10 july 2019
On 9 July, 33 press freedom and media development organizations met in London, in advance of the Global Media Freedom Conference to call on all participating States, to ensure the protection and safety of all journalists and media workers in compliance with their existing obligations and international standards, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) reported.
The groups, representing and working with hundreds of thousands of journalists and media workers, said new pledges will only be credible if States immediately:
The groups also demanded all States hold themselves and their counterparts accountable and show demonstrable progress. Several States attending the Conference currently have journalists in prison and unsolved murders, PNN reports.
They put forth 11 recommended commitments for States attending the Global Media Freedom Conference, hosted by the governments of the United Kingdom and Canada:
In related news. Hind Awwad, a Palestinian human rights advocate who is associated with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, has stated that Israel’s attack on Anadolu Agency’s office in the Gaza Strip earlier this year is but one of its many criminal attacks on the media.
On May 4, Israeli warplanes struck the building in Gaza where the office was located with at least five rockets following warning shots. No injuries or deaths were reported, but the building was destroyed.
“Israel’s attack on the office of Anadolu Agency in Gaza was a serious violation of international law. It is one of Israel’s many criminal attacks on journalists which aim to prevent documentation and reporting on Israel’s systematic policies of occupation, settler-colonialism, and apartheid against the Palestinian people,” she continued.
In an interview marking the BDS’ 14th anniversary, Awwad said it has always called for an extensive military embargo against Israel because of its denial of Palestinians’ rights and attacks especially on journalists in Gaza.
“We appeal to Turkey to take the lead in ending all military trade with Israel,” she said.
The groups, representing and working with hundreds of thousands of journalists and media workers, said new pledges will only be credible if States immediately:
- Release all imprisoned journalists;
- Stop killing, attacking and denigrating journalists;
- Investigate and prosecute all murders of journalists.
The groups also demanded all States hold themselves and their counterparts accountable and show demonstrable progress. Several States attending the Conference currently have journalists in prison and unsolved murders, PNN reports.
They put forth 11 recommended commitments for States attending the Global Media Freedom Conference, hosted by the governments of the United Kingdom and Canada:
- Publicly condemn acts of violence against journalists and media freedom violations whenever they occur online or offline and ensure impartial, thorough, independent, effective and transparent investigations into all such incidents;
- Immediately and unconditionally release all journalists imprisoned for their work. Set up national multi-stakeholder expert panels to review all legislation that can be used to harass, imprison, or otherwise target journalists, and bring legislation in line with international freedom of expression standards, including by providing effective safeguards against abuse;
- Investigate all murders of journalists and media workers. Ensure that investigations are sufficiently and effectively resourced, timely, and re-opened if necessary. The aim should be to substantially increase the percentage of prosecution of all those responsible for the murders of journalists and media workers;
- Refrain from targeting and denigrating the media, online or offline;
- Adopt and fund the proposal made by the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings to reinforce the capacity of the U.N. to investigate violence against journalists by establishing a standing instrument for the investigation of violent crimes against journalists and media workers targeted for their work;
- Ensure that all media workers, including newsgatherers, freelance reporters, citizen journalists, fixers, field producers, translators, and drivers, are included in any initiatives for the protection of journalists;
- Provide visas to journalists at risk to enable them to participate in safety training, and provide asylum when appropriate;
- Ban the export, sale, transfer, use, or servicing of privately developed surveillance tools, often used to target journalists, and facilitate the export and import of personal protective equipment (PPE) without military authorization;
- Expedite the implementation of effective access to information laws and practices, as agreed in target 16.10 of the Sustainable Development Goals, including by providing adequate funding and technological support and resourcing independent oversight;
- Commit to transparently expediting implementation of the U.N. Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, including through the establishment of effective national safety mechanisms and a stronger, more robust, accountable, and accessible political coordination of focal points in relevant U.N. agencies and programs;
- Support and sustain the work of the media community, civil society, and academia in the promotion and protection of media freedom, the safety of journalists, the financial and economic sustainability of media, an enabling and pluralistic media environment, and access to information, especially in time of digital disruptions.
