes broke out between the two sides.
The occupation forces outburst the door of Sarhan’s family’s “Hosh”
The family added that large forces including Special Forces outburst the main door of the apartment which had been closed for a while and provided the settlers with full protection to seize the apartment under the pretext of having an order from the Israeli court; note that the apartment has been empty for the last three years.
Arrests, clashes and the injury of 21 young men
The Information Center added that violent clashes and altercations using hands broke out in the “Hosh” between the forces and settlers on one side and the young men who attempted to confront the take-over process on another. During the clashes, the forces severely beat the young men with the butts of their guns and batons, and fired tear-gas and sound grenades in addition to rubber bullets.
Eight members of Sarhan family and one young man were injured with rubber bullets in the face, back and limbs. They also suffered several bruises due to being beat up with the butts of guns on their heads.
After seizing and taking over the apartment, the forces raided the house of Ahmad Sarhan and precisely searched it. They arrested the 16-year old Maher Samer Sarhan and the 22-year old Samah Sarhan. In the morning hours, the forces raided the house Mohammad Maher Sarhan and Ali Sarhan in provocative way.
Clashes spread to the neighborhoods of Batn Al-Hawa and Bi’er Ayoub and Al-Ein Street where 13 young men were injured by rubber bullets and shrapnel of sound grenades. Also, dozens of locals suffocated during the clashes due to random firing of tear gas by the occupation forces.
The center explained that the apartment is adjacent to the building of Jamal Sarhan that was sold to the settlers last Thursday and it is possible that the apartment of Jihad Sarhan was part of the deal done by Jamal.
Eight settlement outposts in the neighborhood of Batn Al-Hawa
The number of settlement outposts in the Middle Neighborhood increased to 8 where all of them were sold by their owners. The first was taken over in 2005 (Bet Yonatan), the second is House of Honey and three buildings were seized last year (Qawasmi and Rajabi), three apartments owned by Abu Nab family were seized this year as well as Jamal Sarhan’s building and Jihad Sarhan’s apartment.
Palestinian youths on Wednesday pulled down a barbed wire fence that Israeli authorities set up earlier in the day around part of an Islamic cemetery outside Jerusalem's Old City, a local monitoring group said.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan said that the youths, from the nearby Silwan neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, refused to allow Israel's Nature Authority to confiscate the land in Bab al-Rahma cemetery.
They also reportedly pulled out poles and barbed wire that in mid-August Israeli authorities put in place around land next to the cemetery belonging to the Palestinian al-Hussein and al-Ansari families.
The monitoring group said that Israel plans to turn the area along the Old City's eastern walls into a public park.Earlier Wednesday, a local Palestinian official told Ma'an that officials from Israel's Nature Authority, under military escort, set up the barbed wire fence around a large area of Bab al-Rahma cemetery.
Mustafa Abu Zahra, who heads a committee maintaining Islamic cemeteries in occupied East Jerusalem, said that the land belongs to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Endowment, which also oversees the adjoining Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam.
Bab al-Rahma, meaning Door of Compassion, runs along the eastern wall of Jerusalem's Old City and has been in use for more than 1,000 years. Abu Zahra said: "Today, the (Israeli) occupation wants to designate new borders for the Islamic cemetery, but its borders and walls were made hundreds of years ago."
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan said that the youths, from the nearby Silwan neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, refused to allow Israel's Nature Authority to confiscate the land in Bab al-Rahma cemetery.
They also reportedly pulled out poles and barbed wire that in mid-August Israeli authorities put in place around land next to the cemetery belonging to the Palestinian al-Hussein and al-Ansari families.
The monitoring group said that Israel plans to turn the area along the Old City's eastern walls into a public park.Earlier Wednesday, a local Palestinian official told Ma'an that officials from Israel's Nature Authority, under military escort, set up the barbed wire fence around a large area of Bab al-Rahma cemetery.
Mustafa Abu Zahra, who heads a committee maintaining Islamic cemeteries in occupied East Jerusalem, said that the land belongs to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Endowment, which also oversees the adjoining Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam.
