31 dec 2013
The Islamic Christian authority for patronizing Jerusalem and holy sites said that 2013 has seen an unprecedented escalation in Israel's Judaization activities in the occupied city of Jerusalem. In a report on Monday, the Islamic Christian authority said that during the outgoing year, the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) had seized more Palestinian lands, demolished scores of Jerusalemite homes, displaced hundreds of Palestinian natives and intensified its raids and desecration campaigns against the Islamic and Christian holy sites, especially the Aqsa Mosque.
The IOA has also taken multiple measures and actions to Judaize occupied Jerusalem and its holy sites and erase their Arab identity.
Secretary-general of the authority Hanna Isa said that the daily desecration of the Aqsa Mosque by Jewish settlers, troops and officials was the most prominent challenge which the Palestinian natives in the holy city had faced during 2013.
Isa affirmed that the IOA had established many Jewish shrines and projects for its settles around and beneath the Aqsa Mosque, including a museum under its foundations, warning that Israel has come close to declaring the Mosque a Jewish synagogue.
The IOA has also taken multiple measures and actions to Judaize occupied Jerusalem and its holy sites and erase their Arab identity.
Secretary-general of the authority Hanna Isa said that the daily desecration of the Aqsa Mosque by Jewish settlers, troops and officials was the most prominent challenge which the Palestinian natives in the holy city had faced during 2013.
Isa affirmed that the IOA had established many Jewish shrines and projects for its settles around and beneath the Aqsa Mosque, including a museum under its foundations, warning that Israel has come close to declaring the Mosque a Jewish synagogue.
29 dec 2013
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.
28 dec 2013
On the 5th anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza, UFree Network issued on Friday 27th December 2013, a new report about Palestinian political prisoners and detainees from the Gaza Strip, as follows:
Introduction:
Since 1967 the Israeli occupation arrested more than 700,000 Palestinians, 250,000 of whom were residents of the Gaza Strip making up 35% of all arrests, a high percentage considering the small size of the Strip, and the small population compared to the number of Palestinians in the West Bank and 1948 occupied Palestine.
Numbers today:
By the end of October 2013 around 4,996 Palestinian political prisoners and detainees and prisoners in Israeli jails, 386 from the Gaza Strip. Amongst them who have been in detention for over 25 years. Prisoners from Gaza are often in ill health, isolation and have life sentences, as well as other prisoners who although their sentences have ended but still in detention which comes under the 'Unlawful Combatant' Law.
What is noteworthy is that the Israeli occupation adds to the total systematic violations against Palestinian political prisoners and detainees, three additional violations specific and dedicated against prisoners from the Gaza Stip.
Gazan detainees have been prevented from receiving visits from family members from July 2007 until May 2012 after Gilad Shalit swap deal.They also face insistence that they be treated according to 'Unlawful Combatant' laws. In addition, tens of Gazans are abducted due to Israeli invasions and detained without charge under the pretext of crossing the boarders of the land and sea blockade imposed upon the Strip seven years ago.
Collective Punishment Policy:
Since the capture of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006 by Palestinian faction groups, Israel imposed a collective punishment policy against Palestinian political prisoners and detainees. Gazan prisoners were also victims of this policy as the occupation approved in July 2007 a legislation that would ban prisoners from the Gaza Strip from receiving any visits from their relatives and loved ones.
More than two thousand Gazan prisoners were affected since the enforcement of this law in 2007, while number of them still suffer this ban.
This move has seen a lot of condemnation and denunciation from Palestinian and International organisations and bodies which all called for real pressure to be exerted upon Israel to end such blatant violations of prisoner rights. Such violations contradict entirely with the Fourth Geneva Convention where it is clearly stated in Article number (116) that prisoners have the right to be periodically and routinely visited at least once every two months. Human rights activists also regarded the Israeli occupation's insistence to impose collective punishment policies as ones that would further establish Israel's image as a racist entity which still employs
The 'Unlawful Combatant' Law an Illegitimate Law:
In 2002, the Israeli occupation authorities enacted the 'Unlawful Combatant' law in an attempt to give false legitimacy to its repressive practices against prisoners, and to evade any legal accountability for stripping them of their legal and humanitarian rights.
The law defines unlawful combatants as 'persons acting against the security of Israel', a loose definition which the occupation authorities made to be used as a pretext against Palestinian prisoners whenever it wanted.
The law gives the Israeli army broad powers to arrest and indict Palestinian citizens for indefinite periods without filing an indictment or presenting evidence of conviction before the courts, and of course without the detainee or his lawyers knowing the reason for the arrest.
The Israeli occupation had stepped up the use of this law against the people of the Gaza Strip since 2007 when it declared Gaza as 'hostile entity', and started treating detainees on the basis of this law and not as 'prisoners of war'. This is a fact that human rights activists consider an evasion of international humanitarian laws where the occupation escapes from legal accountabilities with respect to the rights of these detainees. This presents clear evidence of Israeli violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The Fourth Geneva Convention confirms under articles 66, 71, 72, 73 and 74 the right of a detainee to receive a fair trial before an independent body, as well as his/her rights to be informed of the charges against him/her and to defend or assign a lawyer to defend him/her. Israel absolutely violates this through its enforcement of the 'Unlawful Combatant' law.
Through monitoring of these violations under the pretext of the new law, it was found that 15 prisoners were arrested and dealt with according to this law during the war on Gaza in late 2008. It should be noted that this figure is that of documented cases only and that the occupation often conceals the true figures for such cases.
