3 feb 2016
Israeli authorities have decided to forcibly treat hunger striking detainee, journalist Muhammad al-Qeeq, without his consent, according to Minister Issa Qaraqe, chairman of the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Commission.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli ethics committee at Afula hospital, where Palestinian detainee al-Qeeq is being hospitalized, said that he is on the verge of death, following 71 consecutive days of hunger strike in protest of being imprisoned without a charge or trial.
Iyad Mesk, an attorney with the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS), said that the Israeli ethics committee, composed of nine physicians, concluded that al-Qeeq’s health has reached a very critical stage and that he faces the possibility of death at any moment, stressing that even if he survives, he still remains at risk of a potential failure of various organs.
The commission said that medical reports issued by Afula hospital are merely pro forma reports, given the fact that al-Qeeq has been rejecting to undergo any medical tests, including blood and Electrocardiogram (ECG) examinations.
The commission also accused the Israeli Supreme Court of being an “accomplice” with the Israeli 'extreme right-wing government’, in its blatant disregard to al-Qeeq’s health deterioration.
To be noted, the World Medical Association's declarations on hunger strikers, including the Malta Declaration “forbids applying pressure to end a hunger strike and forced medical treatment.” The Tokyo Declaration "forbids physicians' participation in torture, including the forced feeding or treatment of hunger strikers.”
The World Medical Association, the Red Cross, and the United Nations, consider forced treatment a cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment, and a blatant violation of international law and human rights.
According to the prisoner rights group, Addameer, “Both force-feeding and forced treatment are violent policies that are very painful and absolutely violate the principle of individual autonomy.”
“The practices constitute degrading, inhumane treatment, that could amount to torture. Both practices may be dangerous and have a negative impact on Palestinian hunger strikers, and each presents an unsuitable approach to save their lives.”
To be noted, on January 27th, 2016, the Israeli Supreme Court fixed al-Qeeq’s administrative detention term, without charge or trial, for six months, despite his critical health condition.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance and Development Aid, Robert Piper, expressed grave concern over Israel’s continued practice of administrative detention, without charge or trial.
“I am alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating health of Palestinian administrative detainee, Muhammad Al-Qeeq, who is on hunger strike in protest against the arbitrary nature of his detention and ill-treatment.”
The UN official reiterated 'the United Nations' long-standing position that all administrative detainees – Palestinian or Israeli - should be charged or released without delay’.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli ethics committee at Afula hospital, where Palestinian detainee al-Qeeq is being hospitalized, said that he is on the verge of death, following 71 consecutive days of hunger strike in protest of being imprisoned without a charge or trial.
Iyad Mesk, an attorney with the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS), said that the Israeli ethics committee, composed of nine physicians, concluded that al-Qeeq’s health has reached a very critical stage and that he faces the possibility of death at any moment, stressing that even if he survives, he still remains at risk of a potential failure of various organs.
The commission said that medical reports issued by Afula hospital are merely pro forma reports, given the fact that al-Qeeq has been rejecting to undergo any medical tests, including blood and Electrocardiogram (ECG) examinations.
The commission also accused the Israeli Supreme Court of being an “accomplice” with the Israeli 'extreme right-wing government’, in its blatant disregard to al-Qeeq’s health deterioration.
To be noted, the World Medical Association's declarations on hunger strikers, including the Malta Declaration “forbids applying pressure to end a hunger strike and forced medical treatment.” The Tokyo Declaration "forbids physicians' participation in torture, including the forced feeding or treatment of hunger strikers.”
The World Medical Association, the Red Cross, and the United Nations, consider forced treatment a cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment, and a blatant violation of international law and human rights.
According to the prisoner rights group, Addameer, “Both force-feeding and forced treatment are violent policies that are very painful and absolutely violate the principle of individual autonomy.”
“The practices constitute degrading, inhumane treatment, that could amount to torture. Both practices may be dangerous and have a negative impact on Palestinian hunger strikers, and each presents an unsuitable approach to save their lives.”
To be noted, on January 27th, 2016, the Israeli Supreme Court fixed al-Qeeq’s administrative detention term, without charge or trial, for six months, despite his critical health condition.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance and Development Aid, Robert Piper, expressed grave concern over Israel’s continued practice of administrative detention, without charge or trial.
“I am alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating health of Palestinian administrative detainee, Muhammad Al-Qeeq, who is on hunger strike in protest against the arbitrary nature of his detention and ill-treatment.”
