9 aug 2016
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained a Palestinian young woman near the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil Tuesday afternoon after claiming she had a knife in her possession.
The PIC reporter said that IOF soldiers rounded up Taghrid al-Atrash and took her to an unknown detention center.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing soldiers manning one of the gates leading to the Ibrahimi Mosque while screaming at the girl and pepper-spraying her after claiming she had brandished a knife.
The PIC reporter said that IOF soldiers rounded up Taghrid al-Atrash and took her to an unknown detention center.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing soldiers manning one of the gates leading to the Ibrahimi Mosque while screaming at the girl and pepper-spraying her after claiming she had brandished a knife.
Israeli Special Forces Monday evening broke into Section 13 in Negev desert jail, attacked Palestinian prisoners and transferred some of them.
In a letter from jail, Fatah Movement’s representative revealed that a score of detainees out of 120 prisoners were transferred after storming the section and attacking captives.
The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) is concerned about the increase in number of hunger-striking prisoners, the letter states, according to WAFA news agency.
He appealed to all Palestinians to back up prisoners who are suffering tragic conditions due to Israeli punitive policies practiced against them.
In a letter from jail, Fatah Movement’s representative revealed that a score of detainees out of 120 prisoners were transferred after storming the section and attacking captives.
The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) is concerned about the increase in number of hunger-striking prisoners, the letter states, according to WAFA news agency.
He appealed to all Palestinians to back up prisoners who are suffering tragic conditions due to Israeli punitive policies practiced against them.
Seven Palestinians were injured and 13 others were kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Tuesday following abrupt assaults on West Bank provinces.
The Israeli occupation army claimed responsibility for the abduction of 13 Palestinians, including a Hamas activist, on allegations of involvement in anti-occupation activities.
Several Palestinians were also subjected to heavy beating in the presence of their families and children.
24-year-old Sameh al-Na’ji was kidnapped by the occupation troops from Nablus after they rolled into the city and wreaked havoc on his family home.
Earlier, at predawn time, the IOF kidnapped the Palestinian worker Zakaria al-Ghoul, 27, from the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin and aggressively beat three other workers at the Shafi Shamron military checkpoint.
The IOF also re-arrested the leader at the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Nidhal Abu Akr in the Duheisheh refugee camp, in Bethlehem.
Activist Abu Akr had spent 16 years in Israeli prisons. His jailed son, Muhammad, has been on open-ended hunger strike in solidarity with hunger-striker Bilal Kayed, starving for nearly two months in protest at his administrative detention.
Meanwhile, seven Palestinian youngsters were hit and injured with Israeli bullet fire shortly after the occupation troops rolled into the Duheisheh refugee camp.
Violent clashes flared up at the camp, where the IOF attacked the Palestinian protesters with randomly-shot spates of live bullets. Seven protesters were rushed to the Arab Society Hospital for urgent treatment.
The IOF soldiers further stormed the nearby Doha town and ravaged the home of prisoner Raed Ayesh, before they violently attacked his brother and seized laptops.
Earlier, on Monday evening, the IOF kidnapped 50-year-old Khaled al-Fekih, the husband of prisoner Taghreed al-Fekih and the father of prisoner Muadh al-Fekih, at a military checkpoint in Bethlehem.
The Israeli army patrols also stormed the Aida refugee camp and Jabal al-Malih area and summoned a number of civilians to questioning.
The assault culminated in the abduction of the Palestinian youths Udai Khaled Taqatqa and Amjad Abu Rasheed from Beit Fajjar town, to the south.
At the same time, the IOF rummaged into the family home of the slain Palestinian youth Abdul Hameed Abu Surur in Beit Jala, to the west, and subjected native residents to exhaustive questioning.
The Israeli occupation army claimed responsibility for the abduction of 13 Palestinians, including a Hamas activist, on allegations of involvement in anti-occupation activities.
Several Palestinians were also subjected to heavy beating in the presence of their families and children.
24-year-old Sameh al-Na’ji was kidnapped by the occupation troops from Nablus after they rolled into the city and wreaked havoc on his family home.
Earlier, at predawn time, the IOF kidnapped the Palestinian worker Zakaria al-Ghoul, 27, from the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin and aggressively beat three other workers at the Shafi Shamron military checkpoint.
The IOF also re-arrested the leader at the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Nidhal Abu Akr in the Duheisheh refugee camp, in Bethlehem.
Activist Abu Akr had spent 16 years in Israeli prisons. His jailed son, Muhammad, has been on open-ended hunger strike in solidarity with hunger-striker Bilal Kayed, starving for nearly two months in protest at his administrative detention.
Meanwhile, seven Palestinian youngsters were hit and injured with Israeli bullet fire shortly after the occupation troops rolled into the Duheisheh refugee camp.
Violent clashes flared up at the camp, where the IOF attacked the Palestinian protesters with randomly-shot spates of live bullets. Seven protesters were rushed to the Arab Society Hospital for urgent treatment.
The IOF soldiers further stormed the nearby Doha town and ravaged the home of prisoner Raed Ayesh, before they violently attacked his brother and seized laptops.
Earlier, on Monday evening, the IOF kidnapped 50-year-old Khaled al-Fekih, the husband of prisoner Taghreed al-Fekih and the father of prisoner Muadh al-Fekih, at a military checkpoint in Bethlehem.
