12 apr 2014
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“I wish I could be as I was before, to walk on the street without fear,” a tearful al-Shawamreh states.
Al-Shawamreh says he has lost control of his body, including feeling in one of his hands, and describes what seem to be symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the repeated beatings and other forms of physical torture. Al-Shawamreh’s ordeal began with a phone call on February 1 from the Palestinian Investigations Unit in Hebron, summoning him for questioning regarding a hacked Facebook account. The beating began straight away, according to al-Shawamreh’s testimony. Shawamreh describes repeatedly losing consciousness during the physical abuse. “You will die here” |
“I felt I would die when he strangled me,” al-Shawamreh says of one of his torturers.
“You will die here,” al-Shawamreh recalls one of them saying as he begged for a sip of water.
After signing a statement under coercion, al-Shawamreh was taken to see a physician with the military services, a disturbing indication of medical professionals’ collusion in the practice of torture.
On the third day of his detention, a public prosecutor ordered al-Shawamreh’s immediate release, but he was taken back to the Investigations Unit, where he was subjected to more verbal and physical abuse before he was released on bail.
Al-Shawamreh was then taken to a medical center by a police officer who threatened him not to say anything to the doctor; al-Shawamreh told the doctor he didn’t suffer from anything and was asked to sign a paper presumably stating such.
Harassment
Al-Shawamreh was later taken to a hospital in Ramallah where the Investigations Unit called to harass him, according to al-Shawamreh’s testimony.
A February 7 medical report obtained by Al-Haq states that al-Shawamreh was admitted to the emergency room and suffered from severe pain the neck and shoulder, abrasions, internal bleeding, burn scars and two fractured ribs, and adds that the patient was in need of psychiatric care.
The trembling and broken young man in the video was, before his arrest, an ambitious and hard worker at a solar power company, his coworkers told Al-Haq.
Al-Haq says it documented four cases of Palestinian prisoners “held under inhumane detention conditions and subjected to ill-treatment and torture” in the first few months of this year.
In 2008, the group published a study which found widespread politically-motivated torture by Palestinian government forces in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Palestinian Authority security forces in the West Bank have, for years, been largely financed and trained under the auspices of the United States and the European Union. In a short video produced by the human rights organization Al-Haq, 28-year-old Osamah Nayef al-Shawamreh describes in harrowing detail the torture he endured for three days in a Palestinian Authority prison, in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, earlier this year.
“You will die here,” al-Shawamreh recalls one of them saying as he begged for a sip of water.
After signing a statement under coercion, al-Shawamreh was taken to see a physician with the military services, a disturbing indication of medical professionals’ collusion in the practice of torture.
On the third day of his detention, a public prosecutor ordered al-Shawamreh’s immediate release, but he was taken back to the Investigations Unit, where he was subjected to more verbal and physical abuse before he was released on bail.
Al-Shawamreh was then taken to a medical center by a police officer who threatened him not to say anything to the doctor; al-Shawamreh told the doctor he didn’t suffer from anything and was asked to sign a paper presumably stating such.
Harassment
Al-Shawamreh was later taken to a hospital in Ramallah where the Investigations Unit called to harass him, according to al-Shawamreh’s testimony.
A February 7 medical report obtained by Al-Haq states that al-Shawamreh was admitted to the emergency room and suffered from severe pain the neck and shoulder, abrasions, internal bleeding, burn scars and two fractured ribs, and adds that the patient was in need of psychiatric care.
The trembling and broken young man in the video was, before his arrest, an ambitious and hard worker at a solar power company, his coworkers told Al-Haq.
Al-Haq says it documented four cases of Palestinian prisoners “held under inhumane detention conditions and subjected to ill-treatment and torture” in the first few months of this year.
In 2008, the group published a study which found widespread politically-motivated torture by Palestinian government forces in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Palestinian Authority security forces in the West Bank have, for years, been largely financed and trained under the auspices of the United States and the European Union. In a short video produced by the human rights organization Al-Haq, 28-year-old Osamah Nayef al-Shawamreh describes in harrowing detail the torture he endured for three days in a Palestinian Authority prison, in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, earlier this year.