In related news. Hind Awwad, a Palestinian human rights advocate who is associated with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, has stated that Israel’s attack on Anadolu Agency’s office in the Gaza Strip earlier this year is but one of its many criminal attacks on the media.
On May 4, Israeli warplanes struck the building in Gaza where the office was located with at least five rockets following warning shots. No injuries or deaths were reported, but the building was destroyed.
“Israel’s attack on the office of Anadolu Agency in Gaza was a serious violation of international law. It is one of Israel’s many criminal attacks on journalists which aim to prevent documentation and reporting on Israel’s systematic policies of occupation, settler-colonialism, and apartheid against the Palestinian people,” she continued.
In an interview marking the BDS’ 14th anniversary, Awwad said it has always called for an extensive military embargo against Israel because of its denial of Palestinians’ rights and attacks especially on journalists in Gaza.
“We appeal to Turkey to take the lead in ending all military trade with Israel,” she said.
9 july 2019
Israeli soldiers detained, Tuesday, several Palestinian journalists while documenting illegal colonialist settlers bulldozing and uprooting Palestinian lands, east of Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Hamza Khattab, a multimedia professional working with the WAFA Palestinian News Agency, said the soldiers detained him, along with WAFA camerawoman Samar Bader, in addition to several other reporters from various news agencies.
Khattab added that he, and his colleagues, were documenting illegal Israeli colonists bulldozing and uprooting Palestinian lands in the al-Baq’a area, east of Hebron.
He said that Israeli soldiers invaded the area, and attacked many Palestinians, before detaining him and several other journalists, and released them later.
The army claimed that the area was a “closed military zone,” although they were on Palestinian lands.
Hamza Khattab, a multimedia professional working with the WAFA Palestinian News Agency, said the soldiers detained him, along with WAFA camerawoman Samar Bader, in addition to several other reporters from various news agencies.
Khattab added that he, and his colleagues, were documenting illegal Israeli colonists bulldozing and uprooting Palestinian lands in the al-Baq’a area, east of Hebron.
He said that Israeli soldiers invaded the area, and attacked many Palestinians, before detaining him and several other journalists, and released them later.
The army claimed that the area was a “closed military zone,” although they were on Palestinian lands.
7 july 2019
June has witnessed a decline in the number of violations against media freedoms in Palestine, compared to May.
The Palestinian Center for Development & Media Freedoms has monitored, during June, a total of 28 attacks against media freedoms in Palestine, 27 of which were committed by the Israeli Occupation while only one attack was committed by the Palestinian authorities.
May has witnessed a dramatic rise in the number of attacks which amounted to 84, and this high rise at the time is attributed to the closure of 65 pages and accounts of journalists by the Facebook.
The number of Israeli attacks against media freedoms in Palestine increased in June compared with the previous month, jumping from 18 in May to 27 in June, five of which were committed in Gaza Strip while 22 in the West Bank.
As usual, plenty of the Israeli attacks registered in this month fall under the serious attacks threatening the lives of journalists, especially those registered in Gaza Strip, most prominently: the injury of the photojournalist Nidal Shafiq Ishataya (two metal gunshots), the injury of the freelance journalist Saleh Abedrabu Abdullah Qarmout (direct gas bomb at the head-above the ear), the injury of the volunteer journalist Ikhlas Al-Qrenawi (gunshot in her foot), the injury of Mohammad Kassab (direct gas bomb in the neck), the injury of the photojournalist Raed Yousef Abu Mathkour (gunshot in the leg), the arrest of the journalist amer Tawfiq Abu Halil upon raiding his house at dawn, breaking into the house of the freelance journalist Mohammad Sharaf Al-Shuaibe, summon and detain him under the pretext that he did not respond to a formed call by the occupation intelligence, in addition to the deliberate attack of the occupation soldiers to the gathering of journalists while they were covering a demonstration at Al-Bireh entrance by gas bombs, resulting in the injury of 17 female/male journalists with severe suffocation and vomiting.
