18 june 2015
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) demands an end to the sufferance of the journalist Yousif Al-Shayeb who was detained and trialed for a report he has written and published in a Jordanian newspaper 3 years ago. Al-Shayeb case faced many errors; where now the Court of Appeals and Magistrate Court are both proceeding his case-which shows a huge error in the judging procedure.
The Magistrate Court held today 17/6/2015 a hearing session for Al-Shayeb with the absence of the case’s parties (Al-Shayeb & the Complainants), yet they dealt with Al-Shayeb as present. It should be pointed out that the Court of Appeals already held a hearing session for the same case yesterday.
MADA’s lawyer Mr. Raed Abdul Hamid said that he will file a complaint tomorrow to the Judicial Inspection Unit against this error.
The Court of Appeals held yesterday 16/6/2015 a hearing session to decide about Al-Shayeb’s case based on an appeal request filed by MADA’s lawyer Mr. Raed Abdul Hamid who defends Al-Shayeb’s case. Mr. Abdul Hamid referred to the court of appeals after the magistrate court disagreed on the defenses he filed for Al-Shayeb in February 2015; where he demanded not to accept the case.
It should be pointed that the magistrate court kept proceeding Al-Shayeb’s case at the time they should stop as long as it is transferred to the court of appeals; which is a violation against the legal procedure. This violation irritated and surprised the appeal judge in the hearing session that was held yesterday, where he promised to work to correct this error and to put an end to it.
Mr. Abdul Hamid said that it is illegally permissible for the magistrate court to proceed the same case in which the court of appeals is proceeding. He also pointed out that this error shows a duality in proceeding the cases or the magistrate court might have had a belief in advance that its decision will be approved; which shows a mess in following up with the cases.
He added: “This action is risky for Al-Shayeb; where he was trialed regardless his absence at the magistrate court/where he did not attend/ since it is supposed that the work of the court of appeals automatically stops the work of the magistrate court. Therefore, the decision of the magistrate court violated the legislated right of defense and creates a contradiction if the court of appeals approved the lawyer’s defense-which was refused at the magistrate court-,”
Al-Shayeb said that he did not attend the session today because it is illegal; where the appeals judge was surprised that the magistrate court is still proceeding his case. He also explained that he suffered since his case started; where he was forced to attend all of the court’s sessions that were held throughout the past 3 years; which affected his work and commitments.
The Magistrate Court held today 17/6/2015 a hearing session for Al-Shayeb with the absence of the case’s parties (Al-Shayeb & the Complainants), yet they dealt with Al-Shayeb as present. It should be pointed out that the Court of Appeals already held a hearing session for the same case yesterday.
MADA’s lawyer Mr. Raed Abdul Hamid said that he will file a complaint tomorrow to the Judicial Inspection Unit against this error.
The Court of Appeals held yesterday 16/6/2015 a hearing session to decide about Al-Shayeb’s case based on an appeal request filed by MADA’s lawyer Mr. Raed Abdul Hamid who defends Al-Shayeb’s case. Mr. Abdul Hamid referred to the court of appeals after the magistrate court disagreed on the defenses he filed for Al-Shayeb in February 2015; where he demanded not to accept the case.
It should be pointed that the magistrate court kept proceeding Al-Shayeb’s case at the time they should stop as long as it is transferred to the court of appeals; which is a violation against the legal procedure. This violation irritated and surprised the appeal judge in the hearing session that was held yesterday, where he promised to work to correct this error and to put an end to it.
Mr. Abdul Hamid said that it is illegally permissible for the magistrate court to proceed the same case in which the court of appeals is proceeding. He also pointed out that this error shows a duality in proceeding the cases or the magistrate court might have had a belief in advance that its decision will be approved; which shows a mess in following up with the cases.
He added: “This action is risky for Al-Shayeb; where he was trialed regardless his absence at the magistrate court/where he did not attend/ since it is supposed that the work of the court of appeals automatically stops the work of the magistrate court. Therefore, the decision of the magistrate court violated the legislated right of defense and creates a contradiction if the court of appeals approved the lawyer’s defense-which was refused at the magistrate court-,”
Al-Shayeb said that he did not attend the session today because it is illegal; where the appeals judge was surprised that the magistrate court is still proceeding his case. He also explained that he suffered since his case started; where he was forced to attend all of the court’s sessions that were held throughout the past 3 years; which affected his work and commitments.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also serves as the Communication Minister, has instructed the head of the Communications Ministry, to begin shutting down a new Palestinian TV station, funded by the Palestinian Authority, in Israel.
