21 dec 2016
The Israeli Ramon prison administration moved captive Abdullah Barghouti to solitary confinement, human rights sources said on Wednesday.
Palestine Prisoners Society said in a statement that Ramon prison administration transferred Abdullah Barghouthi to solitary confinement providing no clear reasons.
Barghouthi was arrested in March 2003 and was subjected to severe torture and investigation rounds for more than 5 months in which he was charged of a series of attacks between 2000 and 2003 where 67 Israelis were killed.
Barghouthi was sentenced to 67 life sentences (a life sentence reaches 99 years) in addition to 5200 years.
He was isolated for many years until 2012 where prisoners went on a mass strike that accomplished a number of achievements including ending his isolation.
Barghouthi is a commander in the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, in the West Bank.
Palestine Prisoners Society said in a statement that Ramon prison administration transferred Abdullah Barghouthi to solitary confinement providing no clear reasons.
Barghouthi was arrested in March 2003 and was subjected to severe torture and investigation rounds for more than 5 months in which he was charged of a series of attacks between 2000 and 2003 where 67 Israelis were killed.
Barghouthi was sentenced to 67 life sentences (a life sentence reaches 99 years) in addition to 5200 years.
He was isolated for many years until 2012 where prisoners went on a mass strike that accomplished a number of achievements including ending his isolation.
Barghouthi is a commander in the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, in the West Bank.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) said that they managed in cooperation with the Israeli security agency (ISA) to arrest 7 Palestinian minors from Beit Fajjar village in Bethlehem on charges of making and possessing local weapons.
Maariv Hebrew newspaper reported on Wednesday that the Israeli army claimed that the seven minors were in possession of homemade weapons.
The paper added that the investigation is still ongoing.
The IOF launched at dawn Wednesday a campaign of mass arrests all over the West Bank and arrested 21 Palestinians including minors and ex-prisoners.
Maariv Hebrew newspaper reported on Wednesday that the Israeli army claimed that the seven minors were in possession of homemade weapons.
The paper added that the investigation is still ongoing.
The IOF launched at dawn Wednesday a campaign of mass arrests all over the West Bank and arrested 21 Palestinians including minors and ex-prisoners.
The Israeli Knesset on Tuesday evening ruled for banning Arab lawmakers’ visits to Palestinians in Israeli jails.
The ban was slapped by the Knesset House Committee following allegations that MK Bassel Ghattas (Arab Joint List) smuggled cell phones to security prisoners.
The House Committee adopted Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan’s recommendation, which was based on Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Nadav Argaman’s proposal, and decided that visits to Palestinian prisoners no longer fall under MKs’ parliamentary immunity.
Exceptions can be made for a few committee chairpeople from the coalition and opposition, who can visit security prisoners to allow parliamentary oversight of the conditions of their incarceration.
The ban will mostly impact Arab Joint List MKs, many of whom regularly visit anti-occupation activists in Israeli lock-ups.
Other lawmakers are affected by the ban, including MK Amir Peretz (Zionist Union) who sporadically visits Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti.
Erdan alleged that MK visits to Palestinian detainees “strengthen their status, which they use to harm national security.”
“The allegations against MK Ghattas show the potential of harm to our security that these visits allow,” Erdan further claimed.
House Committee chairman Yoav Kisch (Likud) called the prison visits “outrageous,” and said “the party is over.”
In a retort to Erdan’s claims, MK Ghattas said visiting Palestinian detainees and keeping tabs on their condition is “both a right and a duty and we shall never ever give it up.”
Ghattas was brought before police on Monday for interrogation over allegations of smuggling cell phones to Palestinians in Israeli jails.
According to official data, nearly 7,000 Palestinians are incarcerated in Israeli occupation jails.
The ban was slapped by the Knesset House Committee following allegations that MK Bassel Ghattas (Arab Joint List) smuggled cell phones to security prisoners.
The House Committee adopted Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan’s recommendation, which was based on Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Nadav Argaman’s proposal, and decided that visits to Palestinian prisoners no longer fall under MKs’ parliamentary immunity.
Exceptions can be made for a few committee chairpeople from the coalition and opposition, who can visit security prisoners to allow parliamentary oversight of the conditions of their incarceration.
The ban will mostly impact Arab Joint List MKs, many of whom regularly visit anti-occupation activists in Israeli lock-ups.
Other lawmakers are affected by the ban, including MK Amir Peretz (Zionist Union) who sporadically visits Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti.