The Israeli army patrols also stormed the Aida refugee camp and Jabal al-Malih area and summoned a number of civilians to questioning.
The assault culminated in the abduction of the Palestinian youths Udai Khaled Taqatqa and Amjad Abu Rasheed from Beit Fajjar town, to the south.
At the same time, the IOF rummaged into the family home of the slain Palestinian youth Abdul Hameed Abu Surur in Beit Jala, to the west, and subjected native residents to exhaustive questioning.
The Israeli occupation police at dawn Tuesday released Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib, deputy head of the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands, and placed him under house arrest for five days, pending further investigation.
The Israeli police arrested Sheikh Khatib on Monday evening following a raid on his house in Kafr Kanna village near Nazareth city and interrogated him for several hours.
Sheikh Khatib said that he was put under house arrest on allegations of his incitement to violence and hatred.
He added that his interrogators accused him of inciting violence on social media and organizing a march following the coup attempt in Turkey in support of the Turkish leadership.
The Israeli police arrested Sheikh Khatib on Monday evening following a raid on his house in Kafr Kanna village near Nazareth city and interrogated him for several hours.
Sheikh Khatib said that he was put under house arrest on allegations of his incitement to violence and hatred.
He added that his interrogators accused him of inciting violence on social media and organizing a march following the coup attempt in Turkey in support of the Turkish leadership.
An eight-month-old female infant suffered from inhaling pepper spray during an Israeli police raid on Monday evening on her parents' house in Silwan district, east Jerusalem.
Local sources said that Israeli police troops stormed several homes in Batten al-Hawa neighborhood of Silwan district, south of the Aqsa Mosque.
They added that the pepper spray attack happened when the troops broke into and ransacked the house of Jadallah al-Rajabi.
They explained that the troops sprayed pepper at members of the family during their presence in the house, which led eight-month-old Asya al-Rajabi to suffer from suffocation.
The infant was rushed to a medical center in Ein Loza neighborhood. The father of the infant said he was handed a summons for interrogation at a police station in the holy city.
In a separate incident, the Israeli police on the same day stormed and ransacked the house of Ismail al-Abbasi in Ras al-Amud neighborhood of Silwan district, without making any arrest.
Police troops also raided stores in Silwan, took photos of their signboards and closed the main street for some time. Meanwhile, four Palestinian citizens from Jerusalem, including a child, were physically assaulted and then arrested yesterday by policemen near al-Maghariba Gate in the Old City.
The detainees were taken to a police station in the Old City. Their identities are not yet known.
Local sources said that Israeli police troops stormed several homes in Batten al-Hawa neighborhood of Silwan district, south of the Aqsa Mosque.
They added that the pepper spray attack happened when the troops broke into and ransacked the house of Jadallah al-Rajabi.
They explained that the troops sprayed pepper at members of the family during their presence in the house, which led eight-month-old Asya al-Rajabi to suffer from suffocation.
The infant was rushed to a medical center in Ein Loza neighborhood. The father of the infant said he was handed a summons for interrogation at a police station in the holy city.
In a separate incident, the Israeli police on the same day stormed and ransacked the house of Ismail al-Abbasi in Ras al-Amud neighborhood of Silwan district, without making any arrest.
Police troops also raided stores in Silwan, took photos of their signboards and closed the main street for some time. Meanwhile, four Palestinian citizens from Jerusalem, including a child, were physically assaulted and then arrested yesterday by policemen near al-Maghariba Gate in the Old City.
The detainees were taken to a police station in the Old City. Their identities are not yet known.
Waheed Abdallah Borsh was arrested in July on suspicion of abusing his position at UN rehabilitation and aid organization to abet Hamas terror activities; case is the second of its kind in quick succession indicating abuse of aid organizations to the benefit of Hamas.
Israel's General Security Service (Shin Bet) and the Israel Police arrested a Palestinian employee of the United Nations in Gaza who is suspected of exploiting his position at the UN Development Program (UNDP) to provide material assistance to Hamas, it was cleared for publication on Tuesday.
Waheed Abdallah Borsh , a 38 year old from Jabalia in northern Gaza, allegedly abused his position at the UNDP, which implements, among other things, rehabilitation and development projects for the Gaza population with a particular emphasis on restoring homes destroyed during Operation Protective Edge in 2014.
Borsh, who was arrested on July 16, worked as an engineer in the UNDP since 2003 and was mainly responsible for the demolition of houses damaged during the armed conflict and the removal of waste from the demolition sites.
The Shin Bet investigation found that Borsh was instructed by a senior Hamas official to use his position at UNDP to extract maximum benefits for the terror organization.
The investigation revealed that Borsh carried out a number of different activities which benefited the terror organization. In addition to other abuses, in 2015 he helped build the marine docks for the military wing of Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, using resources provided by UNDP.
It also emerged that in 2015, Borsh used the tasks entrusted to him to provide preferential rehabilitation efforts in areas in which Hamas officials resided.
According to the Shin Bet, Borsh confessed to the charges leveled against him. He was indicted on Tuesday at a civilian court in Be'er Sheva. Furthermore, he divulged the details of cases in which Hamas would flagrantly exploit the UNDP to its benefit. For example, when weapons or terror tunnels openings were discovered in homes being handled by the UNDP, Hamas would confiscate the weapons and take control of the sites.
