30 dec 2014
PA security forces detained two citizens and summoned eight others for investigation, while two political detainees declared hunger strike.
The Palestinian political detainee Amin Quqa declared an open-ended hunger strike in PA jails in protest against being transferred twice for investigation.
Family sources confirmed that Amin declared hunger strike in Junaid prison for being re-subjected to investigation despite spending long years in PA jails.
Amin, 38, was arrested in November 2007 by PA forces under the pretext of preventing his arrest by Israeli forces.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Hamas Movement confirmed that two citizens, including a liberated detainee, were arrested in Ramallah, while three students were summoned.
A university student has also declared hunger strike protesting his arrest two days ago.
In al-Khalil, a Palestinian citizen was summoned by the PA Preventive Security apparatus despite the fact he is being held in Israeli jails, where he served eight years so far.
Meanwhile, a political detainee is still being prevented from family visits since his arrest 20 days ago despite his difficult health condition.
In Salfit, a university student was detained after being summoned, while family sources in Nablus confirmed that their son Feras Azar was subjected to severe torture in PA jails.
Four other citizens were summoned for investigation in Bethlehem.
The Palestinian political detainee Amin Quqa declared an open-ended hunger strike in PA jails in protest against being transferred twice for investigation.
Family sources confirmed that Amin declared hunger strike in Junaid prison for being re-subjected to investigation despite spending long years in PA jails.
Amin, 38, was arrested in November 2007 by PA forces under the pretext of preventing his arrest by Israeli forces.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Hamas Movement confirmed that two citizens, including a liberated detainee, were arrested in Ramallah, while three students were summoned.
A university student has also declared hunger strike protesting his arrest two days ago.
In al-Khalil, a Palestinian citizen was summoned by the PA Preventive Security apparatus despite the fact he is being held in Israeli jails, where he served eight years so far.
Meanwhile, a political detainee is still being prevented from family visits since his arrest 20 days ago despite his difficult health condition.
In Salfit, a university student was detained after being summoned, while family sources in Nablus confirmed that their son Feras Azar was subjected to severe torture in PA jails.
Four other citizens were summoned for investigation in Bethlehem.
Deputy head of Hamas's political bureau Ismail Haneyya condemned the Palestinian Authority's security coordination with the Israeli occupation as "a dagger in the chest of the resistance," and said it blocks the outbreak of a third intifada (uprising) in the West Bank.
"The security coordination with the Zionist occupation must be stopped, and the resistance must be protected…The settlement process failed and the Palestinian people do not need frivolous negotiations," Haneyya stated during his meeting with several Arab satellite channels on Monday evening.
Commenting on the Palestinian-Arab draft resolution on Palestine, the Hamas official said that the statehood bid that had been submitted to the UN Security Council goes against the Palestinian people's rights and contained overtones of readiness to waive the right of return.
He called for developing a new national strategy to protect the resistance and the national constants.
As for the national reconciliation, he said that his Movement always backs the national unity, although it reached a critical juncture because of the failure of the unity government to assume its responsibilities in Gaza away from any partisan considerations.
"The government has to work on ending the blockade, consider the suffering of Gaza, and prepare for the elections," he underlined.
"The unity government deals with the Gaza Strip selectively, and I am not optimistic that the current visit (by the government delegation) will be able to address the real problems in the Strip. Abu Mazen has to issue an edict calling for necessarily executing all what has been agreed upon, and we will not allow Gaza to be cut off from the Palestinian project."
Pertaining to the issue of captive Israeli soldiers in Gaza, Haneyya said he had no information other than what had already been announced by al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas in this regard.
"The security coordination with the Zionist occupation must be stopped, and the resistance must be protected…The settlement process failed and the Palestinian people do not need frivolous negotiations," Haneyya stated during his meeting with several Arab satellite channels on Monday evening.
Commenting on the Palestinian-Arab draft resolution on Palestine, the Hamas official said that the statehood bid that had been submitted to the UN Security Council goes against the Palestinian people's rights and contained overtones of readiness to waive the right of return.
He called for developing a new national strategy to protect the resistance and the national constants.
As for the national reconciliation, he said that his Movement always backs the national unity, although it reached a critical juncture because of the failure of the unity government to assume its responsibilities in Gaza away from any partisan considerations.
