28 aug 2016
Israeli forces on Saturday handed demolition orders for homes owned by Palestinians in Silwan town in Occupied Jerusalem under the pretext of construction without legal permits.
Majdi al-Abbasi of Wadi Helweh Information Center revealed that a staff from Israeli municipality of Jerusalem broke into Silwan and handed two Palestinians orders for knocking down their homes.
He added that a third order was handed to a Jerusalemite man demanding him to raze a part of a wall built around his house as a fence.
The order stipulates for razing three meters out of the four-meter height of the wall. Another demolition order was given to a three-story building with an area estimated at 150 square meters.
The building was constructed in 1994 and shelters five families. The IOF troops ordered a Jerusalemite man to remove a container erected in Ain al-Lawzeh neighborhood in Silwan and handed a demolition order to another resident in the same district to raze his home.
In a similar context, Israeli municipality staff of Jerusalem stormed the sit-in tent in al-Bustan neighborhood and handed the committee for defending lands and homes of the neighborhood an order to stop flooring the tent and asked its members to go to the municipality next Tuesday for other procedures.
Majdi al-Abbasi of Wadi Helweh Information Center revealed that a staff from Israeli municipality of Jerusalem broke into Silwan and handed two Palestinians orders for knocking down their homes.
He added that a third order was handed to a Jerusalemite man demanding him to raze a part of a wall built around his house as a fence.
The order stipulates for razing three meters out of the four-meter height of the wall. Another demolition order was given to a three-story building with an area estimated at 150 square meters.
The building was constructed in 1994 and shelters five families. The IOF troops ordered a Jerusalemite man to remove a container erected in Ain al-Lawzeh neighborhood in Silwan and handed a demolition order to another resident in the same district to raze his home.
In a similar context, Israeli municipality staff of Jerusalem stormed the sit-in tent in al-Bustan neighborhood and handed the committee for defending lands and homes of the neighborhood an order to stop flooring the tent and asked its members to go to the municipality next Tuesday for other procedures.
27 aug 2016
The Israeli occupation navy on Saturday morning kidnapped two Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Beit Lahia district, north of the Gaza Strip.
According to a local committee documenting Israel's violations against Gaza fishermen, Israeli gunboats opened machinegun fire at Palestinian fishing boats, chased two of them and rounded up two fishermen after destroying the boat they were aboard.
The Israeli navy also confiscated the boat of the two detained fishermen, who were identified as Abdul-Latif Taroush and Ahmed Abu Ihsan.
In another incident, the Israeli army opened fire at Palestinian farmers as they were working their lands to the east of Azzeitun and Shuja'iyya neighborhoods in Gaza City. Luckily, none of the farmers was hurt in the gunfire attack.
According to a local committee documenting Israel's violations against Gaza fishermen, Israeli gunboats opened machinegun fire at Palestinian fishing boats, chased two of them and rounded up two fishermen after destroying the boat they were aboard.
The Israeli navy also confiscated the boat of the two detained fishermen, who were identified as Abdul-Latif Taroush and Ahmed Abu Ihsan.
In another incident, the Israeli army opened fire at Palestinian farmers as they were working their lands to the east of Azzeitun and Shuja'iyya neighborhoods in Gaza City. Luckily, none of the farmers was hurt in the gunfire attack.
24 aug 2016
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) razed Wednesday morning three housing structures in UM al-Khair hamlet to south of Yatta town in southern al-Khalil.
The PIC reporter revealed that Israeli military vehicles along with a bulldozer stormed the hamlet and evacuated two of its homes owned by Hathalein family and knocked them down.
The forces also demolished a culture center in the village.
The IOF soldiers assaulted some of the hamlet’s inhabitants during the evacuation process and arrested Haj Suleiman Hathalein in the operation, the PIC reporter added.
Um al-Khair hamlet has been suffering ceaseless displacement of its inhabitants and demolition of its homes and facilities at the hands of Israeli forces who bar its people from construction over their own land.
The PIC reporter revealed that Israeli military vehicles along with a bulldozer stormed the hamlet and evacuated two of its homes owned by Hathalein family and knocked them down.
The forces also demolished a culture center in the village.
The IOF soldiers assaulted some of the hamlet’s inhabitants during the evacuation process and arrested Haj Suleiman Hathalein in the operation, the PIC reporter added.
Um al-Khair hamlet has been suffering ceaseless displacement of its inhabitants and demolition of its homes and facilities at the hands of Israeli forces who bar its people from construction over their own land.
