6 june 2014
PA security forces continued arrest campaigns targeting Hamas' supporters throughout West Bank towns and cities just a few days after the formation of unity government. Five of Hamas' supporters were arrested by PA forces including an elderly woman in order to practice more pressures on her to hand over an amount of money.
PA forces also summoned three others of Hamas' supporters in West Bank, while stealing $ 10,000 from a family of two detainees sentenced to life imprisonment in Israeli jails.
In al-Khalil, the Preventive Security Services (PPS) arrested the liberated prisoner Ali Dovash one day after his release from PA jails.
PA General Intelligence Service arrested Raafat Sharbati, the husband of administrative detainee PA Hatem Kufaisheh's daughter.
The liberated prisoner Yazan Ju'beh, 26, declared his rejection to go to the PA Intelligence headquarters after being summoned a few days after his release.
The PPS also summoned Thaer Raja Shalaldeh, from Sair town north of al-Khalil, for the second time within ten days. Shalaldeh, in his turn, declared his rejection to meet the summon threatening to declare hunger strike in case he is arrested.
In Ramallah, PA Intelligence Services stole $ 10,000 from the family of two Palestinian prisoners currently held in Israeli jails and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Local sources confirmed that PA Intelligence Services asked the family to pay $ 10,000 that they had received from the bank in return of the release of their older son who was arrested few days ago for receiving "unauthorized" money.
PA forces arrested the detainees' mother in order to practice more pressures on the family to hand over all the amount of money.
PA Intelligence Service also summoned the liberated detainee Owab Mubarak, PA Ahmed Abdul Aziz Mubarak's son, to attend to its headquarters on Saturday.
In Tubas, the political detainee Osama Sawafta's family staged a sit-in on Wednesday outside PPS headquarters demanding his release especially in light of his health deterioration after refusing to take food or medicines in protest against his political detention.
The liberated prisoner Osama Sawafta was arrested on Tuesday in Tubas, while in his car.
In Qalqiliya, families of political detainees held in PA jails 7 months ago staged a sit-in outside headquarters of Intelligence Services demanding the release of their sons, threatening to step up their protest steps.
PA forces also summoned three others of Hamas' supporters in West Bank, while stealing $ 10,000 from a family of two detainees sentenced to life imprisonment in Israeli jails.
In al-Khalil, the Preventive Security Services (PPS) arrested the liberated prisoner Ali Dovash one day after his release from PA jails.
PA General Intelligence Service arrested Raafat Sharbati, the husband of administrative detainee PA Hatem Kufaisheh's daughter.
The liberated prisoner Yazan Ju'beh, 26, declared his rejection to go to the PA Intelligence headquarters after being summoned a few days after his release.
The PPS also summoned Thaer Raja Shalaldeh, from Sair town north of al-Khalil, for the second time within ten days. Shalaldeh, in his turn, declared his rejection to meet the summon threatening to declare hunger strike in case he is arrested.
In Ramallah, PA Intelligence Services stole $ 10,000 from the family of two Palestinian prisoners currently held in Israeli jails and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Local sources confirmed that PA Intelligence Services asked the family to pay $ 10,000 that they had received from the bank in return of the release of their older son who was arrested few days ago for receiving "unauthorized" money.
PA forces arrested the detainees' mother in order to practice more pressures on the family to hand over all the amount of money.
PA Intelligence Service also summoned the liberated detainee Owab Mubarak, PA Ahmed Abdul Aziz Mubarak's son, to attend to its headquarters on Saturday.
In Tubas, the political detainee Osama Sawafta's family staged a sit-in on Wednesday outside PPS headquarters demanding his release especially in light of his health deterioration after refusing to take food or medicines in protest against his political detention.
The liberated prisoner Osama Sawafta was arrested on Tuesday in Tubas, while in his car.
In Qalqiliya, families of political detainees held in PA jails 7 months ago staged a sit-in outside headquarters of Intelligence Services demanding the release of their sons, threatening to step up their protest steps.
