31 mar 2013
PA security forces kidnap three Hamas members, summon others
The Palestinian authority security forces kidnapped three Palestinians affiliated with Hamas and summoned for interrogation three others in the West Bank.
Local sources said that the PA preventive security apparatus re-detained Islamboli Riyadh after he was released by the PA intelligence agency. Riyadh was an ex-detainee in PA and Israeli jails.
The preventive security summoned on Saturday Kamel Abu Zant, who spent four years in Israeli jails and still refuses to release another ex-detainee named Anas Al-Khalili who has been in its jail for more than 10 days.
The PA intelligence, in turn, summoned Alaa Shiberi, from Hamas, to come to its headquarters on Monday for interrogation. He was already detained by the PA and Israel.
In Al-Khalil city, youth activist Bahaa Farrukh was summoned for interrogation by the preventive security because of his participation in public events.
In Salfit, a PA court sentenced another young man named Anas Awwad to six months in jail on allegation of using facebook to verbally attack former PA telecommunication minister Mashhor Abu Daka.
Awwad stated that the court issued the prison order against him without evidence, affirming that he just liked a facebook page opposing Abu Daka.
In another incident, a Palestinian teacher named Hasan Zagal was transferred to hospital in Jenin after his exposure to torture by interrogators from the PA intelligence agency, according to an informed source.
Zagal was a school teacher who was axed by the PA ministry of education because of his affiliation with Hamas. He was also an ex-detainee in PA and Israeli jails.
Local sources said that the PA preventive security apparatus re-detained Islamboli Riyadh after he was released by the PA intelligence agency. Riyadh was an ex-detainee in PA and Israeli jails.
The preventive security summoned on Saturday Kamel Abu Zant, who spent four years in Israeli jails and still refuses to release another ex-detainee named Anas Al-Khalili who has been in its jail for more than 10 days.
The PA intelligence, in turn, summoned Alaa Shiberi, from Hamas, to come to its headquarters on Monday for interrogation. He was already detained by the PA and Israel.
In Al-Khalil city, youth activist Bahaa Farrukh was summoned for interrogation by the preventive security because of his participation in public events.
In Salfit, a PA court sentenced another young man named Anas Awwad to six months in jail on allegation of using facebook to verbally attack former PA telecommunication minister Mashhor Abu Daka.
Awwad stated that the court issued the prison order against him without evidence, affirming that he just liked a facebook page opposing Abu Daka.
In another incident, a Palestinian teacher named Hasan Zagal was transferred to hospital in Jenin after his exposure to torture by interrogators from the PA intelligence agency, according to an informed source.
Zagal was a school teacher who was axed by the PA ministry of education because of his affiliation with Hamas. He was also an ex-detainee in PA and Israeli jails.
30 mar 2013
Human rights organization: PA's apparatuses arrest and torture children
Arab Organization for Human Rights in UK said that PA's Preventive Security Apparatus in the West Bank had stormed the village of Safa near al-Khalil on Thursday night and arrested youths, including children under 18.
The organization said in a statement on Friday that large forces of the security apparatuses arrested the boys at midnight after storming and searching their houses.
The day after the arrests, two of the detainees were released for different reasons.
The Organization's statement confirmed: "Preventive apparatus transferred the detainees to Halhoul Court without informing the lawyer and parents beforehand. The lawyer said he was informed in the last moments."
According to the lawyer, the children's detention has been extended for nine days pending investigation on charges of hanging posters of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the co-founder of Hamas, on the anniversary of his assassination at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces.
The statement charged that these procedures represent a serious violation of local laws and international treaties and conventions that protect the child and his rights.
"All testimonies confirm that PA's security forces have maintained similar procedures against Palestinian citizens. According to informed sources, these apparatuses are protected by U.S. and Israel and are given the green light to do whatever they could to stop any act of resistance against the occupation."
The Organization called on the UN Secretary-General, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation "to put pressure on the PA leadership to stop such violations, especially those with regard to children's rights.
The organization said in a statement on Friday that large forces of the security apparatuses arrested the boys at midnight after storming and searching their houses.