This is in addition to issuing a traffic ticket of 1000 NIS to the photojournalist Rajai Al-Khatib deliberately claiming that he “endangered the life of a police officer” while he was covering the clashes in Issawiya in occupied Jerusalem.
In an unusual precedent, July has not witnessed any Palestinian violation against media freedoms in the West Bank and Gaza Strip by the official authorities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The only Palestinian violation recorded this month was the exposure of the director of investigative journalism unit of “Watan” Network, the journalist Nizar Habash, to several telephone threats following the preparation and dissemination of the investigate on a beauty salon and its practices by the Network given that these practices have caused physical and bodily harm to some women.
This is the second month that has not witnessed any violation in the West Bank in particular, which promises a positive direction for the new Palestinian government, which has declared its commitment to protect press freedoms since its establishment about three months ago.
The Palestinian Center for Development & Media Freedoms has monitored, during June, a total of 28 attacks against media freedoms in Palestine, 27 of which were committed by the Israeli Occupation while only one attack was committed by the Palestinian authorities.
May has witnessed a dramatic rise in the number of attacks which amounted to 84, and this high rise at the time is attributed to the closure of 65 pages and accounts of journalists by the Facebook.
The number of Israeli attacks against media freedoms in Palestine increased in June compared with the previous month, jumping from 18 in May to 27 in June, five of which were committed in Gaza Strip while 22 in the West Bank.
As usual, plenty of the Israeli attacks registered in this month fall under the serious attacks threatening the lives of journalists, especially those registered in Gaza Strip, most prominently: the injury of the photojournalist Nidal Shafiq Ishataya (two metal gunshots), the injury of the freelance journalist Saleh Abedrabu Abdullah Qarmout (direct gas bomb at the head-above the ear), the injury of the volunteer journalist Ikhlas Al-Qrenawi (gunshot in her foot), the injury of Mohammad Kassab (direct gas bomb in the neck), the injury of the photojournalist Raed Yousef Abu Mathkour (gunshot in the leg), the arrest of the journalist amer Tawfiq Abu Halil upon raiding his house at dawn, breaking into the house of the freelance journalist Mohammad Sharaf Al-Shuaibe, summon and detain him under the pretext that he did not respond to a formed call by the occupation intelligence, in addition to the deliberate attack of the occupation soldiers to the gathering of journalists while they were covering a demonstration at Al-Bireh entrance by gas bombs, resulting in the injury of 17 female/male journalists with severe suffocation and vomiting.
This is in addition to issuing a traffic ticket of 1000 NIS to the photojournalist Rajai Al-Khatib deliberately claiming that he “endangered the life of a police officer” while he was covering the clashes in Issawiya in occupied Jerusalem.
In an unusual precedent, July has not witnessed any Palestinian violation against media freedoms in the West Bank and Gaza Strip by the official authorities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The only Palestinian violation recorded this month was the exposure of the director of investigative journalism unit of “Watan” Network, the journalist Nizar Habash, to several telephone threats following the preparation and dissemination of the investigate on a beauty salon and its practices by the Network given that these practices have caused physical and bodily harm to some women.
This is the second month that has not witnessed any violation in the West Bank in particular, which promises a positive direction for the new Palestinian government, which has declared its commitment to protect press freedoms since its establishment about three months ago.
6 july 2019
Thousands of protesters took part Friday, in the weekly Great March of Return, at Israel’s so-called security fence, bordering Gaza, according to Palestinian WAFA Agency.
According to medical sources, some of the injured being treated in field hospitals, while others had to be transferred to hospital for medical care.
According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, 95 people were injured by Israeli forces, including 33 children, 1 journalist, and 4 women, one of which was a volunteer medic
PCHR has documented that Israeli soldiers have killed 207 Palestinians, including 44 children, 2 women and 9 Palestinians with special needs, in addition to 4 medics and 2 journalists, since March 30th, 2018.