4 june 2014
Hamas on Wednesday said the West Bank security services detained six of its members and summoned six others from several cities. In a statement issued on West Bank, the Islamic Movement said that the Palestinian forces arrested Osama al-Sawafta and Bahaa Ghalion from Tubas, and Ramadan al-Hash'lamon from Hebron, in addion to Ahmad Rayan and brothers Zakaria and Mohammed Hashaikah from Ramallah.
While the forces summoned Mohamed al-Nat'sha, Baraa Erziqat and Muhannad al-Rabay from Hebron, and Khaled Sleem, Orabi al-Jawarish and Abdul-Mahdi al-Zohour from Bethlehem, the statement added.
Sawafta, Erziqat and Sleem are ex-prisoners who spent many year in the Israeli prisons.
Sawafta has started a hunger strike to protest his detention by the forces, according to the statement.
In this respect, Hassan Fasfoos, one of the active Fatah resistance fighters previously detained by the Preventive Service and is held in Hebron prison, was reportedly transferred to a public hospital as he was beaten and tortured him.
The Palestinian security campaign came days after Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah effectively ended a seven-year-long rift, with the agreement on a consensus government announced by President Abbas on June 2.
While the forces summoned Mohamed al-Nat'sha, Baraa Erziqat and Muhannad al-Rabay from Hebron, and Khaled Sleem, Orabi al-Jawarish and Abdul-Mahdi al-Zohour from Bethlehem, the statement added.
Sawafta, Erziqat and Sleem are ex-prisoners who spent many year in the Israeli prisons.
Sawafta has started a hunger strike to protest his detention by the forces, according to the statement.
In this respect, Hassan Fasfoos, one of the active Fatah resistance fighters previously detained by the Preventive Service and is held in Hebron prison, was reportedly transferred to a public hospital as he was beaten and tortured him.
The Palestinian security campaign came days after Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah effectively ended a seven-year-long rift, with the agreement on a consensus government announced by President Abbas on June 2.
At the ministry’s headquarter in Ramallah, Shawqi al-Issa, Tuesday has taken charge of the Ministry of Prisoners in the presence of the Undersecretary of the ministry, its directors and some official figures. Al-Issa emphasized importance of the position saying, “this is a ministry with a special importance. It touches the lives of most Palestinians as the majority of Palestinians suffered the bitterness of detention.”
He also stressed the need to exert all efforts to support the Palestinian prisoners and their families, noting that the priority will be for the prisoners who have been on hunger strike for 42 days.
The minister called for taking urgent steps to save the lives of the hunger-strikers and put an end to the Israeli negligence of their health.
Under terms of a deal signed on April 23, the main Palestinian rivals, Fatah and Hamas, agreed to establish a unity cabinet of 17 independent ministers that would organize long-delayed elections.
He also stressed the need to exert all efforts to support the Palestinian prisoners and their families, noting that the priority will be for the prisoners who have been on hunger strike for 42 days.
The minister called for taking urgent steps to save the lives of the hunger-strikers and put an end to the Israeli negligence of their health.
Under terms of a deal signed on April 23, the main Palestinian rivals, Fatah and Hamas, agreed to establish a unity cabinet of 17 independent ministers that would organize long-delayed elections.
3 june 2014
Fatah leader Arafat Abu Shabab was detained by Gaza security forces at Rafah crossing as he returned to Gaza strip.
Fatah spokesman Fayiz Abu Aita said that Abu Shabab was detained after entering the Gaza Strip for the first time since the division in 2007.
Abu Aita called for the release of Abu Shabab, adding that such actions against Fatah leaders in Gaza are “unjustifiable,” and “unacceptable, especially in light of the positive environment after the formation of the unity government.”
Fatah spokesman Fayiz Abu Aita said that Abu Shabab was detained after entering the Gaza Strip for the first time since the division in 2007.
Abu Aita called for the release of Abu Shabab, adding that such actions against Fatah leaders in Gaza are “unjustifiable,” and “unacceptable, especially in light of the positive environment after the formation of the unity government.”
30 may 2014
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Mahmoud Abbas, the de facto leader of the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, has told Israeli journalists and business people that his collaboration with Israeli occupation forces is “sacred” and would continue even if the PA forms a “government” backed by the Palestinian military resistance organization Hamas.