The official launch of the new TV was scheduled for today, Thursday, and all official preparations were concluded Wednesday for the historic launch of the new Palestine 48 TV Station.
Following Netanyahu’s announcement, a press conference was held in Nazareth by the Chairman of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation’s Board of Trustees, Minister Riyad al-Hasan.
Al-Hasan said the Netanyahu decision to shut down the new TV station was illegal, and that the TV Channel will pursue all legal means to counter the move.
He added that the new Channel purchased all services from licensed corporations, and noted that legal advisors, in addition to human rights groups, are all participating in the efforts to appeal the Israeli government intention to shut it down.
Netanyahu gave the order to Director General Shlomo Filber, just a few hours after a press conference was held during the inauguration of the Palestine 48 Arabic-language Channel.
Al-Hasan stated during the conference that Netanyahu and his extremist right-wing government are trying to shut the new channel, to silence the Palestinian voice, and said the new TV would be an open forum that would even give Israel’s right-wing, including government ministers, a stage to express their opinions.
Netanyahu’s main argument was that the new TV “receives funding from the Palestinian Authority, which is considered a foreign entity in Israel”.
Al-Hasan also noted that the station has been under preparation for over a year, and was meant to begin broadcasting on Thursday, the first day of Ramadan for 2015.
The station would have been the first Palestinian Arabic-language station to be broadcasting inside what is now Israel. After Netanyahu’s announcement, the future of the station is unclear.
The official added that the Palestinian Authority has no intention to violate any Israeli laws, and that the idea of establishing the TV station received the approval of various Arab Members of Knesset, and several senior journalists in Israel.
He said the new station intends to highlight the lives of Arab citizens of Israel, while production companies would offer content produced in the Galilee, the Triangle Area, and the Negev.
Although the station would start airing from Nazareth, it is planning to open offices in the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
The official launch of the new TV was scheduled for today, Thursday, and all official preparations were concluded Wednesday for the historic launch of the new Palestine 48 TV Station.
Following Netanyahu’s announcement, a press conference was held in Nazareth by the Chairman of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation’s Board of Trustees, Minister Riyad al-Hasan.
Al-Hasan said the Netanyahu decision to shut down the new TV station was illegal, and that the TV Channel will pursue all legal means to counter the move.
He added that the new Channel purchased all services from licensed corporations, and noted that legal advisors, in addition to human rights groups, are all participating in the efforts to appeal the Israeli government intention to shut it down.
Netanyahu gave the order to Director General Shlomo Filber, just a few hours after a press conference was held during the inauguration of the Palestine 48 Arabic-language Channel.
Al-Hasan stated during the conference that Netanyahu and his extremist right-wing government are trying to shut the new channel, to silence the Palestinian voice, and said the new TV would be an open forum that would even give Israel’s right-wing, including government ministers, a stage to express their opinions.
Netanyahu’s main argument was that the new TV “receives funding from the Palestinian Authority, which is considered a foreign entity in Israel”.
Al-Hasan also noted that the station has been under preparation for over a year, and was meant to begin broadcasting on Thursday, the first day of Ramadan for 2015.
The station would have been the first Palestinian Arabic-language station to be broadcasting inside what is now Israel. After Netanyahu’s announcement, the future of the station is unclear.
The official added that the Palestinian Authority has no intention to violate any Israeli laws, and that the idea of establishing the TV station received the approval of various Arab Members of Knesset, and several senior journalists in Israel.
He said the new station intends to highlight the lives of Arab citizens of Israel, while production companies would offer content produced in the Galilee, the Triangle Area, and the Negev.
Although the station would start airing from Nazareth, it is planning to open offices in the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
17 june 2015
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New footage of incident doesn't show Palestinian trying to take soldier's weapon as they claimed; IDF has yet to respond to new video.
