31 aug 2012
PCHR Weekly Report: 14 civilians wounded, 33 abducted by Israeli troops
In its Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 16 – 29 Aug. 2012, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that a Palestinian woman was seriously wounded by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. 33 Palestinians were abducted, including 10 children.
In addition, Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. 11 Palestinian civilians, including a child and an old woman, and 4 journalists were wounded. A Canadian journalist was hit by a tear gas canister and an American human rights defender was injured.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 64 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they abducted 24 Palestinians, including 7 children, in the West Bank.
In the West Bank, on 24 August 2012, a Palestinian civilian was injured by shrapnel from a sound bomb while he was inside his house in Hebron, when Israeli forces fired live bullets and sound bombs at Wad al-Hussain area.
Israeli forces abducted 6 Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 29 August 2012, a Palestinian woman was seriously wounded when Israeli forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian farmers in Wadi al-Salqa village, east of the central Gaza Strip town of Deir al-Balah.
Israeli troops abducted 9 Palestinians, including 3 children, in the Gaza Strip this week.
Israeli forces continued to fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, PCHR documented 6 attacks in this regard, which did not cause casualties. Israeli forces also abducted a fishermen and his child and confiscated their boat.
On 28 August 2012, Israeli warplanes bombarded a former security site and a training site of the Palestinian resistance in Gaza City, heavily damaging them. Two nearby schools were also damaged.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 16 August 2012, the Israeli government issued a decision placing al-Hisba Market in the old town of Hebron under the Hebron settlement council’s control.
This decision was a response to a petition filed by human rights organizations and the Israeli Peace Now at the Israeli High Court to evacuate the settlers from shops in the market and return the shops to their Palestinian owners.
On 19 August 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Nahla’el” settlement, which stands on the lands of Bitillu village, northwest of Ramallah, broke and burnt 19 olive trees near the settlement belonging.
On 22 August 2012, Palestinian civilians in Shoufa village, northeast of Tulkarm, found an Israeli military order no. 04/79/T signed by the GOC Central Command Nitzan Alon on agricultural areas in the south of the village. According to the order, 7,290 square meters of land would be confiscated.
On the same day, Israeli forces stormed Palestinian agricultural lands located in the west of Flamiya village, northeast of Qalqilya, and delivered a military order confiscating areas of land near “Kokhav Ya’ir” settlement.
On the same day, Israeli forces stormed Shu’ab al-Sair area near “Karmi Tsur” settlement, which stands on the lands of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and handed over notices ordering the demolition of two houses apparently to expand the abovementioned settlement.
Also on the same day, Raghad Suleiman Edris, 3, from Hebron, sustained injuries and bruises and fractures to the mouth, the abdomen and the feet, when she was run down by an Israeli settler’s car near the entrance of “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron.
On 23 August 2012, Israeli forces handed over notices ordering the confiscation of 7-dunums of land in Wad al-Ghrous area, northeast of Hebron. The purpose of such confiscation is to establish a settlement road between “Kharsina” and “Kiryat Arba” settlement.
On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from “Nahla’el” settlement, which stands on the lands of Bitillu village, northwest of Ramallah, broke branches of 83 olive trees near the above settlement.
On 24 August 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Halmish” and “Nahla’el” settlements, northwest of Ramallah, uprooted crops belonging to Ramadan Sabri Abu Kamesh and Daoud ‘Abdullah Da’mas. According to Abu Kamesh, the loss is estimated at 70,000 ILS.
On the same day, Israeli settlers from “Rafafa” settlement, which stands on the lands of Deir Estia village, north of Salfit, burnt 10 olive trees and 3 fig trees. Palestinian civilians attempted to extinguish the fire, but Israeli forces did not allow them.
On 25 August 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Havat Ma’on” settlement stormed agricultural areas in al-Tawani village, south of Hebron, and uprooted 40 olive trees belonging to the Reb’ei family. They also wrote anti-Arab slogans on walls of water wells in the area.
On 26 August 2012, Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, established a park in Zaher al-‘Ein Masour area near “Daniel” settlement, which stands on the lands of al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. The settlers surrounded a 500-square-meter area of land with barbwire and planted trees. This park is the third of its kind established by Israeli settlers on the lands of al-Khader village.
On 27 August 2012, Israeli forces delivered a notice to Palestinian civilians in al-Tabban village, south of Hebron, ordering removal of solar cells that provide the village of electric power. These cells were established by international organizations to support Palestinian civilians in the village who are threatened by transferred by Israeli forces.
On 28 August 2012, at least 30 Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, stormed Shu’ab Abu Tabeekh area in the east of Sa’ir village, north of Hebron. They attacked Palestinian houses, broke windows and burnt 3 cars belonging to Zain al-Din Mohammed al-Froukh and Hamad ‘Ayash al-Froukh.
On the same day, Israeli settlers from “Mitzbi Ya’ir” settlement in Hebron attacked Ibrahim Mohammed al-‘Odara, 65, when he was in Beer al-‘Ad area in Khirbat Sousia village, south of Hebron. He was injured in the head and the shoulder.
Also on the same day, Israeli forces delivered 27 notices to Palestinian civilians in Khirbat Zanouta area in the west of al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron, ordering the demolition of their houses, tents and wells, claiming that they were established without licenses.
On 29 August 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Beit Eil” settlement, north of Ramallah, burnt a car and wrote anti-Arab slogans on two cars and a house in Dura al-Qare’ village.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the annexation wall, settlement activities and other Israeli practices in the West Bank.
As a result, 11 Palestinian civilians, including a child and an old woman, were wounded.
Additionally, a Canadian journalist was hit by a tear gas canister and an American human rights defender was injured. Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday Prayer on 17 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village. Israeli forces moved into the village and dozens of Israeli soldiers stormed the location of the demonstration. They fire tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. Some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Israeli soldiers violently beat Rami Suleiman ‘Ali, 27, Muhannad Khaled Eshtaiwi, 39, and Mohammed Bashar Eshtaiwi, 10.
The three civilians sustained bruises. Israeli forces also abducted Qassam Zahi ‘Ali, 18, and ‘Abdullah ‘Awni ‘Ali, 18, but released them on Monday, 20 August 2012, after forcing them to pay a fine of 1,000 ILS.
Additionally, Israeli forces held 6 journalists and forced them to sign an oath not to cover the weekly peaceful protests in the village. Israeli forces released the journalists at 15:00 after beating 4 of them.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 17 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They moved towards areas of the annexation wall.
They called through megaphones on Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday Prayer on 24 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They moved towards areas of the annexation wall.
They called through megaphones on Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, David Katzenberg, a Canadian journalist, was hit by a tear gas canister to the right hand and leg, and a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
On Saturday noon, 25 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration near the security fence of “Karmi Tsur” settlement in the south of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, in solidarity with Palestinians whose houses were demolished. Israeli forces attacked the demonstrators.
As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, and an American human rights defender were injured.
At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 28 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and a number of members and leaders of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) organized a peaceful demonstration in Ramallah in protest to the detention of Ibrahim Abu Hajla, Member of the DFLP Political Bureau, and Samer al-‘Eissawi, who were released in the prisoners swap deal last year.
The demonstrators moved towards Ofar Prison. Israeli soldiers positioned near the prison fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from 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 international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace process or agreement must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
For the full text of the report, click on the link
In addition, Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. 11 Palestinian civilians, including a child and an old woman, and 4 journalists were wounded. A Canadian journalist was hit by a tear gas canister and an American human rights defender was injured.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 64 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they abducted 24 Palestinians, including 7 children, in the West Bank.
In the West Bank, on 24 August 2012, a Palestinian civilian was injured by shrapnel from a sound bomb while he was inside his house in Hebron, when Israeli forces fired live bullets and sound bombs at Wad al-Hussain area.
Israeli forces abducted 6 Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 29 August 2012, a Palestinian woman was seriously wounded when Israeli forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian farmers in Wadi al-Salqa village, east of the central Gaza Strip town of Deir al-Balah.
Israeli troops abducted 9 Palestinians, including 3 children, in the Gaza Strip this week.
Israeli forces continued to fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, PCHR documented 6 attacks in this regard, which did not cause casualties. Israeli forces also abducted a fishermen and his child and confiscated their boat.
On 28 August 2012, Israeli warplanes bombarded a former security site and a training site of the Palestinian resistance in Gaza City, heavily damaging them. Two nearby schools were also damaged.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 16 August 2012, the Israeli government issued a decision placing al-Hisba Market in the old town of Hebron under the Hebron settlement council’s control.
This decision was a response to a petition filed by human rights organizations and the Israeli Peace Now at the Israeli High Court to evacuate the settlers from shops in the market and return the shops to their Palestinian owners.
On 19 August 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Nahla’el” settlement, which stands on the lands of Bitillu village, northwest of Ramallah, broke and burnt 19 olive trees near the settlement belonging.
On 22 August 2012, Palestinian civilians in Shoufa village, northeast of Tulkarm, found an Israeli military order no. 04/79/T signed by the GOC Central Command Nitzan Alon on agricultural areas in the south of the village. According to the order, 7,290 square meters of land would be confiscated.
On the same day, Israeli forces stormed Palestinian agricultural lands located in the west of Flamiya village, northeast of Qalqilya, and delivered a military order confiscating areas of land near “Kokhav Ya’ir” settlement.
On the same day, Israeli forces stormed Shu’ab al-Sair area near “Karmi Tsur” settlement, which stands on the lands of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and handed over notices ordering the demolition of two houses apparently to expand the abovementioned settlement.
Also on the same day, Raghad Suleiman Edris, 3, from Hebron, sustained injuries and bruises and fractures to the mouth, the abdomen and the feet, when she was run down by an Israeli settler’s car near the entrance of “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron.
On 23 August 2012, Israeli forces handed over notices ordering the confiscation of 7-dunums of land in Wad al-Ghrous area, northeast of Hebron. The purpose of such confiscation is to establish a settlement road between “Kharsina” and “Kiryat Arba” settlement.
On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from “Nahla’el” settlement, which stands on the lands of Bitillu village, northwest of Ramallah, broke branches of 83 olive trees near the above settlement.
On 24 August 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Halmish” and “Nahla’el” settlements, northwest of Ramallah, uprooted crops belonging to Ramadan Sabri Abu Kamesh and Daoud ‘Abdullah Da’mas. According to Abu Kamesh, the loss is estimated at 70,000 ILS.
On the same day, Israeli settlers from “Rafafa” settlement, which stands on the lands of Deir Estia village, north of Salfit, burnt 10 olive trees and 3 fig trees. Palestinian civilians attempted to extinguish the fire, but Israeli forces did not allow them.
On 25 August 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Havat Ma’on” settlement stormed agricultural areas in al-Tawani village, south of Hebron, and uprooted 40 olive trees belonging to the Reb’ei family. They also wrote anti-Arab slogans on walls of water wells in the area.
On 26 August 2012, Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, established a park in Zaher al-‘Ein Masour area near “Daniel” settlement, which stands on the lands of al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. The settlers surrounded a 500-square-meter area of land with barbwire and planted trees. This park is the third of its kind established by Israeli settlers on the lands of al-Khader village.
On 27 August 2012, Israeli forces delivered a notice to Palestinian civilians in al-Tabban village, south of Hebron, ordering removal of solar cells that provide the village of electric power. These cells were established by international organizations to support Palestinian civilians in the village who are threatened by transferred by Israeli forces.
On 28 August 2012, at least 30 Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, stormed Shu’ab Abu Tabeekh area in the east of Sa’ir village, north of Hebron. They attacked Palestinian houses, broke windows and burnt 3 cars belonging to Zain al-Din Mohammed al-Froukh and Hamad ‘Ayash al-Froukh.
On the same day, Israeli settlers from “Mitzbi Ya’ir” settlement in Hebron attacked Ibrahim Mohammed al-‘Odara, 65, when he was in Beer al-‘Ad area in Khirbat Sousia village, south of Hebron. He was injured in the head and the shoulder.
