2 dec 2016
As the UN General Assembly calls again on Israel to leave the Golan Heights and declares Israeli jurisdiction on 'the Holy city of Jerusalem' to be 'null and void,' the Jewish state prepares to go up against three UNSC resolutions aimed against it.
The UN General Assembly adopted six resolutions on the situation of the Palestinians on Wednesday, including a demand for Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights.
The move comes a day after the new President of the UN General Assembly, Peter Thompson, was seen wearing a Palestinian scarf whilst at a UN committee hearing.
The resolution, called UNGA Resolution A/71/L.8, was put forth by over 35 countries, including Bahrain, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Indonesia, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and the Palestinian delegation, amongst others.
The resolution calls for peace talks between Syria and Israel and Lebanon and Israel to be restarted immediately, calls for the Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, and determines that Israel being in the Golan Heights and Israel’s de-facto annexation of the Golan Heights represents a key stumbling block to regional peace.
It was passed in the UN General assembly by a vote of 103 for, 6 against (Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, and the United States), and 56 abstentions.
The resolution is one of six anti-Israel resolutions passed Wednesday, another being on the status of Jerusalem (A/71/L.22). In it, the UN expressed “its determination that any actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever”.
The representative from Israel said in the assembly following the vote that “it was shameful how some countries had yet to accept the existence of Israel and abused the General Assembly to spread baseless allegations,” and that the resolutions seek to provide a “biased narrative.”
She continued, saying “since 2015, terror attacks against Israelis had claimed the lives of 42 citizens and injured over 600 and yet today’s resolutions made no mention of those victims.”
“Furthermore, the resolutions under discussion did not mention the internationally recognized terror organization Hamas. No one should delude themselves: supporting the resolutions and the inherent bias against Israel would not advance the cause of peace. Rather it would only make peace harder to achieve,” the representative added.
The US delegation meanwhile, said the US was “profoundly troubled by the submission of a disproportionate number of one-sided resolutions that had been designed to condemn Israel.”
The delegate continued, adding that “it (is) manifestly unjust that the United Nations, an institution founded on the idea that all nations should be treated equally, was so often used by Member States to treat Israel unequally.”
Lambasting the UN, the delegate continued, saying “three United Nations bodies in particular reflected the bias and unnecessary costs of such resolutions and wasted limited resources. Costing approximately $6.1 million in 2015, they did nothing to contribute to peace in the region.”
The US however did reiterate that it views the settlements as a stumbling block for peace.
Syria for its part, thanked the member states who voted for the resolution, saying the vote “sent a clear message to Israel that its killing, settlement expansion and forcible annexation of land ran counter to international principles.”
The next round: The UN Security Council
Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Ministry is expecting a tough fight against several anti-Israel resolutions which are due to be voted on at the UN Security Council before US President Obama leaves office.
There are three initiatives which especially worry Israel; initiatives from New Zealand, the Palestinians, and France.
New Zealand
New Zealand, which will be vacating its position on the council soon, wants to put forth a resolution which will require Israel to condemn settlement construction, condemn violence and incitement from both the Israelis and the Palestinians, condemn the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and call for an immediate re-start of negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis. A draft resolution is expected to be submitted in the coming days
The Palestinians
The Palestinians are trying to pass a resolution which will term the Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal. Israel is worried that such a decision will prepare the groundwork for sanctions, and be a precursor for an indictment against Israel at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
France
The French resolution calls for an international peace conference, which Israel has already expressed its opposition to. The opposition is premised on the fact that the initiative calls on a time table for discussions, and that should no agreement be reached, France will automatically recognize a Palestinian state.
Israel believes that the US will use its veto power over the French and Palestinian initiatives, yet is unsure as to US action towards the New Zealand initiative. This is because the New Zealand initiative does not seem to be unilaterally condemning one side or the other for incitement and violence.
While Israel is working primarily with the Americans in the Security Council, Israel is also working with other countries as well.
US Secretary of State is expected to discuss the issue at the upcoming Saban Forum.
The UN General Assembly adopted six resolutions on the situation of the Palestinians on Wednesday, including a demand for Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights.
The move comes a day after the new President of the UN General Assembly, Peter Thompson, was seen wearing a Palestinian scarf whilst at a UN committee hearing.
The resolution, called UNGA Resolution A/71/L.8, was put forth by over 35 countries, including Bahrain, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Indonesia, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and the Palestinian delegation, amongst others.