9 apr 2014
Hamas said on Wednesday that Palestinians in the West Bank should "give full rein" to resistance against the Israeli occupation and end security cooperation with Israel.
The moves comes hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered government officials to stop cooperation with Palestinian officials as part of a round of sanctions on the PA as peace negotiations between the two sides stalled in recent days.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoun said PA President Mahmoud Abbas should take advantage of Netanyahu's decision and end all aspects of security coordination with Israel.
Abbas should let resistance "deter the Israeli occupation and defend our people, our land, and our holy places," Barhoun said in a statement.
He said Abbas should end negotiations and recruit regional and international opposition to the occupation.
The failure of the the peace talks so far proves that Hamas was correct in its view that negotiations with Israel only have a negative impact on the Palestinian people, the statement said.
Barhoun also urged Arab countries to support regional and international divestment from Israel.
Netanyahu's decision to cut coordination with Palestinian officials comes in response to the PLO's decision to apply to join 15 international conventions.
Palestinian officials say the decision to apply to the international conventions was in direct response to Israel's failure to release a fourth and final round of veteran prisoners as agreed.
Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the US after nearly three years of impasse.
Israel's government has announced the construction of thousands of settler housing units and its army has killed 60 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since the negotiations began.
The moves comes hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered government officials to stop cooperation with Palestinian officials as part of a round of sanctions on the PA as peace negotiations between the two sides stalled in recent days.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoun said PA President Mahmoud Abbas should take advantage of Netanyahu's decision and end all aspects of security coordination with Israel.
Abbas should let resistance "deter the Israeli occupation and defend our people, our land, and our holy places," Barhoun said in a statement.
He said Abbas should end negotiations and recruit regional and international opposition to the occupation.
The failure of the the peace talks so far proves that Hamas was correct in its view that negotiations with Israel only have a negative impact on the Palestinian people, the statement said.
Barhoun also urged Arab countries to support regional and international divestment from Israel.
Netanyahu's decision to cut coordination with Palestinian officials comes in response to the PLO's decision to apply to join 15 international conventions.
Palestinian officials say the decision to apply to the international conventions was in direct response to Israel's failure to release a fourth and final round of veteran prisoners as agreed.
Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the US after nearly three years of impasse.
Israel's government has announced the construction of thousands of settler housing units and its army has killed 60 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since the negotiations began.
4 apr 2014
The PA magistrates' court has sentenced on Thursday Quds Press reporter Mohammed Mona to three months imprisonment in absentia as he is currently held in Israeli prisons.
The Magistrate's Court in Nablus has sentenced the journalist Mohammed Anwar Mona, 30, in absentia to three months on charges of incitement, family sources told PIC correspondent.
The family declared their total rejection to the court's rule, considering it a political decision that aims to silence Palestinian citizens and journalists in particular.
The family called on all international and local institutions to intervene to stop PA flagrant violations against journalists and particularly their son.
The journalist Mohamed Mona was detained in Israeli jails in August 2013 where he spent six months in administrative detention for the second time in a row.
Mona was arrested several times where he spent 5 years behind Israeli bars and 4 months in PA jails.
The Magistrate's Court in Nablus has sentenced the journalist Mohammed Anwar Mona, 30, in absentia to three months on charges of incitement, family sources told PIC correspondent.
The family declared their total rejection to the court's rule, considering it a political decision that aims to silence Palestinian citizens and journalists in particular.
The family called on all international and local institutions to intervene to stop PA flagrant violations against journalists and particularly their son.
The journalist Mohamed Mona was detained in Israeli jails in August 2013 where he spent six months in administrative detention for the second time in a row.
Mona was arrested several times where he spent 5 years behind Israeli bars and 4 months in PA jails.
3 apr 2014
Hamas accused Palestinian Authority security forces of arresting 144 of its member recently in the West Bank.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a news conference in Gaza City that the “attack” on Hamas leaders and members was “unjustified and incomprehensible.”
He said it was “poisonous to reconciliation and a violation of all national values and Palestinian bonds.”
“There will be no reconciliation as long as our leaders are kidnapped”, he said, accusing the PA of handing Hamas members to Israel.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a news conference in Gaza City that the “attack” on Hamas leaders and members was “unjustified and incomprehensible.”
