11 jan 2019
Violent clashes broke out on Friday afternoon as the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) quelled Palestinian demonstrations protesting Israeli settlement projects in Ramallah.
The IOF heavily fired teargas canisters at Palestinian citizens protesting in Jabal al-Risan area, which is threatened with confiscation in favor of settlement construction plans, local residents said.
The IOF stormed the neighboring village of Beitunia and arrested the Palestinian child Ghassan Awaisa.
Other confrontations were reported in al-Mughayyir village which is constantly attacked by Israeli settlers.
Eyewitnesses said that the IOF closed a military checkpoint on the northern side of the city, obstructing the Palestinian citizens' movement.
The IOF heavily fired teargas canisters at Palestinian citizens protesting in Jabal al-Risan area, which is threatened with confiscation in favor of settlement construction plans, local residents said.
The IOF stormed the neighboring village of Beitunia and arrested the Palestinian child Ghassan Awaisa.
Other confrontations were reported in al-Mughayyir village which is constantly attacked by Israeli settlers.
Eyewitnesses said that the IOF closed a military checkpoint on the northern side of the city, obstructing the Palestinian citizens' movement.
Israeli soldiers invaded, Friday, the town of Teqoua, southeast of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, and attacked Palestinian protesters, wounding one with a rubber-coated steel bullet, and causing many others to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation, in addition to abducting another Palestinian.
Taiseer Abu Mfarreh, the head administrator of the Local Council in Teqoua, said the soldiers invaded the town from its western entrance, near the local council building, and resorted to the use of force against the protesters.
He added that the soldiers shot a young man with a rubber-coated steel bullet and caused many others to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
The soldiers also invaded and searched many homes in the town, and abducted one Palestinian.
Taiseer Abu Mfarreh, the head administrator of the Local Council in Teqoua, said the soldiers invaded the town from its western entrance, near the local council building, and resorted to the use of force against the protesters.
He added that the soldiers shot a young man with a rubber-coated steel bullet and caused many others to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
The soldiers also invaded and searched many homes in the town, and abducted one Palestinian.
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Sufian Ghazi Skafi, 35
Israeli soldiers shot and seriously injured, Friday, a young Palestinian man reportedly after he attempted to stab them in Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank. Israeli media sources quoted the army stating that “the Palestinian was neutralized after a suspected stabbing attack.” Although initial news indicated that the Palestinian, identified as Sufian Ghazi Skafi, 35, was killed, the Palestinian Civil District Coordination Office said the man is in a serious condition after the soldiers shot him in his abdomen and legs. video |
Soldiers and armed colonialist settlers surrounded the Palestinian and prevented Palestinian medics from reaching him. video
The incident took place near an Israeli police station close to Keryat Arba’ illegal colony in Hebron; dozens of soldiers rushed to the scene, before one of them covered the entire body of the wounded Palestinian, including his head, with a sheet, although he was not dead. video
The Palestinian was later moved by the army to the Israeli Shaare Zedek medical center.
The incident took place near an Israeli police station close to Keryat Arba’ illegal colony in Hebron; dozens of soldiers rushed to the scene, before one of them covered the entire body of the wounded Palestinian, including his head, with a sheet, although he was not dead. video
The Palestinian was later moved by the army to the Israeli Shaare Zedek medical center.
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The Israeli army announced, Friday morning, detaining a Palestinian "cell" allegedly responsible for a shooting attack on an Israeli town south of Jerusalem last Saturday.
Israeli news outlets reported that a group of Palestinians who allegedly climbed onto the roof of a building in the Beit Fajjar village in the southern West Bank district of Bethlehem and opened fire at Israeli houses in the nearby Migdal Oz settlement. No injuries or damages were reported in the attack. |
Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, on Friday at dawn, villages in the central West Bank governorate of Ramallah, abducted three Palestinians, injured a photojournalist, and fired a rocket at a home. video
Media sources in Ramallah said the soldiers invaded villages in the western part of the governorate, before imposing a strict siege on Kafr Ni’ma and Bil’in.
They added that the soldiers stormed and ransacked homes, before abducting Mahdi Abu Rahma and Tareq Abu Rahma, from Bil’in, in addition to Jaber Abdo from Kafr Ni’ma.
The soldiers also fired small “Energia” rockets into the home of Mahdi Abu Rahma, in Bil’in, causing fire and damage to parts of his property, and furniture.
