9 dec 2018
Israeli soldiers invaded, Sunday, the home of Jerusalem Governor Adnan Gheith, in Silwan town, south of the al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem, and took measurements of the property.
Dozens of soldiers surrounded the Governor’s home, before breaking into it using excessive force, and conducted provocative acts against the family.
The soldiers then took measurements of the property, a move which is usually followed by a demolition order, but did not hand him any order.
It is worth mentioning that Gheith was placed under house arrest,an order which expired Saturday, and was frequently abducted and detained by the army, in an attempt to prevent him from performing his duties.
The ongoing arrests and violations are part of Israel’s measures aimed at preventing the Palestinian Authority, and various institutions, including the UNRWA, its facilities and clinics,from providing services in East Jerusalem, including its surrounding communities.
Dozens of soldiers surrounded the Governor’s home, before breaking into it using excessive force, and conducted provocative acts against the family.
The soldiers then took measurements of the property, a move which is usually followed by a demolition order, but did not hand him any order.
It is worth mentioning that Gheith was placed under house arrest,an order which expired Saturday, and was frequently abducted and detained by the army, in an attempt to prevent him from performing his duties.
The ongoing arrests and violations are part of Israel’s measures aimed at preventing the Palestinian Authority, and various institutions, including the UNRWA, its facilities and clinics,from providing services in East Jerusalem, including its surrounding communities.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Sunday at dawn, eight Palestinians from the West Bank governorates of Bethlehem, Nablus and Jerusalem,the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported.
The PPS stated that the soldiers invaded and violently searched many homes in the three governorates of the occupied West Bank, and interrogated several Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards, in addition to installing roadblocks.
The PPS office in Nablus, in northern West Bank, said the soldiers abducted Salama Marwan Abdul-Jawad, Mohammad Zaki Ebdah, Jamil Salaheddin al-Aqra’ and Bara’ Kamal Hashash.
In Bethlehem, the soldiers abducted Rani Hani Bisharat and Mahmoud Adel Zboun.
Furthermore, the soldiers abducted a child, identified as Ahmad Eyad Shalabi, in addition to Mahdi Jaber, from their homes in occupied East Jerusalem.
The abducted Palestinians were cuffed and blindfolded, before the soldiers moved them to a number of detention and interrogation centers.
The PPS stated that the soldiers invaded and violently searched many homes in the three governorates of the occupied West Bank, and interrogated several Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards, in addition to installing roadblocks.
The PPS office in Nablus, in northern West Bank, said the soldiers abducted Salama Marwan Abdul-Jawad, Mohammad Zaki Ebdah, Jamil Salaheddin al-Aqra’ and Bara’ Kamal Hashash.
In Bethlehem, the soldiers abducted Rani Hani Bisharat and Mahmoud Adel Zboun.
Furthermore, the soldiers abducted a child, identified as Ahmad Eyad Shalabi, in addition to Mahdi Jaber, from their homes in occupied East Jerusalem.
The abducted Palestinians were cuffed and blindfolded, before the soldiers moved them to a number of detention and interrogation centers.
An Israeli military court on Sunday extended the detention of 12-year-old Ibrahim Abayat, from Bethlehem.
A lawyer working for the Palestinian Prisoner Society said that this was the sixth extension since he was detained on November 22 on allegations of his attempt to carry out a stabbing attack.
Another court session will be held for him on Monday, according to the lawyer.
There are more than 270 Palestinian children being held in Megiddo and Ofer jails.
A lawyer working for the Palestinian Prisoner Society said that this was the sixth extension since he was detained on November 22 on allegations of his attempt to carry out a stabbing attack.
Another court session will be held for him on Monday, according to the lawyer.
There are more than 270 Palestinian children being held in Megiddo and Ofer jails.
The Palestinian prisoner Mohammed Dawood, 58, on Sunday started his 32nd year in Israeli jails.
According to the Palestinian Prisoner Society, Dawood is among 27 long-serving Palestinian prisoners who have never been released, even for a short period of time, since the signing of Oslo Accords.
