7 jan 2017

Detainees and Ex-detainees affairs committee revealed in a statement on Saturday that Israeli prison service isolates 15 Palestinian captives amid very harsh conditions based on a resolution from the Israeli intelligence apparatus.
The committee said that isolation is the toughest punishment on prisoners saying that some of the isolated prisoners have been serving over six years in confinement in tiny and dirty cells. Most of them are deprived of family visitation and accordingly the entry of basic needs, not to mention their suffering from maltreatment from prison jailers.
The statement also stated that the confined prisoners complain about very bad health and psychological conditions due to being isolated continuously for a very long time.
Repeated transfers between Israeli isolation prisons also constitutes a burden on prisoners, the committee pointed out.
The IPS deliberately holds Palestinian detainees in sections adjacent to criminal prisoners who keep bothering them by humiliation, harassment, and abuse, it concluded.
The committee said that isolation is the toughest punishment on prisoners saying that some of the isolated prisoners have been serving over six years in confinement in tiny and dirty cells. Most of them are deprived of family visitation and accordingly the entry of basic needs, not to mention their suffering from maltreatment from prison jailers.
The statement also stated that the confined prisoners complain about very bad health and psychological conditions due to being isolated continuously for a very long time.
Repeated transfers between Israeli isolation prisons also constitutes a burden on prisoners, the committee pointed out.
The IPS deliberately holds Palestinian detainees in sections adjacent to criminal prisoners who keep bothering them by humiliation, harassment, and abuse, it concluded.

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested on Saturday a Palestinian young man in Qalqilya province after they quelled a peaceful march protesting the bypass road the Israeli authorities intend to build seizing tens of dunums of the province's lands.
According to local sources, the IOF arrested Alaa al-Douiri after beating him, and closed Izbat al-Tabib village and held the marchers inside it.
The IOF soldiers have closed the main entrance of Qalqilya earlier in the afternoon to prevent citizens from reaching Izbat al-Tabib to participate in the march.
The Israeli Supreme Court rejected on 16th October 2016 a petition by the people of a number of villages in Qalqilya against an Israeli decision to confiscate 104 dunums of their agricultural lands to construct the new settlement road.
According to local sources, the IOF arrested Alaa al-Douiri after beating him, and closed Izbat al-Tabib village and held the marchers inside it.
The IOF soldiers have closed the main entrance of Qalqilya earlier in the afternoon to prevent citizens from reaching Izbat al-Tabib to participate in the march.
The Israeli Supreme Court rejected on 16th October 2016 a petition by the people of a number of villages in Qalqilya against an Israeli decision to confiscate 104 dunums of their agricultural lands to construct the new settlement road.

Prisoner Kareem Younis, a 60-year-old citizen from Ara village in Haifa, has spent 34 years of steadfastness in detention, which makes him the longest-serving Palestinian captive in Israeli jails.
He was arrested on January 6, 1983 and sentenced to life imprisonment, which was later made 40 years. He was charged then with murdering an Israeli soldier.
During these long years of his incarceration, different developments and events happened in the history of the Palestinian struggle against the occupation, most notably the 1987-1993 intifada (uprising), the signing of the 1993 Oslo accords, the second intifada between 2000 and 2005 and Israel’s three wars on the Gaza Strip.
He went on hunger strike several times and has been exposed to suppressive measures, violations and inter-prison transfers more than any other prisoner.
Israel excluded him from all prison swap deals that were brokered with the Palestinians and also from the initiatives that occurred as part of the peace talks with the Palestinian Authority.
Several years ago, the father of Younis died without being able to see him, and now his octogenarian mother is longing for the day when her son is released in order to hug him before she dies.
He was arrested on January 6, 1983 and sentenced to life imprisonment, which was later made 40 years. He was charged then with murdering an Israeli soldier.
During these long years of his incarceration, different developments and events happened in the history of the Palestinian struggle against the occupation, most notably the 1987-1993 intifada (uprising), the signing of the 1993 Oslo accords, the second intifada between 2000 and 2005 and Israel’s three wars on the Gaza Strip.
He went on hunger strike several times and has been exposed to suppressive measures, violations and inter-prison transfers more than any other prisoner.
Israel excluded him from all prison swap deals that were brokered with the Palestinians and also from the initiatives that occurred as part of the peace talks with the Palestinian Authority.
Several years ago, the father of Younis died without being able to see him, and now his octogenarian mother is longing for the day when her son is released in order to hug him before she dies.

