2 july 2014
Ministry of Information welcomed the International Federation of Journalists issuing a decision expelling ‘Israel’ from its membership. The ministry said in a statement published on Wednesday that the move, albeit late, is in the right direction and a normal reaction to the Israeli occupation crimes against the people and the violations of press freedom.
Director-General of the Government Information Office, Mr Salamah Marouf said that "Such a move comes after many demands by the ministry and other Palestinian media bodies,”
Marouf called on all relevant regional and international institutions to take the same step, urging for a follow-up prosecution of the Israeli occupation murderers of Palestinian media workers by international courts.
He called for unifying Palestinian press movement in the framework of a unitary union that has the potential to confront the occupation propaganda and win for the sacrifices made by the Palestinian journalists.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a decision expelling ‘Israel’ from the IFJ.
In a meeting of the IFJ which took place in Brussels on 28 and 29 of June, 14 countries out of 17 voted in favor of the decision with 3 abstaining.
The IFJ was founded in 1926 and re-founded in 1946 and 1952. It represents more than 600,000 journalists working in 140 countries worldwide.
Director-General of the Government Information Office, Mr Salamah Marouf said that "Such a move comes after many demands by the ministry and other Palestinian media bodies,”
Marouf called on all relevant regional and international institutions to take the same step, urging for a follow-up prosecution of the Israeli occupation murderers of Palestinian media workers by international courts.
He called for unifying Palestinian press movement in the framework of a unitary union that has the potential to confront the occupation propaganda and win for the sacrifices made by the Palestinian journalists.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a decision expelling ‘Israel’ from the IFJ.
In a meeting of the IFJ which took place in Brussels on 28 and 29 of June, 14 countries out of 17 voted in favor of the decision with 3 abstaining.
The IFJ was founded in 1926 and re-founded in 1946 and 1952. It represents more than 600,000 journalists working in 140 countries worldwide.
Israeli occupation forces stole thousands of shekels from Palestinians during raid and search campaigns into their homes. A few days ago, IOF soldiers stormed the Palestinian citizen Sherif Qawadra’s home in Jenin where they stole 11 thousand shekels.
The Israeli officer asked Qawadra to hand them 11 thousands shekels after violently breaking into his home accompanied with a large military force.
When he told them that he did not have the demanded amount of money, the officer confiscated his agricultural tractor.
The citizen Milad Massad, from Jenin, was arrested recently during the Israeli latest military campaign in the West Bank. His car was also confiscated during his arrest.
Several Palestinian families were subjected to similar incidents. Said Shaban, from Jenin, was forced to hand all his money to the Israeli soldiers after raiding his home. In another incident, Israeli soldiers demanded 20 thousand dollars during their break-in into Jamal Abu Heija’s home.
During the past three weeks, IOF soldiers stole and confiscated Palestinian citizens’ money, jewelry, and personal properties as part of Israeli revenge and collective punishment policy.
Activist Mohamed Tawil said that thefts had noticeably escalated during the recent Israeli raids and search operations. The thefts were carried out systematically and individually, he added.
The Israeli officer asked Qawadra to hand them 11 thousands shekels after violently breaking into his home accompanied with a large military force.
When he told them that he did not have the demanded amount of money, the officer confiscated his agricultural tractor.
The citizen Milad Massad, from Jenin, was arrested recently during the Israeli latest military campaign in the West Bank. His car was also confiscated during his arrest.
Several Palestinian families were subjected to similar incidents. Said Shaban, from Jenin, was forced to hand all his money to the Israeli soldiers after raiding his home. In another incident, Israeli soldiers demanded 20 thousand dollars during their break-in into Jamal Abu Heija’s home.
During the past three weeks, IOF soldiers stole and confiscated Palestinian citizens’ money, jewelry, and personal properties as part of Israeli revenge and collective punishment policy.
Activist Mohamed Tawil said that thefts had noticeably escalated during the recent Israeli raids and search operations. The thefts were carried out systematically and individually, he added.
Settler attacks escalate following discovery of teens' bodies
Human rights groups have condemned the recent Israeli aggressions against Palestinians, which include, in addition to increased settler violence, the killing of a Jenin youth, the demolition of homes in Hebron and the extensive bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip. The Euro-Mid Observer, furthermore, has released to the public its recent findings on Israeli abuses against Palestinian children.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), in a recent statement, called upon the international community “to take immediate and effective actions to put an end to such crimes", and reiterated its call for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to “fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances, and their obligation under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
“These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions,” said the statement.
WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency reports that members of an Israeli undercover unit opened fire on Yousef Abu Zagha, 20, while he was on his way back home from buying food for the pre-fast meal in observance of Ramadan. Yousef was killed instantly with three bullets to the heart, the left shoulder and forearm.
According to eyewitnesses, the area went completely quiet after the unit fired at him.
Concerning the demolitions of the homes of alleged Hamas suspects, in Hebron, PCHR noted that “the destruction of the two houses is part of the collective punishment policy and reprisals against Palestinian civilians in violation of Article 33 of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to Protection of Civilians in Times of War which provides: “No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.”
Furthermore, in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli air force launched 11 strikes, in which 44 missiles were fired on paramilitary training sites and agricultural stores.
