30 dec 2013
The Palestinian community in Italy in cooperation with the Union of Palestinian Women announced Monday a fundraising campaign to support the people of Gaza.
The campaign “Blanket for Gaza” was announced in a news conference at offices of the embassy of Palestine in Rome.
Palestinian ambassador to Italy Mai al-Kalia said the “Palestinian people are subjected to all kinds of racism under Israeli occupation.”
She highlighted that a winter storm which hit Palestine recently caused huge damage in the Gaza Strip adding more suffering to children, women and elderly people.
The goal of the fundraiser is to collect money to buy blankets and sheets to be shipped to the Gaza Strip to help residents during winter.
The campaign “Blanket for Gaza” was announced in a news conference at offices of the embassy of Palestine in Rome.
Palestinian ambassador to Italy Mai al-Kalia said the “Palestinian people are subjected to all kinds of racism under Israeli occupation.”
She highlighted that a winter storm which hit Palestine recently caused huge damage in the Gaza Strip adding more suffering to children, women and elderly people.
The goal of the fundraiser is to collect money to buy blankets and sheets to be shipped to the Gaza Strip to help residents during winter.
29 dec 2013
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnapped at dawn Sunday four Palestinian citizens during raids on homes in different West Bank areas, and another one during violent clashes yesterday in occupied Jerusalem. Eyewitnesses reported that the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces at an early hour today evacuated the roads for the IOF during their campaign in Bireh city, near Ramallah.
They added that the IOF kidnapped two Palestinian citizens from their homes in the city.
In Al-Khalil, the IOF kidnapped, in coordination with the PA security forces, two Palestinians from their homes during violent raids in different neighborhoods, according to local sources.
They explained that the invading troops raided the neighborhoods of Tal'ah Abu Hadid and Abu Sunaina, different areas of the Old City and the southern districts of Al-Khalil and ransacked several homes before they kidnapped a citizen identified as Mutaz Wezwez.
Another citizen named Khalil Abu Mariya was also taken prisoner during violent IOF raids on homes in Beit Ummar town to the north of Al-Khalil city.
In an earlier incident, the IOF detained a young man during clashes yesterday evening in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli policemen and soldiers used batons to disperse a number of angry young men, who responded by throwing stones and empty bottles.
They added that the troops also attacked passersby during the events in the Old City.
They added that the IOF kidnapped two Palestinian citizens from their homes in the city.
In Al-Khalil, the IOF kidnapped, in coordination with the PA security forces, two Palestinians from their homes during violent raids in different neighborhoods, according to local sources.
They explained that the invading troops raided the neighborhoods of Tal'ah Abu Hadid and Abu Sunaina, different areas of the Old City and the southern districts of Al-Khalil and ransacked several homes before they kidnapped a citizen identified as Mutaz Wezwez.
Another citizen named Khalil Abu Mariya was also taken prisoner during violent IOF raids on homes in Beit Ummar town to the north of Al-Khalil city.
In an earlier incident, the IOF detained a young man during clashes yesterday evening in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli policemen and soldiers used batons to disperse a number of angry young men, who responded by throwing stones and empty bottles.
They added that the troops also attacked passersby during the events in the Old City.
An Israeli army official claimed that the Israeli occupation forces had aborted 90 Palestinian attempts to kidnap soldiers in 2013. The Hebrew radio quoted the official on Saturday as saying that around thirty of those attempts were foiled by Palestinian Authority security apparatuses in the West Bank.
He said, however, that individual resistance attacks in the West Bank did not point to the possibility of a third intifada.
He said, however, that individual resistance attacks in the West Bank did not point to the possibility of a third intifada.
Sheikh Bassam Al-Sa'adi
The Hamas Movement strongly denounced the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces for using armed force against the Palestinian citizens in the West Bank, and described such action as a serious violation that exceeded all taboos and national principles.
This condemnation came in a press release issued by Hamas on Saturday to comment on the violent campaign that was carried out recently by the PA security forces in Jenin camp, which led to the injury of several citizens, including the sons of Sheikh Bassam Al-Sa'adi, a senior Islamic Jihad official.