Erdan alleged that MK visits to Palestinian detainees “strengthen their status, which they use to harm national security.”
“The allegations against MK Ghattas show the potential of harm to our security that these visits allow,” Erdan further claimed.
House Committee chairman Yoav Kisch (Likud) called the prison visits “outrageous,” and said “the party is over.”
In a retort to Erdan’s claims, MK Ghattas said visiting Palestinian detainees and keeping tabs on their condition is “both a right and a duty and we shall never ever give it up.”
Ghattas was brought before police on Monday for interrogation over allegations of smuggling cell phones to Palestinians in Israeli jails.
According to official data, nearly 7,000 Palestinians are incarcerated in Israeli occupation jails.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that Israeli soldiers abducted, overnight and at dawn Wednesday, 24 Palestinians, including seven children, in different parts of the occupied West Bank.
The PPS office in Bethlehem, said the soldiers invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem, searched many homes and abducted seven children, after the army broke into and ransacked many homes.
The PPS identified the abducted Palestinians as Ahmad Mohammad Taqatqa, 15, Eyad Nader Taqatqa, 15, Ahmad Nidal Taqatqa, 15, Rami Salah Taqatqa, 15, Mohammad Ayman Taqatqa, 16, Ibrahim Jibreel Taqatqa, 15 and Yazan Nabil Deeriyya, 17.
In Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, the soldiers invaded many homes in several communities in the district, and abducted six Palestinians.
The abducted residents have been identified Ala’ Mazen Abu Dabbous, 24, Hasan Rafiq Dababsa, Ehab Anwar Hawareen, Mohammad Zamel Eshneiwer, Odai Kamel, and Hamza Rajabi.
In Nablus district, in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers also stormed and searched homes and abducted six Palestinians, including four from Tal town.
They have been identified as Montaser Talal Dweikat, Waleed Jamal Aseeda, Aseed Khaled Reehan, Taleb Samir Sawadi, in addition to Moath Bilal Eshteyya and his brother Majd.
In Rantis town, in the Ramallah district, the soldiers invaded many homes and abducted Mohammad Majed Khalaf and Fakhr Raslan Hammad.
In addition, the soldiers invaded homes in the Salfit district, and abducted Ali Mahmoud al-Yousef and his brother Abdul-Karim.
In Qalqilia, in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers abducted Mohammad Abdul-Fattah Abu Haniyya, 18, after invading his home and searching it.
The PPS office in Bethlehem, said the soldiers invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem, searched many homes and abducted seven children, after the army broke into and ransacked many homes.
The PPS identified the abducted Palestinians as Ahmad Mohammad Taqatqa, 15, Eyad Nader Taqatqa, 15, Ahmad Nidal Taqatqa, 15, Rami Salah Taqatqa, 15, Mohammad Ayman Taqatqa, 16, Ibrahim Jibreel Taqatqa, 15 and Yazan Nabil Deeriyya, 17.
In Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, the soldiers invaded many homes in several communities in the district, and abducted six Palestinians.
The abducted residents have been identified Ala’ Mazen Abu Dabbous, 24, Hasan Rafiq Dababsa, Ehab Anwar Hawareen, Mohammad Zamel Eshneiwer, Odai Kamel, and Hamza Rajabi.
In Nablus district, in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers also stormed and searched homes and abducted six Palestinians, including four from Tal town.
They have been identified as Montaser Talal Dweikat, Waleed Jamal Aseeda, Aseed Khaled Reehan, Taleb Samir Sawadi, in addition to Moath Bilal Eshteyya and his brother Majd.
In Rantis town, in the Ramallah district, the soldiers invaded many homes and abducted Mohammad Majed Khalaf and Fakhr Raslan Hammad.
In addition, the soldiers invaded homes in the Salfit district, and abducted Ali Mahmoud al-Yousef and his brother Abdul-Karim.
In Qalqilia, in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers abducted Mohammad Abdul-Fattah Abu Haniyya, 18, after invading his home and searching it.
Amidst freezing winter weather, Israeli occupation forces have banned winter clothes for Palestinian prisoners in Negev Prison, it was revealed on Tuesday.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said that Israeli authorities prevented the entry of the winter clothing which Palestinian families had sent to their sons being held inside the prison.
According to PPS, all the families of the Palestinian prisoners have bought winter clothes and other kits for their sons, and sent them to the prison.
“However, the Israeli Prison Service had accepted the clothes and the other kits, but the prisoners said that they did not receive anything,” a statement from the organization said.
