26 aug 2013
B’Tselem’s field researchers have begun investigating the incident that took place this morning (26 August) in which three Palestinians – Rubin Zayed, Yunes Jahjuh and Jihad Aslan – were killed by Israeli security forces’ fire in Qalandiya Refugee Camp, and almost twenty others were injured. According to B’Tselem’s initial investigation, as well as media reports, Israeli security forces comprising soldiers and Border Police entered the refugee camp at approximately 6:00 A.M. today with the intention of arresting a Palestinian recently released from Israeli prison. Residents of the camp responded by throwing stones and other objects at the force that was carrying out the arrest itself – some ten Border Police officers – following which soldiers arrived in four armored jeeps in order to escort the force out of the camp, and fired live ammunition.
Over the years, B’Tselem has documented various incidents in which Israeli military forces entering a Palestinian refugee camp were met with massive stone-throwing and responded with fatal fire. One of them occurred in Qalandiya Refugee Camp itself, some two years ago: On 1 August 2011, soldiers entered the camp in the middle of the night on an arrest mission and were met with stone-throwing by residents; at the end of the mission, the force opened fire, killing two residents – Mu'atasem 'Adwan and ‘Ali Khalifah – and injuring a third.
B’Tselem’s initial investigation indicates that several recent arrest operations in Qalandiya Refugee Camp have ended with stone-throwing by residents, to which the soldiers responded by using crowd control weapons, which did not lead to injury. At this early stage, it appears that the stone-throwing was more massive today as the security forces remained in the camp until around 6:45 A.M., a busy hour on the street as the Palestinian school year started yesterday.
Past experience shows that whenever Israeli security forces enter a densely-populated Palestinian residential area, they are exposed to stone-throwing and to a potential threat to their lives – a predictable situation that must surely be known to the command ranks. Indeed, Israeli daily Ha’aretz quoted a military official today as saying that “in recent months, not a single arrest has occurred without the residents responding – whether it’s youths coming out of their houses and throwing stones at the forces, or the use of live fire”.
Given that commanders are well aware of the danger inherent to these situations, such missions should not end with the killing of three civilians. Today’s harsh consequences cast doubt on their judgment in ordering the mission, and on the degree to which the force was prepared in advance. There is also room for grave suspicion that not all possible measures were taken to prevent this result, including the consideration of alternative modes of operation, and that the forces made excessive use of lethal weapons.
An investigation into the incident must be opened immediately in order to examine these issues, and particularly the command’s decision to carry out the arrest in this manner, and the question whether they forces prepared in advance for the mission in a way that could have prevented the use of lethal arms. B’Tselem has written to the Military Advocate for Operational Matters and to the SHAI [Judea and Samaria] District Police, which is in charge of investigating suspected breaches of shooting protocol by Border Police, demanding that an investigation be opened. Additionally, the military must take action to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, such as establishing clear procedures for arrest missions and for the entry of army forces into densely-populated residential areas.
Over the years, B’Tselem has documented various incidents in which Israeli military forces entering a Palestinian refugee camp were met with massive stone-throwing and responded with fatal fire. One of them occurred in Qalandiya Refugee Camp itself, some two years ago: On 1 August 2011, soldiers entered the camp in the middle of the night on an arrest mission and were met with stone-throwing by residents; at the end of the mission, the force opened fire, killing two residents – Mu'atasem 'Adwan and ‘Ali Khalifah – and injuring a third.
B’Tselem’s initial investigation indicates that several recent arrest operations in Qalandiya Refugee Camp have ended with stone-throwing by residents, to which the soldiers responded by using crowd control weapons, which did not lead to injury. At this early stage, it appears that the stone-throwing was more massive today as the security forces remained in the camp until around 6:45 A.M., a busy hour on the street as the Palestinian school year started yesterday.
Past experience shows that whenever Israeli security forces enter a densely-populated Palestinian residential area, they are exposed to stone-throwing and to a potential threat to their lives – a predictable situation that must surely be known to the command ranks. Indeed, Israeli daily Ha’aretz quoted a military official today as saying that “in recent months, not a single arrest has occurred without the residents responding – whether it’s youths coming out of their houses and throwing stones at the forces, or the use of live fire”.
Given that commanders are well aware of the danger inherent to these situations, such missions should not end with the killing of three civilians. Today’s harsh consequences cast doubt on their judgment in ordering the mission, and on the degree to which the force was prepared in advance. There is also room for grave suspicion that not all possible measures were taken to prevent this result, including the consideration of alternative modes of operation, and that the forces made excessive use of lethal weapons.
An investigation into the incident must be opened immediately in order to examine these issues, and particularly the command’s decision to carry out the arrest in this manner, and the question whether they forces prepared in advance for the mission in a way that could have prevented the use of lethal arms. B’Tselem has written to the Military Advocate for Operational Matters and to the SHAI [Judea and Samaria] District Police, which is in charge of investigating suspected breaches of shooting protocol by Border Police, demanding that an investigation be opened. Additionally, the military must take action to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, such as establishing clear procedures for arrest missions and for the entry of army forces into densely-populated residential areas.
Angered by the killing of three Palestinian men in Qalandia refugee camp by Israeli forces, youths clashed Monday afternoon with Israeli forces in Hebron.
A Ma'an reporter observed young men throwing stones at an Israeli military post stationed at the entrance to Shuhada Street in the center of the Old City.
The street has been closed and controlled by Israeli forces since 1994 after a Jewish extremist shot dead 29 worshipers and injured more than 100 while they were performing prayers at the Ibrahimi Mosque.
Israeli troops showered the demonstrators with tear gas, stun grenades and rubber-coated bullets.
Witnesses said at least two young men were hurt, and another was detained.
An Israeli military spokeswoman did not immediately return calls.
Clashes Take Place In Different Parts Of West Bank
Thee Palestinains Killed By Army Fire, Dozens Injured And Kidnapped
Clashes took place in different parts of the occupied West Bank Monday [August 26, 2013] after Israeli soldiers invaded the Qalandia refugee camp earlier at dawn, north of Jerusalem, shot and killed three Palestinians, and injured dozens of residents, including at least 15 who were shot by live ammunition.
Clashes took place near the Qalandia terminal, while dozens of injuries have been reported as the soldiers fired live rounds, rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the Aida refugee camp, in Bethlehem, and clashed with dozens of local youths who hurled stones and empty bottles at the invading soldiers.
Medical sources said that several Palestinians in the camp were shot by rubber-coated metal bullets, while dozens suffered the effects of teargas inhalation.
Clashes also took place in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, especially in the Az-Zawiya area, and Be’er As-Sabe’ Street in the center of the city.
Soldiers fired rounds of live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and gas bombs, and kidnapped several Palestinians.
Local sources in the city have reported that scores of soldiers also broke into and searched dozens of homes, and occupied their rooftops using them as monitoring towers.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, said that the army kidnapped 30 Palestinians in Qalandia during clashes that took place after the Palestinians held the funeral ceremonies of the three slain Palestinians.
It said that the army started in “investigation” in what happened after undercover soldiers of the Israeli military infiltrated into the refugee camp to “arrest some wanted Palestinians”.
The army said that “it seems that soldiers did not expect the invasion to be turned into violent clashes”.
Amos Harel, a leading media expert on military affairs at Haaretz, questioned the motives of this infiltration and, invasion into the refugee camp, and why this invasion took place in the midst of the newly resumed fragile direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Nabil Abu Rodeina, spokesperson of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, strongly denounced the Israeli invasion and the killing of the three Palestinians, and said that the invasion “is part of a series of crimes carried out by Israel, and part of Israel’s ongoing violations and escalating settlement construction and expansion activities”.
Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil Fahmi, also denounced the Israeli crime in Qalandia, and the ongoing Israeli violations.
His statements came during a press conference held with Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad Al-Maliki, in the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
He said that the Israeli escalation and violations limit the chances of successful peace talks, and stated that a Palestinian State must be established next to Israel, with occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of this state.
A Ma'an reporter observed young men throwing stones at an Israeli military post stationed at the entrance to Shuhada Street in the center of the Old City.
The street has been closed and controlled by Israeli forces since 1994 after a Jewish extremist shot dead 29 worshipers and injured more than 100 while they were performing prayers at the Ibrahimi Mosque.
Israeli troops showered the demonstrators with tear gas, stun grenades and rubber-coated bullets.
