22 nov 2017
Funds donated by Kuwait to reimburse factories destroyed by the Israeli offensive on Gaza have been dispatched to the enclave, a Palestinian minister said.
Public Works and Housing Minister, Mufeed al-Hasayna, said $1.7 million were sent to Gaza.
He called on those registered on the list of affected persons to go to the Bank of Palestine to receive their allotted sums.
The minister hailed the Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah and the Kuwaiti Development Fund along with the Kuwaiti people for supporting the Palestinians.
Public Works and Housing Minister, Mufeed al-Hasayna, said $1.7 million were sent to Gaza.
He called on those registered on the list of affected persons to go to the Bank of Palestine to receive their allotted sums.
The minister hailed the Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah and the Kuwaiti Development Fund along with the Kuwaiti people for supporting the Palestinians.
20 nov 2017
The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) organized, on Sunday in London, a popular event which managed to raise donation for the people of Gaza.
The event, which came as part of the Palestine day campaign, have collected donations estimated at one hundred thousand dollars.
During the event, head of the PFB Hafez Al-Karmi renewed his demand to the British government to apologize for the Balfour declaration, which he described as “one of the worst promises in history.”
The organizing committee chairman Adnan Hmidan pointed to the diversity of this campaign’s activities for this year which included two films about the Balfour declaration and Gaza siege.
The activities also included an exhibition presenting a variety of Palestinian products as well as traditional foods in addition to children programs, he added.
The event was concluded with performances made by singers and dancers as well as a short theatrical show.
The Palestine day campaign is an annual event which started since the establishment of the PFB in 2004.
The event, which came as part of the Palestine day campaign, have collected donations estimated at one hundred thousand dollars.
During the event, head of the PFB Hafez Al-Karmi renewed his demand to the British government to apologize for the Balfour declaration, which he described as “one of the worst promises in history.”
The organizing committee chairman Adnan Hmidan pointed to the diversity of this campaign’s activities for this year which included two films about the Balfour declaration and Gaza siege.
The activities also included an exhibition presenting a variety of Palestinian products as well as traditional foods in addition to children programs, he added.
The event was concluded with performances made by singers and dancers as well as a short theatrical show.
The Palestine day campaign is an annual event which started since the establishment of the PFB in 2004.
19 nov 2017
A Senior UN official called, on Friday, for the Israeli occupation to stop destroying Palestinian property and respect international law.
The UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Aid and Development Activities for the occupied Palestinian territory, Robert Piper, today condemned the demolition and confiscation of donor-funded humanitarian assistance by the Israeli authorities in the Palestinian community of Jabal al-Baba.
On 16 May, Israeli authorities demolished seven homes and confiscated materials for three other ones. Nine Palestine refugee families, comprising 49 members were left without shelter as a result, 22 of them children.
According to Days of Palestine, the materials were part of a humanitarian aid package for vulnerable Palestinian Bedouin families, provided by the UN’s Humanitarian Pooled Fund, earlier this year.
“Despite the obligation on Israel under international law to facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of relief to those who need it, humanitarian relief to vulnerable communities like Jabal al-Baba is increasingly under attack,” said Piper.
Jabal al-Baba, located to the east of Jerusalem in an area planned for the expansion of the illegal Israeli Jewish settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, is one of 46 communities in the central West Bank considered at high risk of forcible transfer.
The destruction of homes and of livelihoods creates pressures on households to move, exacerbating the risk of forcible transfer which would be considered a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Over 600 structures have been demolished or confiscated across the West Bank already in 2016, far exceeding the total for all of 2015. In their wake, over 900 people have been displaced from their homes and a further 2,500 have seen their livelihoods affected.
“Once again, we call on Israel to respect the rights of these vulnerable communities and to leave these households in peace,” said Piper.
The UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Aid and Development Activities for the occupied Palestinian territory, Robert Piper, today condemned the demolition and confiscation of donor-funded humanitarian assistance by the Israeli authorities in the Palestinian community of Jabal al-Baba.
On 16 May, Israeli authorities demolished seven homes and confiscated materials for three other ones. Nine Palestine refugee families, comprising 49 members were left without shelter as a result, 22 of them children.