The resolution calls for peace talks between Syria and Israel and Lebanon and Israel to be restarted immediately, calls for the Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, and determines that Israel being in the Golan Heights and Israel’s de-facto annexation of the Golan Heights represents a key stumbling block to regional peace.
It was passed in the UN General assembly by a vote of 103 for, 6 against (Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, and the United States), and 56 abstentions.
The resolution is one of six anti-Israel resolutions passed Wednesday, another being on the status of Jerusalem (A/71/L.22). In it, the UN expressed “its determination that any actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever”.
The representative from Israel said in the assembly following the vote that “it was shameful how some countries had yet to accept the existence of Israel and abused the General Assembly to spread baseless allegations,” and that the resolutions seek to provide a “biased narrative.”
She continued, saying “since 2015, terror attacks against Israelis had claimed the lives of 42 citizens and injured over 600 and yet today’s resolutions made no mention of those victims.”
“Furthermore, the resolutions under discussion did not mention the internationally recognized terror organization Hamas. No one should delude themselves: supporting the resolutions and the inherent bias against Israel would not advance the cause of peace. Rather it would only make peace harder to achieve,” the representative added.
The US delegation meanwhile, said the US was “profoundly troubled by the submission of a disproportionate number of one-sided resolutions that had been designed to condemn Israel.”
The delegate continued, adding that “it (is) manifestly unjust that the United Nations, an institution founded on the idea that all nations should be treated equally, was so often used by Member States to treat Israel unequally.”
Lambasting the UN, the delegate continued, saying “three United Nations bodies in particular reflected the bias and unnecessary costs of such resolutions and wasted limited resources. Costing approximately $6.1 million in 2015, they did nothing to contribute to peace in the region.”
The US however did reiterate that it views the settlements as a stumbling block for peace.
Syria for its part, thanked the member states who voted for the resolution, saying the vote “sent a clear message to Israel that its killing, settlement expansion and forcible annexation of land ran counter to international principles.”
The next round: The UN Security Council
Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Ministry is expecting a tough fight against several anti-Israel resolutions which are due to be voted on at the UN Security Council before US President Obama leaves office.
There are three initiatives which especially worry Israel; initiatives from New Zealand, the Palestinians, and France.
New Zealand
New Zealand, which will be vacating its position on the council soon, wants to put forth a resolution which will require Israel to condemn settlement construction, condemn violence and incitement from both the Israelis and the Palestinians, condemn the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and call for an immediate re-start of negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis. A draft resolution is expected to be submitted in the coming days
The Palestinians
The Palestinians are trying to pass a resolution which will term the Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal. Israel is worried that such a decision will prepare the groundwork for sanctions, and be a precursor for an indictment against Israel at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
France
The French resolution calls for an international peace conference, which Israel has already expressed its opposition to. The opposition is premised on the fact that the initiative calls on a time table for discussions, and that should no agreement be reached, France will automatically recognize a Palestinian state.
Israel believes that the US will use its veto power over the French and Palestinian initiatives, yet is unsure as to US action towards the New Zealand initiative. This is because the New Zealand initiative does not seem to be unilaterally condemning one side or the other for incitement and violence.
While Israel is working primarily with the Americans in the Security Council, Israel is also working with other countries as well.
US Secretary of State is expected to discuss the issue at the upcoming Saban Forum.
Nearly 50,000 people are living with disabilities in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Ministry of Social Affairs in Gaza revealed on the International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
Director-General of Social Security at the Ministry of Social Affairs Riyad al-Bitar affirmed in a press conference on Thursday that 50,000 disabled persons in Gaza Strip are the main victims of Israeli occupation.
Israel’s three aggressions and its 11-year siege on Gaza Strip left nearly 50,000 disabled persons, he revealed.
The Ministry has strenuously worked since the beginning of the year to unite efforts of the governmental and non-governmental sectors so as to make a data base for the disabled persons in Gaza, he said.
He called for making all possible efforts to end Israel’s siege on Gaza and to facilitate the Palestinian people’s movement.
He also called on governmental and non-governmental sectors to integrate persons with disabilities in the development process.
He asked the Palestinian Minister of Social Affairs Ibrahim al-Sha’ar and Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah to meet the needs of persons with disabilities and ensure their access to all services.
Director-General of Social Security at the Ministry of Social Affairs Riyad al-Bitar affirmed in a press conference on Thursday that 50,000 disabled persons in Gaza Strip are the main victims of Israeli occupation.
Israel’s three aggressions and its 11-year siege on Gaza Strip left nearly 50,000 disabled persons, he revealed.