By mid of 2011, 6 prisoners from the Gaza Strip had completed their sentences but remained imprisoned under the excuse that they were unlawful combatants, another violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention which states in articles 132 and 134 that prisoners have the right to be freed immediately after his/her sentence finishes.
Frequent kidnapping of fishermen:
The Oslo Peace agreement that was signed between the Palestinian Authority and Israel states that Palestinian fishermen are permitted the sail to a depth of 20 miles from the shores of Gaza. The Israeli occupation did not commit to this agreement, and ever since the agreement was signed began reducing the sailing distance stipulated by the agreement.
Today, Israeli forces do not permit Gazan fishermen from sailing a distance of more than 3 miles, although the minimum distance to make fishing possible is no less than 10 miles into the sea. Gaza's fishermen now constantly face shooting, shelling, raids on their boats and arrests from the Israeli naval forces. Seven fishermen were kidnapped by the occupation during January 2012 alone.
Introduction:
Since 1967 the Israeli occupation arrested more than 700,000 Palestinians, 250,000 of whom were residents of the Gaza Strip making up 35% of all arrests, a high percentage considering the small size of the Strip, and the small population compared to the number of Palestinians in the West Bank and 1948 occupied Palestine.
Numbers today:
By the end of October 2013 around 4,996 Palestinian political prisoners and detainees and prisoners in Israeli jails, 386 from the Gaza Strip. Amongst them who have been in detention for over 25 years. Prisoners from Gaza are often in ill health, isolation and have life sentences, as well as other prisoners who although their sentences have ended but still in detention which comes under the 'Unlawful Combatant' Law.
What is noteworthy is that the Israeli occupation adds to the total systematic violations against Palestinian political prisoners and detainees, three additional violations specific and dedicated against prisoners from the Gaza Stip.
Gazan detainees have been prevented from receiving visits from family members from July 2007 until May 2012 after Gilad Shalit swap deal.They also face insistence that they be treated according to 'Unlawful Combatant' laws. In addition, tens of Gazans are abducted due to Israeli invasions and detained without charge under the pretext of crossing the boarders of the land and sea blockade imposed upon the Strip seven years ago.
Collective Punishment Policy:
Since the capture of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006 by Palestinian faction groups, Israel imposed a collective punishment policy against Palestinian political prisoners and detainees. Gazan prisoners were also victims of this policy as the occupation approved in July 2007 a legislation that would ban prisoners from the Gaza Strip from receiving any visits from their relatives and loved ones.
More than two thousand Gazan prisoners were affected since the enforcement of this law in 2007, while number of them still suffer this ban.
This move has seen a lot of condemnation and denunciation from Palestinian and International organisations and bodies which all called for real pressure to be exerted upon Israel to end such blatant violations of prisoner rights. Such violations contradict entirely with the Fourth Geneva Convention where it is clearly stated in Article number (116) that prisoners have the right to be periodically and routinely visited at least once every two months. Human rights activists also regarded the Israeli occupation's insistence to impose collective punishment policies as ones that would further establish Israel's image as a racist entity which still employs
The 'Unlawful Combatant' Law an Illegitimate Law:
In 2002, the Israeli occupation authorities enacted the 'Unlawful Combatant' law in an attempt to give false legitimacy to its repressive practices against prisoners, and to evade any legal accountability for stripping them of their legal and humanitarian rights.
The law defines unlawful combatants as 'persons acting against the security of Israel', a loose definition which the occupation authorities made to be used as a pretext against Palestinian prisoners whenever it wanted.
The law gives the Israeli army broad powers to arrest and indict Palestinian citizens for indefinite periods without filing an indictment or presenting evidence of conviction before the courts, and of course without the detainee or his lawyers knowing the reason for the arrest.
The Israeli occupation had stepped up the use of this law against the people of the Gaza Strip since 2007 when it declared Gaza as 'hostile entity', and started treating detainees on the basis of this law and not as 'prisoners of war'. This is a fact that human rights activists consider an evasion of international humanitarian laws where the occupation escapes from legal accountabilities with respect to the rights of these detainees. This presents clear evidence of Israeli violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The Fourth Geneva Convention confirms under articles 66, 71, 72, 73 and 74 the right of a detainee to receive a fair trial before an independent body, as well as his/her rights to be informed of the charges against him/her and to defend or assign a lawyer to defend him/her. Israel absolutely violates this through its enforcement of the 'Unlawful Combatant' law.
Through monitoring of these violations under the pretext of the new law, it was found that 15 prisoners were arrested and dealt with according to this law during the war on Gaza in late 2008. It should be noted that this figure is that of documented cases only and that the occupation often conceals the true figures for such cases.
By mid of 2011, 6 prisoners from the Gaza Strip had completed their sentences but remained imprisoned under the excuse that they were unlawful combatants, another violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention which states in articles 132 and 134 that prisoners have the right to be freed immediately after his/her sentence finishes.
Frequent kidnapping of fishermen:
The Oslo Peace agreement that was signed between the Palestinian Authority and Israel states that Palestinian fishermen are permitted the sail to a depth of 20 miles from the shores of Gaza. The Israeli occupation did not commit to this agreement, and ever since the agreement was signed began reducing the sailing distance stipulated by the agreement.