The UN official reiterated 'the United Nations' long-standing position that all administrative detainees – Palestinian or Israeli - should be charged or released without delay’.
The Israeli army carried out, on Wednesday, various invasions and searches of homes, in different parts of the occupied West Bank, and kidnapped at least twenty Palestinians.
Dozens of soldiers invaded 'Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, searched a number of homes, and kidnapped three Palestinians, identified as Khalil Abdul-Rahman Abu Srour, 24, Farouq Ma’moun Bdeir, 23, and Khalil Mousa al-‘Ak, 23.
The soldiers also invaded al-Minya village, east of Bethlehem, and kidnapped a Local Council member, identified as Jamal Hussein Tarwa, in addition to Bilal Tarwa, and took them to an unknown destination.
Head of the al-Minya Local Council Zayed Kawazba said the soldiers invaded and ransacked many homes, and interrogated several Palestinians.
The soldiers also desecrated, and dug, a grave in the local graveyard, and searched the area.
In Ramallah, the soldiers kidnapped Samer Abdul-Jabbar Abu Eshteyya, 19, Fares Abu Eshteyya, 23, and Abdo Aziz Abdul-Qader, 20.
In Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers kidnapped a young man, identified as Amer al-Masri.
In Jenin, also in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers kidnapped Abdullah Mahmoud Zyoud, from Ta’nak village.
In Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, the soldiers searched homes and kidnapped Nizar Salhab Tamimi, 15, ‘Awni Emad Abu Shamsiyya, 16, and Mohammad Bassam Ghatasha, 17.
Dozens of soldiers invaded 'Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, searched a number of homes, and kidnapped three Palestinians, identified as Khalil Abdul-Rahman Abu Srour, 24, Farouq Ma’moun Bdeir, 23, and Khalil Mousa al-‘Ak, 23.
The soldiers also invaded al-Minya village, east of Bethlehem, and kidnapped a Local Council member, identified as Jamal Hussein Tarwa, in addition to Bilal Tarwa, and took them to an unknown destination.
Head of the al-Minya Local Council Zayed Kawazba said the soldiers invaded and ransacked many homes, and interrogated several Palestinians.
The soldiers also desecrated, and dug, a grave in the local graveyard, and searched the area.
In Ramallah, the soldiers kidnapped Samer Abdul-Jabbar Abu Eshteyya, 19, Fares Abu Eshteyya, 23, and Abdo Aziz Abdul-Qader, 20.
In Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers kidnapped a young man, identified as Amer al-Masri.
In Jenin, also in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers kidnapped Abdullah Mahmoud Zyoud, from Ta’nak village.
In Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, the soldiers searched homes and kidnapped Nizar Salhab Tamimi, 15, ‘Awni Emad Abu Shamsiyya, 16, and Mohammad Bassam Ghatasha, 17.
Five Palestinians have been kidnapped, on Wednesday at dawn, in the West Bank district of Bethlehem, after Israeli soldiers invaded it. The soldiers also kidnapped one Palestinian in Nablus.
Dozens of soldiers invaded the ‘Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, searched a number of homes, and kidnapped three Palestinians, identified as Khalil Abdu-Rahman Abu Srour, 24, Farouq Ma’moun Bdeir, 23, and Khalil Mousa al-‘Aker, 23.
The soldiers also invaded al-Minya village, east of Bethlehem, and kidnapped a Local Council member, identified as Jamal Hussein Tarwa in addition to Bilal Tarwa, and took them to an unknown destination.
Head of the al-Minya Local Council Zayed Kawazba said the soldiers invaded and ransacked many homes, and interrogated several Palestinians before kidnapping the two.
The violent searches caused excessive damage to properties of the invaded homes. The soldiers also desecrated, and dug, a grave in the local graveyard, and searched the area.
In Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank, the army kidnapped a Palestinian author, identified as Amer Sa’ad al-Masri, 31, from his home in the Old Askar refugee camp, east of the city, after searching and ransacking his home.
The soldiers also invaded Al-Qasaba Museum, in Thafer al-Masri School, in the Old City of Nablus, and searched it using a robot.
Dozens of soldiers invaded the ‘Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, searched a number of homes, and kidnapped three Palestinians, identified as Khalil Abdu-Rahman Abu Srour, 24, Farouq Ma’moun Bdeir, 23, and Khalil Mousa al-‘Aker, 23.