"The government has to work on ending the blockade, consider the suffering of Gaza, and prepare for the elections," he underlined.
"The unity government deals with the Gaza Strip selectively, and I am not optimistic that the current visit (by the government delegation) will be able to address the real problems in the Strip. Abu Mazen has to issue an edict calling for necessarily executing all what has been agreed upon, and we will not allow Gaza to be cut off from the Palestinian project."
Pertaining to the issue of captive Israeli soldiers in Gaza, Haneyya said he had no information other than what had already been announced by al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas in this regard.
29 dec 2014
Palestinian security forces, Sunday night, arrested a Palestinian journalist after raiding his home in the village of Kafr Ein, north of Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.
A statement issued by the union said that Aysar Barghouthi, a reporter for local TV station "Watan", was taken into custody during the raid, denouncing it as a violation of press freedoms, and demanding that the PA release him immediately.
According to Ma'an News Agency, a 2013 report by Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms counted 78 violations of freedom of speech by Palestinian authorities, primarily in the Gaza Strip.
While officials have claimed that the situation in the Gaza Strip has improved, since a unity deal with signed in April, critics have raised alarm that the PA has continued with politically-motivated arrests and detentions against activists and journalists at the same pace as before.
Furthermore, 16 Palestinian journalists and an Italian photographer were killed in Gaza, this past summer, during Israel's devastating assault on the region.
The 2013 report also found 151 violations of Palestinian freedom of speech by Israeli authorities, which still constitute the biggest threat to Palestinian journalists.
Though defacto Palestinian president and Fateh member Mahmoud Abbas has claimed that the PA will cut ties with Israel, should the heavily disputed resolution for statehood fail, the organization's longstanding coordination with Israeli security forces remains firmly in place.
A statement issued by the union said that Aysar Barghouthi, a reporter for local TV station "Watan", was taken into custody during the raid, denouncing it as a violation of press freedoms, and demanding that the PA release him immediately.
According to Ma'an News Agency, a 2013 report by Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms counted 78 violations of freedom of speech by Palestinian authorities, primarily in the Gaza Strip.
While officials have claimed that the situation in the Gaza Strip has improved, since a unity deal with signed in April, critics have raised alarm that the PA has continued with politically-motivated arrests and detentions against activists and journalists at the same pace as before.
Furthermore, 16 Palestinian journalists and an Italian photographer were killed in Gaza, this past summer, during Israel's devastating assault on the region.
The 2013 report also found 151 violations of Palestinian freedom of speech by Israeli authorities, which still constitute the biggest threat to Palestinian journalists.
Though defacto Palestinian president and Fateh member Mahmoud Abbas has claimed that the PA will cut ties with Israel, should the heavily disputed resolution for statehood fail, the organization's longstanding coordination with Israeli security forces remains firmly in place.
23 dec 2014
A prisoner held in a Palestinian Authority detention center in Qalqiliya died on Tuesday, security officials said.
Osama Rafiq al-Shaer, 37, was being held on drug charges and had been held in a PA jail for 15 days. He collapsed at 7 a.m. and was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Relatives of the victim said they notified police that he was suffering from a heart condition and needed to take regular medication, but police insisted on detaining him.
Police officials confirmed that he had a medical record and shouldn't have been jailed before being examined by a doctor.
Qalqiliya district attorney has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death, which a special committee will investigate.
Osama Rafiq al-Shaer, 37, was being held on drug charges and had been held in a PA jail for 15 days. He collapsed at 7 a.m. and was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Relatives of the victim said they notified police that he was suffering from a heart condition and needed to take regular medication, but police insisted on detaining him.
Police officials confirmed that he had a medical record and shouldn't have been jailed before being examined by a doctor.
Qalqiliya district attorney has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death, which a special committee will investigate.
The Hamas Movement categorically denied the Palestinian Authority's allegation that it had ended its security collaboration with Israel, affirming that its political arrests in the West Bank escalated more than before.
"The security coordination itself is based on taking measures necessary for protecting the occupation's security and eliminating any chance for the resistance to emerge in the West Bank, and the Palestinian Authority apparatuses have not ceased to pursue such policy since it was established on the basis of the Oslo agreement in 1993," spokesman for the Movement Husam Badran stated on Monday.