Today, Israeli forces do not permit Gazan fishermen from sailing a distance of more than 3 miles, although the minimum distance to make fishing possible is no less than 10 miles into the sea. Gaza's fishermen now constantly face shooting, shelling, raids on their boats and arrests from the Israeli naval forces. Seven fishermen were kidnapped by the occupation during January 2012 alone.
Official data showed that the arrests carried out by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in 2013 mainly targeted Palestinian children and youths. Department of Statistics in Ramallah, in a report on Friday, showed that 75% of the detainees in 2013 were children under the age of 18 and young people between 18 and 30 years old.
The report said that the IOF arrested 3,874 Palestinians since the start of this year, including 1,975 young people (51% of the number of detainees) and 931 children from different areas in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
According to the report, the IOF detains Palestinian children under extremely difficult conditions, after breaking into their homes, terrorizing and attacking them.
The child prisoners held in the Israeli jails suffer from the most heinous forms of physical and psychological torture; they are deprived of eating and sleeping and are exposed to electric shocks and threats.
The report said that the IOF arrested 3,874 Palestinians since the start of this year, including 1,975 young people (51% of the number of detainees) and 931 children from different areas in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
According to the report, the IOF detains Palestinian children under extremely difficult conditions, after breaking into their homes, terrorizing and attacking them.
The child prisoners held in the Israeli jails suffer from the most heinous forms of physical and psychological torture; they are deprived of eating and sleeping and are exposed to electric shocks and threats.
The Census Department of the Palestinian Ministry of Detainee published its annual report stating that Israeli soldiers kidnapped, this year,3874 Palestinians, including 931 children. Four detainees died in 2013.
The Census Department said that 1975 of the kidnapped are between the ages of 18 and 30 (%51 of the total number of kidnapped Palestinians), and that 931 children (%24) below the age of 18 have also been kidnapped by the soldiers, this year.
Head of the Census Department, Abdul-Nasser Farawna, said that Israel deliberately targets young Palestinians, including children, because they are the core of the society, and its moving factor.
The former political prisoner added that Israel fears the Palestinian youths for their steadfastness and their persistence to achieve liberation and independence.
“This is why it escalates the arrests against them”, he said, “They are imprisoned, tortured, abused and intimated”.
He added that the 931 kidnapped children were taken prisoner from different parts of the occupied West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, and that the number indicates a %5.7 increase in the number of children kidnapped by the soldiers in 2012, and a %37.5 increase compared to 2011.
“The most serious violation is the fact that kidnapped children are beaten and tortured during interrogation”, Farawna stated, “They were humiliated, subjected to physical and emotional torture”.
He said that the suffering of all kidnapped Palestinians, especially the children, starts at the moment of their arrest, as dozens of heavily armed soldiers violently invade their homes, beat and kick them in front of their families. The violations also include assaulting family members.
“They are then cuffed, blindfolded and placed into military jeeps where they are often beaten again, before they are dragged to interrogation facilities in military camps or settlements”, Farawna added. “Under interrogation, they face the most cruel methods of torture and abuse, physical and emotional, while being verbally threatened, amidst threats to harm their families unless they provide information”.
There are currently 1,400 Palestinian detainees suffering with various health conditions, including 150 suffering with cancer, diabetes and other serious health conditions, and are not provided with urgently needed specialized medical attention and treatment.
This year alone, four Palestinian detainees died in Israeli prisons, with one dying shortly after his release, due to serious illness he suffered while in prison, and never being granted urgently needed medical attention.
The number of detainees who died in prison, either due to torture or to being shot by soldiers during and after their arrest, since 1967, currently stands at 204.
The latest casualties among the detainees are Maisara Abu Hamdiyya, 63, who died on April 2nd, 2013, and Arafat Jaradat, 20, who died on February 22, 2013.
Abu Hamdiyya had been suffering from a brain tumor, in addition to a fourth stage carcinoma in his lung, as well as lymphatic, liver, spine and throat cancer, which extended to his vocal cords.
Despite the seriousness of his condition, the Israeli Prison Administration did not grant Mr. Hamdiyya the urgently needed and specialized medical treatment until it was too late.
Detainee Arafat Jaradat died at the Mejeddo Israeli prison, seven days after his arrest; he was a healthy young man from Sa’ir town, in Hebron, and was tortured to death by Israeli interrogators.
Israel is currently holding captive 5,200 Palestinians in 17 prisons, detention camps and interrogation facilities across the region.
The number includes 250 children and 13 women, in addition to 13 democratically elected legislators.
The Census Department said that 1975 of the kidnapped are between the ages of 18 and 30 (%51 of the total number of kidnapped Palestinians), and that 931 children (%24) below the age of 18 have also been kidnapped by the soldiers, this year.
Head of the Census Department, Abdul-Nasser Farawna, said that Israel deliberately targets young Palestinians, including children, because they are the core of the society, and its moving factor.
The former political prisoner added that Israel fears the Palestinian youths for their steadfastness and their persistence to achieve liberation and independence.
“This is why it escalates the arrests against them”, he said, “They are imprisoned, tortured, abused and intimated”.
He added that the 931 kidnapped children were taken prisoner from different parts of the occupied West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, and that the number indicates a %5.7 increase in the number of children kidnapped by the soldiers in 2012, and a %37.5 increase compared to 2011.
“The most serious violation is the fact that kidnapped children are beaten and tortured during interrogation”, Farawna stated, “They were humiliated, subjected to physical and emotional torture”.
He said that the suffering of all kidnapped Palestinians, especially the children, starts at the moment of their arrest, as dozens of heavily armed soldiers violently invade their homes, beat and kick them in front of their families. The violations also include assaulting family members.
