20 dec 2014
Deputy political bureau chairman of Hamas Ismail Haneyya described the Israeli air raid on Gaza after midnight Friday as “serious escalation”.
Haneyya called on Egypt that brokered the ceasefire in Gaza to urgently intervene to ensure that no such serious breach of the truce would recur.
Haneyya, who was extending condolences to family of Qassam Brigades fighter Bilal al-Minairawi in Rafah on Saturday, lauded the martyr’s feats. Minairawi was killed during training last Thursday.
Haneyya called on Egypt that brokered the ceasefire in Gaza to urgently intervene to ensure that no such serious breach of the truce would recur.
Haneyya, who was extending condolences to family of Qassam Brigades fighter Bilal al-Minairawi in Rafah on Saturday, lauded the martyr’s feats. Minairawi was killed during training last Thursday.
Hamas denounces 'foolishness' of recent Israeli airstrikes
The Israeli navy, on Saturday, again opened fire at Palestinian fishermen boats, this time along the As-Sudaneyya shore, northwest of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has denied responsibility for an alleged rocket attack coming from Gaza, denouncing the recently renewed Israeli airstrikes as foolish.
Local sources reported, according to the PNN, that the shots targeted small fishing boats sailing in the area. No casualties were reported.
Attacks on Palestinian fishermen have been continuous since the August 26 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, though, according to the agreement, Gaza's allotted fishing zone was supposed to expand, incrementally.
When the siege on Gaza was first imposed, in 2006, fishermen were limited to only three nautical miles off the Gaza shore.
As part of an earlier ceasefire agreement, in November of 2012, Israel agreed to expand the area to six nautical miles, but unilaterally decreased is again to three miles.
Fishermen and their boats, however, remained under constant threat, even within those three miles, leading to dozens of casualties and excessive property damage. Dozens of Palestinian fishermen, in addition, have been kidnapped by soldiers.
Under the Oslo accords of the mid-nineties, Palestinians are supposed to be allowed to fish within 20 nautical miles off the Gaza shore, but Tel Aviv has constantly violated the agreement.
The daily illegal Israeli assaults on the Gaza Sea violate the economic and social rights of the Palestinian fishermen who are only allowed a limited area to fish and sustain a livelihood within.
The Hamas party, on Saturday, denounced the recent Israeli airstrikes against a military base in Gaza as a "dangerous escalation", as political parties across Palestine condemned the first bombing since the August ceasefire.
According to Ma'an News Agency, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri warned Palestinians of another "foolish" Israeli act, calling upon the international community to carry out its responsibilities toward the renewed Israeli aggression.
The Israeli military said that launched the attack in retaliation for a rocket fired from Gaza just the day before, but Hamas has denied any responsibility for the alleged attack. Israel, however, has said that it holds Hamas responsible for any rocket fired by any group inside Gaza.
Palestinian political organizations have widely denounced the bombing, condemning Israel for its repeated violations of the recent ceasefire which halted this past summer's devastating conflict.
The Israeli navy, on Saturday, again opened fire at Palestinian fishermen boats, this time along the As-Sudaneyya shore, northwest of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has denied responsibility for an alleged rocket attack coming from Gaza, denouncing the recently renewed Israeli airstrikes as foolish.
Local sources reported, according to the PNN, that the shots targeted small fishing boats sailing in the area. No casualties were reported.
Attacks on Palestinian fishermen have been continuous since the August 26 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, though, according to the agreement, Gaza's allotted fishing zone was supposed to expand, incrementally.
When the siege on Gaza was first imposed, in 2006, fishermen were limited to only three nautical miles off the Gaza shore.
As part of an earlier ceasefire agreement, in November of 2012, Israel agreed to expand the area to six nautical miles, but unilaterally decreased is again to three miles.
Fishermen and their boats, however, remained under constant threat, even within those three miles, leading to dozens of casualties and excessive property damage. Dozens of Palestinian fishermen, in addition, have been kidnapped by soldiers.
Under the Oslo accords of the mid-nineties, Palestinians are supposed to be allowed to fish within 20 nautical miles off the Gaza shore, but Tel Aviv has constantly violated the agreement.
The daily illegal Israeli assaults on the Gaza Sea violate the economic and social rights of the Palestinian fishermen who are only allowed a limited area to fish and sustain a livelihood within.
The Hamas party, on Saturday, denounced the recent Israeli airstrikes against a military base in Gaza as a "dangerous escalation", as political parties across Palestine condemned the first bombing since the August ceasefire.