The Israeli occupation authorities refused to release these prisoners in 2014 in the fourth batch of the Wafa al-Ahrar prisoner swap deal.
Part of the long-serving group of Palestinian prisoners were released in the 2011 deal but re-arrested later, including Nael al-Barghouti who has served 39 years in Israeli jails so far.
The Israeli occupation authorities prevent most of Dawood's family members from visiting him under various security pretexts.
According to the Palestinian Prisoner Society, Dawood is among 27 long-serving Palestinian prisoners who have never been released, even for a short period of time, since the signing of Oslo Accords.
The Israeli occupation authorities refused to release these prisoners in 2014 in the fourth batch of the Wafa al-Ahrar prisoner swap deal.
Part of the long-serving group of Palestinian prisoners were released in the 2011 deal but re-arrested later, including Nael al-Barghouti who has served 39 years in Israeli jails so far.
The Israeli occupation authorities prevent most of Dawood's family members from visiting him under various security pretexts.
A Palestinian report said that three Palestinian teenagers from Occupied Jerusalem, all aged 16, were exposed to physical assaults recently by Israeli soldiers and officers during their detention and interrogation.
According to the report, which was released by the Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs, 16-year-old Ahmed Abu Sneineh was tortured by Israeli interrogators at al-Maskubiya detention center before transferring him to Megiddo prison.
During his interrogation, the child, Abu Sneineh was tied to a chair and brutalized by Israeli officers, who also embarked on severely beating him after pushing him to the ground to force him to make certain confessions.
Abu Sneineh remained for 22 days at al-Maskubiya center during which he underwent six violent interrogation sessions.
Another child called Nabil Sadr was also brutally beaten, without any justification, as he was being transferred to al-Ramla prison by Nahshon soldiers.
The report affirmed that he and other two prisoners were savagely beaten and kicked by soldiers while their hands and legs were tied, which caused them to suffer bruises and injuries all over their bodies. Sadr is currently in Megiddo jail.
16-year-old Mohamed Abido was also exposed to beating, maltreatment and intimidation during long hours of interrogation by officers in al-Maskubiya center.
Abido was detained in al-Maskubiya center for 30 days before transferring him to Megiddo jail.
According to the report, which was released by the Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs, 16-year-old Ahmed Abu Sneineh was tortured by Israeli interrogators at al-Maskubiya detention center before transferring him to Megiddo prison.
During his interrogation, the child, Abu Sneineh was tied to a chair and brutalized by Israeli officers, who also embarked on severely beating him after pushing him to the ground to force him to make certain confessions.
Abu Sneineh remained for 22 days at al-Maskubiya center during which he underwent six violent interrogation sessions.
Another child called Nabil Sadr was also brutally beaten, without any justification, as he was being transferred to al-Ramla prison by Nahshon soldiers.
The report affirmed that he and other two prisoners were savagely beaten and kicked by soldiers while their hands and legs were tied, which caused them to suffer bruises and injuries all over their bodies. Sadr is currently in Megiddo jail.
16-year-old Mohamed Abido was also exposed to beating, maltreatment and intimidation during long hours of interrogation by officers in al-Maskubiya center.
Abido was detained in al-Maskubiya center for 30 days before transferring him to Megiddo jail.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Saturday evening opened fire at a Palestinian vehicle at the western entrance to Silwad town, east of Ramallah city in the West Bank.
Local sources reported that Israeli soldiers directly shot at a Palestinian car after they set up a military checkpoint at the western entrance to Silwad.
The soldiers claimed that the driver refused to respond to their order to stop as he was trying to enter the town.
Luckily, no one was hurt in the shooting attack, which only caused material damage to the car.
Local sources reported that Israeli soldiers directly shot at a Palestinian car after they set up a military checkpoint at the western entrance to Silwad.
The soldiers claimed that the driver refused to respond to their order to stop as he was trying to enter the town.
Luckily, no one was hurt in the shooting attack, which only caused material damage to the car.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Sunday kidnapped five Palestinian young men in different areas of Nablus in the West Bank.
According to local sources, Israeli troops stormed Balata refugee camp near Nablus city and kidnapped a young man called Baraa Hashash from his home.