Also on the same day, Israeli forces delivered 27 notices to Palestinian civilians in Khirbat Zanouta area in the west of al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron, ordering the demolition of their houses, tents and wells, claiming that they were established without licenses.
On 29 August 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Beit Eil” settlement, north of Ramallah, burnt a car and wrote anti-Arab slogans on two cars and a house in Dura al-Qare’ village.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the annexation wall, settlement activities and other Israeli practices in the West Bank.
As a result, 11 Palestinian civilians, including a child and an old woman, were wounded.
Additionally, a Canadian journalist was hit by a tear gas canister and an American human rights defender was injured. Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday Prayer on 17 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village. Israeli forces moved into the village and dozens of Israeli soldiers stormed the location of the demonstration. They fire tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. Some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Israeli soldiers violently beat Rami Suleiman ‘Ali, 27, Muhannad Khaled Eshtaiwi, 39, and Mohammed Bashar Eshtaiwi, 10.
The three civilians sustained bruises. Israeli forces also abducted Qassam Zahi ‘Ali, 18, and ‘Abdullah ‘Awni ‘Ali, 18, but released them on Monday, 20 August 2012, after forcing them to pay a fine of 1,000 ILS.
Additionally, Israeli forces held 6 journalists and forced them to sign an oath not to cover the weekly peaceful protests in the village. Israeli forces released the journalists at 15:00 after beating 4 of them.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 17 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They moved towards areas of the annexation wall.
They called through megaphones on Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday Prayer on 24 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They moved towards areas of the annexation wall.
They called through megaphones on Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, David Katzenberg, a Canadian journalist, was hit by a tear gas canister to the right hand and leg, and a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
On Saturday noon, 25 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration near the security fence of “Karmi Tsur” settlement in the south of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, in solidarity with Palestinians whose houses were demolished. Israeli forces attacked the demonstrators.
As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, and an American human rights defender were injured.
At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 28 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and a number of members and leaders of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) organized a peaceful demonstration in Ramallah in protest to the detention of Ibrahim Abu Hajla, Member of the DFLP Political Bureau, and Samer al-‘Eissawi, who were released in the prisoners swap deal last year.
The demonstrators moved towards Ofar Prison. Israeli soldiers positioned near the prison fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from 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 international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace process or agreement must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
For the full text of the report, click on the link
30 aug 2012
Occupied lives: I hope to see my son before it’s too late
Occupied lives: I hope to see my son before it’s too late
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5 years ago, Yahya Ahmad (28) was arrested while trying to cross the border fence to search for work in Israel. He was subsequently sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment in the Nafkha Desert Prison in Israel. Since his imprisonment Yahya has not seen his family from Gaza. He is, however, allowed visits from his sister Khadija, who lives in Be’er Sheva, Israel.
On 16 July 2012, the first organized prison visit in 5 years was allowed for 24 Gaza families. On the fourth of these prisioner visits, Yahya’s parents, Ahmad Eslayeh (86) and Aisha Eslayeh (75), finally got their turn to travel to Israel to see their son. En route to Erez, Aisha, unfortunately, passed away on the bus. Her husband, Ahmad, says that: “We were informed that we could see our son on the day before the visit. Aisha was very happy and she sang all night. She was too excited to sleep. Neighbors came in to congratulate us on being allowed to see Yahya |
The next morning, we did not even eat; we took a taxi at 3:30 to the Beniseila intersection and boarded the bus that was headed to Erez. I was with my wife when she died. The bus was approaching Wadi Gaza when it happened. We drove back to the ICRC and took an ambulance to the Shifa hospital. I already knew she was dead by then. At the hospital, we were informed that she had suffered a heart attack.”
Ahmad did not get to see his son on that day. The rest of the families, however, proceeded with their visit: “The bus was full and had around 40 people. Priority for the visit was given to parents and wives, so they went on to visit their sons and husbands. One woman later told us that the visit lasted for around 30 minutes. She also said that Yahya had been waiting for us to arrive. When other prisoners who were watching the TV saw that his mother had died, they told him what had happened.”
Yahya’s sister Khadija has been allowed to see him, but this cannot be said of the rest of the family in Gaza: “It is exceptional that I get to see my brother. I am only allowed to visit him because I live in Be’er Sheva with my family. If I were living in Gaza, I would likey not be able to visit him as I am just his sister, not a priority family member. Every time I saw him, he was clean and shaved and did not say anything negative. He did not want to me to worry about him.
I would take him clothes every 3 months, but he was always in the same brown uniform when I would see him. When the prisoners went on hunger strike to protest their conditions and lack of visits, he also went on hunger strike. He became very thin and frail and I asked him why he was on hunger strike when I was allowed to see him. He said to me, ‘I just want to see my parents. They are old and I want them to be allowed to see me before they die.’ I moved back to Gaza to take care of my father after my mother died, so I haven’t visited my brother again. I don’t know when I will see my brother again.”
Ahmad did not get to see his son on that day. The rest of the families, however, proceeded with their visit: “The bus was full and had around 40 people. Priority for the visit was given to parents and wives, so they went on to visit their sons and husbands. One woman later told us that the visit lasted for around 30 minutes. She also said that Yahya had been waiting for us to arrive. When other prisoners who were watching the TV saw that his mother had died, they told him what had happened.”
Yahya’s sister Khadija has been allowed to see him, but this cannot be said of the rest of the family in Gaza: “It is exceptional that I get to see my brother. I am only allowed to visit him because I live in Be’er Sheva with my family. If I were living in Gaza, I would likey not be able to visit him as I am just his sister, not a priority family member. Every time I saw him, he was clean and shaved and did not say anything negative. He did not want to me to worry about him.
I would take him clothes every 3 months, but he was always in the same brown uniform when I would see him. When the prisoners went on hunger strike to protest their conditions and lack of visits, he also went on hunger strike. He became very thin and frail and I asked him why he was on hunger strike when I was allowed to see him. He said to me, ‘I just want to see my parents. They are old and I want them to be allowed to see me before they die.’ I moved back to Gaza to take care of my father after my mother died, so I haven’t visited my brother again. I don’t know when I will see my brother again.”
Ahmad Eslayeh at his home in the Maan area of Khan Yunis.
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Ahmad admits that it was hard for him to not be allowed to visit his son: “It has been 5 years since I last saw him. It is hard to watch his friends get married. Every time I go for a wedding, I carry his picture so that I can feel as if he is there. My wife and I had dreams of making a big wedding party for him someday, but now I am old and my vision is almost gone. I even need someone to lead me when I walk. I hope that there will be another visit and that I will finally get to see my son before it is too late.”
Until the first prison visit on 16 July 2012, all prisoners from the Gaza Strip were denied their right to family visits by the Israeli authorities since 6 June 2007. These prison visits resulted from an agreement brokered by the Egyptian authorities on 14 May, between the prisoners, detainees and the Israeli authorities to end a hunger strike started by Palestinian prisoners and their families. The number of prisoner visits currently stands at 7. |
The ICRC estimates that there are approximately 500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Of these, only 184 have been visited so far. Visits are approximately 45 minutes long and visitors are not allowed to take any items to the prisoners. Visitors are also not allowed to touch their loved ones, but only see them through glass windows. Despite the fact that prisoner visits might now be approved, after such a long time apart they are inadequate for the prisoner and their family.
Under Article 37 of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, “Prisoners shall be allowed under necessary supervision to communicate with their family and reputable friends at regular intervals, both by correspondence and by receiving visits.”
This is supported by Principle 19 of the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, which states that “A detained or imprisoned person shall have the right to be visited by and to correspond with, in particular, members of his family and shall be given adequate opportunity to communicate with the outside world.”
Under Article 37 of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, “Prisoners shall be allowed under necessary supervision to communicate with their family and reputable friends at regular intervals, both by correspondence and by receiving visits.”
This is supported by Principle 19 of the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, which states that “A detained or imprisoned person shall have the right to be visited by and to correspond with, in particular, members of his family and shall be given adequate opportunity to communicate with the outside world.”
28 aug 2012
PCHR Condemns Continued Israeli Violations against Palestinian Fishermen in the Gaza Strip
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns Israel’s continued violations against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, and expresses concern about the escalation of these violations. On Tuesday morning, 28 August 2012, 2 Palestinian fishermen were arrested and a Palestinian fishing boat was heavily damaged in 2 separate incidents in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 06:45 on Tuesday, 28 August 2012, Israeli naval forces positioned off Beit Lahia shore arrested 2 Palestinian fishermen who were fishing in the sea nearly 300 meters from the shore of al-Waha Resort.
The Israeli naval forces also opened fire at a fishing boat belonging to Kamel Deeb al-Anqa (60), from Beit Lahia in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, who was sailing with his son Mahmoud (16).
Al-Anqah stated the following to a PCHR fieldworker:
At 05:00 on Tuesday, I went fishing with my son Mahmoud. At 06:15, we collected the fishing nets and sailed to the shore. At 06:30, when we were nearly 300 meters off al-Waha Resort, 2 Israeli gunboats arrived and they circled my fishing boat.
There were 5 soldiers on board each gunboat. The soldier started firing intensively above our heads.
One of the soldiers shouted at me and ordered me to stop. The gunfire continued. My son and I were panicking, so we stopped. One of the gunboats got closer to our boat and one of the soldiers ordered us to take our clothes off and swim towards the Israeli gunboat. The other gunboat was behind us. We took our clothes off and swam towards the gunboat.
The soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded us. I saw a soldier leave the other gunboat and go to my boat. He attached a rope to my boat. They then sailed for more than 2 hours. We were transferred to a security center near the shore. We were interviewed by an officer, who questioned us until approximately 10:30. The soldiers gave us clothes to put on and then drove us in a jeep to an unknown place. At around 12:00, we arrived at a place.
I could recognize this place. It was the Erez crossing. The soldiers held us in a room there till 14:00. They asked us what our names were and about our work in fishing. We were released at approximately 15:30. The soldiers refused to give me the fishing boat and tools back.
My son Mahmoud has suffered from bad psychological conditions because of the pressure and panic we experienced.
In a separate incident that took place at 10:50 on Tuesday, 28 August 2012, 2 Israeli gunboats surrounded 6 Palestinian fishing boats sailing nearly 400 meters off al-Sudaniya area in Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Strip. Roussa Sekiano, an Italian activist who was on the shore off the area where the incident took place, stated that she saw 2 Israeli gunboats only a few meters from 6 Palestinian fishing boats.
There were around 25 Palestinian fishermen on board these fishing boats. The Italian activist stated that she saw one of the Israeli gunboats open fire at one of the 6 Palestinian fishing boats. Sekiano reported that the Israeli gunboats chased the Palestinian fishing boats for nearly 15 minutes, forcing the Palestinian fishermen to flee and leave the sea.
Mohammed Mahmoud Hejazi al-Louh (21), who was leading one of the 6 fishing boats, which belongs to Kamel Tawfiq Baker (52), stated that 2 Israeli gunboats with several soldiers suddenly appeared and came close to his boat. There were 3 other fishermen on the boat with Al-Louh.
The Israeli gunboats were only a few meters from his boat. Al-Louh said that, while firing at the front of the fishing boat, a soldier on one of the gunboats ordered him to stop, but he refused.
The other gunboat was surrounding al-Louh's fishing boat. Al-Louh said that he turned his boat around to escape, although the boat was under direct fire, and that the fishermen on board the fishing boat miraculously survived and managed to leave the sea.
He added that he managed to escape, even though the Israeli gunboats were only 400 meters from the shore, and that his boat was hit by 5 bullets in different places. The other 5 fishing boats also managed to escape.
It should be noted that Israeli forces have recently imposed more restrictions on the work of fishermen in the Gaza Strip. Since 2000, fishermen have been denied their right to sail and fish. Israeli forces reduced the area of fishing from 20 nautical miles, which was established upon in the agreements signed between Palestinian and Israel, to 6 nautical miles in 2008.
However, Israeli forces have continued to prevent fishermen from going beyond 3 nautical miles since 2009. As a result, fishermen are prevented from reaching areas beyond that distance where fish are abundant. Sometimes, Israeli forces also chase fishermen within the 3 nautical mile area.