According to Days of Palestine, the materials were part of a humanitarian aid package for vulnerable Palestinian Bedouin families, provided by the UN’s Humanitarian Pooled Fund, earlier this year.
“Despite the obligation on Israel under international law to facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of relief to those who need it, humanitarian relief to vulnerable communities like Jabal al-Baba is increasingly under attack,” said Piper.
Jabal al-Baba, located to the east of Jerusalem in an area planned for the expansion of the illegal Israeli Jewish settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, is one of 46 communities in the central West Bank considered at high risk of forcible transfer.
The destruction of homes and of livelihoods creates pressures on households to move, exacerbating the risk of forcible transfer which would be considered a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Over 600 structures have been demolished or confiscated across the West Bank already in 2016, far exceeding the total for all of 2015. In their wake, over 900 people have been displaced from their homes and a further 2,500 have seen their livelihoods affected.
“Once again, we call on Israel to respect the rights of these vulnerable communities and to leave these households in peace,” said Piper.
13 nov 2017
The Israeli Knesset is mobilizing to stop EU aid from reaching Palestinian prisoners or their families, under the pretext that they are “terrorists” or “families of terrorists,” Israel Hayom reported on Friday.
According to the online newspaper, Zionist Union MK Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, a member of the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet, is gathering support for the project; she has received the blessing of Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and six other MKs from various factions so far.
“Figures we have collected show that, every month, some €4.5 million in EU funds are divided among those who carried out terrorist attacks against Israel and the families of terrorists,” Nahmias-Verbin told Israel Hayom.
The Israeli MK, the newspaper said, had sent a letter to the new EU Ambassador to Israel, Emmanuel Joffre, briefing him about her project and its goals. She also asked for a meeting along with other MKs to discuss the issue.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously asked the Palestinian Authority to stop paying former prisoners and families of current prisoners, claiming that they are terrorists or families of terrorists.
Critics of the Israeli occupation have pointed out that while Israel calls Palestinian resistance fighters “terrorists” its government has recently rewarded an Israeli soldier who shot dead an already wounded, motionless Palestinian in Al-Khalil (Hebron), Days of Palestine reports.
According to the online newspaper, Zionist Union MK Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, a member of the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet, is gathering support for the project; she has received the blessing of Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and six other MKs from various factions so far.
“Figures we have collected show that, every month, some €4.5 million in EU funds are divided among those who carried out terrorist attacks against Israel and the families of terrorists,” Nahmias-Verbin told Israel Hayom.
The Israeli MK, the newspaper said, had sent a letter to the new EU Ambassador to Israel, Emmanuel Joffre, briefing him about her project and its goals. She also asked for a meeting along with other MKs to discuss the issue.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously asked the Palestinian Authority to stop paying former prisoners and families of current prisoners, claiming that they are terrorists or families of terrorists.
Critics of the Israeli occupation have pointed out that while Israel calls Palestinian resistance fighters “terrorists” its government has recently rewarded an Israeli soldier who shot dead an already wounded, motionless Palestinian in Al-Khalil (Hebron), Days of Palestine reports.
24 oct 2017
Celtic, a Scottish football club known for receiving multiple fines over its fans carrying Palestinian flags during matches, has won the 2017 FIFA award for best fans in London.
Celtic supporters won the award of best fans for their tribute to the Lisbon Lions in May, for the 50th anniversary of the club winning the European Cup, following voting from other clubs' supporters on FIFA’s website.
Celtic beat Borussia Dortmund and FC Copenhagen to this award.
Celtic has been financially penalized nine times in five seasons by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for its supporters' practices, including £8,615 over fans’ support of Palestine in a 2016 victory against Israel's Hapoel Beer Sheva and a fine of around £16,000 a few years ago after a Palestine flag was displayed at a Champions League qualifier against KR Reykjavik.
Supporters of Celtic, known as the Green Brigade, have donated £176,000 (US$220,000) to two Palestinian charities in the West Bank. The donation was crowdfunded in reaction to the 2016 UEFA fine for carrying and flying Palestinian flags during a match against Israel.