Palestinian photojournalist Haitham Khatib, from Bil’in, said that the soldiers surrounded his home, and shot him with a rubber-coated steel bullet as he approached his property.
On his Facebook page, Khatib said:
At 3AM this morning, an Israeli civilian marked bus, leading the way for military vehicles, entered my home village of Bil’in. People immediately began exiting their homes to find out what was going on.
I got into my car and pursued the military vehicles, to the neighboring village of Kufr Ni’ma, were the soldiers had gone.
Following this I returned to Bil’in in my car, finding Israeli soldiers surrounding my home and all over our streets. Dressed in my press vest and armed with only a camera, I attempted to get closer.
Israeli soldiers then shot me in my left leg, with a rubber coated steel bullet, they continued to fire at me several times as I quickly hid behind a wall.
After this I went to visit my neighbor, Mahdi Abu Rahma, discovering that he had been arrested after the Israelis had fired an electronic rocket-type munition at the house. Mahdi’s windows were shattered and his door damaged. His small children were in the home when this munition was fired by the soldiers.
I later discovered that Tareq Abu Rahma, had also been arrested.
The Israelis were shooting live ammunition, tear gas, sound grenades as well as other munitions. They continued firing as they left.
There was absolutely no explanation for what they did and we are still waiting for news on how many may have been arrested in Kafr Ni’ma.
Media sources in Ramallah said the soldiers invaded villages in the western part of the governorate, before imposing a strict siege on Kafr Ni’ma and Bil’in.
They added that the soldiers stormed and ransacked homes, before abducting Mahdi Abu Rahma and Tareq Abu Rahma, from Bil’in, in addition to Jaber Abdo from Kafr Ni’ma.
The soldiers also fired small “Energia” rockets into the home of Mahdi Abu Rahma, in Bil’in, causing fire and damage to parts of his property, and furniture.
Palestinian photojournalist Haitham Khatib, from Bil’in, said that the soldiers surrounded his home, and shot him with a rubber-coated steel bullet as he approached his property.
On his Facebook page, Khatib said:
At 3AM this morning, an Israeli civilian marked bus, leading the way for military vehicles, entered my home village of Bil’in. People immediately began exiting their homes to find out what was going on.
I got into my car and pursued the military vehicles, to the neighboring village of Kufr Ni’ma, were the soldiers had gone.
Following this I returned to Bil’in in my car, finding Israeli soldiers surrounding my home and all over our streets. Dressed in my press vest and armed with only a camera, I attempted to get closer.
Israeli soldiers then shot me in my left leg, with a rubber coated steel bullet, they continued to fire at me several times as I quickly hid behind a wall.
After this I went to visit my neighbor, Mahdi Abu Rahma, discovering that he had been arrested after the Israelis had fired an electronic rocket-type munition at the house. Mahdi’s windows were shattered and his door damaged. His small children were in the home when this munition was fired by the soldiers.
I later discovered that Tareq Abu Rahma, had also been arrested.
The Israelis were shooting live ammunition, tear gas, sound grenades as well as other munitions. They continued firing as they left.
There was absolutely no explanation for what they did and we are still waiting for news on how many may have been arrested in Kafr Ni’ma.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Thursday evening, a Palestinian man from Yatta town, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, after a group of extremist illegal Israeli colonialist settlers assaulted him.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the National and Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in southern West Bank, said the soldiers abducted Ziad Mohammad Makhamra, 60, from Bir al-‘Ad area.
He added that the man was abducted after a group of illegal settlers assaulted him while hurling insults at the man.
The colonists came from the illegal Mitzpe Yair and Bnie Yacoub colonies, which were built on private Palestinian lands in Masafer Yatta area, east of Yatta.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the National and Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in southern West Bank, said the soldiers abducted Ziad Mohammad Makhamra, 60, from Bir al-‘Ad area.
He added that the man was abducted after a group of illegal settlers assaulted him while hurling insults at the man.
The colonists came from the illegal Mitzpe Yair and Bnie Yacoub colonies, which were built on private Palestinian lands in Masafer Yatta area, east of Yatta.
10 jan 2019
A Palestinian fishing boat was set on fire, on Thursday, after Israeli naval forces repeatedly fired towards it off of the coast in the northern besieged Gaza Strip.