"Such practices made the Palestinian Authority lose its credibility before its people and look like an entity that was hired to do certain tasks for the occupation," the spokesman added.
"The security coordination itself is based on taking measures necessary for protecting the occupation's security and eliminating any chance for the resistance to emerge in the West Bank, and the Palestinian Authority apparatuses have not ceased to pursue such policy since it was established on the basis of the Oslo agreement in 1993," spokesman for the Movement Husam Badran stated on Monday.
"Such practices made the Palestinian Authority lose its credibility before its people and look like an entity that was hired to do certain tasks for the occupation," the spokesman added.
21 dec 2014
The Palestinian resistance apparatuses captured a woman spying for the Israeli security agency Shin Bet.
The Majd website quoted a security source as stating that the collaborator managed to gather as many pieces of information as she possibly could about prominent Palestinian resistance leaders in Gaza.
The spy had been reportedly chasing the relatives of the targeted Hamas leaders, keeping tabs on every movement and stopover of their own.
The operation was assigned by the Israeli intelligence apparatuses so as to keep watch on the family homes of resistance affiliates and leadership.
The turncoat managed to stake out the house of one of the relatives of a Palestinian resistance leader and kept updating the Israeli intelligence apparatuses on the spells of his arrival and departure.
The spy, aged nearly 40 years old, further broke into the family home of another Palestinian leader under the pretext that she was betrothing to her son.
The Majd website quoted a security source as stating that the collaborator managed to gather as many pieces of information as she possibly could about prominent Palestinian resistance leaders in Gaza.
The spy had been reportedly chasing the relatives of the targeted Hamas leaders, keeping tabs on every movement and stopover of their own.
The operation was assigned by the Israeli intelligence apparatuses so as to keep watch on the family homes of resistance affiliates and leadership.
The turncoat managed to stake out the house of one of the relatives of a Palestinian resistance leader and kept updating the Israeli intelligence apparatuses on the spells of his arrival and departure.
The spy, aged nearly 40 years old, further broke into the family home of another Palestinian leader under the pretext that she was betrothing to her son.
19 dec 2014
Six Palestinian young men, mostly university students, were detained on
Thursday evening by the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces in
the northern West Bank city of Jenin.
PA preventive forces captured Ali As’ad Hamran, a student at Al-Quds Open University in Jenin, on his way back home from a mosque in al-Hashimiya town, where he performed his evening prayers, the detainee’s family told the PIC.
The PA forces also arrested the captive’s elder brother Kamel after raiding the town late at night.
Another Palestinian university student, identified as Farouk Ayed, was arrested on his way to a car park in Jenin.
University student Ezzedine Tahsin Zyoud and another young man called Rushdi Ziyad were also take prisoners by the preventive security following raids on their homes in al-Sila al-Harthiya town, west of Jenin city.
In Jenin refugee camp, the preventive security kidnapped Saleh Astiti from his home.
PA preventive forces captured Ali As’ad Hamran, a student at Al-Quds Open University in Jenin, on his way back home from a mosque in al-Hashimiya town, where he performed his evening prayers, the detainee’s family told the PIC.
The PA forces also arrested the captive’s elder brother Kamel after raiding the town late at night.
Another Palestinian university student, identified as Farouk Ayed, was arrested on his way to a car park in Jenin.
University student Ezzedine Tahsin Zyoud and another young man called Rushdi Ziyad were also take prisoners by the preventive security following raids on their homes in al-Sila al-Harthiya town, west of Jenin city.
In Jenin refugee camp, the preventive security kidnapped Saleh Astiti from his home.
15 dec 2014
The Israeli Yediot Aharonot newspaper said the PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has remained in power on account of his security coordination with the Israeli occupation.
The newspaper said in its editorial that the Palestinians have been reiterating ‘Palestine has fallen part’ and lamenting the breakdown of their dream to establish an independent Palestinian state thanks to their "weak president".
The newspaper called on Abbas to pay back “the great debt” in reference to the security coordination with the Israeli occupation, which represents the nucleus of the Oslo accord.
The editorial pointed out that the Israelis are most concerned with the means to keep Abbas in power and to foil any pressures urging him to step down.
