16 apr 2020 Prisoner Day

Israeli police on Thursday evening summoned for questioning Sheikh Omar Kiswani, the Director of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, according to the Islamic Waqf Council of Jerusalem.
In recent months, Kiswani was summoned several times by the Israeli occupation forces for questioning. The director of the Islamic Waqf Council, Abdul-Azim Salhab, was also recently summoned for questioning.
The Council, run by Jordan, is in charge of the Islamic holy sites in the city, on top of which is the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
In recent months, Kiswani was summoned several times by the Israeli occupation forces for questioning. The director of the Islamic Waqf Council, Abdul-Azim Salhab, was also recently summoned for questioning.
The Council, run by Jordan, is in charge of the Islamic holy sites in the city, on top of which is the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

The Israeli security today summoned Palestine TV correspondent in Jerusalem, Christine Rinawi, for interrogation at the infamous Russian Compound police station in West Jerusalem, according to the correspondent.
She said that the Israeli security service, known as Shabac, called her today and ordered her to appear at the Russian compound police station in the evening.
The Shabac has shut down Palestine TV office in Jerusalem on December 6, seized all cameras and equipment and barred its employees from doing any work for the TV. Its staff were also detained and held for several hours.
She said that the Israeli security service, known as Shabac, called her today and ordered her to appear at the Russian compound police station in the evening.
The Shabac has shut down Palestine TV office in Jerusalem on December 6, seized all cameras and equipment and barred its employees from doing any work for the TV. Its staff were also detained and held for several hours.

Marking Palestinian Prisoner Day, which coincides tomorrow, several prisoners’ advocacy groups today said that Israel has detained 1324 Palestinians since the start of this year, including 210 minors and 31 women.
They said that in addition, 295 Palestinians were placed in administrative detention without charge or trial for periods that can run into several years.
The groups said that since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, Israel detained 357 Palestinians in March, including 48 minors and four women.
Of the total 5000 Palestinians currently incarcerated in Israel, there are 41 women prisoners and 180 minors.
In addition, 26 prisoners have been in jail since before the signing of the Oslo accords between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel in 1993, with 51 prisoners incarcerated for more than 20 years, including 14 who have been in jail for more than 30 years, and 541 prisoners serving one or multiple life terms, the highest is for Abdallah Barghouti with 67 life terms.
Among the 5000 prisoners, there are 430 Palestinians held in administrative detention and 13 journalists.
The advocacy groups called for release of the Palestinian prisoners as a result of the coronavirus outbreak in order to save their lives, mainly the elderly, women, children and those held in administrative detention.
They also called for an international medical committee to check the health of the prisoners and provide them with the necessary material to assure their safety.
They said that in addition, 295 Palestinians were placed in administrative detention without charge or trial for periods that can run into several years.
The groups said that since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, Israel detained 357 Palestinians in March, including 48 minors and four women.
Of the total 5000 Palestinians currently incarcerated in Israel, there are 41 women prisoners and 180 minors.
In addition, 26 prisoners have been in jail since before the signing of the Oslo accords between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel in 1993, with 51 prisoners incarcerated for more than 20 years, including 14 who have been in jail for more than 30 years, and 541 prisoners serving one or multiple life terms, the highest is for Abdallah Barghouti with 67 life terms.
Among the 5000 prisoners, there are 430 Palestinians held in administrative detention and 13 journalists.
The advocacy groups called for release of the Palestinian prisoners as a result of the coronavirus outbreak in order to save their lives, mainly the elderly, women, children and those held in administrative detention.
They also called for an international medical committee to check the health of the prisoners and provide them with the necessary material to assure their safety.

Three new coronavirus cases were confirmed in the West Bank late last night, including one of a woman from the Bethlehem area who had previously recovered, raised total in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to 293, said a government statement.
It said two new cases were for medics from the Bethlehem area in the south of the West Bank who were infected during their work at Augusta Victoria hospital in occupied East Jerusalem.
According to the statement it is believed there are also 81 positive corona cases in occupied East Jerusalem after three new cases were reported in Jabal al-Mukabber neighborhood.
Currently there are 230 active cases in the West Bank and Gaza after recovery of 61 patients and two deaths.
The cases are 66% males and 34% females; 40% in Jerusalem area villages under Palestinian rule, 20% in the Ramallah district, 18% in the Bethlehem district and 4.5% in the Gaza Strip, and other cities at lower numbers.
Age wise, 7% are children under nine years of age and 8% over 60 years while the rest fall between.
Among the cases, 75% were for workers in Israel and people who interacted with them, or 217 cases, 10% were for travelers and people who interacted with them, six medics, including last night’s two new cases, and one former prisoner released from Israeli jails.
It said two new cases were for medics from the Bethlehem area in the south of the West Bank who were infected during their work at Augusta Victoria hospital in occupied East Jerusalem.
According to the statement it is believed there are also 81 positive corona cases in occupied East Jerusalem after three new cases were reported in Jabal al-Mukabber neighborhood.
Currently there are 230 active cases in the West Bank and Gaza after recovery of 61 patients and two deaths.
The cases are 66% males and 34% females; 40% in Jerusalem area villages under Palestinian rule, 20% in the Ramallah district, 18% in the Bethlehem district and 4.5% in the Gaza Strip, and other cities at lower numbers.
Age wise, 7% are children under nine years of age and 8% over 60 years while the rest fall between.
Among the cases, 75% were for workers in Israel and people who interacted with them, or 217 cases, 10% were for travelers and people who interacted with them, six medics, including last night’s two new cases, and one former prisoner released from Israeli jails.
15 apr 2020