Witnesses said at least two young men were hurt, and another was detained.
An Israeli military spokeswoman did not immediately return calls.
Clashes Take Place In Different Parts Of West Bank
Thee Palestinains Killed By Army Fire, Dozens Injured And Kidnapped
Clashes took place in different parts of the occupied West Bank Monday [August 26, 2013] after Israeli soldiers invaded the Qalandia refugee camp earlier at dawn, north of Jerusalem, shot and killed three Palestinians, and injured dozens of residents, including at least 15 who were shot by live ammunition.
Clashes took place near the Qalandia terminal, while dozens of injuries have been reported as the soldiers fired live rounds, rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the Aida refugee camp, in Bethlehem, and clashed with dozens of local youths who hurled stones and empty bottles at the invading soldiers.
Medical sources said that several Palestinians in the camp were shot by rubber-coated metal bullets, while dozens suffered the effects of teargas inhalation.
Clashes also took place in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, especially in the Az-Zawiya area, and Be’er As-Sabe’ Street in the center of the city.
Soldiers fired rounds of live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and gas bombs, and kidnapped several Palestinians.
Local sources in the city have reported that scores of soldiers also broke into and searched dozens of homes, and occupied their rooftops using them as monitoring towers.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, said that the army kidnapped 30 Palestinians in Qalandia during clashes that took place after the Palestinians held the funeral ceremonies of the three slain Palestinians.
It said that the army started in “investigation” in what happened after undercover soldiers of the Israeli military infiltrated into the refugee camp to “arrest some wanted Palestinians”.
The army said that “it seems that soldiers did not expect the invasion to be turned into violent clashes”.
Amos Harel, a leading media expert on military affairs at Haaretz, questioned the motives of this infiltration and, invasion into the refugee camp, and why this invasion took place in the midst of the newly resumed fragile direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Nabil Abu Rodeina, spokesperson of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, strongly denounced the Israeli invasion and the killing of the three Palestinians, and said that the invasion “is part of a series of crimes carried out by Israel, and part of Israel’s ongoing violations and escalating settlement construction and expansion activities”.
Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil Fahmi, also denounced the Israeli crime in Qalandia, and the ongoing Israeli violations.
His statements came during a press conference held with Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad Al-Maliki, in the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
He said that the Israeli escalation and violations limit the chances of successful peace talks, and stated that a Palestinian State must be established next to Israel, with occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of this state.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained 11 Palestinians in Bruqin village, Salfit province, at an early morning hour on Monday and released them few hours later after field interrogation.
Eyewitnesses said that the soldiers took the 11 young men from their homes to a nearby settlement where an intelligence officer interrogated them.
They said that the youths, who included two brothers, were released in the afternoon, adding that they were harassed and threatened.
Eyewitnesses said that the soldiers took the 11 young men from their homes to a nearby settlement where an intelligence officer interrogated them.
They said that the youths, who included two brothers, were released in the afternoon, adding that they were harassed and threatened.
Palestinian human rights center stated that prisoners' leadership refused the Israeli Prison Service’s (IPS) offer to find a solution to end Abu Sisi's isolation. Palestine prisoners’ center for studies said that a group of prisoners were supposed to launch an open-ended hunger strike on Sunday in solidarity with the isolated and hunger striking prisoner Dirar Abu Disi.
However, the prisoners suspended their hunger strike only for one day after the IPS demanded more time (a week) to end his solitary confinement, the center added.
The IPS refused to end Abu Sisi's solitary confinement as stipulated in the agreement to end the Dignity (hunger) Strike that ended solitary confinement of all Palestinian prisoners.
The IPS offered to transfer Abu Sisi to another solitary confinement with better detention conditions, but the prisoners' movement and its senior leadership rejected the offer and resorted to the hunger strike option.
Eight Palestinian prisoners launched on Monday an open-ended hunger strike in solidarity with Dirar Abu Sisi to end his solitary confinement as a first stage of a mass hunger strike. The center indicated that new batches of hunger strikers from all Israeli prisons will be declared until ending Abu Sisi's solitary confinement and the escalation against him.
The center center called for more support to the prisoners' issue particularly the hunger strikers.
For its part, Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) called on Palestinian citizens and the free world to intensify solidarity campaigns with the isolated prisoner Abu Sisi.
It advocated tabling the Palestinian prisoners’ issue with the International Criminal Court and demanding prosecution of the Israeli occupation government for crimes against those prisoners especially the policy of medical neglect.
PPS director Ragheb Abu Diak said in a press statement on Sunday that the IPS and the Shin Bet are pursuing a slow execution policy against prisoners.
The PPS called on human rights organizations especially the Red Cross to intervene to save Abu Sisi, as his condition is worsening. It noted that he was suffering from heart, stomach, and kidney problems among others.
However, the prisoners suspended their hunger strike only for one day after the IPS demanded more time (a week) to end his solitary confinement, the center added.
The IPS refused to end Abu Sisi's solitary confinement as stipulated in the agreement to end the Dignity (hunger) Strike that ended solitary confinement of all Palestinian prisoners.
The IPS offered to transfer Abu Sisi to another solitary confinement with better detention conditions, but the prisoners' movement and its senior leadership rejected the offer and resorted to the hunger strike option.
Eight Palestinian prisoners launched on Monday an open-ended hunger strike in solidarity with Dirar Abu Sisi to end his solitary confinement as a first stage of a mass hunger strike. The center indicated that new batches of hunger strikers from all Israeli prisons will be declared until ending Abu Sisi's solitary confinement and the escalation against him.
The center center called for more support to the prisoners' issue particularly the hunger strikers.
For its part, Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) called on Palestinian citizens and the free world to intensify solidarity campaigns with the isolated prisoner Abu Sisi.
It advocated tabling the Palestinian prisoners’ issue with the International Criminal Court and demanding prosecution of the Israeli occupation government for crimes against those prisoners especially the policy of medical neglect.
PPS director Ragheb Abu Diak said in a press statement on Sunday that the IPS and the Shin Bet are pursuing a slow execution policy against prisoners.
The PPS called on human rights organizations especially the Red Cross to intervene to save Abu Sisi, as his condition is worsening. It noted that he was suffering from heart, stomach, and kidney problems among others.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rounded up six Palestinians in three West Bank provinces over the past 24 hours, a Hebrew website said on Monday. The site said that elements of IOF Kfir brigade burst into two West Bank provinces and arrested five Palestinians while other IOF soldiers arrested a sixth in Bethlehem.
It said that the Kfir brigade elements detained a Palestinian in Arura village to the north of Ramallah and another one in Abud village, also near Ramallah.
The site said that three Palestinians were nabbed in Al-Khalil at the pretext of being wanted for intelligence interrogation.
IOF soldiers detained a young man in Al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, at dawn after breaking into and ransacking his family home.
Locals reported that IOF soldiers roamed the streets of Al-Khalil city and Edhna town to the west of it for hours.
It said that the Kfir brigade elements detained a Palestinian in Arura village to the north of Ramallah and another one in Abud village, also near Ramallah.
The site said that three Palestinians were nabbed in Al-Khalil at the pretext of being wanted for intelligence interrogation.
IOF soldiers detained a young man in Al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, at dawn after breaking into and ransacking his family home.
Locals reported that IOF soldiers roamed the streets of Al-Khalil city and Edhna town to the west of it for hours.
A group of 94 Gaza residents visited their relatives in Israel's Nafta prison on Monday, the International Committee for the Red Cross said.
ICRC spokesman Nasser al-Najjar told Ma'an that 94 family members, including 22 children, left Gaza via the Beit Hanoun, or Erez, crossing to visit 48 jailed relatives in Israel.
Israel banned visits to all prisoners from Gaza in 2007 to pressure Hamas to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was freed in October 2011.
Prison visits were reinstated after a mass hunger strike in Israeli jails.
Under international law, detainees are entitled to receive family visits.
ICRC spokesman Nasser al-Najjar told Ma'an that 94 family members, including 22 children, left Gaza via the Beit Hanoun, or Erez, crossing to visit 48 jailed relatives in Israel.
Israel banned visits to all prisoners from Gaza in 2007 to pressure Hamas to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was freed in October 2011.
Prison visits were reinstated after a mass hunger strike in Israeli jails.
Under international law, detainees are entitled to receive family visits.