Four others were also taken prisoners during an IOF campaign in the new camp of Askar, east of Nablus.
The four detainees were identified as Jameel al-Aqra, Salloum Jawdeh, Salamah Abdul-Jawwad (ex-detainee) and Mohamed Ebdah (ex-detainee).
The IOF also stormed the towns of Salem, Asira al-Qibliya, and al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya in Nablus, with no reported arrests.
According to local sources, Israeli troops stormed Balata refugee camp near Nablus city and kidnapped a young man called Baraa Hashash from his home.
Four others were also taken prisoners during an IOF campaign in the new camp of Askar, east of Nablus.
The four detainees were identified as Jameel al-Aqra, Salloum Jawdeh, Salamah Abdul-Jawwad (ex-detainee) and Mohamed Ebdah (ex-detainee).
The IOF also stormed the towns of Salem, Asira al-Qibliya, and al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya in Nablus, with no reported arrests.
Dozens of Palestinian citizens and ex-detainees participated on Saturday in a sit-in staged in al-Khalil city in support of the Palestinian women detained in Israeli jails.
The participants carried pictures of female prisoners and placards demanding their release and holding the Israeli occupation authority fully responsible for their lives.
Some participants in the sit-in talked about the violations the female prisoners are exposed to inside Israeli jails, especially during the winter.
They said the female detainees, especially those who suffer medical problems, have no sufficient blankets and winter clothing, affirming that they are also exposed to medical neglect by Israeli jailers.
The participants carried pictures of female prisoners and placards demanding their release and holding the Israeli occupation authority fully responsible for their lives.
Some participants in the sit-in talked about the violations the female prisoners are exposed to inside Israeli jails, especially during the winter.
They said the female detainees, especially those who suffer medical problems, have no sufficient blankets and winter clothing, affirming that they are also exposed to medical neglect by Israeli jailers.
The Palestinian detainee Nisreen Abu Kmeil, 46, said on Saturday that her health condition is deteriorating due to the deliberate medical neglect by the Israel Prison Service.
Abu Kmeil's lawyer said that Nisreen announced a strike on 2 December and refused to take her blood pressure and diabetes medicines in protest at the unjustified delay in her treatment.
The Israel Prison Service responded to her demands and took her to the hospital on 3 December. When the doctor examined her, he confirmed that her health condition was worsening because she was not receiving treatment.
If there is no improvement witnessed in Abu Kmeil's health in the coming two weeks, her toes will be amputated, the lawyer said.
Moreover, the lawyer added, several months ago, Abu Kmeil fell and broke her arm, and because her arm was not splinted properly, Israeli doctors broke it again a few days later, damaging the main nerve in her arm.
The doctors decided 12 physiotherapy sessions for Abu Kmeil. She was transferred to Hasharon jail and only attended three sessions before she was returned to Damon jail. Abu Kmeil has been denied treatment ever since.
Abu Kmeil is from Haifa city in the 1948 occupied territories, and she is married to a Palestinian man in the Gaza Strip. Abu Kmeil was arrested in October 2015 at Erez crossing when the Israeli occupation authorities summoned her to sign papers related to her husband's entry permit.
A mother of seven children, the youngest of whom was seven months old when she was arrested, Abu Kmeil was subjected to harsh interrogation and torture at Ashkelon jail during the first month of her detention.
Abu Kmeil has served three years of her six-year sentence. She has not seen any of her family members since she was detained because of the movement restrictions imposed on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and because they fear arbitrary arrest at Erez crossing.
Abu Kmeil's lawyer said that Nisreen announced a strike on 2 December and refused to take her blood pressure and diabetes medicines in protest at the unjustified delay in her treatment.
The Israel Prison Service responded to her demands and took her to the hospital on 3 December. When the doctor examined her, he confirmed that her health condition was worsening because she was not receiving treatment.
If there is no improvement witnessed in Abu Kmeil's health in the coming two weeks, her toes will be amputated, the lawyer said.
Moreover, the lawyer added, several months ago, Abu Kmeil fell and broke her arm, and because her arm was not splinted properly, Israeli doctors broke it again a few days later, damaging the main nerve in her arm.