The day after the arrests, two of the detainees were released for different reasons.
The Organization's statement confirmed: "Preventive apparatus transferred the detainees to Halhoul Court without informing the lawyer and parents beforehand. The lawyer said he was informed in the last moments."
According to the lawyer, the children's detention has been extended for nine days pending investigation on charges of hanging posters of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the co-founder of Hamas, on the anniversary of his assassination at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces.
The statement charged that these procedures represent a serious violation of local laws and international treaties and conventions that protect the child and his rights.
"All testimonies confirm that PA's security forces have maintained similar procedures against Palestinian citizens. According to informed sources, these apparatuses are protected by U.S. and Israel and are given the green light to do whatever they could to stop any act of resistance against the occupation."
The Organization called on the UN Secretary-General, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation "to put pressure on the PA leadership to stop such violations, especially those with regard to children's rights.
Bethlehem police free journalist pardoned by Abbas
Palestinian police late Friday released a journalist pardoned by President Mahmoud Abbas after a court upheld his year-long sentence for insulting the president on Facebook.
Mamdouh Hamamreh was released Friday night from a police detention center in Bethlehem a day after an appeals court upheld his sentence on charges of insulting the leadership.
Hamamreh, a correspondent for the Islamic Jihad-affiliated al-Quds satellite channel, was charged over a photo posted to Facebook juxtaposing Abbas beside a similar-looking man who played the part of a collaborator with French colonial forces in a Syrian television drama.
In Paris, a leading press rights group said Abbas' pardon of the reporter was a welcome development, but it said the case highlighted the need for reforms to Palestinian media law.
"We welcome this pardon but the fact remains that it depended on the president’s will," Reporters Without Borders said in a statement a day after Abbas pardoned Hamamreh.
"A Palestinian citizen can still be jailed for insulting President Abbas. We call for reform of the law so that news providers and ordinary citizens can no longer be sentenced to imprisonment on charges of this kind," it said.
Palestinian journalists and media watchdogs, saying Hamamreh was only "tagged" in the photo and did not create it, had already criticized the ruling and curbs on media freedom by the Palestinian Authority.
Hamamreh was the second Palestinian to be pardoned for insulting Abbas this year.
A court in the northern West Bank city of Nablus in February sentenced a local man to a year in prison for creating a picture of Abbas to make him look like a football player, and entitled it "the new striker for Real Madrid".
Anas Awad, 26, denied he had intended any offense and the president promptly pardoned him.
Mamdouh Hamamreh was released Friday night from a police detention center in Bethlehem a day after an appeals court upheld his sentence on charges of insulting the leadership.
Hamamreh, a correspondent for the Islamic Jihad-affiliated al-Quds satellite channel, was charged over a photo posted to Facebook juxtaposing Abbas beside a similar-looking man who played the part of a collaborator with French colonial forces in a Syrian television drama.
In Paris, a leading press rights group said Abbas' pardon of the reporter was a welcome development, but it said the case highlighted the need for reforms to Palestinian media law.
"We welcome this pardon but the fact remains that it depended on the president’s will," Reporters Without Borders said in a statement a day after Abbas pardoned Hamamreh.
"A Palestinian citizen can still be jailed for insulting President Abbas. We call for reform of the law so that news providers and ordinary citizens can no longer be sentenced to imprisonment on charges of this kind," it said.
Palestinian journalists and media watchdogs, saying Hamamreh was only "tagged" in the photo and did not create it, had already criticized the ruling and curbs on media freedom by the Palestinian Authority.
Hamamreh was the second Palestinian to be pardoned for insulting Abbas this year.
A court in the northern West Bank city of Nablus in February sentenced a local man to a year in prison for creating a picture of Abbas to make him look like a football player, and entitled it "the new striker for Real Madrid".
Anas Awad, 26, denied he had intended any offense and the president promptly pardoned him.
29 mar 2013
PA security arrest 3 Hamas members
Palestinian Authority security apparatuses arrested three Hamas supporters in Nablus, Tulkarem and al-Khalil, and continued to detain a fourth from Ramallah in PA jails.
