10 may 2016

Israeli soldiers fired, Monday, several gas bombs at students and health workers of the “Health Work Committees,” in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, causing many to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
The nursing students, and health workers, are with the Emergency Center of the Health Work Committees, in the southern part of Hebron.
They were trying to cross the Abu ar-Reesh Israeli military roadblock, when the soldiers started firing gas bombs at them, causing many to suffer severe effects of tear gas inhalation.
Some of the Israeli gas bombs were fired directly into the health center.
The Emergency Unit of the Health Work Committees has been subject to numerous Israeli violations and invasions, as the soldiers repeatedly fired gas bombs into the building and sprayed it with waste-water mixed with chemicals, in addition to repeated assaults targeting its workers and their freedom of movement.
The center provides medical services to more than 60.000 Palestinians in the area, and is also subject to attacks by fanatic Israeli colonists, and frequent army invasions.
The nursing students, and health workers, are with the Emergency Center of the Health Work Committees, in the southern part of Hebron.
They were trying to cross the Abu ar-Reesh Israeli military roadblock, when the soldiers started firing gas bombs at them, causing many to suffer severe effects of tear gas inhalation.
Some of the Israeli gas bombs were fired directly into the health center.
The Emergency Unit of the Health Work Committees has been subject to numerous Israeli violations and invasions, as the soldiers repeatedly fired gas bombs into the building and sprayed it with waste-water mixed with chemicals, in addition to repeated assaults targeting its workers and their freedom of movement.
The center provides medical services to more than 60.000 Palestinians in the area, and is also subject to attacks by fanatic Israeli colonists, and frequent army invasions.
9 may 2016

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday morning closed the Qalandiya checkpoint, south of Ramallah, and blocked traffic before Palestinian commuters in both directions.
Eyewitnesses said that soldiers, manning the crossing, blocked movement of students, workers, and even patients heading to hospitals in occupied Jerusalem at flimsy security pretexts.
They said that tension is running high in the vicinity of the crossing and dozens of Palestinians are gathering near it.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers last night raided Sanur village in Jenin and cut off electricity for hours without giving any reason.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that IOF soldiers raided the village after cutting off electricity and roamed its streets and erected a makeshift roadblock at its entrance.
Eyewitnesses said that soldiers, manning the crossing, blocked movement of students, workers, and even patients heading to hospitals in occupied Jerusalem at flimsy security pretexts.
They said that tension is running high in the vicinity of the crossing and dozens of Palestinians are gathering near it.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers last night raided Sanur village in Jenin and cut off electricity for hours without giving any reason.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that IOF soldiers raided the village after cutting off electricity and roamed its streets and erected a makeshift roadblock at its entrance.
7 may 2016

Israeli soldiers invaded, Friday, the town of Abu Dis, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem, and clashed with dozens of youngsters, wounding at least thirty-three, including two medics.
The soldiers fired dozens of gas bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets, wounding nine Palestinians, who received the needed treatment by local Red Crescent medics.
The Red Crescent said the soldiers also targeted its medics, by firing gas bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets at them, and their ambulances, wounding two with rubber-coated steel bullets, as they were trying to provide the needed medical attention to injured Palestinians.
|Three Palestinians Injured By Israeli Army Fire In Gaza|
|Bethlehem: At Least 250 Activists Join The Freedom March”|
The soldiers fired dozens of gas bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets, wounding nine Palestinians, who received the needed treatment by local Red Crescent medics.
The Red Crescent said the soldiers also targeted its medics, by firing gas bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets at them, and their ambulances, wounding two with rubber-coated steel bullets, as they were trying to provide the needed medical attention to injured Palestinians.
|Three Palestinians Injured By Israeli Army Fire In Gaza|
|Bethlehem: At Least 250 Activists Join The Freedom March”|
5 may 2016

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Thursday stormed different areas of Occupied Jerusalem, raided homes and arrested a Palestinian citizen from the Old City.
According to Quds Press, Israeli police forces raided and ransacked several homes today in Issawiya district in east Jerusalem, with no reported arrests.
Israeli soldiers also stormed Biddu town northeast of Jerusalem and clashed with local young men. In the Old City of Jerusalem, Israeli policemen arrested a Palestinian paramedic identified as Wisam Hammouda during a raid on his home and took him to a detention center in the city for interrogation.
In separate incidents, eight Palestinian citizens were taken prisoners during dawn raids today on homes in different areas of Jerusalem and the West Bank.
According to Quds Press, Israeli police forces raided and ransacked several homes today in Issawiya district in east Jerusalem, with no reported arrests.
Israeli soldiers also stormed Biddu town northeast of Jerusalem and clashed with local young men. In the Old City of Jerusalem, Israeli policemen arrested a Palestinian paramedic identified as Wisam Hammouda during a raid on his home and took him to a detention center in the city for interrogation.
In separate incidents, eight Palestinian citizens were taken prisoners during dawn raids today on homes in different areas of Jerusalem and the West Bank.
3 may 2016