Consequently, Palestinian fishermen have lost 85% of their income, because of limiting the fishing area.
The violations that took place yesterday denied more than 30 fishermen and owners of fishing boats their right to work. More than 50 families lost their source of income, including fishermen who were forced to flee, owners of the fishing boats and fish traders.
The IOF is not expected to return the confiscated fishing boat and tools, at least not quickly. This means that the owner of the boat and his family, compromising 15 members, have lost their source of income.
In light of the above, PCHR condemns the recurrence of the violations recently committed by the Israeli Naval Forces against Palestinian fishermen. PCHR believes that these violations are committed in the context of the escalation of collective punishment policies against civilians, and that they are part of the fight to ensure civilians cannot meet their subsistence needs, which is prohibited under international humanitarian and human rights law. PCHR calls upon the IOF to:
- Immediately stop its policy of chasing and arresting Palestinian fishermen, to allow them to sail and fish freely, and to return confiscated fishing boats and tools.
- Pay compensation to the victims of Israel’s violations for the physical and material damage caused to fishermen and their property.
- Return the confiscated boats to their owners immediately, and compensate them for any damages caused by the confining of these boats for a long time or any other damage that might occur to them.
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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza , Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 06:45 on Tuesday, 28 August 2012, Israeli naval forces positioned off Beit Lahia shore arrested 2 Palestinian fishermen who were fishing in the sea nearly 300 meters from the shore of al-Waha Resort.
The Israeli naval forces also opened fire at a fishing boat belonging to Kamel Deeb al-Anqa (60), from Beit Lahia in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, who was sailing with his son Mahmoud (16).
Al-Anqah stated the following to a PCHR fieldworker:
At 05:00 on Tuesday, I went fishing with my son Mahmoud. At 06:15, we collected the fishing nets and sailed to the shore. At 06:30, when we were nearly 300 meters off al-Waha Resort, 2 Israeli gunboats arrived and they circled my fishing boat.
There were 5 soldiers on board each gunboat. The soldier started firing intensively above our heads.
One of the soldiers shouted at me and ordered me to stop. The gunfire continued. My son and I were panicking, so we stopped. One of the gunboats got closer to our boat and one of the soldiers ordered us to take our clothes off and swim towards the Israeli gunboat. The other gunboat was behind us. We took our clothes off and swam towards the gunboat.
The soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded us. I saw a soldier leave the other gunboat and go to my boat. He attached a rope to my boat. They then sailed for more than 2 hours. We were transferred to a security center near the shore. We were interviewed by an officer, who questioned us until approximately 10:30. The soldiers gave us clothes to put on and then drove us in a jeep to an unknown place. At around 12:00, we arrived at a place.
I could recognize this place. It was the Erez crossing. The soldiers held us in a room there till 14:00. They asked us what our names were and about our work in fishing. We were released at approximately 15:30. The soldiers refused to give me the fishing boat and tools back.
My son Mahmoud has suffered from bad psychological conditions because of the pressure and panic we experienced.
In a separate incident that took place at 10:50 on Tuesday, 28 August 2012, 2 Israeli gunboats surrounded 6 Palestinian fishing boats sailing nearly 400 meters off al-Sudaniya area in Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Strip. Roussa Sekiano, an Italian activist who was on the shore off the area where the incident took place, stated that she saw 2 Israeli gunboats only a few meters from 6 Palestinian fishing boats.
There were around 25 Palestinian fishermen on board these fishing boats. The Italian activist stated that she saw one of the Israeli gunboats open fire at one of the 6 Palestinian fishing boats. Sekiano reported that the Israeli gunboats chased the Palestinian fishing boats for nearly 15 minutes, forcing the Palestinian fishermen to flee and leave the sea.
Mohammed Mahmoud Hejazi al-Louh (21), who was leading one of the 6 fishing boats, which belongs to Kamel Tawfiq Baker (52), stated that 2 Israeli gunboats with several soldiers suddenly appeared and came close to his boat. There were 3 other fishermen on the boat with Al-Louh.
The Israeli gunboats were only a few meters from his boat. Al-Louh said that, while firing at the front of the fishing boat, a soldier on one of the gunboats ordered him to stop, but he refused.
The other gunboat was surrounding al-Louh's fishing boat. Al-Louh said that he turned his boat around to escape, although the boat was under direct fire, and that the fishermen on board the fishing boat miraculously survived and managed to leave the sea.
He added that he managed to escape, even though the Israeli gunboats were only 400 meters from the shore, and that his boat was hit by 5 bullets in different places. The other 5 fishing boats also managed to escape.
It should be noted that Israeli forces have recently imposed more restrictions on the work of fishermen in the Gaza Strip. Since 2000, fishermen have been denied their right to sail and fish. Israeli forces reduced the area of fishing from 20 nautical miles, which was established upon in the agreements signed between Palestinian and Israel, to 6 nautical miles in 2008.
However, Israeli forces have continued to prevent fishermen from going beyond 3 nautical miles since 2009. As a result, fishermen are prevented from reaching areas beyond that distance where fish are abundant. Sometimes, Israeli forces also chase fishermen within the 3 nautical mile area.
Consequently, Palestinian fishermen have lost 85% of their income, because of limiting the fishing area.
The violations that took place yesterday denied more than 30 fishermen and owners of fishing boats their right to work. More than 50 families lost their source of income, including fishermen who were forced to flee, owners of the fishing boats and fish traders.
The IOF is not expected to return the confiscated fishing boat and tools, at least not quickly. This means that the owner of the boat and his family, compromising 15 members, have lost their source of income.
In light of the above, PCHR condemns the recurrence of the violations recently committed by the Israeli Naval Forces against Palestinian fishermen. PCHR believes that these violations are committed in the context of the escalation of collective punishment policies against civilians, and that they are part of the fight to ensure civilians cannot meet their subsistence needs, which is prohibited under international humanitarian and human rights law. PCHR calls upon the IOF to:
- Immediately stop its policy of chasing and arresting Palestinian fishermen, to allow them to sail and fish freely, and to return confiscated fishing boats and tools.
- Pay compensation to the victims of Israel’s violations for the physical and material damage caused to fishermen and their property.
- Return the confiscated boats to their owners immediately, and compensate them for any damages caused by the confining of these boats for a long time or any other damage that might occur to them.
**************************************
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza , Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage.
23 aug 2012
Israeli poll reveals sharp rise in racism against Arabs and Africans
An Israeli opinion poll unveiled a sharp rise in the prevalence of racism and extremism among Jews towards the Arab natives and African immigrants.
The poll, which was conducted by Tel Aviv university on the occasion of the new educational year, stated that more than half of the Jewish students at the secondary level and graduates from high schools refuse to live with or near Arabs.
According to Haaretz newspaper which published the survey results on Wednesday, 55 percent of the high school students polled refuses to live with or near Arabs, while 59 percent of them saw that Israel has to expel all Jewish immigrants from Africa.
The poll also revealed that a large percentage of young Jews, about 60 percent, do not want to serve in the army or fight for Israel and 39 percent of them believed in the need for recruiting religious Jews and Arabs to serve in the army.
The poll, which was conducted by Tel Aviv university on the occasion of the new educational year, stated that more than half of the Jewish students at the secondary level and graduates from high schools refuse to live with or near Arabs.
According to Haaretz newspaper which published the survey results on Wednesday, 55 percent of the high school students polled refuses to live with or near Arabs, while 59 percent of them saw that Israel has to expel all Jewish immigrants from Africa.
The poll also revealed that a large percentage of young Jews, about 60 percent, do not want to serve in the army or fight for Israel and 39 percent of them believed in the need for recruiting religious Jews and Arabs to serve in the army.
22 aug 2012
Palestinian and Israeli Children Grow More Violent, New Study Shows
A new study conducted jointly by a consortium of Palestinian, Israeli and American researchers from Michigan and Rutgers universities, reveals that children in the region become more violent amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The researchers found that children's exposure to ethnic-political violence correlates with their own violent behavior at home, school and in local communities. It also negatively affects their psychological health.
"The most important finding is that simple exposure to violence results in very substantial increases in both the risk of behaving aggressively against your peers in the in-group, and a significant increase in the risk for developing PTS symptoms—anxiety, depression, and so on," -- Rowell Huesmann, director of the Research Center on Group Dynamics at the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan said in a comment for the institute's website.
"We expected we'd find some effects, but they're really quite substantial. We were particularly surprised by how much war violence leads to increased aggression by youth directed at their own peers." – Huesmann added.
Young children (aged 8) are particularly prone to become more aggressive as a result of greater exposure to violence.
The researchers agreed that the best solution to tackle the problem would be to find a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. However, as political realities currently preclude the possibility of ending the conflict, the researchers argue that it is critical for the leaders to understand at least the negative impact that wars and conflicts have on young people.
"Children are at a critical period where their personalities are being molded," Huesmann said. "We're talking about how their beliefs, their social cognitions, their emotional reactions are changed. And once these cognitions become crystallized, it's very difficult to dissolve them."
Funded by the US Institutes of Health, the study used a sample of 450 Israeli Arab Children, 600 Palestinian children (64% from the West Bank and 36% from the Gaza Strip), aged 8, 11 and 14.
Between the years 2007 and 2010, the children were interviewed at three different times. Questions were also asked to their parents.
10% of Palestinian children, 7% of Israeli Jewish children and 3% of Israeli Arab children said that they had a relative killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As many as 55% of Palestinian children experienced death of a friend or acquaintance as a result of the conflict, the data revealed. Among Israeli Jews the figure ran at 13%, among Israeli Arab children – 3%.
The study showed that there was a significant spike in school violence – from 6.4% in 2007 to 11.7% in 2010.
It was also revealed that domestic violence in Palestinian and Israeli households increased over the years. In 2007 there were 51.8% of violence reported, as compared to 58.7% in 2010.
The researchers found that children's exposure to ethnic-political violence correlates with their own violent behavior at home, school and in local communities. It also negatively affects their psychological health.
"The most important finding is that simple exposure to violence results in very substantial increases in both the risk of behaving aggressively against your peers in the in-group, and a significant increase in the risk for developing PTS symptoms—anxiety, depression, and so on," -- Rowell Huesmann, director of the Research Center on Group Dynamics at the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan said in a comment for the institute's website.
"We expected we'd find some effects, but they're really quite substantial. We were particularly surprised by how much war violence leads to increased aggression by youth directed at their own peers." – Huesmann added.
Young children (aged 8) are particularly prone to become more aggressive as a result of greater exposure to violence.
The researchers agreed that the best solution to tackle the problem would be to find a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. However, as political realities currently preclude the possibility of ending the conflict, the researchers argue that it is critical for the leaders to understand at least the negative impact that wars and conflicts have on young people.
"Children are at a critical period where their personalities are being molded," Huesmann said. "We're talking about how their beliefs, their social cognitions, their emotional reactions are changed. And once these cognitions become crystallized, it's very difficult to dissolve them."
Funded by the US Institutes of Health, the study used a sample of 450 Israeli Arab Children, 600 Palestinian children (64% from the West Bank and 36% from the Gaza Strip), aged 8, 11 and 14.
Between the years 2007 and 2010, the children were interviewed at three different times. Questions were also asked to their parents.
10% of Palestinian children, 7% of Israeli Jewish children and 3% of Israeli Arab children said that they had a relative killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As many as 55% of Palestinian children experienced death of a friend or acquaintance as a result of the conflict, the data revealed. Among Israeli Jews the figure ran at 13%, among Israeli Arab children – 3%.
The study showed that there was a significant spike in school violence – from 6.4% in 2007 to 11.7% in 2010.
It was also revealed that domestic violence in Palestinian and Israeli households increased over the years. In 2007 there were 51.8% of violence reported, as compared to 58.7% in 2010.