Moreover, Borsh revealed details about Hamas tunnels and military bases which he had been exposed to during his work. One of the most important details provided by Borsh was that other Palestinians working in international aid organizations are secretly working for Hamas.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry released a statament on the matter: "Israel updated the UN secretary-general's office and the heads of the UNDP in New York on the arrest and the charges (against Borsh)," the statement read. "We expect the UN, and particularly the UN's aid organizations, to unequivocally condemn Hamas for the exploitation of the aid mechanisms, and to take concrete action to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those who need it and not the heads of Hamas."
The revelations come just days after it became public knowledge that the Shin Bet had arrested Mohammad El Halabi—a senior official in the international aid orgaization World Vision—who stands accused of siphoning off $7.2 million of humanitarian funding to Hamas. The incident disgraced World Vision causing Australia and Germany to suspend the charity's activities.
Israel's General Security Service (Shin Bet) and the Israel Police arrested a Palestinian employee of the United Nations in Gaza who is suspected of exploiting his position at the UN Development Program (UNDP) to provide material assistance to Hamas, it was cleared for publication on Tuesday.
Waheed Abdallah Borsh , a 38 year old from Jabalia in northern Gaza, allegedly abused his position at the UNDP, which implements, among other things, rehabilitation and development projects for the Gaza population with a particular emphasis on restoring homes destroyed during Operation Protective Edge in 2014.
Borsh, who was arrested on July 16, worked as an engineer in the UNDP since 2003 and was mainly responsible for the demolition of houses damaged during the armed conflict and the removal of waste from the demolition sites.
The Shin Bet investigation found that Borsh was instructed by a senior Hamas official to use his position at UNDP to extract maximum benefits for the terror organization.
The investigation revealed that Borsh carried out a number of different activities which benefited the terror organization. In addition to other abuses, in 2015 he helped build the marine docks for the military wing of Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, using resources provided by UNDP.
It also emerged that in 2015, Borsh used the tasks entrusted to him to provide preferential rehabilitation efforts in areas in which Hamas officials resided.
According to the Shin Bet, Borsh confessed to the charges leveled against him. He was indicted on Tuesday at a civilian court in Be'er Sheva. Furthermore, he divulged the details of cases in which Hamas would flagrantly exploit the UNDP to its benefit. For example, when weapons or terror tunnels openings were discovered in homes being handled by the UNDP, Hamas would confiscate the weapons and take control of the sites.
Moreover, Borsh revealed details about Hamas tunnels and military bases which he had been exposed to during his work. One of the most important details provided by Borsh was that other Palestinians working in international aid organizations are secretly working for Hamas.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry released a statament on the matter: "Israel updated the UN secretary-general's office and the heads of the UNDP in New York on the arrest and the charges (against Borsh)," the statement read. "We expect the UN, and particularly the UN's aid organizations, to unequivocally condemn Hamas for the exploitation of the aid mechanisms, and to take concrete action to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those who need it and not the heads of Hamas."
The revelations come just days after it became public knowledge that the Shin Bet had arrested Mohammad El Halabi—a senior official in the international aid orgaization World Vision—who stands accused of siphoning off $7.2 million of humanitarian funding to Hamas. The incident disgraced World Vision causing Australia and Germany to suspend the charity's activities.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) at noon Monday broke into the home of the Palestinian prisoner Mohammad al-Hroub’s father in Deir Samet village to the west of Doura town in al-Khalil.
Abdul Baset Hroub, the prisoner’s father, told the PIC reporter that an Israeli officer threatened the family saying that they did not forget revenge against Mohammad and his family.
He added that the forces had stormed their home dozens of times and every now and then searched it and threatened the family in case they would reconstruct the home which was reduced to rubble by the IOF.
The father said that Israeli forces barred him from visiting his son two days ago even though it was his first visitation.
He said that the Israeli troops arrested his other son, Mutaz, for allegedly helping his brother in carrying out the anti-occupation attack at Etzion junction on November, 20, 2015. Two settlers were killed and some others were injured as a result .
Abdul Baset Hroub, the prisoner’s father, told the PIC reporter that an Israeli officer threatened the family saying that they did not forget revenge against Mohammad and his family.
He added that the forces had stormed their home dozens of times and every now and then searched it and threatened the family in case they would reconstruct the home which was reduced to rubble by the IOF.
The father said that Israeli forces barred him from visiting his son two days ago even though it was his first visitation.
He said that the Israeli troops arrested his other son, Mutaz, for allegedly helping his brother in carrying out the anti-occupation attack at Etzion junction on November, 20, 2015. Two settlers were killed and some others were injured as a result .
The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, has reported that Israeli soldiers have kidnapped, on Tuesday at dawn, four Palestinians in a number of towns in the district.
The PPS said several army vehicles invaded Sa’ir town, east of Hebron, searched homes and kidnapped a young man identified as Najeeb Kawazba.
It added that the soldiers also kidnapped a young man, identified as Monther Abu Warda, from his home in the al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron.
The soldiers also searched homes in Doura town, southwest of Hebron, and kidnapped Tha’er Mohammad Nassar.
Another Palestinian, identified as Mohammad No’man Za’aqeeq, was kidnapped from his home in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron after the soldiers violently searched his home and several nearby homes.
The PPS said several army vehicles invaded Sa’ir town, east of Hebron, searched homes and kidnapped a young man identified as Najeeb Kawazba.
It added that the soldiers also kidnapped a young man, identified as Monther Abu Warda, from his home in the al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron.