The doctors decided 12 physiotherapy sessions for Abu Kmeil. She was transferred to Hasharon jail and only attended three sessions before she was returned to Damon jail. Abu Kmeil has been denied treatment ever since.
Abu Kmeil is from Haifa city in the 1948 occupied territories, and she is married to a Palestinian man in the Gaza Strip. Abu Kmeil was arrested in October 2015 at Erez crossing when the Israeli occupation authorities summoned her to sign papers related to her husband's entry permit.
A mother of seven children, the youngest of whom was seven months old when she was arrested, Abu Kmeil was subjected to harsh interrogation and torture at Ashkelon jail during the first month of her detention.
Abu Kmeil has served three years of her six-year sentence. She has not seen any of her family members since she was detained because of the movement restrictions imposed on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and because they fear arbitrary arrest at Erez crossing.
8 dec 2018
Head of the documentation unit at the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs in the besieged Gaza Strip, Abed al-Nasser Farawneh, said on Saturday that Israeli forces had detained a Palestinian woman while at the Erez crossing (Beit Hanoun) in the northern Gaza Strip, last Thursday.
Farawneh added that Israel had detained a Palestinian woman, identifying her as Samar Salah Abu Thaher, as she was at Erez escorting her ill husband, who is heading to a hospital in the West Bank for treatment.
The Palestinian Liaison had informed the Prisoners' Affairs Committee of the detention.
Abu Thaher’s husband was not able to head to the West Bank for treatment alone, and returned to the Gaza Strip.
Erez is the only land crossing between Gaza and Israel, although travel is heavily restricted by Israeli authorities as part of a crippling blockade on the coastal enclave in place since 2007.
Palestinians detained at Erez are often interrogated for several hours, sometimes for days, before they are either allowed into Israel en route to the West Bank or sent back to Gaza.
The Gaza Strip has suffered under an Israeli military blockade since 2007, when Hamas was elected to rule the territory. Residents of Gaza suffer from high unemployment and poverty rates, as well as the consequences of three devastating wars with Israel since 2008.
The UN has said that the besieged Palestinian territory could become "uninhabitable" by 2020, as its more than 1.8 million residents remain in dire poverty due to the Israeli blockade that has crippled the economy, while continuing to experience slow-paced reconstruction efforts aimed at rebuilding homes for some 75,000 Palestinians who remain displaced since 2014.
Farawneh added that Israel had detained a Palestinian woman, identifying her as Samar Salah Abu Thaher, as she was at Erez escorting her ill husband, who is heading to a hospital in the West Bank for treatment.
The Palestinian Liaison had informed the Prisoners' Affairs Committee of the detention.
Abu Thaher’s husband was not able to head to the West Bank for treatment alone, and returned to the Gaza Strip.
Erez is the only land crossing between Gaza and Israel, although travel is heavily restricted by Israeli authorities as part of a crippling blockade on the coastal enclave in place since 2007.
Palestinians detained at Erez are often interrogated for several hours, sometimes for days, before they are either allowed into Israel en route to the West Bank or sent back to Gaza.
The Gaza Strip has suffered under an Israeli military blockade since 2007, when Hamas was elected to rule the territory. Residents of Gaza suffer from high unemployment and poverty rates, as well as the consequences of three devastating wars with Israel since 2008.
The UN has said that the besieged Palestinian territory could become "uninhabitable" by 2020, as its more than 1.8 million residents remain in dire poverty due to the Israeli blockade that has crippled the economy, while continuing to experience slow-paced reconstruction efforts aimed at rebuilding homes for some 75,000 Palestinians who remain displaced since 2014.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Saturday morning installed a military checkpoint at the northern entrance to al-Khalil city and arrested a Palestinian ex-prisoner.
The PIC reporter said that the IOF set up a temporary checkpoint near al-Khalil and started to search Palestinian vehicles and passengers causing a traffic jam.
The IOF soldiers dismantled the checkpoint after they detained Khalil Abu Ayyash, 27, and transferred him to an undeclared destination.