“They are then cuffed, blindfolded and placed into military jeeps where they are often beaten again, before they are dragged to interrogation facilities in military camps or settlements”, Farawna added. “Under interrogation, they face the most cruel methods of torture and abuse, physical and emotional, while being verbally threatened, amidst threats to harm their families unless they provide information”.
There are currently 1,400 Palestinian detainees suffering with various health conditions, including 150 suffering with cancer, diabetes and other serious health conditions, and are not provided with urgently needed specialized medical attention and treatment.
This year alone, four Palestinian detainees died in Israeli prisons, with one dying shortly after his release, due to serious illness he suffered while in prison, and never being granted urgently needed medical attention.
The number of detainees who died in prison, either due to torture or to being shot by soldiers during and after their arrest, since 1967, currently stands at 204.
The latest casualties among the detainees are Maisara Abu Hamdiyya, 63, who died on April 2nd, 2013, and Arafat Jaradat, 20, who died on February 22, 2013.
Abu Hamdiyya had been suffering from a brain tumor, in addition to a fourth stage carcinoma in his lung, as well as lymphatic, liver, spine and throat cancer, which extended to his vocal cords.
Despite the seriousness of his condition, the Israeli Prison Administration did not grant Mr. Hamdiyya the urgently needed and specialized medical treatment until it was too late.
Detainee Arafat Jaradat died at the Mejeddo Israeli prison, seven days after his arrest; he was a healthy young man from Sa’ir town, in Hebron, and was tortured to death by Israeli interrogators.
Israel is currently holding captive 5,200 Palestinians in 17 prisons, detention camps and interrogation facilities across the region.
The number includes 250 children and 13 women, in addition to 13 democratically elected legislators.
27 dec 2013
The united nations relief and works agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) condemned the demolition of Palestinian buildings in the occupied West Bank on Christmas Eve. UNRWA condemns the latest demolitions in the West Bank, which displaced 68 people, the most recent of which occurred on Christmas Eve, UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said.
The demolitions took place in Ein Ayoub near Ramallah and Fasayil Al Wusta near Jericho in the Jordan valley, he explained.
He added that the majority of those displaced, 46 persons, are Palestinian refugees and almost half of them is children, including a five year old girl who is paralyzed from the waist down.
To date in 2013, at least 1,103 Palestinians have been displaced throughout the West Bank due to the continued demolition in total violation to international laws, he continued.
In total, 663 structures, including 259 residential units, were recorded demolished since the start of this year in the West Bank, Gunness' statement pointed out.
The demolitions took place in Ein Ayoub near Ramallah and Fasayil Al Wusta near Jericho in the Jordan valley, he explained.
He added that the majority of those displaced, 46 persons, are Palestinian refugees and almost half of them is children, including a five year old girl who is paralyzed from the waist down.
To date in 2013, at least 1,103 Palestinians have been displaced throughout the West Bank due to the continued demolition in total violation to international laws, he continued.
In total, 663 structures, including 259 residential units, were recorded demolished since the start of this year in the West Bank, Gunness' statement pointed out.
House that was damaged by tank shelling near Al-Maghazi, Gaza
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 19- 25 December 2013, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces launched a series of aerial and land attacks on the Gaza Strip.
A child was killed and a woman and her 2 children were wounded in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces have continued to open fire at the border areas in the Gaza Strip. In excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded his brother in the northern Gaza Strip. 8 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in the northern and southern Gaza Strip.
In addition, a member of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service was killed in Qalqilia, and a child was wounded during an Israeli incursion into Tulkarem.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
During the reporting period, in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinians, including a 3-year-old child, and wounded 12 others, including 3 children and a mother of 2 of them, in several aerial and land attacks in the Gaza Strip and other shooting incidents along the border fence. In the West bank, Israeli forces killed a member of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service (GIS) in Qalqilia amd wounded 8 civilians, including a child in Bil'in weekly protest, west of Ramallah. Moreover, a child was wounded in an Israeli incursion into Tulkarm.
In the Gaza Strip, on 20 December 2013, in an excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded his brother while they were near the border fence, north of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, Israeli forces used excessive force as the crime was committed in the daylight and it was clear they were civilians collecting plastics and metals near the border fence.
On 24 December 2013, after an Israeli soldier was killed by a Palestinian sniper on the borders of the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces launched several aerial and land attacks on civilian objects and on training sites of Palestinian armed groups. As a result, a child was killed and a woman and her 2 children were wounded.
On 20 December 2013, 2 civilians, including a child and a coal-supplier, were wounded when a group of civilians headed to the east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, and threw stones at Israeli soldiers positioned along the border fence. Israeli soldiers opened fire at the stone throwers, wounding 2 of them, including a child, and a coal-supplier standing in front of his shop around 70 meters away from the borderline.
On the same day, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a group of civilians who were present on agricultural lands to the west of the border fence.
On 21 December 2013, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a group of civilians who were present on agricultural lands and streets to the south of the border fence.
On 23 December 2013, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by 3 bullets when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence in Beit Lahia opened fire at him when he was at Beit Lahia beach.
On 24 December 2013, a worker was wounded by 2 bullets to the right hand and thigh when Israeli forces stationed on the northern borders of the Gaza Strip opened fire at a group of workers who were collecting metals in al-Ghoul area, northwest of Beit Lahia, about 200 meters away from the fence.