According to Ma'an News Agency, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri warned Palestinians of another "foolish" Israeli act, calling upon the international community to carry out its responsibilities toward the renewed Israeli aggression.
The Israeli military said that launched the attack in retaliation for a rocket fired from Gaza just the day before, but Hamas has denied any responsibility for the alleged attack. Israel, however, has said that it holds Hamas responsible for any rocket fired by any group inside Gaza.
Palestinian political organizations have widely denounced the bombing, condemning Israel for its repeated violations of the recent ceasefire which halted this past summer's devastating conflict.
Hamas Movement warned Saturday against Israel’s continued and repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement, calling on the international community to bear its responsibility to prevent any further breach of the truce.
Commenting on Israel’s overnight airstrikes on Gaza, the leader in Hamas Movement Salah Bardawil wrote on his Facebook that Israeli airstrikes this morning and the continuous targeting of fishermen and farmers in Gaza fall as part of Israel's tampering with the ceasefire agreement.
He pointed out that Israel's latest violation could be part of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's election campaign in order to make up for his defeat in Gaza.
For its part, the armed wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the National Resistance Brigades, threatened to cancel its commitment to the ceasefire agreement in case Israel’s violations of the truce continued.
The National Resistance Brigades slammed Israel’s recent airstrikes to the south of Gaza that “came in parallel with its violations against Gazan fishermen and farmers.”
"Israeli repeated bombings against resistance sites in Gaza would only force us to cancel our commitment to the ceasefire agreement and to defend our people in face of Israeli violations," the statement said.
The Brigades called on Palestinian resistance factions to urgently meet in order to discuss ways to respond to Israel’s crimes in Gaza and the West Bank.
Early Saturday, an Israeli warplane bombed an area to the south of the Gaza Strip, with no reported casualties.
Commenting on Israel’s overnight airstrikes on Gaza, the leader in Hamas Movement Salah Bardawil wrote on his Facebook that Israeli airstrikes this morning and the continuous targeting of fishermen and farmers in Gaza fall as part of Israel's tampering with the ceasefire agreement.
He pointed out that Israel's latest violation could be part of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's election campaign in order to make up for his defeat in Gaza.
For its part, the armed wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the National Resistance Brigades, threatened to cancel its commitment to the ceasefire agreement in case Israel’s violations of the truce continued.
The National Resistance Brigades slammed Israel’s recent airstrikes to the south of Gaza that “came in parallel with its violations against Gazan fishermen and farmers.”
"Israeli repeated bombings against resistance sites in Gaza would only force us to cancel our commitment to the ceasefire agreement and to defend our people in face of Israeli violations," the statement said.
The Brigades called on Palestinian resistance factions to urgently meet in order to discuss ways to respond to Israel’s crimes in Gaza and the West Bank.
Early Saturday, an Israeli warplane bombed an area to the south of the Gaza Strip, with no reported casualties.
An Israeli warplane bombed after midnight an area to the south of the Gaza Strip, with no reported casualties.
Local sources told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that an Israeli warplane fired after midnight, precisely during the first hour of Saturday, two missiles at Hittin neighborhood, northwest of Khan Younis.
The air raid resulted in loud explosions that rocked the area and were heard across the Gaza Strip, but no casualties or material damage have been reported so far.
Different areas of Khan Younis plunged into darkness immediately following the aerial attack.
Locals also reported concurrent military overflights in Gaza airspace, which caused widespread panic among civilians.
In this regard, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that the Israeli air force attacked overnight targets in Gaza in response to the fall of a Palestinian rocket in an empty area near Eshkol settlement, south of the border with Gaza.
This was the first aerial attack since Israel ended its last war on Gaza in August following a ceasefire deal with the Palestinian resistance.
In an earlier incident, six Gazan young men suffered different bullet injuries when Israeli soldiers behind the border fence to the east of Jabaliya district, north of Gaza, opened fire at them on Friday evening.
Local sources said that Israeli soldiers opened fire at citizens during their presence near al-Shuhadaa cemetery in a border area inside Gaza.
The wounded citizens suffered moderate to medium injuries in the lower parts of their bodies and were rushed to Kamal Adwan hospital for medical treatment.
Local sources told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that an Israeli warplane fired after midnight, precisely during the first hour of Saturday, two missiles at Hittin neighborhood, northwest of Khan Younis.
The air raid resulted in loud explosions that rocked the area and were heard across the Gaza Strip, but no casualties or material damage have been reported so far.