Just three days after three IDF soldiers were sentenced for the allegedly unnecessary beating of a Palestinian being arrested during clashes near Ramallah, a full video of the incident was released by Palestinian sources Wednesday, showing no definitive proof that the Palestinian civilian attempted to take one of the soldier's weapons as the IDF claimed after initial investigations. An original video of the incident, which erupted on social media on Saturday, showed the Palestinian being thrown to the ground and hit in |
the face by one of the soldiers, but it did not reveal what led to the heavy-handed arrest, leaving room for speculation that the soldiers were justified at least in making the arrest.
The clip released on Wednesday however, documents in full, the curses exchanged between the soldiers and the Palestinian as well as one moment in which the civilian brushes up against a soldier, but does not seem to make an aggressive grab for his weapon. In addition to the questionable arrest tactics seen in the original clip, the full video shows one soldier forcing the Palestinian to the ground by hitting him over the back of the head with a rifle.
The full video reached the IDF on Wednesday afternoon, but no response or statement has yet to be released. Two of the soldiers who were documented in the film received a suspended sentence of 28 days in army prison on Sunday, while another soldier who was seen cursing was sentenced to 30 days confinement to the base. The company commander was also reprimanded.
The clip released on Wednesday however, documents in full, the curses exchanged between the soldiers and the Palestinian as well as one moment in which the civilian brushes up against a soldier, but does not seem to make an aggressive grab for his weapon. In addition to the questionable arrest tactics seen in the original clip, the full video shows one soldier forcing the Palestinian to the ground by hitting him over the back of the head with a rifle.
The full video reached the IDF on Wednesday afternoon, but no response or statement has yet to be released. Two of the soldiers who were documented in the film received a suspended sentence of 28 days in army prison on Sunday, while another soldier who was seen cursing was sentenced to 30 days confinement to the base. The company commander was also reprimanded.
16 june 2015
Foreign Press Association condemns foreign ministry cartoon as 'inappropriate' after 17 journalists died in Operation Protective Edge.
A 49-second cartoon clip produced by Israel's Foreign Minsitry and entitled "Open your eyes about Gaza," quickly drew condemnation from the Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Israel, whose members were offended at what they saw as a mockery of their coverage during last year's Operation Protective Edge in Gaza.
The video features a blonde-haired television correspondent in Gaza with an American accent declaring to camera "there are no terrorists here, just ordinary people", while a masked militant fires off a rocket in the background, presumably towards Israel. A female character then gives the reporter a pair of glasses, allowing him to see the reality of "life under Hamas rule". The reporter then faints.
The FPA said it was "surprised and alarmed" by the "misleading and poorly conceived" clip. "It is disconcerting that the ministry would spend its time producing a... video that attempts to ridicule journalists reporting on a conflict" that killed 2,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 73 on the Israeli side, mostly soldiers. It described the video as "inappropriate" and "unhelpful."
Some 17 journalists were killed covering the July-August Gaza war, the bloodiest yet in the tiny coastal territory, including an Italian photographer working for Associated Press.
Foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon defended the controversial video, which had both foreign and Israeli reporters up in arms on social media. He said the video was "poking gentle fun at the phenomenon" of Hamas allegedly using "human shields" during fighting and only "partial reporting" of this by international media. The international media reported during the conflict on the alleged use of civilian sites by Palestinian militants to store weapons and fire rockets.
Israel carried out deadly strikes on several UN institutions, including schools where displaced civilians were sheltering, saying Hamas's actions forced it to target those areas.
A 49-second cartoon clip produced by Israel's Foreign Minsitry and entitled "Open your eyes about Gaza," quickly drew condemnation from the Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Israel, whose members were offended at what they saw as a mockery of their coverage during last year's Operation Protective Edge in Gaza.
The video features a blonde-haired television correspondent in Gaza with an American accent declaring to camera "there are no terrorists here, just ordinary people", while a masked militant fires off a rocket in the background, presumably towards Israel. A female character then gives the reporter a pair of glasses, allowing him to see the reality of "life under Hamas rule". The reporter then faints.
The FPA said it was "surprised and alarmed" by the "misleading and poorly conceived" clip. "It is disconcerting that the ministry would spend its time producing a... video that attempts to ridicule journalists reporting on a conflict" that killed 2,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 73 on the Israeli side, mostly soldiers. It described the video as "inappropriate" and "unhelpful."
