23 apr 2017
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested three Palestinian boys, all at the age of 17, near the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil city for allegedly possessing sharp tools.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers present in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque arrested the three boys after searching them.
They were taken to Beit Romano settlement which is built in the center of al-Khalil city.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers present in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque arrested the three boys after searching them.
They were taken to Beit Romano settlement which is built in the center of al-Khalil city.
Over 49 Israeli settlers and six intelligence officers stormed on Sunday morning al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest site in Islam—via the Maghareba Gate.
The break-in was carried out under heavy police escort as part of the morning break-in shift that started at around 7 a.m.
The break-in follows the seven-day Jewish Passover holiday, during which mass desecration assaults were carried out at al-Aqsa under the religious pretext.
According to data by Jerusalem’s Awqaf (Endowment) Department, over 1,200 settlers defiled the site during the Passover.
Meanwhile, two Palestinian students were arrested by the Israeli forces at al-Aqsa Mosque and transferred to a detention center in the Old City.
The break-in was carried out under heavy police escort as part of the morning break-in shift that started at around 7 a.m.
The break-in follows the seven-day Jewish Passover holiday, during which mass desecration assaults were carried out at al-Aqsa under the religious pretext.
According to data by Jerusalem’s Awqaf (Endowment) Department, over 1,200 settlers defiled the site during the Passover.
Meanwhile, two Palestinian students were arrested by the Israeli forces at al-Aqsa Mosque and transferred to a detention center in the Old City.
Several Israeli military jeeps invaded, on Sunday at dawn, Nour Shams refugee camp, east Tulkarem, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, searched many homes and abducted three young men.
Media sources in Tulkarem said the soldiers interrogated several Palestinians, while violently searching their homes, and abducted three, before taking them to an unknown destination.
The abducted Palestinians have been identified as Ibrahim Yasser Fahmawi, 24, Fawwaz Qassem Abu Sarees, 20, and Nasser Ahmad Khatib, 22.
Media sources in Tulkarem said the soldiers interrogated several Palestinians, while violently searching their homes, and abducted three, before taking them to an unknown destination.
The abducted Palestinians have been identified as Ibrahim Yasser Fahmawi, 24, Fawwaz Qassem Abu Sarees, 20, and Nasser Ahmad Khatib, 22.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Sunday at dawn, eight Palestinians, and summoned for others for interrogation, during extensive and violent searches of homes, in different parts of the West Bank governorate of Bethlehem.
Several army jeeps invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem, searched many homes while interrogating the inhabitants, and abducted three young men, identified as Mohammad Ja’far Taqatqa, 19, Mahmoud Abdullah Ali, 18, and Ala Marwan Taqatqa, 19.
The soldiers also summoned three Palestinians for interrogation in Etzion military base and security center, south of Bethlehem. They have been identified as As’ad Ahmad Thawabta, 28, Ali Mustafa Taqatqa, 27, and Ala Khaled Sammour, 27.
In Doha town, west of Bethlehem, the soldiers also searched homes, causing damage, and abducted Eyad Bassam Farahin, 21, and Ismael Najeeb Farraj, 23.
In addition, the soldiers invaded and searched many homes in Husan town, west of Bethlehem, and abducted Fateh movement secretary in the town, Ismael Jamil Hamamra, 48.
The army also invaded the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, searched homes and abducted Saleh Rezeq Mousa, 18.
Another Palestinian, identified as Samer Samir Shanteer, 18, was abducted from his home in the Saff Street area, in the center of Bethlehem city.
Several army jeeps invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem, searched many homes while interrogating the inhabitants, and abducted three young men, identified as Mohammad Ja’far Taqatqa, 19, Mahmoud Abdullah Ali, 18, and Ala Marwan Taqatqa, 19.
The soldiers also summoned three Palestinians for interrogation in Etzion military base and security center, south of Bethlehem. They have been identified as As’ad Ahmad Thawabta, 28, Ali Mustafa Taqatqa, 27, and Ala Khaled Sammour, 27.
In Doha town, west of Bethlehem, the soldiers also searched homes, causing damage, and abducted Eyad Bassam Farahin, 21, and Ismael Najeeb Farraj, 23.
In addition, the soldiers invaded and searched many homes in Husan town, west of Bethlehem, and abducted Fateh movement secretary in the town, Ismael Jamil Hamamra, 48.
The army also invaded the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, searched homes and abducted Saleh Rezeq Mousa, 18.
Another Palestinian, identified as Samer Samir Shanteer, 18, was abducted from his home in the Saff Street area, in the center of Bethlehem city.