The Palestinian Authority on Tuesday condemned an announcement the previous day by the Israeli government that they would allow the expansion of a Jewish-only settlement in Hebron to allow an additional 100 Israelis to construct houses on illegally-seized Palestinian land.
The new houses will be constructed on an Israeli military base inside the city of Hebron along al-Shuhada Street in the central city.
They will expand the Israeli settlement of Beit Romano, which houses a yeshiva school. It was previously a Palestinian boy’s school, which was shut down in the early 1980s by the Israeli military for ‘security reasons’ and then reopened as a Jewish-only school soon after.
The military base on the site, which will be part of the settlement expansion, was constructed in the 1980s as well, on what had been the Hebron bus station.
It is surrounded by watchtowers, most of which are located on Palestinian-owned buildings.
Israel’s decision to allow the expansion of the settlement was criticized by Israeli peace organizations, and by the Palestinian Authority.
The Governor of Hebron, Kamal Hmeid, said that this settlement expansion demonstrates a collusion between the government and the settlers.
The group Peace Now said the expansion of the Hebron settlement constitutes a “right of return for Jews only”. This is in reference to the internationally recognized right of return of refugees, which has been denied to Palestinians since their expulsion from what is now Israel when it was created in 1948.
Although Israeli settlers have been expanding outposts and settlements in the Hebron area continuously, this is the first expansion that has been pre-approved and sanctioned by the Israeli government in a decade.
The new houses will be constructed on an Israeli military base inside the city of Hebron along al-Shuhada Street in the central city.
They will expand the Israeli settlement of Beit Romano, which houses a yeshiva school. It was previously a Palestinian boy’s school, which was shut down in the early 1980s by the Israeli military for ‘security reasons’ and then reopened as a Jewish-only school soon after.
The military base on the site, which will be part of the settlement expansion, was constructed in the 1980s as well, on what had been the Hebron bus station.
It is surrounded by watchtowers, most of which are located on Palestinian-owned buildings.
Israel’s decision to allow the expansion of the settlement was criticized by Israeli peace organizations, and by the Palestinian Authority.
The Governor of Hebron, Kamal Hmeid, said that this settlement expansion demonstrates a collusion between the government and the settlers.
The group Peace Now said the expansion of the Hebron settlement constitutes a “right of return for Jews only”. This is in reference to the internationally recognized right of return of refugees, which has been denied to Palestinians since their expulsion from what is now Israel when it was created in 1948.
Although Israeli settlers have been expanding outposts and settlements in the Hebron area continuously, this is the first expansion that has been pre-approved and sanctioned by the Israeli government in a decade.
23 aug 2016
Israeli soldiers invaded, earlier Tuesday, the ath-Thaheriyya and Doura towns, and Wad al-Harya area, in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, broke into a number of homes and kidnapped two Palestinians, in addition to invading workshops and confiscating machines.
The soldiers searched several homes in the ath-Thaheriyya town, south of Hebron, and Doura town, west of the city, and violently searched them causing property damage, before kidnapped two Palestinians identified as Bassam at-Tell and Salim Yousef Rajoub.
In addition, the army invaded Wad al-Harya area in Hebron city, before breaking into many shops and workshops, and confiscated lathing machines belonging to members of Abu Shakhdam family.
The soldiers searched several homes in the ath-Thaheriyya town, south of Hebron, and Doura town, west of the city, and violently searched them causing property damage, before kidnapped two Palestinians identified as Bassam at-Tell and Salim Yousef Rajoub.
In addition, the army invaded Wad al-Harya area in Hebron city, before breaking into many shops and workshops, and confiscated lathing machines belonging to members of Abu Shakhdam family.
Israeli military vehicles invaded, on Tuesday at dawn, the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and Doha town, before breaking into a number of workshops, and confiscated lathing and blacksmith machines. Many Palestinians have been injured by army fire during clashes that took place following the invasion.
Media sources in Bethlehem said the soldiers broke into many workshops in Bethlehem, and Doha west of the city, and confiscated a large number of machines.
The sources added that the soldiers placed posters stating that they believe there is a “workshop is involved in manufacturing weapons,” without actually clearly stating which one.
The workshops belong to many Palestinians; some of them have been identified as Ismael al-Hanash, Johny Anastas, and George Danho.
The army also invaded a Cafeteria in the Cinema area, in the center of Bethlehem city, and detained the workers for several hours while violently searching it.