The Euro-Mid Observer for Human Rights, noted in a recent statement, as well, that Israel commits numerous human rights violations against illegally arrested Palestinian children, to include torture and coerced confessions during their detention, in violation of international laws.
“As Israel conducts a wave of mass home break-ins and arrests across the West Bank in retaliation for the alleged kidnapping of three youth from one of its illegal settlements, a new report documents that Palestinian children are at much greater, ongoing risk from Israeli forces," the statement begins.
According to the organization, between 2,000 and 3,000 Palestinian children and youth are arrested annually by Israeli authorities, with an average of 400 a year. Child detainees are as young as 12 and 15 years old.
By Euro-Mid's account, WAFA further reports that Israeli authorities have raided more than 1,500 Palestinian homes and businesses and arrested more than 550 Palestinians, “in a search for the kidnappers and an attempt to wipe out the Hamas political party, which it has labeled as responsible without citing evidence.”
Israeli settlers have also intensified their attacks against Palestinians, according to WAFA, after the bodies of three settlers, allegedly abducted by Hamas members, were uncovered in the town of Halhoul, near Hebron, in a field not far from where they reportedly went missing.
According to witnesses, a Palestinian child escaped a kidnapping attempt by a settler in Jerusalem.
Apparently, the settler attempted to force the child into his car in Sha'fat, outside of Jerusalem, where residents managed to pry him out of the setter’s hands.
The child was transferred to hospital for treatment.
Just previously, on the preceeding night, a number of settlers assaulted a Palestinian taxi driver in the city of Jerusalem, spraying pepper gas into his face. He was also taken to a hospital, following the incident.
West of Jerusalem, settlers attacked and severely beat another Palestinian youth.
Additionally, 'price tag' vandals painted racist graffiti on the walls near the illegal settlement of Beit Shemesh, also in Jerusalem.
“Six Palestinians have died as a result (of the intesified raids) – including a 14-year-old boy who was shot in the chest at point-blank range and a 78-year-old woman who suffered a heart attack during a house raid,” Euro-Mid Observer went on to say, adding that their findings echo previous conclusions made by other international groups:
In a report filed in February of 2013, UNICEF found that the abuse of children who come into contact with the Israeli military detention system "appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalized throughout the process.”
Ihsan Adel, a legal officer at the Euro-Mid, notes: “The Israeli police or military typically break into homes in the middle of the night or take youth right off the streets without telling them what they are charged with or informing their parents, as required by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
“How is that different from the reported kidnapping of the Israeli students?" Adel asks. "And yet it is occurring every day, every year. Where is the international outrage?”
Euro-Mid Observer: Shocking findings about Palestinian children in Israeli jails
The Geneva-Based Euro-Mid Observer for Human Rights documented the annual Israeli arrest of about 3,000 Palestinian children, mostly aged between 12 and 15 years old, calling on the international community to act against such “a flagrant breach to human rights treaties.” At a time when West Bankers have been permanent targets of Israeli terror acts, home raids and abduction campaigns, scores of Palestinian children have been kidnapped in the early months of 2014, corroborated by dozens of videotaped sworn affidavits, the EMHRN said in a report on the Israeli violations of Palestinian children’s rights.
75% of the incarcerated minors have been subjected to physical torture while 25% are brought before Israeli military courts, the report pointed out.
Israeli occupation troops stormed more than 1500 Palestinian homes and shops over the past three weeks and kidnapped more than 600 Palestinians, including children below the age of 18.
According to the Euro-Mid Legal Counsel Ihsan Adel, the Israeli police and army have been launching overnight raids on Palestinian homes and capturing Palestinian minors without updating their families about the charges.
Countless cases of random kidnaps, torture testimonies, and violations of the convention of Children’s Rights, signed by Israel in 1991, featured in the report.
The Euro-Mid kept record of numerous occasions during which Palestinian minors have been kidnapped in Israeli overnight home-raids, generating a state of unparalleled anxiety and panic among the children and their families with no legitimate reasons.
Blowing up Palestinians’ home gates, snatching a child from his/her own bed, resorting to psycho-physical torture, and locking minors up in solitary cells, have all been Israeli terror tactics to agonize Palestinian children, both in the interrogation and pre-interrogation phases.
The Israeli occupation authorities have not only been incarcerating Palestinian children in solitary cells that often cover a very narrow area but also denying them their right and need to be visited by their lawyers and parents, even during the court hearings.
It is almost impossible for the child to stand against the dark-gray-colored cell walls, covered with protrusions from all sides.
Adviser Ihsan Adel detected a genuine compatibility between the Euro-Mid report and the findings of a UNICEF survey conducted in 2013 warning that: “The abuse of Palestinian children under the Israeli military detention system is a large-scale, systematic, and pre-planned tactic.”
“Neither the spontaneity of childhood nor children’s right to live in safety seem to really matter for the Israeli occupation,” the report concluded, calling on the international and human rights institutions to immediately step in so as to halt such unspeakable Israeli violations of Palestinian children’s rights.
“No human being shall ever turn blind eyes and deaf ears to any such kidnaps or tortures against children,” researcher in the Department of Political Science, Sandra Owen, said, as she raised alarm bells over the 1406 Palestinian children killed since 2000, including 263 below the age of 8 and 450 below 15.