The soldiers also searched homes in Doura town, southwest of Hebron, and kidnapped Tha’er Mohammad Nassar.
Another Palestinian, identified as Mohammad No’man Za’aqeeq, was kidnapped from his home in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron after the soldiers violently searched his home and several nearby homes.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Tuesday at dawn, the Deheishe refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, kidnapped a former political prisoner from his home and injured seven Palestinians during ensuing clashes.
Local sources said the soldiers broke into and searched several homes, including the home of former political prisoner, Nidal Naim Abu Aker, 48, and abducted him.
The invasion led to clashes between the soldiers and dozens of local youths, who hurled stones and empty bottles at the military vehicles, while the army fired dozens of live rounds, gas bombs, and concussion grenades.
It is worth mentioning that Abu Aker previously spent eleven years imprisoned in Israeli detention centers under arbitrary Administrative Detention orders without charges or trial. He was released some months ago after holding an extended hunger strike.
The Deheishe News has reported that the soldiers shot seven Palestinians with live rounds, while many others suffered the effects of teargas inhalation, and added that the army also used a surveillance drone during the invasion.
Army Raids Al Duheisha Refugee Camp, 7 Injured by Live Fire
Israeli forces raided the al-Duheisha refugee camp, on Tuesday, in the occupied West Bank district of Bethlehem, in the early morning hours, redetaining a Palestinian activist and injuring seven Palestinians with live bullets.
Israeli forces stormed the camp and opened live fire, according to locals, injuring seven Palestinians who were immediately taken to the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation to receive medical care. Their conditions have been reported as stable, according to Ma’an News Agency.
Israeli forces also raided the home of former detainee 48-year-old Nidal Abu Aker, a prominent Palestinian journalist and activist affiliated with the left-wing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Abu Aker had previously spent 14 years in Israeli prison, 11 of which were spent in administrative detention — an Israeli policy of imprisonment without charge or trial. He was released in December following an open hunger strike launched in protest of his detention.
An Israeli army spokesperson said that Israeli forces opened live fire on Palestinians in al-Duheisha after a “violent riot erupted” as hundreds of Palestinians threw rocks and explosives at the Israeli soldiers raiding the camp. She also said that she was aware of the seven Palestinians being injured by live ammunition during the clashes.
The spokesperson confirmed a detention in al-Duheisha, but could not provide more details on the incident.
PFLP officials released a statement condemning Abu Aker’s detention, saying “Israeli forces continually target our affiliated members in the refugee camps, especially al-Duheisha and Qalandiya. These camps remain sites of resistance to the Israeli occupation.”
Israeli raids in Palestinian towns, villages, and refugee camps are a daily occurrence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with a weekly average of 78 search and detention raids carried out since the start of 2016, and with 108 carried out just in the previous week, according to UN documentation.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces commonly detain Palestinians during raids without evidence of any wrongdoing, subsequently sentencing the detainees for up to six-month renewable intervals without charge or trial and based on undisclosed evidence.
According to prisoners’ rights group Addameer, as of July there were 7,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, 750 of whom were held in administrative detention.
Local sources said the soldiers broke into and searched several homes, including the home of former political prisoner, Nidal Naim Abu Aker, 48, and abducted him.
The invasion led to clashes between the soldiers and dozens of local youths, who hurled stones and empty bottles at the military vehicles, while the army fired dozens of live rounds, gas bombs, and concussion grenades.
It is worth mentioning that Abu Aker previously spent eleven years imprisoned in Israeli detention centers under arbitrary Administrative Detention orders without charges or trial. He was released some months ago after holding an extended hunger strike.
The Deheishe News has reported that the soldiers shot seven Palestinians with live rounds, while many others suffered the effects of teargas inhalation, and added that the army also used a surveillance drone during the invasion.
Army Raids Al Duheisha Refugee Camp, 7 Injured by Live Fire
Israeli forces raided the al-Duheisha refugee camp, on Tuesday, in the occupied West Bank district of Bethlehem, in the early morning hours, redetaining a Palestinian activist and injuring seven Palestinians with live bullets.
Israeli forces stormed the camp and opened live fire, according to locals, injuring seven Palestinians who were immediately taken to the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation to receive medical care. Their conditions have been reported as stable, according to Ma’an News Agency.
Israeli forces also raided the home of former detainee 48-year-old Nidal Abu Aker, a prominent Palestinian journalist and activist affiliated with the left-wing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Abu Aker had previously spent 14 years in Israeli prison, 11 of which were spent in administrative detention — an Israeli policy of imprisonment without charge or trial. He was released in December following an open hunger strike launched in protest of his detention.
An Israeli army spokesperson said that Israeli forces opened live fire on Palestinians in al-Duheisha after a “violent riot erupted” as hundreds of Palestinians threw rocks and explosives at the Israeli soldiers raiding the camp. She also said that she was aware of the seven Palestinians being injured by live ammunition during the clashes.
The spokesperson confirmed a detention in al-Duheisha, but could not provide more details on the incident.
PFLP officials released a statement condemning Abu Aker’s detention, saying “Israeli forces continually target our affiliated members in the refugee camps, especially al-Duheisha and Qalandiya. These camps remain sites of resistance to the Israeli occupation.”