The soldiers also invaded al-Minya village, east of Bethlehem, and kidnapped a Local Council member, identified as Jamal Hussein Tarwa in addition to Bilal Tarwa, and took them to an unknown destination.
Head of the al-Minya Local Council Zayed Kawazba said the soldiers invaded and ransacked many homes, and interrogated several Palestinians before kidnapping the two.
The violent searches caused excessive damage to properties of the invaded homes. The soldiers also desecrated, and dug, a grave in the local graveyard, and searched the area.
In Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank, the army kidnapped a Palestinian author, identified as Amer Sa’ad al-Masri, 31, from his home in the Old Askar refugee camp, east of the city, after searching and ransacking his home.
The soldiers also invaded Al-Qasaba Museum, in Thafer al-Masri School, in the Old City of Nablus, and searched it using a robot.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Wednesday at dawn, six Palestinians, including two teenagers, in different parts of the southern West Bank district of Hebron.
The army surrounded various towns in the district, and invaded them before storming and searching many homes, and interrogated several Palestinians.
The soldiers installed a military roadblock, at the main entrance of the al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, and kidnapped Jamal Hussein at-Tarda, 55, and Jalal Kamal Tarda, 30, from their homes in Sa’ir town, east of the city.
In Beit Awwa town, southwest of Hebron, the soldiers kidnapped Yazan Shallash Masalma, 17, after searching his home.
Another Palestinian, identified as Ali Ahmad al-Heeh, 25, northwest of Hebron, was also kidnapped after the soldiers invaded and searched his home.
In addition, the soldiers invaded Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, searched homes and kidnapped a schoolteacher identified as Omar Ahmad Awad, 31, after confiscating his laptop.
The army surrounded various towns in the district, and invaded them before storming and searching many homes, and interrogated several Palestinians.
The soldiers installed a military roadblock, at the main entrance of the al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, and kidnapped Jamal Hussein at-Tarda, 55, and Jalal Kamal Tarda, 30, from their homes in Sa’ir town, east of the city.
In Beit Awwa town, southwest of Hebron, the soldiers kidnapped Yazan Shallash Masalma, 17, after searching his home.
Another Palestinian, identified as Ali Ahmad al-Heeh, 25, northwest of Hebron, was also kidnapped after the soldiers invaded and searched his home.
In addition, the soldiers invaded Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, searched homes and kidnapped a schoolteacher identified as Omar Ahmad Awad, 31, after confiscating his laptop.
Several armored Israeli military vehicles invaded, on Wednesday at dawn, the northern West Bank district of Jenin, stormed and ransacked homes, and kidnapped one Palestinian.
Media sources in Jenin said the soldiers invaded the home of Hashem an-Nathour, in the Jenin refugee camp, and violently searched it, looking for his son, Sa’id, who was not at home during the invasion.
The soldiers smashed doors and property in the invaded home, and interrogated the family.
In addition, the soldiers kidnapped a Palestinian teenager, identified as Mahmoud Khalil Sa’adi, 18, after storming his family’s home; the soldiers also interrogated the teen and his family.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Um at-Tout village, southeast of Jenin, stormed a carwash facility, belonging to Osama Kamil, and interrogated the workers.
They installed a roadblock, on the main road linking between Jenin and Um at-Tout, before stopping and searching many cars.
Eyewitnesses said several military jeeps invaded the al-Bayyara area, in Ya’bad town, near Jenin, and searched many homes.
Media sources in Jenin said the soldiers invaded the home of Hashem an-Nathour, in the Jenin refugee camp, and violently searched it, looking for his son, Sa’id, who was not at home during the invasion.
The soldiers smashed doors and property in the invaded home, and interrogated the family.
In addition, the soldiers kidnapped a Palestinian teenager, identified as Mahmoud Khalil Sa’adi, 18, after storming his family’s home; the soldiers also interrogated the teen and his family.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Um at-Tout village, southeast of Jenin, stormed a carwash facility, belonging to Osama Kamil, and interrogated the workers.
They installed a roadblock, on the main road linking between Jenin and Um at-Tout, before stopping and searching many cars.
Eyewitnesses said several military jeeps invaded the al-Bayyara area, in Ya’bad town, near Jenin, and searched many homes.