Marwan Barghouti
Fatah leader and member of its Central Committee, Marwan Barghouti, completed yesterday 18 years in Israeli jails for his resistance of the Israeli occupation, according to the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS).
Barghouti, 60, from Kobar village near Ramallah, was arrested on April 15, 2002 for his role in the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, and sentenced to five life terms plus 40 years.
He had previously served time in Israeli jails since age 15 for his resistance and was expelled into exile in 1986 before returning home in April 1994 following the signing of the Oslo accords between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel that allowed the return home of thousands of PLO leaders, including the late Yasser Arafat.
Fatah leader and member of its Central Committee, Marwan Barghouti, completed yesterday 18 years in Israeli jails for his resistance of the Israeli occupation, according to the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS).
Barghouti, 60, from Kobar village near Ramallah, was arrested on April 15, 2002 for his role in the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, and sentenced to five life terms plus 40 years.
He had previously served time in Israeli jails since age 15 for his resistance and was expelled into exile in 1986 before returning home in April 1994 following the signing of the Oslo accords between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel that allowed the return home of thousands of PLO leaders, including the late Yasser Arafat.

Ahmad Barghouti
Barghouti was member of the Palestinian parliament at the time of his arrest and was regularly considered the most popular Palestinian leader according to public opinion polls.
Barghouti’s assistance, Ahmad Barghouti, was also arrested with him in 2002 and has also completed 18 years in Israeli jails. He was sentenced to 13 life terms plus 50 years, said the PPS, also for his role in the second intifada.
Barghouti was member of the Palestinian parliament at the time of his arrest and was regularly considered the most popular Palestinian leader according to public opinion polls.
Barghouti’s assistance, Ahmad Barghouti, was also arrested with him in 2002 and has also completed 18 years in Israeli jails. He was sentenced to 13 life terms plus 50 years, said the PPS, also for his role in the second intifada.

A Palestinian prisoner from the Jenin district in the north of the West Bank who is in serious health condition has completed 18 years in Israeli jails for his resistance of the occupation, according to the Jenni branch of the PPS.
It said that Shadi Mousa, from Marka village, south of Jenin, has completed 18 years of his 25-year-prison term.
Mousa was shot in the head during this arrest. He suffered a stroke in 2009 and another one six months ago, said the PPS.
He also has heart problems.
It said that Shadi Mousa, from Marka village, south of Jenin, has completed 18 years of his 25-year-prison term.
Mousa was shot in the head during this arrest. He suffered a stroke in 2009 and another one six months ago, said the PPS.
He also has heart problems.

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) has extended the detention of two Birzeit University students and finished interrogating others at the Moskobiya detention center in Jerusalem.
According to Asra Media Center, the IOF extended the detention of Abdul-Rahman Hamdan and Basel Filayan, both students at Birzeit University, for seven days at the Moskobiya center.
Filayan, from Ramallah, was kidnaped by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on September 23, 2019 after he was released from a Palestinian Authority (PA) jail, where he went on hunger strike in protest at his arbitrary detention because of his involvement in student union activities.
As for Hamdan, he was also kidnaped for the fourth time on February 25, 2020 a few days after he was released from a PA jail.
Meanwhile, the IOF transferred Saber Mahra and Ryan Kharyoush to Ofer jail after finishing questioning them at the Moskobiya center.
Mahra and Kharyoush were kidnaped last March following a campaign that targeted members of the student Islamic Bloc at Birzeit University.
According to Asra Media Center, the IOF extended the detention of Abdul-Rahman Hamdan and Basel Filayan, both students at Birzeit University, for seven days at the Moskobiya center.
Filayan, from Ramallah, was kidnaped by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on September 23, 2019 after he was released from a Palestinian Authority (PA) jail, where he went on hunger strike in protest at his arbitrary detention because of his involvement in student union activities.
As for Hamdan, he was also kidnaped for the fourth time on February 25, 2020 a few days after he was released from a PA jail.
Meanwhile, the IOF transferred Saber Mahra and Ryan Kharyoush to Ofer jail after finishing questioning them at the Moskobiya center.
Mahra and Kharyoush were kidnaped last March following a campaign that targeted members of the student Islamic Bloc at Birzeit University.
14 apr 2020