Hamas stated that the aggressive assault that happened to the sons of Sheikh Sa'adi was an offense against all families of prisoners and martyrs and disrespect for the precious sacrifices they have made for Palestine.
The Movement called on the national figures of Fatah faction in Jenin to state their position towards the violations that are committed by the PA security forces against the families of prisoners and martyrs in Jenin refugee camp.
Many citizens, including Sheikh Sa'adi and two of his sons, suffered bullet injuries on Friday evening when PA intelligence gunmen stormed Jenin refugee camp and opened fire at them.
The Hamas Movement strongly denounced the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces for using armed force against the Palestinian citizens in the West Bank, and described such action as a serious violation that exceeded all taboos and national principles.
This condemnation came in a press release issued by Hamas on Saturday to comment on the violent campaign that was carried out recently by the PA security forces in Jenin camp, which led to the injury of several citizens, including the sons of Sheikh Bassam Al-Sa'adi, a senior Islamic Jihad official.
Hamas stated that the aggressive assault that happened to the sons of Sheikh Sa'adi was an offense against all families of prisoners and martyrs and disrespect for the precious sacrifices they have made for Palestine.
The Movement called on the national figures of Fatah faction in Jenin to state their position towards the violations that are committed by the PA security forces against the families of prisoners and martyrs in Jenin refugee camp.
Many citizens, including Sheikh Sa'adi and two of his sons, suffered bullet injuries on Friday evening when PA intelligence gunmen stormed Jenin refugee camp and opened fire at them.
28 dec 2013
PA Security Forces have stormed on Friday Jenin refugee camp and started firing intensively injuring 6 citizens including the leader in Jihad movement Mahmoud Sa'adi and the leader Bassam Sa'di's two sons. Eyewitnesses confirmed to the PIC reporter that PA forces stormed the refugee camp over a family problem in the camp, and they started firing randomly once the leader Mahmoud Saadi emerged with his nephews Yahia and Fathi, the leader in Jihad Movement Bassam Saadi's two sons.
Yahya Bassam Saadi, 19, suffered very serious injuries as he was shot in his chest, while Sheikh Mahmoud Saadi got shot in his stomach. Fathi Bassam Saadi, 18, was also moderately injured in addition to three other citizens who were present at the scene.
The sources said that the PA forces tried to arrest Sheikh Mahmoud Saadi after shooting him; however, camp inhabitants intervened and prevented his arrest, after which violent clashes broke out in the refugee camp. Several suffocation cases were reported among citizens after the PA forces fired tear gas bombs.
On Friday evening, PA forces stormed al-Razi hospital and arrested Yahia and Fathi although they were receiving treatment after being shot by those forces in Jenin camp, PIC reporter reported.
Yahia and Fathi were transferred in an ambulance to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus under heavy police protection.
PA Security Forces have carried out raid and arrest campaigns in Jenin Refugee camp under the pretext of searching for weapons and wanted persons.
For its part, Jihad Movement held the PA fully responsible for the shooting of three of its members by PA forces, considering it a criminal act.
“This crime is a clear result of Israeli continued incitement against resistance movements in the West Bank particularly in Jenin”, Jihad Movement's statement said.
“We have repeatedly warned of the PA forces' escalating repression and persecution campaigns against citizens”, the statement added.
The movement called on national forces and factions to work seriously to put an end to the PA forces' repressive policy that fell in line with security coordination with Israeli forces.
The statement praised Palestinian citizens in Jenin refugee camp who prevented the arrest of the leader Mahmoud Saadi.
Yahya Bassam Saadi, 19, suffered very serious injuries as he was shot in his chest, while Sheikh Mahmoud Saadi got shot in his stomach. Fathi Bassam Saadi, 18, was also moderately injured in addition to three other citizens who were present at the scene.
The sources said that the PA forces tried to arrest Sheikh Mahmoud Saadi after shooting him; however, camp inhabitants intervened and prevented his arrest, after which violent clashes broke out in the refugee camp. Several suffocation cases were reported among citizens after the PA forces fired tear gas bombs.
On Friday evening, PA forces stormed al-Razi hospital and arrested Yahia and Fathi although they were receiving treatment after being shot by those forces in Jenin camp, PIC reporter reported.