In the context of targeting fishermen in the sea, on 20 December 2013, Israeli forces stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, opened fire sporadically at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing about 3 nautical miles offshore. However, neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 58 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted at least 37 Palestinians, including a child.
On Thursday December 19th, In the early morning, Israeli forces killed a member of the GIS in the centre of Qalqilia. They claimed that he opened fire at Israeli soldiers when they tried to arrest him, so they repeated the fire. Moreover, Israeli forces claimed he was wanted because he "opened fire at Israeli soldiers on several occasions in the past few weeks".
They added that they seized a weapon and ammunition in the scene. However, there were no Palestinian eyewitnesses, excluding a Palestinian taxi driver who took the victim to the hospital and has been kept in custody by the GIS. Therefore, PCHR fieldworkers could not meet him.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 03:00, on the abovementioned day, Saleh Samir Abdul Rahim Yassin (27), from Qalqilia, received a phone call from a friend. He immediately went out of his house in Nazzal neighbourhood on Nablus road, telling his wife that he would be back in 15 minutes.
A few minutes later, gunfire was heard in the area. A friend of him, the taxi driver, saw him as he was getting back after he drove some workers to Qalqilia checkpoint. He drove Saleh to the UNRWA hospital in the city, where he passed away. The victim’s cousin said to a PCHR fieldworker that he saw his cousin's corpse in the hospital's morgue and noticed that a single bullet entered the right side of his chest and exited the left side of it. He added that he heard the sound of 4 bullets only, which means that fire was opened at him once he went out into the street.
Also this week, Israeli forces maltreated the family of Ramzi Ahmed Abdullah Mohammed (26), from Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. They blew up the main door of the house and released a sniffer dog inside.
On 24 December 2013, Israeli forces distributed leaflets threatening residents of al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, as the leaflets had portraits of fathers whose sons "were involved in violence acts against Israeli citizens."
On 25 December 2013, a child was wounded when Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm and responded by firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters at stone throwers.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli forces continued the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West. As a result, 8 protestors, including a child, were wounded in Bil'in weekly protest. In addition many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers in that protest and other protests in the West Bank.
In spite of the cold weather, following the Friday Prayer, 20 December 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities, supporting the al-Aqsa mosque and the Islamic and Christian religious sites. Demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the annexation wall. Israeli forces had closed all the entrances of the village since morning to prevent the Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. Demonstrators marched adjacent to the cement wall and tried to cross the fence before Israeli forces that are stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water at them and chased them in olive fields.
As a result, 8 civilians, including a child, were wounded and a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians organised a peaceful demonstration in the center of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. Demonstrators took the streets and headed to the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbwires and prevented the demonstrators from passing to the land behind it before they responded by throwing stones.
As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities, in Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah. Demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the Palestinian unity resistance, and then they headed to the lands that the settlers are trying to rob by force near “Halmish” settlement. Israeli forces closed all the entrances of the village since morning to prevent the Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. When they arrived at the land, demonstrators were met by live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water and were chased into the village.
As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
At approximately 12:30 on the same day, Palestinian civilians and international activists organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northwest of Qalqilia, and headed towards the eastern entrance of the village, in protest at the continued closure of the entrance with an iron gate, since the beginning of the Aqsa Intifada. Clashes erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli forces that fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters to prevent them from reaching the aforementioned gate.
As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 15:00, a group of boys and young men gathered at the western entrance of Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah, on Silwad-Yabroud road near road (60). They threw stones at the said road. In response, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters, due to which a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;
The PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war criminals;
For the full text of the report, click on the link
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 19- 25 December 2013, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces launched a series of aerial and land attacks on the Gaza Strip.
A child was killed and a woman and her 2 children were wounded in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces have continued to open fire at the border areas in the Gaza Strip. In excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded his brother in the northern Gaza Strip. 8 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in the northern and southern Gaza Strip.
In addition, a member of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service was killed in Qalqilia, and a child was wounded during an Israeli incursion into Tulkarem.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
During the reporting period, in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinians, including a 3-year-old child, and wounded 12 others, including 3 children and a mother of 2 of them, in several aerial and land attacks in the Gaza Strip and other shooting incidents along the border fence. In the West bank, Israeli forces killed a member of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service (GIS) in Qalqilia amd wounded 8 civilians, including a child in Bil'in weekly protest, west of Ramallah. Moreover, a child was wounded in an Israeli incursion into Tulkarm.
In the Gaza Strip, on 20 December 2013, in an excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded his brother while they were near the border fence, north of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, Israeli forces used excessive force as the crime was committed in the daylight and it was clear they were civilians collecting plastics and metals near the border fence.
On 24 December 2013, after an Israeli soldier was killed by a Palestinian sniper on the borders of the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces launched several aerial and land attacks on civilian objects and on training sites of Palestinian armed groups. As a result, a child was killed and a woman and her 2 children were wounded.
On 20 December 2013, 2 civilians, including a child and a coal-supplier, were wounded when a group of civilians headed to the east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, and threw stones at Israeli soldiers positioned along the border fence. Israeli soldiers opened fire at the stone throwers, wounding 2 of them, including a child, and a coal-supplier standing in front of his shop around 70 meters away from the borderline.
On the same day, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a group of civilians who were present on agricultural lands to the west of the border fence.
On 21 December 2013, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a group of civilians who were present on agricultural lands and streets to the south of the border fence.