Clashes took place in Bethlehem and Doha after the soldiers invaded them, and the soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets and gas bombs.
The Bethlehem office of the Red Crescent has reported that one Palestinian was shot with a live round fired by the soldiers, five others were shot with rubber-coated steel bullets, and at least six suffered the effects of teargas inhalation.
Media sources in Bethlehem said the soldiers broke into many workshops in Bethlehem, and Doha west of the city, and confiscated a large number of machines.
The sources added that the soldiers placed posters stating that they believe there is a “workshop is involved in manufacturing weapons,” without actually clearly stating which one.
The workshops belong to many Palestinians; some of them have been identified as Ismael al-Hanash, Johny Anastas, and George Danho.
The army also invaded a Cafeteria in the Cinema area, in the center of Bethlehem city, and detained the workers for several hours while violently searching it.
Clashes took place in Bethlehem and Doha after the soldiers invaded them, and the soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets and gas bombs.
The Bethlehem office of the Red Crescent has reported that one Palestinian was shot with a live round fired by the soldiers, five others were shot with rubber-coated steel bullets, and at least six suffered the effects of teargas inhalation.
22 aug 2016
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) confiscated 1,198 Jordanian dinars from the wife of Khalil Assaf, head of the Palestinian independent personalities’ assembly in the West Bank, after detaining her for hours while heading to Jordan via al-Karama crossing.
Khalil Assaf revealed that the IOF stopped him along with his wife and children at the crossing and searched them twice.
Then, they rounded up his wife and took her to the police station of Ma'aleh Adumim where they detained her until three o’clock in the morning, he added.
Khalil Assaf revealed that the IOF stopped him along with his wife and children at the crossing and searched them twice.
Then, they rounded up his wife and took her to the police station of Ma'aleh Adumim where they detained her until three o’clock in the morning, he added.
As part of Israel's mass punishment policy, its higher court on Sunday decided to allow the demolition of a house belonging to a Palestinian father accused of being involved in the killing of a Jewish rabbi in al-Khalil in early July.
The house belongs to prisoner Mohamed Amairah and his family from Dura town in al-Khalil.
The Israeli Shin Bet claim that Amairah was accomplice in the shooting attack that led last month to the death of rabbi Michael Mark near al-Majnuneh Camp area, south of Dura town.
The court rejected a petition filed by an Israeli human rights group against the demolition of the house, which would lead to the displacement of prisoner Amairah's family.
The house belongs to prisoner Mohamed Amairah and his family from Dura town in al-Khalil.
The Israeli Shin Bet claim that Amairah was accomplice in the shooting attack that led last month to the death of rabbi Michael Mark near al-Majnuneh Camp area, south of Dura town.
The court rejected a petition filed by an Israeli human rights group against the demolition of the house, which would lead to the displacement of prisoner Amairah's family.
The Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu and its “Housing Ministry” are planning the construction of new colonialist residential units for Jewish settlers in the heart of Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Israeli daily Haaretz has reported that, a few months ago, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon authorized the construction of the new colony, in area H2 of Hebron, under full Israeli control.
Describing it as “only a handful of homes,” Haaretz stated that the plan calls for building the constructions in an area where the Mitkanim military base currently stands, located between the “Jewish Neighborhood” (Avraham Avinu colony) and the Shuhada Street.
Israel is alleging that the land, where the new construction is planned to take place, “was inhabited by Jewish families prior to the establishment of Israel.”
It remains unclear the number of units and the exact size of the new illegal colony, while the area of the military base in question is nearly two Dunams (0.49 Acres).
Less than two weeks ago, the Hebron Construction Committee revealed to Maan News Agency that a number of illegal Israeli colonists installed a new outpost in the old bus station area, in the center of Hebron city, close to the Beit Romano outpost that was illegally established in property belonging to Osama Bin al-Monqith school, in Hebron.
Emad Hammad, the head of the Hebron Construction Committee, told Maan that the colonists added twelve new mobile homes in the yard of the old bus station, which was illegally occupied by the army in the 1980’s, and was used as a military base.
Israeli daily Haaretz has reported that, a few months ago, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon authorized the construction of the new colony, in area H2 of Hebron, under full Israeli control.
Describing it as “only a handful of homes,” Haaretz stated that the plan calls for building the constructions in an area where the Mitkanim military base currently stands, located between the “Jewish Neighborhood” (Avraham Avinu colony) and the Shuhada Street.