Yahia and Fathi were transferred in an ambulance to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus under heavy police protection.
PA Security Forces have carried out raid and arrest campaigns in Jenin Refugee camp under the pretext of searching for weapons and wanted persons.
For its part, Jihad Movement held the PA fully responsible for the shooting of three of its members by PA forces, considering it a criminal act.
“This crime is a clear result of Israeli continued incitement against resistance movements in the West Bank particularly in Jenin”, Jihad Movement's statement said.
“We have repeatedly warned of the PA forces' escalating repression and persecution campaigns against citizens”, the statement added.
The movement called on national forces and factions to work seriously to put an end to the PA forces' repressive policy that fell in line with security coordination with Israeli forces.
The statement praised Palestinian citizens in Jenin refugee camp who prevented the arrest of the leader Mahmoud Saadi.
27 dec 2013
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu and de facto president Mahmoud Abbas have been maintaining a secret channel of talks for several years now, in contrast to what was propagated of freezing talks due to settlement construction, Israeli media sources revealed. "Attorney Yitzhak Molcho, Netanyahu's confidant, has been traveling to London from time to time and meeting with one of Abbas' associates", Yedioth Ahronoth Hebrew Newspaper revealed on Thursday.
According to the newspaper, "the channel was highly significant during Netanyahu's previous term, when there were no official negotiations. Both Netanyahu and Abbas have kept the talks confidential in order to avoid political pressures."
After the renewal of peace talks brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry, the importance of the secret channel diminished, likely prompting Netanyahu to inform some of the Israelis and Americans involved in the talks about the back channel, the Hebrew newspaper added.
Yedioth revealed that Bassel Aqel, a Palestinian businessman living in London, may be Abbas' representative to the secret talks. "Aqel is a close friend of the Palestinian president.
This estimate has no definite confirmation, but different sources have confirmed the existence of the channel, the identity of the Israeli representative (Molcho), the location (London) and the fact that the channel has been active since the previous government's term."
This channel of communication is aimed at solving daily problems on the ground, preparing the ground for a major diplomatic breakthrough, and creating an impression among those involved in the secret talks that there is an interest in making political progress while the formal negotiations are deadlocked, the sources added.
According to the newspaper, "the channel was highly significant during Netanyahu's previous term, when there were no official negotiations. Both Netanyahu and Abbas have kept the talks confidential in order to avoid political pressures."
After the renewal of peace talks brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry, the importance of the secret channel diminished, likely prompting Netanyahu to inform some of the Israelis and Americans involved in the talks about the back channel, the Hebrew newspaper added.
Yedioth revealed that Bassel Aqel, a Palestinian businessman living in London, may be Abbas' representative to the secret talks. "Aqel is a close friend of the Palestinian president.
This estimate has no definite confirmation, but different sources have confirmed the existence of the channel, the identity of the Israeli representative (Molcho), the location (London) and the fact that the channel has been active since the previous government's term."
This channel of communication is aimed at solving daily problems on the ground, preparing the ground for a major diplomatic breakthrough, and creating an impression among those involved in the secret talks that there is an interest in making political progress while the formal negotiations are deadlocked, the sources added.
26 dec 2013
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Gaza rulers Hamas were responsible for any attacks from the Palestinian enclave, after deaths on both sides.
"We have recently been subject to attacks against us," he said at a pilots' graduation ceremony at the Hatzerim air force base in southern Israel.
"Israel holds Hamas responsible for all the attacks launched on us. We will strike at those who attack us, and at those who support them," he said in remarks that were also broadcast on radio.
Confrontations between the sides peaked on Tuesday, when a sniper inside the Gaza Strip killed an Israeli fixing the border fence.
Israel retaliated against "terror sites" in Gaza using warplanes and tanks, killing a toddler and wounding at least six people.
The sniper attack has been attributed to a small Palestinian faction unrelated to the Islamist Hamas.
An ensuing tense quiet has held, despite Palestinians in Gaza firing a projectile that hit an uninhabited area in southern Israel early on Thursday.
A military spokeswoman told AFP it caused no damage or injuries.