Different areas of Khan Younis plunged into darkness immediately following the aerial attack.
Locals also reported concurrent military overflights in Gaza airspace, which caused widespread panic among civilians.
In this regard, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that the Israeli air force attacked overnight targets in Gaza in response to the fall of a Palestinian rocket in an empty area near Eshkol settlement, south of the border with Gaza.
This was the first aerial attack since Israel ended its last war on Gaza in August following a ceasefire deal with the Palestinian resistance.
In an earlier incident, six Gazan young men suffered different bullet injuries when Israeli soldiers behind the border fence to the east of Jabaliya district, north of Gaza, opened fire at them on Friday evening.
Local sources said that Israeli soldiers opened fire at citizens during their presence near al-Shuhadaa cemetery in a border area inside Gaza.
The wounded citizens suffered moderate to medium injuries in the lower parts of their bodies and were rushed to Kamal Adwan hospital for medical treatment.
19 dec 2014
Israeli soldiers attacked, on Friday, a Palestinian man near the village of Ta’nak, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, causing various cuts and bruises. Media sources in Jenin said Bassam Abdul-Yassin Yahya, 47 years of age, was moved to a local hospital for treatment.
The sources added that the soldiers detained Yahya for a while before they eventually took him to the Barta’a roadblock, where they handed him to personnel of the Palestinian District Coordination Office in Jenin.
Meanwhile in Gaza, Israeli soldiers opened fire targeting Palestinian agricultural lands in ‘Abasan town, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip; no injuries were reported.
The army conducts numerous similar attacks targeting residents and farmlands in border areas in the besieged coastal region, in addition to frequent limited invasions.
The sources added that the soldiers detained Yahya for a while before they eventually took him to the Barta’a roadblock, where they handed him to personnel of the Palestinian District Coordination Office in Jenin.
Meanwhile in Gaza, Israeli soldiers opened fire targeting Palestinian agricultural lands in ‘Abasan town, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip; no injuries were reported.
The army conducts numerous similar attacks targeting residents and farmlands in border areas in the besieged coastal region, in addition to frequent limited invasions.
Media sources in the northern West Bank city of Jenin several Israeli military vehicles invaded, on Thursday evening, the al-‘Arqa village, west of Jenin, kidnapped one residents while many suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
The sources said the soldiers kidnapped ‘Ala Bassam Yahia, 21 years of age, after invading his family’s home and violently searching it, causing excessive property damage.
Medical sources said scores of Palestinians, including the family of Yahia, suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, after the soldiers fired dozens of gas bombs and concussion grenades during the invasion.
In related news, the Jerusalem District Court renewed detention orders against seven Jerusalemite Palestinians for what it called “incitement on their Facebook pages.”
They were taken prisoner by the army on December 15.
They have been identified as Omar Shalabi, Odai Sonnoqrot, Tareq al-Kurd, Sami Ed’ies, Ibrahim ‘Abdin, Nasser al-Hadmi and Fuad Rweidi. An eight Palestinian identified as Omar Mheisin was released, and placed under house arrest.
The sources said the soldiers kidnapped ‘Ala Bassam Yahia, 21 years of age, after invading his family’s home and violently searching it, causing excessive property damage.
Medical sources said scores of Palestinians, including the family of Yahia, suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, after the soldiers fired dozens of gas bombs and concussion grenades during the invasion.
In related news, the Jerusalem District Court renewed detention orders against seven Jerusalemite Palestinians for what it called “incitement on their Facebook pages.”
They were taken prisoner by the army on December 15.
They have been identified as Omar Shalabi, Odai Sonnoqrot, Tareq al-Kurd, Sami Ed’ies, Ibrahim ‘Abdin, Nasser al-Hadmi and Fuad Rweidi. An eight Palestinian identified as Omar Mheisin was released, and placed under house arrest.
A Palestinian bus driver was injured, Thursday, after a number of Israeli extremists assaulted him at the Central Bus Station in West Jerusalem.
The driver, identified as Anwar Tawil, 32, works for the Israeli Egged Bus Company.
He hospitalized after a number of Israeli extremists assaulted him on Thursday evening.
Eyewitnesses said the incident took place in the Central Bus Station in Jaffa Street, in West Jerusalem.
They added that Tawil was talking with another man in Arabic before the Israeli extremists assaulted him.
He suffered several cuts and bruises to his back and legs, and was moved to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center suffering moderate injuries.