The PIC reporter said that the IOF set up a temporary checkpoint near al-Khalil and started to search Palestinian vehicles and passengers causing a traffic jam.
The IOF soldiers dismantled the checkpoint after they detained Khalil Abu Ayyash, 27, and transferred him to an undeclared destination.
7 dec 2018
Israeli soldiers invaded, Friday, the al-‘Isawiya town, in occupied East Jerusalem, stormed many neighborhoods, and photographed many homes, buildings and streets, before handing demolition orders targeting several buildings, and summoned many owners for interrogation.
Mohammad Abu al-Hummus, a member of the Follow-Up Committee in al-‘Isawiya, said the soldiers, and personnel of Jerusalem City Council, posted orders for the demolition of several homes and buildings, which were constructed many years ago.
He added that the soldiers also summoned the owners for interrogation, for “building them without permits.”
Mohammad said the owners have been paying high fines to the City Council, and have already submitted licensing applications despite the excessively high costs, and are still awaiting a response.
He also stated that the City Council distributes demolition orders every week, during extensive invasions by the soldiers and the police, an issue which is impacting the daily lives of the Palestinians,who cannot feel safe at home due to the constant threats of displacement.
“Israel always uses the claim of demoliting the buildings for being constructed without permits,” Mohammad said, “This is happening while the City Council continues to reject most applications, in addition to the complicated procedures the Palestinians have to go through, the very high costs of filing for these permits, in addition to the extended periods the residents have to wait, and in most cases, they are denied”
While the Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem continued to be denied construction permits, and face repeated demolitions,displacement and ongoing excessive violations, Israel continues to build its illegal colonies in the city, and the rest of the West Bank, in direct violation of International Law.
Mohammad Abu al-Hummus, a member of the Follow-Up Committee in al-‘Isawiya, said the soldiers, and personnel of Jerusalem City Council, posted orders for the demolition of several homes and buildings, which were constructed many years ago.
He added that the soldiers also summoned the owners for interrogation, for “building them without permits.”
Mohammad said the owners have been paying high fines to the City Council, and have already submitted licensing applications despite the excessively high costs, and are still awaiting a response.
He also stated that the City Council distributes demolition orders every week, during extensive invasions by the soldiers and the police, an issue which is impacting the daily lives of the Palestinians,who cannot feel safe at home due to the constant threats of displacement.
“Israel always uses the claim of demoliting the buildings for being constructed without permits,” Mohammad said, “This is happening while the City Council continues to reject most applications, in addition to the complicated procedures the Palestinians have to go through, the very high costs of filing for these permits, in addition to the extended periods the residents have to wait, and in most cases, they are denied”
While the Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem continued to be denied construction permits, and face repeated demolitions,displacement and ongoing excessive violations, Israel continues to build its illegal colonies in the city, and the rest of the West Bank, in direct violation of International Law.
A number of Palestinians were kidnapped and civilian homes ravaged by the Israeli occupation forces at daybreak Friday in abduction sweeps rocking the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Israeli forces stormed Jerusalem’s eastern town of Hizma and wreaked havoc on civilian homes before they kidnapped the young man Ammar al-Khatib, the brother of a Palestinian prisoner held in Israeli occupation jails.
At the same time, Israeli soldiers raided Palestinian homes in al-Mugheir village, east of Ramallah, before they kidnapped two young men.
A Palestinian student was also kidnapped the by occupation forces from al-Khalil province
Israeli forces stormed Jerusalem’s eastern town of Hizma and wreaked havoc on civilian homes before they kidnapped the young man Ammar al-Khatib, the brother of a Palestinian prisoner held in Israeli occupation jails.
At the same time, Israeli soldiers raided Palestinian homes in al-Mugheir village, east of Ramallah, before they kidnapped two young men.
A Palestinian student was also kidnapped the by occupation forces from al-Khalil province
By Mohammad Balawi
What does it take to make someone wield a screwdriver and attack a fully armed, well-trained, well-protected soldier, knowing that if he got injured no ambulance would take him to hospital, and if he is lucky he will spend the best years of his life behind bars? Thaer Abu Ghazala from Shu’fat refugee camp and other minors have been doing this for years now.