Israeli Military Forces( IMF) arrested on Monday at dawn one Palestinian from Khader village southern Bethlehem and two Palestinian minors from Beit Ummar village north of Hebron. Press sources reported that the IMF arrested Ahmed Issa,20, after storming and searching his family house.
Local sources reported that the IMF arrested Mohammed Al-Sulaibi ,17 , and his cousin Mohammed Al-Sulaibi ,16 , while they were touring near Karmi Tsur settlement . IMF lifted them to Etzion interrogation.
Local sources reported that the IMF arrested Mohammed Al-Sulaibi ,17 , and his cousin Mohammed Al-Sulaibi ,16 , while they were touring near Karmi Tsur settlement . IMF lifted them to Etzion interrogation.
25 aug 2013
Linan Abu Ghoulmeh was sentenced today to 2 months (60 days) in Israeli prisons for entering without a permit, and a fine of 1000 NIS. Myassar Atyani’s detention was continued until Wednesday, August 28 when she will face another hearing. Earlier, Leena Jawabreh was sentenced to 1 month (30 days) and a 1000 NIS fine on the same charges. For more info and to take action on their cases, see here.
Linan Abu Ghoulmeh is a former prisoner who was last released from administrative detention on October 18, 2011 as part of the prisoner exchange.
Linan Abu Ghoulmeh is a former prisoner who was last released from administrative detention on October 18, 2011 as part of the prisoner exchange.
Six Palestinian prisoners in Eshel jail started an open-ended hunger strike at midnight Sunday in solidarity with hunger striker Dirar Abu Sisi, who is isolated in an Israeli prison, according to Wa'ed society for detainees and ex-detainees. The society stated that all the dialog efforts that had been made by the leadership of the captive movement to have the Israeli prison authority end the solitary confinement of Abu Sisi failed, forcing it to use the choice of hunger strike.
The society added that more prisoners would join gradually this group hunger strike during the current week and the coming weeks in order to pressure the Israeli jailers to end the isolation of Abu Sisi.
However, the international coalition to break the chain said on Saturday that at the request of Israeli jailers, the leadership of the captive movement accepted to postpone their decision to go on hunger strike on Sunday in order to give them a chance to study their demand for the release of Abu Sisi from solitary confinement.
Abu Sisi, a 44-year old Palestinian citizen, has been in solitary confinement since he was kidnapped on February 19, 2011 by Mossad agents from the Ukraine, the country of his wife.
In another incident, the Palestinian prisoners center for studies said that the Israeli prison authority started to use a newly-devised court verdict allowing it to force-feed the Palestinian hunger strikers in its jails.
According to the center, Israeli doctors in Kaplan hospital force-fed prisoner Adel Huraibat, who has been on hunger strike since May 23.
It explained that the doctors tied up Huraibat from his hands and legs to the bed, took samples from his blood and injected him forcibly with potassium salt at the pretext of reviving his worsening health condition.
The center said that the Israeli ministry of justice in cooperation with the ministry of internal security and the Shin Bet agency gave a green light for the Israeli prison authority to force-feed the Palestinian hunger strikers.
The center warned that this new measure is intended to break the will of the hunger strikers and circumvent their just demands, and would encourage the Israeli jailers to persist in violating the rights of the Palestinian prisoners.
The society added that more prisoners would join gradually this group hunger strike during the current week and the coming weeks in order to pressure the Israeli jailers to end the isolation of Abu Sisi.
However, the international coalition to break the chain said on Saturday that at the request of Israeli jailers, the leadership of the captive movement accepted to postpone their decision to go on hunger strike on Sunday in order to give them a chance to study their demand for the release of Abu Sisi from solitary confinement.
Abu Sisi, a 44-year old Palestinian citizen, has been in solitary confinement since he was kidnapped on February 19, 2011 by Mossad agents from the Ukraine, the country of his wife.
In another incident, the Palestinian prisoners center for studies said that the Israeli prison authority started to use a newly-devised court verdict allowing it to force-feed the Palestinian hunger strikers in its jails.
According to the center, Israeli doctors in Kaplan hospital force-fed prisoner Adel Huraibat, who has been on hunger strike since May 23.
It explained that the doctors tied up Huraibat from his hands and legs to the bed, took samples from his blood and injected him forcibly with potassium salt at the pretext of reviving his worsening health condition.
The center said that the Israeli ministry of justice in cooperation with the ministry of internal security and the Shin Bet agency gave a green light for the Israeli prison authority to force-feed the Palestinian hunger strikers.
The center warned that this new measure is intended to break the will of the hunger strikers and circumvent their just demands, and would encourage the Israeli jailers to persist in violating the rights of the Palestinian prisoners.
Yitzhak Aharonovich, the Israeli minister of internal security, gave orders to extend the exile of director of the Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Najeh Bukeirat until the third of September at the pretext that there are secret files indicating that he is a danger to Israel's national security. This decision included a map illustrating the areas near the Mosque where Sheikh Bukeirat must stay away from.
Aharonovich also intends to increase the list of Palestinian names banned from entering the Aqsa Mosque during the coming period, according to Israeli leaks.
Sheikh Bukeirat condemned the Israeli decision as unjust and arbitrary, and said that he has been banned from entering the Mosque since 09/03/2012.
He added that such decisions are aimed at making the Aqsa Mosque a deserted place and ending all activities held and organized by the administration of the Aqsa Mosque to protect it against the Jewish violations.
Aharonovich also intends to increase the list of Palestinian names banned from entering the Aqsa Mosque during the coming period, according to Israeli leaks.
Sheikh Bukeirat condemned the Israeli decision as unjust and arbitrary, and said that he has been banned from entering the Mosque since 09/03/2012.
He added that such decisions are aimed at making the Aqsa Mosque a deserted place and ending all activities held and organized by the administration of the Aqsa Mosque to protect it against the Jewish violations.
Palestinian sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West bank, have reported that dozens of Israeli military jeeps invaded on Sunday at dawn [August 25, 2013] the towns of Bani Neim Doura, and Ath-Thaheriyya in the Hebron district, and kidnapped one resident.
The sources said that dozens of soldiers clashed with local youths in Bani Neim, after the army invaded the town, and added that one resident, identified as Issa Ahmad Abu Sakour, has been kidnapped after a number of soldiers violently broke into his home.
Several armored military jeeps invaded Doura town, west of Hebron, and clashed with local youth who hurled stones at them.
Local sources said that the soldiers fired several gas bombs, concussion grenades, and searched a number of homes.
Furthermore, at least five Israeli military vehicles invaded Ath-Thahiriyya town, south of Hebron, and patrolled various neighborhoods before leaving the town; no clashes were reported.
In related news, soldiers installed a roadblock in the Halhoul Bridge area, north of Hebron, and another roadblock in Jouret Bahlas, at the northern entrance of Hebron city.
The sources said that dozens of soldiers clashed with local youths in Bani Neim, after the army invaded the town, and added that one resident, identified as Issa Ahmad Abu Sakour, has been kidnapped after a number of soldiers violently broke into his home.
Several armored military jeeps invaded Doura town, west of Hebron, and clashed with local youth who hurled stones at them.
Local sources said that the soldiers fired several gas bombs, concussion grenades, and searched a number of homes.
Furthermore, at least five Israeli military vehicles invaded Ath-Thahiriyya town, south of Hebron, and patrolled various neighborhoods before leaving the town; no clashes were reported.
In related news, soldiers installed a roadblock in the Halhoul Bridge area, north of Hebron, and another roadblock in Jouret Bahlas, at the northern entrance of Hebron city.
24 aug 2013
Waad society for liberated prisoners called on human rights and humanitarian organizations to intervene immediately to save the life of the hunger striker and isolated prisoner in Israeli occupation jails Dirar Abu Sisi. The society warned of Abu Sisi's serious deterioration after eight days of hunger strike in protest against his solitary confinement. Abu Sisi was transferred to Soroka hospital due to his health condition, it noted.
Dirar Abu Sisi, 44, the deputy engineer of the only power plant in the Gaza Strip, was in the Ukraine when he was kidnapped at the hands of Israeli foreign intelligence agents on the 19th of February 2011.
He was kept in solitary confinement since his abduction under extremely poor conditions. He is now suffering from weakening health condition and psychological trauma. He was subjected to torture, humiliation and inhumane treatment in Israeli occupation prisons.