He said it was “poisonous to reconciliation and a violation of all national values and Palestinian bonds.”
“There will be no reconciliation as long as our leaders are kidnapped”, he said, accusing the PA of handing Hamas members to Israel.
1 apr 2014
PA Preventive Services arrested Monday the liberated detainee Raed al-Nadi and his wife after raiding his home in Nassariya east of Nablus. Family sources said that PA forces stormed the home of liberated detainee Raed al-Nadi, 40, and his wife before taking them to PA security headquarters.
The family condemned the arrest of al-Nadi and his wife considering it a violation to national norms, calling for their immediate release especially that they have eight children.
The liberated detainee and his wife were arrested more than once in PA jails where al-Nadi spent six years in Israeli prisons.
The family condemned the arrest of al-Nadi and his wife considering it a violation to national norms, calling for their immediate release especially that they have eight children.
The liberated detainee and his wife were arrested more than once in PA jails where al-Nadi spent six years in Israeli prisons.
31 mar 2014
MP Mohammed Abu Juhaisha
Palestinian Authority security elements stormed at dawn Monday the house of MP Mohammed Abu Juhaisha in Edhna village, west of Al-Khalil, and arrested his son. The MP said that PA preventive security and intelligence elements in more than 20 vehicles surrounded his house and broke into it twice searching for his seven sons.
He explained that in the first time they said they wanted to deliver a verbal message to his liberated son Mujahid, but he was not at home.
They came back again hours later and wreaked havoc in the house before taking away his other son Malik, Abu Juhaisha said, adding that the security forces searched his sons’ houses without finding anyone of them.
He said that the security forces also broke into the houses of his two sisters looking for their sons, who are also liberated captives. They arrested four others in the town, who were all former prisoners in Israeli and PA jails.
Abu Juhaisha denounced the PA security apparatuses for unjustifiably targeting his family members and honorable inhabitants of the village.
Palestinian Authority security elements stormed at dawn Monday the house of MP Mohammed Abu Juhaisha in Edhna village, west of Al-Khalil, and arrested his son. The MP said that PA preventive security and intelligence elements in more than 20 vehicles surrounded his house and broke into it twice searching for his seven sons.
He explained that in the first time they said they wanted to deliver a verbal message to his liberated son Mujahid, but he was not at home.
They came back again hours later and wreaked havoc in the house before taking away his other son Malik, Abu Juhaisha said, adding that the security forces searched his sons’ houses without finding anyone of them.
He said that the security forces also broke into the houses of his two sisters looking for their sons, who are also liberated captives. They arrested four others in the town, who were all former prisoners in Israeli and PA jails.
Abu Juhaisha denounced the PA security apparatuses for unjustifiably targeting his family members and honorable inhabitants of the village.
30 mar 2014
The Palestinian Authority security forces violently raided a meeting held on Saturday evening by Hizb Al-Tahrir (Liberation Party) inside Jamal Abdul-Naser Mosque in Bireh city near Ramallah and physically assaulted a number of attendees, including journalists. Local sources told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that PA security men encircled the Mosque, which is also known as the Grand Mosque of Al-Bireh, as some other plain-clothes elements stormed it and arrested many members of Hizb Al-Tahrir.
Hizb Al-Tahrir accused the PA security forces of arresting more than 100 people of its supporters and members during their attendance of a weekly meeting.
"The security forces turned the vicinity of the Grand Mosque of Al-Bireh into what looked like a military post, and kept arresting supporters of the party at the gates of the Mosque and inside it after storming it and beating them in a brutal way reflecting the security mentality, which the security apparatuses were raised upon," spokesman for Hizb Al-Tahrir Baher Saleh stated.
Saleh asserted that the security men were arresting in particular the Jerusalemite Palestinians who have blue IDs issued by Israel and releasing those who show Palestinian IDs.
He expressed his fears that the PA security apparatuses might repeat what it had done last year and turn these Jerusalemites to the Israeli occupation authority.
The spokesman also said that the PA security forces assaulted the crew of Al-Watan TV channel as they were covering the events.
