6 dec 2018
44% of Israelis believe the latest cessation of hostilities on the blockaded Gaza Strip is a wrong decision, a poll conducted by Hebrew-speaking Maariv daily has found out.
According to the poll, 57% of respondents said they believe the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has failed to protect Israel’s security.
76% of Israelis believe that Netanyahu’s performance in the recent round of hostilities with Hamas was very weak. 41% approved of Netanyahu’s policies.
The poll showed that 33% of Israelis think that Benny Gantz is the best substitute for incumbent Netanyahu.
According to the poll, 57% of respondents said they believe the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has failed to protect Israel’s security.
76% of Israelis believe that Netanyahu’s performance in the recent round of hostilities with Hamas was very weak. 41% approved of Netanyahu’s policies.
The poll showed that 33% of Israelis think that Benny Gantz is the best substitute for incumbent Netanyahu.
3 dec 2018
At the entrances of Nablus governorate to the north-west, the towns of Deir Sharaf, Barqa and Bazaria, suffer from the scarcity of water, despite the fact that they live on a large water basin, while the nearby settlement of Shavei Shomron enjoys large amounts of water round the clock.
The residents of these towns, which number more than 40,000, are distressed and thirsty, while 1,200 settlers consume water twice as much they do.
Palestinians’ plantations die because of the lack of water in the summer, and the trees of Shavei Shomron settlement rise up in the sky due to abundant amounts of water.
Water guaranteed for settlers
Dirar Abu Omar, the Director of the Agricultural Relief Society in Nablus and the former deputy mayor of Barqa village for four years, said that the Israelis control the water basin in the settlement of Shomron, which gets its water from the water-well of the Palestinian neighboring village of Beit Iba. When the water level goes down to less than two meters, settlers get water around the clock.
He added that anyone observing the trees inside the Israeli military post and the settlement of Shomron, could see the size of the trees, which are no more than ten years old. The trees of the villages of Naqoura and Deir Sharaf, which are 60 years old, do not reach half of their size due to the lack of water.
The suffering in summer
The head of the council of Deir Sharaf village, Fahmi Nofal, confirms that only a street separates his town from the Israeli settlement. In the summer, the town suffers from lack of drinking water, and people are forced to buy water through tanks or to bring water from a water spring in the town.
Farmer Abdullah Antari says that dozens of dunums planted with citrus have dried up or decreased their produce due to the lack of water, after the village was known for orange and lemon produce, which was profitable for farmers, pointing out that one of the workers from the town at the settlement of Shomron has noticed the existence of swimming pools in the majority of the houses of the settlement, as well as pipes for watering plantations around the clock.
According to Mahmoud Saifi, the Director of the Land Research Center in Nablus, the Israeli occupation controls the Palestinian resources, including water, as well as the drilling of water-wells and the quantities of water allowed to be pumped, based on the Oslo Accords, without heeding the needs of the citizens for drinking water and for irrigating crops.
Israeli control
He added that the villages north-west of Nablus is an example of this, despite the presence of plenty of water under their land, and the passage of water lines in front of their homes.
According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the Israeli occupation controls 85% of the water flowing from the aquifers, forcing the Palestinians to purchase water from the Israeli water company Mekorot; the amount of water purchased amounted to 63.5 million m3.
The Israeli occupation also controls most of the renewable water resources in Palestine, amounting to about 750 million m3 annually, while the Palestinians receive only about 110 million m3 of the available resources.
The Palestinian share of the aquifers according to the Oslo Accords is 118 million m3. This quantity was supposed to become 200 million m3 by the year 2000, if the Oslo Accords were implemented.
According to Engineer Mazen Ghoneim, the Head of the Water Authority in Palestine, the daily ration of water of Israeli settlers is from 400 to 800 liters, compared to 45-50 liters for the Palestinians.
The residents of these towns, which number more than 40,000, are distressed and thirsty, while 1,200 settlers consume water twice as much they do.