The Israeli Army, formally called the Israeli Defense Forces, has occupied the West Bank for more than 50 years – neither international law, UN resolutions, civil society appeals, nor negotiations have been able to convince the occupiers to leave. On the contrary, the occupiers constantly reiterate that this occupied land according to international law is granted to them by no one other than God Himself, that it has belonged to them for thousands of years, that they are staying there forever and that there has never been a Palestinian people.
Israeli authorities are grabbing Palestinian land, building illegal settlements, seizing water resources, destroying Palestinian livelihoods in particular their farms, building advance highways strictly for Jews, and building hundreds of checkpoints on Palestinian roads. These roads are old, bumpy and Palestinians are horded along them like cattle for hours. The wall extends for 770 kilometers within Palestinian land, forcing Palestinians onto just six per cent of the West Bank.
Consider a 16-year-old who has lived all his life under occupation, has never had the chance to travel abroad, and has watched his family members be killed, imprisoned or forced to leave the country. Given how he has grown up, would it make sense for him to attack a fully grown man armed to his teeth with a screwdriver or a kitchen knife, or throw a stone at his tormentors?
Israeli occupiers have a peculiar way of explaining this situation. These teens, according to them, are no more than terrorists who come from “troubled families”. They are lured by money, instigated by terror organisations and encouraged by the leniency of Israeli democracy and the judiciary system, even though Israeli authorities demolish the attacker’s family home and in many cases leave him on the ground bleeding to death.
In 2018 B’Tselem reported that 220 Palestinian minors were being held in Israeli jails. All detained Palestinian children, according to Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2018, are tried in military courts, which have a near 100 per cent conviction rate. Statistics published by the Palestine Ministry of Information show that one Palestinian child has been killed every three days by Israel for the last 13 years. Issa Qaraqe, the former Palestinian Minister of Prisoner Affairs, declared that since 1948 Israel has killed more than 2 million Palestinian children. In 2017 Israel, according to Human Rights Watch, destroyed 381 homes and other property, forcibly displacing 588 people as of 6 November in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Post has reported that over 60 babies have been born after sperm was smuggled to Palestinian prisoners. Collective punishment does not stop at locking Palestinians up and depriving them of having babies. It extends to bulldozing their homes, displacing their children, and leaving them without social or economic support.
Religion today plays a pivotal role in Israeli politics like never before. No words can better describe the current Israeli situation than the words of Isaiah, who prophesied the doom of a sinful Kingdom of Juda: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot Their feet run to evil, and they hasten to shed blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, devastation and destruction are in their highways. They do not know the way of peace, and there is no justice in their tracks; they have made their paths crooked, whoever treads on them does not know peace.”
- Dr. Mohammad Makram Balawi is a Palestinian writer and academic based in Istanbul. He is the president of Asia Middle East Forum. His article was published in MEMO.
What does it take to make someone wield a screwdriver and attack a fully armed, well-trained, well-protected soldier, knowing that if he got injured no ambulance would take him to hospital, and if he is lucky he will spend the best years of his life behind bars? Thaer Abu Ghazala from Shu’fat refugee camp and other minors have been doing this for years now.
The Israeli Army, formally called the Israeli Defense Forces, has occupied the West Bank for more than 50 years – neither international law, UN resolutions, civil society appeals, nor negotiations have been able to convince the occupiers to leave. On the contrary, the occupiers constantly reiterate that this occupied land according to international law is granted to them by no one other than God Himself, that it has belonged to them for thousands of years, that they are staying there forever and that there has never been a Palestinian people.
Israeli authorities are grabbing Palestinian land, building illegal settlements, seizing water resources, destroying Palestinian livelihoods in particular their farms, building advance highways strictly for Jews, and building hundreds of checkpoints on Palestinian roads. These roads are old, bumpy and Palestinians are horded along them like cattle for hours. The wall extends for 770 kilometers within Palestinian land, forcing Palestinians onto just six per cent of the West Bank.