The Ministry has strenuously worked since the beginning of the year to unite efforts of the governmental and non-governmental sectors so as to make a data base for the disabled persons in Gaza, he said.
He called for making all possible efforts to end Israel’s siege on Gaza and to facilitate the Palestinian people’s movement.
He also called on governmental and non-governmental sectors to integrate persons with disabilities in the development process.
He asked the Palestinian Minister of Social Affairs Ibrahim al-Sha’ar and Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah to meet the needs of persons with disabilities and ensure their access to all services.
Aid Watch Palestine holds parallel exhibitions in the West Bank and Gaza to advocate for a just reconstruction process in the besieged coastal enclave, and assert Palestinian unity.
On Wednesday, November 23, Aid Watch Palestine (AIP) organized a photo exhibition in central Ramallah, West Bank, titled “Gaza Incomplete.” The event addressed reconstruction efforts in Gaza since the 51-day Israeli offensive against the besieged coastal enclave in the summer of 2014.
See archive IMEMC video: 09/02/14 Gaza City’s Devastated Al-Shuja’eyya Suburb
AIP is an independent Palestinian civil society initiative that stimulates and supports efforts to make international aid more accountable to Palestinians — starting with reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
The exhibition sought to raise awareness, in the West Bank, of the severity of Gaza’s on-going humanitarian crisis since the offensive, as well as the reasons why international aid has not been successful in meaningfully slowing it. AIP hopes that doing so will change public opinion and eventually push the Palestinian and Israeli governments to change their respective – and sometimes coordinated – policies on Gaza. The event consisted of two short films and a photo exhibition.
The 2014 Israeli offensive on Gaza exacted unprecedented devastation. Israeli forces killed 2,251 Palestinians and completely destroyed 18,000 houses. It was estimated that an adequate reconstruction effort would cost $570 million and require 4 million tons of materials.
Dwindling funds for stopgap solutions
Speaking to the Alternative Information Center, AIP Media Communication Coordinator Elia Ghorbia drew attention to a primary problem hindering reconstruction efforts in Gaza: “The donor countries aren’t pledging sufficient amount of money.”
In response to the 2014 Israeli offensive, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Palestine requested a total of $570 million for reconstruction efforts. International donors then pledged millions of dollars to rehabilitate Gaza’s infrastructure. However, as of November 2016, only $195 million has been disbursed. In other words, only 34% of the total budget requested for urgent humanitarian needs was met two yeas after the offensive.
The lack of funds continues to contribute to the suffering of an entire population, leaving the 28% of Gazans who were displaced with bleak prospects of returning home. A film shown by AIP at the exhibition stated that 4,000 homes were still unrepaired from – not the 2014 offensive on Gaza – but the 2008 and 2012 Israeli attacks.
But, even if Gaza were to receive an appropriate amount of humanitarian aid to piece together the damage incurred in 2014, other obstacles persist. “We want to raise awareness not only about the suffering of people in Gaza, but also about the [Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM)] and its implications,” Ghobia added.
The GRM is a temporary agreement brokered by the United Nations (UN) between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel that intends to address conflicting interests: Israel’s security concerns and the entry of essential construction materials into Gaza in light of Israel’s decade-long blockade on the coastal enclave.
The GRM dictates that the UN monitors and collects private information about Palestinian households in a database accessible to Israel. Israel then retains the power to veto which Gazan families are given permission to sell and receive building materials.
As pointed out in an AIP film at “Gaza Incomplete,” the GRM has not fulfilled its self-professed raison d’etre: only 16% of such materials have entered Gaza thus far.
Because of the paltry entry of goods, critics see the GRM as another treaty that legitimizes and reinforces the Israeli blockade whilst undermining the livelihoods of the people of Gaza due to the imposition of a strict monitoring system that only seems to further restrict the flow of goods. Moreover, 65% of purchased construction materials that do enter Gaza come from Israeli markets, thus financially propping up the Israeli economy.
Resisting the root of the problem
Maintaining that while “there are many internal problems which must be solved,” Ghorbia emphasized that the main solution to humanitarian disaster in Gaza is “to lift the blockade.”
Until then AIP will continue to encourage discussion of why international aid has failed to alleviate the affects of Israeli occupation in Gaza in such a way that both advocates for Gazans’ needs and insists upon the unity of Palestine.
In Gaza, AIP held “Gaza Incomplete” with a different aim: to initiate dialogue between the Gazan people and authorities leading reconstruction efforts, and create space for those affected to voice concerns.