The Israeli occupation municipality on Monday notified the demolition of Palestinian civilian homes and structures in al-Issawiya town, to the northeast of Occupied Jerusalem.
Member of al-Issawiya Follow-up Committee, Muhammad Abu al-Hums, said Israeli municipal crews stormed al-Issawiya and took pictures of Palestinian buildings and residential neighborhoods.
The Israeli municipal staff pasted demolition notifications on the walls of the targeted Palestinian homes and structures, attributing the move to the unlicensed construction pretext. Most of the targeted buildings have reportedly been homes to native Palestinian families for several years.
The notifications also targeted a gas station and a medical center.
Meanwhile, a hearing is expected to be held by the municipal court to look into the appeals filed by the Palestinians of al-Issawiya against the attempts of the Israeli municipality and Nature Authority to seize a Palestinian cultivated land lot.
The move makes part of an ongoing Israeli policy of collective punishment against the Palestinians.
Earlier, at predawn time, the Israeli occupation troops stormed Palestinian homes in Abu Taya neighborhood, in Silwan, and threatened to arrest a number of Palestinian youths in case of any involvement in anti-occupation activities.
Member of al-Issawiya Follow-up Committee, Muhammad Abu al-Hums, said Israeli municipal crews stormed al-Issawiya and took pictures of Palestinian buildings and residential neighborhoods.
The Israeli municipal staff pasted demolition notifications on the walls of the targeted Palestinian homes and structures, attributing the move to the unlicensed construction pretext. Most of the targeted buildings have reportedly been homes to native Palestinian families for several years.
The notifications also targeted a gas station and a medical center.
Meanwhile, a hearing is expected to be held by the municipal court to look into the appeals filed by the Palestinians of al-Issawiya against the attempts of the Israeli municipality and Nature Authority to seize a Palestinian cultivated land lot.
The move makes part of an ongoing Israeli policy of collective punishment against the Palestinians.
Earlier, at predawn time, the Israeli occupation troops stormed Palestinian homes in Abu Taya neighborhood, in Silwan, and threatened to arrest a number of Palestinian youths in case of any involvement in anti-occupation activities.
29 apr 2016

40,000 Palestinians in Gaza Strip suffer from diabetes, half of them are women, UNRWA said in a new report issued on the occasion of World Health Day.
The Gaza Strip is an environment where malnutrition and infectious diseases can coexist with non-communicable health conditions such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
Forced urbanization, over-crowding and the related psychosocial stress can aggravate these diseases, the report said.
According to the UNRWA health program in Gaza, in 2015, approximately 12.2 per cent of Palestinian refugees aged 40 years or more were suffering from diabetes. In total, the UNRWA health program in Gaza reported 16,889 male and 23,118 female Palestinian refugee diabetes patients in 2015.
Through the provision of basic health care in its health centers, as well as regular awareness sessions for the community, UNRWA is working towards Sustainable Development Goal 3 – good health and well-being – which calls for the reduction of premature death from non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, by 30 per cent by 2030.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people living with diabetes globally has almost quadrupled since 1980 to 422 million adults, with most living in developing countries.
The Gaza Strip is an environment where malnutrition and infectious diseases can coexist with non-communicable health conditions such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
Forced urbanization, over-crowding and the related psychosocial stress can aggravate these diseases, the report said.
According to the UNRWA health program in Gaza, in 2015, approximately 12.2 per cent of Palestinian refugees aged 40 years or more were suffering from diabetes. In total, the UNRWA health program in Gaza reported 16,889 male and 23,118 female Palestinian refugee diabetes patients in 2015.
Through the provision of basic health care in its health centers, as well as regular awareness sessions for the community, UNRWA is working towards Sustainable Development Goal 3 – good health and well-being – which calls for the reduction of premature death from non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, by 30 per cent by 2030.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people living with diabetes globally has almost quadrupled since 1980 to 422 million adults, with most living in developing countries.
25 apr 2016