Israeli raids in Palestinian towns, villages, and refugee camps are a daily occurrence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with a weekly average of 78 search and detention raids carried out since the start of 2016, and with 108 carried out just in the previous week, according to UN documentation.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces commonly detain Palestinians during raids without evidence of any wrongdoing, subsequently sentencing the detainees for up to six-month renewable intervals without charge or trial and based on undisclosed evidence.
According to prisoners’ rights group Addameer, as of July there were 7,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, 750 of whom were held in administrative detention.
The international charity World Vision says that the sums its director in the Gaza Strip is accused of funneling to the Hamas Movement are impossibly high.
The director, Mohamed Halabi, is currently in Israeli detention. According to the Christian charity, which denies the allegations, the sum Halabi is accused of siphoning off to Hamas' armed wing far surpasses the organization's actual budget for the past decade.
Last Thursday, Israel's internal intelligence agency, the Shin Bet, accused the charity of transferring about 60 percent of its Gaza budget to al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas each year.
Halabi, it claims, has confessed to rerouting about 7.2 million dollars a year to Hamas over the past five years.
World Vision spokeswoman in Germany Silvia Holten said on Monday that the charity's Gaza budget totaled 22.5 million dollars in the last decade, which well under the Shin Bet estimate of Halabi's alleged transfers to Hamas.
According to Holten, there is a "huge gap" in the numbers. World Vision has halted its Gaza operations while the issue is being investigated.
As a result, Germany and Australia have suspended donations to World Vision in Gaza. The Shin Bet also accuses Halabi, who holds a master in engineering, of joining al-Qassam Brigades in 2004 and infiltrating a humanitarian organization to serve al-Qassam's interests and needs.
Halabi's father has denied his son is a member of Hamas, while Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem has called the Israeli allegations "lies."
Palestinian media reported Halaby's arrest two months ago, when he was taken prisoner at the Beit Hanoun (Erez) border crossing by the Shin Bet.
His family said at the time it had no idea why he was arrested and what crimes he was being blamed for. Halabi's attorney Mohamed Mahmoud stated on Thursday his client denied any links to Hamas, and that the fact the investigation lasted 55 days proves there is a problem with the evidence.
The director, Mohamed Halabi, is currently in Israeli detention. According to the Christian charity, which denies the allegations, the sum Halabi is accused of siphoning off to Hamas' armed wing far surpasses the organization's actual budget for the past decade.
Last Thursday, Israel's internal intelligence agency, the Shin Bet, accused the charity of transferring about 60 percent of its Gaza budget to al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas each year.
Halabi, it claims, has confessed to rerouting about 7.2 million dollars a year to Hamas over the past five years.
World Vision spokeswoman in Germany Silvia Holten said on Monday that the charity's Gaza budget totaled 22.5 million dollars in the last decade, which well under the Shin Bet estimate of Halabi's alleged transfers to Hamas.
According to Holten, there is a "huge gap" in the numbers. World Vision has halted its Gaza operations while the issue is being investigated.
As a result, Germany and Australia have suspended donations to World Vision in Gaza. The Shin Bet also accuses Halabi, who holds a master in engineering, of joining al-Qassam Brigades in 2004 and infiltrating a humanitarian organization to serve al-Qassam's interests and needs.
Halabi's father has denied his son is a member of Hamas, while Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem has called the Israeli allegations "lies."
Palestinian media reported Halaby's arrest two months ago, when he was taken prisoner at the Beit Hanoun (Erez) border crossing by the Shin Bet.
His family said at the time it had no idea why he was arrested and what crimes he was being blamed for. Halabi's attorney Mohamed Mahmoud stated on Thursday his client denied any links to Hamas, and that the fact the investigation lasted 55 days proves there is a problem with the evidence.
8 aug 2016
Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) appealed to the international community to save the life of the Palestinian prisoner in Israeli jails Bilal Kayed who has been on hunger strike for about two months amid concerns on his life.
In a statement on Sunday, the Center charged the Israeli Occupation with full responsibility over the life of prisoner Kayed who is on hunger strike in protest at being issued an administrative detention order after he had finished his 14.5-year sentence.
Detainee Bilal Kayed, 35, from Asira al-Shamaliya town near Nablus, has been on hunger strike for 53 consecutive days.
In a statement on Sunday, the Center charged the Israeli Occupation with full responsibility over the life of prisoner Kayed who is on hunger strike in protest at being issued an administrative detention order after he had finished his 14.5-year sentence.
Detainee Bilal Kayed, 35, from Asira al-Shamaliya town near Nablus, has been on hunger strike for 53 consecutive days.
Israeli military court of Ofer extended the detention order of the Palestinian woman, Randah al-Shahatit, 30, from al-Khalil until next Tuesday, according to Muhjat al-Quds Foundation for Prisoners and Martyrs.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested Shahatit last Thursday at one of the Israeli military barriers while she was on her way to hospital in Bethlehem to check on her newborn girl.
She has three children and had been arrested two times before in Israeli jails where she served four years and two months after an alleged attempted murder of a Jewish settler inside al-Ibrahimi Mosque.
She is an ex-detainee who was released from Israeli prisons within Wafaa al-Ahrar prisoner exchange deal.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested Shahatit last Thursday at one of the Israeli military barriers while she was on her way to hospital in Bethlehem to check on her newborn girl.
She has three children and had been arrested two times before in Israeli jails where she served four years and two months after an alleged attempted murder of a Jewish settler inside al-Ibrahimi Mosque.