Dirar Abu Sisi, 44, the deputy engineer of the only power plant in the Gaza Strip, was in the Ukraine when he was kidnapped at the hands of Israeli foreign intelligence agents on the 19th of February 2011.
He was kept in solitary confinement since his abduction under extremely poor conditions. He is now suffering from weakening health condition and psychological trauma. He was subjected to torture, humiliation and inhumane treatment in Israeli occupation prisons.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Friday kidnapped three Palestinian young men and violently clashed with others during a large-scale campaign in Dura town, southwest of Al-Khalil city. An eyewitness told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that a large number of Israeli troops aboard more than 13 military vehicles and armored carriers stormed the neighborhoods of Kanar, Agnim, Sharfa, and Ahnina as well as the central zone of Dura town.
He added that violent clashes broke out between the invading troops and Palestinian young men during the military campaign in these areas.
Several minor injuries were reported in the events.
The IOF also broke into and ransacked many homes in the raided areas, and kidnapped three young men from their homes in Al-Sharfa area.
The ferocity of the campaign caused a widespread panic among children and women, especially as some of the tear gas grenades fired by the IOF fell onto homes.
The residents of Dura town were exposed to a similar military campaign one day earlier.
In a separate incident, IOF soldiers kidnapped on Thursday evening a university student named Tha'er Amro at Za'tara checkpoint near Al-Khalil city after they searched his bag.
He added that violent clashes broke out between the invading troops and Palestinian young men during the military campaign in these areas.
Several minor injuries were reported in the events.
The IOF also broke into and ransacked many homes in the raided areas, and kidnapped three young men from their homes in Al-Sharfa area.
The ferocity of the campaign caused a widespread panic among children and women, especially as some of the tear gas grenades fired by the IOF fell onto homes.
The residents of Dura town were exposed to a similar military campaign one day earlier.
In a separate incident, IOF soldiers kidnapped on Thursday evening a university student named Tha'er Amro at Za'tara checkpoint near Al-Khalil city after they searched his bag.
The Israeli Prison Service has transferred Dirar Abu Sisi, an engineer from Gaza who was abducted in Ukraine, to Ramle prison clinic, the PA ministry of prisoners' affairs said Saturday.
Ministry lawyer Rami al-Alami said Abu Sisi suffered from health problems in his heart, kidney, gallbladder and eyes.
Raafat Hamdona, director of the Gaza prisoner center, told AFP that Abu Sisi began a hunger strike on Aug. 16 to demand his release from solitary imprisonment and be allowed visits of members of his family from Gaza.
Israeli Prison Service spokeswoman Sivan Weizman said Thursday that Abu Sisi had begun a hunger strike three days earlier and that "all his personal items and electric appliances were removed from his cell, except for a fan."
Abu Sisi, an engineer who was former technical director at Gaza's sole electricity plant, disappeared from a train in Ukraine in February 2011. Israel later announced it was holding him. According to the PA ministry, Abu Sisi has spent his entire detention in solitary confinement.
Al-Alami said a group of prisoners from Eshel, Ramon, Nafham Shatta, Gilboa and Hadarim jails planned to start a hunger strike on Sunday to protest Abu Sisi's isolation.
Prisoner Amjad Qabaha told the ministry lawyer that protests could escalate if Abu Sisi continued to be held in solitary confinement.
According to a summary of charges by Israel, Abu Sisi is on trial for "activity in a terrorist organization, hundreds of counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and arms production offenses" as a member of Hamas.
Ministry lawyer Rami al-Alami said Abu Sisi suffered from health problems in his heart, kidney, gallbladder and eyes.
Raafat Hamdona, director of the Gaza prisoner center, told AFP that Abu Sisi began a hunger strike on Aug. 16 to demand his release from solitary imprisonment and be allowed visits of members of his family from Gaza.
Israeli Prison Service spokeswoman Sivan Weizman said Thursday that Abu Sisi had begun a hunger strike three days earlier and that "all his personal items and electric appliances were removed from his cell, except for a fan."
Abu Sisi, an engineer who was former technical director at Gaza's sole electricity plant, disappeared from a train in Ukraine in February 2011. Israel later announced it was holding him. According to the PA ministry, Abu Sisi has spent his entire detention in solitary confinement.
Al-Alami said a group of prisoners from Eshel, Ramon, Nafham Shatta, Gilboa and Hadarim jails planned to start a hunger strike on Sunday to protest Abu Sisi's isolation.
Prisoner Amjad Qabaha told the ministry lawyer that protests could escalate if Abu Sisi continued to be held in solitary confinement.
According to a summary of charges by Israel, Abu Sisi is on trial for "activity in a terrorist organization, hundreds of counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and arms production offenses" as a member of Hamas.
Nour Shalaby 15
The District Police in occupied East Jerusalem released on Friday evening [August 23, 2013] a Palestinian child after detaining him for two days, and ordered him under house arrest.
The family of the Child, Nour Salim Shalaby, 15, was also ordered to pay a 500 NIS fine, as ruled by the Israeli District Court in Jerusalem.
Omar Shalaby, secretary of Fateh movement in Jerusalem, stated that the Israeli court ordered the child away from the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Bab Al-‘Amoud and the Old City of Jerusalem for one month.
The Police kidnapped Shalaby last Wednesday as he was crossing a border terminal heading back home with his family following a visit to Jordan.
Also on Friday, the Israeli District Court in Jerusalem refused to release two children, identified as Tha’er Mheisin, 15, and Ali Mheisin, 17, and decided to hold a court hearing this coming Sunday.
The Israeli prosecution intends to indict the two children, claiming they hurled stones at an Israeli bus.
Back on May 29, the Israeli police kidnapped an 11-year-old child, identified as Saif Roweidi, and interrogated him for several hours before he was released. He was kidnapped as he, and his sister, 15, were heading back home from school. He was also ordered under house arrest.
On May 22, the Police kidnapped five Palestinian children in Silwan, in occupied East Jerusalem, after claiming that they [13-15 years old] “attacked an Israeli settler”.
Dozens of Palestinian children have been kidnapped, and imprisoned, by the Israeli army and police since the beginning of this year.
They were interrogated for hours without the presence of a lawyer of a parent.
In one of the incidents, the family of Majdi Abu Tayeh, 13, and his cousin, were forced to pay fine, and the two children were forced under house arrest for more than a week.
The court even ruled that when Tayeh goes to school, one of his parents or brothers must accompany him, including when he heads back home.
Local sources and human rights groups, in Silwan, stated that dozens of children have been kidnapped, violently and illegally interrogated, and were released after their families paid fines.
Back in January of this year, Israeli soldiers and police officers kidnapped 143 Palestinians from different areas in occupied East Jerusalem; more than half of them were children, mainly 12-14 years of age.
One child, identified as Mohammad Ali Dirbas, was only 8 when he was kidnapped, and was interrogated without his family present, or any legal representation, for more than two hours.
The District Police in occupied East Jerusalem released on Friday evening [August 23, 2013] a Palestinian child after detaining him for two days, and ordered him under house arrest.
The family of the Child, Nour Salim Shalaby, 15, was also ordered to pay a 500 NIS fine, as ruled by the Israeli District Court in Jerusalem.
Omar Shalaby, secretary of Fateh movement in Jerusalem, stated that the Israeli court ordered the child away from the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Bab Al-‘Amoud and the Old City of Jerusalem for one month.
The Police kidnapped Shalaby last Wednesday as he was crossing a border terminal heading back home with his family following a visit to Jordan.
Also on Friday, the Israeli District Court in Jerusalem refused to release two children, identified as Tha’er Mheisin, 15, and Ali Mheisin, 17, and decided to hold a court hearing this coming Sunday.
The Israeli prosecution intends to indict the two children, claiming they hurled stones at an Israeli bus.
Back on May 29, the Israeli police kidnapped an 11-year-old child, identified as Saif Roweidi, and interrogated him for several hours before he was released. He was kidnapped as he, and his sister, 15, were heading back home from school. He was also ordered under house arrest.
On May 22, the Police kidnapped five Palestinian children in Silwan, in occupied East Jerusalem, after claiming that they [13-15 years old] “attacked an Israeli settler”.
Dozens of Palestinian children have been kidnapped, and imprisoned, by the Israeli army and police since the beginning of this year.
They were interrogated for hours without the presence of a lawyer of a parent.
