30 june 2014

Israeli authorities' ban on visits to Gaza prisoners in Israeli jails for the third week in a row “is as if their hunger strike has not ended,” an official said Monday.
An International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman said that “the Israeli side informed us that visits are banned until further notice.”
Nasser al-Najjar told Ma'an that the Red Cross keeps up contact with Israel and that it will inform the families of prisoners as soon as Israel re-allows visits.
Israel has banned visits after three Israeli settlers were announced missing near a settlement near Hebron.
An official at the Association of Palestinian Prisoners and Ex-prisoners said that the Israeli prison service “still treats the prisoners as if their hunger strike has not ended and as if there is no agreement.”
Muwaffak Hmeid told Ma'an that the agreement states that all the “privileges” that were banned should be re-allowed, including use of the cantina, televisions and radios and appliances. However, not have been allowed so far.
“In addition to that the visits are still banned since three Israeli settlers went missing, as a punishment,” Hmeid added.
“We are expecting an announcement explaining the agreement from the leaders of the strike.”
An International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman said that “the Israeli side informed us that visits are banned until further notice.”
Nasser al-Najjar told Ma'an that the Red Cross keeps up contact with Israel and that it will inform the families of prisoners as soon as Israel re-allows visits.
Israel has banned visits after three Israeli settlers were announced missing near a settlement near Hebron.
An official at the Association of Palestinian Prisoners and Ex-prisoners said that the Israeli prison service “still treats the prisoners as if their hunger strike has not ended and as if there is no agreement.”
Muwaffak Hmeid told Ma'an that the agreement states that all the “privileges” that were banned should be re-allowed, including use of the cantina, televisions and radios and appliances. However, not have been allowed so far.
“In addition to that the visits are still banned since three Israeli settlers went missing, as a punishment,” Hmeid added.
“We are expecting an announcement explaining the agreement from the leaders of the strike.”

Israeli forces late Monday surrounded the homes of two men suspected of kidnapping and killing three Israeli teens, and prepared to demolish the houses, locals said.
Witnesses told Ma'an Israeli soldiers had forced the residents out of the houses of Ammar Abu Eisha and Marwan al-Qawasmeh, and were preparing for demolition.
Approximately an hour earlier, Israeli media reported that three dead bodies, believed to be those of three missing Israeli teenagers who disappeared on June 12 from Gush Etzion settlement, had been found near Hebron.
Israel says the two men who kidnapped the teens are Ammar Abu Eisha, 29, and Marwan al-Qawasmeh, 33, both from Hebron.
The Israeli army said on Thursday that it was still searching for Abu Eisha and al-Qawasmeh.
Abu Eisha's family has denied the allegations.
Witnesses told Ma'an Israeli soldiers had forced the residents out of the houses of Ammar Abu Eisha and Marwan al-Qawasmeh, and were preparing for demolition.
Approximately an hour earlier, Israeli media reported that three dead bodies, believed to be those of three missing Israeli teenagers who disappeared on June 12 from Gush Etzion settlement, had been found near Hebron.
Israel says the two men who kidnapped the teens are Ammar Abu Eisha, 29, and Marwan al-Qawasmeh, 33, both from Hebron.
The Israeli army said on Thursday that it was still searching for Abu Eisha and al-Qawasmeh.
Abu Eisha's family has denied the allegations.