On 23 December 2013, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by 3 bullets when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence in Beit Lahia opened fire at him when he was at Beit Lahia beach.
On 24 December 2013, a worker was wounded by 2 bullets to the right hand and thigh when Israeli forces stationed on the northern borders of the Gaza Strip opened fire at a group of workers who were collecting metals in al-Ghoul area, northwest of Beit Lahia, about 200 meters away from the fence.
In the context of targeting fishermen in the sea, on 20 December 2013, Israeli forces stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, opened fire sporadically at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing about 3 nautical miles offshore. However, neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 58 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted at least 37 Palestinians, including a child.
On Thursday December 19th, In the early morning, Israeli forces killed a member of the GIS in the centre of Qalqilia. They claimed that he opened fire at Israeli soldiers when they tried to arrest him, so they repeated the fire. Moreover, Israeli forces claimed he was wanted because he "opened fire at Israeli soldiers on several occasions in the past few weeks".
They added that they seized a weapon and ammunition in the scene. However, there were no Palestinian eyewitnesses, excluding a Palestinian taxi driver who took the victim to the hospital and has been kept in custody by the GIS. Therefore, PCHR fieldworkers could not meet him.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 03:00, on the abovementioned day, Saleh Samir Abdul Rahim Yassin (27), from Qalqilia, received a phone call from a friend. He immediately went out of his house in Nazzal neighbourhood on Nablus road, telling his wife that he would be back in 15 minutes.
A few minutes later, gunfire was heard in the area. A friend of him, the taxi driver, saw him as he was getting back after he drove some workers to Qalqilia checkpoint. He drove Saleh to the UNRWA hospital in the city, where he passed away. The victim’s cousin said to a PCHR fieldworker that he saw his cousin's corpse in the hospital's morgue and noticed that a single bullet entered the right side of his chest and exited the left side of it. He added that he heard the sound of 4 bullets only, which means that fire was opened at him once he went out into the street.
Also this week, Israeli forces maltreated the family of Ramzi Ahmed Abdullah Mohammed (26), from Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. They blew up the main door of the house and released a sniffer dog inside.
On 24 December 2013, Israeli forces distributed leaflets threatening residents of al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, as the leaflets had portraits of fathers whose sons "were involved in violence acts against Israeli citizens."
On 25 December 2013, a child was wounded when Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm and responded by firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters at stone throwers.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli forces continued the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West. As a result, 8 protestors, including a child, were wounded in Bil'in weekly protest. In addition many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers in that protest and other protests in the West Bank.
In spite of the cold weather, following the Friday Prayer, 20 December 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities, supporting the al-Aqsa mosque and the Islamic and Christian religious sites. Demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the annexation wall. Israeli forces had closed all the entrances of the village since morning to prevent the Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. Demonstrators marched adjacent to the cement wall and tried to cross the fence before Israeli forces that are stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water at them and chased them in olive fields.
As a result, 8 civilians, including a child, were wounded and a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians organised a peaceful demonstration in the center of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. Demonstrators took the streets and headed to the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbwires and prevented the demonstrators from passing to the land behind it before they responded by throwing stones.
As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities, in Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah. Demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the Palestinian unity resistance, and then they headed to the lands that the settlers are trying to rob by force near “Halmish” settlement. Israeli forces closed all the entrances of the village since morning to prevent the Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. When they arrived at the land, demonstrators were met by live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water and were chased into the village.
As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
At approximately 12:30 on the same day, Palestinian civilians and international activists organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northwest of Qalqilia, and headed towards the eastern entrance of the village, in protest at the continued closure of the entrance with an iron gate, since the beginning of the Aqsa Intifada. Clashes erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli forces that fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters to prevent them from reaching the aforementioned gate.
As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 15:00, a group of boys and young men gathered at the western entrance of Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah, on Silwad-Yabroud road near road (60). They threw stones at the said road. In response, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters, due to which a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;
The PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war criminals;
For the full text of the report, click on the link
25 dec 2013
A majority of Palestinians believe that the former leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Yasser Arafat, was poisoned to death by the Israeli regime, a new poll says.
According to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research poll, 59 percent of the Palestinians believe that Israel is responsible for Arafat’s death, AFP reported on Tuesday.
The poll was conducted by face-to-face interviews with 1,270 adults between December 19-22 in the besieged Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, with a margin of error estimated at three percentage points.
Earlier this month, a team of French forensic scientists investigating the 2004 death of Arafat concluded in a leaked report that he did not die of “polonium-210 poisoning.”
However, a previous report by Swiss scientists said the tests on Arafat’s body showed "unexpected high activity" of polonium-210, which "moderately" supported the poisoning theory.
The scientists -- from the Vaudois University Hospital Centre (CHUV) in Lausanne, Switzerland -- carried out a detailed examination of Arafat's medical records, samples taken from his remains, which were exhumed in November of last year, and items he had taken into the hospital in Paris where he died.
Many Palestinian officials believe that Israel poisoned Arafat, but the Israel has denied any involvement in the matter.
Arafat died in a French military hospital on November 11, 2004 after he was taken ill the previous month with diarrhea and vomiting.
French doctors have said he died of a massive stroke, although they were unable to find the origin of his illness.
French prosecutors opened a murder investigation in August 2012, after traces of polonium-210 were reportedly found on some of Arafat's belongings
According to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research poll, 59 percent of the Palestinians believe that Israel is responsible for Arafat’s death, AFP reported on Tuesday.