She is an ex-detainee who was released from Israeli prisons within Wafaa al-Ahrar prisoner exchange deal.
The Palestinian Detainees’ Committee has reported, Monday, that Israeli soldiers prevented twelve Palestinian families, from the West Bank district of Bethlehem, from heading to prisons to visit with their detained family members, and tore their permits.
The Committee stated that the soldiers stopped the families at military roadblocks, and tore their permits, before forcing them back.
The Committee added that such violations have been seriously escalating and that a number of families filed complaints with the Israeli Prison Authority, especially since they already obtained permits from Israel.
“Many families have complained about such violations, some reached prisons but were not allowed to visit with their detained loved ones,” the PPS said, “Such violations are illegal acts of collective punishment, and are meant to punish the detainees and their families.”
The Committee also called on the International Red Cross to intervene, as it is the only side authorized to organize family visits, and to act on stopping the Israeli violations.
The Committee stated that the soldiers stopped the families at military roadblocks, and tore their permits, before forcing them back.
The Committee added that such violations have been seriously escalating and that a number of families filed complaints with the Israeli Prison Authority, especially since they already obtained permits from Israel.
“Many families have complained about such violations, some reached prisons but were not allowed to visit with their detained loved ones,” the PPS said, “Such violations are illegal acts of collective punishment, and are meant to punish the detainees and their families.”
The Committee also called on the International Red Cross to intervene, as it is the only side authorized to organize family visits, and to act on stopping the Israeli violations.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported, Monday, that the administration in Galboa’ Israeli prison prevented 35 hunger striking detainees from meeting their lawyers, as a form of illegal collective punishment.
The detainees are striking in solidarity with detainee Bilal Kayed who launched a hunger strike 55 days ago protesting being held under arbitrary Administrative Detention orders, without charges, after he served a prison sentence of 14.5 years.
The PPS stated that the Prison Authority claimed that the detainees cannot stand due to their strike, and are too weak to be moving around.
Several detainees filed appeals with the Israeli courts protesting being denied family visits, and visits with their lawyers, while some of them have been transferred to Shatta prison, where they are also held in solitary confinement.
The detainees are striking in solidarity with detainee Bilal Kayed who launched a hunger strike 55 days ago protesting being held under arbitrary Administrative Detention orders, without charges, after he served a prison sentence of 14.5 years.
The PPS stated that the Prison Authority claimed that the detainees cannot stand due to their strike, and are too weak to be moving around.
Several detainees filed appeals with the Israeli courts protesting being denied family visits, and visits with their lawyers, while some of them have been transferred to Shatta prison, where they are also held in solitary confinement.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that Israeli soldiers have kidnapped, overnight and at dawn Monday, eighteen Palestinians in different parts of the occupied West Bank, including nine in Hebron.
The Hebron office of the PPS, in the southern part of the WEST Bank, said the soldiers invaded the city and several nearby communities, searched many homes and kidnapped nine Palestinians.
The kidnapped have been identified as Riyad Mousa Amro, 24, Mohammad Hijazi Jamjoum, 21, Ahmad Sa’id at-Turk, 20, Ala Yousef Sweity, 25, Bilal Mohammad Sweity, 27, Mahmoud Ibrahim Masalma, 30, Ahmad Ibrahim Masalma, Thaer Mohammad Nassar and Mohammad No’man Za’aqeeq.
The soldiers also invaded Deir Abu Mashal town, in the Ramallah district, searched homes and kidnapped seven Palestinians identified as Hamza Abdul-Jaber Abdul-Qader, 22, Sa’ad Ibrahim Zahran, 20, Qussai ‘Aahed Zahran, 19, Jamal Abdul-Fattah Zahran, 19, Anwar Monir Mosallam, 20, Shehada Haroun Zahran, 20, and Abdullah Mohammad Ata, 20.
In Tulkarem, in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers searched a few homes, and kidnapped one Palestinian, identified as Malek Ziyad Tammouni, 27.
Another Palestinian, identified as Mahdi Saleh Sheikh, was kidnapped from his home in Qalqilia, in the northern part of the West Bank.
The Hebron office of the PPS, in the southern part of the WEST Bank, said the soldiers invaded the city and several nearby communities, searched many homes and kidnapped nine Palestinians.
The kidnapped have been identified as Riyad Mousa Amro, 24, Mohammad Hijazi Jamjoum, 21, Ahmad Sa’id at-Turk, 20, Ala Yousef Sweity, 25, Bilal Mohammad Sweity, 27, Mahmoud Ibrahim Masalma, 30, Ahmad Ibrahim Masalma, Thaer Mohammad Nassar and Mohammad No’man Za’aqeeq.
The soldiers also invaded Deir Abu Mashal town, in the Ramallah district, searched homes and kidnapped seven Palestinians identified as Hamza Abdul-Jaber Abdul-Qader, 22, Sa’ad Ibrahim Zahran, 20, Qussai ‘Aahed Zahran, 19, Jamal Abdul-Fattah Zahran, 19, Anwar Monir Mosallam, 20, Shehada Haroun Zahran, 20, and Abdullah Mohammad Ata, 20.
In Tulkarem, in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers searched a few homes, and kidnapped one Palestinian, identified as Malek Ziyad Tammouni, 27.
Another Palestinian, identified as Mahdi Saleh Sheikh, was kidnapped from his home in Qalqilia, in the northern part of the West Bank.