General Intelligence Service arrested in Tulkarem the liberated captive Islamboli Badir after summoning him. He has been earlier detained more than 7 times by the PA apparatuses.
Badir sent a telegram to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, after he had received the summons, in which he asserted that his arrests took place on the backdrop of his political positions, and that he did not commit any offense.
The Preventive Security Service arrested a former political prisoner from the village of Tal, in Nablus and another citizen in al-Khalil.
It has also continued to detain the employee in the municipality of Bireh in Ramallah Fadi Abdel Dayem, 35.
Fadi is a liberated captive and a former political detainee. His family is prevented from visiting him under the pretext that he is under investigation.
Meanwhile; PA court in Bethlehem sentenced on Thursday al-Quds satellite channel's reporter Mamdouh Hamamreh for a year on charges of insulting PA president Mahmoud Abbas.
General Intelligence Service arrested in Tulkarem the liberated captive Islamboli Badir after summoning him. He has been earlier detained more than 7 times by the PA apparatuses.
Badir sent a telegram to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, after he had received the summons, in which he asserted that his arrests took place on the backdrop of his political positions, and that he did not commit any offense.
The Preventive Security Service arrested a former political prisoner from the village of Tal, in Nablus and another citizen in al-Khalil.
It has also continued to detain the employee in the municipality of Bireh in Ramallah Fadi Abdel Dayem, 35.
Fadi is a liberated captive and a former political detainee. His family is prevented from visiting him under the pretext that he is under investigation.
Meanwhile; PA court in Bethlehem sentenced on Thursday al-Quds satellite channel's reporter Mamdouh Hamamreh for a year on charges of insulting PA president Mahmoud Abbas.
Journalist sentenced to a year imprisonment for "insulting" Abbas
PA court in Bethlehem sentenced on Thursday al-Quds satellite channel's reporter Mamdouh Hamamreh, 28, for a year on charges of insulting PA president Mahmoud Abbas. Mamdouh's father confirmed that his son was sentenced for a whole year, expressing his shock over "the court's unfair decision", stressing that his son is practicing his work as a journalist professionally.
Hamamra added that his son Mamdouh did not commit any offense, where he was arrested by the PA Intelligence in Bethlehem for 53 days for allegedly insulting President Mahmoud Abbas on the former's Facebook page.
The father called on the human rights and press institutions to intervene to release his son and to stop implementing the court's decision.
For her part, MADA's lawyer Sana Arinke expressed her concern following the court's decision, stressing that it is a political decision par excellence.
Hamamra added that his son Mamdouh did not commit any offense, where he was arrested by the PA Intelligence in Bethlehem for 53 days for allegedly insulting President Mahmoud Abbas on the former's Facebook page.
The father called on the human rights and press institutions to intervene to release his son and to stop implementing the court's decision.
For her part, MADA's lawyer Sana Arinke expressed her concern following the court's decision, stressing that it is a political decision par excellence.
The Palestinian National Security Conference starts on Saturday in Gaza
The Palestinian National Security Conference is to be launched on Saturday 30 March in Gaza during which political and security prominent figures will participate.
Mohammed Esmat Seif El Dawla, former adviser to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, has arrived in Gaza to participate in the conference, Dr. Hani Al-Basos, the head of the conference's media committee told the PIC reporter on Thursday.
Al-Basos added that several Arab figures are expected to reach Gaza to participate in the two-day conference which will be headed by Wadah Khanfar, the ex-Director General of the Aljazeera Network and Dr. Bashir Nafe’ head of the academic committee of the conference.
Al-Basos explained that the conference will deal with several important subjects relating to Palestinian issue; the Palestinian national project, Jerusalem, the Palestinian fundamentals, resistance, and the future of the Palestinian National Authority, as well as the regional political changes and their impact on the Palestinian issue.
He added that the expected recommendations of the conference shall be presented to the decision makers in Gaza and the West bank.
He expressed hope to implement these recommendations which are presented by academic researchers on evaluating national security and political affairs.