PPS also noted that Palestinian detainees inside Israeli jails, mainly the prisons in Al-Naqab Desert, suffer from the freezing weather in winter.
Days of Palestine further reports that approximately 1,000 detainees — out of over 7,500 — also suffer from a variety of different health problems.
Recent reports reveal that at least 250 of the 1,000 detaineers suffer from serious diseases, and do not have free access to proper medical care.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said that Israeli authorities prevented the entry of the winter clothing which Palestinian families had sent to their sons being held inside the prison.
According to PPS, all the families of the Palestinian prisoners have bought winter clothes and other kits for their sons, and sent them to the prison.
“However, the Israeli Prison Service had accepted the clothes and the other kits, but the prisoners said that they did not receive anything,” a statement from the organization said.
PPS also noted that Palestinian detainees inside Israeli jails, mainly the prisons in Al-Naqab Desert, suffer from the freezing weather in winter.
Days of Palestine further reports that approximately 1,000 detainees — out of over 7,500 — also suffer from a variety of different health problems.
Recent reports reveal that at least 250 of the 1,000 detaineers suffer from serious diseases, and do not have free access to proper medical care.
20 dec 2016
The Israeli occupation police shot a Palestinian young man on Tuesday and arrested 10 others during clashes that broke out in Shufat refugee camp to the north of occupied Jerusalem.
The spokesman of Fatah movement in Shufat camp, Thaer al-Fasfoos, said that dozens of heavily armed Israeli policemen stormed the camp and fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets at the young men who confronted the raid.
He said that a group of undercover Israeli soldiers sneaked among those young men, ambushed five of them and took them prisoners after beating them.
Al-Fasfoos told Quds Press news agency that the policemen fired live bullets during the raid injuring a young man whose health condition is unknown yet.
The Israeli police claimed, in a statement, that its forces stormed Shufat camp to arrest Palestinian workers who don't have legal permits to enter the territory.
It said that four Palestinian workers were arrested in one of the shops in addition to the ship-owner who is a resident of Shufat camp.
In the same statement, the police claimed that a group of Palestinian youths threw stones at the police and the latter responded using different means and arrested 5 boys aged between 16 to 17 years old and took them for investigation.
The Israeli police raids in Shufat camp happen on a daily basis allegedly to pursue young men throwing stones or Molotov Cocktails at the police patrols.
The spokesman of Fatah movement in Shufat camp, Thaer al-Fasfoos, said that dozens of heavily armed Israeli policemen stormed the camp and fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets at the young men who confronted the raid.
He said that a group of undercover Israeli soldiers sneaked among those young men, ambushed five of them and took them prisoners after beating them.
Al-Fasfoos told Quds Press news agency that the policemen fired live bullets during the raid injuring a young man whose health condition is unknown yet.
The Israeli police claimed, in a statement, that its forces stormed Shufat camp to arrest Palestinian workers who don't have legal permits to enter the territory.
It said that four Palestinian workers were arrested in one of the shops in addition to the ship-owner who is a resident of Shufat camp.
In the same statement, the police claimed that a group of Palestinian youths threw stones at the police and the latter responded using different means and arrested 5 boys aged between 16 to 17 years old and took them for investigation.
The Israeli police raids in Shufat camp happen on a daily basis allegedly to pursue young men throwing stones or Molotov Cocktails at the police patrols.
Hunger-striking prisoners Ahmed Abu Fara and Anas Shadeed have suffered new serious health complications that could possibly lead to their death, Israeli medical reports have warned.
According to Wa’ed Society for Detainees and Ex-detainees on Tuesday, very recent medical reports from Assaf Harofeh hospital on the health conditions of Abu Fara and Shadeed affirm that they are likely to suffer sudden cardiac arrest or stroke.
The society, for its part, warned against the use of force-feeding with Abu Fara and Shadeed at this critical stage of their health, saying this would lead to undesirable results and would be considered an intentional attempt to kill them.
It has appealed to all concerned international groups to intervene in the name of justice and human values which they defend to save the lives of the hunger strikers.
The prisoners have been on hunger strike since September 25, 2016 in protest at their detention administratively, with no indictment or trial.
According to Wa’ed Society for Detainees and Ex-detainees on Tuesday, very recent medical reports from Assaf Harofeh hospital on the health conditions of Abu Fara and Shadeed affirm that they are likely to suffer sudden cardiac arrest or stroke.