Hizb Al-Tahrir accused the PA security forces of arresting more than 100 people of its supporters and members during their attendance of a weekly meeting.
"The security forces turned the vicinity of the Grand Mosque of Al-Bireh into what looked like a military post, and kept arresting supporters of the party at the gates of the Mosque and inside it after storming it and beating them in a brutal way reflecting the security mentality, which the security apparatuses were raised upon," spokesman for Hizb Al-Tahrir Baher Saleh stated.
Saleh asserted that the security men were arresting in particular the Jerusalemite Palestinians who have blue IDs issued by Israel and releasing those who show Palestinian IDs.
He expressed his fears that the PA security apparatuses might repeat what it had done last year and turn these Jerusalemites to the Israeli occupation authority.
The spokesman also said that the PA security forces assaulted the crew of Al-Watan TV channel as they were covering the events.
29 mar 2014
The Palestinian People's Party said in a statement Saturday that it opposes Hamas' attempts to change the penal code in the Gaza Strip.
The Hamas movement that governs Gaza is attempting to impose a new penal code on the Strip, one that is inconsistent with basic the Palestinian law that has been applicable in the West Bank and Gaza since 1936, the PPP statement said.
Citing comments from the secretary of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza and the chief of the council's legal committee, the PPP said that Hamas-affiliated lawyers were preparing to replace the 1936 penal code with a new one.
"Hamas and its parliamentarian bloc do not have the right to pass such a law in the name of the Palestinian parliament," the PPP statement said, adding that changing the penal code in Gaza would further divide Fatah and Hamas.
A legal adviser from the Palestinian human rights organization al-Haq said that the new penal code in Gaza would include regulations from Shariah law.
The Hamas movement that governs Gaza is attempting to impose a new penal code on the Strip, one that is inconsistent with basic the Palestinian law that has been applicable in the West Bank and Gaza since 1936, the PPP statement said.
Citing comments from the secretary of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza and the chief of the council's legal committee, the PPP said that Hamas-affiliated lawyers were preparing to replace the 1936 penal code with a new one.
"Hamas and its parliamentarian bloc do not have the right to pass such a law in the name of the Palestinian parliament," the PPP statement said, adding that changing the penal code in Gaza would further divide Fatah and Hamas.
A legal adviser from the Palestinian human rights organization al-Haq said that the new penal code in Gaza would include regulations from Shariah law.
Elements of the Palestinian Authority’s general intelligence apparatus kidnapped before midnight Friday three wounded Palestinians from their hospital beds in Jenin. Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that dozens of intelligence agents broke into the Martyr Khalil Suleiman government hospital in Jenin city and took away three wounded Palestinians despite objections by the medical staff.
They said that one of them, Yehya Bassam Al-Saadi, had undergone a surgery on Thursday, adding that all three were among those wounded in the Israeli storming of the Jenin refugee camp last Saturday that resulted in killing four young men and the injury of more than 15 others.
Saadi family held the PA apparatuses responsible for the health of Yehya, who had undergone a surgery only 24 hours earlier.
They said that one of them, Yehya Bassam Al-Saadi, had undergone a surgery on Thursday, adding that all three were among those wounded in the Israeli storming of the Jenin refugee camp last Saturday that resulted in killing four young men and the injury of more than 15 others.
Saadi family held the PA apparatuses responsible for the health of Yehya, who had undergone a surgery only 24 hours earlier.
26 mar 2014
A military court in Gaza City on Wednesday sentenced two Palestinian men to prison time after they were found guilty of collaboration with Israel.
According to an announcement released by the court, one man was sentenced to 12 years in jail and another to eight years.
According to an announcement released by the court, one man was sentenced to 12 years in jail and another to eight years.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine on Wednesday condemned the Palestinian Authority's recent arrests of the faction's supporters.
Gaza-based PFLP leader Kayid al-Ghoul told Ma'an Wednesday that the detention of the group's members harmed relations between the various Palestinian factions and indicates that the PA is attempting to quell resistance against Israel.
"No matter what the justifications are, going after resistance fighters can't be acceptable," al-Ghoul said.
This indicates that the PA prioritizes security coordination with Israel over resistance, which is supposed to unite Palestinians, he added.