19 aug 2012
U.S: “Settler Violence Is Terrorism”
Armed Israel Settlers, Israeli Military Jeep and Soldeirs Behind Them
In its 2011 Country report, an annual report about global terrorist activities, the United States described the escalating attacks carried out by extremist Israeli settlers against the Palestinians as “terrorist attacks”. This is the first time the United States describes Israeli settler attacks against the Palestinians as acts of terrorism.
The report stated that shells fired by the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip, along with Price Tag attacks, carried out by extremist Israeli settlers against the Palestinians, are “terrorist incidents”.
The reports also mentioned an attack carried out by extremist Israeli settlers against Ma’man-Allah Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem, in addition to the arson against a mosque in Jerusalem in December and the arson attack against the mosque of Borqa village in the West bank.
It added that extremist settlers attacked 10 mosques in the West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem, and that these attacks included vandalism and setting the mosques on fire. Six similar attacks were carried out in 2010 and one attack in 2009.
The report further referred to a statement by Avi Mizrahi, head of the Central Command of the Israeli army, in which he described settler attacks against the Palestinians and their property as acts of terrorism.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported that the report was released by the State Department on July 31; it also mentioned an attack that was carried by extremist Israeli settlers against an Israeli military base in December of last year, and said that Israeli military and security officials vowed to counter these attacks and prosecute the assailants.
The State Department also issued a strong condemnation of the most recent settler attack that targeted a Palestinian Taxi two days ago leading to the injury of six Palestinians, including two children.
On Friday, Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, voiced a strong condemnation of the attack, and said that the settlers are escalating their violence and are enjoying the protection of the Israeli army.
Abbas said that Israel is practicing a racist policy against the Palestinians, and that “the army could stop all settler attacks if it wanted to, but is acting under a policy that protects the settlers despite their escalating violence”.
Haaretz said that Yitzhak Molho, the adviser of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, phoned Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and Prime Minister, Dr. Salaam Fayyad, informing them that Netanyahu ordered the army to “spare no effort in apprehending the attackers”.
The United States grants Israel around 3.6 Billion Dollar annually, in addition to hundreds of million collected on Israel’s behalf by different lobbies, mainly by the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Attacks carried out by extremist settlers against the Palestinians have been sharply escalating, targeting Palestinian civilians, orchards and farmlands, homes and property, in addition to defacing , vandalizing and torching several mosques and churches.
Several Price Tag attacks were also carried out against Israeli peace groups and leftist organizations, especially settlement watchdog groups and human rights organizations in the country.
In its 2011 Country report, an annual report about global terrorist activities, the United States described the escalating attacks carried out by extremist Israeli settlers against the Palestinians as “terrorist attacks”. This is the first time the United States describes Israeli settler attacks against the Palestinians as acts of terrorism.
The report stated that shells fired by the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip, along with Price Tag attacks, carried out by extremist Israeli settlers against the Palestinians, are “terrorist incidents”.
The reports also mentioned an attack carried out by extremist Israeli settlers against Ma’man-Allah Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem, in addition to the arson against a mosque in Jerusalem in December and the arson attack against the mosque of Borqa village in the West bank.
It added that extremist settlers attacked 10 mosques in the West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem, and that these attacks included vandalism and setting the mosques on fire. Six similar attacks were carried out in 2010 and one attack in 2009.
The report further referred to a statement by Avi Mizrahi, head of the Central Command of the Israeli army, in which he described settler attacks against the Palestinians and their property as acts of terrorism.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported that the report was released by the State Department on July 31; it also mentioned an attack that was carried by extremist Israeli settlers against an Israeli military base in December of last year, and said that Israeli military and security officials vowed to counter these attacks and prosecute the assailants.
The State Department also issued a strong condemnation of the most recent settler attack that targeted a Palestinian Taxi two days ago leading to the injury of six Palestinians, including two children.
On Friday, Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, voiced a strong condemnation of the attack, and said that the settlers are escalating their violence and are enjoying the protection of the Israeli army.
Abbas said that Israel is practicing a racist policy against the Palestinians, and that “the army could stop all settler attacks if it wanted to, but is acting under a policy that protects the settlers despite their escalating violence”.
Haaretz said that Yitzhak Molho, the adviser of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, phoned Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and Prime Minister, Dr. Salaam Fayyad, informing them that Netanyahu ordered the army to “spare no effort in apprehending the attackers”.
The United States grants Israel around 3.6 Billion Dollar annually, in addition to hundreds of million collected on Israel’s behalf by different lobbies, mainly by the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Attacks carried out by extremist settlers against the Palestinians have been sharply escalating, targeting Palestinian civilians, orchards and farmlands, homes and property, in addition to defacing , vandalizing and torching several mosques and churches.
Several Price Tag attacks were also carried out against Israeli peace groups and leftist organizations, especially settlement watchdog groups and human rights organizations in the country.
18 aug 2012
Report: “4550 Palestinians, Including 220 Children, Imprisoned By Israel”
Palestinian researcher and former political prisoners, Abdul-Nasser Farawna, reported that Israel is currently holding captive 4550 Palestinians, held in 17 prisons, detention and interrogation centers, and added that 220 Palestinian children are still imprisoned by Israel.
Talking to the Maan News Agency, Farawna stated that the army conducts invasions and arrests on a daily basis, and added that soldiers usually kidnap around 10 Palestinians a day.
Farawna said that 220 children are currently imprisoned by Israel and facing ongoing violations, in addition to being subject to harsh treatment and torture during interrogation, similar to what adult detainees face during interrogation.
250 Palestinians are currently imprisoned under administrative detention orders, without charges or trial. Six Palestinian women are also held by Israel, including Lina Al-Jarbouni, from the 1948 territories; Al-Jarbouni was taken prisoner more than 10 years ago.
Israel is also holding captive 17 democratically elected legislators and three former ministers.
Farawna said that there is a noticeable decrease in the number of detainees held under the illegal Administrative Detention orders, and attributed the issue to the repeated hunger strikes held by the detainees to protest the ongoing violations against them, and the Administrative Detention policy.
The researcher further stated that dozens of detainees, from different Arab countries mainly Jordan, Syria and Egypt, are still imprisoned by Israel.
Farawna said that detainee Sidqi Al-Maqt, is currently the longest serving Palestinian detainee; he was kidnapped by Israel in August of 1985, Al-Maqt is serving a 27-year term, and will be released on August 25.
As for the geographical distribution of the detainees, Farawna said that the vast majority (%82) of the detainees are from the West Bank, in addition to %10.3 from the Gaza Strip, and %7.5 are from Jerusalem and the 1948 territories.
He stated that 537 detainees were sentenced to at least one life-term, and that there are 113 detainees who have been imprisoned since before the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994; those detainees have been sentenced to at least 20 years, including 85 detainees who have been sentenced to life in prison, and 28 detainees who have been sentenced to 20-40 years.
22 detainees have been imprisoned for more than 25 years, including the long-serving detainee Karim Younis, from an Ar’ara village in the 1948 territories; he was taken prisoner on January 1983.
Despite the fact that Israel reinstated visitation rights to Gaza Strip detainees for the first time in five years, 320 detainees from the Gaza Strip are still denied their visitation right.
Parents of thousands of detainees from the West Bank are still denied their visitation rights due to Israeli allegations of security considerations.
Talking to the Maan News Agency, Farawna stated that the army conducts invasions and arrests on a daily basis, and added that soldiers usually kidnap around 10 Palestinians a day.
Farawna said that 220 children are currently imprisoned by Israel and facing ongoing violations, in addition to being subject to harsh treatment and torture during interrogation, similar to what adult detainees face during interrogation.
250 Palestinians are currently imprisoned under administrative detention orders, without charges or trial. Six Palestinian women are also held by Israel, including Lina Al-Jarbouni, from the 1948 territories; Al-Jarbouni was taken prisoner more than 10 years ago.
Israel is also holding captive 17 democratically elected legislators and three former ministers.
Farawna said that there is a noticeable decrease in the number of detainees held under the illegal Administrative Detention orders, and attributed the issue to the repeated hunger strikes held by the detainees to protest the ongoing violations against them, and the Administrative Detention policy.
The researcher further stated that dozens of detainees, from different Arab countries mainly Jordan, Syria and Egypt, are still imprisoned by Israel.
Farawna said that detainee Sidqi Al-Maqt, is currently the longest serving Palestinian detainee; he was kidnapped by Israel in August of 1985, Al-Maqt is serving a 27-year term, and will be released on August 25.
As for the geographical distribution of the detainees, Farawna said that the vast majority (%82) of the detainees are from the West Bank, in addition to %10.3 from the Gaza Strip, and %7.5 are from Jerusalem and the 1948 territories.
He stated that 537 detainees were sentenced to at least one life-term, and that there are 113 detainees who have been imprisoned since before the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994; those detainees have been sentenced to at least 20 years, including 85 detainees who have been sentenced to life in prison, and 28 detainees who have been sentenced to 20-40 years.
22 detainees have been imprisoned for more than 25 years, including the long-serving detainee Karim Younis, from an Ar’ara village in the 1948 territories; he was taken prisoner on January 1983.
Despite the fact that Israel reinstated visitation rights to Gaza Strip detainees for the first time in five years, 320 detainees from the Gaza Strip are still denied their visitation right.
Parents of thousands of detainees from the West Bank are still denied their visitation rights due to Israeli allegations of security considerations.
16 aug 2012
PCHR Weekly Report: 8 wounded, 9 abducted by Israeli forces this week
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 09 – 15 Aug. 2012, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that a Palestinian civilian was wounded by invading Israeli forces, and 7 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a woman, were wounded in Israeli attacks on nonviolent demonstrations.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the last week, Israeli forces conducted 7 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they abducted 7 Palestinians.
Israeli forces also abducted two Palestinian civilians in Hebron.
Israeli forces have continued efforts to create a Jewish demographic majority in East Jerusalem. During the reporting period, the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem decided to build 12 tower buildings in Jabal Abu Ghunaim (“Har Homah” settlement) between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
The online Hebrew news1 reported on Monday, 13 August 2012 that each building will be comprised of 24-33 floors, and the area of contraction will be one million square meters. A part of the project will include new offices for the municipality, while the largest part will be commercial and tourist and will provide 40,000 job opportunities according to the municipality’s claim.
In one example of this week’s incursions, on Sunday, 12 August 2012 at approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into Brouqin village, west of Salfit. The patrolled in the streets amidst indiscriminate shooting while chasing a civilian vehicle to force it to stop. When the vehicle stopped, Israeli forces searched it, verified the ID cards of passengers and then allowed them to travel. Israeli forces withdrew from the village later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also on Sunday morning, 12 August 2012, the family of Bassam Suleiman al-Muhtasseb, 30, from al-Jalajel area to the northeast of Hebron, received a phone call from Israeli forces, indicating that he was detained in Kfra Etzion detention center, south of Bethlehem. Al-Muhtasseb had left his house on Thursday, 10 August 2012, and went to the old market in al-Karantina area in Hebron, and did not come back home. According to his family, he suffers from a psychological disorder.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 11 August 2012, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Khan Yunis opened fire at al-Zanna area between al-Qarara and ‘Abassan villages.
On Saturday, 11 August 2012 at approximately 06:00, Israeli forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Khan Yunis opened fire at al-Zannah area between al-Qarara and ‘Abassan villages. As a result, Mohammed Sidqi al-Qarra, 18, was wounded by two bullets to the left hand and the right foot, when he was working on an agricultural field belonging to his father nearly 700 meters away from the border.
Israeli forces continued to fire at Palestinian fishing boats. During the reporting period, PCHR documented two attacks in this regard, which did not cause casualties.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Israeli forces legitimized an unplanned settlement outpost. On 12 August 2012, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot reported the GOC Central Command, Nitzan Alon, signed an order legitimizing “Brokhin” settlement outpost, practically implementing a decision by the Israeli government to legitimize 3 settlement outposts: Brokhin’ Rahalim; and Sansana. Alon also ordered annexing the settlement outpost to “Shomron” district settlement council.
On the same day, Israeli settlers sprinkled poisonous materials at pastures in Sousia area, south of Hebron. They targeted sheep belonging to Jihad al-Nawaj’a. According to eyewitnesses, 7 sheep died.