By Khalid Amayreh in Ramallah
The Israeli government continues to refuse to release Palestinian journalist Muhammed Elqeiq who has been observing an uninterrupted hunger strike for the 70th day running.
His lawyer Jawad Paulus said Muhammed “is literally hanging between life and death.” “Muhammad’s health conditions are critical. He has lost 50-60 pounds, and he has lost the ability to hear and speak.”
Elqeiq’s brother, Hammam, accused the Israeli authority of “slowly killing my brother.” “After 70 days of hunger strike, the Israeli justice system is still awaiting a further deterioration in Muhammad’s condition. This means they want him to die or suffer an irreparable damage to his vital organs which would stay with him for the rest of his life.”
On Monday, Elqeiq’s wife and family met with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah, urging him to use whatever leverage the Palestinian Authority (PA) might have to save Muhammad’s life. Al-Hamdallah told them Israel was behaving with total callousness and vindictiveness and refusing to cooperate.
As a friend of the Elqeiq’s family, this writer attended the meeting. Earlier on the day, a press conference was held outside the offices of the Red Cross in Ramallah during which Fayhaa Elqeiq, wife of Muhammed Elqeiq, appealed to “all conscientious and freedom-loving people to exert maximum pressure on the Israeli government to release her husband immediately.”
“Muhammed is a journalist, not a terrorist. He doesn’t deserve to die for practicing his job. Muhammed harmed no one, didn’t violate any laws, didn’t throw a stone on Israeli soldiers or settlers. She said that Israeli charges and insinuations that Muhammed was indulging in incitement had “no iota of truth.”
“All that Muhammed did was reporting reality in Palestine to the outside world. And Israel is trying to kill him for doing this. That is the whole story”, she said. Fayhaa, herself a journalist, appealed to colleagues around the world to identify with her husband. “We pray that Muhammad will survive this ordeal.
Muhammed doesn’t want to die. He is evidently clinging to life. His triumph will be good news for journalists around the world, and his defeat, God forbid, would be a serious setback for press freedom and freedom of speech around the world.
“That is why we appeal to our colleagues around the world to press and pressure the Israeli government to release this innocent man immediately. On Monday, the Israeli High Court decided to keep Muhammed Elqeiq in administrative detention pending a further deterioration of his health conditions.
The Israeli Attorney-General is adamantly refusing to submit any tangible evidence that would indict the detained Palestinian journalist. “The administrative detention is a sword constantly drawn against Palestinians’ throats, which allows the Israeli occupation authorities to incarcerate Palestinian activists without charge or trial up to 12 years.
Elqeiq was working for the Saudi Satellite TV outlet, al-Majd, before he was arrested. Israel considers unfavorable reporting of events in the West Bank, such as home demolitions, human rights violations and other acts of repression an act of incitement. “Israel classifies us Palestinians into either terrorists or informers. There is nothing in between. Thus, a journalist like Muhammed Elqeiq who is just doing his job is viewed as a terrorist,” Hammam Elqeiq, Muhammad’s brother, said.
“What can you do when the judge is your enemy.”
The Israeli government continues to refuse to release Palestinian journalist Muhammed Elqeiq who has been observing an uninterrupted hunger strike for the 70th day running.
His lawyer Jawad Paulus said Muhammed “is literally hanging between life and death.” “Muhammad’s health conditions are critical. He has lost 50-60 pounds, and he has lost the ability to hear and speak.”
Elqeiq’s brother, Hammam, accused the Israeli authority of “slowly killing my brother.” “After 70 days of hunger strike, the Israeli justice system is still awaiting a further deterioration in Muhammad’s condition. This means they want him to die or suffer an irreparable damage to his vital organs which would stay with him for the rest of his life.”
On Monday, Elqeiq’s wife and family met with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah, urging him to use whatever leverage the Palestinian Authority (PA) might have to save Muhammad’s life. Al-Hamdallah told them Israel was behaving with total callousness and vindictiveness and refusing to cooperate.
As a friend of the Elqeiq’s family, this writer attended the meeting. Earlier on the day, a press conference was held outside the offices of the Red Cross in Ramallah during which Fayhaa Elqeiq, wife of Muhammed Elqeiq, appealed to “all conscientious and freedom-loving people to exert maximum pressure on the Israeli government to release her husband immediately.”