In one of the incidents, the family of Majdi Abu Tayeh, 13, and his cousin, were forced to pay fine, and the two children were forced under house arrest for more than a week.
The court even ruled that when Tayeh goes to school, one of his parents or brothers must accompany him, including when he heads back home.
Local sources and human rights groups, in Silwan, stated that dozens of children have been kidnapped, violently and illegally interrogated, and were released after their families paid fines.
Back in January of this year, Israeli soldiers and police officers kidnapped 143 Palestinians from different areas in occupied East Jerusalem; more than half of them were children, mainly 12-14 years of age.
One child, identified as Mohammad Ali Dirbas, was only 8 when he was kidnapped, and was interrogated without his family present, or any legal representation, for more than two hours.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped on Friday evening [August 23, 2013] nine Palestinians in Anata own, north of occupied East Jerusalem, and at a roadblock east of the northern West Bank city of Jenin.
Local sources in occupied Jerusalem stated that undercover forces of the Israeli army kidnapped four Palestinians during clashes that took place in Anata after the army invaded it and assaulted a number of residents.
The sources said that two of the kidnapped residents have been identified as Mohammad Hilwa, 19, and Mohammad Abdul-Latif, 21.
The undercover forces further invaded a local gas station, and shut it down for two hours before confiscating surveillance cameras and tapes.
Furthermore, soldier stationed at the Jalama roadblock, east of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, kidnapped five Palestinians and took them to an unknown destination.
The kidnapped residents have been identified as Anis Rayeq Sha’ban, Majd Mohammad Abu Issa, Amjad Hasan Zeidan, Mohammad Kamel Abu Issa, and Mo’men Jamal As-Sa’dy.
Israeli soldiers conduct daily violations, including invasions and arrests, in different parts of the occupied West Bank, including in occupied Jerusalem.
Local sources in occupied Jerusalem stated that undercover forces of the Israeli army kidnapped four Palestinians during clashes that took place in Anata after the army invaded it and assaulted a number of residents.
The sources said that two of the kidnapped residents have been identified as Mohammad Hilwa, 19, and Mohammad Abdul-Latif, 21.
The undercover forces further invaded a local gas station, and shut it down for two hours before confiscating surveillance cameras and tapes.
Furthermore, soldier stationed at the Jalama roadblock, east of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, kidnapped five Palestinians and took them to an unknown destination.
The kidnapped residents have been identified as Anis Rayeq Sha’ban, Majd Mohammad Abu Issa, Amjad Hasan Zeidan, Mohammad Kamel Abu Issa, and Mo’men Jamal As-Sa’dy.
Israeli soldiers conduct daily violations, including invasions and arrests, in different parts of the occupied West Bank, including in occupied Jerusalem.
Dozens of Palestinian and foreign activists suffered injuries on Friday afternoon when the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) attacked their protests against settlement expansion activities in different West Bank areas. The organizers of the weekly anti-wall march in Masarah village, south of Bethlehem, dedicated the rally of this week to denouncing the mass killing of Syrian children in Eastern Gouta.
As the protestors reached near the segregation wall, the IOF fired a hail of tear gas grenades to disperse their march.
The protestors clashed with the IOF and some of them suffered tear gas suffocation.
In Bil'in village, three Palestinians and one foreign journalist were wounded and many others suffered teargas suffocation when the IOF violently attacked their peaceful march, which denounced Israel's segregation wall and settlement activities.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers intensively fired rubber bullets and tear gas grenades at the protestors when the protestors arrived at a Palestinian-owned land near the segregation wall in the village.
The IOF also suppressed the weekly march of Nabi Saleh village, north of Ramallah, which demands an end to Israel's settlement and Judaization activities in the occupied territories, and clashed with the protestors.
The weekly march of Kafr Qaddum village, which protests the Israeli closure of the main road, was also subdued by the IOF.
The IOF fired tear gas at the protestors and chased young men in nearby fields in an attempt to arrest them, according to eyewitnesses.
As the protestors reached near the segregation wall, the IOF fired a hail of tear gas grenades to disperse their march.
The protestors clashed with the IOF and some of them suffered tear gas suffocation.
In Bil'in village, three Palestinians and one foreign journalist were wounded and many others suffered teargas suffocation when the IOF violently attacked their peaceful march, which denounced Israel's segregation wall and settlement activities.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers intensively fired rubber bullets and tear gas grenades at the protestors when the protestors arrived at a Palestinian-owned land near the segregation wall in the village.
The IOF also suppressed the weekly march of Nabi Saleh village, north of Ramallah, which demands an end to Israel's settlement and Judaization activities in the occupied territories, and clashed with the protestors.
The weekly march of Kafr Qaddum village, which protests the Israeli closure of the main road, was also subdued by the IOF.
The IOF fired tear gas at the protestors and chased young men in nearby fields in an attempt to arrest them, according to eyewitnesses.
23 aug 2013
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Palestinian children are systematically subjected to torture and violence, including threats of rape, by Israeli interrogators, in order to force them to confess to stone-throwing.
The brutality, at the Etzion police station, in an illegal Israeli colony near the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, is documented in a new report by the Israeli group B’Tselem: In November 2009, B’Tselem began receiving reports of violence against Palestinian minors during interrogation at the Etzion police station. Until July 2013, B’Tselem field researchers collected 64 testimonies from residents of eight communities in the southern West Bank who reported such incidents. Fifty-six of them were minors at the time of their interrogation. |
The testimonies described severe physical violence during the interrogation or preliminary questioning, which, in some cases, amounted to torture. The violence included slaps, punches and kicks to all parts of the body, and blows with objects, such as a gun or a stick. Some of the former interrogatees also reported threats: in twelve cases, they claimed that the interrogator had threatened them or female relatives with sexual assault, such as rape and genital injury. In six cases, the interrogatees claimed that the interrogators had threatened to execute them; in eight cases, the interrogators allegedly threatened to harm family members; and in five other cases, they allegedly threatened to electrocute the interrogatees, including in a way that would damage their fertility.
“I’ll murder you if you don’t confess” B’Tselem included the testimony of M.A., a 15-year-old boy, from Husan village near Bethlehem:
The interrogator “Daud” took me outside with a soldier. They blindfolded me. The plastic cable ties were still on my hands. They put me in a car and started driving. I don’t know where they took me. We reached some place outside Etzion and they forced me out of the car. My hands really hurt because of the cable ties. They took off my blindfold. I didn’t know where I was. They tied me to a tree, and then they raised my cuffed hands and tied them to the tree, too. It hurt a lot. “Daud” started punching me. After a few minutes, he took out a gun and said: “I’ll murder you if you don’t confess! Out here, no one will find you. We’ll kill you and leave you here.
Consistent
While the revelations from B’Tselem are shocking, they are, sadly, hardly new. The accounts of the Palestinian children are consistent with those collected in dozens of cases in 2012 alone by Defence for Children International – Palestine Section (DCI).
These cases include routine use of solitary confinement with no access to family or lawyers, as well as physical violence, to force children to confess.
Last year, DCI released the brief video above, Alone, highlighting the experience and testimonies of Palestinian children abused and tortured by the occupation forces.
The film makes the point that Palestinian children subjected to military occupation have no one to protect them from such abuses by Israeli forces.
As of June this year, there are 193 Palestinian children in Israeli prisons of whom 41 were between the ages of 12 and 15.
Some 7,500 Palestinian children have been detained by Israeli occupation forces since the year 2000, according to DCI.
Systematic violence and near total impunity B’Tselem reports that its efforts to obtain accountability for Palestinian victims in dozens of cases have been met with stone-walling.
The group said its appeals to the occupation to deal “systemically” with the phenomenon of torture and violence at Etzion have gone nowhere:
Although B’Tselem contacted the Israel Police on this matter repeatedly, no official answer was given to the question whether any steps had been taken to address the phenomenon and, if so, what they were. All our communications with the police on the matter were met with denial.
B’Tselem said that the high number of consistent reports of torture suggest a systematic process:
The high number of reports B’Tselem has received regarding violent interrogations at the Etzion station, and the fact that they span several years, gives rise to heavy suspicion that this is not a case of a single interrogator who chose to use illegal interrogation methods, but rather an entire apparatus that backs him up and allows such conduct to take place.
B’Tselem itself issued a report about the torture of children at Etzion police station as far back as 2001.