On 13 August 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “El’azer” settlement, which stands on the lands of al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, accompanied by bulldozers and heavy machinery and escorted by Israeli forces, razed a 5-donum areas of agricultural land belonging to Rezeq Salah and destroyed a water well.
5 dunums[1] of agricultural land were razed and water well was destroyed in al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the annexation wall, settlement activities and other Israeli practices in the West Bank. As a result, 7 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a woman, were wounded. Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday Prayer on 10 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They moved towards areas of the annexation wall.
They called through megaphones on Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 10 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators moved towards areas of the annexation wall. Immediately, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 10 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.
The protesters walked towards the gate erected by Israeli forces near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby "Halmish" settlement are trying to seize. Israeli soldiers who had been extensively deployed in the area and near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands. Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters.
As a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 13:15 also on Friday, 10 August 2012, Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village by Israeli forces. They moved towards the entrance. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them.
As a result, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg, and another one was hit by a tear gas canister to the head.
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 10 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of al-Ma’sara village, southwest of Bethlehem, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They raised the Palestinian flags and moved towards the main entrance of the village. Israeli soldiers positioned in the area chased the demonstrators and beat a number of them.
At approximately 12:30 on Thursday, 09 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians, a number of leaders and members of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestinian (DFLP), the Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs and representatives of national factions in Ramallah organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to retrying Ibrahim Abu Hajla, Member of the DFLP Political Bureau, who was released in the Shalit prisoners swap deal. The demonstrators moved towards Oufar Prison, southwest of Ramallah.
Before they arrived at the gate of the prison, Israeli forces fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a woman, were wounded.
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 international community recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Also, in recognition of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
For the full text of the report, click on the link
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the last week, Israeli forces conducted 7 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they abducted 7 Palestinians.
Israeli forces also abducted two Palestinian civilians in Hebron.
Israeli forces have continued efforts to create a Jewish demographic majority in East Jerusalem. During the reporting period, the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem decided to build 12 tower buildings in Jabal Abu Ghunaim (“Har Homah” settlement) between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
The online Hebrew news1 reported on Monday, 13 August 2012 that each building will be comprised of 24-33 floors, and the area of contraction will be one million square meters. A part of the project will include new offices for the municipality, while the largest part will be commercial and tourist and will provide 40,000 job opportunities according to the municipality’s claim.
In one example of this week’s incursions, on Sunday, 12 August 2012 at approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into Brouqin village, west of Salfit. The patrolled in the streets amidst indiscriminate shooting while chasing a civilian vehicle to force it to stop. When the vehicle stopped, Israeli forces searched it, verified the ID cards of passengers and then allowed them to travel. Israeli forces withdrew from the village later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Also on Sunday morning, 12 August 2012, the family of Bassam Suleiman al-Muhtasseb, 30, from al-Jalajel area to the northeast of Hebron, received a phone call from Israeli forces, indicating that he was detained in Kfra Etzion detention center, south of Bethlehem. Al-Muhtasseb had left his house on Thursday, 10 August 2012, and went to the old market in al-Karantina area in Hebron, and did not come back home. According to his family, he suffers from a psychological disorder.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 11 August 2012, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Khan Yunis opened fire at al-Zanna area between al-Qarara and ‘Abassan villages.
On Saturday, 11 August 2012 at approximately 06:00, Israeli forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Khan Yunis opened fire at al-Zannah area between al-Qarara and ‘Abassan villages. As a result, Mohammed Sidqi al-Qarra, 18, was wounded by two bullets to the left hand and the right foot, when he was working on an agricultural field belonging to his father nearly 700 meters away from the border.
Israeli forces continued to fire at Palestinian fishing boats. During the reporting period, PCHR documented two attacks in this regard, which did not cause casualties.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Israeli forces legitimized an unplanned settlement outpost. On 12 August 2012, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot reported the GOC Central Command, Nitzan Alon, signed an order legitimizing “Brokhin” settlement outpost, practically implementing a decision by the Israeli government to legitimize 3 settlement outposts: Brokhin’ Rahalim; and Sansana. Alon also ordered annexing the settlement outpost to “Shomron” district settlement council.
On the same day, Israeli settlers sprinkled poisonous materials at pastures in Sousia area, south of Hebron. They targeted sheep belonging to Jihad al-Nawaj’a. According to eyewitnesses, 7 sheep died.
On 13 August 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “El’azer” settlement, which stands on the lands of al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, accompanied by bulldozers and heavy machinery and escorted by Israeli forces, razed a 5-donum areas of agricultural land belonging to Rezeq Salah and destroyed a water well.
5 dunums[1] of agricultural land were razed and water well was destroyed in al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the annexation wall, settlement activities and other Israeli practices in the West Bank. As a result, 7 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a woman, were wounded. Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday Prayer on 10 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They moved towards areas of the annexation wall.
They called through megaphones on Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 10 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators moved towards areas of the annexation wall. Immediately, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 10 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.
The protesters walked towards the gate erected by Israeli forces near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby "Halmish" settlement are trying to seize. Israeli soldiers who had been extensively deployed in the area and near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands. Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters.
As a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 13:15 also on Friday, 10 August 2012, Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village by Israeli forces. They moved towards the entrance. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them.
As a result, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg, and another one was hit by a tear gas canister to the head.
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 10 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of al-Ma’sara village, southwest of Bethlehem, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They raised the Palestinian flags and moved towards the main entrance of the village. Israeli soldiers positioned in the area chased the demonstrators and beat a number of them.
At approximately 12:30 on Thursday, 09 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians, a number of leaders and members of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestinian (DFLP), the Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs and representatives of national factions in Ramallah organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to retrying Ibrahim Abu Hajla, Member of the DFLP Political Bureau, who was released in the Shalit prisoners swap deal. The demonstrators moved towards Oufar Prison, southwest of Ramallah.
Before they arrived at the gate of the prison, Israeli forces fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a woman, were wounded.
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 international community recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Also, in recognition of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
For the full text of the report, click on the link
13 aug 2012
Palestine Brief: Palestinian Factions Condemn Sinai Attack, Israeli Court Rejects Demands for Torture Investigation
A weekly report published by the Center for Political and Development Studies (CPDS), Gaza on the latest developments in Palestine
· Palestinian Factions Condemn Sinai Attack
Sixteen Egyptian soldiers were killed on Sunday evening, Aug. 5, and several others were wounded when gunmen attacked an Egyptian military base in the Sinai Peninsula. [1]
Although media attributed the attack to Palestinian Islamic militants on a mission to kidnap an Israeli soldier, both official Palestinian factions and the Palestinian populace condemned the incident. They called for an investigation of the possibility that Israel itself orchestrated the killing, noting that the government warned its citizens a couple of days before the attack to leave the Sinai Peninsula as soon as possible.
The Palestinian premier in Gaza, Ismail Haneyya, contacted Egyptian intelligence chief Murad Muwafi by telephone the next day to discuss the murder of the border guards. The Gaza government’s spokesman, Taher Al-Nunu, told the PIC that during the “lengthy” phone call, the joint effort between the governments to protect national security of both the Egyptian and the Palestinian peoples was discussed.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Nabil Abu Rudeineh (spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) also strongly condemned the attack against the Egyptian border checkpoint.
He told WAFA that “the Palestinian people and leadership, particularly President Mahmoud Abbas, condemn in the strongest words possible this crime” and expressed solidarity with the Egyptian people.
"Palestinian people reject the suspicious and cowardly act against the Egyptian officers," a statement from Fatah said, going on to say that the attack only serves the enemies of Egypt and the Palestinians.
Fayez Abu Aita, spokesman for the Fatah political movement to which Abbas belongs, called on officials to bring to justice all those involved in the attack by "terrorists."
Earlier, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine issued a statement condemning the attack, saying that Egyptian blood is as valuable as Palestinian blood, and the attack will not be accepted by the Palestinian people. [2]
· Abu Marzouk: Closing Rafah Crossing is Collective Punishment
Mousa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, stated that the closing of Rafah crossing is a form of collective punishment, and it is not justifiable based on the information available. In a Facebook post, he called instead for the strengthening of Egyptian security control over the entire Sinai Peninsula.
Abu Marzouk also said that stability in the Sinai ensures security for both the Egyptian and Palestinian people.
· Israeli Supreme Court Rejects Demands for Torture Investigation
The Israeli Supreme Court has rejected two petitions demanding that the Attorney General conduct a criminal investigation into allegations of torture by the Shin Bet security agency.
A number of human rights organizations submitted the petitions last year, along with signatories who themselves were mistreated. [3] The groups claim that there have been 598 complaints of torture and mistreatment against the agency between 2001 and 2008. However, the Israeli public prosecutor has not ordered an investigation into any of them.
· Map of “Greater Israel” Published by Radical Settler Movement
The Israeli settler movement published what it calls "the map of greater Israel." Israel's borders in the map include the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. You can see the map here.
The settler movement quoted Rabbi Avrom Shmulevic of the Bead Artzein ("For the Homeland") Movement as saying, “The process of national revival of the Jewish people is irreversible and has its internal logic. We shall have no peace as long as the whole territory of the country of Israel will not return under Jewish control. This might sound too hard, but such is the logic of history. The war on the Holy Land has been already fought for 4,000 years and the end cannot be seen.
A stable peace will come only then, when Israel will return to itself all its historical lands, and will thus control both the Suez and the Ormudz channel. The state will find at last its geostrategic completeness. We must remember that Iraqi oil fields too are located on the Jewish land. This may seem utopia to many now - but an even greater utopia seemed a hundred years ago the revival of the Jewish state...If you want it, this will not be a fairy tale."
· Hamas Praises UN Condemnation of Israel
The Hamas movement hailed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s criticism of Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian territories as a "step in the right direction."
"The remarks that were made by the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in which he slammed the Zionist entity for its crimes against the Palestinian people and its mass punishment of Gaza people are steps in the right direction taken by a high-level UN official," senior Hamas official Salah Al-Bardawil stated in a press release on Saturday.
However, Bardawil emphasized that the UN and its institutions must translate these words into action to protect victims and restore their rights in accordance with the UN charter.
· Report: 66 Prisoners Held in Israeli Jails for More Than 20 Years
Three Palestinians have joined the ranks of prisoners who have been imprisoned in Israeli jails for more than 20 consecutive years, bringing the total to 66, according to a report published on Saturday.
Abdul Nasser Ferwaneh, a researcher specializing in prisoners’ affairs, said there are 113 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who were arrested before the 1994 signing of the Oslo accords, including one from the Golan Heights, 60 from the West Bank, 10 from Jerusalem, 28 from Gaza and 14 from inside what is now known as Israel.
Kareem Younis, from inside Israel, has been jailed for almost 30 years and is the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in Israeli jails. [4]
· Gaza Mother of Prisoner Dies En Route to Israeli Jail Visit
The mother of a Palestinian prisoner died on Monday while traveling with a group from Gaza to visit relatives in Israeli jails, a prisoners group said. Aisha Isleih died as the bus was preparing to leave for Israel, Saber Abu Karsh, director of the Gaza-based prisoners group Waed
The cause of her death is still being determined.
Isleih was one of 37 people who were on their way to visit jailed relatives – just the fourth such visit since 2007. She had not seen her son since he was detained five years ago and given a 12-year sentence.
· Four Prisoners Still on Hunger Strike
Four Palestinian political prisoners currently imprisoned in Israeli military jails under administrative detention orders are continuing their hunger strikes despite their deteriorating health and abuse by Israeli soldiers. Their case is highlighted in a joint press release issued by the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Al-Haq, and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel.
At the time of the release, Samer Al-Barq had gone without food for 83 days, following a previous hunger strike of 30 days. Hassan Al-Safadi was on his fifty-third day of a hunger strike, Ayman Shrawni had entered his forty-third day, and Samer Alisawientered his twelfth day of hunger strike.