The poll was conducted by face-to-face interviews with 1,270 adults between December 19-22 in the besieged Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, with a margin of error estimated at three percentage points.
Earlier this month, a team of French forensic scientists investigating the 2004 death of Arafat concluded in a leaked report that he did not die of “polonium-210 poisoning.”
However, a previous report by Swiss scientists said the tests on Arafat’s body showed "unexpected high activity" of polonium-210, which "moderately" supported the poisoning theory.
The scientists -- from the Vaudois University Hospital Centre (CHUV) in Lausanne, Switzerland -- carried out a detailed examination of Arafat's medical records, samples taken from his remains, which were exhumed in November of last year, and items he had taken into the hospital in Paris where he died.
Many Palestinian officials believe that Israel poisoned Arafat, but the Israel has denied any involvement in the matter.
Arafat died in a French military hospital on November 11, 2004 after he was taken ill the previous month with diarrhea and vomiting.
French doctors have said he died of a massive stroke, although they were unable to find the origin of his illness.
French prosecutors opened a murder investigation in August 2012, after traces of polonium-210 were reportedly found on some of Arafat's belongings
23 dec 2013
Israeli occupation forces have killed 25 Palestinians in the West Bank since the beginning of 2013, at least 20 of whom were civilians unaffiliated with any armed group according to the United Nations. Of these 25, four were children. Thus far, 2013 has registered the highest number of child fatalities by Israeli forces in the West Bank since 2006.
The most recent child fatality was 14 year old Wajih al-Ramhi, who was killed on December 7 by Israeli troops in the Jelazoun refugee camp near Ramallah.
The number of the injured Palestinians was up to 3653 compared to 3031 in the last year which indicates a clear escalation of Israeli attacks.
According to the report the Israeli occupation forces carries out 77 arrest operation weekly.
The number of Palestinian fatalities in the Gaza Strip during the first 11 months of 2013 decreased by 96 percent compared to 2012 (267 vs 10). The number of Palestinian injuries also decreased from 1,484 in 2012 to 55 so far in 2013.
The most recent child fatality was 14 year old Wajih al-Ramhi, who was killed on December 7 by Israeli troops in the Jelazoun refugee camp near Ramallah.
The number of the injured Palestinians was up to 3653 compared to 3031 in the last year which indicates a clear escalation of Israeli attacks.
According to the report the Israeli occupation forces carries out 77 arrest operation weekly.
The number of Palestinian fatalities in the Gaza Strip during the first 11 months of 2013 decreased by 96 percent compared to 2012 (267 vs 10). The number of Palestinian injuries also decreased from 1,484 in 2012 to 55 so far in 2013.
22 dec 2013
4 Others, Including Child, injured in 2 Separate Incidents in the Northern Gaza Strip.
On Friday, 20 December 2013, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded his brother while working near the borderline with Israel, north of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. According to PCHR’s investigations, Israeli forces used excessive force and directly opened fire at them although it was clear that the two civilians were collecting steels and plastics from the landfill near the border fence.
In another incident on the same day, Israeli forces wounded 3 other civilians, including a child, when they fired at civilians who threw stones at the military site on the borderline, east of Jabalia.
Thus, during this year, the number of civilians killed by Israeli forces near the fence along the eastern and northern borders of the Gaza Strip has amounted to 4 while 49 others have been wounded, including 11 children.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, Israeli forces killed ‘Odah Jihad Hamad (27) and wounded his Brother, Raddad (22), while being near the border fence.
According to the testimony given by Raddad Hamad to PCHR, at approximately 12:00 on Friday, 20 December 2013, Raddad went with his brother ‘Odah to the landfill near the border area, east of Beit Hanoun, in order to collect plastics and steels for livelihood.
At approximately 15:30, when the area was very calm, Israeli forces stationed at the borderline opened fire at them without any prior warning. As a result, ‘Odah was wounded by a bullet to the head and fell onto the ground while Raddad was hiding in a low area.
Raddad tried to reach his brother to rescue him, but Israeli forces opened fire at him to wound him by a bullet to the right hand.
He immediately fled and managed to call the Palestine Red Crescent Society to send him an ambulance. The ambulance was delayed by Israeli forces till at approximately 16:15 when it obtained coordination through the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The ambulance staff searched for ‘Odah to find him wounded and then transferred him to the Beit Hanoun Governmental Hospital. He was entered into the Intensive Care Unit, but a few minutes later, he was pronounced dead.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR into the second incident, on Friday afternoon, following the Friday prayer, a group of civilians went to al-Shuhadaa’ cemetery, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, and approached around 50-70 meters to the border fence with Israel.
They threw stones at the Israeli forces stationed at the borderline. Israeli forces in response opened fire at the stone throwers wounding 2 of them, including a child, and a coal-supplier standing in front of his shop around 70 meters away from the borderline. The persons who were wounded were identified as:
1- Diaa’ Ahmed As’ad al-Natour (17) from Jabalia refugee camp, sustained a bullet wound to the left leg;
2- ‘Ali Hasan ‘Abdel Rahman Khalil (20) from Jabalia refugee camp, sustained a bullet wound to the left thigh; and
3- Mohammed Hamoudah Ayyoub (23) from Jabalia refugee camp, a coal-supplier, sustained a bullet wound to the right leg.
PCHR is deeply concerned over these crimes, which further prove the use of excessive force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in disregard for the civilians’ lives.
Therefore, PCHR calls upon the international community to take immediate and effective actions and reiterates its call for the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances, and their obligation under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions.