The PCHR added that the number of wounded Palestinians is 13053, including 2638 children, 398 women, 214 medics and 203 journalists.
The Great March of Return protests began on March 30, 2018, in which the nearly 2 million Palestinians in Gaza started asserting their right to return to their ancestral homes in pre-1948 Palestine, as well as calling for the complete lifting the illegal Israeli siege of Gaza.
According to Protocol 1 of the Geneva Convention, it is illegal to target civilians, which Israel has been doing since the outset of the demonstrations.
According to Article 11 of UN Resolution 194, the refugees living in Gaza have the right to return to the land they and their ancestors were forcefully evicted from in 1948, now called Israel.
According to medical sources, some of the injured being treated in field hospitals, while others had to be transferred to hospital for medical care.
According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, 95 people were injured by Israeli forces, including 33 children, 1 journalist, and 4 women, one of which was a volunteer medic
PCHR has documented that Israeli soldiers have killed 207 Palestinians, including 44 children, 2 women and 9 Palestinians with special needs, in addition to 4 medics and 2 journalists, since March 30th, 2018.
The PCHR added that the number of wounded Palestinians is 13053, including 2638 children, 398 women, 214 medics and 203 journalists.
The Great March of Return protests began on March 30, 2018, in which the nearly 2 million Palestinians in Gaza started asserting their right to return to their ancestral homes in pre-1948 Palestine, as well as calling for the complete lifting the illegal Israeli siege of Gaza.
According to Protocol 1 of the Geneva Convention, it is illegal to target civilians, which Israel has been doing since the outset of the demonstrations.
According to Article 11 of UN Resolution 194, the refugees living in Gaza have the right to return to the land they and their ancestors were forcefully evicted from in 1948, now called Israel.
2 july 2019
German authorities barred Palestinian-Canadian journalist Khaled Barakat from speaking at a Palestine solidarity event in Berlin, claiming his “anti-Semitic” speeches posed a threat to public order and could undermine relations between the country and Israel.
The activist has been prohibited from attending future political events and threatened with up to one year in prison, marking another success in the Israel lobby’s bid to clamp down on criticism abroad.
Barakat had been invited to speak at an Arab community event in Berlin on 22 June to discuss Palestinian liberation and its implications for other Arab communities, as well as US President Donald Trump’s so-called Deal of the Century.
But, he was accosted by police on arrival.
“As soon as we left the U-Bahn station nearest the venue my wife and I noticed heavy police presence in the area, including multiple vans full of police,” Barakat told The Electronic Intifada.
“I was approached by a group of police and one officer spoke to me. He said: ‘You have an event here tonight and you are the speaker … you cannot speak.’”
The police took Barakat and his wife to a police station where government officials handed him an eight-page document prohibiting him from political activity.
The document, issued by the Berlin Foreigners Registration Office and seen by The Electronic Intifada, states in German that Barakat faces a ban on participating in specific events and a general “limit on your political activity until you leave the Federal Republic of Germany.”
“They [representatives of the foreigners office] told me that I am banned from speaking at any public event in Berlin and even attending meetings and gatherings,” Barakat said.
He said was also ordered to avoid social events of “more than 10 people,” or face a one-year prison sentence.
Barakat’s wife is also a Palestinian rights activist, but not Palestinian and she was not banned.
“After I was told to acknowledge that I had received the document we were released from the police station. We also noticed significant police presence on the way home,” Barakat added.
German-Israeli relations trump free speech
Barakat’s case mirrors that of Palestinian activist Rasmea Odeh who was smeared in the German media before being banned from speaking at an event in Berlin for International Women’s Day earlier this year.
She was finally forced to leave the country.
The official document states that Barakat’s political activities “pose a threat to public safety,” that his talk would “impair and endanger the peaceful coexistence of Germans and foreigners” and that Germany’s relationship to Israel could be “considerably endangered” if he were allowed to speak.