Al-Ghoul's comments came soon after the PA detained and interrogated three PFLP supporters from Duheisha refugee camp south of Bethlehem, and after summons were delivered to several other supporters from Aida and Azza refugee camps north of Bethlehem, according to PFLP sources.
"There are limits to the degree of patience the PFLP can show as the PA security forces continue to detain and summon supporters," one of the group's officials told Ma'an, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
This kind of behavior by the PA is a "free service to the Israeli forces," he said.
On Thursday, witnesses in Azza camp told Ma'an PA security sources arrested four people, some of them affiliated to the PFLP.
Gaza-based PFLP leader Kayid al-Ghoul told Ma'an Wednesday that the detention of the group's members harmed relations between the various Palestinian factions and indicates that the PA is attempting to quell resistance against Israel.
"No matter what the justifications are, going after resistance fighters can't be acceptable," al-Ghoul said.
This indicates that the PA prioritizes security coordination with Israel over resistance, which is supposed to unite Palestinians, he added.
Al-Ghoul's comments came soon after the PA detained and interrogated three PFLP supporters from Duheisha refugee camp south of Bethlehem, and after summons were delivered to several other supporters from Aida and Azza refugee camps north of Bethlehem, according to PFLP sources.
"There are limits to the degree of patience the PFLP can show as the PA security forces continue to detain and summon supporters," one of the group's officials told Ma'an, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
This kind of behavior by the PA is a "free service to the Israeli forces," he said.
On Thursday, witnesses in Azza camp told Ma'an PA security sources arrested four people, some of them affiliated to the PFLP.
25 mar 2014
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) has demanded that the Palestinian Authority security apparatus and its intelligence services halt a campaign of arrests, and persecution of its supporters and members, in various parts of the West Bank.
The PFLP stated that, in Bethlehem's 'Azza refugee camp, five supporters of the faction were arrested, dozens of homes were raided, and five sympathizers are being pursued by PA security forces, according to the Alternative Information Center (AIC).
The PFLP demanded the PA end security coordination with Israel, recalling that, only a few days ago, occupation forces arrested Palestinian activists just hours after they were released by the PA security apparatus.
The Front stated that the proper task of any Palestinian security force is to protect the Palestinian people, and not to become a whip to lash rebellion of the people against the occupation.
The PFLP stated that, in Bethlehem's 'Azza refugee camp, five supporters of the faction were arrested, dozens of homes were raided, and five sympathizers are being pursued by PA security forces, according to the Alternative Information Center (AIC).
The PFLP demanded the PA end security coordination with Israel, recalling that, only a few days ago, occupation forces arrested Palestinian activists just hours after they were released by the PA security apparatus.
The Front stated that the proper task of any Palestinian security force is to protect the Palestinian people, and not to become a whip to lash rebellion of the people against the occupation.
22 mar 2014
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) called on PA security forces to stop arrest campaign against its supporters and cadres in occupied West Bank, especially after the arrest of five of its supporters. PFLP strongly condemned in its statement issued on Friday targeting its supporters and members by PA security forces in coincidence with the Israeli escalated attacks and arrests against Palestinian people and leaders.
The statement called for putting an end to security coordination that deepened the suffering of Palestinian people especially after that many Palestinians were arrested by Israeli soldiers shortly after their release from PA jails.
The movement called on the PA to provide protection for its people instead of increasing their plight and suffering.
Meanwhile, Hamas leader and the lecturer at al-Najah National University, Dr. Mustafa Shunnar, stated that national unity is directly targeted by PA continued violations, in addition to exporting its internal crisis to the Palestinian society.
He said that PA practices violate the most basic human rights, and the Palestinian Basic Law that regulates the relationship between citizens and the executive authorities.
He stressed the importance of Palestinian national unity especially in face of the challenges and threats that target the Palestinian people’s very existence.
He considered the arrest of more than 60 citizens during the funeral of martyr Mohammed Hanbali in Nablus a violation of Palestinian laws and national and religious norms, calling on the national forces to condemn such illegal practices.
Shunnar stated that these violations were carried out in presence of MPs and former ministers, mayors and heads of village councils, trade unions and student movements.