Palestinians’ plantations die because of the lack of water in the summer, and the trees of Shavei Shomron settlement rise up in the sky due to abundant amounts of water.
Water guaranteed for settlers
Dirar Abu Omar, the Director of the Agricultural Relief Society in Nablus and the former deputy mayor of Barqa village for four years, said that the Israelis control the water basin in the settlement of Shomron, which gets its water from the water-well of the Palestinian neighboring village of Beit Iba. When the water level goes down to less than two meters, settlers get water around the clock.
He added that anyone observing the trees inside the Israeli military post and the settlement of Shomron, could see the size of the trees, which are no more than ten years old. The trees of the villages of Naqoura and Deir Sharaf, which are 60 years old, do not reach half of their size due to the lack of water.
The suffering in summer
The head of the council of Deir Sharaf village, Fahmi Nofal, confirms that only a street separates his town from the Israeli settlement. In the summer, the town suffers from lack of drinking water, and people are forced to buy water through tanks or to bring water from a water spring in the town.
Farmer Abdullah Antari says that dozens of dunums planted with citrus have dried up or decreased their produce due to the lack of water, after the village was known for orange and lemon produce, which was profitable for farmers, pointing out that one of the workers from the town at the settlement of Shomron has noticed the existence of swimming pools in the majority of the houses of the settlement, as well as pipes for watering plantations around the clock.
According to Mahmoud Saifi, the Director of the Land Research Center in Nablus, the Israeli occupation controls the Palestinian resources, including water, as well as the drilling of water-wells and the quantities of water allowed to be pumped, based on the Oslo Accords, without heeding the needs of the citizens for drinking water and for irrigating crops.
Israeli control
He added that the villages north-west of Nablus is an example of this, despite the presence of plenty of water under their land, and the passage of water lines in front of their homes.
According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the Israeli occupation controls 85% of the water flowing from the aquifers, forcing the Palestinians to purchase water from the Israeli water company Mekorot; the amount of water purchased amounted to 63.5 million m3.
The Israeli occupation also controls most of the renewable water resources in Palestine, amounting to about 750 million m3 annually, while the Palestinians receive only about 110 million m3 of the available resources.
The Palestinian share of the aquifers according to the Oslo Accords is 118 million m3. This quantity was supposed to become 200 million m3 by the year 2000, if the Oslo Accords were implemented.
According to Engineer Mazen Ghoneim, the Head of the Water Authority in Palestine, the daily ration of water of Israeli settlers is from 400 to 800 liters, compared to 45-50 liters for the Palestinians.
225,228 persons suffered from at least one difficulty, which constitute 5.8% of the total population of Palestine; 127,266 in the West Bank constituting 5.1% of the total population of West Bank, and 127,962 in Gaza Strip constituting 6.8% of the total population of Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said in a report published on Monday that the number of people with disabilities in the Gaza Strip has sharply increased over the past 10 years from 3.7% of the total population to 6.8% in 2017.
The PCBS said, marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the percentage of people with disabilities increased in Gaza Strip in 2017 compared to a slight decrease in the West Bank.
On the other hand, said the PCBS, the percentage of persons with difficulties in Palestine in 2017 among males was 6.3% and 5.4% among females, while 2007 data indicated that the percentage reached 4.8% among males and 4.6% among females.
Statistics showed that 2.9% of the total persons in Palestine are with mobility difficulties in 2017. Seeing difficulty is the second most prevalent with 2.6%. Compared to 2007 seeing difficulty was the most prevalent with 2.5% in Palestine followed by mobility difficulty with 1.8% of total population.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Center for Prisoners Studies revealed that 33 Palestinians suffering physical or mental disabilities are currently held in Israeli jails amid very difficult detention conditions.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said in a report published on Monday that the number of people with disabilities in the Gaza Strip has sharply increased over the past 10 years from 3.7% of the total population to 6.8% in 2017.
The PCBS said, marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the percentage of people with disabilities increased in Gaza Strip in 2017 compared to a slight decrease in the West Bank.