Bab al-Rahma, meaning Door of Compassion, runs along the eastern wall of Jerusalem's Old City and has been in use for more than 1,000 years. Abu Zahra said: "Today, the (Israeli) occupation wants to designate new borders for the Islamic cemetery, but its borders and walls were made hundreds of years ago."
Israeli authorities on Wednesday morning confiscated a stretch of land belonging to an Islamic cemetery outside the eastern walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, a Palestinian official told Ma'an.
Mustafa Abu Zahra, who heads a committee maintaining Islamic cemeteries in occupied East Jerusalem, said that Israeli nature authority inspectors and Israeli soldiers stormed Bab al-Rahma cemetery and set up a barbed wire fence around a large area of the cemetery's land.
Bab al-Rahma, meaning Door of Compassion, runs along the eastern wall of Jerusalem's Old City and has been in use for more than 1,000 years. Abu Zahra said that there are graves lying in the land that was seized.
He said that the land belongs to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Endowment, which also oversees the adjoining Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam. Abu Zahra said that "for years Israel has been confiscating land which belongs to the cemetery to use it for touristic routes."
Two weeks ago, Israeli forces set up barbed wire fence around a 7,000 square meter stretch of land next to the Bab al-Rahma cemetery belonging to the al-Husseini and al-Ansari families.
Mustafa Abu Zahra, who heads a committee maintaining Islamic cemeteries in occupied East Jerusalem, said that Israeli nature authority inspectors and Israeli soldiers stormed Bab al-Rahma cemetery and set up a barbed wire fence around a large area of the cemetery's land.
Bab al-Rahma, meaning Door of Compassion, runs along the eastern wall of Jerusalem's Old City and has been in use for more than 1,000 years. Abu Zahra said that there are graves lying in the land that was seized.
He said that the land belongs to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Endowment, which also oversees the adjoining Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam. Abu Zahra said that "for years Israel has been confiscating land which belongs to the cemetery to use it for touristic routes."
Two weeks ago, Israeli forces set up barbed wire fence around a 7,000 square meter stretch of land next to the Bab al-Rahma cemetery belonging to the al-Husseini and al-Ansari families.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) notified Wednesday the demolition of a primary school in Yatta town south of al-Khalil.
The local activist Rateb Rajoub told PIC reporter that IOF stormed the town and handed demolition notification to a primary school under the pretext of being established in the Israeli-controlled area C.
The area has been subjected over the past two years to an Israeli systematic displacement policy aiming to forcibly evacuate the town for settlement expansion.
The local activist Rateb Rajoub told PIC reporter that IOF stormed the town and handed demolition notification to a primary school under the pretext of being established in the Israeli-controlled area C.
The area has been subjected over the past two years to an Israeli systematic displacement policy aiming to forcibly evacuate the town for settlement expansion.
1 sept 2015
The Ateret Cohanim association at dawn Tuesday seized a Palestinian residential home in Jerusalem’s town of Silwan, to the south of Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center said in a statement a horde of Israeli vandals smashed the entrance gates of the evacuated house of the Palestinian citizen Jihad Sarhan.
Earlier, on Thursday, an adjacent 13-story building was seized by Israeli settlers in the area.
Violent clashes broke out in Batn al-Hawa neighborhood after the settlers misappropriated the home.
Dozens of Palestinian protesters sustained wounds after the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) attacked them with random spates of tear gas canisters and rubber bullets.
Three youngsters were kidnapped during the clashes that burst out in the area.
Earlier overnight Monday, clashes burst out after the IOF stormed Ein al-Lawza in Silwan and attacked the unarmed Palestinian protesters with tear gas canisters and rubber bullets.
The Palestinian youths responded to the attack by throwing stones at the heavily-armed occupation soldiers.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center said in a statement a horde of Israeli vandals smashed the entrance gates of the evacuated house of the Palestinian citizen Jihad Sarhan.