Celtic supporters won the award of best fans for their tribute to the Lisbon Lions in May, for the 50th anniversary of the club winning the European Cup, following voting from other clubs' supporters on FIFA’s website.
Celtic beat Borussia Dortmund and FC Copenhagen to this award.
Celtic has been financially penalized nine times in five seasons by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for its supporters' practices, including £8,615 over fans’ support of Palestine in a 2016 victory against Israel's Hapoel Beer Sheva and a fine of around £16,000 a few years ago after a Palestine flag was displayed at a Champions League qualifier against KR Reykjavik.
Supporters of Celtic, known as the Green Brigade, have donated £176,000 (US$220,000) to two Palestinian charities in the West Bank. The donation was crowdfunded in reaction to the 2016 UEFA fine for carrying and flying Palestinian flags during a match against Israel.
14 sept 2017
US administration is working to halt financial aid to Palestinians, over Palestinian Authority's long-standing practice of rewarding Palestinian terrorists who have killed Americans and Israelis; 'Peace can never take root in an environment where violence is tolerated, funded and even rewarded,' Trump reportedly told Abbas during their meeting in May.
The Trump administration is backing legislation that would suspend US financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority until it ends what critics say is a long-standing practice of rewarding Palestinians who kill Americans and Israelis.
In comments Thursday, the State Department says the administration "strongly supports" the bill. The State Department said President Donald Trump raised the issue with President Mahmoud Abbas during meetings in May. "Peace can never take root in an environment where violence is tolerated, funded and even rewarded," Trump reportedly told Abbas at the time.
The measure is named after Taylor Force, an MBA student at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and a West Point graduate. He was visiting Israel in March 2016 when he was stabbed to death by a Palestinian. Force was from Lubbock, Texas.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the bill in early August.
The Trump administration is backing legislation that would suspend US financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority until it ends what critics say is a long-standing practice of rewarding Palestinians who kill Americans and Israelis.
In comments Thursday, the State Department says the administration "strongly supports" the bill. The State Department said President Donald Trump raised the issue with President Mahmoud Abbas during meetings in May. "Peace can never take root in an environment where violence is tolerated, funded and even rewarded," Trump reportedly told Abbas at the time.
The measure is named after Taylor Force, an MBA student at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and a West Point graduate. He was visiting Israel in March 2016 when he was stabbed to death by a Palestinian. Force was from Lubbock, Texas.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the bill in early August.
10 sept 2017
A number of poor families in the central Gaza Strip have received recently household solar power kits funded by Relief International and donors from South Africa.
The families, who benefited from this initiative, were selected carefully according to the criteria of most needy first under the supervision of lawmakers from the Hamas parliamentary bloc.
MP Huda Na’iem stated, in press remarks, the population in Gaza suffers greatly from the problem of electricity, especially the poor families who need to live a decent life like others.
She said that providing homes with solar power systems is considered one of the most important projects that aim to improve the living conditions of poor families in Gaza and alleviate their suffering.
The families, who benefited from this initiative, were selected carefully according to the criteria of most needy first under the supervision of lawmakers from the Hamas parliamentary bloc.
MP Huda Na’iem stated, in press remarks, the population in Gaza suffers greatly from the problem of electricity, especially the poor families who need to live a decent life like others.
She said that providing homes with solar power systems is considered one of the most important projects that aim to improve the living conditions of poor families in Gaza and alleviate their suffering.
22 aug 2017
Head of the relief department of the Algerian Scholars Association, Yahya Sari, said on Tuesday that negotiations with Egyptian authorities to allow the Algerian humanitarian convoy to enter the Gaza Strip have reached a dead end.
Sari told Quds Press that the convoy is preparing to return to Algeria as soon as possible so that the medicines are not damaged due to heat.
He pointed out that Egyptian authorities have given their reasons for preventing the entry of the convoy into Gaza, but he did not disclose them.
The 14-truck convoy, carrying medical aid worth over $4 million, contained medicines, medical supplies, ambulances and electricity generators urgently needed for Gaza's hospitals.