On Saturday at night, December 6, a Palestinian bus driver, also working for the Egged Bus Company, was injured after a number of extremists boarded his bus in occupied Jerusalem.
On November 17, a Palestinian bus driver, also working for Egged Bus Company, was hanged to death by Israeli fanatics.
The driver, identified as Anwar Tawil, 32, works for the Israeli Egged Bus Company.
He hospitalized after a number of Israeli extremists assaulted him on Thursday evening.
Eyewitnesses said the incident took place in the Central Bus Station in Jaffa Street, in West Jerusalem.
They added that Tawil was talking with another man in Arabic before the Israeli extremists assaulted him.
He suffered several cuts and bruises to his back and legs, and was moved to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center suffering moderate injuries.
On Saturday at night, December 6, a Palestinian bus driver, also working for the Egged Bus Company, was injured after a number of extremists boarded his bus in occupied Jerusalem.
On November 17, a Palestinian bus driver, also working for Egged Bus Company, was hanged to death by Israeli fanatics.
A group of Israeli settlers, Thursday, cut power to an electricity line that had been supplying a Palestinian home in the village of Burin, to the south of Nablus, according to a local official.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an News Agency that dozens of settlers cut off electricity to the home of Bilal Eid, in the eastern part of Burin village.
Clashes reportedly erupted between settlers from nearby "Jewish-only" segregated outposts and Palestinian locals, as a result of the incident.
Mr. Daghlas said that Israeli settlers also sprayed "racist graffiti" and Star of David symbols on Palestinian homes in the area.
Burin is a frequent site of settler violence and Palestinian clashes with Israeli forces, Ma'an notes, as it is located beside the notoriously violent Israeli settlements of Yitzhar and Bracha.
Settlers frequently attack local villages and prevent farmers from reaching their lands, according to UNOCHA, in addition to their attacks on local olive trees.
So far in 2014, there have been some 313 reported incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an News Agency that dozens of settlers cut off electricity to the home of Bilal Eid, in the eastern part of Burin village.
Clashes reportedly erupted between settlers from nearby "Jewish-only" segregated outposts and Palestinian locals, as a result of the incident.
Mr. Daghlas said that Israeli settlers also sprayed "racist graffiti" and Star of David symbols on Palestinian homes in the area.
Burin is a frequent site of settler violence and Palestinian clashes with Israeli forces, Ma'an notes, as it is located beside the notoriously violent Israeli settlements of Yitzhar and Bracha.
Settlers frequently attack local villages and prevent farmers from reaching their lands, according to UNOCHA, in addition to their attacks on local olive trees.
So far in 2014, there have been some 313 reported incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Palestinian medical sources have reported that several residents have been injured in the Safa and ath-Thaher areas, in Beit Ummar town, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, after a number of Israeli military vehicles invaded them.
Spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Ummar Mohammad Awad said clashes took place near the Karmie Tzur illegal settlements, built on Palestinian lands, and that the invading soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades at the residents, and a number of homes.
Awad added that a young Palestinian man was shot in his arm, and another tripped and fell from a relatively high terrace wall while the soldiers were chasing him and several Palestinians.
Many residents also suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In related news, soldiers invaded the Tabaqa village, south of Hebron, and fired several gas bombs and concussion grenades at a number of homes.
They also chased several local youths, and installed a roadblock in the village, before stopping and searching dozens of residents and cars.
The army also installed a roadblock at the main junction that links Doura city with several Palestinian villages through the western and southern parts.
Spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Ummar Mohammad Awad said clashes took place near the Karmie Tzur illegal settlements, built on Palestinian lands, and that the invading soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades at the residents, and a number of homes.
Awad added that a young Palestinian man was shot in his arm, and another tripped and fell from a relatively high terrace wall while the soldiers were chasing him and several Palestinians.
Many residents also suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In related news, soldiers invaded the Tabaqa village, south of Hebron, and fired several gas bombs and concussion grenades at a number of homes.
They also chased several local youths, and installed a roadblock in the village, before stopping and searching dozens of residents and cars.
The army also installed a roadblock at the main junction that links Doura city with several Palestinian villages through the western and southern parts.
18 dec 2014
An Israeli army officer has threatened a Palestinian family to kill one of its sons during a recent raid on its home in Madama village, south of Nablus, if he did not renounce his political activities, according to Ahrar center for prisoner studies and human rights.