"Hadn’t it been due to security coordination and the role played by the Israeli intelligence agencies in aborting attacks and arresting Hamas affiliates, Abbas would have been overthrown," the newspaper added.
The statement coincided with a mass-arrest campaign launched by the Nablus–based PA intelligence apparatuses against scores of Hamas advocates.
The PIC quoted by-standers at the scene as reporting that a dozen of Hamas-backers were summoned for interrogation in the process.
The PA forces have also reportedly come down heavily on a peaceful pro-Hamas demonstrators while they were waving resistance flags and chanting national slogans to mark the group’s 27th anniversary.
Hamas Movement in Nablus issued a statement on Monday urging the PA to end the policy of political detention and summonses of its cadres and supporters.
The newspaper said in its editorial that the Palestinians have been reiterating ‘Palestine has fallen part’ and lamenting the breakdown of their dream to establish an independent Palestinian state thanks to their "weak president".
The newspaper called on Abbas to pay back “the great debt” in reference to the security coordination with the Israeli occupation, which represents the nucleus of the Oslo accord.
The editorial pointed out that the Israelis are most concerned with the means to keep Abbas in power and to foil any pressures urging him to step down.
"Hadn’t it been due to security coordination and the role played by the Israeli intelligence agencies in aborting attacks and arresting Hamas affiliates, Abbas would have been overthrown," the newspaper added.
The statement coincided with a mass-arrest campaign launched by the Nablus–based PA intelligence apparatuses against scores of Hamas advocates.
The PIC quoted by-standers at the scene as reporting that a dozen of Hamas-backers were summoned for interrogation in the process.
The PA forces have also reportedly come down heavily on a peaceful pro-Hamas demonstrators while they were waving resistance flags and chanting national slogans to mark the group’s 27th anniversary.
Hamas Movement in Nablus issued a statement on Monday urging the PA to end the policy of political detention and summonses of its cadres and supporters.
14 dec 2014
The Palestinian Authority (PA) security apparatuses arrested seven Palestinians believed to be from Hamas and summoned five others as part of its detention campaign against Hamas members and supporters in the West Bank
In Ramallah, the PA preventive security forces stormed a number of residential units where students of Birzeit university from the Islamic bloc, the student wing of Hamas, live and confiscated their ID cards and computers.
The preventive security also ordered some students to come to its headquarters in the city for interrogation.
The same security apparatus detained Birzeit student Tawfiq Rabai'ah after interrogating him.
Three other young men identified as Anas Mishaal, Yousuf Mishaal and Inad Mishaal were also taken prisoners and another one was summoned for questioning by the preventive security during a campaign in Kober village near Ramallah.
In Bethlehem, the preventive security arrested ex-detainee Firas Aziya from Aida refugee camp.
Forces from the PA intelligence and the preventive security also arrested and physically assaulted some young men who participated in the parade that was organized by Hamas in Aida refugee camp after chasing them.
A cancer patient named Ayman Daamsah and another young man were detained after the PA intelligence summoned them for interrogation.
The preventive security also sent a summons to Ayman Daamsah despite his detention by the intelligence.
In Tulkarem, the preventive security launched a manhunt in search for an ex-detainee called Izz Addin Abu Diya.
Abu Diya underwent surgery about two weeks ago and he is the brother of two political detainees in PA jails.
Meanwhile, a number of Polytechnic University students from the Islamic student bloc of Hamas are still being detained by the PA security apparatuses in al-Khalil city.
In Ramallah, the PA preventive security forces stormed a number of residential units where students of Birzeit university from the Islamic bloc, the student wing of Hamas, live and confiscated their ID cards and computers.
The preventive security also ordered some students to come to its headquarters in the city for interrogation.
The same security apparatus detained Birzeit student Tawfiq Rabai'ah after interrogating him.
Three other young men identified as Anas Mishaal, Yousuf Mishaal and Inad Mishaal were also taken prisoners and another one was summoned for questioning by the preventive security during a campaign in Kober village near Ramallah.
In Bethlehem, the preventive security arrested ex-detainee Firas Aziya from Aida refugee camp.
Forces from the PA intelligence and the preventive security also arrested and physically assaulted some young men who participated in the parade that was organized by Hamas in Aida refugee camp after chasing them.