· Amira Haas Begins Series on Jewish Settler Attacks on Palestinians
More than 50 incidents of assaults by Israeli settlers onPalestinians in the West Bank were reported in July. In the start of a regular series, Haaretz's Amira Hass describes one particularly violent attack.
· More than 90,000 Palestinian Jerusalemites at Risk of Forcible Displacement by Israel
On Monday, Aug. 6, the Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem (Civic Coalition-Jerusalem) announced in a press release that it is deeply concerned about the more than 90,000 Palestinian Jerusalemites who have been cut off from the city since Israel's construction of the illegal wall in occupied East Jerusalem.
More than 90,000 Palestinians currently live in East Jerusalem neighborhoods, including Kufr Aqab, Samiramis, Ras Khamis, Dahiyet al-Salam/Anata and the UNRWA-administered Sho'fat refugee camp. They all are slated for transfer.
Read the full paper here.
· Israel to Expand Control over Jerusalem
The Directorate General for Legal Affairs, a division of the Palestinian Ministry of Justice, warned that the Israeli regime is working to strengthen its control over East Jerusalem through its fait accompli policy.
In a report on Tuesday, the legal affairs division stated that the Israeli occupation authority has approved a plan to establish a military academy in Mount Zeitoun in East Jerusalem.
The report added that the Israeli army's civil administration is formulating legal actions that will allow Jewish settlers to own the Palestinian lands and other real estate they appropriate.
The Palestinian legal affairs division emphasized that the Israeli government is exploiting the world's preoccupation with the U.S. presidential election campaign and the internal events in some Arab countries to expand its settlement and Judaization activities throughout the occupied lands of the West Bank and Jerusalem.
· Palestinian Factions Condemn Sinai Attack
Sixteen Egyptian soldiers were killed on Sunday evening, Aug. 5, and several others were wounded when gunmen attacked an Egyptian military base in the Sinai Peninsula. [1]
Although media attributed the attack to Palestinian Islamic militants on a mission to kidnap an Israeli soldier, both official Palestinian factions and the Palestinian populace condemned the incident. They called for an investigation of the possibility that Israel itself orchestrated the killing, noting that the government warned its citizens a couple of days before the attack to leave the Sinai Peninsula as soon as possible.
The Palestinian premier in Gaza, Ismail Haneyya, contacted Egyptian intelligence chief Murad Muwafi by telephone the next day to discuss the murder of the border guards. The Gaza government’s spokesman, Taher Al-Nunu, told the PIC that during the “lengthy” phone call, the joint effort between the governments to protect national security of both the Egyptian and the Palestinian peoples was discussed.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Nabil Abu Rudeineh (spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) also strongly condemned the attack against the Egyptian border checkpoint.
He told WAFA that “the Palestinian people and leadership, particularly President Mahmoud Abbas, condemn in the strongest words possible this crime” and expressed solidarity with the Egyptian people.
"Palestinian people reject the suspicious and cowardly act against the Egyptian officers," a statement from Fatah said, going on to say that the attack only serves the enemies of Egypt and the Palestinians.
Fayez Abu Aita, spokesman for the Fatah political movement to which Abbas belongs, called on officials to bring to justice all those involved in the attack by "terrorists."
Earlier, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine issued a statement condemning the attack, saying that Egyptian blood is as valuable as Palestinian blood, and the attack will not be accepted by the Palestinian people. [2]
· Abu Marzouk: Closing Rafah Crossing is Collective Punishment
Mousa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, stated that the closing of Rafah crossing is a form of collective punishment, and it is not justifiable based on the information available. In a Facebook post, he called instead for the strengthening of Egyptian security control over the entire Sinai Peninsula.
Abu Marzouk also said that stability in the Sinai ensures security for both the Egyptian and Palestinian people.
· Israeli Supreme Court Rejects Demands for Torture Investigation
The Israeli Supreme Court has rejected two petitions demanding that the Attorney General conduct a criminal investigation into allegations of torture by the Shin Bet security agency.
A number of human rights organizations submitted the petitions last year, along with signatories who themselves were mistreated. [3] The groups claim that there have been 598 complaints of torture and mistreatment against the agency between 2001 and 2008. However, the Israeli public prosecutor has not ordered an investigation into any of them.
· Map of “Greater Israel” Published by Radical Settler Movement
The Israeli settler movement published what it calls "the map of greater Israel." Israel's borders in the map include the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. You can see the map here.
The settler movement quoted Rabbi Avrom Shmulevic of the Bead Artzein ("For the Homeland") Movement as saying, “The process of national revival of the Jewish people is irreversible and has its internal logic. We shall have no peace as long as the whole territory of the country of Israel will not return under Jewish control. This might sound too hard, but such is the logic of history. The war on the Holy Land has been already fought for 4,000 years and the end cannot be seen.
A stable peace will come only then, when Israel will return to itself all its historical lands, and will thus control both the Suez and the Ormudz channel. The state will find at last its geostrategic completeness. We must remember that Iraqi oil fields too are located on the Jewish land. This may seem utopia to many now - but an even greater utopia seemed a hundred years ago the revival of the Jewish state...If you want it, this will not be a fairy tale."
· Hamas Praises UN Condemnation of Israel
The Hamas movement hailed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s criticism of Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian territories as a "step in the right direction."
"The remarks that were made by the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in which he slammed the Zionist entity for its crimes against the Palestinian people and its mass punishment of Gaza people are steps in the right direction taken by a high-level UN official," senior Hamas official Salah Al-Bardawil stated in a press release on Saturday.
However, Bardawil emphasized that the UN and its institutions must translate these words into action to protect victims and restore their rights in accordance with the UN charter.
· Report: 66 Prisoners Held in Israeli Jails for More Than 20 Years
Three Palestinians have joined the ranks of prisoners who have been imprisoned in Israeli jails for more than 20 consecutive years, bringing the total to 66, according to a report published on Saturday.
Abdul Nasser Ferwaneh, a researcher specializing in prisoners’ affairs, said there are 113 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who were arrested before the 1994 signing of the Oslo accords, including one from the Golan Heights, 60 from the West Bank, 10 from Jerusalem, 28 from Gaza and 14 from inside what is now known as Israel.
Kareem Younis, from inside Israel, has been jailed for almost 30 years and is the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in Israeli jails. [4]
· Gaza Mother of Prisoner Dies En Route to Israeli Jail Visit
The mother of a Palestinian prisoner died on Monday while traveling with a group from Gaza to visit relatives in Israeli jails, a prisoners group said. Aisha Isleih died as the bus was preparing to leave for Israel, Saber Abu Karsh, director of the Gaza-based prisoners group Waed
The cause of her death is still being determined.
Isleih was one of 37 people who were on their way to visit jailed relatives – just the fourth such visit since 2007. She had not seen her son since he was detained five years ago and given a 12-year sentence.
· Four Prisoners Still on Hunger Strike
Four Palestinian political prisoners currently imprisoned in Israeli military jails under administrative detention orders are continuing their hunger strikes despite their deteriorating health and abuse by Israeli soldiers. Their case is highlighted in a joint press release issued by the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Al-Haq, and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel.
At the time of the release, Samer Al-Barq had gone without food for 83 days, following a previous hunger strike of 30 days. Hassan Al-Safadi was on his fifty-third day of a hunger strike, Ayman Shrawni had entered his forty-third day, and Samer Alisawientered his twelfth day of hunger strike.
· Amira Haas Begins Series on Jewish Settler Attacks on Palestinians
More than 50 incidents of assaults by Israeli settlers onPalestinians in the West Bank were reported in July. In the start of a regular series, Haaretz's Amira Hass describes one particularly violent attack.
· More than 90,000 Palestinian Jerusalemites at Risk of Forcible Displacement by Israel
On Monday, Aug. 6, the Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem (Civic Coalition-Jerusalem) announced in a press release that it is deeply concerned about the more than 90,000 Palestinian Jerusalemites who have been cut off from the city since Israel's construction of the illegal wall in occupied East Jerusalem.
More than 90,000 Palestinians currently live in East Jerusalem neighborhoods, including Kufr Aqab, Samiramis, Ras Khamis, Dahiyet al-Salam/Anata and the UNRWA-administered Sho'fat refugee camp. They all are slated for transfer.
Read the full paper here.
· Israel to Expand Control over Jerusalem
The Directorate General for Legal Affairs, a division of the Palestinian Ministry of Justice, warned that the Israeli regime is working to strengthen its control over East Jerusalem through its fait accompli policy.
In a report on Tuesday, the legal affairs division stated that the Israeli occupation authority has approved a plan to establish a military academy in Mount Zeitoun in East Jerusalem.
The report added that the Israeli army's civil administration is formulating legal actions that will allow Jewish settlers to own the Palestinian lands and other real estate they appropriate.
The Palestinian legal affairs division emphasized that the Israeli government is exploiting the world's preoccupation with the U.S. presidential election campaign and the internal events in some Arab countries to expand its settlement and Judaization activities throughout the occupied lands of the West Bank and Jerusalem.
10 aug 2012
Rights groups: IDF catching African migrants inside Egyptian territory
Egyptian border guards patrol near the border with Israel in Rafah, Egypt
According to a report released by Israeli human-rights organizations, IDF soldiers have been intercepting migrants before they reach the border, then turning them over to Egyptian forces.
Israel has been sending soldiers into Egypt's Sinai desert to stop African migrants before they reach the border, handing them over to Egyptian forces, human rights groups charged in a report released Friday.
The report, published by Amnesty International and several Israeli groups, including Hotline for Migrant Workers and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, said that Israeli soldiers have entered several hundred meters into Egyptian territory to catch migrants and hand them over to Egyptian police.
The report cited an Israeli soldier and several migrants whose relatives were seized by Israeli soldiers inside Egyptian territory.
In an affidavit included in the report, the Israeli reserve soldier said his unit was posted in June several hundred meters inside Egypt to stop African migrants. The soldier described three incidents in which his unit dealt with African migrants on the Egyptian side. On two occasions Israeli soldiers marched the groups several kilometers along the border on the Egyptian side and handed them over to Egyptian police.
In the other, he wrote that soldiers guarded a group of about 40 migrants, including women and a baby, for two days before the migrants "dispersed," and most of them crossed into Israel.
The soldier's name is blacked out. A Tel Aviv attorney countersigned the statement.
The report also cites migrants who succeeded in making it to Israel but say their relatives were in groups that were intercepted and handed over by force to Egyptian authorities.
The three rights group called on Israel to stop the practice, saying it was aimed at preventing migrants from entering Israel, where the government would then have to consider their claims of asylum. The groups said repatriating asylum seekers who might be in danger in their home countries is a violation of international law.
"Israel is responsible for the action or omissions of its soldiers, whether they are located in Israeli or Egyptian territory," the report said. It added that they fear that "victims of physical and sexual abuse by traffickers in the Sinai desert may be among those returned."
Asked about the report, the IDF Spokesman's Office confirmed that it was detaining Africans attempting to enter the country, but did not specify on which side of the border its activities took place.
"The IDF operates in the area of the border in a place where the fence's construction has not been completed, in order to prevent penetration of hostile terrorist activity, as well as criminal smuggling and illegal border infiltration," the IDF Spokesman's Office said.
"In recent weeks IDF forces have been forced, a number of times, to prevent entrance of infiltrators, during attempts to illegally enter the State of Israel's territory, until the arrival of Egyptian forces which took the infiltrators. IDF forces' activities are conducted according to the law," it added.
A senior Egyptian military official in Sinai denied that any Israeli soldiers had entered Egypt to chase migrants. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press.
The use of Israeli soldiers just inside Egyptian territory, with apparent Egyptian consent, would be a startling move, given widespread anti-Israeli sentiment among Egyptians and the strong sensitivities over Sinai, which Israel captured in the 1967 war and returned after the 1979 peace deal between the two countries.
The report came as tension rose over the security situation in the lawless desert, where Islamic militants recently killed 16 Egyptian soldiers, stole armored vehicles and drove into Israel, apparently to carry out a further attack until they were struck by Israeli forces. Egypt has deployed additional troops in the peninsula near the borders with Israel and Gaza in an operation to stamp out militant groups.