Consider a 16-year-old who has lived all his life under occupation, has never had the chance to travel abroad, and has watched his family members be killed, imprisoned or forced to leave the country. Given how he has grown up, would it make sense for him to attack a fully grown man armed to his teeth with a screwdriver or a kitchen knife, or throw a stone at his tormentors?
Israeli occupiers have a peculiar way of explaining this situation. These teens, according to them, are no more than terrorists who come from “troubled families”. They are lured by money, instigated by terror organisations and encouraged by the leniency of Israeli democracy and the judiciary system, even though Israeli authorities demolish the attacker’s family home and in many cases leave him on the ground bleeding to death.
In 2018 B’Tselem reported that 220 Palestinian minors were being held in Israeli jails. All detained Palestinian children, according to Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2018, are tried in military courts, which have a near 100 per cent conviction rate. Statistics published by the Palestine Ministry of Information show that one Palestinian child has been killed every three days by Israel for the last 13 years. Issa Qaraqe, the former Palestinian Minister of Prisoner Affairs, declared that since 1948 Israel has killed more than 2 million Palestinian children. In 2017 Israel, according to Human Rights Watch, destroyed 381 homes and other property, forcibly displacing 588 people as of 6 November in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Post has reported that over 60 babies have been born after sperm was smuggled to Palestinian prisoners. Collective punishment does not stop at locking Palestinians up and depriving them of having babies. It extends to bulldozing their homes, displacing their children, and leaving them without social or economic support.
Religion today plays a pivotal role in Israeli politics like never before. No words can better describe the current Israeli situation than the words of Isaiah, who prophesied the doom of a sinful Kingdom of Juda: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot Their feet run to evil, and they hasten to shed blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, devastation and destruction are in their highways. They do not know the way of peace, and there is no justice in their tracks; they have made their paths crooked, whoever treads on them does not know peace.”
- Dr. Mohammad Makram Balawi is a Palestinian writer and academic based in Istanbul. He is the president of Asia Middle East Forum. His article was published in MEMO.
Palestinians living under detention in Israeli prisons are being diagnosed with medical conditions, as of late, because of a lack of health care, a Palestinian NGO has revealed.
In a report, the Prisoners’ Centre for Studies said that 12 per cent of the Palestinian prisoners in occupation jails are diagnosed with hypertension, and 2.7 per cent are diabetic.
The centre’s director, Dr Raafat Hamdouneh, stressed the importance of allowing blood pressure monitors and devices to test detainee blood sugar levels in prisons.
He attributed the high rates of late diagnosis to the intentional medical negligence policy followed by the occupation against Palestinian prisoners.
Hamdouneh added, according to Days of Palestine, that having limited space for physical activities and limited movement, prisoners must have proper attention paid to the quality of their food and regular medical tests, as the medical implications can be deadly.
Four Palestinian prisoners have died so far, this year, while in Israeli custody, including 57-year-old Hussein Hassani who died as a result of health complications which he developed in Israeli jails and because the medical negligence which ensued, Palestinian media reported in January.
According to rights group B’Tselem, at the end of October 2018 there were 5,426 Palestinian security detainees and prisoners being held in Israel Prison Service (IPS) facilities.
In a report, the Prisoners’ Centre for Studies said that 12 per cent of the Palestinian prisoners in occupation jails are diagnosed with hypertension, and 2.7 per cent are diabetic.
The centre’s director, Dr Raafat Hamdouneh, stressed the importance of allowing blood pressure monitors and devices to test detainee blood sugar levels in prisons.
He attributed the high rates of late diagnosis to the intentional medical negligence policy followed by the occupation against Palestinian prisoners.
Hamdouneh added, according to Days of Palestine, that having limited space for physical activities and limited movement, prisoners must have proper attention paid to the quality of their food and regular medical tests, as the medical implications can be deadly.
Four Palestinian prisoners have died so far, this year, while in Israeli custody, including 57-year-old Hussein Hassani who died as a result of health complications which he developed in Israeli jails and because the medical negligence which ensued, Palestinian media reported in January.
According to rights group B’Tselem, at the end of October 2018 there were 5,426 Palestinian security detainees and prisoners being held in Israel Prison Service (IPS) facilities.