The society, for its part, warned against the use of force-feeding with Abu Fara and Shadeed at this critical stage of their health, saying this would lead to undesirable results and would be considered an intentional attempt to kill them.
It has appealed to all concerned international groups to intervene in the name of justice and human values which they defend to save the lives of the hunger strikers.
The prisoners have been on hunger strike since September 25, 2016 in protest at their detention administratively, with no indictment or trial.
The Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) has refused to release the Palestinian prisoner Naif Shawamra despite a court order to the effect.
Shawamra was kept by the Israeli intelligence in custody although an Israeli court has ordered his immediate release on Monday.
Several court orders were earlier issued for his release.
Shawamra, who was earlier released in Wafa al-Ahrar swap deal in 2011, was re-arrested in 2014 in flagrant violation of the prisoners' exchange deal.
Shawamra was kept by the Israeli intelligence in custody although an Israeli court has ordered his immediate release on Monday.
Several court orders were earlier issued for his release.
Shawamra, who was earlier released in Wafa al-Ahrar swap deal in 2011, was re-arrested in 2014 in flagrant violation of the prisoners' exchange deal.
Hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner Anas Shadeed was transferred to the intensive care unit of Israel’s Assaf Harofeh hospital, his lawyer Ahlam Haddad revealed.
The PIC reporter quoted Haddad as affirming that Shadeed was moved to the intensive care unit following a severe deterioration of his health on Monday.
The lawyer pointed out that Anas Shadeed and Ahmad Abu Fara are still determined to continue their hunger strike, refusing to conduct any medical tests.
Shadeed and Abu Farah were detained on Aug. 1 and have been on hunger strike for 87 days in protest at their imprisonment without charge or trial under Israel’s widely-condemned policy of administrative detention.
They are both approaching their seventh day without water after the court rejected a prior appeal to release them.
Along the same line, head of the Palestinian Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Qaraqe warned that the prisoner Ammar Hamour’s health condition has seriously deteriorated after he lost more than 20 kg of his weight as enters his second month of hunger strike.
Hamour, 28, was recently transferred from Ashkelon prison to Eshel solitary confinement, he added.
Hamour, from Jenin, declared a hunger strike last month in protest at being held without charge or trial for more than nine months.
According to Addameer, 7,000 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons, 720 of whom are held in administrative detention.
Rights groups have claimed that Israel's administrative detention policy has been used as an attempt to disrupt Palestinian political and social processes, notably targeting Palestinian politicians, activists, and journalists.
The PIC reporter quoted Haddad as affirming that Shadeed was moved to the intensive care unit following a severe deterioration of his health on Monday.
The lawyer pointed out that Anas Shadeed and Ahmad Abu Fara are still determined to continue their hunger strike, refusing to conduct any medical tests.
Shadeed and Abu Farah were detained on Aug. 1 and have been on hunger strike for 87 days in protest at their imprisonment without charge or trial under Israel’s widely-condemned policy of administrative detention.
They are both approaching their seventh day without water after the court rejected a prior appeal to release them.
Along the same line, head of the Palestinian Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Qaraqe warned that the prisoner Ammar Hamour’s health condition has seriously deteriorated after he lost more than 20 kg of his weight as enters his second month of hunger strike.
Hamour, 28, was recently transferred from Ashkelon prison to Eshel solitary confinement, he added.
Hamour, from Jenin, declared a hunger strike last month in protest at being held without charge or trial for more than nine months.
According to Addameer, 7,000 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons, 720 of whom are held in administrative detention.
Rights groups have claimed that Israel's administrative detention policy has been used as an attempt to disrupt Palestinian political and social processes, notably targeting Palestinian politicians, activists, and journalists.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Tuesday at dawn, at least thirteen Palestinians, including children, in different parts of the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem, the army invaded and searched homes and abducted six Palestinians, identified as Amer Abed, Mohammad Dari, 13, Ahmad Zidani, 13, Amer Zidani, 17, Mohammad Mustafa, 17, and Khaled Abu Ghosh, 17.
In Ramallah, in central west Bank, the soldiers invaded Rantis town, and abducted Ahmad Ali Naddaf, 28, and Mohammad Jamal Hosha, 27, after breaking into their homes and searching them.
In Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers abducted Obeida Jabour, also from his home.
In Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem, the soldiers abducted Mohammad Mahmoud Taqatqa, 18, after searching his home.
The soldiers also abducted one Palestinian, identified as Mohammad Mahmoud Alawna, after invading his home in Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank.