“Muhammed is a journalist, not a terrorist. He doesn’t deserve to die for practicing his job. Muhammed harmed no one, didn’t violate any laws, didn’t throw a stone on Israeli soldiers or settlers. She said that Israeli charges and insinuations that Muhammed was indulging in incitement had “no iota of truth.”
“All that Muhammed did was reporting reality in Palestine to the outside world. And Israel is trying to kill him for doing this. That is the whole story”, she said. Fayhaa, herself a journalist, appealed to colleagues around the world to identify with her husband. “We pray that Muhammad will survive this ordeal.
Muhammed doesn’t want to die. He is evidently clinging to life. His triumph will be good news for journalists around the world, and his defeat, God forbid, would be a serious setback for press freedom and freedom of speech around the world.
“That is why we appeal to our colleagues around the world to press and pressure the Israeli government to release this innocent man immediately. On Monday, the Israeli High Court decided to keep Muhammed Elqeiq in administrative detention pending a further deterioration of his health conditions.
The Israeli Attorney-General is adamantly refusing to submit any tangible evidence that would indict the detained Palestinian journalist. “The administrative detention is a sword constantly drawn against Palestinians’ throats, which allows the Israeli occupation authorities to incarcerate Palestinian activists without charge or trial up to 12 years.
Elqeiq was working for the Saudi Satellite TV outlet, al-Majd, before he was arrested. Israel considers unfavorable reporting of events in the West Bank, such as home demolitions, human rights violations and other acts of repression an act of incitement. “Israel classifies us Palestinians into either terrorists or informers. There is nothing in between. Thus, a journalist like Muhammed Elqeiq who is just doing his job is viewed as a terrorist,” Hammam Elqeiq, Muhammad’s brother, said.
“What can you do when the judge is your enemy.”
During the cold spells every winter, the freed prisoner Fatima Al-Zak sadly remembers the female prisoners in the Israeli jails who had never been warm during that cold season.
Fatima had endured the freezing cold in the Israeli dungeons for more than 6 years, which led her to suffer from chronic diseases.
Difficult conditions
Captive Fatima told the PIC reporter that she lived six bitter years in prison, during which she experienced the wrench of the throes of childbirth, while she was tied up.
She was deprived of the most basic human rights. She said that "the suffering of the female prisoners is very difficult, especially when they are pregnant or have a baby." She added: "When I feel cold, I find myself crying on the conditions of male and female prisoners; I experienced myself the suffering of imprisonment in all its details, the suffering increases in the winter; where prisoners don't have the simplest things to keep them warm".
She pointed out that the extreme cold in captivity caused her peripheral neuropathy; a disease in the nerves that raises the sense of pain, especially in winter. She said that female prisoners are not provided with enough or warm blankets, and are prevented from getting winter clothing, which increase their suffering.
She noted that despite the freezing cold in the Israeli prisons, female prisoners share their covers and clothes with the new captives. She stressed that the conditions of the female prisoners need serious intervention at all levels; as they are deprived of the most basic human rights.
No life
Fatima went further recalling the prison suffering saying: "We were eight prisoners in a small room which had only a very small window blocked by iron bars, so we were deprived of sunlight, and there was no heating; which made the room like a refrigerator." She pointed out that female prisoners are deprived of good food and warm drinks.
She added: "The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) was providing eight prisoners with only two tomatoes, though, my mate prisoners used to give me their share of the tomatoes because I was pregnant, and in need of adequate nutrition. " She charged the prison administration with deliberately broke into the rooms for inspection especially in the extreme cold, which increased their suffering.
Physical Pain
She pointed out that the female prisoners were deprived of medicine and there was no female gynecologist to treat them, which aggravated their heath conditions. She noted that she was not provided with good food after giving birth, but her prison mates were offering her their food so that she could breastfeed her child, Yusuf.
She explained that she used recitation of the holy Quran and praying in the treatment of her child when he got sick, because there was no pediatrician, and there was no care for children, instead they were treated by the IPS as prisoners. Fatima was released on 30-9-2009 in an agreement to release 20 Palestinian female prisoners in exchange for information about the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was a captive with the Palestinian resistance at the time.
Fatima had endured the freezing cold in the Israeli dungeons for more than 6 years, which led her to suffer from chronic diseases.
Difficult conditions
Captive Fatima told the PIC reporter that she lived six bitter years in prison, during which she experienced the wrench of the throes of childbirth, while she was tied up.