On Thursday night a second projectile fired from Gaza "landed in open ground causing no damage", according to a military spokesman.
Speaking at the same air force ceremony, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Israel would not accept the "trickle of terror from the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is sovereign."
The week before the sniper attack, Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian scavenging for metal and plastic scraps near the border, and wounded at least 4 Gazans in attacks across the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces frequently shoot at farmers and other civilians inside the Gaza Strip if they approach large swathes of land near the border that the Israeli military has deemed off-limits to Palestinians.
The "security buffer zone" extends between 500 meters and 1500 meters into the Strip, effectively turning local farms into no-go zones.
According to UNOCHA, 17% of Gaza's total land area and 35% of its agricultural land were within the buffer zone as of 2010, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of more than 100,000 Gazans.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by the State of Israel since 2006.
"We have recently been subject to attacks against us," he said at a pilots' graduation ceremony at the Hatzerim air force base in southern Israel.
"Israel holds Hamas responsible for all the attacks launched on us. We will strike at those who attack us, and at those who support them," he said in remarks that were also broadcast on radio.
Confrontations between the sides peaked on Tuesday, when a sniper inside the Gaza Strip killed an Israeli fixing the border fence.
Israel retaliated against "terror sites" in Gaza using warplanes and tanks, killing a toddler and wounding at least six people.
The sniper attack has been attributed to a small Palestinian faction unrelated to the Islamist Hamas.
An ensuing tense quiet has held, despite Palestinians in Gaza firing a projectile that hit an uninhabited area in southern Israel early on Thursday.
A military spokeswoman told AFP it caused no damage or injuries.
On Thursday night a second projectile fired from Gaza "landed in open ground causing no damage", according to a military spokesman.
Speaking at the same air force ceremony, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Israel would not accept the "trickle of terror from the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is sovereign."
The week before the sniper attack, Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian scavenging for metal and plastic scraps near the border, and wounded at least 4 Gazans in attacks across the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces frequently shoot at farmers and other civilians inside the Gaza Strip if they approach large swathes of land near the border that the Israeli military has deemed off-limits to Palestinians.
The "security buffer zone" extends between 500 meters and 1500 meters into the Strip, effectively turning local farms into no-go zones.
According to UNOCHA, 17% of Gaza's total land area and 35% of its agricultural land were within the buffer zone as of 2010, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of more than 100,000 Gazans.
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by the State of Israel since 2006.
The director of the West Bank office of the Hamas-affiliated al-Aqsa TV station Muhammad Ishteiwi was found in a hospital in Malaysia hours after his family in Tulkarem in the northern West Bank lost contact with him.
Ishteiwi’s brother in law Ghassan Mahdawi told Ma’an that “after hours of confusion, the family received a phone call confirming that he was found in a hospital.”
He added that a friend of Ishteiwi’s in Malaysia was contacted and he found him in a hospital.
“He is in good health,” said Mahdawi.
He explained that Ishteiwi, 47, from Kafr Sur village in Tulkarem district, had traveled to Malaysia to discuss his PhD dissertation.
The family had previously expressed concerns that Ishteiwi was missing.
Ishteiwi’s brother in law Ghassan Mahdawi told Ma’an that “after hours of confusion, the family received a phone call confirming that he was found in a hospital.”
He added that a friend of Ishteiwi’s in Malaysia was contacted and he found him in a hospital.
“He is in good health,” said Mahdawi.
He explained that Ishteiwi, 47, from Kafr Sur village in Tulkarem district, had traveled to Malaysia to discuss his PhD dissertation.
The family had previously expressed concerns that Ishteiwi was missing.
25 dec 2013
A delegation of 19 solidarity activists from South Africa on Wednesday started a six-day visit to the Gaza Strip, a Hamas government official said.
Alaa al-Batta, who heads a governmental committee for hosting visiting delegations, told Ma’an that the visitors brought gifts for Gaza children “who have been suffering as a result of the siege.”
“The South African delegation has been waiting in Cairo for about a week,” added al-Batta.
Alaa al-Batta, who heads a governmental committee for hosting visiting delegations, told Ma’an that the visitors brought gifts for Gaza children “who have been suffering as a result of the siege.”