Speaking of the parallel exhibitions, Ghorbia concluded, “it is important to make Israel aware that it cannot separate the West Bank and Gaza.”
via the Alternative Information Center (AIC).
Louisa Emslie is a graduate from the University of Edinburgh where she studied Arabic and Spanish Studies. She lives and works in Ramallah, Palestine.
On Wednesday, November 23, Aid Watch Palestine (AIP) organized a photo exhibition in central Ramallah, West Bank, titled “Gaza Incomplete.” The event addressed reconstruction efforts in Gaza since the 51-day Israeli offensive against the besieged coastal enclave in the summer of 2014.
See archive IMEMC video: 09/02/14 Gaza City’s Devastated Al-Shuja’eyya Suburb
AIP is an independent Palestinian civil society initiative that stimulates and supports efforts to make international aid more accountable to Palestinians — starting with reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
The exhibition sought to raise awareness, in the West Bank, of the severity of Gaza’s on-going humanitarian crisis since the offensive, as well as the reasons why international aid has not been successful in meaningfully slowing it. AIP hopes that doing so will change public opinion and eventually push the Palestinian and Israeli governments to change their respective – and sometimes coordinated – policies on Gaza. The event consisted of two short films and a photo exhibition.
The 2014 Israeli offensive on Gaza exacted unprecedented devastation. Israeli forces killed 2,251 Palestinians and completely destroyed 18,000 houses. It was estimated that an adequate reconstruction effort would cost $570 million and require 4 million tons of materials.
Dwindling funds for stopgap solutions
Speaking to the Alternative Information Center, AIP Media Communication Coordinator Elia Ghorbia drew attention to a primary problem hindering reconstruction efforts in Gaza: “The donor countries aren’t pledging sufficient amount of money.”
In response to the 2014 Israeli offensive, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Palestine requested a total of $570 million for reconstruction efforts. International donors then pledged millions of dollars to rehabilitate Gaza’s infrastructure. However, as of November 2016, only $195 million has been disbursed. In other words, only 34% of the total budget requested for urgent humanitarian needs was met two yeas after the offensive.
The lack of funds continues to contribute to the suffering of an entire population, leaving the 28% of Gazans who were displaced with bleak prospects of returning home. A film shown by AIP at the exhibition stated that 4,000 homes were still unrepaired from – not the 2014 offensive on Gaza – but the 2008 and 2012 Israeli attacks.
But, even if Gaza were to receive an appropriate amount of humanitarian aid to piece together the damage incurred in 2014, other obstacles persist. “We want to raise awareness not only about the suffering of people in Gaza, but also about the [Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM)] and its implications,” Ghobia added.
The GRM is a temporary agreement brokered by the United Nations (UN) between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel that intends to address conflicting interests: Israel’s security concerns and the entry of essential construction materials into Gaza in light of Israel’s decade-long blockade on the coastal enclave.
The GRM dictates that the UN monitors and collects private information about Palestinian households in a database accessible to Israel. Israel then retains the power to veto which Gazan families are given permission to sell and receive building materials.
As pointed out in an AIP film at “Gaza Incomplete,” the GRM has not fulfilled its self-professed raison d’etre: only 16% of such materials have entered Gaza thus far.
Because of the paltry entry of goods, critics see the GRM as another treaty that legitimizes and reinforces the Israeli blockade whilst undermining the livelihoods of the people of Gaza due to the imposition of a strict monitoring system that only seems to further restrict the flow of goods. Moreover, 65% of purchased construction materials that do enter Gaza come from Israeli markets, thus financially propping up the Israeli economy.
Resisting the root of the problem
Maintaining that while “there are many internal problems which must be solved,” Ghorbia emphasized that the main solution to humanitarian disaster in Gaza is “to lift the blockade.”
Until then AIP will continue to encourage discussion of why international aid has failed to alleviate the affects of Israeli occupation in Gaza in such a way that both advocates for Gazans’ needs and insists upon the unity of Palestine.
In Gaza, AIP held “Gaza Incomplete” with a different aim: to initiate dialogue between the Gazan people and authorities leading reconstruction efforts, and create space for those affected to voice concerns.
Speaking of the parallel exhibitions, Ghorbia concluded, “it is important to make Israel aware that it cannot separate the West Bank and Gaza.”
via the Alternative Information Center (AIC).
Louisa Emslie is a graduate from the University of Edinburgh where she studied Arabic and Spanish Studies. She lives and works in Ramallah, Palestine.