On Friday, 20 December 2013, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded his brother while working near the borderline with Israel, north of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. According to PCHR’s investigations, Israeli forces used excessive force and directly opened fire at them although it was clear that the two civilians were collecting steels and plastics from the landfill near the border fence.
In another incident on the same day, Israeli forces wounded 3 other civilians, including a child, when they fired at civilians who threw stones at the military site on the borderline, east of Jabalia.
Thus, during this year, the number of civilians killed by Israeli forces near the fence along the eastern and northern borders of the Gaza Strip has amounted to 4 while 49 others have been wounded, including 11 children.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, Israeli forces killed ‘Odah Jihad Hamad (27) and wounded his Brother, Raddad (22), while being near the border fence.
According to the testimony given by Raddad Hamad to PCHR, at approximately 12:00 on Friday, 20 December 2013, Raddad went with his brother ‘Odah to the landfill near the border area, east of Beit Hanoun, in order to collect plastics and steels for livelihood.
At approximately 15:30, when the area was very calm, Israeli forces stationed at the borderline opened fire at them without any prior warning. As a result, ‘Odah was wounded by a bullet to the head and fell onto the ground while Raddad was hiding in a low area.
Raddad tried to reach his brother to rescue him, but Israeli forces opened fire at him to wound him by a bullet to the right hand.
He immediately fled and managed to call the Palestine Red Crescent Society to send him an ambulance. The ambulance was delayed by Israeli forces till at approximately 16:15 when it obtained coordination through the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The ambulance staff searched for ‘Odah to find him wounded and then transferred him to the Beit Hanoun Governmental Hospital. He was entered into the Intensive Care Unit, but a few minutes later, he was pronounced dead.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR into the second incident, on Friday afternoon, following the Friday prayer, a group of civilians went to al-Shuhadaa’ cemetery, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, and approached around 50-70 meters to the border fence with Israel.
They threw stones at the Israeli forces stationed at the borderline. Israeli forces in response opened fire at the stone throwers wounding 2 of them, including a child, and a coal-supplier standing in front of his shop around 70 meters away from the borderline. The persons who were wounded were identified as:
1- Diaa’ Ahmed As’ad al-Natour (17) from Jabalia refugee camp, sustained a bullet wound to the left leg;
2- ‘Ali Hasan ‘Abdel Rahman Khalil (20) from Jabalia refugee camp, sustained a bullet wound to the left thigh; and
3- Mohammed Hamoudah Ayyoub (23) from Jabalia refugee camp, a coal-supplier, sustained a bullet wound to the right leg.
PCHR is deeply concerned over these crimes, which further prove the use of excessive force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in disregard for the civilians’ lives.
Therefore, PCHR calls upon the international community to take immediate and effective actions and reiterates its call for the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances, and their obligation under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions.
21 dec 2013
The Hamas Movement's refugee affairs office in Lebanon has released its annual evolution report on UNRWA's performance in Lebanon for the year 2013. The report, prepared by Hamas representative in Lebanon Ali Baraka, was issued on the 64th anniversary of UNRWA's inception.
The report outlines the main drawbacks of its performance and the growing complaints by Palestinian refugees about its services, and involves recommendations for the agency to improve its work.
The author started his report with a concise introduction to the fundamentals and parameters that govern Hamas's relationship with UNRWA.
Baraka highlighted in his introduction that Hamas's refugee affairs office monitors and evaluates UNRWA's performance so as to safeguard it as a UN witness to the Palestinian cause.
He also warned UNRWA not to keep relying on its emergency budgets and urgent appeals for aid, and urged it to create alternatives.
The report outlines the main drawbacks of its performance and the growing complaints by Palestinian refugees about its services, and involves recommendations for the agency to improve its work.
The author started his report with a concise introduction to the fundamentals and parameters that govern Hamas's relationship with UNRWA.
Baraka highlighted in his introduction that Hamas's refugee affairs office monitors and evaluates UNRWA's performance so as to safeguard it as a UN witness to the Palestinian cause.
He also warned UNRWA not to keep relying on its emergency budgets and urgent appeals for aid, and urged it to create alternatives.
Barta'a Village Council said that Israeli demolition notifications have noticeably increased during 2013 in the town. During a press conference, the Village Council declared the formation of a local committee in Barta'a's town, in Jenin, to address the Israeli demolition policy.
Israeli occupation authorities issued 29 demolition notifications during 2010 and 11 demolition notifications during 2011, while they issued 10 demolition notifications during 2012. In 2013, however, 58 Israeli demolition notices were issued and 11 shops and two houses were actually razed.
Ghassan Qabaha, head of the Village Council, charged that the IOA had launched a fierce demolition campaign against the village since 2010 in order to force its citizens to leave their homes, praising the people's steadfastness before the Israeli schemes.
Qabaha said that the village's inhabitants are determined to confront Israeli escalated demolition policy.
Israeli occupation authorities issued 29 demolition notifications during 2010 and 11 demolition notifications during 2011, while they issued 10 demolition notifications during 2012. In 2013, however, 58 Israeli demolition notices were issued and 11 shops and two houses were actually razed.
Ghassan Qabaha, head of the Village Council, charged that the IOA had launched a fierce demolition campaign against the village since 2010 in order to force its citizens to leave their homes, praising the people's steadfastness before the Israeli schemes.
Qabaha said that the village's inhabitants are determined to confront Israeli escalated demolition policy.