He condemned national forces and leaders' silence towards this “heinous crime”.
He also called on the PA to stop exporting its internal crisis to the Palestinian community through creating tensions to cover up the corruption scandals among its members.
The leader in Hamas movement called for the immediate release of all political detainees and particularly the mourners who were recently arrested, some of whom were university students.
The statement called for putting an end to security coordination that deepened the suffering of Palestinian people especially after that many Palestinians were arrested by Israeli soldiers shortly after their release from PA jails.
The movement called on the PA to provide protection for its people instead of increasing their plight and suffering.
Meanwhile, Hamas leader and the lecturer at al-Najah National University, Dr. Mustafa Shunnar, stated that national unity is directly targeted by PA continued violations, in addition to exporting its internal crisis to the Palestinian society.
He said that PA practices violate the most basic human rights, and the Palestinian Basic Law that regulates the relationship between citizens and the executive authorities.
He stressed the importance of Palestinian national unity especially in face of the challenges and threats that target the Palestinian people’s very existence.
He considered the arrest of more than 60 citizens during the funeral of martyr Mohammed Hanbali in Nablus a violation of Palestinian laws and national and religious norms, calling on the national forces to condemn such illegal practices.
Shunnar stated that these violations were carried out in presence of MPs and former ministers, mayors and heads of village councils, trade unions and student movements.
He condemned national forces and leaders' silence towards this “heinous crime”.
He also called on the PA to stop exporting its internal crisis to the Palestinian community through creating tensions to cover up the corruption scandals among its members.
The leader in Hamas movement called for the immediate release of all political detainees and particularly the mourners who were recently arrested, some of whom were university students.
20 mar 2014
Friends of Humanity International asked the Ramallah authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his Prime Minister Rami Hamadullah to release the human rights activist Wasef Qadah, who was arrested on Wednesday. The Vienna-based organization said in a press statement on Thursday that the arbitrary detention of Wasef Qadah, the lecturer at An-Najah National University and the member of the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights, by the PA security apparatuses is not justified.
It urged the Palestinian Authority to immediately release the activist and to enable him to exercise all his human rights activities.
The human rights group also expressed concern that human rights activist Qadah might be subjected to torture in the PA's detention and investigation centers.
It urged the Palestinian Authority to immediately release the activist and to enable him to exercise all his human rights activities.
The human rights group also expressed concern that human rights activist Qadah might be subjected to torture in the PA's detention and investigation centers.
Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas condemned the PA fierce arrest campaign in Nablus during the funeral of the martyr Mohammed Hanbali, member of Qassam Brigades, and the PA forces’ assault on the mourners. The movement stated that the arrest campaign targeting its supporters reflects PA security forces' hysterical fear of any marches in support of the resistance option especially after the negotiation’s failure.
The movement's statement said that PA forces have planned to obstruct the funeral from the start as they first tore down the martyr's posters and arrested more than 20 citizens affiliated with Hamas movement before the funeral, in addition to delaying the funeral march for around an hour.
Furthermore, a member of Fatah movement fired into the air in order to terrorize the mourners, while PA forces attacked a number of mourners who gathered outside Rafidia hospital to receive the martyr's body, Hamas said.
It added that at the same time, PA forces closed the street leading to al-Najah University to prevent the funeral access to the university in which the martyr had studied, and arrested dozens of Hamas's supporters.
Hamas condemned the PA force' “heinous practices” that exposed the policy of security coordination and those supporting it, calling for a national and popular firm position against the attack on the funeral and the mourners.
The movement's statement said that PA forces have planned to obstruct the funeral from the start as they first tore down the martyr's posters and arrested more than 20 citizens affiliated with Hamas movement before the funeral, in addition to delaying the funeral march for around an hour.
Furthermore, a member of Fatah movement fired into the air in order to terrorize the mourners, while PA forces attacked a number of mourners who gathered outside Rafidia hospital to receive the martyr's body, Hamas said.
It added that at the same time, PA forces closed the street leading to al-Najah University to prevent the funeral access to the university in which the martyr had studied, and arrested dozens of Hamas's supporters.
Hamas condemned the PA force' “heinous practices” that exposed the policy of security coordination and those supporting it, calling for a national and popular firm position against the attack on the funeral and the mourners.