Israel believes that most of the migrants are seeking work, not asylum, and has recently begun deporting migrants from South Sudan, giving financial incentives to those who agree to leave voluntarily. South Sudan, which gained independence a year ago, has friendly relations with Israel.
The rights groups' report coincides with a sharp drop in the number of migrants crossing the border. In July, Israel said 248 migrants entered, less than half the average. The report quotes Egyptian newspapers saying that 514 migrants were caught in July, several hundred more than usual.
Most African migrants reaching Israel come from Sudan, South Sudan and Eritrea. About 60,000 migrants are already in Israel, and some Israelis have expressed concern that the influx could harm the Jewish character of the state.
According to a report released by Israeli human-rights organizations, IDF soldiers have been intercepting migrants before they reach the border, then turning them over to Egyptian forces.
Israel has been sending soldiers into Egypt's Sinai desert to stop African migrants before they reach the border, handing them over to Egyptian forces, human rights groups charged in a report released Friday.
The report, published by Amnesty International and several Israeli groups, including Hotline for Migrant Workers and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, said that Israeli soldiers have entered several hundred meters into Egyptian territory to catch migrants and hand them over to Egyptian police.
The report cited an Israeli soldier and several migrants whose relatives were seized by Israeli soldiers inside Egyptian territory.
In an affidavit included in the report, the Israeli reserve soldier said his unit was posted in June several hundred meters inside Egypt to stop African migrants. The soldier described three incidents in which his unit dealt with African migrants on the Egyptian side. On two occasions Israeli soldiers marched the groups several kilometers along the border on the Egyptian side and handed them over to Egyptian police.
In the other, he wrote that soldiers guarded a group of about 40 migrants, including women and a baby, for two days before the migrants "dispersed," and most of them crossed into Israel.
The soldier's name is blacked out. A Tel Aviv attorney countersigned the statement.
The report also cites migrants who succeeded in making it to Israel but say their relatives were in groups that were intercepted and handed over by force to Egyptian authorities.
The three rights group called on Israel to stop the practice, saying it was aimed at preventing migrants from entering Israel, where the government would then have to consider their claims of asylum. The groups said repatriating asylum seekers who might be in danger in their home countries is a violation of international law.
"Israel is responsible for the action or omissions of its soldiers, whether they are located in Israeli or Egyptian territory," the report said. It added that they fear that "victims of physical and sexual abuse by traffickers in the Sinai desert may be among those returned."
Asked about the report, the IDF Spokesman's Office confirmed that it was detaining Africans attempting to enter the country, but did not specify on which side of the border its activities took place.
"The IDF operates in the area of the border in a place where the fence's construction has not been completed, in order to prevent penetration of hostile terrorist activity, as well as criminal smuggling and illegal border infiltration," the IDF Spokesman's Office said.
"In recent weeks IDF forces have been forced, a number of times, to prevent entrance of infiltrators, during attempts to illegally enter the State of Israel's territory, until the arrival of Egyptian forces which took the infiltrators. IDF forces' activities are conducted according to the law," it added.
A senior Egyptian military official in Sinai denied that any Israeli soldiers had entered Egypt to chase migrants. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press.
The use of Israeli soldiers just inside Egyptian territory, with apparent Egyptian consent, would be a startling move, given widespread anti-Israeli sentiment among Egyptians and the strong sensitivities over Sinai, which Israel captured in the 1967 war and returned after the 1979 peace deal between the two countries.
The report came as tension rose over the security situation in the lawless desert, where Islamic militants recently killed 16 Egyptian soldiers, stole armored vehicles and drove into Israel, apparently to carry out a further attack until they were struck by Israeli forces. Egypt has deployed additional troops in the peninsula near the borders with Israel and Gaza in an operation to stamp out militant groups.
Israel believes that most of the migrants are seeking work, not asylum, and has recently begun deporting migrants from South Sudan, giving financial incentives to those who agree to leave voluntarily. South Sudan, which gained independence a year ago, has friendly relations with Israel.
The rights groups' report coincides with a sharp drop in the number of migrants crossing the border. In July, Israel said 248 migrants entered, less than half the average. The report quotes Egyptian newspapers saying that 514 migrants were caught in July, several hundred more than usual.
Most African migrants reaching Israel come from Sudan, South Sudan and Eritrea. About 60,000 migrants are already in Israel, and some Israelis have expressed concern that the influx could harm the Jewish character of the state.
PCHR Weekly Report: 1 killed, 3 wounded; 19 abducted by Israeli military this week
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 02 – 08 Aug. 2012, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights found that the Israeli military killed one Palestinian fighter and wounded another in a missile strike in Gaza.
In addition, Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. 2 Palestinian civilians, including a journalist, were wounded in the Kafr Qaddoum demonstration, northeast of Jenin.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the last week, Israeli forces conducted 36 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. In those invasions, Israeli forces abducted 17 Palestinians, including 4 children. Israeli forces also abducted two children at a checkpoint in the old town of Hebron.
In one example of this week's 36 incursions, on Sunday, 05 August 2012 at approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into the Solwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched 2 houses. Before withdrawing, they abducted 2 children - Alaa Abdul Karim al-Kharraj (16); and Ahmed Raji Ayad (17) - and transferred them to the Ofer' military detention center.
In another example, also on Sunday August 5th, at approximately 02:00 am, the Israeli forces moved into Halhoul, north of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time and raided the house of Mohammed Abdul Hadi al-Baw and delivered him a notice requiring him to appear before the Israeli intelligence. The Israeli forces withdrew later and no further incidents were reported.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank and hindered the movement of Palestinian civilians.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
During the reporting period, a Palestinian resistance fighter was killed and another was wounded when an Israeli forces aircraft targeted them in the south of the Gaza Strip. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 05 August 2012, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a motorbike that was ridden by 2 Palestinian resistance members. They were close to Canada Well in Tal al-Sultan in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
As a result, Eid Nadi Eid Okal (20), from Rafah, was killed due to shrapnel wounds throughout his body and Ahmed Salem Sa'id Isma'il (22), from al-Toffah neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded by shrapnel throughout his body. Isma'il's health conditions are serious. He was transported to the Abu Yusef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, but due to his serious wounds, he was transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Medical sources in Nasser Hospital state that Isma'il sustained second degree burns and his left leg was amputated.
On Sunday 05 August 2012, the Israeli forces positioned at the border with Israel near Karm Abu Salem crossing in the south of Rafah fired shells at the vicinity of Gaza International Airport and the eastern outskirts of Rafah. Helicopters flying in the sky of the area also opened fire for approximately two hours. The local population panicked, but no casualties were reported.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The illegal closure has caused not only a humanitarian crisis, but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the population of the Gaza Strip.
Measures recently declared to ease the blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports.
Palestinians in Gaza may no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they remain economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.
Israeli settlement activity:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On Thursday morning, 02 August 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from the “Giv'at Ariel” settlement, north of Ramallah, tried to blow up a car belonging to a Palestinian. The car, belonging to Abdul Kareem Khalil, was parked in the yard of a house. The settlers put flammable materials under the vehicle, where they also put cigarettes with matches fixed at the end;
As a result, when the cigarette is finished the matches start and blow up the vehicle. The cigarette was put out and nothing happened. The settlers wrote on the walls of the house Hebrew statements that mean “Get away from our land, pay the price.”
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
During the reporting period, the Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest of the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.
As a result, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded, including a journalist, Ashraf Abu Shawish (42), who sustained wounds from a tear gas canister to his right leg. The other civilian sustained wounds from a tear gas canister to his right hand. Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday Prayer on 03 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest of the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They moved towards areas of the annexation wall. They called through megaphones for Israeli settlers in the Mitityahu settlement to leave Palestinian land. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 03 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest of the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators moved towards areas of the annexation wall. Immediately, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 03 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of the Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The protesters walked towards the gate erected by the Israeli forces near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby Halmish settlement are trying to seize.
Israeli soldiers, who had been extensively deployed in the area and near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands. Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters.
As a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
At approximately 13:15, also on Friday, on 03 August 2012, Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village by the Israeli forces. They moved towards the entrance. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them.
As a result, 2 Palestinian civilian were wounded, including journalist Ashraf Abu Shawish (42), who was hit by a tear gas canister in his right leg and another tear gas canister in his right hand.
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, in recognition of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, the PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
The PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
For the full text of the report, click on the link
In addition, Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. 2 Palestinian civilians, including a journalist, were wounded in the Kafr Qaddoum demonstration, northeast of Jenin.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the last week, Israeli forces conducted 36 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. In those invasions, Israeli forces abducted 17 Palestinians, including 4 children. Israeli forces also abducted two children at a checkpoint in the old town of Hebron.
In one example of this week's 36 incursions, on Sunday, 05 August 2012 at approximately 01:30, the Israeli forces moved into the Solwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched 2 houses. Before withdrawing, they abducted 2 children - Alaa Abdul Karim al-Kharraj (16); and Ahmed Raji Ayad (17) - and transferred them to the Ofer' military detention center.
In another example, also on Sunday August 5th, at approximately 02:00 am, the Israeli forces moved into Halhoul, north of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for some time and raided the house of Mohammed Abdul Hadi al-Baw and delivered him a notice requiring him to appear before the Israeli intelligence. The Israeli forces withdrew later and no further incidents were reported.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank and hindered the movement of Palestinian civilians.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
During the reporting period, a Palestinian resistance fighter was killed and another was wounded when an Israeli forces aircraft targeted them in the south of the Gaza Strip. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 05 August 2012, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a motorbike that was ridden by 2 Palestinian resistance members. They were close to Canada Well in Tal al-Sultan in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
As a result, Eid Nadi Eid Okal (20), from Rafah, was killed due to shrapnel wounds throughout his body and Ahmed Salem Sa'id Isma'il (22), from al-Toffah neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded by shrapnel throughout his body. Isma'il's health conditions are serious. He was transported to the Abu Yusef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, but due to his serious wounds, he was transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Medical sources in Nasser Hospital state that Isma'il sustained second degree burns and his left leg was amputated.
On Sunday 05 August 2012, the Israeli forces positioned at the border with Israel near Karm Abu Salem crossing in the south of Rafah fired shells at the vicinity of Gaza International Airport and the eastern outskirts of Rafah. Helicopters flying in the sky of the area also opened fire for approximately two hours. The local population panicked, but no casualties were reported.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The illegal closure has caused not only a humanitarian crisis, but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the population of the Gaza Strip.
Measures recently declared to ease the blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports.
Palestinians in Gaza may no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they remain economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.
Israeli settlement activity:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On Thursday morning, 02 August 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from the “Giv'at Ariel” settlement, north of Ramallah, tried to blow up a car belonging to a Palestinian. The car, belonging to Abdul Kareem Khalil, was parked in the yard of a house. The settlers put flammable materials under the vehicle, where they also put cigarettes with matches fixed at the end;
As a result, when the cigarette is finished the matches start and blow up the vehicle. The cigarette was put out and nothing happened. The settlers wrote on the walls of the house Hebrew statements that mean “Get away from our land, pay the price.”
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
During the reporting period, the Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest of the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.
As a result, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded, including a journalist, Ashraf Abu Shawish (42), who sustained wounds from a tear gas canister to his right leg. The other civilian sustained wounds from a tear gas canister to his right hand. Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday Prayer on 03 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest of the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They moved towards areas of the annexation wall. They called through megaphones for Israeli settlers in the Mitityahu settlement to leave Palestinian land. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 03 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest of the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators moved towards areas of the annexation wall. Immediately, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 03 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of the Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The protesters walked towards the gate erected by the Israeli forces near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby Halmish settlement are trying to seize.
Israeli soldiers, who had been extensively deployed in the area and near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands. Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters.
As a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
At approximately 13:15, also on Friday, on 03 August 2012, Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village by the Israeli forces. They moved towards the entrance. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them.
As a result, 2 Palestinian civilian were wounded, including journalist Ashraf Abu Shawish (42), who was hit by a tear gas canister in his right leg and another tear gas canister in his right hand.