She was deprived of the most basic human rights. She said that "the suffering of the female prisoners is very difficult, especially when they are pregnant or have a baby." She added: "When I feel cold, I find myself crying on the conditions of male and female prisoners; I experienced myself the suffering of imprisonment in all its details, the suffering increases in the winter; where prisoners don't have the simplest things to keep them warm".
She pointed out that the extreme cold in captivity caused her peripheral neuropathy; a disease in the nerves that raises the sense of pain, especially in winter. She said that female prisoners are not provided with enough or warm blankets, and are prevented from getting winter clothing, which increase their suffering.
She noted that despite the freezing cold in the Israeli prisons, female prisoners share their covers and clothes with the new captives. She stressed that the conditions of the female prisoners need serious intervention at all levels; as they are deprived of the most basic human rights.
No life
Fatima went further recalling the prison suffering saying: "We were eight prisoners in a small room which had only a very small window blocked by iron bars, so we were deprived of sunlight, and there was no heating; which made the room like a refrigerator." She pointed out that female prisoners are deprived of good food and warm drinks.
She added: "The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) was providing eight prisoners with only two tomatoes, though, my mate prisoners used to give me their share of the tomatoes because I was pregnant, and in need of adequate nutrition. " She charged the prison administration with deliberately broke into the rooms for inspection especially in the extreme cold, which increased their suffering.
Physical Pain
She pointed out that the female prisoners were deprived of medicine and there was no female gynecologist to treat them, which aggravated their heath conditions. She noted that she was not provided with good food after giving birth, but her prison mates were offering her their food so that she could breastfeed her child, Yusuf.
She explained that she used recitation of the holy Quran and praying in the treatment of her child when he got sick, because there was no pediatrician, and there was no care for children, instead they were treated by the IPS as prisoners. Fatima was released on 30-9-2009 in an agreement to release 20 Palestinian female prisoners in exchange for information about the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was a captive with the Palestinian resistance at the time.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at predawn time on Wednesday kidnapped 14 Palestinians in a mass-abduction sweep rocking several provinces of the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli 0404 news site said the occupation army claimed responsibility for the abduction of seven allegedly-wanted Palestinians, three among whom kidnapped on allegations of involvement in anti-occupation activism.
The IOF kidnapped a Palestinian youth from Jenin and another from Nablus on account of affiliations with the Islamic resistance movement Hamas. Two more Palestinians were kidnapped by the occupation soldiers from the Aida refugee camp, in Bethlehem.
The IOF also kidnapped two Palestinians from Surif town and another from Beit Awa, in al-Khalil city. Palestinian sources said the abduction sweep targeted 14 Palestinians from the same locations reported in Israeli army sources.
Ex-prisoner and author Amer Saad al-Masri, 31, was also kidnapped by the IOF from his own family home in the Askar camp, in eastern Nablus.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers rolled into Jenin’s southern town of Yabad and sealed it off with military checkpoints. Clashes flared up in Yabad shortly afterwards and culminated in several suffocation cases among the Palestinian protesters as the IOF troops showered the area with random spates of teargas canisters.
The occupation troops further raked through residential neighborhoods in the village and stopped civilian vehicles before they subjected the passengers to exhaustive questioning and provocative inspection. Earlier, overnight on Tuesday, the IOF kidnapped the Palestinian citizen Abdullah Mahmoud Z’youd near a makeshift checkpoint pitched in Ta’nak village and dragged him to an unidentified destination.
Over recent months, the IOF stepped up arbitrary abduction campaigns against Palestinian protesters in an attempt to quell anti-occupation activism across the occupied territories.
The Israeli 0404 news site said the occupation army claimed responsibility for the abduction of seven allegedly-wanted Palestinians, three among whom kidnapped on allegations of involvement in anti-occupation activism.
The IOF kidnapped a Palestinian youth from Jenin and another from Nablus on account of affiliations with the Islamic resistance movement Hamas. Two more Palestinians were kidnapped by the occupation soldiers from the Aida refugee camp, in Bethlehem.
The IOF also kidnapped two Palestinians from Surif town and another from Beit Awa, in al-Khalil city. Palestinian sources said the abduction sweep targeted 14 Palestinians from the same locations reported in Israeli army sources.