The document also states that it believes Barakat might be working for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – PFLP – which the document notes is listed as a “terrorist” organization by the US, Israel and the European Union.
However it acknowledges that the group is “not prohibited” in Germany. Israel considers virtually all Palestinian political parties and organizations that militarily resist occupation to be “terrorist” groups.
“If you look at the campaigns being carried out by Israel and the Ministry of Strategic Affairs against BDS organizations around the world, or Students for Justice in Palestine in the US, they are trying their best to criminalize all movements for Palestine or even human rights organizations by using so-called connections to Hamas and the PFLP,” Barakat said.
Barakat observed that in the leaked Al Jazeera undercover film The Lobby–USA, “representatives from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies openly advocated for this tactic and now we are seeing it in practice.”
BDS stands for boycott, divestment and sanctions – a global campaign for Palestinian rights modeled on the one that helped end apartheid in South Africa during the 1980s.
The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies is a Washington-based neoconservative think tank and agent of Israel’s strategic affairs ministry.
The document goes on to list a number of speeches given by Barakat in Germany, but fails to cite any examples of anti-Semitism.
Barakat believes this is because the authorities need to “exaggerate in order to justify their repressive measures.”
Despite offering no examples of anti-Jewish bigotry on Barakat’s part, the government order insists the draconian ban on his political activities is justified because “the public should be protected from your expected anti-Semitic and anti-Israel statements.”
Fear of a united front
Barakat strongly refutes the claim that his speech would have caused tensions between Jewish and Arab communities in Berlin and asserts, rather, that authorities are trying to prevent a united front from emerging.
“The same forces advocating for and issuing this political ban against me are involved in repressing Jewish voices that criticize Zionism, Israeli policy and German policy on Israel,” he said.
Barakat noted that under Israel lobby pressure, the director of the Jewish Museum Berlin was recently forced to resign.
Moreover, the group Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East had its bank account closed. And, two Jewish activists with Israeli nationality are on trial for criminal charges alongside a Palestinian activist from Gaza for interrupting an Israeli politician who supported Israel’s 2014 assault on Gaza that killed more than 2,200 Palestinians including 550 children.
In recent years, German music festivals have also been banning international artists who refuse to denounce the nonviolent BDS campaign for Palestinian rights.
These facts, as well as the German parliament’s recent resolution smearing the BDS movement as anti-Semitic make it increasingly difficult for activists to advocate for Palestinian human rights.
The people who face the brunt of these attacks are Palestinians themselves.
The racism, political bans and growing repression aside, Barakat remains undeterred: “I firmly believe that the vast majority of people in Germany support justice for the Palestinian people and reject Israeli war crimes and apartheid, but they live in fear and I understand.”
~ Electronic Intifada/Days of Palestine
The activist has been prohibited from attending future political events and threatened with up to one year in prison, marking another success in the Israel lobby’s bid to clamp down on criticism abroad.
Barakat had been invited to speak at an Arab community event in Berlin on 22 June to discuss Palestinian liberation and its implications for other Arab communities, as well as US President Donald Trump’s so-called Deal of the Century.
But, he was accosted by police on arrival.
“As soon as we left the U-Bahn station nearest the venue my wife and I noticed heavy police presence in the area, including multiple vans full of police,” Barakat told The Electronic Intifada.
“I was approached by a group of police and one officer spoke to me. He said: ‘You have an event here tonight and you are the speaker … you cannot speak.’”
The police took Barakat and his wife to a police station where government officials handed him an eight-page document prohibiting him from political activity.
The document, issued by the Berlin Foreigners Registration Office and seen by The Electronic Intifada, states in German that Barakat faces a ban on participating in specific events and a general “limit on your political activity until you leave the Federal Republic of Germany.”
“They [representatives of the foreigners office] told me that I am banned from speaking at any public event in Berlin and even attending meetings and gatherings,” Barakat said.
He said was also ordered to avoid social events of “more than 10 people,” or face a one-year prison sentence.