A cancer patient named Ayman Daamsah and another young man were detained after the PA intelligence summoned them for interrogation.
The preventive security also sent a summons to Ayman Daamsah despite his detention by the intelligence.
In Tulkarem, the preventive security launched a manhunt in search for an ex-detainee called Izz Addin Abu Diya.
Abu Diya underwent surgery about two weeks ago and he is the brother of two political detainees in PA jails.
Meanwhile, a number of Polytechnic University students from the Islamic student bloc of Hamas are still being detained by the PA security apparatuses in al-Khalil city.
Hamas on Saturday said that dozens of its affiliates were arrested by the Palestinian Authority (PA) apparatuses in the West Bank city of al-Khalil a day earlier, dubbing the move a barefaced evidence of ongoing security coordination between the PA and the Israeli occupation.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said dozens of the group’s members were captured on Friday evening as they joined a rally commemorating the Movement’s founding.
"These arrests are clear proofs that the security coordination between the PA and the Israeli occupation is still going on," Abu Zuhri said in a statement.
According to Abu Zuhri, dozens of Hamas advocates were arrested by the PA security agencies in al-Khalil when they marched to mark the 27th anniversary of the launch of the Movement.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army destroyed a stage that was due to be used for the anniversary ceremony in al-Khalil, he added.
Earlier this week, Palestinian officials threatened to suspend security coordination with the Israeli occupation in protest at the murder of senior Palestinian official Ziyad Abu Ein, who breathed his last during an attack launched by the Israeli army troops to disband a peaceful West Bank march on Wednesday.
No decision has yet been openly opted for by the PA officials on the matter. A decision is expected to be released in a Sunday meeting to be convened by the PA leadership.
The notorious 1993 Washington-brokered Oslo Accords between the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority stipulated that the latter would prevent attacks on the Israel occupation and exchange data on security matters to that end.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said dozens of the group’s members were captured on Friday evening as they joined a rally commemorating the Movement’s founding.
"These arrests are clear proofs that the security coordination between the PA and the Israeli occupation is still going on," Abu Zuhri said in a statement.
According to Abu Zuhri, dozens of Hamas advocates were arrested by the PA security agencies in al-Khalil when they marched to mark the 27th anniversary of the launch of the Movement.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army destroyed a stage that was due to be used for the anniversary ceremony in al-Khalil, he added.
Earlier this week, Palestinian officials threatened to suspend security coordination with the Israeli occupation in protest at the murder of senior Palestinian official Ziyad Abu Ein, who breathed his last during an attack launched by the Israeli army troops to disband a peaceful West Bank march on Wednesday.
No decision has yet been openly opted for by the PA officials on the matter. A decision is expected to be released in a Sunday meeting to be convened by the PA leadership.
The notorious 1993 Washington-brokered Oslo Accords between the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority stipulated that the latter would prevent attacks on the Israel occupation and exchange data on security matters to that end.
11 dec 2014
Ziad Abu Ein
The Palestinian leadership has ended all security coordination with Israel in response to the death of Minister Ziad Abu Ein Wednesday following clashes with Israeli soldiers.
Jibril Rajoub told press that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will end "all forms of security coordination with Israel for deliberately killing Minister Ziad Abu Ein."
This was a move called for by all Palestinian political parties.
Israel's Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said in an official statement that "The incident in which Ziad Abu Ein dies is being investigated by the IDF. We regret his death. We have offered the Palestinian Authority a joint investigation, and there will be a joint autopsy of Abu Ein's body."
President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday evening that all options to respond to the killing of a Palestinian minister are up for debate. Senior PLO official Hanan Ashrawi said the Palestinian leadership demands an independent, neutral investigation into this latest Israeli crime, calling for an end to impunity for Israeli violations.
"Israel's use of excessive and indiscriminate violence constitutes war crimes under international law”, Ashrawi added. “Israel habitually uses extreme violence, especially against non-violent resistance, and Ziad was guilty of nothing more insidious than planting olive trees on Palestinian land that Israel was attempting to steal."
The Palestinian leadership has ended all security coordination with Israel in response to the death of Minister Ziad Abu Ein Wednesday following clashes with Israeli soldiers.