Some 17 journalists were killed covering the July-August Gaza war, the bloodiest yet in the tiny coastal territory, including an Italian photographer working for Associated Press.
Foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon defended the controversial video, which had both foreign and Israeli reporters up in arms on social media. He said the video was "poking gentle fun at the phenomenon" of Hamas allegedly using "human shields" during fighting and only "partial reporting" of this by international media. The international media reported during the conflict on the alleged use of civilian sites by Palestinian militants to store weapons and fire rockets.
Israel carried out deadly strikes on several UN institutions, including schools where displaced civilians were sheltering, saying Hamas's actions forced it to target those areas.
15 june 2015
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Animated video shows foreign journalist taken in by Hamas propaganda, until he dons a pair of glasses to see the reality.
Less than 24 hours after releasing its own preemptive report into IDF activity during last year's Gaza conflict, Israel is keeping up its public advocacy campaign on social media. The Prime Minister's Facebook and Twitter accounts have uploaded infographics highlighting the key findings in the report, and the Foreign Ministry has even decided to take things one step further, with a satirical piece of animation entitled "Open your eyes to what is happening in Gaza." The short video shows a foreign correspondent being interviewed on his |
perspective on life in the Gaza Strip, while the reality of the situation unfolds behind him.
"We are here in the center of Gaza, and as you can see, people here are trying to live quiet lives," says the reporter. "There are no terrorists here, just ordinary people."
Meanwhile, behind him a terrorist carrying a rocket walks past a woman in a burkha with a baby carriage and then launches a rocket.
The reporter then moves on to what he calls "Gaza's underground city", while in the background members of the Hamas military wing carry missiles and weapons, apparently following a sign directing them to Israel, and a poster on the wall reads: "MINIMUM 8 terrorists per tunnel."
"This is a fascinating attempt by Hamas to build a subway system," says the reporter. "This is actually the first Palestinian subway, which will bring Gaza's transportation system into the 21st century."
The third scene in the video shows the foreign correspondent standing in front of a Palestinian with a rainbow flag.
"There is no doubt that the Palestinian society here is liberal and pluralistic, and Hamas allows everyone to live in dignity," says the reporter, as an armed Hamas activist throws a bag over the man's head and carries him away.
The film ends with the appearance of another reporter, who hands her colleague a pair of glasses. "Maybe now you'll see the reality of life under Hamas rule," she says. The reporter dons the glasses, and faints away once he sees "the reality."
The film ends with the second journalist saying: "Open your eyes, terror rules Gaza."
"We are here in the center of Gaza, and as you can see, people here are trying to live quiet lives," says the reporter. "There are no terrorists here, just ordinary people."
Meanwhile, behind him a terrorist carrying a rocket walks past a woman in a burkha with a baby carriage and then launches a rocket.
The reporter then moves on to what he calls "Gaza's underground city", while in the background members of the Hamas military wing carry missiles and weapons, apparently following a sign directing them to Israel, and a poster on the wall reads: "MINIMUM 8 terrorists per tunnel."
"This is a fascinating attempt by Hamas to build a subway system," says the reporter. "This is actually the first Palestinian subway, which will bring Gaza's transportation system into the 21st century."
The third scene in the video shows the foreign correspondent standing in front of a Palestinian with a rainbow flag.
"There is no doubt that the Palestinian society here is liberal and pluralistic, and Hamas allows everyone to live in dignity," says the reporter, as an armed Hamas activist throws a bag over the man's head and carries him away.
The film ends with the appearance of another reporter, who hands her colleague a pair of glasses. "Maybe now you'll see the reality of life under Hamas rule," she says. The reporter dons the glasses, and faints away once he sees "the reality."
The film ends with the second journalist saying: "Open your eyes, terror rules Gaza."
The Palestinian Authority (PA) intelligence service on Sunday transferred the journalist Mohamed Awad from its jail in Ramallah to another in Bethlehem.
Awad’s family told a PIC news reporter that the PA intelligence moved their son, detained for 41 days, to a lock up in the West Bank province of Bethlehem in an attempt to gloss over the traces of torture he has been made to endure.
The family raised alarm bells over the mistreatment Awad has been subjected to as he has been denied family and lawyer visits and has undergone exhausting inter-prison transfers.