“The security relationship … and I say it on air, security coordination is sacred, is sacred. And we’ll continue it whether we disagree or agree over policy,” Abbas told about 300 visiting Israelis at his headquarters in Ramallah this week. Abbas can be seen making his remarks in the video, published by Al-Quds newspaper. |
Known euphemistically as “security coordination,” US-financed PA intelligence and security forces work closely with Israeli occupation forces and Shin Bet secret police to suppress any Palestinian resistance to occupation.
This close collaboration between occupier and occupied was recently praised by Martin Indyk, the career Israel lobbyist put in charge of the “peace process” by US President Barack Obama.
The “IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and the Shin Bet now highly appreciate” Abbas’ ongoing work with them, Indyk said at an Israel lobby think tank in Washington earlier this month.
This is not the first time Abbas has publicly committed himself to fighting against Palestinians.
In 2012, he pleaded with a visiting Israel lobby delegation to help him secure weapons from Israel to stop resistance, which, using Israeli and American terminology, he termed “terrorism.”
“If they help me to get weapons, I’m helping them because I’m promoting security,” Abbas said of the Israelis.
His latest remarks about “security coordination” are likely to be an embarrassment even to members of his Fatah faction.
In an apparent attempt to dissociate the movement from Abbas’ comments, Omar Hroub, a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council, told Arabs 48 that Abbas was speaking in his capacity as “president” of the “State of Palestine.”
Oslo In his remarks this week, Abbas also praised the 1993 Oslo accords, now widely viewed by Palestinians as a catastrophe that turned the Palestine Liberation Organization into a security subcontractor for the occupation while Israel has continued to relentlessly colonize Palestinian land.
“Some attacked Oslo from the start and opposed it… and I don’t know why,” Abbas said. “It was a good starting point. It was the first time we had dialogue, we sat together. It was the first time I saw my friend Shimon Peres in the White House garden.”
Abbas has caused consternation among Palestinians on a number of recent occasions, as when he renounced the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and declared his opposition to the boycott of Israel.
Resistance or collaboration? Abbas’ refreshed commitment to working with the occupation throws into sharp relief the deep and long-standing differences and contradictions between Fatah and Hamas, which are currently negotiating over the formation of a “national unity government.”
Earlier this week, Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh, de facto head of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, and the last person to be lawfully appointed as PA prime minister, told a rally in the city of Rafah that joining forces with Abbas did not mean an abandonment of resistance.
“Palestinian reconciliation aims to unite the Palestinian people against the prime enemy, the Zionist enemy,” Haniyeh said. “It aims to pursue the choice of resistance and steadfastness.”
This will undoubtedly be news to Abbas who sees uniting with the “Zionist enemy” to crush Palestinian resistance as his “sacred” duty.
Abbas’ insistence on “security coordination” with Israel has now reportedly emerged as a major last-minute stumbling block in the negotiations over the government.
Haniyeh has announced that he will step down and hand over the Gaza administration to a prime minister appointed by Abbas and a cabinet backed by Fatah and Hamas, though supposedly independent of both movements.
This close collaboration between occupier and occupied was recently praised by Martin Indyk, the career Israel lobbyist put in charge of the “peace process” by US President Barack Obama.
The “IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and the Shin Bet now highly appreciate” Abbas’ ongoing work with them, Indyk said at an Israel lobby think tank in Washington earlier this month.
This is not the first time Abbas has publicly committed himself to fighting against Palestinians.
In 2012, he pleaded with a visiting Israel lobby delegation to help him secure weapons from Israel to stop resistance, which, using Israeli and American terminology, he termed “terrorism.”
“If they help me to get weapons, I’m helping them because I’m promoting security,” Abbas said of the Israelis.
His latest remarks about “security coordination” are likely to be an embarrassment even to members of his Fatah faction.
In an apparent attempt to dissociate the movement from Abbas’ comments, Omar Hroub, a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council, told Arabs 48 that Abbas was speaking in his capacity as “president” of the “State of Palestine.”
Oslo In his remarks this week, Abbas also praised the 1993 Oslo accords, now widely viewed by Palestinians as a catastrophe that turned the Palestine Liberation Organization into a security subcontractor for the occupation while Israel has continued to relentlessly colonize Palestinian land.