Jibril Rajoub told press that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will end "all forms of security coordination with Israel for deliberately killing Minister Ziad Abu Ein."
This was a move called for by all Palestinian political parties.
Israel's Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said in an official statement that "The incident in which Ziad Abu Ein dies is being investigated by the IDF. We regret his death. We have offered the Palestinian Authority a joint investigation, and there will be a joint autopsy of Abu Ein's body."
President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday evening that all options to respond to the killing of a Palestinian minister are up for debate. Senior PLO official Hanan Ashrawi said the Palestinian leadership demands an independent, neutral investigation into this latest Israeli crime, calling for an end to impunity for Israeli violations.
"Israel's use of excessive and indiscriminate violence constitutes war crimes under international law”, Ashrawi added. “Israel habitually uses extreme violence, especially against non-violent resistance, and Ziad was guilty of nothing more insidious than planting olive trees on Palestinian land that Israel was attempting to steal."
8 dec 2014
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) strongly condemned Monday the continued political arrests carried out by PA forces in the West Bank “under flimsy pretexts.”
In its statement, the PFLP pointed out that PA political arrests have notably escalated against West Bankers particularly students at Bir Zeit and Jerusalem universities.
PA security forces have continued their political arrests in occupied West Bank in parallel with Israeli large-scale and fierce attacks in occupied Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza, and Palestine 1948, according to the statement.
The PFLP described the ongoing political arrests in the West Bank as a stab in the back of the Palestinian national movement and resistance.
The faction called for the immediate release of all political detainees in PA jails, stressing the need for halting PA political arrest policy that only serves the occupation and harms Palestinian resistance.
These political arrests cast doubt on the ongoing efforts to unify Palestinian people and reinforce their steadfastness in face of Israeli racist policies, the statement added.
Such political arrests have no legal basis or legal justification, the PFLP underlined, pointing out that most of the political detainees are later re-arrested by Israeli forces as part of the revolving door policy.
The PFLP concluded by stressing the need for halting all forms of security coordination between the PA and Israeli occupation forces.
In its statement, the PFLP pointed out that PA political arrests have notably escalated against West Bankers particularly students at Bir Zeit and Jerusalem universities.
PA security forces have continued their political arrests in occupied West Bank in parallel with Israeli large-scale and fierce attacks in occupied Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza, and Palestine 1948, according to the statement.
The PFLP described the ongoing political arrests in the West Bank as a stab in the back of the Palestinian national movement and resistance.
The faction called for the immediate release of all political detainees in PA jails, stressing the need for halting PA political arrest policy that only serves the occupation and harms Palestinian resistance.
These political arrests cast doubt on the ongoing efforts to unify Palestinian people and reinforce their steadfastness in face of Israeli racist policies, the statement added.
Such political arrests have no legal basis or legal justification, the PFLP underlined, pointing out that most of the political detainees are later re-arrested by Israeli forces as part of the revolving door policy.
The PFLP concluded by stressing the need for halting all forms of security coordination between the PA and Israeli occupation forces.
3 dec 2014
Palestinian Authority security apparatuses have lately intensified their arrest campaigns and summonses against political activists in the West Bank.
A lot more Palestinian political activists are being arrested these days by the Palestinian Authority security forces, human rights organizations report.
The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) has reported that in the past six months Palestinian security forces intensified their raids and arrests particularly in the last three months where many torture complaints have been filed, a thing that ruins the positive atmosphere which prevailed during the war on Gaza.
In October 2014 alone, ICHR reported 7 cases of torture, 102 complaints about violations of legal procedures and 32 complaints against illegality of detaining procedures, which happened either because of political or arbitrary reasons. ICHR also documented 6 cases of violations against freedom of expression, speech, the press and assembly.
Meanwhile, the September report of ICHR documented 7 complaints in the West Bank, and an assault on a public figure, MP Dr. Hassan Khreisheh, who got shot at.
The Independent Commission further continues to receive complaints about seizure of personal property at the hand of the Palestinian security forces without a court order. Violations against freedoms of expression, speech, the press, assembly and journalists, ICHR reports, have markedly risen.
Targeting Students
Meanwhile, Relatives of Political Prisoners Committee in the West Bank condemned the escalating purely political arrest campaigns by Palestinian security forces all over the West Bank.