“The South African delegation has been waiting in Cairo for about a week,” added al-Batta.
Israeli Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said that the Palestinian Authority (PA) was to blame for the escalation in violence due to what he calls "incitement to kill Israelis.", The Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday.
Bennett told Israel Radio that the PA has encouraged a culture of incitement by naming town squares in Ramallah after what he described as "suicide bombers" and by their enthusiastic welcoming of the released prisoners.
Israeli Likud MK Tzachi Hanegbi, according to the JPost, commented on Bennett's statements by saying the minister "exaggerated to a great extent."
Henegbi added, Hamas has no interest in escalating tensions with Israel at this time.
For his part, Israeli MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said that peace talks with the Palestinians are "an Israeli strategic interest."
UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon on Wednesday called on Israel and Hamas to exercise restraint to defuse the escalation in the Gaza Strip.
"The Secretary-General rejects all actions targeting civilians and calls on all concerned to exert maximum restraint to prevent another cycle of bloodshed," said his spokesperson.
Bennett told Israel Radio that the PA has encouraged a culture of incitement by naming town squares in Ramallah after what he described as "suicide bombers" and by their enthusiastic welcoming of the released prisoners.
Israeli Likud MK Tzachi Hanegbi, according to the JPost, commented on Bennett's statements by saying the minister "exaggerated to a great extent."
Henegbi added, Hamas has no interest in escalating tensions with Israel at this time.
For his part, Israeli MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said that peace talks with the Palestinians are "an Israeli strategic interest."
UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon on Wednesday called on Israel and Hamas to exercise restraint to defuse the escalation in the Gaza Strip.
"The Secretary-General rejects all actions targeting civilians and calls on all concerned to exert maximum restraint to prevent another cycle of bloodshed," said his spokesperson.
Hamas movement announced that liberated prisoner Husam Badran would serve as its spokesman outside occupied Palestine. Hamas explained in a circular on Wednesday how to contact Badran, who was deported immediately after his release to Qatar.
Badran, originally from Asker refugee camp in Nablus city, was a history teacher and had obtained BA and MA from Najah University.
Badran was arrested five times by the Israeli occupation forces and his home was completely burnt in an IOF raid on the camp in 2002. He was one of the prominent leaders of the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, in the West Bank.
Badran, originally from Asker refugee camp in Nablus city, was a history teacher and had obtained BA and MA from Najah University.
Badran was arrested five times by the Israeli occupation forces and his home was completely burnt in an IOF raid on the camp in 2002. He was one of the prominent leaders of the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, in the West Bank.
Tourism minister Ali Et-Tarshawi
Five Arab tourism ministers were banned from entering the West Bank to participate in Chrismass Celebrations.
Palestinian Government invited the Arab tourism ministers to visit Gaza Strip after they were prevented from entering Bethlehem to participate in Christmas celebrations.
Tourism minister Ali Et-Tarshawi said in a press statement calling on his Arab counterparts to visit the besieged enclave “the Gaza Strip is a part of Palestine, which is the birthplace of Jesus Christ,"
Tarshawi confirmed his government would be pleased to receive the ministers very warmly in popular and official welcome. Israeli occupation forces barred five Arab tourism ministers from reaching Bethlehem city to participate in the Christmas celebrations, as they refused to give them permits to enter the occupied West Bank through the West Bank-Jordan King Hussein Bridge.
Five Arab tourism ministers were banned from entering the West Bank to participate in Chrismass Celebrations.
Palestinian Government invited the Arab tourism ministers to visit Gaza Strip after they were prevented from entering Bethlehem to participate in Christmas celebrations.
Tourism minister Ali Et-Tarshawi said in a press statement calling on his Arab counterparts to visit the besieged enclave “the Gaza Strip is a part of Palestine, which is the birthplace of Jesus Christ,"
Tarshawi confirmed his government would be pleased to receive the ministers very warmly in popular and official welcome. Israeli occupation forces barred five Arab tourism ministers from reaching Bethlehem city to participate in the Christmas celebrations, as they refused to give them permits to enter the occupied West Bank through the West Bank-Jordan King Hussein Bridge.