“Some attacked Oslo from the start and opposed it… and I don’t know why,” Abbas said. “It was a good starting point. It was the first time we had dialogue, we sat together. It was the first time I saw my friend Shimon Peres in the White House garden.”
Abbas has caused consternation among Palestinians on a number of recent occasions, as when he renounced the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and declared his opposition to the boycott of Israel.
Resistance or collaboration? Abbas’ refreshed commitment to working with the occupation throws into sharp relief the deep and long-standing differences and contradictions between Fatah and Hamas, which are currently negotiating over the formation of a “national unity government.”
Earlier this week, Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh, de facto head of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, and the last person to be lawfully appointed as PA prime minister, told a rally in the city of Rafah that joining forces with Abbas did not mean an abandonment of resistance.
“Palestinian reconciliation aims to unite the Palestinian people against the prime enemy, the Zionist enemy,” Haniyeh said. “It aims to pursue the choice of resistance and steadfastness.”
This will undoubtedly be news to Abbas who sees uniting with the “Zionist enemy” to crush Palestinian resistance as his “sacred” duty.
Abbas’ insistence on “security coordination” with Israel has now reportedly emerged as a major last-minute stumbling block in the negotiations over the government.
Haniyeh has announced that he will step down and hand over the Gaza administration to a prime minister appointed by Abbas and a cabinet backed by Fatah and Hamas, though supposedly independent of both movements.
Yassin Abu Lafah (R)
Mohjat Al-Quds foundation for martyrs and prisoners on Thursday denounced the Palestinian authority (PA) security apparatuses for arresting prisoners' rights activist Yassin Abu Lafah. Abu Lafah, who mainly works as a graphic designer, was rounded up by the PA security apparatuses on Thursday while he partook in an event staged in Nablus city in solidarity with the hunger-striking prisoners.
Mohjat Al-Quds foundation said Abu Lafah’s detention is a painful blow to the brave Palestinian detainees and all supporters of the prisoners 'cause.
Many of Abu Lafah’s graphic designs in solidarity with the prisoners can be found on West Bank streets and some websites.
Mohjat Al-Quds called for the immediate release of the activist.
Mohjat Al-Quds foundation for martyrs and prisoners on Thursday denounced the Palestinian authority (PA) security apparatuses for arresting prisoners' rights activist Yassin Abu Lafah. Abu Lafah, who mainly works as a graphic designer, was rounded up by the PA security apparatuses on Thursday while he partook in an event staged in Nablus city in solidarity with the hunger-striking prisoners.
Mohjat Al-Quds foundation said Abu Lafah’s detention is a painful blow to the brave Palestinian detainees and all supporters of the prisoners 'cause.
Many of Abu Lafah’s graphic designs in solidarity with the prisoners can be found on West Bank streets and some websites.
Mohjat Al-Quds called for the immediate release of the activist.
27 may 2014
A view of Ramallah
Amnesty International has urged the Palestinian Authority to drop charges filed against four BDS activists detained since April.
According to Ma'an News Agency, PA security officers and men in civilian clothes attacked and arrested Zaid Shuaibi, Fajer Harb, Fadi Quran, and Abed al-Fatah Hamayel during a peaceful protest in Ramallah's al-Qasaba Theatre on April 12.
Zaid Shuaibi told Amnesty International that he and fellow activists entered the theater in protest of a show by a dance group which had performed in Israel on the 11th.
Prior to the show, Shuaibi stood up and explained to performers and attendees the nature of their protest, only to be surrounded, soon after, by men in civilian clothes who demanded he leave the venue.
Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch also condemned the mistreatment and prosecution of the men who have come to be known as the "BDS Four", according to the Electronic Intifada (EI):
"Multiple witnesses gave consistent accounts of the police using unnecessary and disproportionate force against two men who were involved in the peaceful protest at a theater in the West Bank city of Ramallah, and two other men and a woman who tried to help them," Human Rights Watch said. "Police detained the four men overnight, and they were charged the next day with ‘disturbing the peace’ and ‘provoking a riot.’"