Earlier, on Thursday, an adjacent 13-story building was seized by Israeli settlers in the area.
Violent clashes broke out in Batn al-Hawa neighborhood after the settlers misappropriated the home.
Dozens of Palestinian protesters sustained wounds after the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) attacked them with random spates of tear gas canisters and rubber bullets.
Three youngsters were kidnapped during the clashes that burst out in the area.
Earlier overnight Monday, clashes burst out after the IOF stormed Ein al-Lawza in Silwan and attacked the unarmed Palestinian protesters with tear gas canisters and rubber bullets.
The Palestinian youths responded to the attack by throwing stones at the heavily-armed occupation soldiers.
Israeli soldiers continued, on Tuesday at dawn, their invasion into the Jenin refugee camp, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, and fired missiles into two homes, before demolishing a store and several walls. The invasion into the camp started on Monday evening.
During the invasion, the soldiers kidnapped a former political prisoner, his mother, his son and his brother.
The soldiers fired two "Energa" shells targeting two homes in the refugee camp, before demolishing a store and several walls, surrounding the home of former political prisoner Majdi Abu al-Haija, who was taken prisoner after the soldiers also kidnapped his mother, his son Soheib, 18, and his brother ‘Ala.
A Civil Defense medic said the soldiers prevented the medics and ambulances from approaching the targeted homes, especially the home of Abu al-Haija.
He added that the wife of Abu al-Haija suffered fractures in one of her legs, and that the soldiers also invaded and occupied several surrounding homes.
Eyewitnesses said clashes took place between the soldiers and dozens of local youths, who hurled stones and empty bottles on them, and that armed resistance fighters also exchanged fire with the invading forces.
Sounds of loud explosions were also heard in the area, while military helicopters hovered overhead.
The Israeli army said one soldier suffered a moderate-to- severe injury, and was moved to Rambam Israeli Hospital in Haifa.
On Monday evening, soldiers kidnapped a Palestinian, identified as Mershed ‘Obeid Sabarna, 21, after stopping him on a military roadblock at the main entrance of his town, Beit Ummar, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
Soldier moderately wounded in West Bank arrest operation
Israeli forces enter West Bank town of Jenin to arrest wanted Islamic Jihad official, sparking violent clashes, wounding at least 5 Palestinians.
An Israeli soldier was moderately wounded in clashes that erupted Monday night in Jenin in the northern West Bank after Israeli security forces entered the area to arrest a wanted Palestinian suspect. The military is investigating the possibility the soldier was wounded by friendly fire.
The clashes lasted till dawn Tuesday.
At least five Palestinians were also wounded in the clashes, and were transported to a hospital in Jenin in light condition. There were conflicting reports on the nature of the Palestinians' injuries, with Palestinian medical sources saying the five were wounded by rubber bullets, while the head of the Red Crescent in Jenin said they suffered from smoke inhalation. Some reports said as many as 20 Palestinians were hurt.
During the raid, hundreds of Palestinians rioted in the area, hurling rocks and firebombs at the Israeli forces, the military said.
The Palestinians said that heavy gunfire broke out in fighting between the Israeli troops - which included IDF and Border Police counterterrorism troops, as well as Shin Bet operatives - and Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters.
At first, the IDF Spokesman's Unit said the forces were fired upon, but later said troops "heard gunfire."
Palestinian sources reported that the IDF was trying to arrest Bassam al-Saadi, a senior Islamic Jihad official in the West Bank, who spent time in Israeli jail and was released in 2011.
The Palestinians claimed that soldiers had fired a rocket at Saadi's home. According to the reports, Saadi was outside of the building at the time and was unharmed. Hamas and Islamic Jihad sources in Jenin said Saadi was able to escape and evade arrest and was "alive and wasn't killed."
Security forces also surrounded the home of the Abu Alhaija family, suspected of having ties to Hamas' military wing in the West Bank. Palestinian sources said Majdi Abu Alhaija was arrested, as well as his brother Alaa, his 15-year-old son and his mother. The house itself was demolished by the IDF.