Again, B’Tselem’s experience matches that of other Israeli groups, such as Yesh Din, that have found that efforts to obstain justice for Palestinians from their oppressors result in almost total and systematic impunity for the abusers.
“I’ll murder you if you don’t confess” B’Tselem included the testimony of M.A., a 15-year-old boy, from Husan village near Bethlehem:
The interrogator “Daud” took me outside with a soldier. They blindfolded me. The plastic cable ties were still on my hands. They put me in a car and started driving. I don’t know where they took me. We reached some place outside Etzion and they forced me out of the car. My hands really hurt because of the cable ties. They took off my blindfold. I didn’t know where I was. They tied me to a tree, and then they raised my cuffed hands and tied them to the tree, too. It hurt a lot. “Daud” started punching me. After a few minutes, he took out a gun and said: “I’ll murder you if you don’t confess! Out here, no one will find you. We’ll kill you and leave you here.
Consistent
While the revelations from B’Tselem are shocking, they are, sadly, hardly new. The accounts of the Palestinian children are consistent with those collected in dozens of cases in 2012 alone by Defence for Children International – Palestine Section (DCI).
These cases include routine use of solitary confinement with no access to family or lawyers, as well as physical violence, to force children to confess.
Last year, DCI released the brief video above, Alone, highlighting the experience and testimonies of Palestinian children abused and tortured by the occupation forces.
The film makes the point that Palestinian children subjected to military occupation have no one to protect them from such abuses by Israeli forces.
As of June this year, there are 193 Palestinian children in Israeli prisons of whom 41 were between the ages of 12 and 15.
Some 7,500 Palestinian children have been detained by Israeli occupation forces since the year 2000, according to DCI.
Systematic violence and near total impunity B’Tselem reports that its efforts to obtain accountability for Palestinian victims in dozens of cases have been met with stone-walling.
The group said its appeals to the occupation to deal “systemically” with the phenomenon of torture and violence at Etzion have gone nowhere:
Although B’Tselem contacted the Israel Police on this matter repeatedly, no official answer was given to the question whether any steps had been taken to address the phenomenon and, if so, what they were. All our communications with the police on the matter were met with denial.
B’Tselem said that the high number of consistent reports of torture suggest a systematic process:
The high number of reports B’Tselem has received regarding violent interrogations at the Etzion station, and the fact that they span several years, gives rise to heavy suspicion that this is not a case of a single interrogator who chose to use illegal interrogation methods, but rather an entire apparatus that backs him up and allows such conduct to take place.
B’Tselem itself issued a report about the torture of children at Etzion police station as far back as 2001.
Again, B’Tselem’s experience matches that of other Israeli groups, such as Yesh Din, that have found that efforts to obstain justice for Palestinians from their oppressors result in almost total and systematic impunity for the abusers.
A Palestinian from Gaza who was snatched from Ukraine and is being held in an Israel prison has begun refusing food, a prison spokeswoman said on Thursday.
Dirar Abu Sisi "was on the third day of a hunger strike, following which all his personal items and electric appliances were removed from his cell, except for a fan," Israel Prison Service spokeswoman Sivan Weizman told AFP.
Weizman added that Abu Sisi, like the rest of the prisoner populace, was receiving appropriate medical care.
Abu Sisi, an engineer who was former technical director at Gaza's sole electricity plant, created a sensation when in early 2011 he disappeared while traveling on a train in Ukraine.
Israel later announced it was holding him and intended to put him on trial for "activity in a terrorist organization, hundreds of counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and arms production offenses" as a member of Hamas, a summary of the charges said at the time.
Weizman said his trial was still ongoing.
Hamas never officially acknowledged his membership in the militant organization, but Palestinian sources confirm he was a member.
Raafat Hamdona, director of the Gaza prisoner center, told AFP that Abu Sisi began a hunger strike on August 16 to demand his release from solitary imprisonment and be allowed visits of members of his family from Gaza.
They noted his health was poor.
The International Committee of the Red Cross on Saturday said it was "extremely concerned" over the health of seven hunger-striking Palestinians held by Israel.
According to Weizman, there were currently eight Palestinians on hunger strike, including Abu Sisi.
Dirar Abu Sisi "was on the third day of a hunger strike, following which all his personal items and electric appliances were removed from his cell, except for a fan," Israel Prison Service spokeswoman Sivan Weizman told AFP.
Weizman added that Abu Sisi, like the rest of the prisoner populace, was receiving appropriate medical care.
Abu Sisi, an engineer who was former technical director at Gaza's sole electricity plant, created a sensation when in early 2011 he disappeared while traveling on a train in Ukraine.
Israel later announced it was holding him and intended to put him on trial for "activity in a terrorist organization, hundreds of counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and arms production offenses" as a member of Hamas, a summary of the charges said at the time.
Weizman said his trial was still ongoing.
Hamas never officially acknowledged his membership in the militant organization, but Palestinian sources confirm he was a member.
Raafat Hamdona, director of the Gaza prisoner center, told AFP that Abu Sisi began a hunger strike on August 16 to demand his release from solitary imprisonment and be allowed visits of members of his family from Gaza.
They noted his health was poor.
The International Committee of the Red Cross on Saturday said it was "extremely concerned" over the health of seven hunger-striking Palestinians held by Israel.
According to Weizman, there were currently eight Palestinians on hunger strike, including Abu Sisi.
Tadhamun Foundation for Human Rights reported that 2 Palestinian female captives in the Israeli Hasharon prison suffer difficult health conditions as a result of medical negligence by the prison administration. Researcher at the Foundation Ahmed Betawi said that captive Lena Ahmed Jerboni, aged 40, suffers from swelling and severe pain in the stomach, after cholecystectomy she underwent two months ago.
He noted that an Arab doctor visited Jerboni in Hasharon and confirmed that the cause of swelling is the presence of bacteria in the stomach caused by the surgery and gave her medication for 10 days.
He explained that Jerboni's surgery came late.
For his part; the lawyer at Tadhamun foundation Mohammed Abed confirmed that Jerboni is not able to go out for visits due to her inability to walk because of the pain in her feet.
Abid added that the captive Anaam Hassanat, 30, suffers from migraine and severe pain, pointing out that she also could not go out for visits because of her inability to move.
Captive Jerboni, from the town of Araba al-Buttof in Akka, was arrested on April 18 2002 and was sentenced to 17 years, while captive Anaam Hassanat, from Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, was arrested a year ago and sentenced to two years imprisonment.
There are 13 Palestinian female prisoners held in the Israeli occupation jails.
He noted that an Arab doctor visited Jerboni in Hasharon and confirmed that the cause of swelling is the presence of bacteria in the stomach caused by the surgery and gave her medication for 10 days.
He explained that Jerboni's surgery came late.
For his part; the lawyer at Tadhamun foundation Mohammed Abed confirmed that Jerboni is not able to go out for visits due to her inability to walk because of the pain in her feet.
Abid added that the captive Anaam Hassanat, 30, suffers from migraine and severe pain, pointing out that she also could not go out for visits because of her inability to move.
Captive Jerboni, from the town of Araba al-Buttof in Akka, was arrested on April 18 2002 and was sentenced to 17 years, while captive Anaam Hassanat, from Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, was arrested a year ago and sentenced to two years imprisonment.
There are 13 Palestinian female prisoners held in the Israeli occupation jails.
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A former child prisoner speaks out as investigation launched into alleged torture of Palestinian child detainees.
Israeli police have launched an investigation into allegations that Palestinian children were tortured by officers in at least one police station. The children are accusing the police of being subjected to violence while being held in jail, and also say they were wrongfully accused of having committed crimes. Al Jazeera’s Sue Turton spoke to one of the alleged victims in the Occupied West Bank. |
Since November 2009, B’Tselem, a non governmental organization, has received testimonies from 64 Palestinian residents of the Bethlehem and Hebron districts, claiming they were subjected to threats, violence, and torture during their interrogation at the Gush Etzion police station. Fifty-six of them were minors at the time of their interrogation.
Interrogators at the police station threaten Palestinians with the hopes of obtaining confessions, which they record and later use to convict them. “The high number of reports B’Tselem has received regarding violent interrogations at the Etzion station, and the fact that they span several years, gives rise to heavy suspicion that this is not a case of a single interrogator who chose to use illegal interrogation methods, but rather an entire apparatus that backs him up and allows such conduct to take place,” B’Tselem spokeswoman, Sarit Michaeli, said.