On the occasion of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, marked by the UN since 1977[1], WHO launched a 2-year report on health access at an event in Gaza, to highlight how the Israeli permit system and physical barriers obstruct health access for Palestinian patients, ambulances and health workers.
The study “Right to health: crossing barriers to access health in the occupied Palestinian territory, 2014 – 2015,” was based on data provided by Palestinian Authority ministries and non-profit health providers, as well as patient interviews and field studies.
“Access is a fundamental element of the right to health. Every mother and child has the right to be together during a child’s cancer treatment,” said Dr. Gerald Rockenschaub, the WHO head of the office in the West Bank and Gaza. “Yet the data indicates substantial restrictions for thousands of patients and their companions who are trying to travel to their places of referral.”
According to the PNN, 48-page report also presents information on the impact of attacks on health facilities, patients and health personnel, and the health access situation in “Area C” in the West Bank, where Israel retains full security and civil authority.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health refers patients to other facilities if the recommended medical treatment is unavailable in Ministry hospitals. 86% of the 162 300 referrals issued by the Ministry in 2014 and 2015 were to Palestinian medical centers, the majority located in East Jerusalem and inaccessible to patients without an Israeli-issued permit. The complex permit regime can result in delays and denial of care for patients which can impact their health; permit restrictions for health personnel can also disrupt medical services. Israeli security services also request certain patients to appear for interviews and deny permits for security reasons.
Denials and delays in responding to health permit applications noticeably increased for Gaza patients who have faced tightened security procedures since 2012 and particularly over the past two years. The number of patients seeking access permits through Erez checkpoint has more than doubled to 21 899 in 2015, while the permit approval rates have steadily dropped: from 92.5% in 2012 to 88.7% in 2013, 82.4% in 2014 and 77.5% in 2015. (Since the writing of the report, the situation further worsened in Gaza: by October 2016, the approval rate had fallen to 44%.)
The closure of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in July 2013 limited the number of patients able to exit: in 2014 to 3 117 and in 2015 to less than half that, owing to the closed borders.
The permit approval rate for West Bank patients also dropped from 79.4% in 2013 to 77.3% in 2014, but improved to 83.1% in 2015, when Israeli authorities no longer required permits for men over 55 years and women over 50 years.
“This is about freedom of movement at its most raw level – the right to access, literally, life-saving services for you, or an elderly parent or perhaps an infant child” said the UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Aid and Development Activities Mr. Piper at the report launch. “The very idea that a fence, a wall, a security guard, a bureaucrat could stand between you and such life-saving services should fill us all with a shared sense of dread.”
WHO, the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development and the Ministry of Health also focused on the importance of advocacy to ensure protection for health and human rights. The Palestinian Ministry of Health and other ministries, UN agencies, donor governments and humanitarian health and human rights organizations attended the event. The report made recommendations to Israel as the occupying power and main legal duty bearer, and to Egypt, to remove restrictions on patients and facilitate access to health services.
[1] To mark the day, in 1947, when the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (Resolution 181 (II)), which had provided for the establishment in Palestine of a “Jewish State” and an “Arab State”, with Jerusalem as a corpus separatum under a special international regime.
Click here [PDF] to read the full report.
The study “Right to health: crossing barriers to access health in the occupied Palestinian territory, 2014 – 2015,” was based on data provided by Palestinian Authority ministries and non-profit health providers, as well as patient interviews and field studies.
“Access is a fundamental element of the right to health. Every mother and child has the right to be together during a child’s cancer treatment,” said Dr. Gerald Rockenschaub, the WHO head of the office in the West Bank and Gaza. “Yet the data indicates substantial restrictions for thousands of patients and their companions who are trying to travel to their places of referral.”
According to the PNN, 48-page report also presents information on the impact of attacks on health facilities, patients and health personnel, and the health access situation in “Area C” in the West Bank, where Israel retains full security and civil authority.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health refers patients to other facilities if the recommended medical treatment is unavailable in Ministry hospitals. 86% of the 162 300 referrals issued by the Ministry in 2014 and 2015 were to Palestinian medical centers, the majority located in East Jerusalem and inaccessible to patients without an Israeli-issued permit. The complex permit regime can result in delays and denial of care for patients which can impact their health; permit restrictions for health personnel can also disrupt medical services. Israeli security services also request certain patients to appear for interviews and deny permits for security reasons.