The wounded soldier, from the Border Police's Yamam (counterterrorism) unit was evacuated by helicopter to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa where he received care and doctors said he was in stable condition.
Shortly before dawn, a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel early Tuesday, but the rocket appeared to have landed inside Gaza, the Israeli military said.
A small Salafist group in Gaza affiliated with the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for firing two rockets Tuesday toward Israel, saying it was in retaliation for the West Bank arrest raid.
During the invasion, the soldiers kidnapped a former political prisoner, his mother, his son and his brother.
The soldiers fired two "Energa" shells targeting two homes in the refugee camp, before demolishing a store and several walls, surrounding the home of former political prisoner Majdi Abu al-Haija, who was taken prisoner after the soldiers also kidnapped his mother, his son Soheib, 18, and his brother ‘Ala.
A Civil Defense medic said the soldiers prevented the medics and ambulances from approaching the targeted homes, especially the home of Abu al-Haija.
He added that the wife of Abu al-Haija suffered fractures in one of her legs, and that the soldiers also invaded and occupied several surrounding homes.
Eyewitnesses said clashes took place between the soldiers and dozens of local youths, who hurled stones and empty bottles on them, and that armed resistance fighters also exchanged fire with the invading forces.
Sounds of loud explosions were also heard in the area, while military helicopters hovered overhead.
The Israeli army said one soldier suffered a moderate-to- severe injury, and was moved to Rambam Israeli Hospital in Haifa.
On Monday evening, soldiers kidnapped a Palestinian, identified as Mershed ‘Obeid Sabarna, 21, after stopping him on a military roadblock at the main entrance of his town, Beit Ummar, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
Soldier moderately wounded in West Bank arrest operation
Israeli forces enter West Bank town of Jenin to arrest wanted Islamic Jihad official, sparking violent clashes, wounding at least 5 Palestinians.
An Israeli soldier was moderately wounded in clashes that erupted Monday night in Jenin in the northern West Bank after Israeli security forces entered the area to arrest a wanted Palestinian suspect. The military is investigating the possibility the soldier was wounded by friendly fire.
The clashes lasted till dawn Tuesday.
At least five Palestinians were also wounded in the clashes, and were transported to a hospital in Jenin in light condition. There were conflicting reports on the nature of the Palestinians' injuries, with Palestinian medical sources saying the five were wounded by rubber bullets, while the head of the Red Crescent in Jenin said they suffered from smoke inhalation. Some reports said as many as 20 Palestinians were hurt.
During the raid, hundreds of Palestinians rioted in the area, hurling rocks and firebombs at the Israeli forces, the military said.
The Palestinians said that heavy gunfire broke out in fighting between the Israeli troops - which included IDF and Border Police counterterrorism troops, as well as Shin Bet operatives - and Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters.
At first, the IDF Spokesman's Unit said the forces were fired upon, but later said troops "heard gunfire."
Palestinian sources reported that the IDF was trying to arrest Bassam al-Saadi, a senior Islamic Jihad official in the West Bank, who spent time in Israeli jail and was released in 2011.
The Palestinians claimed that soldiers had fired a rocket at Saadi's home. According to the reports, Saadi was outside of the building at the time and was unharmed. Hamas and Islamic Jihad sources in Jenin said Saadi was able to escape and evade arrest and was "alive and wasn't killed."
Security forces also surrounded the home of the Abu Alhaija family, suspected of having ties to Hamas' military wing in the West Bank. Palestinian sources said Majdi Abu Alhaija was arrested, as well as his brother Alaa, his 15-year-old son and his mother. The house itself was demolished by the IDF.
The wounded soldier, from the Border Police's Yamam (counterterrorism) unit was evacuated by helicopter to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa where he received care and doctors said he was in stable condition.
Shortly before dawn, a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel early Tuesday, but the rocket appeared to have landed inside Gaza, the Israeli military said.
A small Salafist group in Gaza affiliated with the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for firing two rockets Tuesday toward Israel, saying it was in retaliation for the West Bank arrest raid.