They called on the PA forces to restore their son’s freedom without further delay and to cease their random charges against him.
Awad’s family told a PIC news reporter that the PA intelligence moved their son, detained for 41 days, to a lock up in the West Bank province of Bethlehem in an attempt to gloss over the traces of torture he has been made to endure.
The family raised alarm bells over the mistreatment Awad has been subjected to as he has been denied family and lawyer visits and has undergone exhausting inter-prison transfers.
They called on the PA forces to restore their son’s freedom without further delay and to cease their random charges against him.
13 june 2015
Israeli soldiers invaded, Friday, Silwad town, east of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, attacked dozens of protesters, and fired live rounds, rubber-coated metal bullets and concussion grenades at them.
Medical sources said one Palestinian one Palestinian was shot with a Tutu live round that explodes on impact, causing excessive bodily damage, while shrapnel of a concussion grenade injured another Palestinian.
The WAFA News Agency has reported that the soldiers also invaded a home, and occupied its rooftop, before using it to fire live rounds at the protesters. The soldiers forced the family out of their home for a few hours.
WAFA added that the soldiers obstructed the work of the reporters, and fired concussion grenades at them.
In addition, the army fired several gas bombs and concussion grenades at local medics, and firefighters trying to extinguish fires that broke out in Palestinian farmlands, due to gas bombs and concussion grenades fired at them.
Medical sources said one Palestinian one Palestinian was shot with a Tutu live round that explodes on impact, causing excessive bodily damage, while shrapnel of a concussion grenade injured another Palestinian.
The WAFA News Agency has reported that the soldiers also invaded a home, and occupied its rooftop, before using it to fire live rounds at the protesters. The soldiers forced the family out of their home for a few hours.
WAFA added that the soldiers obstructed the work of the reporters, and fired concussion grenades at them.
In addition, the army fired several gas bombs and concussion grenades at local medics, and firefighters trying to extinguish fires that broke out in Palestinian farmlands, due to gas bombs and concussion grenades fired at them.
11 june 2015
Israeli security forces fire tear gas towards Palestinian protesters on May 16, 2015 next to Huwarra checkpoint south of Nablus.
Israel has barred a Palestinian photographer allegedly shot in the eye by Israeli forces from entering occupied East Jerusalem for specialist treatment, the injured photographer told AFP on Wednesday.
Nidal Shtayyeh, who works for Chinese news agency Xinhua, was wounded while covering a small demonstration at Huwarra checkpoint, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on May 16.
As he was covering the rally, Shtayyeh was hit in the face by a rubber bullet which entered his eye, causing serious damage, he told AFP.
"The march was peaceful and no stones were thrown, no photographers were taking any pictures," he said, accusing soldiers of firing sound bombs at the photographers without any provocation.
"I raised my camera to my right eye to take a picture, but a soldier shot me in my left eye with his rifle, and the rubber bullet went through my gas mask's glass eye cover and into my eye."
An Italian camerawoman was also injured during the same demonstration which came as Palestinians commemorated 67 years since the Nakba, or "catastrophe", when an estimated 760,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes during the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.
At the time, Israeli forces said at least 100 Palestinians had been throwing stones and petrol bombs, and that the forces had responded with "riot dispersal means."
Shtayyeh's injury comes as rights groups criticize Israel for disproportionate use of force against unarmed civilians during such demonstrations.
While crowd control weapons are intended to be non-lethal, many methods used by Israeli forces can cause death, severe injury, and damage to property, according to Israeli rights group B'Tselem.
Shtayyeh was rushed to Rafidiya hospital in Nablus for initial treatment but was prescribed specialist help at St John's eye hospital in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967 in a move considered illegal by the international community, and Palestinians living in the West Bank, are often barred by Israel from crossing into the city, which they consider their capital.
As a Palestinian living in the West Bank, Shtayyeh had to apply for an Israeli permit to enter, however Israeli authorities turned down his request.
He tried again two more times -- once through the Red Cross and once through a private Israeli lawyer. But both requests were rejected.
A spokesman for the Shin Bet internal security agency did not have an immediate response.
Shtayyeh's lawyer, Itai Matt, told AFP that his client had been informed it was the Shin Bet preventing his entry, despite his having been granted such permission in the past.