On the other hand, said the PCBS, the percentage of persons with difficulties in Palestine in 2017 among males was 6.3% and 5.4% among females, while 2007 data indicated that the percentage reached 4.8% among males and 4.6% among females.
Statistics showed that 2.9% of the total persons in Palestine are with mobility difficulties in 2017. Seeing difficulty is the second most prevalent with 2.6%. Compared to 2007 seeing difficulty was the most prevalent with 2.5% in Palestine followed by mobility difficulty with 1.8% of total population.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Center for Prisoners Studies revealed that 33 Palestinians suffering physical or mental disabilities are currently held in Israeli jails amid very difficult detention conditions.
2 dec 2018
On Friday evening, 30 November 2018, Israeli forces wounded 58 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children and a paramedic in the peaceful demonstrations in the eastern Gaza Strip despite the decreasing intensity of the demonstrations there for the fifth week consecutively and absence of most means usually used during the demonstrations since the beginning of the Return and Breaking the Siege March 7 months ago.
According to observations by PCHR’s fieldworkers, for the fifth week since the beginning of the Return March on 30 March 2018, the demonstrators abstained from setting fire to tires while the attempts to cross the border fence and throw stones and incendiary balloons were completely absent.
Though the demonstrators were around tens of meters away from the border fence, the Israeli forces who stationed in sniper positions and military jeeps along the fence continued to use excessive force against the demonstrators by opening fire and firing teargas canisters at them, without the later posing any imminent threat or danger to the life of soldiers.
On 30 November 2018, the incidents were as follows:
At approximately 14:30, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started swarming to the five encampments established by the Supreme National Authority of Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege adjacent to the border fence with Israel in eastern Gaza Strip cities and raised flags, chanted national songs in addition to organizing sportive and folklore performances inside the encampments and its yards. Hundreds, including children and women, approached the border fence with Israel in front of each encampment and gathered tens of meters away from the main border fence. Further, setting fire to tires, throwing stones, incendiary balloons and Molotov cocktails were almost absent.
Despite the prevailing calmness, the Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets in addition to hundreds of teargas canisters, particualry in eastern Jabalia, Gaza and al-Bureij refugee camp. The Israeli shooting, which continued at around 17:00, resulted in the injury of 58 Palestinian civilians, including 14 child and a paramedic. Doctors classified 4 civilians’ injury as serious. In addition, hundreds suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures due to tear gas canisters that were fired by the Israeli forces from the military jeeps and riffles in the eastern Gaza Strip.
The following table shows the number of civilian victims due to the Israeli forces’ suppression of the Great March of Return since its beginning on 30 March
Notes Medical Crews Journalists Women Children Total Casualties
Among those Killed, there were 6 Persons
with Disabilities and a girl. 3 2 1 33 175 Killed
148 118 274 1717 9621 Wounded
Among those wounded, 508 are in serious condition and 94 had their lower or upper limbs amputated; 82 lower-limb amputations, 2 upper-limb amputations, 10 finger amputations and 17 children had their limbs amputated according to the Ministry of Health.
The number of those wounded only include those wounded with live bullet and directly hit with tear gas canisters as there have been thousand others who suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.
PCHR emphasizes that continuously targeting civilians, who exercise their right to peaceful assembly or while carrying out their humanitarian duty, is a serious violation of the rules of international law, international humanitarian law, the ICC Rome Statute and Fourth Geneva Convention.
Thus, PCHR calls upon the ICC Prosecutor to open an official investigation in these crimes and to prosecute and hold accountable all those applying or involved in issuing orders within the Israeli Forces at the security and political echelons.
PCHR hereby condemns the excessive use of force and commission of crimes by the Israeli forces despite the prevailed calmness, believing it is as a result of Israel’s enjoying impunity thanks to the U.S. and so encouraging the Israeli forces to commit further crimes upon an official decision by the highest military and political echelons.