Israel is alleging that the land, where the new construction is planned to take place, “was inhabited by Jewish families prior to the establishment of Israel.”
It remains unclear the number of units and the exact size of the new illegal colony, while the area of the military base in question is nearly two Dunams (0.49 Acres).
Less than two weeks ago, the Hebron Construction Committee revealed to Maan News Agency that a number of illegal Israeli colonists installed a new outpost in the old bus station area, in the center of Hebron city, close to the Beit Romano outpost that was illegally established in property belonging to Osama Bin al-Monqith school, in Hebron.
Emad Hammad, the head of the Hebron Construction Committee, told Maan that the colonists added twelve new mobile homes in the yard of the old bus station, which was illegally occupied by the army in the 1980’s, and was used as a military base.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at dawn, several districts in the occupied West Bank, searched homes and kidnapped at nine eight Palestinians, including six in Hebron. The army also handed demolition orders of two homes in Salfit.
Media sources in Hebron said the soldiers invaded the al-Bayyada and al-Misrara areas, in Beit Ummar town, north of the city, searched homes and kidnapped two Palestinians, identified as Abdul-Jalil Mohammad Ekhlayyel, 20, and Mojahed Sayel Abu Fanous, 19.
The soldiers also invaded a number of homes, in various neighborhoods in Hebron city, and kidnapped Nour Hatem Qfeisha, 19, Monjed Nader al-Qawasmi, 21, and Mohammad Yousef Rabba’.
The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said the soldiers also kidnapped one Palestinian, identified as Bajes Mohammad Abu Ghayyala, from his home in Beit Awwa town, south of the city.
It added that the soldiers also invaded the home of a journalist, identified as Lama Khater, in Hebron city and initially wanted to abduct her, but she insisted that she will not leave her infant behind, and the soldiers instead handed her order for interrogation in Etzion military base and security center.
The army also invaded several neighborhoods in Halhoul city, north of Hebron, and summoned one Palestinian for interrogation in Etzion.
In addition, the soldiers invaded Um ash-Sharayet area, in the Central West Bank city of Ramallah, and kidnapped a young man, identified as Mazen Ramadan, after searching his home.
Another Palestinian, identified as Netham Bisharat, was kidnapped from his home in Tammoun village, in the central West Bank district of Tubas.
In Bethlehem, the soldiers invaded the city and searched the home of Sabri Ismael Abed-Rabbo, 25, and kidnapped him.
In Salfit, the soldiers detained a young man for several hours, and invaded the home of detainee Omar al-Abboushi, before violently searching it.
In the Zawiya village, near Salfit, the soldiers invaded the family home of Abdul-Rahman Raddad, who was killed by the Israeli army earlier this past March, searched the property and interrogated the family, before handing them a demolition order against their property.
The soldiers also handed a demolition order against the home of detainee Omar al-‘Abboushi, who was kidnapped on May 30th 2016.
Media sources in Hebron said the soldiers invaded the al-Bayyada and al-Misrara areas, in Beit Ummar town, north of the city, searched homes and kidnapped two Palestinians, identified as Abdul-Jalil Mohammad Ekhlayyel, 20, and Mojahed Sayel Abu Fanous, 19.
The soldiers also invaded a number of homes, in various neighborhoods in Hebron city, and kidnapped Nour Hatem Qfeisha, 19, Monjed Nader al-Qawasmi, 21, and Mohammad Yousef Rabba’.
The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said the soldiers also kidnapped one Palestinian, identified as Bajes Mohammad Abu Ghayyala, from his home in Beit Awwa town, south of the city.
It added that the soldiers also invaded the home of a journalist, identified as Lama Khater, in Hebron city and initially wanted to abduct her, but she insisted that she will not leave her infant behind, and the soldiers instead handed her order for interrogation in Etzion military base and security center.
The army also invaded several neighborhoods in Halhoul city, north of Hebron, and summoned one Palestinian for interrogation in Etzion.
In addition, the soldiers invaded Um ash-Sharayet area, in the Central West Bank city of Ramallah, and kidnapped a young man, identified as Mazen Ramadan, after searching his home.
Another Palestinian, identified as Netham Bisharat, was kidnapped from his home in Tammoun village, in the central West Bank district of Tubas.
In Bethlehem, the soldiers invaded the city and searched the home of Sabri Ismael Abed-Rabbo, 25, and kidnapped him.
In Salfit, the soldiers detained a young man for several hours, and invaded the home of detainee Omar al-Abboushi, before violently searching it.