19 mar 2014
Palestinian security forces arrested dozens of Hamas members following the funerals for the bodies of Palestinians held on Wednesday in Nablus, a Palestinian security source told Ma'an.
The source said that over 40 Hamas members were arrested "for the events that followed the funeral," without elaborating.
He claimed that Hamas members attacked the ambulance which had delivered the remains of former Hamas leader Mohammad al-Hanbali, breaking its windows and assaulting a doctor and a nurse.
They removed the Palestinian flag he was covered in, stomped on it, and subsequently wrapped him with a Hamas flag, he said.
The two main rival Palestinian parties have been on cold terms since 2006, when Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections.
In the following year, clashes erupted between Fatah and Hamas, leaving Hamas in control of the Strip and Fatah in control of the West Bank.
The groups have made failed attempts at national reconciliation for years, most recently in 2012, when they signed two agreements -- one in Cairo and a subsequent one in Doha -- which have as of yet been entirely unimplemented.
The source said that over 40 Hamas members were arrested "for the events that followed the funeral," without elaborating.
He claimed that Hamas members attacked the ambulance which had delivered the remains of former Hamas leader Mohammad al-Hanbali, breaking its windows and assaulting a doctor and a nurse.
They removed the Palestinian flag he was covered in, stomped on it, and subsequently wrapped him with a Hamas flag, he said.
The two main rival Palestinian parties have been on cold terms since 2006, when Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections.
In the following year, clashes erupted between Fatah and Hamas, leaving Hamas in control of the Strip and Fatah in control of the West Bank.
The groups have made failed attempts at national reconciliation for years, most recently in 2012, when they signed two agreements -- one in Cairo and a subsequent one in Doha -- which have as of yet been entirely unimplemented.
17 mar 2014
Palestinian minister of interior Fathi Hammad said that his ministry untiringly fights a fierce war on the Israeli occupation's attempts to recruit spies and informers from the Gaza Strip. In a radio program on Saturday, Hamad stated that his ministry possesses advanced technological means to counteract espionage.
He stressed that there is an ongoing war of brains between the Palestinian security apparatuses in Gaza and the Israeli intelligence agencies, affirming that the internal security service works day and night to combat espionage and track spies.
He noted that the security apparatuses in Gaza always discover new Israeli methods to recruit or take information from unscrupulous or naive people in order to target the resistance and liquidate the Palestinian cause.
The minister said that his ministry also organizes large-scale campaigns to raise the awareness of the society about the gravity of collaboration with the Israeli occupation, and open the door of repentance for any Palestinian involved in espionage activities.
He stressed that there is an ongoing war of brains between the Palestinian security apparatuses in Gaza and the Israeli intelligence agencies, affirming that the internal security service works day and night to combat espionage and track spies.
He noted that the security apparatuses in Gaza always discover new Israeli methods to recruit or take information from unscrupulous or naive people in order to target the resistance and liquidate the Palestinian cause.
The minister said that his ministry also organizes large-scale campaigns to raise the awareness of the society about the gravity of collaboration with the Israeli occupation, and open the door of repentance for any Palestinian involved in espionage activities.
10 mar 2014
Palestinian villagers on Monday captured an Israeli settler when he was trying to steal sheep from a field in the northern West Bank village of al-Lubban al-Sharqiyya south of Nablus.
A Palestinian official who monitors settlement-related activities told Ma’an that a settler from the illegal Eli settlement tried to steal sheep from a Palestinian shepherd before a number of villagers arrived and captured him.
Ghassan Daghlas added that Palestinians notified officials in the Palestinian Authority who contacted the Israeli liaison department.
Just days earlier, villagers from Jalud and Talfit villages south of Nablus captured a settler but he managed to escape shortly afterward.
A Palestinian official who monitors settlement-related activities told Ma’an that a settler from the illegal Eli settlement tried to steal sheep from a Palestinian shepherd before a number of villagers arrived and captured him.
Ghassan Daghlas added that Palestinians notified officials in the Palestinian Authority who contacted the Israeli liaison department.