Amnesty’s statement, which further details the circumstances of the violent arrest, is called on by EI to be seen in light of Abbas’ recent decision to sign the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights among other international human rights treaties.
The full statement can be read at the Electronic Intifada's official site.
Amnesty International has urged the Palestinian Authority to drop charges filed against four BDS activists detained since April.
According to Ma'an News Agency, PA security officers and men in civilian clothes attacked and arrested Zaid Shuaibi, Fajer Harb, Fadi Quran, and Abed al-Fatah Hamayel during a peaceful protest in Ramallah's al-Qasaba Theatre on April 12.
Zaid Shuaibi told Amnesty International that he and fellow activists entered the theater in protest of a show by a dance group which had performed in Israel on the 11th.
Prior to the show, Shuaibi stood up and explained to performers and attendees the nature of their protest, only to be surrounded, soon after, by men in civilian clothes who demanded he leave the venue.
Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch also condemned the mistreatment and prosecution of the men who have come to be known as the "BDS Four", according to the Electronic Intifada (EI):
"Multiple witnesses gave consistent accounts of the police using unnecessary and disproportionate force against two men who were involved in the peaceful protest at a theater in the West Bank city of Ramallah, and two other men and a woman who tried to help them," Human Rights Watch said. "Police detained the four men overnight, and they were charged the next day with ‘disturbing the peace’ and ‘provoking a riot.’"
Amnesty’s statement, which further details the circumstances of the violent arrest, is called on by EI to be seen in light of Abbas’ recent decision to sign the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights among other international human rights treaties.
The full statement can be read at the Electronic Intifada's official site.
21 may 2014
Former Fatah leader Mohammad Dahlan said on Wednesday that he was intent on taking part in upcoming elections despite a criminal conviction by a "secret court" the day before.
Dahlan, a former security chief who has lived outside of Palestine since he was ousted in 2011, was sentenced by a Ramallah court to two years in jail Tuesday for "libel, slander, and defamation."
Dahlan, however, said in a statement that he believes the trial took place in secret, arguing that the case represents a mockery of the law by the president and was politically motivated to exclude him from planned elections.
Dahlan said he was not "surprised" by Abbas's decision to hold a "secret trial" as it "utilizes the respected Palestinian judicial system, and turns it into a tool that serves his needs, concerns, and personal grudges."
Dahlan explained that he learned from "trusted sources" that Abbas "asked his people to arrange a court sentence" for him on April 3rd, and asked them "to leave the timing of the announcement to him personally."
Dahlan said that he took several legal steps to defend himself, pointing out that he has immunity because of his membership in the Palestinian legislative council.
The timing aims to impede his participation in the upcoming Fatah conference and his definite participation in the upcoming legislative and presidential elections, Dahlan argued.
He concluded that any rulings based on the exclusion of himself or any other leader from the Palestinian political scene would lead to a "distrustful dictatorship."
President Abbas dismissed Dahlan from Fatah's central committee in 2011, four years after Hamas accused him of engineering a coup with US support that led to a counter-coup by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2007. He had previously been in charge of the security forces in Gaza.
Dahlan, a former security chief who has lived outside of Palestine since he was ousted in 2011, was sentenced by a Ramallah court to two years in jail Tuesday for "libel, slander, and defamation."
Dahlan, however, said in a statement that he believes the trial took place in secret, arguing that the case represents a mockery of the law by the president and was politically motivated to exclude him from planned elections.
Dahlan said he was not "surprised" by Abbas's decision to hold a "secret trial" as it "utilizes the respected Palestinian judicial system, and turns it into a tool that serves his needs, concerns, and personal grudges."
Dahlan explained that he learned from "trusted sources" that Abbas "asked his people to arrange a court sentence" for him on April 3rd, and asked them "to leave the timing of the announcement to him personally."
Dahlan said that he took several legal steps to defend himself, pointing out that he has immunity because of his membership in the Palestinian legislative council.
The timing aims to impede his participation in the upcoming Fatah conference and his definite participation in the upcoming legislative and presidential elections, Dahlan argued.
He concluded that any rulings based on the exclusion of himself or any other leader from the Palestinian political scene would lead to a "distrustful dictatorship."