The Committee announced that the past weeks in the West Bank witnessed a significant rise in the number of political arrests and summonses that mostly, targeted without any legal basis, university students.
Human rights activist, Salah Awad, pointed out that the cases documented by ICHR and other human rights bodies, which register only the complaints they receive, do not reflect the real figures on the ground, since many do not file complaints against the security forces.
Awad added that the reports produced do not include summonses on political grounds which happen on daily basis. Although some are summoned daily for long times, they are not labeled “detainees”.
According to Awad, the Palestinian law might give security forces the power to summon people, but this procedure is constantly violated especially when it comes to how the security forces crack down upon social media activists, some of whom are subjected to a “semi-arrest” situation. And thus, PA security forces avoid being accused of conducting political arrests.
Abbas’s decision
Dr. Abdel Sattar Qasem, Prof. of political science, stated that politically motivated arrests and violations of public freedoms will continue as part of the functional role the Palestinian Authority plays.
“The arrests aim at curbing the resistance and maintaining PA’s control in the West Bank,” Qasem emphasized.
For Dr. Hassan Khreisheh, second deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the political arrests are a decision that president Mahmoud Abbas takes and can stop.
Khreisheh stressed that the security forces in the West Bank do not work on their own in regard to political arrests. The problem is that there is no order from president Abbas to them to stop that, he added.
“If president [Abass] genuinely wants to stop the arrests against political activists, those arrests will immediately stop. Security forces will not disobey the order. But that’s not happening now,” Khreisheh stated.
A lot more Palestinian political activists are being arrested these days by the Palestinian Authority security forces, human rights organizations report.
The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) has reported that in the past six months Palestinian security forces intensified their raids and arrests particularly in the last three months where many torture complaints have been filed, a thing that ruins the positive atmosphere which prevailed during the war on Gaza.
In October 2014 alone, ICHR reported 7 cases of torture, 102 complaints about violations of legal procedures and 32 complaints against illegality of detaining procedures, which happened either because of political or arbitrary reasons. ICHR also documented 6 cases of violations against freedom of expression, speech, the press and assembly.
Meanwhile, the September report of ICHR documented 7 complaints in the West Bank, and an assault on a public figure, MP Dr. Hassan Khreisheh, who got shot at.
The Independent Commission further continues to receive complaints about seizure of personal property at the hand of the Palestinian security forces without a court order. Violations against freedoms of expression, speech, the press, assembly and journalists, ICHR reports, have markedly risen.
Targeting Students
Meanwhile, Relatives of Political Prisoners Committee in the West Bank condemned the escalating purely political arrest campaigns by Palestinian security forces all over the West Bank.
The Committee announced that the past weeks in the West Bank witnessed a significant rise in the number of political arrests and summonses that mostly, targeted without any legal basis, university students.
Human rights activist, Salah Awad, pointed out that the cases documented by ICHR and other human rights bodies, which register only the complaints they receive, do not reflect the real figures on the ground, since many do not file complaints against the security forces.
Awad added that the reports produced do not include summonses on political grounds which happen on daily basis. Although some are summoned daily for long times, they are not labeled “detainees”.
According to Awad, the Palestinian law might give security forces the power to summon people, but this procedure is constantly violated especially when it comes to how the security forces crack down upon social media activists, some of whom are subjected to a “semi-arrest” situation. And thus, PA security forces avoid being accused of conducting political arrests.
Abbas’s decision
Dr. Abdel Sattar Qasem, Prof. of political science, stated that politically motivated arrests and violations of public freedoms will continue as part of the functional role the Palestinian Authority plays.
“The arrests aim at curbing the resistance and maintaining PA’s control in the West Bank,” Qasem emphasized.
For Dr. Hassan Khreisheh, second deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the political arrests are a decision that president Mahmoud Abbas takes and can stop.
Khreisheh stressed that the security forces in the West Bank do not work on their own in regard to political arrests. The problem is that there is no order from president Abbas to them to stop that, he added.
“If president [Abass] genuinely wants to stop the arrests against political activists, those arrests will immediately stop. Security forces will not disobey the order. But that’s not happening now,” Khreisheh stated.