The convoy named (Algeria-Gaza 4) arrived on Wednesday at the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing in preparation for entering the Gaza Strip, but it was asked on Friday evening to return to the Egyptian city of Port Said despite having all the documents required to deliver aid to Gaza.
Ammar Talbi, the deputy head of the Algerian Scholars Association, appealed two days ago to Egyptian authorities to expedite the entry of the Algerian convoy into the coastal enclave fearing that some medicines may deteriorate due to the high temperature.
Talbi said in a statement that the convoy was purely humanitarian and that it left Algeria after obtaining the approvals of both Algerian and Egyptian authorities in early February.
Sari told Quds Press that the convoy is preparing to return to Algeria as soon as possible so that the medicines are not damaged due to heat.
He pointed out that Egyptian authorities have given their reasons for preventing the entry of the convoy into Gaza, but he did not disclose them.
The 14-truck convoy, carrying medical aid worth over $4 million, contained medicines, medical supplies, ambulances and electricity generators urgently needed for Gaza's hospitals.
The convoy named (Algeria-Gaza 4) arrived on Wednesday at the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing in preparation for entering the Gaza Strip, but it was asked on Friday evening to return to the Egyptian city of Port Said despite having all the documents required to deliver aid to Gaza.
Ammar Talbi, the deputy head of the Algerian Scholars Association, appealed two days ago to Egyptian authorities to expedite the entry of the Algerian convoy into the coastal enclave fearing that some medicines may deteriorate due to the high temperature.
Talbi said in a statement that the convoy was purely humanitarian and that it left Algeria after obtaining the approvals of both Algerian and Egyptian authorities in early February.
18 aug 2017
The Egyptian authorities prevented an Algerian humanitarian convoy from entering the blockaded Gaza Strip via Rafah border-crossing.
According to the National Movement against the Blockade and for Reconstruction, the ban is disappointing and was issued after the convoy obtained all required permits to pass through the crossing.
The Algerian convoy was carrying much-needed medicines and aid items to Gaza’s under-equipped hospitals.
According to the National Movement against the Blockade and for Reconstruction, the ban is disappointing and was issued after the convoy obtained all required permits to pass through the crossing.
The Algerian convoy was carrying much-needed medicines and aid items to Gaza’s under-equipped hospitals.
22 june 2017
Five trucks carrying aid from Turkey arrived in the blockaded Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
Media director at the crossings department, Wael Abu Omar, said five trucks, out of 14 aid trucks bound for Gaza, reached the coastal enclave via Karem Abu Salem crossing, between Gaza and Israel.
The remaining nine trucks are expected to reach Gaza sometime in the near future.
Earlier in the day, a Turkish aid ship sailed from Mersin seaport and docked at Ashdod harbor following a 40-hour-trip.
The humanitarian aid ship, named Aqua Stella, carried 50,000 pieces of clothing, 20,000 pieces of stationery kit, 18,000 children toys, and 50,000 food parcels, along with 100 wheelchairs.
Ankara also sent bicycles and 5,000 tons of flour, along with 100 tons of biscuit, chocolate and cake.
Turkish ambassador to Israel Kemal Okem said upon his arrival to Ashdod seaport that Turkey will keep up its efforts to alleviate the crises rocking the coastal territory.
Media director at the crossings department, Wael Abu Omar, said five trucks, out of 14 aid trucks bound for Gaza, reached the coastal enclave via Karem Abu Salem crossing, between Gaza and Israel.
The remaining nine trucks are expected to reach Gaza sometime in the near future.
Earlier in the day, a Turkish aid ship sailed from Mersin seaport and docked at Ashdod harbor following a 40-hour-trip.
The humanitarian aid ship, named Aqua Stella, carried 50,000 pieces of clothing, 20,000 pieces of stationery kit, 18,000 children toys, and 50,000 food parcels, along with 100 wheelchairs.
Ankara also sent bicycles and 5,000 tons of flour, along with 100 tons of biscuit, chocolate and cake.
Turkish ambassador to Israel Kemal Okem said upon his arrival to Ashdod seaport that Turkey will keep up its efforts to alleviate the crises rocking the coastal territory.
19 june 2017
Head of the Popular Committee against the Siege MP Jamal al-Khudari welcomed the aid ship heading to Gaza from Algeria.