According to Matt, Israeli security services "regularly bar entry to anyone wounded by the army".
"They even bar entry to wounded children seeking treatment in Jerusalem, because they are worried that anyone wounded will try and take revenge after their treatment," he said.
Xinhua did not respond to AFP's requests for a comment on the incident.
Shtayyeh is one of nearly 1,000 Palestinians to be injured by Israeli forces since the start of 2015, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Israeli military courts rarely prosecute members of Israeli forces who cause injury or death . From 2000-2012, only 117 of 2,207 investigations opened by the Military Police Criminal Investigations Division were indicted, about 5% of the total files opened, according to Israeli human rights group Yesh-Din.
Shtayyah's injury and inability to access treatment comes as groups Foreign Press Association and Reporters Without Borders have alleged that Israeli forces deliberately target press covering demonstrations.
Also of interest: Israeli Soldiers Describe 'Losing Their Sense of Morality' During the Gaza Conflict
Israel has barred a Palestinian photographer allegedly shot in the eye by Israeli forces from entering occupied East Jerusalem for specialist treatment, the injured photographer told AFP on Wednesday.
Nidal Shtayyeh, who works for Chinese news agency Xinhua, was wounded while covering a small demonstration at Huwarra checkpoint, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on May 16.
As he was covering the rally, Shtayyeh was hit in the face by a rubber bullet which entered his eye, causing serious damage, he told AFP.
"The march was peaceful and no stones were thrown, no photographers were taking any pictures," he said, accusing soldiers of firing sound bombs at the photographers without any provocation.
"I raised my camera to my right eye to take a picture, but a soldier shot me in my left eye with his rifle, and the rubber bullet went through my gas mask's glass eye cover and into my eye."
An Italian camerawoman was also injured during the same demonstration which came as Palestinians commemorated 67 years since the Nakba, or "catastrophe", when an estimated 760,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes during the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.
At the time, Israeli forces said at least 100 Palestinians had been throwing stones and petrol bombs, and that the forces had responded with "riot dispersal means."
Shtayyeh's injury comes as rights groups criticize Israel for disproportionate use of force against unarmed civilians during such demonstrations.
While crowd control weapons are intended to be non-lethal, many methods used by Israeli forces can cause death, severe injury, and damage to property, according to Israeli rights group B'Tselem.
Shtayyeh was rushed to Rafidiya hospital in Nablus for initial treatment but was prescribed specialist help at St John's eye hospital in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967 in a move considered illegal by the international community, and Palestinians living in the West Bank, are often barred by Israel from crossing into the city, which they consider their capital.
As a Palestinian living in the West Bank, Shtayyeh had to apply for an Israeli permit to enter, however Israeli authorities turned down his request.
He tried again two more times -- once through the Red Cross and once through a private Israeli lawyer. But both requests were rejected.
A spokesman for the Shin Bet internal security agency did not have an immediate response.
Shtayyeh's lawyer, Itai Matt, told AFP that his client had been informed it was the Shin Bet preventing his entry, despite his having been granted such permission in the past.
According to Matt, Israeli security services "regularly bar entry to anyone wounded by the army".
"They even bar entry to wounded children seeking treatment in Jerusalem, because they are worried that anyone wounded will try and take revenge after their treatment," he said.
Xinhua did not respond to AFP's requests for a comment on the incident.
Shtayyeh is one of nearly 1,000 Palestinians to be injured by Israeli forces since the start of 2015, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Israeli military courts rarely prosecute members of Israeli forces who cause injury or death . From 2000-2012, only 117 of 2,207 investigations opened by the Military Police Criminal Investigations Division were indicted, about 5% of the total files opened, according to Israeli human rights group Yesh-Din.
Shtayyah's injury and inability to access treatment comes as groups Foreign Press Association and Reporters Without Borders have alleged that Israeli forces deliberately target press covering demonstrations.
Also of interest: Israeli Soldiers Describe 'Losing Their Sense of Morality' During the Gaza Conflict
At least 10 Palestinian citizens were apprehended by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Thursday following a wave of arbitrary assaults and home break-ins launched across cities of the West Bank.
Israeli media sources quoted the occupation army as claiming responsibility for the abduction of four wanted Palestinians on allegations of their involvement in anti-occupation activities.