Just days earlier, villagers from Jalud and Talfit villages south of Nablus captured a settler but he managed to escape shortly afterward.
Palestinan Police Service has hunted down three robbers of a post office in central Gaza City six hours after the crime. The police spokesman confirmed to ALRAY that the robbers were tranferred to the Jawazat police compound in Gaza City.
The doers managed to sneaked into the office from the back, where a cemetery borders the office building, and shacked the office clerk and guard, local sources said earlier.
The incident happened just two days ahead of the scheduled date for receiving the salaries of the government employees.
Witnesses said the police rushed to the theft spot and started investigation.
The 46,000 employees of Gaza are have not been paid in full over the past four months.
Finance Minister, Ziad al-Zaza, says the government needs $45 million per month in payroll and operating expenses, but only $31 million is currently available.
The doers managed to sneaked into the office from the back, where a cemetery borders the office building, and shacked the office clerk and guard, local sources said earlier.
The incident happened just two days ahead of the scheduled date for receiving the salaries of the government employees.
Witnesses said the police rushed to the theft spot and started investigation.
The 46,000 employees of Gaza are have not been paid in full over the past four months.
Finance Minister, Ziad al-Zaza, says the government needs $45 million per month in payroll and operating expenses, but only $31 million is currently available.
9 mar 2014
The Gaza Strip ministry of interior responded on Sunday to reports of police brutality against a Fatah event in the Hamas-run coastal enclave by accusing activists of holding the ceremony unlicensed, stressing that "nobody can be above the law."
"A group of Fatah supporters organized an activity in Khan Younis without contacting police for approval, and that is a breach of the law and obvious attempt to bring security chaos back," said Hamas official Iyad al-Buzm.
Al-Buzm highlighted that Fatah supporters had "attacked police officers who arrived to enforce the law."
The comments came in response to officials from the rival Fatah movement, who accused police of assaulting Fatah supporters during an activity in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday evening.
A spokesperson for the Fatah movement accused the Hamas-affiliated security services in Gaza of detaining dozens of Fatah supporters "for no reason" during the ceremony, which was held to commemorate "martyrs who fell during the Intifada."
Spokesman for the interior ministry Islam Shahwan, however, said that "around 20 people were detained and later released after signing a document not to take part in unauthorized meetings."
A public information officer in the ministry of interior said that event was organized without consulting police for approval.
The accusations signal a potential slow-down in the national reconciliation process between the two rival Palestinian political parties, who have been working publicly towards rapprochement in recent months.
The parties have been on cold terms since 2006, when Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections.
In the following year, clashes erupted between Fatah and Hamas, leaving Hamas in control of the Strip and Fatah in control of the West Bank.
The groups have made failed attempts at national reconciliation for years, most recently in 2012, when they signed two agreements -- one in Cairo and a subsequent one in Doha -- which have as of yet been entirely unimplemented.
"A group of Fatah supporters organized an activity in Khan Younis without contacting police for approval, and that is a breach of the law and obvious attempt to bring security chaos back," said Hamas official Iyad al-Buzm.
Al-Buzm highlighted that Fatah supporters had "attacked police officers who arrived to enforce the law."
The comments came in response to officials from the rival Fatah movement, who accused police of assaulting Fatah supporters during an activity in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday evening.
A spokesperson for the Fatah movement accused the Hamas-affiliated security services in Gaza of detaining dozens of Fatah supporters "for no reason" during the ceremony, which was held to commemorate "martyrs who fell during the Intifada."
Spokesman for the interior ministry Islam Shahwan, however, said that "around 20 people were detained and later released after signing a document not to take part in unauthorized meetings."
A public information officer in the ministry of interior said that event was organized without consulting police for approval.
The accusations signal a potential slow-down in the national reconciliation process between the two rival Palestinian political parties, who have been working publicly towards rapprochement in recent months.
The parties have been on cold terms since 2006, when Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections.
In the following year, clashes erupted between Fatah and Hamas, leaving Hamas in control of the Strip and Fatah in control of the West Bank.
The groups have made failed attempts at national reconciliation for years, most recently in 2012, when they signed two agreements -- one in Cairo and a subsequent one in Doha -- which have as of yet been entirely unimplemented.