“Is not the tragedy of Palestinian children worth the fuss launched following the disappearance of the three Israeli soldiers?” Sandra Owen wondered.
related: DCI Report: Growing Up Between Israeli Settlements and Soldiers
Human rights groups have condemned the recent Israeli aggressions against Palestinians, which include, in addition to increased settler violence, the killing of a Jenin youth, the demolition of homes in Hebron and the extensive bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip. The Euro-Mid Observer, furthermore, has released to the public its recent findings on Israeli abuses against Palestinian children.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), in a recent statement, called upon the international community “to take immediate and effective actions to put an end to such crimes", and reiterated its call for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to “fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances, and their obligation under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
“These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions,” said the statement.
WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency reports that members of an Israeli undercover unit opened fire on Yousef Abu Zagha, 20, while he was on his way back home from buying food for the pre-fast meal in observance of Ramadan. Yousef was killed instantly with three bullets to the heart, the left shoulder and forearm.
According to eyewitnesses, the area went completely quiet after the unit fired at him.
Concerning the demolitions of the homes of alleged Hamas suspects, in Hebron, PCHR noted that “the destruction of the two houses is part of the collective punishment policy and reprisals against Palestinian civilians in violation of Article 33 of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to Protection of Civilians in Times of War which provides: “No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.”
Furthermore, in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli air force launched 11 strikes, in which 44 missiles were fired on paramilitary training sites and agricultural stores.
The Euro-Mid Observer for Human Rights, noted in a recent statement, as well, that Israel commits numerous human rights violations against illegally arrested Palestinian children, to include torture and coerced confessions during their detention, in violation of international laws.
“As Israel conducts a wave of mass home break-ins and arrests across the West Bank in retaliation for the alleged kidnapping of three youth from one of its illegal settlements, a new report documents that Palestinian children are at much greater, ongoing risk from Israeli forces," the statement begins.
According to the organization, between 2,000 and 3,000 Palestinian children and youth are arrested annually by Israeli authorities, with an average of 400 a year. Child detainees are as young as 12 and 15 years old.
By Euro-Mid's account, WAFA further reports that Israeli authorities have raided more than 1,500 Palestinian homes and businesses and arrested more than 550 Palestinians, “in a search for the kidnappers and an attempt to wipe out the Hamas political party, which it has labeled as responsible without citing evidence.”
Israeli settlers have also intensified their attacks against Palestinians, according to WAFA, after the bodies of three settlers, allegedly abducted by Hamas members, were uncovered in the town of Halhoul, near Hebron, in a field not far from where they reportedly went missing.
According to witnesses, a Palestinian child escaped a kidnapping attempt by a settler in Jerusalem.
Apparently, the settler attempted to force the child into his car in Sha'fat, outside of Jerusalem, where residents managed to pry him out of the setter’s hands.
The child was transferred to hospital for treatment.
Just previously, on the preceeding night, a number of settlers assaulted a Palestinian taxi driver in the city of Jerusalem, spraying pepper gas into his face. He was also taken to a hospital, following the incident.
West of Jerusalem, settlers attacked and severely beat another Palestinian youth.
Additionally, 'price tag' vandals painted racist graffiti on the walls near the illegal settlement of Beit Shemesh, also in Jerusalem.
“Six Palestinians have died as a result (of the intesified raids) – including a 14-year-old boy who was shot in the chest at point-blank range and a 78-year-old woman who suffered a heart attack during a house raid,” Euro-Mid Observer went on to say, adding that their findings echo previous conclusions made by other international groups:
In a report filed in February of 2013, UNICEF found that the abuse of children who come into contact with the Israeli military detention system "appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalized throughout the process.”
Ihsan Adel, a legal officer at the Euro-Mid, notes: “The Israeli police or military typically break into homes in the middle of the night or take youth right off the streets without telling them what they are charged with or informing their parents, as required by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
“How is that different from the reported kidnapping of the Israeli students?" Adel asks. "And yet it is occurring every day, every year. Where is the international outrage?”
Euro-Mid Observer: Shocking findings about Palestinian children in Israeli jails
The Geneva-Based Euro-Mid Observer for Human Rights documented the annual Israeli arrest of about 3,000 Palestinian children, mostly aged between 12 and 15 years old, calling on the international community to act against such “a flagrant breach to human rights treaties.” At a time when West Bankers have been permanent targets of Israeli terror acts, home raids and abduction campaigns, scores of Palestinian children have been kidnapped in the early months of 2014, corroborated by dozens of videotaped sworn affidavits, the EMHRN said in a report on the Israeli violations of Palestinian children’s rights.
75% of the incarcerated minors have been subjected to physical torture while 25% are brought before Israeli military courts, the report pointed out.
Israeli occupation troops stormed more than 1500 Palestinian homes and shops over the past three weeks and kidnapped more than 600 Palestinians, including children below the age of 18.
According to the Euro-Mid Legal Counsel Ihsan Adel, the Israeli police and army have been launching overnight raids on Palestinian homes and capturing Palestinian minors without updating their families about the charges.
Countless cases of random kidnaps, torture testimonies, and violations of the convention of Children’s Rights, signed by Israel in 1991, featured in the report.