The head of the Palestinian Detainees’ Committee Issa Qaraqe denied, Sunday, misleading Israeli reports and false allegations, claiming that eighty-eight detainees have stopped their hunger strike, and affirmed that the number of striking detainees is gradually increasing.
Qaraqe even challenged Israel by asking Prison Authority officials to allow the lawyers to visit with the detainees, instead of completely isolating them from the world, and added that Israel is desperate in its attempts to foil the strike, especially due to its serious repercussion in the prisons, in Palestine and around the world.
“What is happing right now is exactly the opposite of the Israeli allegations and propaganda — in fact, today a substantial number of detainees, held in Ramon and Majeddo prisons, who will be joining the strike,” he stated, “We have more than 1500 detainees who are participating in the hunger strike, and the number is gradually increasing.”
His statements were made after the Israeli government-run radio claimed that the hunger strike declining, and alleging that eighty-six detainees in Galboa’ prison, and two other in Majeddo, have already ceased the strike.
The hunger strike stated seven days ago, demanding basic, internationally-guaranteed rights, including ending the ongoing invasions into their rooms, providing adequate medical attention to ailing detainees, allowing them direct body contact with their visiting family members, the right to education and to treat the detainees in a humane manner during transfers, in addition to several legitimate demands.
Qaraqe even challenged Israel by asking Prison Authority officials to allow the lawyers to visit with the detainees, instead of completely isolating them from the world, and added that Israel is desperate in its attempts to foil the strike, especially due to its serious repercussion in the prisons, in Palestine and around the world.
“What is happing right now is exactly the opposite of the Israeli allegations and propaganda — in fact, today a substantial number of detainees, held in Ramon and Majeddo prisons, who will be joining the strike,” he stated, “We have more than 1500 detainees who are participating in the hunger strike, and the number is gradually increasing.”
His statements were made after the Israeli government-run radio claimed that the hunger strike declining, and alleging that eighty-six detainees in Galboa’ prison, and two other in Majeddo, have already ceased the strike.
The hunger strike stated seven days ago, demanding basic, internationally-guaranteed rights, including ending the ongoing invasions into their rooms, providing adequate medical attention to ailing detainees, allowing them direct body contact with their visiting family members, the right to education and to treat the detainees in a humane manner during transfers, in addition to several legitimate demands.
22 apr 2017
Metzada is an elite unit of the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) that was formed by the Israeli Army General Staff to be one of five elite units in the Israeli security and military institution.
Metzada unit was established in 2003 by the IPS Commissioner at that time Yaakov Ganot and was linked to the operations department of the IPS and the Israeli police, according to a report by the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
The Hebrew newspaper said that the unit was formed in response to the increased attacks by prisoners against the IPS guards.
The paper mentioned that the head of the operations department in the Israeli Army General Staff assigned Metzada Unit to lead the control units of the General Staff within the framework of a long-term secret project to rehabilitate these units and consult on the non-lethal weapons, in which Metzada is specialized.
Metzada was recognized as a subordinate unit to the Israeli Army General Staff in 2006 after a study conducted by the so-called Counter-Terrorism School and other circles subordinate to the General Staff.
Metzada was assigned the responsibility of the military prisons, especially in the field of hostage rescue.
It is divided into two sub-units and a military council, and includes members responsible for leading in-depth negotiations and assisting the Israeli police in solving violence cases through non-violent methods.
The Metzada members have launched many operations inside Israeli jails and assisted the Israeli police in arresting "wanted persons" and the Israeli Navy during the Gaza flotilla raid.
Just like the case in other elite units, Metzada uses dogs in its operations to control disturbances in prison cells or in the presence of threats with white weapons. The dogs are provided with electroshock weapons which the Metzada soldier can use remotely against the prisoners.
The unit is equipped with a special wing of soldiers who carry out complex operations including jumping from high altitudes and sneaking into rooms through roofs, windows and narrow bars.
Metzada unit was established in 2003 by the IPS Commissioner at that time Yaakov Ganot and was linked to the operations department of the IPS and the Israeli police, according to a report by the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
The Hebrew newspaper said that the unit was formed in response to the increased attacks by prisoners against the IPS guards.
The paper mentioned that the head of the operations department in the Israeli Army General Staff assigned Metzada Unit to lead the control units of the General Staff within the framework of a long-term secret project to rehabilitate these units and consult on the non-lethal weapons, in which Metzada is specialized.
Metzada was recognized as a subordinate unit to the Israeli Army General Staff in 2006 after a study conducted by the so-called Counter-Terrorism School and other circles subordinate to the General Staff.
Metzada was assigned the responsibility of the military prisons, especially in the field of hostage rescue.