Israeli soldiers closed, on Monday morning, the main entrance of the Hebron Emergency Center, run by the Hebron Health Committees, by placing concrete blocks, completely sealing it, and deployed dozens of soldiers on its rooftop.
Dr. Ramzi Abu Yousef, director of the Health Work Committees (HWC) in Hebron, said many soldiers occupied the center’s rooftop, and turned it into a military base.
Abu Yousef warned of the consequences of this violation, especially since the center receives hundreds of patients on a daily basis, and added that the center provides its medical services to more than 60.000 Palestinians.
“For years now, the center has been subject to frequent Israeli military violations, including many invasions, and the soldiers even fired gas bombs at it,” Abu Yousef said, “They also repeatedly sprayed it with waste-water mixed with chemicals, in addition to harassing the patients and their families, and the various measures restricting their freedom of movement.”
The HWC voiced an urgent appeal to various human right groups to intervene, and provide the needed protection to Palestinian health centers, in addition to pressuring Israel into halting its serious violations.
“People who need medical care have the right to receive it, but Israel continues to violate it,” the HWC added, “International Humanitarian Law stresses on the importance of unrestricted access to medical facilities.”
Dr. Ramzi Abu Yousef, director of the Health Work Committees (HWC) in Hebron, said many soldiers occupied the center’s rooftop, and turned it into a military base.
Abu Yousef warned of the consequences of this violation, especially since the center receives hundreds of patients on a daily basis, and added that the center provides its medical services to more than 60.000 Palestinians.
“For years now, the center has been subject to frequent Israeli military violations, including many invasions, and the soldiers even fired gas bombs at it,” Abu Yousef said, “They also repeatedly sprayed it with waste-water mixed with chemicals, in addition to harassing the patients and their families, and the various measures restricting their freedom of movement.”
The HWC voiced an urgent appeal to various human right groups to intervene, and provide the needed protection to Palestinian health centers, in addition to pressuring Israel into halting its serious violations.
“People who need medical care have the right to receive it, but Israel continues to violate it,” the HWC added, “International Humanitarian Law stresses on the importance of unrestricted access to medical facilities.”
30 mar 2016

Al-Mizan Center for Human Rights accused the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) of seriously threatening the Gazan patients' lives by preventing them from traveling for treatment and by arresting some of them at Beit Hanon- Erez crossing.
The official in the Department of field research at the center, Samir Zaqout, said that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) had arrested eight patients from the Gaza Strip at the Erez crossing in northern Gaza Strip since the beginning of this year 2016.
Zaqout told Quds Press that the IOF had arrested on Monday patient Mohamed Kamel Abu Oudeh, 34, from Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, while he was on his way for treatment in a hospital in the West Bank.
He pointed out that the arrest of Oudeh is the second case of arrest of patients in less than a week, as the patient Hani Salim, 40, was arrested last Thursday, in the same way.
The Palestinian researcher charged that the arrest of patients “exploits the Gazan patients' need to cross Erez crossing in order to arrest or blackmail them", he described arresting patients through the crossing as "arbitrary."
Al-Mizan Center asserted that what the Israeli occupation authorities do against patients comes in the context of "gross and systematic violations" of the rules of international humanitarian law, especially in light of the continuation of the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip for more than eight years.
He called on the international community to put pressure on the IOA to compel it to respect the international law, to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, and to ensure the freedom of movement of people and goods.
The IOF arrested 44 Palestinians, including four patients and 30 merchants at the Beit Hanon- Erez crossing over the past year 2015.
The official in the Department of field research at the center, Samir Zaqout, said that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) had arrested eight patients from the Gaza Strip at the Erez crossing in northern Gaza Strip since the beginning of this year 2016.
Zaqout told Quds Press that the IOF had arrested on Monday patient Mohamed Kamel Abu Oudeh, 34, from Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, while he was on his way for treatment in a hospital in the West Bank.
He pointed out that the arrest of Oudeh is the second case of arrest of patients in less than a week, as the patient Hani Salim, 40, was arrested last Thursday, in the same way.
The Palestinian researcher charged that the arrest of patients “exploits the Gazan patients' need to cross Erez crossing in order to arrest or blackmail them", he described arresting patients through the crossing as "arbitrary."
Al-Mizan Center asserted that what the Israeli occupation authorities do against patients comes in the context of "gross and systematic violations" of the rules of international humanitarian law, especially in light of the continuation of the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip for more than eight years.
He called on the international community to put pressure on the IOA to compel it to respect the international law, to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, and to ensure the freedom of movement of people and goods.
The IOF arrested 44 Palestinians, including four patients and 30 merchants at the Beit Hanon- Erez crossing over the past year 2015.
20 mar 2016