31 aug 2015
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday morning, the villages of Rommana and Zabbouba, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, stormed homes and searched them, and handed five Palestinians military warrants for interrogation in the Salem military base. Soldiers also demolished fifteen structures near Jerusalem.
Media sources said the summoned Palestinians from Rommana have been identified as Zoheir Rashed al-Ahmad, 21, Mohammad Ghazi Mahajna, 24, Abdul-Rahim ‘Amour, 21, and Abdul-Rahim Abu Hammad, 24. They were all summoned after the soldiers invaded their homes, and violently searched them.
In Zabbouba nearby village, soldiers invaded the family home of Anas Qassem 'Atatra, 30, and handed him a military order for interrogation, in the Salem base.
In addition, soldiers searched a home belonging to resident Mahmoud Zandeeq, and interrogated the family.
In related news, soldiers invaded Jaba' town, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, and demolished fifteen sheds and structures, belonging to Bedouin families of the al-'Ara'ra family. Most of the demolished structures were installed in 1975 and 1976.
Media sources said the summoned Palestinians from Rommana have been identified as Zoheir Rashed al-Ahmad, 21, Mohammad Ghazi Mahajna, 24, Abdul-Rahim ‘Amour, 21, and Abdul-Rahim Abu Hammad, 24. They were all summoned after the soldiers invaded their homes, and violently searched them.
In Zabbouba nearby village, soldiers invaded the family home of Anas Qassem 'Atatra, 30, and handed him a military order for interrogation, in the Salem base.
In addition, soldiers searched a home belonging to resident Mahmoud Zandeeq, and interrogated the family.
In related news, soldiers invaded Jaba' town, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, and demolished fifteen sheds and structures, belonging to Bedouin families of the al-'Ara'ra family. Most of the demolished structures were installed in 1975 and 1976.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) quelled a peaceful march in Beit Jala to the west of Bethlehem on Sunday in protest against the Separation Wall.
The PIC reporter said that the IOF soldiers used stun grenades and tear gas canisters to disperse the demonstrators. The march was organized by the Popular Committees against the Separation Wall and Settlement as well as by Beit Jala municipality, he added.
The march was launched from Beer Oneh area where Israeli military vehicles are working on completing the construction of the Separation Wall.
Patriarch Michel Sabbah along with scores of Palestinian activists and national figures in addition to inhabitants of Beit Jala participated in the march. They raised Palestinian flags and anti-Separation Wall slogans.
The IOF soldiers prevented the march from reaching the working place of Israeli vehicles and fired stun grenades and tear gas bombs at the marchers. The Israeli forces assaulted and arrested two Palestinians.
The forces attacked Palestinian press crews and forced them to leave the scene under gun threat.
In a speech, Patriarch Michel Sabbah stressed the need for supporting the inhabitants of Beit Jala in their popular resistance of the Separation Wall. He asked the Palestinian Authority to work on halting the Israeli violations and exposing it at the international level.
The PIC reporter said that the IOF soldiers used stun grenades and tear gas canisters to disperse the demonstrators. The march was organized by the Popular Committees against the Separation Wall and Settlement as well as by Beit Jala municipality, he added.
The march was launched from Beer Oneh area where Israeli military vehicles are working on completing the construction of the Separation Wall.
Patriarch Michel Sabbah along with scores of Palestinian activists and national figures in addition to inhabitants of Beit Jala participated in the march. They raised Palestinian flags and anti-Separation Wall slogans.
The IOF soldiers prevented the march from reaching the working place of Israeli vehicles and fired stun grenades and tear gas bombs at the marchers. The Israeli forces assaulted and arrested two Palestinians.
The forces attacked Palestinian press crews and forced them to leave the scene under gun threat.
In a speech, Patriarch Michel Sabbah stressed the need for supporting the inhabitants of Beit Jala in their popular resistance of the Separation Wall. He asked the Palestinian Authority to work on halting the Israeli violations and exposing it at the international level.