President Abbas dismissed Dahlan from Fatah's central committee in 2011, four years after Hamas accused him of engineering a coup with US support that led to a counter-coup by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2007. He had previously been in charge of the security forces in Gaza.
20 may 2014
A high-ranking official told Ma’an that the Ramallah reconciliation court sentenced former Fatah leader Mohammad Dahlan to two years in prison for libel, slander, and defamation.
The source, who requested anonymity, said that Dahlan was charged with defaming legal institutions and state agencies but did not elaborate on the details of the alleged crimes.
The source added that Dahlan has 10 days to appeal the ruling, and if he does not it will be carried out.
However, Dahlan has been living outside Palestine since 2011 when he was ousted from Fatah.
The source, who requested anonymity, said that Dahlan was charged with defaming legal institutions and state agencies but did not elaborate on the details of the alleged crimes.
The source added that Dahlan has 10 days to appeal the ruling, and if he does not it will be carried out.
However, Dahlan has been living outside Palestine since 2011 when he was ousted from Fatah.
Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman, has slammed the arbitrary political arrests carried out by the Palestinian Authority (PA) amid large-scale support of the reconciliation process. Barhoum called on PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas, in his capacity as the commander-in-chief of the security apparatuses in the West Bank, to issue an official decree ruling for the immediate halt of political arrests, once and for all.
Barhoum said in an exclusive statement to the PIC: “Despite the fact that we have made many leaps forward toward the reconciliation process, inadequate security policies are still being implemented.”
Barhoum spoke against the escalation of political arrests and summonses in the West Bank, declaring that Hamas cannot tolerate such misdemeanors.
“But there is still hope that the projected consensus government will handle the file in the very best way possible,” Barhoum maintains.
"The Palestinian unity government should assume its responsibility vis-à-vis the affair and restructure the current security apparatuses, which have been maintaining strong security links with the Israeli occupation, on a national basis that preserves the dignity of our Palestinian citizens," Barhoum concludes.
Barhoum said in an exclusive statement to the PIC: “Despite the fact that we have made many leaps forward toward the reconciliation process, inadequate security policies are still being implemented.”
Barhoum spoke against the escalation of political arrests and summonses in the West Bank, declaring that Hamas cannot tolerate such misdemeanors.
“But there is still hope that the projected consensus government will handle the file in the very best way possible,” Barhoum maintains.
"The Palestinian unity government should assume its responsibility vis-à-vis the affair and restructure the current security apparatuses, which have been maintaining strong security links with the Israeli occupation, on a national basis that preserves the dignity of our Palestinian citizens," Barhoum concludes.
18 may 2014
Former Palestinian minister of prisoners' affairs Wasfi Qabha strongly denounced the Palestinian Authority (PA) security apparatuses in the West Bank for launching lately ferocious campaigns against popular events held in solidarity with prisoners. Qabha made his remarks in light of a wave of popular indignation that has been recently sweeping the West Bank because of the mounting repressive practices of the PA security forces.
Qabha stated that the police brutality that prevails in the West Bank has become unprecedentedly more violent during recent months despite the positive Palestinian reconciliation climate.
He explained that the rate of political arrests and summonses have increased against everyone participating in activities in support of the Palestinian prisoners who are exposed to great injustice at the hands of the Israeli occupation.
The former minister criticized the PA leadership and Fatah officials for their silence on the violations committed by their security apparatuses in broad daylight against West Bank citizens.
He expressed his belief that this silence reflected their real position towards the national reconciliation and its future, regardless of the reassurances they make every once in a while in this regard.
Qabha stated that the police brutality that prevails in the West Bank has become unprecedentedly more violent during recent months despite the positive Palestinian reconciliation climate.
He explained that the rate of political arrests and summonses have increased against everyone participating in activities in support of the Palestinian prisoners who are exposed to great injustice at the hands of the Israeli occupation.
The former minister criticized the PA leadership and Fatah officials for their silence on the violations committed by their security apparatuses in broad daylight against West Bank citizens.
He expressed his belief that this silence reflected their real position towards the national reconciliation and its future, regardless of the reassurances they make every once in a while in this regard.