PCHR also reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
PCHR calls upon Switzerland, in its capacity as the Depository State for the Convention, to demand the High Contracting Parties to convene a meeting and ensure Israel’s respect for this Convention, noting that these grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions regarding the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the occupied territories.
According to observations by PCHR’s fieldworkers, for the fifth week since the beginning of the Return March on 30 March 2018, the demonstrators abstained from setting fire to tires while the attempts to cross the border fence and throw stones and incendiary balloons were completely absent.
Though the demonstrators were around tens of meters away from the border fence, the Israeli forces who stationed in sniper positions and military jeeps along the fence continued to use excessive force against the demonstrators by opening fire and firing teargas canisters at them, without the later posing any imminent threat or danger to the life of soldiers.
On 30 November 2018, the incidents were as follows:
At approximately 14:30, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started swarming to the five encampments established by the Supreme National Authority of Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege adjacent to the border fence with Israel in eastern Gaza Strip cities and raised flags, chanted national songs in addition to organizing sportive and folklore performances inside the encampments and its yards. Hundreds, including children and women, approached the border fence with Israel in front of each encampment and gathered tens of meters away from the main border fence. Further, setting fire to tires, throwing stones, incendiary balloons and Molotov cocktails were almost absent.
Despite the prevailing calmness, the Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets in addition to hundreds of teargas canisters, particualry in eastern Jabalia, Gaza and al-Bureij refugee camp. The Israeli shooting, which continued at around 17:00, resulted in the injury of 58 Palestinian civilians, including 14 child and a paramedic. Doctors classified 4 civilians’ injury as serious. In addition, hundreds suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures due to tear gas canisters that were fired by the Israeli forces from the military jeeps and riffles in the eastern Gaza Strip.
The following table shows the number of civilian victims due to the Israeli forces’ suppression of the Great March of Return since its beginning on 30 March
Notes Medical Crews Journalists Women Children Total Casualties
Among those Killed, there were 6 Persons
with Disabilities and a girl. 3 2 1 33 175 Killed
148 118 274 1717 9621 Wounded
Among those wounded, 508 are in serious condition and 94 had their lower or upper limbs amputated; 82 lower-limb amputations, 2 upper-limb amputations, 10 finger amputations and 17 children had their limbs amputated according to the Ministry of Health.
The number of those wounded only include those wounded with live bullet and directly hit with tear gas canisters as there have been thousand others who suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.
PCHR emphasizes that continuously targeting civilians, who exercise their right to peaceful assembly or while carrying out their humanitarian duty, is a serious violation of the rules of international law, international humanitarian law, the ICC Rome Statute and Fourth Geneva Convention.
Thus, PCHR calls upon the ICC Prosecutor to open an official investigation in these crimes and to prosecute and hold accountable all those applying or involved in issuing orders within the Israeli Forces at the security and political echelons.
PCHR hereby condemns the excessive use of force and commission of crimes by the Israeli forces despite the prevailed calmness, believing it is as a result of Israel’s enjoying impunity thanks to the U.S. and so encouraging the Israeli forces to commit further crimes upon an official decision by the highest military and political echelons.
PCHR also reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
PCHR calls upon Switzerland, in its capacity as the Depository State for the Convention, to demand the High Contracting Parties to convene a meeting and ensure Israel’s respect for this Convention, noting that these grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions regarding the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the occupied territories.
~Doctors Without Borders/Days of Palestine
The vast majority of the 3,117 patients treated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) between 30 March and 31 October – out of the total 5,866 the Ministry of Health says have been injured by live fire – had been shot in the leg. Around half suffered open fractures, with severe soft tissue damage to many of the rest.
These are complex and serious injuries that do not quickly heal. Their severity and the lack of appropriate treatment in Gaza’s crippled health system means that infection is a high risk, especially for patients with open fractures.