M.A., a resident of Husan, was 15 years old at the time of his arrest. He recounts his experience at the police station. “The interrogator “Daud” took me outside with a soldier. They blindfolded me. The plastic cable ties were still on my hands. They put me in a car and started driving. I don’t know where they took me. We reached some place outside Etzion and they forced me out of the car. My hands really hurt because of the cable ties. They took off my blindfold. I didn’t know where I was. They tied me to a tree, and then they raised my cuffed hands and tied them to the tree, too. It hurt a lot. “Daud” started punching me. After a few minutes, he took out a gun and said: “I’ll murder you if you don’t confess! Out here, no one will find you. We’ll kill you and leave you here.”
Twelve of the 64 claimed the interrogator threatened them or female relatives with sexual assault, including rape and genital injury. Six were threatened with execution; in another eight cases, the interrogators threatened to harm family members; and in five cases, they threatened to electrocute the interrogatees, including in a way that would permanently damage their fertility.
Out of the 64 cases B’Tselem documented, Michaeli said, 33 families did not want to file complaints, and another 20 dropped their complaints after they were filed. 11 cases have been filed, eight are still under investigation, and three of the cases have been closed.
M.H., another resident of Husan, was 14 years old at the time of his arrest. He recounts his experience at the police station. “The interrogator made me go into a room. He grabbed my head and started banging it against the wall. Then he punched me, slapped me and kicked my legs. The pain was immense, and I felt like I couldn’t stand any longer. Then he started swearing at me. He said filthy things about me and about my mother. He threatened to rape me, or perform sexual acts on me, if I didn’t confess to throwing stones. His threats really scared me, because he was very cruel and it was just the two of us in the room. I remembered what I’d seen on the news, when British and American soldiers raped and took photos of naked Iraqis.
This is not the first account of Israeli officials using torture to convict Palestinians. B’Tselem declared that any confession obtained through illegal methods, including threats, violence and/or torture, are illegitimate and must be declared as mistrials.
Interrogators at the police station threaten Palestinians with the hopes of obtaining confessions, which they record and later use to convict them. “The high number of reports B’Tselem has received regarding violent interrogations at the Etzion station, and the fact that they span several years, gives rise to heavy suspicion that this is not a case of a single interrogator who chose to use illegal interrogation methods, but rather an entire apparatus that backs him up and allows such conduct to take place,” B’Tselem spokeswoman, Sarit Michaeli, said.
M.A., a resident of Husan, was 15 years old at the time of his arrest. He recounts his experience at the police station. “The interrogator “Daud” took me outside with a soldier. They blindfolded me. The plastic cable ties were still on my hands. They put me in a car and started driving. I don’t know where they took me. We reached some place outside Etzion and they forced me out of the car. My hands really hurt because of the cable ties. They took off my blindfold. I didn’t know where I was. They tied me to a tree, and then they raised my cuffed hands and tied them to the tree, too. It hurt a lot. “Daud” started punching me. After a few minutes, he took out a gun and said: “I’ll murder you if you don’t confess! Out here, no one will find you. We’ll kill you and leave you here.”
Twelve of the 64 claimed the interrogator threatened them or female relatives with sexual assault, including rape and genital injury. Six were threatened with execution; in another eight cases, the interrogators threatened to harm family members; and in five cases, they threatened to electrocute the interrogatees, including in a way that would permanently damage their fertility.
Out of the 64 cases B’Tselem documented, Michaeli said, 33 families did not want to file complaints, and another 20 dropped their complaints after they were filed. 11 cases have been filed, eight are still under investigation, and three of the cases have been closed.
M.H., another resident of Husan, was 14 years old at the time of his arrest. He recounts his experience at the police station. “The interrogator made me go into a room. He grabbed my head and started banging it against the wall. Then he punched me, slapped me and kicked my legs. The pain was immense, and I felt like I couldn’t stand any longer. Then he started swearing at me. He said filthy things about me and about my mother. He threatened to rape me, or perform sexual acts on me, if I didn’t confess to throwing stones. His threats really scared me, because he was very cruel and it was just the two of us in the room. I remembered what I’d seen on the news, when British and American soldiers raped and took photos of naked Iraqis.
This is not the first account of Israeli officials using torture to convict Palestinians. B’Tselem declared that any confession obtained through illegal methods, including threats, violence and/or torture, are illegitimate and must be declared as mistrials.
22 aug 2013
Leena Jawabreh was sentenced to one month in Israeli prison today and a fine of $1000 shekels for entering Palestine ’48 (Israel) without a permit.
Myassar Atyani and Linan Abu Ghoulmeh will have hearings upcoming on Sunday.
To take action on their case, please see our alert.
Myassar Atyani and Linan Abu Ghoulmeh will have hearings upcoming on Sunday.
To take action on their case, please see our alert.
A human rights group said that the Israeli occupation authority was holding 125 Palestinians in administrative detention, without trial or charge. Ahrar center for prisoners’ studies and human rights said in a statement that most of those detainees were liberated prisoners.
The center said that most of the detainees are held in the Negev desert prison while 39 are held in Ofer jail and a few in Megiddo.
It pointed out that most of the detainees are from Al-Khalil including MP Hatem Qufaisha and Sheikh Adel Shanyur who have spent the longest years in administrative custody.
Ahrar center asked human rights groups, official circles, and the media to shed light on the suffering of those detainees and to demand an end to their suffering in administrative detention.
The center said that most of the detainees are held in the Negev desert prison while 39 are held in Ofer jail and a few in Megiddo.
It pointed out that most of the detainees are from Al-Khalil including MP Hatem Qufaisha and Sheikh Adel Shanyur who have spent the longest years in administrative custody.
Ahrar center asked human rights groups, official circles, and the media to shed light on the suffering of those detainees and to demand an end to their suffering in administrative detention.
Nur Salim Shalabi, 15
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested from different parts of the occupied West Bank six citizens, including a Jerusalemite child. PIC's correspondent in Nablus said that the Israeli soldiers arrested four Palestinians in raids in Tulkarem and Nablus. The Israeli radio claimed that the four detainees are wanted for the Shin Bet.
Meanwhile, the occupation authorities arrested on Wednesday afternoon the Jerusalemite boy Nur Shalabi, 15, from East Jerusalem at the Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the West Bank.
Nur was stopped by Israeli security officers at the Palestinian side of the crossing while travelling back from Jordan with his mother, his uncle Omar Shalabi said.
Shalabi added that his nephew was stopped by the passport inspectors, and his mother offered to bring him to a police station in Jerusalem, but the Israelis insisted on detaining him immediately.
The Shin Bet also announced on Wednesday arresting Abdul Qadir Talla, 26, a Palestinian pharmacy student who studies at a university in Jordan.
Israeli forces detain Jerusalem teenager at Allenby
Israeli forces on Wednesday afternoon detained a Palestinian teenager from East Jerusalem at the Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the West Bank.
Nur Salim Shalabi, 15, was stopped by Israeli security officers at the Israeli side of the crossing while travelling back from Jordan with his mother, his uncle Omar Shalabi said.
Shalabi highlighted that his nephew was stopped by the passport inspectors, and his mother offered to bring him to a police station in Jerusalem, but the Israelis insisted on detaining him immediately.
Nur and his brother Layth were detained by the Israeli forces in May, but they were released under house arrest.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested from different parts of the occupied West Bank six citizens, including a Jerusalemite child. PIC's correspondent in Nablus said that the Israeli soldiers arrested four Palestinians in raids in Tulkarem and Nablus. The Israeli radio claimed that the four detainees are wanted for the Shin Bet.
Meanwhile, the occupation authorities arrested on Wednesday afternoon the Jerusalemite boy Nur Shalabi, 15, from East Jerusalem at the Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the West Bank.
Nur was stopped by Israeli security officers at the Palestinian side of the crossing while travelling back from Jordan with his mother, his uncle Omar Shalabi said.
Shalabi added that his nephew was stopped by the passport inspectors, and his mother offered to bring him to a police station in Jerusalem, but the Israelis insisted on detaining him immediately.
The Shin Bet also announced on Wednesday arresting Abdul Qadir Talla, 26, a Palestinian pharmacy student who studies at a university in Jordan.