Mohammed Esmat Seif El Dawla, former adviser to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, has arrived in Gaza to participate in the conference, Dr. Hani Al-Basos, the head of the conference's media committee told the PIC reporter on Thursday.
Al-Basos added that several Arab figures are expected to reach Gaza to participate in the two-day conference which will be headed by Wadah Khanfar, the ex-Director General of the Aljazeera Network and Dr. Bashir Nafe’ head of the academic committee of the conference.
Al-Basos explained that the conference will deal with several important subjects relating to Palestinian issue; the Palestinian national project, Jerusalem, the Palestinian fundamentals, resistance, and the future of the Palestinian National Authority, as well as the regional political changes and their impact on the Palestinian issue.
He added that the expected recommendations of the conference shall be presented to the decision makers in Gaza and the West bank.
He expressed hope to implement these recommendations which are presented by academic researchers on evaluating national security and political affairs.
27 mar 2013
PA security services arrest 3 of Hamas supporters
PA security services launched an arrest campaign in the West Bank, arresting 3 supporters of Hamas movement, and summoning 3 others.
PA courts also extended the detention of 10 political prisoners from al-Khalil, where sources confirmed the high frequency of torture against political detainees.
In Ramallah, PA General Intelligence arrested the liberated prisoner Ibrahim Khalil Msafar and Hamza Msafar, knowing that they had been previously arrested several times in PA prisons.
PA Intelligence also summoned Abdul Rahman Jalis who refused to answer a PA security summons after a failed attempt to arrest him.
In Tulkarm, PA Preventive Security arrested Osama al-Jalad after summoning him.
PA intelligence service also arrested the two sons of martyr Sheikh Riadh Bedir. The two brothers are liberated prisoners who were arrested and summoned dozens of times by PA services.
In Tubas, Public Prosecutor extended the detention of the liberated Ali Khryosh (Abu Noah) pending further investigation by the Preventive Security Service for next Thursday.
In al-Khalil, the PA courts extended the detention of number of people arrested two days ago in the town of Safa, while sources in the court confirmed that the detainee Mohammed Mahmoud Hussein Tait's hand was broken due to a severe torture.
PA courts also extended the detention of 10 political prisoners from al-Khalil, where sources confirmed the high frequency of torture against political detainees.
In Ramallah, PA General Intelligence arrested the liberated prisoner Ibrahim Khalil Msafar and Hamza Msafar, knowing that they had been previously arrested several times in PA prisons.
PA Intelligence also summoned Abdul Rahman Jalis who refused to answer a PA security summons after a failed attempt to arrest him.
In Tulkarm, PA Preventive Security arrested Osama al-Jalad after summoning him.
PA intelligence service also arrested the two sons of martyr Sheikh Riadh Bedir. The two brothers are liberated prisoners who were arrested and summoned dozens of times by PA services.
In Tubas, Public Prosecutor extended the detention of the liberated Ali Khryosh (Abu Noah) pending further investigation by the Preventive Security Service for next Thursday.
In al-Khalil, the PA courts extended the detention of number of people arrested two days ago in the town of Safa, while sources in the court confirmed that the detainee Mohammed Mahmoud Hussein Tait's hand was broken due to a severe torture.
23 mar 2013
Hamas arrests hardline Islamists over rocket attacks
Gaza's internal security forces nab terrorists from group that claimed responsibility for attack on Israel during Obama visit.
Gaza's Hamas rulers have arrested two Salafist terrorists, sources close to the Palestinian Islamist hardliners said Friday, after a Salafist group claimed a rocket attack on Israel.
According to the sources, "the Hamas internal security forces arrested two of our Salafist brothers" in the center of the Gaza Strip.
A coalition of Salafist groups in Gaza, which oppose the Hamas regime, claimed responsibility for the firing of two rockets at southern Israel on Thursday while US President Barack Obama was visiting the Jewish state.