Chief of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Qaraqe revealed that Palestinian prisoners are preparing to pursue a massive escalation in order to confront violations of the Israeli prisons managements by April.
He pointed out that Israeli authorities arrested in 2016 about 7,000 Palestinians including 1,384 minors, 170 women and girls, 85 social media activists and over 50 journalists.
Qaraqe said, in a statement on Saturday to al-Quds Palestinian newspaper, that Israeli authorities stepped up penalties against Palestinian prisoners by imposing expensive fines on them. Meanwhile, the Israeli Knesset legitimizes the arrest of minors and sentencing them to long prison terms, he added.
1,800 sick detainees in Israeli jails complain about medical negligence whereas prisoners in general are not satisfied with the worst ever transportation methods to and from courts and prison clinics. They also complain about deprivation of their right of family visitation, Qaraqe highlighted.
He pointed out that Israeli authorities arrested in 2016 about 7,000 Palestinians including 1,384 minors, 170 women and girls, 85 social media activists and over 50 journalists.
Qaraqe said, in a statement on Saturday to al-Quds Palestinian newspaper, that Israeli authorities stepped up penalties against Palestinian prisoners by imposing expensive fines on them. Meanwhile, the Israeli Knesset legitimizes the arrest of minors and sentencing them to long prison terms, he added.
1,800 sick detainees in Israeli jails complain about medical negligence whereas prisoners in general are not satisfied with the worst ever transportation methods to and from courts and prison clinics. They also complain about deprivation of their right of family visitation, Qaraqe highlighted.

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched at dawn Saturday a raid and search campaign throughout the West Bank.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that Israeli forces were deployed in large numbers in the western and southern parts of Jenin to the north of West Bank.
A car was being chased near Salem military camp, west of the city, for unknown reasons, the sources pointed out.
A local resident was also stopped and questioned as Israeli soldiers stormed Yamoun town early today, while a military checkpoint was erected south of Jenin city.
In Nablus, IOF soldiers confiscated a shipping container after breaking into Balata refugee camp east of the city.
Nearly five Israeli patrols stormed the area at 1 a.m. before confiscating the container.
In al-Khalil, a young man was arrested at Abu Rish military checkpoint erected near his house south of the city.
Local sources identified the detainee as Atta Abu Isneineh, 22, from the Old City.
The young man was detained for nearly an hour at the checkpoint before being taken handcuffed and blindfolded to an unknown detention center.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that Israeli forces were deployed in large numbers in the western and southern parts of Jenin to the north of West Bank.
A car was being chased near Salem military camp, west of the city, for unknown reasons, the sources pointed out.
A local resident was also stopped and questioned as Israeli soldiers stormed Yamoun town early today, while a military checkpoint was erected south of Jenin city.
In Nablus, IOF soldiers confiscated a shipping container after breaking into Balata refugee camp east of the city.
Nearly five Israeli patrols stormed the area at 1 a.m. before confiscating the container.
In al-Khalil, a young man was arrested at Abu Rish military checkpoint erected near his house south of the city.
Local sources identified the detainee as Atta Abu Isneineh, 22, from the Old City.
The young man was detained for nearly an hour at the checkpoint before being taken handcuffed and blindfolded to an unknown detention center.
6 jan 2017