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, in recognition of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, the PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
The PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
For the full text of the report, click on the link
4 aug 2012
ESCWA: Perpetuation of Israeli occupation not acceptable
NEW YORK, (PIC)-- The United Nations has said that the Israeli violations and aggression in the occupied Palestinian territories do not serve the peace process.
The international organization pointed out, in its yearly report on the economic and social effects of the Israeli occupation, that the continued occupation of the Palestinian territories was neither economically nor politically acceptable.
The report, prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), pointed to the excessive use of force by the Israeli forces, the arbitrary detention against Palestinians, the destruction of Palestinian homes and facilities, as well as restrictions on the people’s movement, in addition to the six-year-long siege imposed on Gaza Strip.
The report also mentioned the confiscation of Palestinian land where 40% of the Palestinian territories in the West Bank was seized for settlement expansion in total violation of the international law, pointing to a 20% increase in settlement projects in 2011 compared to the previous year.
The international organization pointed out, in its yearly report on the economic and social effects of the Israeli occupation, that the continued occupation of the Palestinian territories was neither economically nor politically acceptable.
The report, prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), pointed to the excessive use of force by the Israeli forces, the arbitrary detention against Palestinians, the destruction of Palestinian homes and facilities, as well as restrictions on the people’s movement, in addition to the six-year-long siege imposed on Gaza Strip.
The report also mentioned the confiscation of Palestinian land where 40% of the Palestinian territories in the West Bank was seized for settlement expansion in total violation of the international law, pointing to a 20% increase in settlement projects in 2011 compared to the previous year.
3 aug 2012
Captive Economy - The Pharmaceutical Industy and the Israeli Occupation
Captive Economy - A new report by Who Profits investigates the involvement of Israeli and multinational pharmaceutical industries in the occupation of Palestinian land.
The report exposes a complex system of military and civilian laws and regulations that make the West Bank and the Gaza Strip a captive market for Israeli and International drug companies. The Palestinian market is held by binding economic agreements, subject to restrictions imposed by Israel, often in the name of security and quality-control.
The Paris Protocol, a significant part of the 1993 Oslo Accords, regulates the financial relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority by placing them under the same taxation envelope. In the case of the pharmaceutical industry, the dependency of the Palestinian market on the Israeli authorities has inflicted strong negative economic effects on the OPT. For example, the Israeli Ministry of Health insisted that the import of drugs to the OPT would be allowed only for drugs registered in Israel, consequently blocking the neighboring Arab markets.
In East Jerusalem, Palestinian institutions are obligated to purchase goods produced by the occupier, due to the illegal annexation East Jerusalem under international law and the refusal to allow Palestinian pharmaceuticals into East Jerusalem hospitals and pharmacies.
In the Gaza strip, which is under strict closure, the Israeli control over all products that enter and leave the strip yields an absurd situation in which drugs can enter the Gaza Strip. However, no pharmaceutical can leave the strip. Hence, all expired products are left to the care of the receiving Gazan health institutions. This is a heavy burden that requires professional solutions, including toxic waste dump stations and qualified personnel.
Israeli and multinational companies enjoy the aforementioned situation in several ways. From the four largest, originally-Israeli companies
Teva,
Perrigo Israel,
Taro and
Dexcel Pharma,
to smaller companies (such as Trima) - all Israeli companies enjoy easy access to the Palestinian market, free of customs and checkpoint disturbances.
The Israeli manufacturers and agents do not have to amend any of their products in order to sell them in the OPT. As a result, Israeli and multinational companies can sell drugs that are not labeled in Arabic to an Arabic speaking population. Moreover, a differential pricing policy is applied by multinational companies worldwide according to the population's socio-economic status. This policy, often called "price discrimination", overlooks the situation in the OPT.
The politics of the occupation create a continuation of the structured inequality, in which it is extremely difficult for Palestinians to import raw materials and export pharmaceuticals. The Palestinian pharmaceutical industry suffers from difficulties transferring merchandise from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip. At the same time, Israeli manufacturers can market their products without checkpoints, security checks or special permits. The situation has severe results for the local population, mainly due to higher prices of pharmaceutical products which limit the accessibility of basic healthcare.
For more info
The report exposes a complex system of military and civilian laws and regulations that make the West Bank and the Gaza Strip a captive market for Israeli and International drug companies. The Palestinian market is held by binding economic agreements, subject to restrictions imposed by Israel, often in the name of security and quality-control.
The Paris Protocol, a significant part of the 1993 Oslo Accords, regulates the financial relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority by placing them under the same taxation envelope. In the case of the pharmaceutical industry, the dependency of the Palestinian market on the Israeli authorities has inflicted strong negative economic effects on the OPT. For example, the Israeli Ministry of Health insisted that the import of drugs to the OPT would be allowed only for drugs registered in Israel, consequently blocking the neighboring Arab markets.
In East Jerusalem, Palestinian institutions are obligated to purchase goods produced by the occupier, due to the illegal annexation East Jerusalem under international law and the refusal to allow Palestinian pharmaceuticals into East Jerusalem hospitals and pharmacies.
In the Gaza strip, which is under strict closure, the Israeli control over all products that enter and leave the strip yields an absurd situation in which drugs can enter the Gaza Strip. However, no pharmaceutical can leave the strip. Hence, all expired products are left to the care of the receiving Gazan health institutions. This is a heavy burden that requires professional solutions, including toxic waste dump stations and qualified personnel.
Israeli and multinational companies enjoy the aforementioned situation in several ways. From the four largest, originally-Israeli companies
Teva,
Perrigo Israel,
Taro and
Dexcel Pharma,
to smaller companies (such as Trima) - all Israeli companies enjoy easy access to the Palestinian market, free of customs and checkpoint disturbances.
The Israeli manufacturers and agents do not have to amend any of their products in order to sell them in the OPT. As a result, Israeli and multinational companies can sell drugs that are not labeled in Arabic to an Arabic speaking population. Moreover, a differential pricing policy is applied by multinational companies worldwide according to the population's socio-economic status. This policy, often called "price discrimination", overlooks the situation in the OPT.
The politics of the occupation create a continuation of the structured inequality, in which it is extremely difficult for Palestinians to import raw materials and export pharmaceuticals. The Palestinian pharmaceutical industry suffers from difficulties transferring merchandise from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip. At the same time, Israeli manufacturers can market their products without checkpoints, security checks or special permits. The situation has severe results for the local population, mainly due to higher prices of pharmaceutical products which limit the accessibility of basic healthcare.
For more info
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New company in Who Profits’ Database: Maavarim Civil Engineering
Maavirim is a private security company which provides civil engineering and homeland security services. It is owned by Ben Sterenberg.The company supplies security services to the World Bank. Maavirim has cleared an Anti-Tank Jordanian minefield in the settlement of Har Adar, in order to allow the expansion of the settlement |
The company states that their staff are all former senior officers in the Israeli Defense Forces and Police elite units, some of them gained their experience and expertise in the IDF's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit. The company's standard Operation Procedures comply with IDF standards for mine clearance and with the Israeli Police criteria for explosive detection dogs. The company is a recognized contractor and defense exporter for the Israeli ministry of Defense.
The company is present in the following: Angola, South Korea, Central - Eastern Europe, Croatia and Middle East
For more info
The company is present in the following: Angola, South Korea, Central - Eastern Europe, Croatia and Middle East
For more info
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Removing Mul-T-Lock and Assa Abloy from Who Profits’ Database
In the last month, Multi-Lock’s corporate communications manager, Ann Holmber, sent Who Profits another confirmation letter for the company’s withdraw from the illegal settlement of Barkan. She Also sent the annual report of Assa Abloy (Mul-T-Lock’s owners) highlighting the announcement “Move from the West Bank complete” which states: “In 2008, ASSA ABLOY decided to relocate the Mul-t-Lock factory from Barkan in the West Bank. The decision was made due to criticism that the factory was located on occupied land. The move was completed in 2011 and the Barkan factory has merged with the Yavne factory in Israel.” In December 2011, Mul-T-Lock relocated its factory from the Barkan settlement to the Israeli city of Yanve. One of the evidence of Who Profits’ investigation was a confirmation from the company’s president, Alon Lumbroso to Who Profits. (For more info) Mul-T-Lock manufactures locks and cylinders for security doors. The company is a part of the Swedish group Assa Abloy, and is traded on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). For more info |
2 aug 2012
Reports: IOF killed four Palestinians, detained 42 children in July
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) killed four Palestinians and detained 290 others including 42 children in July, the Palestinian Center for Prisoners’ Studies (PCPS) and the Tadamun Foundation for Human Rights said in their monthly reports.
The PCPS report revealed that IOF soldiers launched 167 incursions in the Palestinian villages, cities and refugee camps where IOF had arrested more than 290 Palestinian, including 42 children, an MP, and a liberated prisoner.
IOF had particularly escalated arrest campaigns in Al-Khalil where 95 civilians were rounded up including children and sick people. More than 15 worshipers including the Imam were also arrested in Al-Aqsa mosque in occupied Jerusalem, according to the report.
The center information officer, Riad Ashkar, confirmed that IOF had arrested during July 42 children under the age of eighteen, including 14 in Ramallah, and three women one of them aged 17 years.
He said that in Beit Hanoun crossing, northern Gaza Strip, occupation forces arrested two sick Palestinians while on their way for treatment.
Ashqar affirmed that Israeli occupation escalated its repressive measures against Palestinian prisoners last month especially in the holy month of Ramadan, where IOF broke into Nafha and Ashkelon prisons and searched the prisoners for long hours.
Nahshon forces attacked Palestinian administrative detainees in Ofer court. Whereas, Israeli Special Forces, specialized in storming prisons, broke into Megiddo prison and assaulted the prisoners, the spokesman said.
Children prisoners have been also subjected to a savage suppression in Hasharon prison, in which they were detained for 3 hours under the scorching sun.
The center director said that the last month had witnessed a serious deterioration in prisoners' health conditions due to the IPS deliberate medical negligence.
Meanwhile, Tadamun Foundation said that IOF had killed four Palestinians three of them from Gaza and one from Ramallah during last month.
Ahmed Tubasi, a researcher in the center, condemned the occupation's arbitrary practices against the Palestinian people including arresting and killing innocent children and women which violated the international laws and norms.
The PCPS report revealed that IOF soldiers launched 167 incursions in the Palestinian villages, cities and refugee camps where IOF had arrested more than 290 Palestinian, including 42 children, an MP, and a liberated prisoner.
IOF had particularly escalated arrest campaigns in Al-Khalil where 95 civilians were rounded up including children and sick people. More than 15 worshipers including the Imam were also arrested in Al-Aqsa mosque in occupied Jerusalem, according to the report.
The center information officer, Riad Ashkar, confirmed that IOF had arrested during July 42 children under the age of eighteen, including 14 in Ramallah, and three women one of them aged 17 years.
He said that in Beit Hanoun crossing, northern Gaza Strip, occupation forces arrested two sick Palestinians while on their way for treatment.
Ashqar affirmed that Israeli occupation escalated its repressive measures against Palestinian prisoners last month especially in the holy month of Ramadan, where IOF broke into Nafha and Ashkelon prisons and searched the prisoners for long hours.
Nahshon forces attacked Palestinian administrative detainees in Ofer court. Whereas, Israeli Special Forces, specialized in storming prisons, broke into Megiddo prison and assaulted the prisoners, the spokesman said.
Children prisoners have been also subjected to a savage suppression in Hasharon prison, in which they were detained for 3 hours under the scorching sun.
The center director said that the last month had witnessed a serious deterioration in prisoners' health conditions due to the IPS deliberate medical negligence.
Meanwhile, Tadamun Foundation said that IOF had killed four Palestinians three of them from Gaza and one from Ramallah during last month.
Ahmed Tubasi, a researcher in the center, condemned the occupation's arbitrary practices against the Palestinian people including arresting and killing innocent children and women which violated the international laws and norms.
July