Israel's Channel 2 said the Tel Aviv police on Sunday arrested a Palestinian young man from the West Bank following hours of pursuit in the city.
The channel added that the Israeli police launched a manhunt for the young man in different areas of Tel Aviv, during which they suspended the movement of trains and shut down roads and public parks.
The police claimed the young man escaped a security check in the Tel Aviv convention center known as Ganei Hataarucha, which aroused the suspicions of security guards there.
The channel added that the Israeli police launched a manhunt for the young man in different areas of Tel Aviv, during which they suspended the movement of trains and shut down roads and public parks.
The police claimed the young man escaped a security check in the Tel Aviv convention center known as Ganei Hataarucha, which aroused the suspicions of security guards there.
Dozens of Palestinian children and activists rallied in the blockaded Gaza Strip on Sunday in protest at Israel’s abduction of Mohammad al- Halabi, manager of the World Vision charity operations in Gaza.
The rally-goers gathered outside the World Vision headquarters in Gaza City, lifting the pictures of activist al-Halabi. Participants in the vigil called for the immediate release of al-Halabi, dubbing him “humanity’s savior.”
Al-Halabi, 38, was arrested by the Israeli occupation forces on May 15 while crossing the Beit Hanoun border-crossing into the enclave.
The Israeli intelligence service Shabak accused him of diverting cash to the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas. However, both Hamas and the World Vision Charity denied Israeli allegations that al-Halabi passed millions of dollars to the group.
Hamas spokesperson Abdullatif al-Kanou’ said the group had "no connection to al-Halabi and therefore, all Israeli accusations are counterfeit and aim to suppress Gazans and toughen the blockade.
World Vision also said in a statement it was "shocked" by Israel's allegations and that it had regular internal and independent audits and evaluations as well as a broad range of internal controls to ensure aid reached intended beneficiaries.
World Vision added that al-Halabi has worked with the group for 10 years, and that they have "no reason to believe" the allegations against their employee are true.
“World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice,” the statement further read. “World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.
World Vision has been working in the occupied Palestinian territories for over 40 years, striving to give hope to over 500,000 of the most vulnerable children, through education, health, child protection and resilience programs. We continue to call for a fair, legal process," it added.
Australia, Germany suspend World Vision aid over Hamas funding accusations
Hamas member Mohammed el-Halabi is accused of siphoning off $7.2 million dollars from the international aid organization World Vision; Germany, Australia have ceased funding the organization.
The international charity World Vision says Israel has accused the charity's Gaza Strip director of funneling what appears to be an impossible sum of money to Hamas.
Israel's Shin Bet security agency says Mohammed el-Halabi confessed to siphoning about $7.2 million a year to Hamas over five years. The agency says this is roughly 60 percent of World Vision's total Gaza budget.
World Vision Germany spokeswoman Silvia Holten said on Monday the charity's budget in Gaza in the last decade totaled $22.5 million. She says World Vision has stopped its Gaza operations amid investigations. Germany has suspended donations to World Vision in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Australia said on Friday it was suspending funding for relief group's operations in the Palestinian Territories.
Mohammad El Halabi was World Vision's manager of operations in Gaza, and was arrested by Israel on June 15 while crossing the border into the enclave.
According to the Shin Bet, el-Halabi crafted an elaborate scheme to funnel funds, food, medical supplies and agricultural equipment to Hamas. He fraudulently listed the children of Hamas operatives as wounded, created straw organizations, and inflated project costs to divert cash, the agency said. Building supplies intended to support farming projects were transferred to Hamas for constructing tunnels and military installations, according to the Shin Bet.
Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon speculated that World Vision's budget does not include in-kind donations.
"They are trying to belittle their role and to show they are much smaller than they really are," Nahshon said of World Vision. He did not provide proof of his claim, but said el-Halabi's legal team will have access to the evidence. He added that el-Halabi confessed to his crimes.
World Vision said it was shocked by the claims, and a Hamas spokesman said the group had no connection with Halabi.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) called the allegations "deeply troubling" and said in a statement that it was "urgently seeking more information from World Vision and the Israeli authorities."
"We are suspending the provision of further funding to World Vision for programs in the Palestinian Territories until the investigation is complete," it said.
Israel welcomed the decision and said it has passed on details of the case to a number of countries from where money is being sent to Gaza.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said it "calls on the organization and others dealing in aid to the Gaza Strip to examine themselves and their local partners."
Australia has paid World Vision approximately A$5.7 million ($4.35 million) over the past three financial years for the provision of aid in the Palestinian Territories, a DFAT spokesman said
The rally-goers gathered outside the World Vision headquarters in Gaza City, lifting the pictures of activist al-Halabi. Participants in the vigil called for the immediate release of al-Halabi, dubbing him “humanity’s savior.”
Al-Halabi, 38, was arrested by the Israeli occupation forces on May 15 while crossing the Beit Hanoun border-crossing into the enclave.
The Israeli intelligence service Shabak accused him of diverting cash to the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas. However, both Hamas and the World Vision Charity denied Israeli allegations that al-Halabi passed millions of dollars to the group.
Hamas spokesperson Abdullatif al-Kanou’ said the group had "no connection to al-Halabi and therefore, all Israeli accusations are counterfeit and aim to suppress Gazans and toughen the blockade.
World Vision also said in a statement it was "shocked" by Israel's allegations and that it had regular internal and independent audits and evaluations as well as a broad range of internal controls to ensure aid reached intended beneficiaries.