In a press statement on Monday, Khudari said, "It is an important move in light of the Israeli decade-long siege on Gaza and the ensuing crises in the sectors of health, economy, environment, and infrastructure, including electricity, water, sewage and others".
Khudari thanked Algeria, presidency, government and people, for the great efforts to alleviate Gaza siege and their solidarity with the Palestinian people. He also thanked Egypt for allowing the ship to anchor at the Egyptian seaports.
The Algerian aid ship, sent by Muslim Scholars Association, for residents in the Gaza Strip arrived at Algiers Port in preparation to kick off on June 22 to Valencia Port in Spain then is slated to arrive at Port Said in Egypt on July 10.
A total of 15 containers of medical equipment, medicines, electrical apparatuses, food, and clothes are carried by the convoy.
In a press statement on Monday, Khudari said, "It is an important move in light of the Israeli decade-long siege on Gaza and the ensuing crises in the sectors of health, economy, environment, and infrastructure, including electricity, water, sewage and others".
Khudari thanked Algeria, presidency, government and people, for the great efforts to alleviate Gaza siege and their solidarity with the Palestinian people. He also thanked Egypt for allowing the ship to anchor at the Egyptian seaports.
The Algerian aid ship, sent by Muslim Scholars Association, for residents in the Gaza Strip arrived at Algiers Port in preparation to kick off on June 22 to Valencia Port in Spain then is slated to arrive at Port Said in Egypt on July 10.
A total of 15 containers of medical equipment, medicines, electrical apparatuses, food, and clothes are carried by the convoy.
28 mar 2017
The Association of Algerian Muslim Ulama (scholars) announced on Monday starting preparation for sending a humanitarian convoy to the besieged Gaza Strip by the end of April after the Egyptian authorities agreed to let it pass through Rafah border crossing.
Al-Tuhami Majourie, member of the Algerian Muslim Scholars nongovernmental association which organizes and supervises the aid convoy, said that it was scheduled to kick off months ago, but a delay occurred due to political conditions in Egypt, according to Anadolu news agency.
“We received a phone call a month ago from the Egyptian Embassy in Algeria saying that there was an official approval for the convoy to pass through Rafah crossing towards Gaza Strip”, he said.
He revealed that the solidarity convoy carries medications, clothes and household goods in addition to school tools that were collected in a popular donation campaign in Algeria.
The association had organized several convoys to the blockaded Gaza Strip, the last of which was in 2015, he highlighted.
Al-Tuhami Majourie, member of the Algerian Muslim Scholars nongovernmental association which organizes and supervises the aid convoy, said that it was scheduled to kick off months ago, but a delay occurred due to political conditions in Egypt, according to Anadolu news agency.
“We received a phone call a month ago from the Egyptian Embassy in Algeria saying that there was an official approval for the convoy to pass through Rafah crossing towards Gaza Strip”, he said.
He revealed that the solidarity convoy carries medications, clothes and household goods in addition to school tools that were collected in a popular donation campaign in Algeria.
The association had organized several convoys to the blockaded Gaza Strip, the last of which was in 2015, he highlighted.
15 jan 2017
The Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority (PENRA) said Saturday that it had received official confirmation about the Turkish government’s intention to send 15 million liters of fuel for the Gaza power plant.
In a press release, the energy authority affirmed that once the Turkish fuel shipment arrived in Gaza, it would be used immediately to operate the power generators in the plant.
It added that the shipment would enhance the distribution program and maintain its stability during the winter months.
The Turkish government, a strong supporter for the Palestinian people, planned years ago to send a floating power plant (power-generating ship) to Gaza to supply it with electricity, but the Palestinian Authority thwarted the step.
In a press release, the energy authority affirmed that once the Turkish fuel shipment arrived in Gaza, it would be used immediately to operate the power generators in the plant.
It added that the shipment would enhance the distribution program and maintain its stability during the winter months.
The Turkish government, a strong supporter for the Palestinian people, planned years ago to send a floating power plant (power-generating ship) to Gaza to supply it with electricity, but the Palestinian Authority thwarted the step.