The Euro-Mid kept record of numerous occasions during which Palestinian minors have been kidnapped in Israeli overnight home-raids, generating a state of unparalleled anxiety and panic among the children and their families with no legitimate reasons.
Blowing up Palestinians’ home gates, snatching a child from his/her own bed, resorting to psycho-physical torture, and locking minors up in solitary cells, have all been Israeli terror tactics to agonize Palestinian children, both in the interrogation and pre-interrogation phases.
The Israeli occupation authorities have not only been incarcerating Palestinian children in solitary cells that often cover a very narrow area but also denying them their right and need to be visited by their lawyers and parents, even during the court hearings.
It is almost impossible for the child to stand against the dark-gray-colored cell walls, covered with protrusions from all sides.
Adviser Ihsan Adel detected a genuine compatibility between the Euro-Mid report and the findings of a UNICEF survey conducted in 2013 warning that: “The abuse of Palestinian children under the Israeli military detention system is a large-scale, systematic, and pre-planned tactic.”
“Neither the spontaneity of childhood nor children’s right to live in safety seem to really matter for the Israeli occupation,” the report concluded, calling on the international and human rights institutions to immediately step in so as to halt such unspeakable Israeli violations of Palestinian children’s rights.
“No human being shall ever turn blind eyes and deaf ears to any such kidnaps or tortures against children,” researcher in the Department of Political Science, Sandra Owen, said, as she raised alarm bells over the 1406 Palestinian children killed since 2000, including 263 below the age of 8 and 450 below 15.
“Is not the tragedy of Palestinian children worth the fuss launched following the disappearance of the three Israeli soldiers?” Sandra Owen wondered.
related: DCI Report: Growing Up Between Israeli Settlements and Soldiers
Head of the Census Department of the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees, Abdul-Nasser Ferwana, stated that the Israeli army has kidnapped 2478 Palestinians in the period between January 1 and June 30, of this year.
He stated that, after the three Israeli settlers went missing, on June 12, the Israeli army kidnapped nearly 600 Palestinians.
Ferwana added that, among the 2478 Palestinians kidnapped this year, the soldiers have kidnapped 412 children, and 39 women.
He stated that the number of arrests since the beginning of this year is more than a %27 increase compared to the same period of last year.
The former political prisoner further stated that the vast majority of arrests carried out by the army have nothing to do with the Israeli claims of security, but are only merely carried out as punishment, and as acts of revenge, and collective punishment against the entire Palestinian population.
He added that Israel’s ongoing crimes must be exposed to the international community, and must be ended, especially since the army deliberately targets civilians, including children, in direct violation of International Law.
He stated that, after the three Israeli settlers went missing, on June 12, the Israeli army kidnapped nearly 600 Palestinians.
Ferwana added that, among the 2478 Palestinians kidnapped this year, the soldiers have kidnapped 412 children, and 39 women.
He stated that the number of arrests since the beginning of this year is more than a %27 increase compared to the same period of last year.
The former political prisoner further stated that the vast majority of arrests carried out by the army have nothing to do with the Israeli claims of security, but are only merely carried out as punishment, and as acts of revenge, and collective punishment against the entire Palestinian population.
He added that Israel’s ongoing crimes must be exposed to the international community, and must be ended, especially since the army deliberately targets civilians, including children, in direct violation of International Law.
30 june 2014
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem on Monday called on the Israeli government to refrain from acts of vengeance after the bodies of three missing Israeli teens were found near Hebron.
"B'Tselem cautions the security forces to avoid harming the innocent Palestinian population, or abusing the public atmosphere in Israel with the discovery of the bodies, to impose collective punishment, as was done in the past two weeks as part of the searches," the group said.
"The deliberate harming of an entire civilian population as punishment for the actions of individuals is both illegal and immoral."
The group also warned that Israeli security forces must prepare for possible acts of revenge by settlers.
Earlier, the group strongly condemned the abduction and killing of the three Israeli youths, calling the incident a "grave breach of international humanitarian law, and cannot be justified, regardless of the circumstances."
Israeli forces launched a military search campaign in response, arresting hundreds of Palestinians and shooting five dead. Over 100 were also injured throughout the operation.
"B'Tselem cautions the security forces to avoid harming the innocent Palestinian population, or abusing the public atmosphere in Israel with the discovery of the bodies, to impose collective punishment, as was done in the past two weeks as part of the searches," the group said.
"The deliberate harming of an entire civilian population as punishment for the actions of individuals is both illegal and immoral."
The group also warned that Israeli security forces must prepare for possible acts of revenge by settlers.
Earlier, the group strongly condemned the abduction and killing of the three Israeli youths, calling the incident a "grave breach of international humanitarian law, and cannot be justified, regardless of the circumstances."
Israeli forces launched a military search campaign in response, arresting hundreds of Palestinians and shooting five dead. Over 100 were also injured throughout the operation.
28 june 2014
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) called on Israel to ensure respect for international law, through avoiding punishing individuals for offences they have not personally committed or by imposing collective penalties.
In its weekly report issued on Friday, OCHA said that the large-scale Israeli military operations, which began on 13 June in the Hebron governorate following the suspected abduction of three Israeli youth, continued and expanded across the West Bank, with the stated objective of finding and releasing the youth, as well as undermining Hamas infrastructure.