The Gaza Strip ministry of interior on Saturday evening agreed to jail three security officers for two weeks after a fact-finding commission determined that they had used excessive force against demonstrators and journalists during a rally marking the Nakba on Thursday.
The move to punish the officers is a rare rebuke to the security forces by the Hamas-run Gaza government, suggesting a potential step towards increased accountability and transparency as they move to merge with the West Bank security forces as part of a national reconciliation deal currently being implemented.
Spokesman for the ministry of interior Iyad al-Buzm told Ma'an that the fact-finding commission had reprimanded two security officers and a policeman who "assaulted" journalists and demonstrators with a warning and recommended that they be jailed for two weeks, a sentence the ministry had agreed to carry out.
The ministry-appointed fact-finding commission found that the three had reacted violently toward demonstrators who "pushed them" and "passed the checkpoint by force" after being told not to approach the border fence.
Al-Buzm said that the security officers denied them entry to the direction of the border fence because they feared that Israeli forces would fire at them, but in response some of the demonstrators "swore" at them and a demonstrator "slapped one of the officers in the face" before six other demonstrators set fire to wheat fields near the border fence.
As a result, al-Buzm added, two officers from the national security service and a police officer assaulted some of the protestors and journalists who were at the scene with clubs "in an attempt to prevent them from reaching the border fence."
The commission mentioned that before the arrival of the demonstrators, the journalists had been treated "respectfully" by the officers stationed at the checkpoint.
"The commander of the checkpoint treated them very positively. They were allowed to rest, drink water, and pray, and they engaged in conversation with the commander," he said.
The commission began its investigation into the incident on Saturday at 11 in the morning, and it was completed at 8 in the evening.
Members of the fact-finding commission listened to testimonies from all sides including protestors, activists, journalists and security officers who attended the rally, al-Buzm said.
In addition, dozens of other witnesses made their testimonies by phone. Footage caught by cameras was also watched to help the commission reach a "fair decision."
A 2013 Human Rights Watch report said that Palestinian security forces under Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank "repeatedly suppressed free association and peaceful assembly."
The report called on them to "publicly acknowledge violations by their respective security services, and take concrete steps in 2013 toward ending impunity."
The move to punish the officers is a rare rebuke to the security forces by the Hamas-run Gaza government, suggesting a potential step towards increased accountability and transparency as they move to merge with the West Bank security forces as part of a national reconciliation deal currently being implemented.
Spokesman for the ministry of interior Iyad al-Buzm told Ma'an that the fact-finding commission had reprimanded two security officers and a policeman who "assaulted" journalists and demonstrators with a warning and recommended that they be jailed for two weeks, a sentence the ministry had agreed to carry out.
The ministry-appointed fact-finding commission found that the three had reacted violently toward demonstrators who "pushed them" and "passed the checkpoint by force" after being told not to approach the border fence.
Al-Buzm said that the security officers denied them entry to the direction of the border fence because they feared that Israeli forces would fire at them, but in response some of the demonstrators "swore" at them and a demonstrator "slapped one of the officers in the face" before six other demonstrators set fire to wheat fields near the border fence.
As a result, al-Buzm added, two officers from the national security service and a police officer assaulted some of the protestors and journalists who were at the scene with clubs "in an attempt to prevent them from reaching the border fence."
The commission mentioned that before the arrival of the demonstrators, the journalists had been treated "respectfully" by the officers stationed at the checkpoint.
"The commander of the checkpoint treated them very positively. They were allowed to rest, drink water, and pray, and they engaged in conversation with the commander," he said.
The commission began its investigation into the incident on Saturday at 11 in the morning, and it was completed at 8 in the evening.
Members of the fact-finding commission listened to testimonies from all sides including protestors, activists, journalists and security officers who attended the rally, al-Buzm said.
In addition, dozens of other witnesses made their testimonies by phone. Footage caught by cameras was also watched to help the commission reach a "fair decision."
A 2013 Human Rights Watch report said that Palestinian security forces under Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank "repeatedly suppressed free association and peaceful assembly."
The report called on them to "publicly acknowledge violations by their respective security services, and take concrete steps in 2013 toward ending impunity."