Ex-prisoner and author Amer Saad al-Masri, 31, was also kidnapped by the IOF from his own family home in the Askar camp, in eastern Nablus.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers rolled into Jenin’s southern town of Yabad and sealed it off with military checkpoints. Clashes flared up in Yabad shortly afterwards and culminated in several suffocation cases among the Palestinian protesters as the IOF troops showered the area with random spates of teargas canisters.
The occupation troops further raked through residential neighborhoods in the village and stopped civilian vehicles before they subjected the passengers to exhaustive questioning and provocative inspection. Earlier, overnight on Tuesday, the IOF kidnapped the Palestinian citizen Abdullah Mahmoud Z’youd near a makeshift checkpoint pitched in Ta’nak village and dragged him to an unidentified destination.
Over recent months, the IOF stepped up arbitrary abduction campaigns against Palestinian protesters in an attempt to quell anti-occupation activism across the occupied territories.
The Israeli occupation army on early Wednesday morning launched a limited incursion into southern Gaza Strip, at the same time as navy boats targeted Palestinian fishermen with barrages of machinegun fire.
Three Israeli army bulldozers carried out a limited incursion into the southeastern corners of Khan Younis, to the south of the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Three Israeli tanks and several army jeeps were meanwhile deployed across the area. Israeli reconnaissance planes also kept hovering over the territory. Meanwhile, Israeli navy gunboats opened heavy spates of machinegun fire on Palestinian fishermen and fishing vessels setting sail in western and northern Gaza shores.
According to preliminary reports by the PIC team, a number of Palestinian fishermen were arrested and a boat was confiscated in the assault.
Three Israeli army bulldozers carried out a limited incursion into the southeastern corners of Khan Younis, to the south of the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Three Israeli tanks and several army jeeps were meanwhile deployed across the area. Israeli reconnaissance planes also kept hovering over the territory. Meanwhile, Israeli navy gunboats opened heavy spates of machinegun fire on Palestinian fishermen and fishing vessels setting sail in western and northern Gaza shores.
According to preliminary reports by the PIC team, a number of Palestinian fishermen were arrested and a boat was confiscated in the assault.
Hamas Movement said Tuesday that any serious development in al-Qeiq’s health condition will cost Israeli authorities a high price, saying that Israel must take Palestinian Captive Movement’s threats into consideration.
The leader in the Movement Abdel-Rahman Shadid said in a press release issued Tuesday that the Captive Movement in Israeli jails warned Israel that it would pay a very high price if anything bad happened to al-Qeiq.
The Captive Movement’s threats came after medical reports raised alarm bells over al-Qeiq’s serious health deterioration, Shadid pointed out. The prisoners have realized that Israeli authorities deliberately ignore al-Qeiq’s hunger strike, he continued.
Palestinian prisoners had declared on Tuesday a one-day hunger strike in solidarity with Mohamed al-Qeiq who entered his 71st day of hunger strike in protest against his administrative detention.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) revealed that Afula Hospital administration released Tuesday afternoon a second medical report about al-Qeiq’s condition as his health situation continues to deteriorate.
Releasing two medical reports in the same day proves the critical stage reached by al-Qeiq, Jawad Bolous, the PPS’ lawyer, pointed out. Bolous said that al-Qeiq renewed on Tuesday his rejection to take any medical treatment or vitamins despite his difficult health condition.
Earlier Tuesday evening, Israeli authorities allowed for the first time a Palestinian doctor to visit him in Afula Hospital on Thursday. The Israeli decision to allow a Palestinian doctor’s visit to al-Qeiq came after the massive efforts made by Physicians for Human Rights Organization in this regard over the past period.
Along the same line, al-Qeiq’s lawyer Ashraf Abu Sneineh said that Israeli authorities allowed Tuesday only one lawyer to meet him although three lawyers used to meet him daily. Prisoner al-Qeiq initiated his hunger strike under the slogan “Free or Dead” in protest at being held administratively in Israeli occupation jails, with neither charge nor trial.
Al-Qeiq could suffer a stroke as he enters 71st day of hunger strike
Israeli doctors in Afula Hospital warned that the hunger striker Mohamed al-Qeiq is at risk of suffering a stroke due to his sharp health deterioration, his lawyer affirmed.
The lawyer Ashraf Abu Sneineh pointed out that the recent medical reports released by the hospital administration affirm the critical stage reached by al-Qeiq. He is now suffering from acute pain and inflammation in his legs and hands after he lost his ability to speak and hear, the lawyer said. Earlier Tuesday evening, Israeli authorities allowed for the first time a Palestinian doctor to visit him in Afula Hospital next Thursday.