Many of the operations triggered widespread clashes between Palestinian residents and Israeli forces in dozens of cities, villages and refugee camps, during which four Palestinian civilians were shot with live ammunition and killed, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed during post-13 June military operations to six, according to the report.
Additionally, a total of 106 Palestinians, including 28 children, were injured during the clashes, the report added.
Overall, Israeli forces conducted more than 300 search-and-arrest operations during the reporting period, some of which resulted in damage to property in homes searched. A total of 340 Palestinians were arrested during these operations, mostly alleged Hamas and Islamic Jihad members, including dozens who were released in 2011 in the context of a prisoner swap (the ‘Shalit deal’).
"A significant proportion of those arrested are being held under administrative detention orders, imprisonment without charge or trial. Consequently, the total number of administrative detainees in Israeli prisons increased since the beginning of the current operations from approximately 190 to at least 340, according to the Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association (Addameer)."
In the context of current military operations, the Israeli army raided 60 of Islamic associations, allegedly linked to Hamas, confiscated computers and other equipment, and shutdown 8 others by military order. These measures are expected to disrupt the delivery of services and assistance to thousands of beneficiaries.
The report also pointed out that movement restrictions continue disrupting access to services and places of work.
"Most of the movement restrictions imposed last week following the start of the current operations, primarily across the Hebron governorate, have remained in place, disrupting access of people to services, markets and workplaces, and resulting in significant economic losses."
The vast majority of Hebron governorate’s residents have remained subject to a series of additional movement restrictions, including preventing men aged between 16 and 50 from crossing the Wadi an Nar checkpoint, which controls the single route available for most Palestinians between the central and southern West Bank; the invalidation of permits to access East Jerusalem, Israel and some settlement areas; and preventing men between 20 and 50 years of age from traveling to Jordan via the Allenby Bridge, the report clarified.
In the northern West Bank, the main entrances to ‘Izbet at Tabib and ‘Azzun villages (Qalqiliya) have remained closed for the second consecutive week, forcing residents to use a long detour to reach main services and workplaces in Qalqiliya city and increasing transport costs.
On 17 and 18 June, the Israeli authorities demolished a total of 14 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C of the West Bank, due to the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, displacing 42 people, around half of whom were children, and affecting at least 50 others.
On the other hand, the UN report said that Erez passenger crossing has remained closed since 13 June preventing the vast majority of permit holders (primarily patients, senior businessmen and staff of international organizations) to leave or enter Gaza.
In its weekly report issued on Friday, OCHA said that the large-scale Israeli military operations, which began on 13 June in the Hebron governorate following the suspected abduction of three Israeli youth, continued and expanded across the West Bank, with the stated objective of finding and releasing the youth, as well as undermining Hamas infrastructure.
Many of the operations triggered widespread clashes between Palestinian residents and Israeli forces in dozens of cities, villages and refugee camps, during which four Palestinian civilians were shot with live ammunition and killed, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed during post-13 June military operations to six, according to the report.
Additionally, a total of 106 Palestinians, including 28 children, were injured during the clashes, the report added.
Overall, Israeli forces conducted more than 300 search-and-arrest operations during the reporting period, some of which resulted in damage to property in homes searched. A total of 340 Palestinians were arrested during these operations, mostly alleged Hamas and Islamic Jihad members, including dozens who were released in 2011 in the context of a prisoner swap (the ‘Shalit deal’).
"A significant proportion of those arrested are being held under administrative detention orders, imprisonment without charge or trial. Consequently, the total number of administrative detainees in Israeli prisons increased since the beginning of the current operations from approximately 190 to at least 340, according to the Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association (Addameer)."
In the context of current military operations, the Israeli army raided 60 of Islamic associations, allegedly linked to Hamas, confiscated computers and other equipment, and shutdown 8 others by military order. These measures are expected to disrupt the delivery of services and assistance to thousands of beneficiaries.
The report also pointed out that movement restrictions continue disrupting access to services and places of work.
"Most of the movement restrictions imposed last week following the start of the current operations, primarily across the Hebron governorate, have remained in place, disrupting access of people to services, markets and workplaces, and resulting in significant economic losses."
The vast majority of Hebron governorate’s residents have remained subject to a series of additional movement restrictions, including preventing men aged between 16 and 50 from crossing the Wadi an Nar checkpoint, which controls the single route available for most Palestinians between the central and southern West Bank; the invalidation of permits to access East Jerusalem, Israel and some settlement areas; and preventing men between 20 and 50 years of age from traveling to Jordan via the Allenby Bridge, the report clarified.
In the northern West Bank, the main entrances to ‘Izbet at Tabib and ‘Azzun villages (Qalqiliya) have remained closed for the second consecutive week, forcing residents to use a long detour to reach main services and workplaces in Qalqiliya city and increasing transport costs.
On 17 and 18 June, the Israeli authorities demolished a total of 14 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C of the West Bank, due to the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, displacing 42 people, around half of whom were children, and affecting at least 50 others.