Palestinian prisoner Ayman Tbeish has suspended his hunger strike after refusing food for 122 days, a lawyer said Monday.
Jawad Bulous, a lawyer for the Palestinian Prisoner's Society, said in a statement that Tbeish had announced the end of his strike after reaching an agreement with the Israeli Prison Service to limit his detention without a trial.
Doctors had warned that Tbeish's health condition was worsening -- he suffers from low blood pressure, kidney problems, and is unable to stand.
A spokeswoman for the IPS confirmed that Tbeish had ended his strike, but said that there was no deal reached between him and the prison service.
"He just decided to stop," Sivan Weizman said.
The number of hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails has been reduced to one, she added.
Weizman would not give the striker's name, but said he had been on hunger strike for one month.
Additionally, she aid that no deal had been reached with over 100 Palestinian prisoners who ended a two-month hunger strike last week.
Tbeish started his strike on Feb. 28 against being held without charge or trial in Israeli jails. As his health deteriorated, he was transferred to a hospital in Israel.
Around 125 Palestinian prisoners were on hunger strike for more than 60 days in protest against their indefinite detention without charge or trial by Israeli authorities until Tuesday, when 63 agreed to end their strike. Weizman said the rest of the strikers ended their protest days later.
Lawyers had said the prisoners had reached a deal with the Israeli Prison Service.
The prisoners were demanding that Israel change its policy of administrative detention, under which Palestinians are regularly held without charge or trial, sometimes indefinitely.
Around 5,700 Palestinians are currently being held in Israeli jails, with nearly 300 in administrative detention.
Over 800,000 Palestinians have been detained since 1967, with 5,224 currently being held in Israeli prisons, according to the PLO.
Jawad Bulous, a lawyer for the Palestinian Prisoner's Society, said in a statement that Tbeish had announced the end of his strike after reaching an agreement with the Israeli Prison Service to limit his detention without a trial.
Doctors had warned that Tbeish's health condition was worsening -- he suffers from low blood pressure, kidney problems, and is unable to stand.
A spokeswoman for the IPS confirmed that Tbeish had ended his strike, but said that there was no deal reached between him and the prison service.
"He just decided to stop," Sivan Weizman said.
The number of hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails has been reduced to one, she added.
Weizman would not give the striker's name, but said he had been on hunger strike for one month.
Additionally, she aid that no deal had been reached with over 100 Palestinian prisoners who ended a two-month hunger strike last week.
Tbeish started his strike on Feb. 28 against being held without charge or trial in Israeli jails. As his health deteriorated, he was transferred to a hospital in Israel.
Around 125 Palestinian prisoners were on hunger strike for more than 60 days in protest against their indefinite detention without charge or trial by Israeli authorities until Tuesday, when 63 agreed to end their strike. Weizman said the rest of the strikers ended their protest days later.
Lawyers had said the prisoners had reached a deal with the Israeli Prison Service.
The prisoners were demanding that Israel change its policy of administrative detention, under which Palestinians are regularly held without charge or trial, sometimes indefinitely.
Around 5,700 Palestinians are currently being held in Israeli jails, with nearly 300 in administrative detention.
Over 800,000 Palestinians have been detained since 1967, with 5,224 currently being held in Israeli prisons, according to the PLO.

30 settlers stormed on Monday morning the courtyards of al-Aqsa holy mosque from al-Mughrabi gate. Palestinian worshipers faced storming attempt by 50 settlers ,and the IOF arrested one Palestinian student.
Director of media of the Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage Mohammed Abu Atta said in a statement to "ALRAY" that 30 women and college students from "Women for the Temple" and "students for the Mount Temple" groups stormed the courtyards of al-Aqsa from Mughrabi Gate before expelling them through al- Selsela gate.
He stressed that defenders succeeded to confront the storming of al-Aqsa by 50 Israelis and foreigners, pointing out that the settlers belong to the alleged temple group.
Abu Atta added that the intruders did provocative acts, and performed an obscene movements, pointing out that the Palestinian worshipers, students and the guards confronted them, and took them out beyond the walls of the holy mosque.
He pointed out that the Israeli police arrested student Khaled Ebadi during facing the attackers.
Director of media of the Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage Mohammed Abu Atta said in a statement to "ALRAY" that 30 women and college students from "Women for the Temple" and "students for the Mount Temple" groups stormed the courtyards of al-Aqsa from Mughrabi Gate before expelling them through al- Selsela gate.
He stressed that defenders succeeded to confront the storming of al-Aqsa by 50 Israelis and foreigners, pointing out that the settlers belong to the alleged temple group.
Abu Atta added that the intruders did provocative acts, and performed an obscene movements, pointing out that the Palestinian worshipers, students and the guards confronted them, and took them out beyond the walls of the holy mosque.
He pointed out that the Israeli police arrested student Khaled Ebadi during facing the attackers.

Voice of Israel Radio reported that the Parliamentary Interior Committee in the Knesset is to discuss today Monday the bill of force-feeding of hunger striking prisoners, after modifying some of its acts. The radio added that in case of ratifying this bill by the committee, it will be discussed today by Knesset to be voted on with its second and third reads.
This project was presented against the backdrop of hunger strike that administrative detainees had staged for two months, then it came to an end after reaching an agreement between prisoners and Israeli prisons service.
This project was presented against the backdrop of hunger strike that administrative detainees had staged for two months, then it came to an end after reaching an agreement between prisoners and Israeli prisons service.