The Israeli decision to allow a Palestinian doctor’s visit to al-Qeiq came after the massive efforts made by Physicians for Human Rights Organization in this regard over the past period. Israeli authorities are scheduled on Thursday to decide over al-Qeiq’s case as his health situation continues to deteriorate. Meanwhile, the leader in Hamas Movement Nazih Abi Oun stressed the need for an urgent intervention to save al-Qeiq’s life before it is too late.
Abu Aun pointed to the Captive Movement’s recent statement in which it threatened Israel that it would pay a very high price if anything bad happened to al-Qeiq. Israeli authorities must take these threats into consideration, he underlined. Muhammad al-Qeiq, a 33-year-old journalist from the occupied West Bank village of Dura, launched his hunger strike on November 24 in protest against his administrative detention, a practice in which Israel imprisons Palestinians on "secret evidence" and without trial or charge. Hunger strikes are a common tactic for Palestinian prisoners to secure their release or to protest against the conditions of their imprisonment.
The leader in the Movement Abdel-Rahman Shadid said in a press release issued Tuesday that the Captive Movement in Israeli jails warned Israel that it would pay a very high price if anything bad happened to al-Qeiq.
The Captive Movement’s threats came after medical reports raised alarm bells over al-Qeiq’s serious health deterioration, Shadid pointed out. The prisoners have realized that Israeli authorities deliberately ignore al-Qeiq’s hunger strike, he continued.
Palestinian prisoners had declared on Tuesday a one-day hunger strike in solidarity with Mohamed al-Qeiq who entered his 71st day of hunger strike in protest against his administrative detention.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) revealed that Afula Hospital administration released Tuesday afternoon a second medical report about al-Qeiq’s condition as his health situation continues to deteriorate.
Releasing two medical reports in the same day proves the critical stage reached by al-Qeiq, Jawad Bolous, the PPS’ lawyer, pointed out. Bolous said that al-Qeiq renewed on Tuesday his rejection to take any medical treatment or vitamins despite his difficult health condition.
Earlier Tuesday evening, Israeli authorities allowed for the first time a Palestinian doctor to visit him in Afula Hospital on Thursday. The Israeli decision to allow a Palestinian doctor’s visit to al-Qeiq came after the massive efforts made by Physicians for Human Rights Organization in this regard over the past period.
Along the same line, al-Qeiq’s lawyer Ashraf Abu Sneineh said that Israeli authorities allowed Tuesday only one lawyer to meet him although three lawyers used to meet him daily. Prisoner al-Qeiq initiated his hunger strike under the slogan “Free or Dead” in protest at being held administratively in Israeli occupation jails, with neither charge nor trial.
Al-Qeiq could suffer a stroke as he enters 71st day of hunger strike
Israeli doctors in Afula Hospital warned that the hunger striker Mohamed al-Qeiq is at risk of suffering a stroke due to his sharp health deterioration, his lawyer affirmed.
The lawyer Ashraf Abu Sneineh pointed out that the recent medical reports released by the hospital administration affirm the critical stage reached by al-Qeiq. He is now suffering from acute pain and inflammation in his legs and hands after he lost his ability to speak and hear, the lawyer said. Earlier Tuesday evening, Israeli authorities allowed for the first time a Palestinian doctor to visit him in Afula Hospital next Thursday.
The Israeli decision to allow a Palestinian doctor’s visit to al-Qeiq came after the massive efforts made by Physicians for Human Rights Organization in this regard over the past period. Israeli authorities are scheduled on Thursday to decide over al-Qeiq’s case as his health situation continues to deteriorate. Meanwhile, the leader in Hamas Movement Nazih Abi Oun stressed the need for an urgent intervention to save al-Qeiq’s life before it is too late.
Abu Aun pointed to the Captive Movement’s recent statement in which it threatened Israel that it would pay a very high price if anything bad happened to al-Qeiq. Israeli authorities must take these threats into consideration, he underlined. Muhammad al-Qeiq, a 33-year-old journalist from the occupied West Bank village of Dura, launched his hunger strike on November 24 in protest against his administrative detention, a practice in which Israel imprisons Palestinians on "secret evidence" and without trial or charge. Hunger strikes are a common tactic for Palestinian prisoners to secure their release or to protest against the conditions of their imprisonment.