On the other hand, the UN report said that Erez passenger crossing has remained closed since 13 June preventing the vast majority of permit holders (primarily patients, senior businessmen and staff of international organizations) to leave or enter Gaza.
27 june 2014
Aftermath of Israeli raid on one small house in Ainabous, near Nablus
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 19-25 June 2014, Israeli soldiers killed 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child and an old man, and wounded 14 others, including 4 children and a journalist.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Over the past week, Israeli troops carried out 127 incursions in the West Bank. Hundreds of houses were raided and ransacked, their residents were maltreated and a number of houses were turned into military barracks.
215 Palestinian civilians, including dozens of former prisoners and 10 children, were abducted. 21 of these civilians, including 3 children, were abducted in East Jerusalem.
18 Charitable associations were raided and a number of them were closed. 4 university campuses, 2 money exchange shops and a media centre were raided.
Dozens of surveillance cameras were confiscated from houses and shops.
On 20 June 2014, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child in Dura village, southwest of Hebron.
On 21 June 2014, an old man died of a heart attack in Hares village, northwest of Salfit, as Israeli forces moved into the village and denied him access to medical treatment.
On the same day, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian in the northern Jordan Valley.
On 22 June 2014, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian in ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, northwest of Nablus.
On the same day, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian in Ramallah.
On 25 June 2014, a Palestinian civilian from Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, died of wounds he sustained on 20 June during clashes with Israeli forces.
During the reporting period, 14 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and a journalist, were wounded.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. At least 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were abducted at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
Over the course of the last week, Israeli warplanes launched 18 airstrikes on civilian objects and military training sites in the Gaza Strip. 18 Palestinian civilians, including 7 women and 4 children, were wounded.
In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 19 June 2014, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire in the vicinity of the Palestinian fishing boats sailing 2 nautical miles offshore. They also abducted 2 fishermen and confiscated a fishing boat.
Israel continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. 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 7 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 1.7 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.
Israeli settlement activity:
Israeli forces continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 21 June 2014, a group of settlers from Kiryat Arba settlement which is established on confiscated lands east of Hebron attacked a house in the Old City, south of Hebron. The settlers attacked owner who was abducted later by Israeli forces. Israeli forces also abducted his two sons.
On 22 June 2014, four armed settlers from “Nahla'il” settlement which is established on the lands of Beitillu village, northwest of Ramallah, fired live ammunition at 9 Palestinian workers while working in a stone pit in Na'lan area in the northern side of the southern farm, northwest of the city. The workers ran way immediately towards the aforementioned village. The settlers withdrew later and no injuries were reported among Palestinian workers.
On 23 June 2014, Israeli settlers damaged tires of 35 cars belonging to 9 families in Beit Hanina village to the north of the old town of Jerusalem. They also wrote racist phrases on a tourist bus.
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 UN General Assembly transfer the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome Statute.
In addition, PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to achieve stability and peace in the region, and that peace cannot be built on the expense of human rights;
For the full text of the report, click on the link
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 19-25 June 2014, Israeli soldiers killed 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child and an old man, and wounded 14 others, including 4 children and a journalist.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Over the past week, Israeli troops carried out 127 incursions in the West Bank. Hundreds of houses were raided and ransacked, their residents were maltreated and a number of houses were turned into military barracks.
215 Palestinian civilians, including dozens of former prisoners and 10 children, were abducted. 21 of these civilians, including 3 children, were abducted in East Jerusalem.
18 Charitable associations were raided and a number of them were closed. 4 university campuses, 2 money exchange shops and a media centre were raided.
Dozens of surveillance cameras were confiscated from houses and shops.
On 20 June 2014, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child in Dura village, southwest of Hebron.
On 21 June 2014, an old man died of a heart attack in Hares village, northwest of Salfit, as Israeli forces moved into the village and denied him access to medical treatment.
On the same day, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian in the northern Jordan Valley.
On 22 June 2014, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian in ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, northwest of Nablus.
On the same day, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian in Ramallah.
On 25 June 2014, a Palestinian civilian from Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, died of wounds he sustained on 20 June during clashes with Israeli forces.
During the reporting period, 14 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and a journalist, were wounded.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. At least 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were abducted at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
Over the course of the last week, Israeli warplanes launched 18 airstrikes on civilian objects and military training sites in the Gaza Strip. 18 Palestinian civilians, including 7 women and 4 children, were wounded.
In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 19 June 2014, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire in the vicinity of the Palestinian fishing boats sailing 2 nautical miles offshore. They also abducted 2 fishermen and confiscated a fishing boat.
Israel continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. 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 7 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 1.7 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.
Israeli settlement activity:
Israeli forces continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 21 June 2014, a group of settlers from Kiryat Arba settlement which is established on confiscated lands east of Hebron attacked a house in the Old City, south of Hebron. The settlers attacked owner who was abducted later by Israeli forces. Israeli forces also abducted his two sons.
On 22 June 2014, four armed settlers from “Nahla'il” settlement which is established on the lands of Beitillu village, northwest of Ramallah, fired live ammunition at 9 Palestinian workers while working in a stone pit in Na'lan area in the northern side of the southern farm, northwest of the city. The workers ran way immediately towards the aforementioned village. The settlers withdrew later and no injuries were reported among Palestinian workers.