World Vision added that al-Halabi has worked with the group for 10 years, and that they have "no reason to believe" the allegations against their employee are true.
“World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice,” the statement further read. “World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.
World Vision has been working in the occupied Palestinian territories for over 40 years, striving to give hope to over 500,000 of the most vulnerable children, through education, health, child protection and resilience programs. We continue to call for a fair, legal process," it added.
Australia, Germany suspend World Vision aid over Hamas funding accusations
Hamas member Mohammed el-Halabi is accused of siphoning off $7.2 million dollars from the international aid organization World Vision; Germany, Australia have ceased funding the organization.
The international charity World Vision says Israel has accused the charity's Gaza Strip director of funneling what appears to be an impossible sum of money to Hamas.
Israel's Shin Bet security agency says Mohammed el-Halabi confessed to siphoning about $7.2 million a year to Hamas over five years. The agency says this is roughly 60 percent of World Vision's total Gaza budget.
World Vision Germany spokeswoman Silvia Holten said on Monday the charity's budget in Gaza in the last decade totaled $22.5 million. She says World Vision has stopped its Gaza operations amid investigations. Germany has suspended donations to World Vision in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Australia said on Friday it was suspending funding for relief group's operations in the Palestinian Territories.
Mohammad El Halabi was World Vision's manager of operations in Gaza, and was arrested by Israel on June 15 while crossing the border into the enclave.
According to the Shin Bet, el-Halabi crafted an elaborate scheme to funnel funds, food, medical supplies and agricultural equipment to Hamas. He fraudulently listed the children of Hamas operatives as wounded, created straw organizations, and inflated project costs to divert cash, the agency said. Building supplies intended to support farming projects were transferred to Hamas for constructing tunnels and military installations, according to the Shin Bet.
Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon speculated that World Vision's budget does not include in-kind donations.
"They are trying to belittle their role and to show they are much smaller than they really are," Nahshon said of World Vision. He did not provide proof of his claim, but said el-Halabi's legal team will have access to the evidence. He added that el-Halabi confessed to his crimes.
World Vision said it was shocked by the claims, and a Hamas spokesman said the group had no connection with Halabi.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) called the allegations "deeply troubling" and said in a statement that it was "urgently seeking more information from World Vision and the Israeli authorities."
"We are suspending the provision of further funding to World Vision for programs in the Palestinian Territories until the investigation is complete," it said.
Israel welcomed the decision and said it has passed on details of the case to a number of countries from where money is being sent to Gaza.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said it "calls on the organization and others dealing in aid to the Gaza Strip to examine themselves and their local partners."
Australia has paid World Vision approximately A$5.7 million ($4.35 million) over the past three financial years for the provision of aid in the Palestinian Territories, a DFAT spokesman said
The Israeli Ofer military court on Sunday ruled for keeping the two hunger-striking brothers Muhammad and Mahmoud al-Balboul in administrative detention, the prisoners’ committee said.
According to the prisoners’ and ex-prisoners’ committee, the Israeli Ofer court turned down an appeal to reduce the sentence for brothers al-Balboul.
Prisoners al-Balboul, from Bethlehem, are incarcerated in the Ofer lock-up, where they have been on an open-ended hunger-strike for 35 consecutive days in protest at their administrative detention.
Prisoner Bilal al-Kayed has also been on a hunger-strike for the 54th day on the same accounts.
According to human rights groups, Israel uses its policy of administrative detention— internment without charge or trial based on undisclosed evidence—to detain anti-occupation activists and protestors in an extension of several policies that rights groups have deemed collective punishment aimed at disrupting family life for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem.
According to the prisoners’ and ex-prisoners’ committee, the Israeli Ofer court turned down an appeal to reduce the sentence for brothers al-Balboul.
Prisoners al-Balboul, from Bethlehem, are incarcerated in the Ofer lock-up, where they have been on an open-ended hunger-strike for 35 consecutive days in protest at their administrative detention.
Prisoner Bilal al-Kayed has also been on a hunger-strike for the 54th day on the same accounts.
According to human rights groups, Israel uses its policy of administrative detention— internment without charge or trial based on undisclosed evidence—to detain anti-occupation activists and protestors in an extension of several policies that rights groups have deemed collective punishment aimed at disrupting family life for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday evening arrested two Palestinian young men after one of them suffered a bullet injury during their presence in a West Bank area east of Ramallah.
According to the Hebrew website 0404, the young men were throwing stones at Israeli soldiers near Ofra settlement when the latter opened fire and wounded one of them.
The wounded young man was detained and transferred to an Israeli hospital, and the other was taken in for interrogation, the website added.
The wounded was identified as Abdul-Fattah Mubarak from Kafr Malik town, northeast of Ramallah. He was shot in his back and his treatment will take several days, according to the Palestinian Prisoner Society. The other young man was identified as Mua'men al-Hamayel.
According to the Hebrew website 0404, the young men were throwing stones at Israeli soldiers near Ofra settlement when the latter opened fire and wounded one of them.
The wounded young man was detained and transferred to an Israeli hospital, and the other was taken in for interrogation, the website added.
The wounded was identified as Abdul-Fattah Mubarak from Kafr Malik town, northeast of Ramallah. He was shot in his back and his treatment will take several days, according to the Palestinian Prisoner Society. The other young man was identified as Mua'men al-Hamayel.