It is divided into two sub-units and a military council, and includes members responsible for leading in-depth negotiations and assisting the Israeli police in solving violence cases through non-violent methods.
The Metzada members have launched many operations inside Israeli jails and assisted the Israeli police in arresting "wanted persons" and the Israeli Navy during the Gaza flotilla raid.
Just like the case in other elite units, Metzada uses dogs in its operations to control disturbances in prison cells or in the presence of threats with white weapons. The dogs are provided with electroshock weapons which the Metzada soldier can use remotely against the prisoners.
The unit is equipped with a special wing of soldiers who carry out complex operations including jumping from high altitudes and sneaking into rooms through roofs, windows and narrow bars.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested on Saturday two Palestinian minors in al-Khalil governorate in the southern West Bank.
local sources told the PIC reporter that the detained boys were identified as Ahmad Mohammad and Ahmad Bader of the Zamaarah family in Halhoul town north of al-Khalil. Both captives, who are only 17 years old, were taken to an unknown destination, the sources added.
Over 300 minors, out of 6,500 Palestinian prisoners, are held in Israeli jails.
local sources told the PIC reporter that the detained boys were identified as Ahmad Mohammad and Ahmad Bader of the Zamaarah family in Halhoul town north of al-Khalil. Both captives, who are only 17 years old, were taken to an unknown destination, the sources added.
Over 300 minors, out of 6,500 Palestinian prisoners, are held in Israeli jails.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Saturday raided homes in the southern district of al-Khalil and handed Palestinian citizens summonses for interrogation from the Shin Bet.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that soldiers and one Shin Bet officer entered aboard vehicles Khallet al-Dar area, south of al-Khalil, ransacked the house of ex-detainee Mahmoud Abu Asnainah and handed him a summons for interrogation.
Soldiers also broke into and pillaged two homes in the southern district of al-Khalil, particularly in the areas of Wadi al-Qadi and Zif, and handed two citizens interrogation orders.
In the west of al-Khalil, an Israeli military force set up a makeshift checkpoint on Beit Kahel Bridge, where they embarked on intercepting and searching passing vehicles, and checking IDs of passengers.
Eyewitnesses said that soldiers at the checkpoints detained a citizen called Khalil al-Atawneh, who works at the government hospital in al-Khalil city, for about one and a half hours and then released him.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that soldiers and one Shin Bet officer entered aboard vehicles Khallet al-Dar area, south of al-Khalil, ransacked the house of ex-detainee Mahmoud Abu Asnainah and handed him a summons for interrogation.
Soldiers also broke into and pillaged two homes in the southern district of al-Khalil, particularly in the areas of Wadi al-Qadi and Zif, and handed two citizens interrogation orders.
In the west of al-Khalil, an Israeli military force set up a makeshift checkpoint on Beit Kahel Bridge, where they embarked on intercepting and searching passing vehicles, and checking IDs of passengers.
Eyewitnesses said that soldiers at the checkpoints detained a citizen called Khalil al-Atawneh, who works at the government hospital in al-Khalil city, for about one and a half hours and then released him.
About 1,500 Palestinian prisoners have continued, for the sixth consecutive day, their open-ended hunger strike, which they staged under the slogan “Freedom and dignity,” to demand basic rights.
Prison forces carried out on Friday violent raids on cells of hunger-striking prisoners, especially in Nitzan jail, where they used police dogs during their searches and confiscated all salt supplies and books of the holy Qur’an.
On the first day of the hunger strike, the Israeli prison service ordered the confiscation of prisoners’ belongings, including clothes, while it keeps transferring the hunger strikers from one prison to another and isolating others.
Nitzan jail is used for the isolation of hunger strikers, amid inhumane incarceration conditions.
In a new development, the Hunger Strike Information Committee said that a number of prisoners in section 16 of Ramon jail joined the hunger strike battle.
Prison forces carried out on Friday violent raids on cells of hunger-striking prisoners, especially in Nitzan jail, where they used police dogs during their searches and confiscated all salt supplies and books of the holy Qur’an.
On the first day of the hunger strike, the Israeli prison service ordered the confiscation of prisoners’ belongings, including clothes, while it keeps transferring the hunger strikers from one prison to another and isolating others.
Nitzan jail is used for the isolation of hunger strikers, amid inhumane incarceration conditions.
In a new development, the Hunger Strike Information Committee said that a number of prisoners in section 16 of Ramon jail joined the hunger strike battle.
21 apr 2017
The Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire at a disabled Palestinian young woman though she posed no threat to them, a human rights report revealed Friday.