Denials and delays in responding to health permit applications noticeably increased for Gaza patients who have faced tightened security procedures since 2012 and particularly over the past two years. The number of patients seeking access permits through Erez checkpoint has more than doubled to 21 899 in 2015, while the permit approval rates have steadily dropped: from 92.5% in 2012 to 88.7% in 2013, 82.4% in 2014 and 77.5% in 2015. (Since the writing of the report, the situation further worsened in Gaza: by October 2016, the approval rate had fallen to 44%.)
The closure of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in July 2013 limited the number of patients able to exit: in 2014 to 3 117 and in 2015 to less than half that, owing to the closed borders.
The permit approval rate for West Bank patients also dropped from 79.4% in 2013 to 77.3% in 2014, but improved to 83.1% in 2015, when Israeli authorities no longer required permits for men over 55 years and women over 50 years.
“This is about freedom of movement at its most raw level – the right to access, literally, life-saving services for you, or an elderly parent or perhaps an infant child” said the UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Aid and Development Activities Mr. Piper at the report launch. “The very idea that a fence, a wall, a security guard, a bureaucrat could stand between you and such life-saving services should fill us all with a shared sense of dread.”
WHO, the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development and the Ministry of Health also focused on the importance of advocacy to ensure protection for health and human rights. The Palestinian Ministry of Health and other ministries, UN agencies, donor governments and humanitarian health and human rights organizations attended the event. The report made recommendations to Israel as the occupying power and main legal duty bearer, and to Egypt, to remove restrictions on patients and facilitate access to health services.
[1] To mark the day, in 1947, when the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (Resolution 181 (II)), which had provided for the establishment in Palestine of a “Jewish State” and an “Arab State”, with Jerusalem as a corpus separatum under a special international regime.
Click here [PDF] to read the full report.
Israeli forces committed more than 48 violations against Palestinian journalists during the month of November, the Government Media Office (GMO) in Gaza reported, Thursday.
The GMO published a monthly report in which it documented the violations committed by Israeli forces against the journalists.
The report, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, documented the detention of journalists Khaled Ma’lee, Nedal Annatsha, and Anas Abu Deais who were released later, and that of two journalists named Hamza Bernat and Abd al-Azeez. The Israeli courts extended the detention of Nedal Annatsha, Ibraheem Abu Safeya, Omar Nazzal and Anas Abu Dabas.
It also documented the injury of three journalists, the arson of two press cars and the raids of nine media facilities; six of them were printing houses and three were the homes of journalists.
The report also documented seven violations committed against journalists in Israeli jails. Israeli authorities imposed fines on three journalists as a condition to be released. The patient journalist Bassam Assayeh also reportedly suffered from medical negligence.
It also documented one case of threatening a journalist and closing the facebook account of journalist Khaled Ma’lee. It also banned four journalists from traveling, some of them from Gaza.
The monthly report also documented eight violations committed by Palestinian Authority against journalists in the occupied West Bank.
The GMO published a monthly report in which it documented the violations committed by Israeli forces against the journalists.
The report, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, documented the detention of journalists Khaled Ma’lee, Nedal Annatsha, and Anas Abu Deais who were released later, and that of two journalists named Hamza Bernat and Abd al-Azeez. The Israeli courts extended the detention of Nedal Annatsha, Ibraheem Abu Safeya, Omar Nazzal and Anas Abu Dabas.
It also documented the injury of three journalists, the arson of two press cars and the raids of nine media facilities; six of them were printing houses and three were the homes of journalists.
The report also documented seven violations committed against journalists in Israeli jails. Israeli authorities imposed fines on three journalists as a condition to be released. The patient journalist Bassam Assayeh also reportedly suffered from medical negligence.
It also documented one case of threatening a journalist and closing the facebook account of journalist Khaled Ma’lee. It also banned four journalists from traveling, some of them from Gaza.
The monthly report also documented eight violations committed by Palestinian Authority against journalists in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli forces continued with systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), for the week of 24 – 30 November 2016.
Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian child in the the northern part of occupied Jerusalem, while forces conducted 57 incursions into Palestinian communities across the West Bank, and one in the southern Gaza Strip. 68 civilians, including 19 children, were taken into Israeli custody.
Shooting:
Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child in Sho’fat refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem.
In occupied Jerusalem, in excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces stationed at Sho’fat checkpoint, north of occupied Jerusalem killed a Palestinian child. Israeli forces claimed that he attempted to stab an Israeli security officer with a knife he hid under his clothes. However, PCHR’s investigations refuted this claim.