The family told the center that more than 20 soldiers and officers stormed and ransacked their house at two o'clock after midnight on the eighth of December and confiscated personal belongings before kidnapping its 23-year-old son Asadullah Wajih.
The father reported that the soldiers detained all members of the family for a while in one of the rooms before one of their senior officers started to interrogate them.
He said that the officer clearly threatened that he would behead his son Mahmoud Wajih, the brother of Asadullah, and ruin the future of all his sons if they did not quit their involvement in political activities.
In this regard, director of Ahrar center Fouad al-Khafsh strongly denounced the Israeli officer's threats against al-Wajih family and said they must not be taken lightly.
Khafsh called on international human rights groups to intervene to stop the recurrence of similar incidents against Palestinian civilians and pressure Israel to punish its military elements who intimidate and threaten civilians.
The family told the center that more than 20 soldiers and officers stormed and ransacked their house at two o'clock after midnight on the eighth of December and confiscated personal belongings before kidnapping its 23-year-old son Asadullah Wajih.
The father reported that the soldiers detained all members of the family for a while in one of the rooms before one of their senior officers started to interrogate them.
He said that the officer clearly threatened that he would behead his son Mahmoud Wajih, the brother of Asadullah, and ruin the future of all his sons if they did not quit their involvement in political activities.
In this regard, director of Ahrar center Fouad al-Khafsh strongly denounced the Israeli officer's threats against al-Wajih family and said they must not be taken lightly.
Khafsh called on international human rights groups to intervene to stop the recurrence of similar incidents against Palestinian civilians and pressure Israel to punish its military elements who intimidate and threaten civilians.
A Palestinian secondary school student was arrested by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Thursday morning during violent confrontations that rocked Silwan town, south of the Aqsa Mosque.
Locals reported that the boy, who could not be identified yet, was passing near the western entrance to the town, the site of the clashes, and heading to nearby Yabrud village.
They added that the soldiers brutally assaulted the boy then took him away.
The locals said that the IOF heavy firing of live bullets then teargas caused suffocation among many natives.
Locals reported that the boy, who could not be identified yet, was passing near the western entrance to the town, the site of the clashes, and heading to nearby Yabrud village.
They added that the soldiers brutally assaulted the boy then took him away.
The locals said that the IOF heavy firing of live bullets then teargas caused suffocation among many natives.
Several youths suffered different injuries and breathing problems during clashes that broke out Wednesday in Beit Ummar to the north of al-Khalil, while military restrictions were imposed in Fawar refugee camp.
The PIC reporter quoted a local activist as confirming that two young men sustained rubber bullet injuries while dozens suffered breathing problems after inhaling tear gas fired during the clashes.
A makeshift checkpoint was erected at the entrance to the town where Israeli forces stopped and searched the passing vehicles in provocation to the local residents.
Also in al-Khalil, Israeli soldiers intensified their presence and deployed overnight in the vicinity of Fawar refugee camp in southern the city.
Eyewitnesses told a PIC reporter that makeshift checkpoints were erected at the entrance to the camp which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.
Several injuries were reported during the confrontations as tear gas bombs and rubber bullets were heavily fired.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces Wednesday evening carried out combing operations to the east of al-Khalil looking for wanted persons who allegedly tried to kidnap an Israeli settler at a bus station near Kiryat Arba settlement.
Israeli Walla Website said that a number of military checkpoints were erected throughout the city looking for a suspected Palestinian car carrying the wanted persons.
Military restrictions were declared in the area following the alleged kidnap attempt.
The PIC reporter quoted a local activist as confirming that two young men sustained rubber bullet injuries while dozens suffered breathing problems after inhaling tear gas fired during the clashes.
A makeshift checkpoint was erected at the entrance to the town where Israeli forces stopped and searched the passing vehicles in provocation to the local residents.
Also in al-Khalil, Israeli soldiers intensified their presence and deployed overnight in the vicinity of Fawar refugee camp in southern the city.
Eyewitnesses told a PIC reporter that makeshift checkpoints were erected at the entrance to the camp which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.
Several injuries were reported during the confrontations as tear gas bombs and rubber bullets were heavily fired.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces Wednesday evening carried out combing operations to the east of al-Khalil looking for wanted persons who allegedly tried to kidnap an Israeli settler at a bus station near Kiryat Arba settlement.
Israeli Walla Website said that a number of military checkpoints were erected throughout the city looking for a suspected Palestinian car carrying the wanted persons.
Military restrictions were declared in the area following the alleged kidnap attempt.