Legal adviser on Israeli violations, lawyer Naela Atiya, urged the Israeli Internal Security Minister to launch an immediate probe into a shooting attack targeting the disabled Palestinian girl Manar Mujahed, aged 30, that left her paralyzed.
According to Atiyeh, Israeli border cops opened fire at mentally-disabled Manar, from Occupied Jerusalem, on February 27, 2017, leaving her bleeding and crying for help as she rushed to her father to save her.
“Her father, a bus driver, was parking near the military checkpoint where Manar was shot. He saw her from afar and did not recognize her at first sight,” the lawyer said.
Moments later, the Israeli soldiers handcuffed the bleeding girl with iron chains at the hospital, where they found out that she was mentally disabled. Manar went back home on a wheelchair, after her health condition had taken a turn for the worse. She has become physically disabled and cannot stand on her feet as a result of the bullets that penetrated her thigh and hip.
Legal adviser on Israeli violations, lawyer Naela Atiya, urged the Israeli Internal Security Minister to launch an immediate probe into a shooting attack targeting the disabled Palestinian girl Manar Mujahed, aged 30, that left her paralyzed.
According to Atiyeh, Israeli border cops opened fire at mentally-disabled Manar, from Occupied Jerusalem, on February 27, 2017, leaving her bleeding and crying for help as she rushed to her father to save her.
“Her father, a bus driver, was parking near the military checkpoint where Manar was shot. He saw her from afar and did not recognize her at first sight,” the lawyer said.
Moments later, the Israeli soldiers handcuffed the bleeding girl with iron chains at the hospital, where they found out that she was mentally disabled. Manar went back home on a wheelchair, after her health condition had taken a turn for the worse. She has become physically disabled and cannot stand on her feet as a result of the bullets that penetrated her thigh and hip.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Friday at dawn, three Palestinians, including two children, after invading and ransacking their homes in the al-‘Eesawiyya town, in the center of occupied East Jerusalem, and al-’Ezariyya town, southeast of the city.
The soldiers invaded many homes in al-‘Eesawiyya, and interrogated several Palestinians, before abducting two children, identified as Mohammad Mahmoud and Mohammad Ateyya.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded the al-‘Ezariyya town, southeast of Jerusalem, searched homes and abducted a young man, whose identity remain unknown until the time of this report.
The soldiers invaded many homes in al-‘Eesawiyya, and interrogated several Palestinians, before abducting two children, identified as Mohammad Mahmoud and Mohammad Ateyya.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded the al-‘Ezariyya town, southeast of Jerusalem, searched homes and abducted a young man, whose identity remain unknown until the time of this report.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Thursday evening, three Palestinian children from the Deheishe refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, reportedly for hurling Molotov cocktails at an army base.
The army is alleging that the three children Molotov cocktails at the military base, in the Gush Etzion Settlement Bloc, south of Bethlehem.
It added that the soldiers located three Molotov cocktails in the bag of one of the children, and placed the three under interrogation.
The army is alleging that the three children Molotov cocktails at the military base, in the Gush Etzion Settlement Bloc, south of Bethlehem.
It added that the soldiers located three Molotov cocktails in the bag of one of the children, and placed the three under interrogation.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Friday morning, Surif town, west of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, abducted two young men and invaded two gas stations.
Media sources in Heron said the soldiers invaded and searched several homes in Surif town, and abducted a former political prisoner, identified as Jamal al-Hoor, in addition to Baraa’ Hussein Hmeidat.
The soldiers also invaded two gas stations in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and thoroughly searched them, including all their rooms and facilities. The two gas stations are in ‘Aseeda area, and the main entrance of Beit Ummar town.
It is worth mentioning that the soldiers, and police officers, invaded a blacksmith shop in Hebron city, and confiscated six machines.
Media sources in Heron said the soldiers invaded and searched several homes in Surif town, and abducted a former political prisoner, identified as Jamal al-Hoor, in addition to Baraa’ Hussein Hmeidat.
The soldiers also invaded two gas stations in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and thoroughly searched them, including all their rooms and facilities. The two gas stations are in ‘Aseeda area, and the main entrance of Beit Ummar town.
It is worth mentioning that the soldiers, and police officers, invaded a blacksmith shop in Hebron city, and confiscated six machines.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) on Thursday released former Palestinian minister of prisoners’ affairs Wasfi Qabha, from Jenin city in the West Bank, after one year in prison.
According to SAFA news agency, Qabha was transferred from Hadarim jail to Jubara checkpoint in Tulkarem, where he was released.
Several citizens and relatives received Qabha at the checkpoint before going with him to his home in Jenin city.
Qabha, who suffers from different health problems, had been rejailed after his release several times before. He spent a total of 15 years in Israeli prisons.