Barakat’s wife is also a Palestinian rights activist, but not Palestinian and she was not banned.
“After I was told to acknowledge that I had received the document we were released from the police station. We also noticed significant police presence on the way home,” Barakat added.
German-Israeli relations trump free speech
Barakat’s case mirrors that of Palestinian activist Rasmea Odeh who was smeared in the German media before being banned from speaking at an event in Berlin for International Women’s Day earlier this year.
She was finally forced to leave the country.
The official document states that Barakat’s political activities “pose a threat to public safety,” that his talk would “impair and endanger the peaceful coexistence of Germans and foreigners” and that Germany’s relationship to Israel could be “considerably endangered” if he were allowed to speak.
The document also states that it believes Barakat might be working for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – PFLP – which the document notes is listed as a “terrorist” organization by the US, Israel and the European Union.
However it acknowledges that the group is “not prohibited” in Germany. Israel considers virtually all Palestinian political parties and organizations that militarily resist occupation to be “terrorist” groups.
“If you look at the campaigns being carried out by Israel and the Ministry of Strategic Affairs against BDS organizations around the world, or Students for Justice in Palestine in the US, they are trying their best to criminalize all movements for Palestine or even human rights organizations by using so-called connections to Hamas and the PFLP,” Barakat said.
Barakat observed that in the leaked Al Jazeera undercover film The Lobby–USA, “representatives from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies openly advocated for this tactic and now we are seeing it in practice.”
BDS stands for boycott, divestment and sanctions – a global campaign for Palestinian rights modeled on the one that helped end apartheid in South Africa during the 1980s.
The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies is a Washington-based neoconservative think tank and agent of Israel’s strategic affairs ministry.
The document goes on to list a number of speeches given by Barakat in Germany, but fails to cite any examples of anti-Semitism.
Barakat believes this is because the authorities need to “exaggerate in order to justify their repressive measures.”
Despite offering no examples of anti-Jewish bigotry on Barakat’s part, the government order insists the draconian ban on his political activities is justified because “the public should be protected from your expected anti-Semitic and anti-Israel statements.”
Fear of a united front
Barakat strongly refutes the claim that his speech would have caused tensions between Jewish and Arab communities in Berlin and asserts, rather, that authorities are trying to prevent a united front from emerging.
“The same forces advocating for and issuing this political ban against me are involved in repressing Jewish voices that criticize Zionism, Israeli policy and German policy on Israel,” he said.
Barakat noted that under Israel lobby pressure, the director of the Jewish Museum Berlin was recently forced to resign.
Moreover, the group Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East had its bank account closed. And, two Jewish activists with Israeli nationality are on trial for criminal charges alongside a Palestinian activist from Gaza for interrupting an Israeli politician who supported Israel’s 2014 assault on Gaza that killed more than 2,200 Palestinians including 550 children.
In recent years, German music festivals have also been banning international artists who refuse to denounce the nonviolent BDS campaign for Palestinian rights.
These facts, as well as the German parliament’s recent resolution smearing the BDS movement as anti-Semitic make it increasingly difficult for activists to advocate for Palestinian human rights.
The people who face the brunt of these attacks are Palestinians themselves.
The racism, political bans and growing repression aside, Barakat remains undeterred: “I firmly believe that the vast majority of people in Germany support justice for the Palestinian people and reject Israeli war crimes and apartheid, but they live in fear and I understand.”
~ Electronic Intifada/Days of Palestine
28 june 2019
Dozens of Palestinian citizens were injured by Israeli gunfire and tear gas bombs on the 64th Friday of the Great March of Return in the Gaza Strip.
The Ministry of Health said that 50 Palestinians were injured including 8 paramedics and a journalist.
Thousands of Palestinians took part in the Great March of Return along Gaza's eastern border in protest at the Bahrain conference.
The PIC reporters said that the Israeli forces heavily fired live ammunition and tear gas canisters at the peaceful protesters.
The Gaza Strip Palestinians on 30 March 2018 launched the Great March of Return to call for the return of refugees and demand an end to the 13-year-long blockade on the enclave.