Israeli forces Tuesday evening detained three Palestinians, including two minors, from the northern West Bank district of Jenin, said local sources.
Israeli forces rounded up two Palestinian minors after storming the farmlands of Tora village, southwest of Jenin city, as confirmed by the minors’ parents.
Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers rounded up a Palestinian while tending his farmland in Faqu'a village, east of Jenin.
Israeli forces frequently raid Palestinian houses almost on a daily basis across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians, triggering clashes with residents.
These raids, which take place also in areas under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, are conducted with no need for a search warrant, whenever and wherever the military chooses in keeping with its sweeping arbitrary powers.
According to Palestinian figures, roughly 5,700 Palestinians -- including numerous women and children -- are currently languishing in Israeli detention facilities.
Israeli forces rounded up two Palestinian minors after storming the farmlands of Tora village, southwest of Jenin city, as confirmed by the minors’ parents.
Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers rounded up a Palestinian while tending his farmland in Faqu'a village, east of Jenin.
Israeli forces frequently raid Palestinian houses almost on a daily basis across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians, triggering clashes with residents.
These raids, which take place also in areas under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, are conducted with no need for a search warrant, whenever and wherever the military chooses in keeping with its sweeping arbitrary powers.
According to Palestinian figures, roughly 5,700 Palestinians -- including numerous women and children -- are currently languishing in Israeli detention facilities.

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday kidnaped a Palestinian young man from his home in al-Ram town, northeast of Jerusalem.
The young man identified as Subeih Abu Subeih, the son of martyr Misbah Abu Subeih. He had already been jailed for 13 months.
The father, Abu Subeih, carried out in October 2016 a car-ramming and shooting operation in Occupied Jerusalem, killing two Israeli soldiers and wounding six others from the Israel police special patrol unit Yasam before he was shot dead.
The Israeli occupation authority has been holding his body ever since.
The young man identified as Subeih Abu Subeih, the son of martyr Misbah Abu Subeih. He had already been jailed for 13 months.
The father, Abu Subeih, carried out in October 2016 a car-ramming and shooting operation in Occupied Jerusalem, killing two Israeli soldiers and wounding six others from the Israel police special patrol unit Yasam before he was shot dead.
The Israeli occupation authority has been holding his body ever since.

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday evening kidnaped five Palestinian workmen near at-Tur town in the west of Jenin city, north of the West Bank.
Local sources told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the IOF kidnaped the five citizens during their attempt to cross into the 1948 occupied lands (Israel) through an opening in the fence near at-Tur town.
They added that soldiers bundled them into a military vehicle and drove off.
Before the coronavirus spread in Israel, hundreds of Palestinians from the West Bank used to enter Israel every day for work through dozens of manmade openings in the separation barrier or fence.
According to Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, many Palestinian workmen have no choice but to risk entering without a permit.
“They are caught between a rock and hard place: On one hand, Israel issues permits sparingly, based on arbitrarily chosen stringent criteria. On the other hand, it prevents the development of an independent Palestinian economy by restricting imports, exports, industrial development and movement, and by taking over land reserves and other Palestinian resources.
This leaves Palestinians with no possibility to make a substantial living within the West Bank. This reality serves Israeli interests, as it guarantees cheap [and] disempowered labor,” B’Tselem says.
Local sources told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the IOF kidnaped the five citizens during their attempt to cross into the 1948 occupied lands (Israel) through an opening in the fence near at-Tur town.
They added that soldiers bundled them into a military vehicle and drove off.
Before the coronavirus spread in Israel, hundreds of Palestinians from the West Bank used to enter Israel every day for work through dozens of manmade openings in the separation barrier or fence.
According to Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, many Palestinian workmen have no choice but to risk entering without a permit.
“They are caught between a rock and hard place: On one hand, Israel issues permits sparingly, based on arbitrarily chosen stringent criteria. On the other hand, it prevents the development of an independent Palestinian economy by restricting imports, exports, industrial development and movement, and by taking over land reserves and other Palestinian resources.
This leaves Palestinians with no possibility to make a substantial living within the West Bank. This reality serves Israeli interests, as it guarantees cheap [and] disempowered labor,” B’Tselem says.