According to SAFA news agency, Qabha was transferred from Hadarim jail to Jubara checkpoint in Tulkarem, where he was released.
Several citizens and relatives received Qabha at the checkpoint before going with him to his home in Jenin city.
Qabha, who suffers from different health problems, had been rejailed after his release several times before. He spent a total of 15 years in Israeli prisons.
Israeli forces reportedly detained a 22-year-old Palestinian woman from occupied East Jerusalem, for alleged “incitement” on her personal Facebook page.
According to Ma’an News Agency, Israeli media reported that the woman would be presented to an Israeli court on Thursday, to extend her detention following her interrogation.
Earlier this week, Israeli news daily Haaretz reported that Israeli forces have detained at least 400 Palestinians in less than a year over social media activity, citing sources from the Israeli army and Israel’s internal security service the Shin Bet, with only “some” of the detainees having faced trial.
Previous reports indicated a lesser rate of so-called Facebook arrests, saying 400 were detained over the last two-year period. Meanwhile, the Arab Center for Social Media Advancement 7amleh said in January that among these, only 200 Palestinians were involved in court cases.
According to the Haaretz report published Sunday, which lauded the detention campaign as an “impressive achievement,” the Israeli army alleged they had stopped 2,200 Palestinians “at various stages of planning and preparing for attacks, mostly stabbings and car rammings,” through detentions based intelligence gathered on the internet.
Haaretz claimed — as Israeli leadership has numerous times since a wave of violence in the fall of 2015 appeared to ebb over the past year — that the severe security measures have succeeded in reducing a the trend of small-scale knife and car ramming attacks against Israelis.
Palestinians have instead pointed chiefly to the frustration and despair brought on by Israel’s nearly 50-year military occupation of the Palestinian territory and the absence of a political horizon as reasons for the outbreak of violence, while analysts have dismissed the Israeli narrative of “lone wolf” assailants under the influence of online incitement as overly simplistic.
Furthermore, despite boasts by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that attribute the decrease in violence to “the (Israeli) government’s strong, responsible and methodical policy,” the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found in a poll last year that support for stabbing attacks declined “due, it seems, to a rising perception in its inefficacy.”
Many Palestinians have also pointed out that Israeli violence has continued to shape everyday life, regardless of any recent “upticks” in clashes or attacks.
Meanwhile, suppression of Palestinian freedom of expression has seen bookstores shuttered, activists, journalists, novelists, and poets detained, while a wider security crackdown in the form of large-scale punitive measures in the occupied West Bank has been branded as collective punishment by rights groups and international organizations.
According to Ma’an News Agency, Israeli media reported that the woman would be presented to an Israeli court on Thursday, to extend her detention following her interrogation.
Earlier this week, Israeli news daily Haaretz reported that Israeli forces have detained at least 400 Palestinians in less than a year over social media activity, citing sources from the Israeli army and Israel’s internal security service the Shin Bet, with only “some” of the detainees having faced trial.
Previous reports indicated a lesser rate of so-called Facebook arrests, saying 400 were detained over the last two-year period. Meanwhile, the Arab Center for Social Media Advancement 7amleh said in January that among these, only 200 Palestinians were involved in court cases.
According to the Haaretz report published Sunday, which lauded the detention campaign as an “impressive achievement,” the Israeli army alleged they had stopped 2,200 Palestinians “at various stages of planning and preparing for attacks, mostly stabbings and car rammings,” through detentions based intelligence gathered on the internet.
Haaretz claimed — as Israeli leadership has numerous times since a wave of violence in the fall of 2015 appeared to ebb over the past year — that the severe security measures have succeeded in reducing a the trend of small-scale knife and car ramming attacks against Israelis.
Palestinians have instead pointed chiefly to the frustration and despair brought on by Israel’s nearly 50-year military occupation of the Palestinian territory and the absence of a political horizon as reasons for the outbreak of violence, while analysts have dismissed the Israeli narrative of “lone wolf” assailants under the influence of online incitement as overly simplistic.
Furthermore, despite boasts by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that attribute the decrease in violence to “the (Israeli) government’s strong, responsible and methodical policy,” the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found in a poll last year that support for stabbing attacks declined “due, it seems, to a rising perception in its inefficacy.”
Many Palestinians have also pointed out that Israeli violence has continued to shape everyday life, regardless of any recent “upticks” in clashes or attacks.
Meanwhile, suppression of Palestinian freedom of expression has seen bookstores shuttered, activists, journalists, novelists, and poets detained, while a wider security crackdown in the form of large-scale punitive measures in the occupied West Bank has been branded as collective punishment by rights groups and international organizations.