In a statement headlined "The demolition of Sderot by rocket bombardment in reaction to the visit of the dog Obama," the Mujahedeen Shura Council had said it was responsible for an attack launched from Gaza. Two rockets hit southern Israel, one landing in the town of Sderot, before Obama travelled from Jerusalem to the West Bank city of Ramallah to hold talks with President Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the Palestinian Authority.
Israel retaliated by halving the distance from the shore that Gaza fishermen are allowed to sail and shutting the Kerem Shalom goods crossing from Israel into the territory, a military statement said.
It added that the sanctions would remain in place until the military received fresh instructions from the government. The relations of the Islamist movement Hamas with hardline groups in Gaza have sharply deteriorated since it violently cracked down on Salafist radicals in 2009.
Gaza's Hamas rulers have arrested two Salafist terrorists, sources close to the Palestinian Islamist hardliners said Friday, after a Salafist group claimed a rocket attack on Israel.
According to the sources, "the Hamas internal security forces arrested two of our Salafist brothers" in the center of the Gaza Strip.
A coalition of Salafist groups in Gaza, which oppose the Hamas regime, claimed responsibility for the firing of two rockets at southern Israel on Thursday while US President Barack Obama was visiting the Jewish state.
In a statement headlined "The demolition of Sderot by rocket bombardment in reaction to the visit of the dog Obama," the Mujahedeen Shura Council had said it was responsible for an attack launched from Gaza. Two rockets hit southern Israel, one landing in the town of Sderot, before Obama travelled from Jerusalem to the West Bank city of Ramallah to hold talks with President Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the Palestinian Authority.
Israel retaliated by halving the distance from the shore that Gaza fishermen are allowed to sail and shutting the Kerem Shalom goods crossing from Israel into the territory, a military statement said.
It added that the sanctions would remain in place until the military received fresh instructions from the government. The relations of the Islamist movement Hamas with hardline groups in Gaza have sharply deteriorated since it violently cracked down on Salafist radicals in 2009.
21 mar 2013
Political detainee transferred to hospital, one hour after his arrest
PA security apparatuses in al-Khalil have transferred on Wednesday evening the political detainee Sajid Msalma to the hospital, less than one hour after his arrest.
Msalma was kidnapped from the center of the town of Beit Awa, west of al-Khalil in the occupied West Bank.
Local sources from the town told PIC's correspondent that the man was taken to the hospital in serious condition after he was severely attacked by elements of the preventive apparatus.
Sajid Msalma is a liberated prisoner from Israeli jails and an ex-political detainee in the PA jails in the West Bank.
Msalma was kidnapped from the center of the town of Beit Awa, west of al-Khalil in the occupied West Bank.
Local sources from the town told PIC's correspondent that the man was taken to the hospital in serious condition after he was severely attacked by elements of the preventive apparatus.
Sajid Msalma is a liberated prisoner from Israeli jails and an ex-political detainee in the PA jails in the West Bank.
20 mar 2013
Palestinian popular rejection of Obama's visit
A number of Palestinian activists and politicians expressed their rejection of the visit by U.S. President Barack Obama to the Palestinian territories on Thursday. Several popular marches were launched in a number of Palestinian towns and villages to denounce the visit, while popular groups stated that they do not believe the visit serves the interests the Palestinian people and their just cause.
In the city of Ramallah; the Palestinian Authority security apparatus set up three human barriers on Tuesday evening to prevent a mass rally, rejecting Obama's visit, from reaching the al-Muqata'a headquarters.
Hundreds of demonstrators marched from Menara roundabout and roamed the city streets, before heading toward the Muqata'a headquarters, where they were stopped and attacked by security elements.
The demonstrators chanted slogans against U.S. President Obama and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and expressed condemnation of the policy of security coordination with the occupation.
PA security had earlier announced the closure of all the streets of the city of Al-Bireh.
More than 500 U.S. security elements are expected to arrive to the Palestinian territories to secure Obama's visit.
Member of the Popular Resistance, Issam Bakr, confirmed that the United States have proven to be a partner in the aggression against the Palestinian people and cannot be an honest broker for the resumption of any negotiations.