Since the start of the border protests, the Israeli occupation forces have killed 318 demonstrators and injured over 31,000.
The Ministry of Health said that 50 Palestinians were injured including 8 paramedics and a journalist.
Thousands of Palestinians took part in the Great March of Return along Gaza's eastern border in protest at the Bahrain conference.
The PIC reporters said that the Israeli forces heavily fired live ammunition and tear gas canisters at the peaceful protesters.
The Gaza Strip Palestinians on 30 March 2018 launched the Great March of Return to call for the return of refugees and demand an end to the 13-year-long blockade on the enclave.
Since the start of the border protests, the Israeli occupation forces have killed 318 demonstrators and injured over 31,000.
A number of Palestinians were injured in Qalqilya and Ramallah in the West Bank on Friday when the Israeli occupation forces quelled peaceful demonstrations against the Bahrain workshop.
Activist Murad Shtewi said that 9 Palestinian demonstrators were injured by Israeli live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets in Kafr Qaddum town in Qalqilya.
Shtewi added that the Israeli forces assaulted journalists who were covering the protests injuring one of them.
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian demonstrators choked on tear gas in Bil'in village in Ramallah.
Local residents said that the Israeli forces heavily fired stun grenades and tear gas canisters at the protesters.
Hundreds of Palestinian citizens and foreign activists took part in Ramallah protests, condemned the Bahrain workshop, and waved Palestine flags.
Activist Murad Shtewi said that 9 Palestinian demonstrators were injured by Israeli live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets in Kafr Qaddum town in Qalqilya.
Shtewi added that the Israeli forces assaulted journalists who were covering the protests injuring one of them.
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian demonstrators choked on tear gas in Bil'in village in Ramallah.
Local residents said that the Israeli forces heavily fired stun grenades and tear gas canisters at the protesters.
Hundreds of Palestinian citizens and foreign activists took part in Ramallah protests, condemned the Bahrain workshop, and waved Palestine flags.
24 june 2019
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Monday at dawn, four Palestinians, including a journalist, in Bethlehem and Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported.
The PPS office in Bethlehem, south of occupied Jerusalem, said several army jeeps invaded the Deheishe refugee camp, south of the city, searched homes and abducted Baha’ Mheisin Abu Yabis, 26.
It added that the soldiers also invaded and searched homes in Bethlehem city, and abducted Yousef Kawazba.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Hebron city, in southern West Bank, searched and ransacked homes, before abducting Fuad Rashid Skafi.
The soldiers also invaded homes in Doura town, southwest of Hebron, and abducted a journalist, identified as ‘Amer Tawfiq Abu Hlayyil.
In related news, the soldiers invaded several neighborhoods in Hebron city, in addition to the towns of Beit Ula, Etna, Beit Awwa, Deir Samit and Tarqoumia, and installed many roadblocks on northern and southern roads of Hebron city, in addition to the towns of Halhoul and Sa’ir.
The soldiers stopped and searched dozens of cars, and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
The PPS office in Bethlehem, south of occupied Jerusalem, said several army jeeps invaded the Deheishe refugee camp, south of the city, searched homes and abducted Baha’ Mheisin Abu Yabis, 26.
It added that the soldiers also invaded and searched homes in Bethlehem city, and abducted Yousef Kawazba.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Hebron city, in southern West Bank, searched and ransacked homes, before abducting Fuad Rashid Skafi.
The soldiers also invaded homes in Doura town, southwest of Hebron, and abducted a journalist, identified as ‘Amer Tawfiq Abu Hlayyil.
In related news, the soldiers invaded several neighborhoods in Hebron city, in addition to the towns of Beit Ula, Etna, Beit Awwa, Deir Samit and Tarqoumia, and installed many roadblocks on northern and southern roads of Hebron city, in addition to the towns of Halhoul and Sa’ir.
The soldiers stopped and searched dozens of cars, and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