Furthermore, the army abducted Mohammad Hammad al-‘Allami, 20, Ahmad Badran Ebreiwish and Mohammad Taleb Awad, from their homes in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank.
On Monday at night, the soldiers abducted Firas Amjad Jaber, 18, from the al-Am’ari refugee camp, in Ramallah, after summoning him for interrogation in Beit El security center.
In Qalqilia, in the northern part of the West Bank, the army abducted Eman Jalal Ali, 17, after invading her home and searching it.
In Jerusalem, the army invaded and searched homes and abducted six Palestinians, identified as Amer Abed, Mohammad Dari, 13, Ahmad Zidani, 13, Amer Zidani, 17, Mohammad Mustafa, 17, and Khaled Abu Ghosh, 17.
In Ramallah, in central west Bank, the soldiers invaded Rantis town, and abducted Ahmad Ali Naddaf, 28, and Mohammad Jamal Hosha, 27, after breaking into their homes and searching them.
In Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers abducted Obeida Jabour, also from his home.
In Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem, the soldiers abducted Mohammad Mahmoud Taqatqa, 18, after searching his home.
The soldiers also abducted one Palestinian, identified as Mohammad Mahmoud Alawna, after invading his home in Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank.
Furthermore, the army abducted Mohammad Hammad al-‘Allami, 20, Ahmad Badran Ebreiwish and Mohammad Taleb Awad, from their homes in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank.
On Monday at night, the soldiers abducted Firas Amjad Jaber, 18, from the al-Am’ari refugee camp, in Ramallah, after summoning him for interrogation in Beit El security center.
In Qalqilia, in the northern part of the West Bank, the army abducted Eman Jalal Ali, 17, after invading her home and searching it.
Mohammad Taqatqa 18
Several Israeli military vehicles invaded, late on Monday evening, Beit Fajjar town, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, abducted a teenager, and summoned two children, 11 and 12 years of age, for interrogation.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) said the soldiers broke into several homes, violently searched them and interrogated many Palestinians.
The PPS added that the soldiers abducted Mohammad Taqatqa, 18, and summoned ‘Awni Taqatqa, 12, and Ali Deeriyya, 11, for interrogation at the Etzion military base and security center, south of Bethlehem.
Several Israeli military vehicles invaded, late on Monday evening, Beit Fajjar town, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, abducted a teenager, and summoned two children, 11 and 12 years of age, for interrogation.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) said the soldiers broke into several homes, violently searched them and interrogated many Palestinians.
The PPS added that the soldiers abducted Mohammad Taqatqa, 18, and summoned ‘Awni Taqatqa, 12, and Ali Deeriyya, 11, for interrogation at the Etzion military base and security center, south of Bethlehem.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Tuesday at dawn, several homes in the towns of Silwan and al-‘Eesawiyya, in occupied East Jerusalem, searched the properties, and abducted four children and one adult. On Monday evening, the army abducted a young man and a child in Silwan.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) has reported that the soldiers abducted Mohammad Ali Dari, Khaled ‘Awni Abu Ghosh, 17, and Hamad Mousa Mustafa, 16, from their homes in al-‘Eesawiyya.
It added that the soldiers also abducted Ahmad Zidani, 13, and his brother Mohammad, 22, after invading their home in Silwan.
The family said the soldiers also illegally confiscated all mobile phones owned by its members while searching the property.
On Monday evening, the soldiers abducted a young man, identified as Yazan Tahhan, and a child, identified as Safir Tahhan, from Ras al-‘Amoud in Silwan.
The army also issued orders denying a Palestinian woman, identified as Raeda Sa’id, from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque for 15 days, after abducting her, Sunday, near one of the gates leading to the mosque.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) has reported that the soldiers abducted Mohammad Ali Dari, Khaled ‘Awni Abu Ghosh, 17, and Hamad Mousa Mustafa, 16, from their homes in al-‘Eesawiyya.
It added that the soldiers also abducted Ahmad Zidani, 13, and his brother Mohammad, 22, after invading their home in Silwan.
The family said the soldiers also illegally confiscated all mobile phones owned by its members while searching the property.
On Monday evening, the soldiers abducted a young man, identified as Yazan Tahhan, and a child, identified as Safir Tahhan, from Ras al-‘Amoud in Silwan.
The army also issued orders denying a Palestinian woman, identified as Raeda Sa’id, from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque for 15 days, after abducting her, Sunday, near one of the gates leading to the mosque.