Israeli policemen arrested the son of the Jerusalemite martyr Mesbah Abu Sbaih at one of the Aqsa’s gates after the Friday prayer.
Local sources revealed that Israeli policement were intensively deployed inside the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem. They stopped many Palestinian youths and checked their IDs.
Meanwhile, Israeli policemen detained dozens of the IDs of those young people who entered the Aqsa Mosque in order to attend the Friday prayer.
The Israeli troops deployed patrols in the streets of Occupied Jerusalem along the historic wall of the sacred city and set up barriers in order to hinder the access of Muslims into the holy mosque.
Local sources revealed that Israeli policement were intensively deployed inside the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem. They stopped many Palestinian youths and checked their IDs.
Meanwhile, Israeli policemen detained dozens of the IDs of those young people who entered the Aqsa Mosque in order to attend the Friday prayer.
The Israeli troops deployed patrols in the streets of Occupied Jerusalem along the historic wall of the sacred city and set up barriers in order to hinder the access of Muslims into the holy mosque.

Dozens of Palestinian activists on Thursday rallied in the northern occupied West Bank province of Nablus in solidarity with the Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.
The protesters lifted the Palestinian flag and prisoners’ pictures and chanted slogans supporting Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.
Speaking during the rally, representative of the National Committee to Support the Detainees, Imad Eshteiwi, announced a state of emergency in the face of the oppression and torture perpetrated by the Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinian detainees in Nafha jail, among other Israeli jails.
He vowed that the Palestinians will take a firm stance against the incessant Israeli crimes against the detainees.
Eshteiwi spoke out against the racist resolutions and penalties issued by the Israeli authorities so as to dampen the prisoners’ spirits.
The activist called on the international community to take up its responsibility vis-à-vis the cause and urge Israel to cease its oppressive policies against the Palestinians.
He further pushed for appealing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) so as to impeach the Israeli occupation for its crimes against the Palestinians.
He vowed that the Palestinians will step up protest moves until the detainees’ freedom sees the day.
The protesters lifted the Palestinian flag and prisoners’ pictures and chanted slogans supporting Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.
Speaking during the rally, representative of the National Committee to Support the Detainees, Imad Eshteiwi, announced a state of emergency in the face of the oppression and torture perpetrated by the Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinian detainees in Nafha jail, among other Israeli jails.
He vowed that the Palestinians will take a firm stance against the incessant Israeli crimes against the detainees.
Eshteiwi spoke out against the racist resolutions and penalties issued by the Israeli authorities so as to dampen the prisoners’ spirits.
The activist called on the international community to take up its responsibility vis-à-vis the cause and urge Israel to cease its oppressive policies against the Palestinians.
He further pushed for appealing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) so as to impeach the Israeli occupation for its crimes against the Palestinians.
He vowed that the Palestinians will step up protest moves until the detainees’ freedom sees the day.

The Israeli Magistrate Court refused Thursday Israeli prosecution’s demand to extend MK Bassel Ghattas’ house arrest, Israeli media sources revealed.
Yediot Ahronot Hebrew newspaper pointed out that the prosecution asked for extending his detention for an additional 30 days, a request denied by the court.
Earlier Thursday, the attorney general approved the indictment of MK Ghattas on charges of smuggling cellphones to Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli custody.
The indictment charged Ghattas with suspicions of “illegally smuggling phones into a prison, prohibited use of property for terrorist purposes, and deceit and breach of trust by a public servant and aggravated fraud.”
Last month, Ghattas was detained on suspicions of smuggling cellphones to Palestinian prisoners serving time in Israeli prisons after being stripped of his parliamentary immunity.
After several days spent in detention, Ghattas was sentenced to 10 days of house arrest last week, a few days before the Israeli Knesset banned the MK from parliamentary activities for six months.
Yediot Ahronot Hebrew newspaper pointed out that the prosecution asked for extending his detention for an additional 30 days, a request denied by the court.
Earlier Thursday, the attorney general approved the indictment of MK Ghattas on charges of smuggling cellphones to Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli custody.
The indictment charged Ghattas with suspicions of “illegally smuggling phones into a prison, prohibited use of property for terrorist purposes, and deceit and breach of trust by a public servant and aggravated fraud.”
Last month, Ghattas was detained on suspicions of smuggling cellphones to Palestinian prisoners serving time in Israeli prisons after being stripped of his parliamentary immunity.
After several days spent in detention, Ghattas was sentenced to 10 days of house arrest last week, a few days before the Israeli Knesset banned the MK from parliamentary activities for six months.