Sources based in al-Khalil city said the IOF rolled into Abu Kteila neighborhood and scoured Palestinian civilian homes, moments before they kidnapped the 28-year-old ex-prisoner Mahmoud Abu Shkheidam and dragged him to an unidentified destination.
Spokesperson for the anti-settlement committee in al-Khalil’s town of Beit Ummar, Mohamed Awad, said the Israeli military nabbed two Palestinian citizens after they wreaked havoc on their family homes.
The IOF also arrested the lawyer Iyad Khalil at the Container checkpoint, near Bethlehem city, early in the morning.
According to a PIC journalist, the assault culminated in the apprehension of five Jerusalemite youths, including four minors, from al-Issawiya town, in eastern Occupied Jerusalem. Another youngster was reportedly summoned for interrogation in the process.
In a separate incident earlier on Wednesday, the Petah Tikva Israeli court extended, for the second time, the remand of the Palestinian journalist Ahmad al-Beitawi, working for the Quds Press International, for eight days pending further investigation.
Journalist al-Beitawi, 33, was rounded up by the IOF from his own home in eastern Nablus.
The Israeli Magistrate’s Court released the 13-year-old child Tarek al-Issawi provided that he would be confined to house arrest for five days and pay a $1,300- third-party bail.
The same court acquitted the youth Mohamed Jabr al-Abassi after it sentenced him to a $1,000-shekel-fine, undefined house arrest, and a $2,600-third-party bail on charges of hurling stones at a police car in Silwan.
Israeli media sources quoted the occupation army as claiming responsibility for the abduction of four wanted Palestinians on allegations of their involvement in anti-occupation activities.
Sources based in al-Khalil city said the IOF rolled into Abu Kteila neighborhood and scoured Palestinian civilian homes, moments before they kidnapped the 28-year-old ex-prisoner Mahmoud Abu Shkheidam and dragged him to an unidentified destination.
Spokesperson for the anti-settlement committee in al-Khalil’s town of Beit Ummar, Mohamed Awad, said the Israeli military nabbed two Palestinian citizens after they wreaked havoc on their family homes.
The IOF also arrested the lawyer Iyad Khalil at the Container checkpoint, near Bethlehem city, early in the morning.
According to a PIC journalist, the assault culminated in the apprehension of five Jerusalemite youths, including four minors, from al-Issawiya town, in eastern Occupied Jerusalem. Another youngster was reportedly summoned for interrogation in the process.
In a separate incident earlier on Wednesday, the Petah Tikva Israeli court extended, for the second time, the remand of the Palestinian journalist Ahmad al-Beitawi, working for the Quds Press International, for eight days pending further investigation.
Journalist al-Beitawi, 33, was rounded up by the IOF from his own home in eastern Nablus.
The Israeli Magistrate’s Court released the 13-year-old child Tarek al-Issawi provided that he would be confined to house arrest for five days and pay a $1,300- third-party bail.
The same court acquitted the youth Mohamed Jabr al-Abassi after it sentenced him to a $1,000-shekel-fine, undefined house arrest, and a $2,600-third-party bail on charges of hurling stones at a police car in Silwan.
8 june 2015
At least eight Hamas affiliates, including a journalist, were arrested and another was summoned for interrogation by the Palestinian Authority (PA) apparatuses across the West Bank.
Sources based in the West Bank city of Ramallah said the PA Preventive Forces captured the citizen Amin Arman from Ein Yabroud town after having summoned him for interrogation.
The Tulkarem-based PA forces also kidnapped Alaa Hamdan, coordinator of the Islamic Bloc at al-Khadouri University, as soon as he reached the PA detention center in the city.
The PA apparatuses have kept the youngster Husam Akram Sarhan in custody for the fifth day running. A PA court meanwhile extended his remand for 15 days.
The PA intelligence service in Bethlehem apprehended the university student Imad Shawkat right after he was summoned for interrogation.
The Bethlehem campaign culminated in the abduction of the Palestinian journalist Ghassan al-Najajra and two-ex-prisoners, identified as Habib Kacem and Ghassan Alayn.
In the meantime, the PA apparatuses in Jenin detained the Hamas leader Abdul Jabar Jarrar shortly after he was summoned for interrogation. The PA extended his remand to 48 hours under the pretext of further investigation.