A committee in the Israeli Knesset holds an urgent meeting Monday to accelerate an enacting law that would prevent negotiators from releasing Palestinian prisoners during peace talks. The law was suggested by MK Ayelet Shaked's Bayit Yehudi party. It would entitle judges to determine in sentencing that any Palestinian prisoner jailed for life for murder committed during an attack should not be eligible for pardon or any other easing of his sentence.
Current Israeli policy allows for prisoners to win early release by receiving a pardon at the state president's discretion. The new measure would limit the president's powers to grant such pardons.
Haaretz quoted sources from Knesset as saying that PM Netanyahu office is working with no spare effort to push the bill and let Knesset vote on it as soon as possible.
Last week, PM said the law is one of the main initiatives the government is issuing in the light of abducting three settlers 17 days ago in the West Bank.
Islamic Resistance Movement-Hamas stroke a historic deal with 'Israel' in October 2011 under which 1047 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for Jilad Shalit, a French Jew captured by the Palestinian resistance in 2006.
Current Israeli policy allows for prisoners to win early release by receiving a pardon at the state president's discretion. The new measure would limit the president's powers to grant such pardons.
Haaretz quoted sources from Knesset as saying that PM Netanyahu office is working with no spare effort to push the bill and let Knesset vote on it as soon as possible.
Last week, PM said the law is one of the main initiatives the government is issuing in the light of abducting three settlers 17 days ago in the West Bank.
Islamic Resistance Movement-Hamas stroke a historic deal with 'Israel' in October 2011 under which 1047 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for Jilad Shalit, a French Jew captured by the Palestinian resistance in 2006.

On Monday at dawn, dozens of Israeli military vehicles continued the extensive military operations, and home invasions, into the southern West Bank district of Hebron, broke into and violently searched dozens of homes, and kidnaped one Palestinian. Another Palestinian kidnapped near Ramallah.
Local sources in Hebron have reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the home of Marwan al-Qawasma, allegedly behind the disappearance of the three missing Israeli settlers, and searched it for more than two hours, causing excessive property damage, and confiscated the family’s car.
The soldiers also invaded and searched dozens of homes in different parts of Hebron city, causing property damage, and interrogated several families.
At least 40 military vehicles invaded Ein Sarah neighborhood, in Hebron, surrounded the al-Hussein Ben Ali Mosque, broke into a local print shop and several homes, and violently searched them.
The soldiers also kidnapped a young Palestinian man from his home, in the Habayel Riyah area in Hebron, and ransacked his property.
Another invasion took place in Bab az-Zaweya area, in Hebron, where the soldiers invaded several homes that belong to members of the al-Qawasma family, and searched them.
In Halhoul nearby town, soldiers search a number of areas, especially west of the town, and fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition.
The army also invaded Doura town, installed a roadblock on the main road between Doura and a number of villages, and searched dozens of cars while investigating the ID cards of the passengers.
Soldiers also invaded the town, and fired several gas bombs and concussion grenades, some of them directly hitting homes causing several Palestinians to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Furthermore, at least three military vehicles invaded Deir Samet village, and conducted military searches of homes and property.
In related news, soldiers invaded Betunia, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and kidnapped one Palestinian identified as Anas Qert, after searching his home.
Soldiers also invaded several homes in the area, and installed roadblocks. Local youths hurled stones at the invading soldiers who fired gas bombs, concussion grenades, and rubber-coated metal bullets.
During the government weekly meeting Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is ready, and willing, to expand its operations against the Hamas movement, adding that the shelling of different areas in Gaza is just part of limited operations that could be expanded at any given moment, if needed.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel should “reoccupy Gaza”, and crush Hamas, and other armed groups in Gaza.
Local sources in Hebron have reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the home of Marwan al-Qawasma, allegedly behind the disappearance of the three missing Israeli settlers, and searched it for more than two hours, causing excessive property damage, and confiscated the family’s car.
The soldiers also invaded and searched dozens of homes in different parts of Hebron city, causing property damage, and interrogated several families.
At least 40 military vehicles invaded Ein Sarah neighborhood, in Hebron, surrounded the al-Hussein Ben Ali Mosque, broke into a local print shop and several homes, and violently searched them.
The soldiers also kidnapped a young Palestinian man from his home, in the Habayel Riyah area in Hebron, and ransacked his property.
Another invasion took place in Bab az-Zaweya area, in Hebron, where the soldiers invaded several homes that belong to members of the al-Qawasma family, and searched them.
In Halhoul nearby town, soldiers search a number of areas, especially west of the town, and fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition.
The army also invaded Doura town, installed a roadblock on the main road between Doura and a number of villages, and searched dozens of cars while investigating the ID cards of the passengers.
Soldiers also invaded the town, and fired several gas bombs and concussion grenades, some of them directly hitting homes causing several Palestinians to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Furthermore, at least three military vehicles invaded Deir Samet village, and conducted military searches of homes and property.
In related news, soldiers invaded Betunia, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and kidnapped one Palestinian identified as Anas Qert, after searching his home.
Soldiers also invaded several homes in the area, and installed roadblocks. Local youths hurled stones at the invading soldiers who fired gas bombs, concussion grenades, and rubber-coated metal bullets.
During the government weekly meeting Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is ready, and willing, to expand its operations against the Hamas movement, adding that the shelling of different areas in Gaza is just part of limited operations that could be expanded at any given moment, if needed.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel should “reoccupy Gaza”, and crush Hamas, and other armed groups in Gaza.