Palestinian poet Ilham Abu Dhaher has launched an initiative to build a hospital for cancer treatment in the blockaded Gaza Strip under the slogan “Let’s Do It.”
Poet Abu Dhaher said the initiative saw the day because of the lack of hospitals for cancer therapy in the besieged coastal enclave. “It is the right of our people in Gaza to have a hospital for cancer-stricken patients,” the poet said.
She raised alarm bells over the agony suffered by Gaza’s cancer patients due to the closure of border-crossings and the Israeli-Egyptian blockade.
“I will do whatever it takes to make this dream come true,” she vowed. “A Palestinian benevolent expatriate donated a five-dunum-land for the project,” she said. “Whoever thinks of serving his motherland has to make the first steps on his own,” poet Abu Dhaher further stated.
Poet Abu Dhaher said the initiative saw the day because of the lack of hospitals for cancer therapy in the besieged coastal enclave. “It is the right of our people in Gaza to have a hospital for cancer-stricken patients,” the poet said.
She raised alarm bells over the agony suffered by Gaza’s cancer patients due to the closure of border-crossings and the Israeli-Egyptian blockade.
“I will do whatever it takes to make this dream come true,” she vowed. “A Palestinian benevolent expatriate donated a five-dunum-land for the project,” she said. “Whoever thinks of serving his motherland has to make the first steps on his own,” poet Abu Dhaher further stated.
16 mar 2016

An Israeli settler escorted by a soldier stormed on Tuesday evening a room at the Afula hospital, where the Palestinian prisoner Muhammad al-Qeiq is being treated, and insulted him.
Al-Qeiq’s Facebook page quoted his wife, journalist Fayhaa Shalash, as stating that an Israeli soldier and a settler crept into his room at the Afula hospital before they insulted him and yelled such racist threats as “you must die.”
Palestinians present near the room and police guards forced the soldier and the settler out of the hospital.
Muhammad al-Qeiq is currently being treated for the health complications inflicted by a three-month hunger strike in protest at his administrative detention, with neither charge nor trial. He suspended his hunger strike after Israeli prison authorities promised to release him in May.
Al-Qeiq’s Facebook page quoted his wife, journalist Fayhaa Shalash, as stating that an Israeli soldier and a settler crept into his room at the Afula hospital before they insulted him and yelled such racist threats as “you must die.”
Palestinians present near the room and police guards forced the soldier and the settler out of the hospital.
Muhammad al-Qeiq is currently being treated for the health complications inflicted by a three-month hunger strike in protest at his administrative detention, with neither charge nor trial. He suspended his hunger strike after Israeli prison authorities promised to release him in May.
4 mar 2016

Palestinian medical sources have reported, Friday, that two medics of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, after Israeli soldiers fired a gas bomb into their ambulance, at the northern entrance of Bethlehem city. One Palestinian was kidnapped in Husan.
Mohammad Awad, head of the Emergency Unit of the Red Crescent, said the soldiers deliberately fired gas bombs at the ambulance, near Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque, as the medics were trying to provide medical aid to wounded Palestinians.
Awad added that one of the gas bombs struck the windshield of an ambulance, causing two medics, identified as Ayman Da’absa and Fadi Ja’afra, to suffer severe effects of tear gas inhalation.
He also said that many Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and received the needed treatment.
In related news, the soldiers invaded Husan town, west of Bethlehem, and kidnapped Safwan Yousef Hamamra, 21, while standing in front of their home in the al-Mateena area, in the center of the village.
The soldiers also harassed and assaulted many residents, and interrogated them while inspecting their ID cards.
Mohammad Awad, head of the Emergency Unit of the Red Crescent, said the soldiers deliberately fired gas bombs at the ambulance, near Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque, as the medics were trying to provide medical aid to wounded Palestinians.
Awad added that one of the gas bombs struck the windshield of an ambulance, causing two medics, identified as Ayman Da’absa and Fadi Ja’afra, to suffer severe effects of tear gas inhalation.
He also said that many Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and received the needed treatment.
In related news, the soldiers invaded Husan town, west of Bethlehem, and kidnapped Safwan Yousef Hamamra, 21, while standing in front of their home in the al-Mateena area, in the center of the village.
The soldiers also harassed and assaulted many residents, and interrogated them while inspecting their ID cards.
28 feb 2016