Israeli forces detain Jerusalem teenager at Allenby
Israeli forces on Wednesday afternoon detained a Palestinian teenager from East Jerusalem at the Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the West Bank.
Nur Salim Shalabi, 15, was stopped by Israeli security officers at the Israeli side of the crossing while travelling back from Jordan with his mother, his uncle Omar Shalabi said.
Shalabi highlighted that his nephew was stopped by the passport inspectors, and his mother offered to bring him to a police station in Jerusalem, but the Israelis insisted on detaining him immediately.
Nur and his brother Layth were detained by the Israeli forces in May, but they were released under house arrest.
The Palestinian liberated prisoner Ayman Abu Daoud arrived on Thursday morning to the Gaza Strip through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, after being deported from the West Bank. Abu Daoud, aged 31 from the city of al-Khalil in the southern West Bank, was released and deported to Gaza, after a deal with the Israeli authorities to end his 40-day hunger strike
Ayman ended his hunger strike in May. He served three months in the Israeli jails then he was deported to the Gaza Strip where he will spend ten years.
Wa'ed Society for Detainees and Ex-detainees told PIC's correspondent that Abu Daoud arrived to the Strip and will undergo medical examination to check on his health condition.
Abu Daoud was freed in a prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas in 2011, but Israel rearrested him in October 2012.
The occupation planned to detain him for 28 years so that he will complete his previous sentence, director of Ahrar Center Fouad Khuffash revealed. However, Ayman succeeded to achieve his release following his hunger strike.
Ayman ended his hunger strike in May. He served three months in the Israeli jails then he was deported to the Gaza Strip where he will spend ten years.
Wa'ed Society for Detainees and Ex-detainees told PIC's correspondent that Abu Daoud arrived to the Strip and will undergo medical examination to check on his health condition.
Abu Daoud was freed in a prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas in 2011, but Israel rearrested him in October 2012.
The occupation planned to detain him for 28 years so that he will complete his previous sentence, director of Ahrar Center Fouad Khuffash revealed. However, Ayman succeeded to achieve his release following his hunger strike.
The wife of prisoner Abdul-Majid Khudeirat, from Tubas city, said the health condition of her husband keeps deteriorating as a result of the hunger strike, which he started on the first of July. The wife told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that her husband decided to go on an open-ended hunger strike in protest at his reimprisonment after his release as part of the last Egyptian-brokered swap deal between Hamas and the Israeli occupation.
She said that her husband lost 25 kilograms of his weight and suffers from severe pains all over his body, and held the Israeli regime fully responsible for his life.
She affirmed that her husband is still being held in Megiddo jail and the jailers there refuse to transfer him to Ramla prison infirmary as they have done with the other hunger strikers.
She noted that the Israeli regime flouted its prisoner swap agreement with the Palestinians and wants her husband to complete his four-year detention term.
She said that her husband lost 25 kilograms of his weight and suffers from severe pains all over his body, and held the Israeli regime fully responsible for his life.
She affirmed that her husband is still being held in Megiddo jail and the jailers there refuse to transfer him to Ramla prison infirmary as they have done with the other hunger strikers.
She noted that the Israeli regime flouted its prisoner swap agreement with the Palestinians and wants her husband to complete his four-year detention term.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rounded up three Palestinians in Tulkarem at dawn Thursday. Eyewitnesses said that IOF soldiers stormed Nur Shams refugee camp and arrested two young men before detaining a third in Tulkarem city.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers broke into the home of liberated prisoner Tarek Qadan in Arrabe village, Jenin province, and interrogated him for an hour.
The same thing happened in the home of liberated prisoner Jafar Ezzuddin, who was questioned on his brother Tarek, who was exiled to Gaza, and his third detained brother.
Palestinian security sources said that an IOF unit of 40 soldiers raided Al-Khalil city and detained a number of young men and interrogated them in Shalale street while another unit set up a roadblock at Halahoul bridge and searched passing vehicles.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers broke into the home of liberated prisoner Tarek Qadan in Arrabe village, Jenin province, and interrogated him for an hour.
The same thing happened in the home of liberated prisoner Jafar Ezzuddin, who was questioned on his brother Tarek, who was exiled to Gaza, and his third detained brother.
Palestinian security sources said that an IOF unit of 40 soldiers raided Al-Khalil city and detained a number of young men and interrogated them in Shalale street while another unit set up a roadblock at Halahoul bridge and searched passing vehicles.
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation jails have given the Israeli prion service (IPS) 48 hours to end the isolation of Dirar Abu Sisi, a human rights center said on Wednesday. The Ahrar center for studies and human rights said in a statement that Palestinian prisoners in Nafha, Eshel, and Raymon had decided to support the case of Abu Sisi by all means available.
They threatened to escalate their protests to an open hunger strike in the event the IPS did not respond and end the solitary confinement of Abu Sisi, who has been in isolation since his kidnaping and detention in 2011.
The center said that meetings took place recently between representatives of those prisoners and the IPS in which the latter was given 48 hours to end the isolation of Abu Sisi, the only Palestinian prisoner still held in isolation, or else the prisoners would go on open hunger strike.
They threatened to escalate their protests to an open hunger strike in the event the IPS did not respond and end the solitary confinement of Abu Sisi, who has been in isolation since his kidnaping and detention in 2011.
The center said that meetings took place recently between representatives of those prisoners and the IPS in which the latter was given 48 hours to end the isolation of Abu Sisi, the only Palestinian prisoner still held in isolation, or else the prisoners would go on open hunger strike.
21 aug 2013
Israeli soldiers invaded on Wednesday at dawn [August 21, 2013] the northern West bank district of Nablus, and the West bank district of Bethlehem, kidnapped four Palestinians and injured several others.
Local sources Nablus have reported that the army invaded the Balata refugee camp, and kidnapped two Palestinians, and also invaded Tal Village and kidnapped another Palestinian.
The sources stated that clashes took place between dozens of local youths and Israeli soldiers who invaded the Balata refugee camp, in addition to clashes that took place in Amman and Al-Hisba Streets in the city.
The army fired dozens of gas bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets; dozens of residents have been treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Undercover forces of the Israeli army, driving local Palestinian cars, also kidnapped two Palestinians, including one child in Balata and took them to an unknown destination.
The two have been identified as Abdul-Jalil Khaled Qqtqb, 21, and Ahmad Salama Hash-Shash, 16.
Furthermore, several armored Israeli military vehicles invaded Tal village, near Nablus, and kidnaped one child identified as Khaled Eshtayya, 16.
Also, dozens of soldiers invaded the Deheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, kidnapped on child, shot and injured another resident.
The kidnapped child has been identified as Ahmad Abu Arafa, 16; he was taken prisoner after the army broke into his family’s home in the camp, and violently searched it.
Another resident, identified as Karam Nasrallah Abed-Rabbo, 21, was shot by a live round of the leg, and was moved to a local hospital.
On Tuesday evening, several Israeli military vehicles invaded Bethlehem, and drove around in its main streets before evacuating from the city.
Local sources Nablus have reported that the army invaded the Balata refugee camp, and kidnapped two Palestinians, and also invaded Tal Village and kidnapped another Palestinian.
The sources stated that clashes took place between dozens of local youths and Israeli soldiers who invaded the Balata refugee camp, in addition to clashes that took place in Amman and Al-Hisba Streets in the city.
The army fired dozens of gas bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets; dozens of residents have been treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Undercover forces of the Israeli army, driving local Palestinian cars, also kidnapped two Palestinians, including one child in Balata and took them to an unknown destination.
The two have been identified as Abdul-Jalil Khaled Qqtqb, 21, and Ahmad Salama Hash-Shash, 16.
Furthermore, several armored Israeli military vehicles invaded Tal village, near Nablus, and kidnaped one child identified as Khaled Eshtayya, 16.
Also, dozens of soldiers invaded the Deheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, kidnapped on child, shot and injured another resident.
The kidnapped child has been identified as Ahmad Abu Arafa, 16; he was taken prisoner after the army broke into his family’s home in the camp, and violently searched it.
Another resident, identified as Karam Nasrallah Abed-Rabbo, 21, was shot by a live round of the leg, and was moved to a local hospital.
On Tuesday evening, several Israeli military vehicles invaded Bethlehem, and drove around in its main streets before evacuating from the city.