On 23 June 2014, Israeli settlers damaged tires of 35 cars belonging to 9 families in Beit Hanina village to the north of the old town of Jerusalem. They also wrote racist phrases on a tourist bus.
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 UN General Assembly transfer the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome Statute.
In addition, PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to achieve stability and peace in the region, and that peace cannot be built on the expense of human rights;
For the full text of the report, click on the link
26 june 2014
The popular committee against the siege confirmed that Israel's illegal and immoral restrictions have deepened the crisis in the besieged strip of Gaza, where 70 percent of Gaza population lives below the poverty line.
In its new report issued on Tuesday, the Popular Committee stated that more than one million Palestinian depend on aid supplies provided by international, Arab and Islamic humanitarian institutions that do not meet their needs.
The poverty rate has increased dramatically to reach 50 percent, while the daily average per capita income in the Gaza Strip is estimated at two dollars, 40 times less than Israeli income rate.
The report added that fuel and power crises are the most difficult problems witnessing in the besieged strip. Closing Karem Abu Salem crossing for only one day could lead to a significant fuel crisis in addition to 8-12 hours of power cuts each day, according to the report.
The power crisis has significantly affected public services in hospitals and schools in addition to the shutdown of several factories.
The report pointed out that Israeli occupation has deliberately targeted Gaza infrastructure and construction sector, which led to heavy economic losses.
Israeli authorities have banned the entry of construction materials, which led to the stop of construction projects estimated at 500 million dollars in light of the acute housing crisis in the strip.
In 2006, 4000 tons of cements, 1500 tons of steel, and 6000 tons of gravel were daily allowed to pass through Karem Abu Salem crossing, however; Israeli authorities have completely banned the entry of construction materials.
The report said that 80 percent of factories are partially or completely stopped in Gaza Strip due to the continued Israeli ban on construction materials’ access, which led to significant increase in unemployment rate.
On the other hand, the report said that 95 percent of Gaza water is unsafe for drinking due to acute shortage of desalination plants.
The report confirmed that Israeli occupation only allows fishing within six nautical miles off Gaza shores. However; Israeli arrests and attacks against Palestinian fishermen and their fishing equipments are still continued in the allowed area.
Meanwhile, spokesman for the health ministry Ashraf Qudra warned of the serious deterioration of health situation in Gaza strip due to the unprecedented shortage in medical supplies and fuel in light of the continued unfair siege impose on Gaza Strip.
In its new report issued on Tuesday, the Popular Committee stated that more than one million Palestinian depend on aid supplies provided by international, Arab and Islamic humanitarian institutions that do not meet their needs.
The poverty rate has increased dramatically to reach 50 percent, while the daily average per capita income in the Gaza Strip is estimated at two dollars, 40 times less than Israeli income rate.
The report added that fuel and power crises are the most difficult problems witnessing in the besieged strip. Closing Karem Abu Salem crossing for only one day could lead to a significant fuel crisis in addition to 8-12 hours of power cuts each day, according to the report.
The power crisis has significantly affected public services in hospitals and schools in addition to the shutdown of several factories.
The report pointed out that Israeli occupation has deliberately targeted Gaza infrastructure and construction sector, which led to heavy economic losses.
Israeli authorities have banned the entry of construction materials, which led to the stop of construction projects estimated at 500 million dollars in light of the acute housing crisis in the strip.
In 2006, 4000 tons of cements, 1500 tons of steel, and 6000 tons of gravel were daily allowed to pass through Karem Abu Salem crossing, however; Israeli authorities have completely banned the entry of construction materials.
The report said that 80 percent of factories are partially or completely stopped in Gaza Strip due to the continued Israeli ban on construction materials’ access, which led to significant increase in unemployment rate.
On the other hand, the report said that 95 percent of Gaza water is unsafe for drinking due to acute shortage of desalination plants.
The report confirmed that Israeli occupation only allows fishing within six nautical miles off Gaza shores. However; Israeli arrests and attacks against Palestinian fishermen and their fishing equipments are still continued in the allowed area.
Meanwhile, spokesman for the health ministry Ashraf Qudra warned of the serious deterioration of health situation in Gaza strip due to the unprecedented shortage in medical supplies and fuel in light of the continued unfair siege impose on Gaza Strip.
24 june 2014
UN, US Urge Restraint by Israelis, Palestinians
A number of human rights organization have called, in an official letter, upon the Israeli security and military commanders in the West Bank to refrain from collectively punishing the civilian Palestinian population in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as part of the “Operation Brother’s Keeper,” B’Tselem said in a statement, on Sunday.
Furthermore, international representatives have called for Palestinians and Israelis, both, to exercise restraint amid the current crisis, with the US Consul General to Jerusalem urging Palestinian-Americans to build a "positive momentum for peace".
(WAFA) The letter comes amid concerns that many of the military actions in the Occupied Territories do not directly serve the aim of locating and returning the three abducted Israelis and are severely and unnecessarily violating basic human rights.
“The need to return the abducted Israelis safe and sound to their homes and families is clear. Yet, there is concern that many of the actions undertaken harm the Palestinian population and do not serve this purpose,” the statement said.