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Friday kidnapped seven Palestinians from the West Bank and Jerusalem.
According to the Hebrew-speaking 0404 news site, seven Palestinian youths were kidnapped by the IOF from the occupied territories on account of their involvement in anti-occupation activities.
The campaign targeted three Palestinians from the Qalandiya refugee camp, in northern Occupied Jerusalem, and another from Qatna town, to the northwest of the city.
Two Palestinian citizens were also kidnapped by the occupation soldiers from al-Khalil’s towns of Surif and Beit Einoun.
The campaign culminated in the abduction of another Palestinian civilian from Yabad town in Jenin.
Over 100 Palestinians, including children and ex-prisoners, have been kidnapped by the IOF since the start of 2017.
According to the Hebrew-speaking 0404 news site, seven Palestinian youths were kidnapped by the IOF from the occupied territories on account of their involvement in anti-occupation activities.
The campaign targeted three Palestinians from the Qalandiya refugee camp, in northern Occupied Jerusalem, and another from Qatna town, to the northwest of the city.
Two Palestinian citizens were also kidnapped by the occupation soldiers from al-Khalil’s towns of Surif and Beit Einoun.
The campaign culminated in the abduction of another Palestinian civilian from Yabad town in Jenin.
Over 100 Palestinians, including children and ex-prisoners, have been kidnapped by the IOF since the start of 2017.

Israeli police on Thursday kidnapped a Palestinian youth allegedly after he tried to snatch a gun from an Israeli guard in Beersheba.
According to Hebrew-speaking news sites, a Palestinian Bedouin attempted to snatch a gun from an Israeli guard and fled the scene before he was arrested by the occupation forces.
The Palestinian captive was dragged to an Israeli detention center in Beersheba pending intensive questioning.
Israeli sources added that the guard sustained mild wounds in an exchange of blows with the Palestinian youth and that a probe has been opened to find out the reasons behind the incident.
According to Hebrew-speaking news sites, a Palestinian Bedouin attempted to snatch a gun from an Israeli guard and fled the scene before he was arrested by the occupation forces.
The Palestinian captive was dragged to an Israeli detention center in Beersheba pending intensive questioning.
Israeli sources added that the guard sustained mild wounds in an exchange of blows with the Palestinian youth and that a probe has been opened to find out the reasons behind the incident.

After completing his 13-year jail term, the Israeli prison authority on Thursday evening released Mohamed Ashawi, a 37-year-old resident of the Gaza Strip.
Dozens of citizens, friends and relatives of Ashawi received and welcomed him at Beit Hanoun (Erez) border crossing, north of Gaza, before taking him to his house in Wadi al-Salqa area, east of Deir al-Balah.
A reception tent has been pitched by the Hamas Movement outside the house of Ashawi to celebrate his return to his home, family and friends.
Ashawi had been kidnapped by Israeli soldiers from his home in 2004 and then jailed on a charge of his affiliation with Hamas and his involvement in resistance activities.
Dozens of citizens, friends and relatives of Ashawi received and welcomed him at Beit Hanoun (Erez) border crossing, north of Gaza, before taking him to his house in Wadi al-Salqa area, east of Deir al-Balah.
A reception tent has been pitched by the Hamas Movement outside the house of Ashawi to celebrate his return to his home, family and friends.
Ashawi had been kidnapped by Israeli soldiers from his home in 2004 and then jailed on a charge of his affiliation with Hamas and his involvement in resistance activities.