In the Gaza Strip, in context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 26 November 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats and chased them. The shooting recurred on the dame day afternoon in the same area. It should be noted the fishing boats were sailing within 4 nautical miles and no casualties were reported. Moreover, similar attacks recurred on 27 and 28 November 2016 while fishing boats were sailing within 3 nautical miles. However, neither casualties nor damages to the boats were reported
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 57 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 8 others in occupied Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 68 Palestinian civilians, including 19 children. Twenty-one of them, including 11 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
Among those arrest, Israeli forces arrested Dr ‘Azzam No’aman ‘Abdel Rahman Salhab (60), a PLC Member from the Change and Reform bloc affiliated with Hamas, and Anas Hatem Qafishah, who is the son of another PLC Member and arrested from his family house in Hebron .
In the Gaza Strip on 29 November 2016, Israeli forces conducted a limited incursion in al-Shokah village, east of Rafah City in the southern Gaza Strip. They levelled and combed the area in addition to establishing sand barriers in the area. They later redeployed along the border.
Creating Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem:
In the context of house demolitions, on 29 November 2016, Israeli municipality demolished with hand tools two rooms and 35-square-meter balcony located in the “Central neighbourhood” in the area in Silwan village, south of occupied Jerusalem’s Old City. The two rooms are part of a house belonging to al-Shyoukhi family that is comprised of 10 members. The house was built ten years ago.
On the same day, the Israeli municipality demolished a house in al-Mukaber Mount neighbourhood, southeast of the city, under the pretext of building without a license. The 110-square-meter house, which belongs to ‘Issam Khalaylah family, shelters 9 members, including 6 children.
Settlement activities and settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property:
On 20 November 2016, Israeli forces distributed 12 notices to halt construction works for Palestinian families in Kherbet Um al-Khair, southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron, under the pretext of building without a license from the Israeli authorities.
Restrictions on movement:
Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 2 million people.
The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 65%. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 47% and youth constitutes 65% of the unemployed persons. Moreover, 80% of the Gaza Strip population depends on international aid to secure their minimum daily needs. These rates indicate the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued to suffocate the Palestinian cities and village by imposing military checkpoints around and/or between them. This created “cantons” isolated from each other that hinders the movement of civilians. Moreover, the Palestinian civilians suffering aggravated because of the annexation wall and checkpoints erected on daily basis to catch Palestinians.
West Bank:
Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.
Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.
Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.
House demolitions and demolition notices:
Israeli Settlers Attacks:
Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian child in the the northern part of occupied Jerusalem, while forces conducted 57 incursions into Palestinian communities across the West Bank, and one in the southern Gaza Strip. 68 civilians, including 19 children, were taken into Israeli custody.
Shooting:
Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child in Sho’fat refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem.
In occupied Jerusalem, in excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces stationed at Sho’fat checkpoint, north of occupied Jerusalem killed a Palestinian child. Israeli forces claimed that he attempted to stab an Israeli security officer with a knife he hid under his clothes. However, PCHR’s investigations refuted this claim.
In the Gaza Strip, in context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 26 November 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats and chased them. The shooting recurred on the dame day afternoon in the same area. It should be noted the fishing boats were sailing within 4 nautical miles and no casualties were reported. Moreover, similar attacks recurred on 27 and 28 November 2016 while fishing boats were sailing within 3 nautical miles. However, neither casualties nor damages to the boats were reported
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 57 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 8 others in occupied Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 68 Palestinian civilians, including 19 children. Twenty-one of them, including 11 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
Among those arrest, Israeli forces arrested Dr ‘Azzam No’aman ‘Abdel Rahman Salhab (60), a PLC Member from the Change and Reform bloc affiliated with Hamas, and Anas Hatem Qafishah, who is the son of another PLC Member and arrested from his family house in Hebron .
In the Gaza Strip on 29 November 2016, Israeli forces conducted a limited incursion in al-Shokah village, east of Rafah City in the southern Gaza Strip. They levelled and combed the area in addition to establishing sand barriers in the area. They later redeployed along the border.
Creating Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem:
In the context of house demolitions, on 29 November 2016, Israeli municipality demolished with hand tools two rooms and 35-square-meter balcony located in the “Central neighbourhood” in the area in Silwan village, south of occupied Jerusalem’s Old City. The two rooms are part of a house belonging to al-Shyoukhi family that is comprised of 10 members. The house was built ten years ago.