Sources based in the West Bank city of Ramallah said the PA Preventive Forces captured the citizen Amin Arman from Ein Yabroud town after having summoned him for interrogation.
The Tulkarem-based PA forces also kidnapped Alaa Hamdan, coordinator of the Islamic Bloc at al-Khadouri University, as soon as he reached the PA detention center in the city.
The PA apparatuses have kept the youngster Husam Akram Sarhan in custody for the fifth day running. A PA court meanwhile extended his remand for 15 days.
The PA intelligence service in Bethlehem apprehended the university student Imad Shawkat right after he was summoned for interrogation.
The Bethlehem campaign culminated in the abduction of the Palestinian journalist Ghassan al-Najajra and two-ex-prisoners, identified as Habib Kacem and Ghassan Alayn.
In the meantime, the PA apparatuses in Jenin detained the Hamas leader Abdul Jabar Jarrar shortly after he was summoned for interrogation. The PA extended his remand to 48 hours under the pretext of further investigation.
5 june 2015
The
Palestinian journalist Mohamed Awad, 27, said during his court hearing
held Thursday that he was subjected to beating and electric shocks
while being held in PA Jericho prison.
Awad said that during his interrogation that lasted for 31 days he was subjected to severe torture including beating, tying him to chair for long hours, electric shocks, and sleep deprivation.
Awad was brought to court on Thursday in very difficult health condition as he was unable to stand up during the hearing, PIC reporter said.
He also lost about 15 kg of his weight only within a month, he added.
His family appealed for seven times for his release on a bail especially that there is no charge against him, but it was in vain.
Awad’s detention has been extended for more 15 days pending investigation, the family said.
Before his arrest, Awad was preparing for his wedding planned to be held on June 10.
He had earlier spent nearly 10 months in Israeli jails, before being detained more than once by PA forces.
Awad said that during his interrogation that lasted for 31 days he was subjected to severe torture including beating, tying him to chair for long hours, electric shocks, and sleep deprivation.
Awad was brought to court on Thursday in very difficult health condition as he was unable to stand up during the hearing, PIC reporter said.
He also lost about 15 kg of his weight only within a month, he added.
His family appealed for seven times for his release on a bail especially that there is no charge against him, but it was in vain.
Awad’s detention has been extended for more 15 days pending investigation, the family said.
Before his arrest, Awad was preparing for his wedding planned to be held on June 10.
He had earlier spent nearly 10 months in Israeli jails, before being detained more than once by PA forces.
4 june 2015
Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) prevented a Palestinian photographer from access to Occupied Jerusalem for treatment after he was shot by Israeli bullets in clashes at Howara checkpoint near Nablus.
In a statement, the photographer Nidal Eshtayeh said that he filed a request to the Israeli liaison to enter the occupied city so that he could receive treatment in one of its hospitals for his left eye which was shot by an Israeli rubber bullet while he was covering a confrontation two weeks ago.
He was, however, informed by the liaison that his request was declined due to security refusal of the Israeli Shin bet, noting that he had never been banned from entering Occupied Jerusalem before.
He declared his intention to travel to Jordan for his urgent need for treatment because of injury complications as he has been suffering from weak vision and severe pain due to a ceaseless eye bleeding.
Nidal Eshtayeh works as a cameraman at the Chinese agency Xinhua. He was shot in the eye with a rubber bullet that penetrated the gas preventive mask and scattered the glass into his eye.
In a statement, the photographer Nidal Eshtayeh said that he filed a request to the Israeli liaison to enter the occupied city so that he could receive treatment in one of its hospitals for his left eye which was shot by an Israeli rubber bullet while he was covering a confrontation two weeks ago.
He was, however, informed by the liaison that his request was declined due to security refusal of the Israeli Shin bet, noting that he had never been banned from entering Occupied Jerusalem before.
He declared his intention to travel to Jordan for his urgent need for treatment because of injury complications as he has been suffering from weak vision and severe pain due to a ceaseless eye bleeding.
Nidal Eshtayeh works as a cameraman at the Chinese agency Xinhua. He was shot in the eye with a rubber bullet that penetrated the gas preventive mask and scattered the glass into his eye.