The letter was signed by the directors of Amnesty International, B’Tselem, Gisha, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual, Yesh Din, Adalah, Physicians for Human Rights – Israel, Rabbis for Human Rights and Breaking the Silence.
Also demanding that the more stringent restrictions imposed on the detention conditions of Palestinian prisoners be withdrawn, the letter was sent to the Israeli Minister of Defense and Minister of Public Security, and made clear, according to WAFA, that the current round of abductions constitute a violation of the fundamental principles of law and morals and must be condemned.
WAFA further reports that, amid a “critical” security situation on the ground, the United Nations political chief today called on Israelis and Palestinians to exercise maximum restraint and find a way to return to negotiations.
“With peace negotiations suspended since the end of April and despite restraint initially displayed by both sides, the situation on the ground has turned highly volatile with several disturbing developments,” Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told the Security Council as he briefed the 15-member body on the latest developments.
Feltman stated that the recent search operations in the West Bank for the three Israeli students, allegedly abducted near Hebron on June 12, are ongoing with a corresponding increase in violence in the West Bank.
Additionally, the hunger strike by Palestinian administrative and other detainees continues; new settlement units have been announced; and the fragile calm in Gaza was interrupted by multiple rockets fired at Israel and Israeli military response.
“Both sides have a responsibility to exercise maximum restraint in order to contain what has rapidly developed into a critical security situation on the ground, to restore the calm and to see opportunities to return to a negotiating process,” Feltman said.
“This is a time for renewed impetus and political will to end the conflict and the occupation that has already scarred the lives of far too many Israelis and Palestinians for far too long.”
In related news, the US Consul General to Jerusalem, Michael A. Ratney, has called upon Palestinian-Americans to build a "positive momentum for peace".
The Consul said that “a viable Palestinian state will be built through hard work, tough negotiation, and peaceful, well-reasoned activism,” adding: “We will start seeing positive momentum behind the two-state solution when the world recognizes it as an investment and not a charity, and when Israelis and Palestinians see each other as partners, not as adversaries.”
“I hope that you, as Palestinians and as Americans, do everything in your power to educate and inspire both Palestinians here and Americans in the U.S. and to help build the kind of positive momentum that is required for a just and lasting peace to be reached,” he said.
A number of human rights organization have called, in an official letter, upon the Israeli security and military commanders in the West Bank to refrain from collectively punishing the civilian Palestinian population in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as part of the “Operation Brother’s Keeper,” B’Tselem said in a statement, on Sunday.
Furthermore, international representatives have called for Palestinians and Israelis, both, to exercise restraint amid the current crisis, with the US Consul General to Jerusalem urging Palestinian-Americans to build a "positive momentum for peace".
(WAFA) The letter comes amid concerns that many of the military actions in the Occupied Territories do not directly serve the aim of locating and returning the three abducted Israelis and are severely and unnecessarily violating basic human rights.
“The need to return the abducted Israelis safe and sound to their homes and families is clear. Yet, there is concern that many of the actions undertaken harm the Palestinian population and do not serve this purpose,” the statement said.
The letter was signed by the directors of Amnesty International, B’Tselem, Gisha, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual, Yesh Din, Adalah, Physicians for Human Rights – Israel, Rabbis for Human Rights and Breaking the Silence.
Also demanding that the more stringent restrictions imposed on the detention conditions of Palestinian prisoners be withdrawn, the letter was sent to the Israeli Minister of Defense and Minister of Public Security, and made clear, according to WAFA, that the current round of abductions constitute a violation of the fundamental principles of law and morals and must be condemned.
WAFA further reports that, amid a “critical” security situation on the ground, the United Nations political chief today called on Israelis and Palestinians to exercise maximum restraint and find a way to return to negotiations.
“With peace negotiations suspended since the end of April and despite restraint initially displayed by both sides, the situation on the ground has turned highly volatile with several disturbing developments,” Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told the Security Council as he briefed the 15-member body on the latest developments.
Feltman stated that the recent search operations in the West Bank for the three Israeli students, allegedly abducted near Hebron on June 12, are ongoing with a corresponding increase in violence in the West Bank.
Additionally, the hunger strike by Palestinian administrative and other detainees continues; new settlement units have been announced; and the fragile calm in Gaza was interrupted by multiple rockets fired at Israel and Israeli military response.
“Both sides have a responsibility to exercise maximum restraint in order to contain what has rapidly developed into a critical security situation on the ground, to restore the calm and to see opportunities to return to a negotiating process,” Feltman said.
“This is a time for renewed impetus and political will to end the conflict and the occupation that has already scarred the lives of far too many Israelis and Palestinians for far too long.”
In related news, the US Consul General to Jerusalem, Michael A. Ratney, has called upon Palestinian-Americans to build a "positive momentum for peace".
The Consul said that “a viable Palestinian state will be built through hard work, tough negotiation, and peaceful, well-reasoned activism,” adding: “We will start seeing positive momentum behind the two-state solution when the world recognizes it as an investment and not a charity, and when Israelis and Palestinians see each other as partners, not as adversaries.”
“I hope that you, as Palestinians and as Americans, do everything in your power to educate and inspire both Palestinians here and Americans in the U.S. and to help build the kind of positive momentum that is required for a just and lasting peace to be reached,” he said.