On the same day, the Israeli municipality demolished a house in al-Mukaber Mount neighbourhood, southeast of the city, under the pretext of building without a license. The 110-square-meter house, which belongs to ‘Issam Khalaylah family, shelters 9 members, including 6 children.
Settlement activities and settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property:
On 20 November 2016, Israeli forces distributed 12 notices to halt construction works for Palestinian families in Kherbet Um al-Khair, southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron, under the pretext of building without a license from the Israeli authorities.
Restrictions on movement:
Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 2 million people.
The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 65%. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 47% and youth constitutes 65% of the unemployed persons. Moreover, 80% of the Gaza Strip population depends on international aid to secure their minimum daily needs. These rates indicate the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued to suffocate the Palestinian cities and village by imposing military checkpoints around and/or between them. This created “cantons” isolated from each other that hinders the movement of civilians. Moreover, the Palestinian civilians suffering aggravated because of the annexation wall and checkpoints erected on daily basis to catch Palestinians.
- Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall
West Bank:
- Following the Friday prayer on Friday, 25 November 2016, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized demonstrations in Bil’in and Ni’lin villages, west of Ramallah; al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of the city and Kafer Qadoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, protesting against the annexation wall and settlement activities. Israeli forces forcibly dispersed the protests, firing live and metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. They also chased the protesters into olive fields and houses. As a result, many of the protesters suffered tear gas inhalation while others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
- Continued closure of the oPt
Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.
Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.
Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.
House demolitions and demolition notices:
- At approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, 29 November 2016, the Israeli municipality partially damaged a house belonging to al-Shayyoukhi family in Selwan village, south of Occupied Jerusalem’s Old City, under the pretext of non-licensing. Mos’ab al-Shayyoukhi said to PCHR’s fieldworker that at approximately 03:00, Israeli border guard officers accompanied with special forces raided his family’s house in Selwan village in preparation for demolishing parts of the house with hand tools. He added that the municipality crews destroyed two rooms and a balcony of a 35 square meters with hand tools. Moreover, he said that his mother and siblings (10 members) has been living in the abovementioned house for 10 years. He also said that a year and a half ago Israeli municipality handed them an administrative demolition notice. However the Israeli municipality handed them a house demolition order now.
- At approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, 29 November 2016, Israeli municipality demolished a house belonging to ‘Esam Khalaylah in al-Mokaber Mount area, southeast of Occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. ‘Esam said to PCHR’s fieldworker that at approximately 09:00, on the same day, Israeli vehicles surprised him and demolished his 110-square-meter house. It should be noted that 9 persons, including 6 children, live in the abovementioned building.’Esam added that all the family members would be forced to live in one room belonging to his uncle because of his inability to find a suitable house.
Israeli Settlers Attacks:
- On Sunday, 27 November 2016, 5 Israeli settlers assaulted Khalid ‘Amer ‘Aliyan (22) while returning from his work to his house in Surbaher village, south of Occupied East Jerusalem. As a result, Khalid sustained bruises throughout the body and his left shoulder was dislocated. He was then taken to Hadassah Hospital to receive medical treatment. ‘Esam’s brother, Mohamed, said that ‘Esam’s friend, who works with him in the same super market left work before ‘Esam. He told Mohamed that he saw Israeli settlers attacking ‘Esam with sticks. In the meantime, he attempted to defend ‘Esam and help him. The Israeli settlers then fled by private car. After that, ‘Esam’s friend called a PRCS ambulance to come quickly and help them. The ambulance arrived and took ‘Esam to Hadassah Hospital, where medical sources stated that ‘Esam sustained bruises throughout the body and his left shoulder was dislocated. Moreover, they told him that he needs to stay in the hospital for one week. It should be noted that Khalid is a former prisoner and was arrested last year in September. In addition, he was released in April after he served 7 months in Megiddo and Negev prisons.
- Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property
- On Monday, 28 November 2016, Israeli forces ordered 6 persons from al-Khadir village, south of Bethlehem, to stop building their houses, which are under construction. Ahmed Salah, Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Settlements in al-Khadir village, said that Israeli forces accompanied with a crew from the Organization and Construction Department of the Israeli Civil Administration raided Um Rokba area, south of the village. They handed 6 persons notices to stop construction under the pretext of non-licensing. The abovementioned persons were identified as Nadir, Abdullah and Ibrahim Saleh Salah; Maher al-Rajabi; Anwar Mahmoud Rasheed; and Khadir Shaheen. It should be noted that Um Rokba area was exposed to Israeli forces’ attacks for years. For example, they prevented civilians from building by handing them notices.
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