Gaza currently lacks the ability to properly diagnose bone infections, but from experience MSF expects that at least 25 per cent of patients with fractures are infected. Out of roughly 3,000 open fractures, this means it is likely that more than 1,000 patients are infected.
Based on a preliminary analysis of MSF’s patients in Gaza, we estimate that at least 60 per cent of the total number of injured patients treated by all health providers – a massive 3,520 people – will need further surgery, physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
A significant proportion of those patients will require some form of reconstructive surgery to properly heal, but untreated infections will prevent that from happening.
This burden is too much to bear for the health system in Gaza in its current form, weakened as it is by more than a decade of blockade.
Such a large number of injuries affects not just the injured; it also puts a strain on the provision of regular healthcare in Gaza.
The consequences of these wounds – especially if untreated – will be lifelong disability for many, and if infections are not tackled then the results could be amputation or even death.
Although MSF and other organisations are working hard to provide treatment for these patients, the scale of the needs is quickly becoming overwhelming, challenging our continued ability to respond.
The situation is also worsening as more people are shot, wounded flesh and bone dies, and the risk of infection increases.
An adequate response will cost tens of millions of euros – money that urgently needs to be found.
“MSF has already tripled its capacity in Gaza but the required volume of surgery, carefully managed antibiotics, intensive nursing care, and long-term physiotherapy and rehabilitation is staggering,” said Marie-Elisabeth Ingres, MSF’s head of mission in Palestine.
What is required now is:
As Ingres concludes, “the alternative – that thousands of patients will be left to deal with terrible injuries, with many permanently disabled and dependent on their families – is unconscionable when adequate treatment is within the world’s grasp.”
The vast majority of the 3,117 patients treated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) between 30 March and 31 October – out of the total 5,866 the Ministry of Health says have been injured by live fire – had been shot in the leg. Around half suffered open fractures, with severe soft tissue damage to many of the rest.
These are complex and serious injuries that do not quickly heal. Their severity and the lack of appropriate treatment in Gaza’s crippled health system means that infection is a high risk, especially for patients with open fractures.
Gaza currently lacks the ability to properly diagnose bone infections, but from experience MSF expects that at least 25 per cent of patients with fractures are infected. Out of roughly 3,000 open fractures, this means it is likely that more than 1,000 patients are infected.
Based on a preliminary analysis of MSF’s patients in Gaza, we estimate that at least 60 per cent of the total number of injured patients treated by all health providers – a massive 3,520 people – will need further surgery, physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
A significant proportion of those patients will require some form of reconstructive surgery to properly heal, but untreated infections will prevent that from happening.
This burden is too much to bear for the health system in Gaza in its current form, weakened as it is by more than a decade of blockade.
Such a large number of injuries affects not just the injured; it also puts a strain on the provision of regular healthcare in Gaza.
The consequences of these wounds – especially if untreated – will be lifelong disability for many, and if infections are not tackled then the results could be amputation or even death.
Although MSF and other organisations are working hard to provide treatment for these patients, the scale of the needs is quickly becoming overwhelming, challenging our continued ability to respond.
The situation is also worsening as more people are shot, wounded flesh and bone dies, and the risk of infection increases.
An adequate response will cost tens of millions of euros – money that urgently needs to be found.
“MSF has already tripled its capacity in Gaza but the required volume of surgery, carefully managed antibiotics, intensive nursing care, and long-term physiotherapy and rehabilitation is staggering,” said Marie-Elisabeth Ingres, MSF’s head of mission in Palestine.
What is required now is:
- for the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to do all they can to facilitate the free access and work of all healthcare providers in Gaza that are trying to build the advanced capacity to care for these people;
- for other countries in the region and around the globe to step forward and offer funding and space in their hospitals where advanced surgical capacity exists; and
- for authorities in Palestine and Israel to facilitate the transfer of these patients abroad.
As Ingres concludes, “the alternative – that thousands of patients will be left to deal with terrible injuries, with many permanently disabled and dependent on their families – is unconscionable when adequate treatment is within the world’s grasp.”
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