Three Palestinians, including a child, were critically injured Sunday as clashes broke out in Khader town south of Bethlehem, while a child was detained in Jenin.
Medical and local sources reported that the clashes broke out when Israeli forces violently stormed the town amid heavy and random fire of live ammunition.
A child was seriously injured after being directly shot in his chest, the sources added. He underwent an urgent surgery once he arrived at Yamamah Hospital after a bullet had pierced his back, according to the emergency doctor.
The Israeli forces tried to storm the hospital to arrest him despite his difficult health situation; however, local youths prevented their raid.
Two other Palestinians were injured including a doctor during the confrontations that erupted outside the hospital. The doctor was reportedly in a serious but stable condition.
Along the same line, a 15-year-old child was arrested as clashes broke out in Yabad town southeast of Jenin, while dozens suffered the effects of teargas inhalation. Local sources said that the confrontations erupted when a number of Israeli army vehicles stormed the town amid heavy fire of teargas bomb and rubber bullets at the houses.
A number of houses were violently stormed and searched during the raid. Another young man was also arrested in Beit Ummar town north of al-Khalil after the confiscation of his car.
Medical and local sources reported that the clashes broke out when Israeli forces violently stormed the town amid heavy and random fire of live ammunition.
A child was seriously injured after being directly shot in his chest, the sources added. He underwent an urgent surgery once he arrived at Yamamah Hospital after a bullet had pierced his back, according to the emergency doctor.
The Israeli forces tried to storm the hospital to arrest him despite his difficult health situation; however, local youths prevented their raid.
Two other Palestinians were injured including a doctor during the confrontations that erupted outside the hospital. The doctor was reportedly in a serious but stable condition.
Along the same line, a 15-year-old child was arrested as clashes broke out in Yabad town southeast of Jenin, while dozens suffered the effects of teargas inhalation. Local sources said that the confrontations erupted when a number of Israeli army vehicles stormed the town amid heavy fire of teargas bomb and rubber bullets at the houses.
A number of houses were violently stormed and searched during the raid. Another young man was also arrested in Beit Ummar town north of al-Khalil after the confiscation of his car.
22 feb 2016

Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) cut the services of national and health insurances of over 50 Jerusalemite sit-inners including children and elderly people.
The Jerusalemite woman Aydah al-Masri, one of the blacklisted sit-inners by Israeli forces and barred from entering the Aqsa Mosque, told the PIC reporter that Israeli authorities cancelled her and her husband’s national and health insurances despite that her husband is a diabetes patient.
“They justified that by claiming that we do not reside in Jerusalem and asked us for official documents that prove paying of taxes and bills dating back to very long years,” Masri said.
Another blacklisted Jerusalemite woman, Dalal al-Hashlamoun, told the PIC that Israeli forces stopped her national and health insurance despite paying all of the taxes and bills. She added that the Israeli authorities ordered her lawyer to pay a retroactive payment estimated at 79 thousand shekels for the insurance until the present day.
“The Israeli insurance company has been procrastinating for two months regardless of submitting all needed documents”, she pointed out.
The cut of insurance services affected the Jerusalemite families badly as there are elderly people with the need of regular medical follow up for chronic diseases in addition to the need of others to undergo unaffordable surgeries, the families underlined.
The Jerusalemite woman Aydah al-Masri, one of the blacklisted sit-inners by Israeli forces and barred from entering the Aqsa Mosque, told the PIC reporter that Israeli authorities cancelled her and her husband’s national and health insurances despite that her husband is a diabetes patient.
“They justified that by claiming that we do not reside in Jerusalem and asked us for official documents that prove paying of taxes and bills dating back to very long years,” Masri said.
Another blacklisted Jerusalemite woman, Dalal al-Hashlamoun, told the PIC that Israeli forces stopped her national and health insurance despite paying all of the taxes and bills. She added that the Israeli authorities ordered her lawyer to pay a retroactive payment estimated at 79 thousand shekels for the insurance until the present day.
“The Israeli insurance company has been procrastinating for two months regardless of submitting all needed documents”, she pointed out.
The cut of insurance services affected the Jerusalemite families badly as there are elderly people with the need of regular medical follow up for chronic diseases in addition to the need of others to undergo unaffordable surgeries, the families underlined.