In the Zawiya village, near Salfit, the soldiers invaded the family home of Abdul-Rahman Raddad, who was killed by the Israeli army earlier this past March, searched the property and interrogated the family, before handing them a demolition order against their property.
The soldiers also handed a demolition order against the home of detainee Omar al-‘Abboushi, who was kidnapped on May 30th 2016.
20 aug 2016
Israeli soldiers stole, on Saturday morning, bicycles from two children, in ‘Aida refugee camp, in the West Bank district of Bethlehem.
Monther Amira, an activist with the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies, said the two children were riding their bicycles and playing in the al-Moftah area, at the eastern entrance of the refugee camp.
Amira added that the soldiers invaded that area, stole the bicycles from the two children, and withdrew shortly after.
The Israeli army frequently assaults Palestinian children, playing in their communities, in addition to repeatedly targeting them with live fire, rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades.
On July 25, Israeli Border Guard Police officers, harassed an eight-year-old Palestinian child in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, and took her bicycle away before throwing it in a ditch.
Although the abuse was caught on tape, the Police Investigation Unit of the Israeli Justice Department (Mahash) decided not to indict the Border Guard police officers.
The officers were caught on tape harassing the child, in the center of Hebron city, before they took her bicycle away from her and threw it in the bushes.
Monther Amira, an activist with the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies, said the two children were riding their bicycles and playing in the al-Moftah area, at the eastern entrance of the refugee camp.
Amira added that the soldiers invaded that area, stole the bicycles from the two children, and withdrew shortly after.
The Israeli army frequently assaults Palestinian children, playing in their communities, in addition to repeatedly targeting them with live fire, rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades.
On July 25, Israeli Border Guard Police officers, harassed an eight-year-old Palestinian child in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, and took her bicycle away before throwing it in a ditch.
Although the abuse was caught on tape, the Police Investigation Unit of the Israeli Justice Department (Mahash) decided not to indict the Border Guard police officers.
The officers were caught on tape harassing the child, in the center of Hebron city, before they took her bicycle away from her and threw it in the bushes.
Hundreds of Palestinian citizens listened to the khutba (sermon) and performed the Friday prayer yesterday on the ruins of destroyed apartment buildings in Qalandiya village, north of Occupied Jerusalem.
Palestinian lawmakers and national figures also attended the Friday khutba and prayer. In his khutba, MP Ibrahim Abu Salem condemned Israel's destruction of residential buildings in the village as a "massacre."
"The widespread demolition massacre that happened in the village entails moving to help the affected people and confronting the Israeli measures by reconstructing the buildings better than before," Abu Salem said.
"[Israel's] policies, especially the demolition of homes, will not make peace.
The injustice sows hatred and yields terrorism because the demolition of innocent people's homes is a tyranny and all tyrants will be doomed to perdition," he underlined.
For his part, chief of Qalandiya municipal council Ra'fat Awadallah has called on the competent authorities to double their efforts to rebuild the destroyed homes as soon as possible and protect the villagers against Israel's demolition campaigns.
Head of the Jerusalem Murabitun Committee Yousef Mukhaimar, in turn, called on the Palestinian citizens to frequent the sit-in tent that was pitched in the area in solidarity with the homeowners.
The Israeli occupation authority in Jerusalem had demolished 12 apartment buildings on July 25 at the pretext of unlicensed construction.
Palestinian lawmakers and national figures also attended the Friday khutba and prayer. In his khutba, MP Ibrahim Abu Salem condemned Israel's destruction of residential buildings in the village as a "massacre."
"The widespread demolition massacre that happened in the village entails moving to help the affected people and confronting the Israeli measures by reconstructing the buildings better than before," Abu Salem said.
"[Israel's] policies, especially the demolition of homes, will not make peace.
The injustice sows hatred and yields terrorism because the demolition of innocent people's homes is a tyranny and all tyrants will be doomed to perdition," he underlined.
For his part, chief of Qalandiya municipal council Ra'fat Awadallah has called on the competent authorities to double their efforts to rebuild the destroyed homes as soon as possible and protect the villagers against Israel's demolition campaigns.
Head of the Jerusalem Murabitun Committee Yousef Mukhaimar, in turn, called on the Palestinian citizens to frequent the sit-in tent that was pitched in the area in solidarity with the homeowners.
The Israeli occupation authority in Jerusalem had demolished 12 apartment buildings on July 25 at the pretext of unlicensed construction.