27 nov 2014
Deputy head of Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haneyya, voiced his deep disappointment over the latest abduction-campaigns launched by the Palestinian Authority (PA) security apparatuses across the West Bank.
Taher Nunu, Haneyya’s ex-advisor, said efforts have been underway by the latter to release Baraa Ayash, detained by the intelligence apparatuses in the West Bank.
“We firmly condemn such attacks on Hamas leaders, al-Aqsa Mosque, and Jerusalemites alike,” a statement by Hamas leader Ismail Redwan read. “All of this is taking place amid a striking apathy by the unity government.”
The Hamas leaders called on the Palestinian premier Rami Hamdallah to provide explanations and proofs for such arbitrary arrests and for the felonies perpetrated by the PA security apparatuses in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, the PA forces captured two West Bankers and summoned others for interrogation.
In the Bireh town of Ramallah the PA intelligence apparatuses rounded up university student and ex-prisoner Osama Mufarja.
The PA preventive security forces in Ramallah summoned youngster Mohamed Ma’tan, from Berka village, for interrogation.
Sources in Nablus said the PA courts extended the detention period of ex-prisoner Samir Abu Sh’ayeb for 15 more days.
A group of activists based in al-Khalil called on all international and humanitarian institutions to immediately step in and urge the PA to stop such arbitrary mass-arrests and policies.
Youngster Muhamad Abu Arkoub launched distress signals over such unbearable PA practices, saying the local courts have been dragging their feet vis-à-vis his acquittal, expected to take place by the end of 2014.
The court further adjourned Muhamad’s hearing for 30 more days, which coincides with exam dates at the university in which he is enrolled.
Other students have been nabbed by the PA apparatuses in al-Khalil and Occupied Jerusalem while a number of others were summoned for interrogation.
Committee of the families of political detainees in the West Bank denounced such mounting arrest campaigns against Palestinian civilians and students, that have been remarkably on the rise over the past few weeks.
The committee further slammed such hegemonic tactics as blows struck at the unity of the Palestinian people, calling on all human rights organizations to urgently intervene and take a tougher line against such oppressive policies.
The committee further spoke out against the mysterious transfer of political detainees from al-Khalil to Jericho jails, with no data whatsoever on their current state of affairs.
Taher Nunu, Haneyya’s ex-advisor, said efforts have been underway by the latter to release Baraa Ayash, detained by the intelligence apparatuses in the West Bank.
“We firmly condemn such attacks on Hamas leaders, al-Aqsa Mosque, and Jerusalemites alike,” a statement by Hamas leader Ismail Redwan read. “All of this is taking place amid a striking apathy by the unity government.”
The Hamas leaders called on the Palestinian premier Rami Hamdallah to provide explanations and proofs for such arbitrary arrests and for the felonies perpetrated by the PA security apparatuses in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, the PA forces captured two West Bankers and summoned others for interrogation.
In the Bireh town of Ramallah the PA intelligence apparatuses rounded up university student and ex-prisoner Osama Mufarja.
The PA preventive security forces in Ramallah summoned youngster Mohamed Ma’tan, from Berka village, for interrogation.
Sources in Nablus said the PA courts extended the detention period of ex-prisoner Samir Abu Sh’ayeb for 15 more days.
A group of activists based in al-Khalil called on all international and humanitarian institutions to immediately step in and urge the PA to stop such arbitrary mass-arrests and policies.
Youngster Muhamad Abu Arkoub launched distress signals over such unbearable PA practices, saying the local courts have been dragging their feet vis-à-vis his acquittal, expected to take place by the end of 2014.
The court further adjourned Muhamad’s hearing for 30 more days, which coincides with exam dates at the university in which he is enrolled.
Other students have been nabbed by the PA apparatuses in al-Khalil and Occupied Jerusalem while a number of others were summoned for interrogation.
Committee of the families of political detainees in the West Bank denounced such mounting arrest campaigns against Palestinian civilians and students, that have been remarkably on the rise over the past few weeks.
The committee further slammed such hegemonic tactics as blows struck at the unity of the Palestinian people, calling on all human rights organizations to urgently intervene and take a tougher line against such oppressive policies.
The committee further spoke out against the mysterious transfer of political detainees from al-Khalil to Jericho jails, with no data whatsoever on their current state of affairs.