For its part; Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation) in Palestine announced on Tuesday its rejection to the visit and to the American interference in Muslim issues in general and in the Palestinian issue in particular.
The Party announced the launch of a campaign of activities and public events to express Palestinians' rejection of the visit of "the head of the world's first terrorist state," as it pointed.
Meanwhile; phrases like "We do not trust America”... "Not welcome ... ally of Israel, enemy of Palestine" were posted on different websites in expression of popular discontent toward the United States and its president
The PA security arrested during in the past two days, groups of boys and young men in the city of Ramallah on the backdrop of tearing posters of the American President and organizing events against his visit.
In the city of Ramallah; the Palestinian Authority security apparatus set up three human barriers on Tuesday evening to prevent a mass rally, rejecting Obama's visit, from reaching the al-Muqata'a headquarters.
Hundreds of demonstrators marched from Menara roundabout and roamed the city streets, before heading toward the Muqata'a headquarters, where they were stopped and attacked by security elements.
The demonstrators chanted slogans against U.S. President Obama and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and expressed condemnation of the policy of security coordination with the occupation.
PA security had earlier announced the closure of all the streets of the city of Al-Bireh.
More than 500 U.S. security elements are expected to arrive to the Palestinian territories to secure Obama's visit.
Member of the Popular Resistance, Issam Bakr, confirmed that the United States have proven to be a partner in the aggression against the Palestinian people and cannot be an honest broker for the resumption of any negotiations.
For its part; Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation) in Palestine announced on Tuesday its rejection to the visit and to the American interference in Muslim issues in general and in the Palestinian issue in particular.
The Party announced the launch of a campaign of activities and public events to express Palestinians' rejection of the visit of "the head of the world's first terrorist state," as it pointed.
Meanwhile; phrases like "We do not trust America”... "Not welcome ... ally of Israel, enemy of Palestine" were posted on different websites in expression of popular discontent toward the United States and its president
The PA security arrested during in the past two days, groups of boys and young men in the city of Ramallah on the backdrop of tearing posters of the American President and organizing events against his visit.
19 mar 2013
PA security services arrest 2 Hamas supporters
PA security services arrested two Hamas supporters in al-Khalil and Jerusalem, and banned a family from visiting their son in PA jails.
PA preventive security arrested the liberated prisoner Kedar Ghaith after storming and searching his house in al-Khalil, and confiscating his mobile phone and computer.
In Bedo town near Jerusalem, PA security services arrested the liberated prisoner Hamza Nabil Abu Eid, bringing the political detainees' number to 12 in PA jails.
The PA agencies have also banned the father of the liberated prisoner and political prisoner in Jericho prison Ayoub Mohammed Alkhaddor, from visiting his son under the pretext of being under investigation.
PA preventive security arrested the liberated prisoner Kedar Ghaith after storming and searching his house in al-Khalil, and confiscating his mobile phone and computer.
In Bedo town near Jerusalem, PA security services arrested the liberated prisoner Hamza Nabil Abu Eid, bringing the political detainees' number to 12 in PA jails.
The PA agencies have also banned the father of the liberated prisoner and political prisoner in Jericho prison Ayoub Mohammed Alkhaddor, from visiting his son under the pretext of being under investigation.
17 mar 2013
PA security arrest 11 liberated prisoners in Jerusalem
Hamas accused the Authority apparatuses of arresting 11 Palestinians from the town of Biddu northwest of Jerusalem, in two days, and summoning three others for investigation.
The Hamas movement said in a statement on Sunday that "the Palestinian security services, and specifically the Preventive Security Service and the General Intelligence, have carried out campaigns of arrests, summonses and raids during which they searches the houses and shops of the detainees."
Hamas pointed out that the security services have summoned and arrested a number of liberated prisoners, during these campaigns.
The Hamas movement said in a statement on Sunday that "the Palestinian security services, and specifically the Preventive Security Service and the General Intelligence, have carried out campaigns of arrests, summonses and raids during which they searches the houses and shops of the detainees."
Hamas pointed out that the security services have summoned and arrested a number of liberated prisoners, during these campaigns.