Head of the Palestinian Fishermen Union in Gaza, Zakariya Bakr, said that Israeli naval forces opened fire towards Palestinian fishing boats located three nautical miles off of the northern coast of Gaza and ignite a fire in one of them.
Bakr confirmed that two Palestinian fishermen were present on the boat as it caught on fire due to repeated gunfire. He identified them as Mahmoud Hamoud Ishkantana and Muhammad Mahmoud Ishkantana.
The two fishermen were detained by Israeli naval forces and taken to an unknown location.
As part of Israel's blockade of the coastal enclave since 2007, the Israeli army, citing security concerns, requires Palestinian fishermen to work within a limited "designated fishing zone," the exact limits of which are decided by the Israeli authorities and have historically fluctuated.
The Israeli army regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the unilaterally declared buffer zone.
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem recently concluded that Israel's Gaza closure and "harassment of fishermen" have been "destroying Gaza's fishing sector," with 95 percent of fishermen living below the poverty line.
Head of the Palestinian Fishermen Union in Gaza, Zakariya Bakr, said that Israeli naval forces opened fire towards Palestinian fishing boats located three nautical miles off of the northern coast of Gaza and ignite a fire in one of them.
Bakr confirmed that two Palestinian fishermen were present on the boat as it caught on fire due to repeated gunfire. He identified them as Mahmoud Hamoud Ishkantana and Muhammad Mahmoud Ishkantana.
The two fishermen were detained by Israeli naval forces and taken to an unknown location.
As part of Israel's blockade of the coastal enclave since 2007, the Israeli army, citing security concerns, requires Palestinian fishermen to work within a limited "designated fishing zone," the exact limits of which are decided by the Israeli authorities and have historically fluctuated.
The Israeli army regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the unilaterally declared buffer zone.
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem recently concluded that Israel's Gaza closure and "harassment of fishermen" have been "destroying Gaza's fishing sector," with 95 percent of fishermen living below the poverty line.
An Palestinian young man suspected of planning to assassinate Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat last year on orders from a Syria-based group was sentenced Thursday to 11 years in an Israeli prison.
Muhammad Jamal Rushdi, a 31-year-old Palestinian from occupied Jerusalem, was arrested on April 24 and charged on May 27 with alleged terror offenses. In a plea deal, he was convicted of conspiracy to aid the enemy in wartime, preparing to carry out deadly terror attacks, spying, and conspiracy to commit murder. video
“Working on orders from terrorist operatives abroad, Muhammad planned to carry out a number of significant attacks against a variety of targets,” Israel’s Shin Bet security service claimed.
The targets included Netanyahu and Barkat, as well as buildings belonging to the US consulate in occupied Jerusalem (which has since been converted into an embassy) and a delegation of Canadian security officials who were in Jerusalem to train Palestinian Authority security forces in the occupied West Bank, the Shin Bet said.
A Shin Bet spokesperson said Rushdi received his orders from members a Syria-based group that fights alongside Bashar al-Assad.
In order to carry out the attacks, Rushdi and his accomplices planned to bring in an additional operative from Jordan, the Shin Bet added.
According to the security service, Rushdi had already begun collecting intelligence data about his targets.
Muhammad Jamal Rushdi, a 31-year-old Palestinian from occupied Jerusalem, was arrested on April 24 and charged on May 27 with alleged terror offenses. In a plea deal, he was convicted of conspiracy to aid the enemy in wartime, preparing to carry out deadly terror attacks, spying, and conspiracy to commit murder. video
“Working on orders from terrorist operatives abroad, Muhammad planned to carry out a number of significant attacks against a variety of targets,” Israel’s Shin Bet security service claimed.
The targets included Netanyahu and Barkat, as well as buildings belonging to the US consulate in occupied Jerusalem (which has since been converted into an embassy) and a delegation of Canadian security officials who were in Jerusalem to train Palestinian Authority security forces in the occupied West Bank, the Shin Bet said.
A Shin Bet spokesperson said Rushdi received his orders from members a Syria-based group that fights alongside Bashar al-Assad.
In order to carry out the attacks, Rushdi and his accomplices planned to bring in an additional operative from Jordan, the Shin Bet added.
According to the security service, Rushdi had already begun collecting intelligence data about his targets.
Palestinian prisoner Assem Barghouthi has been made to endure harsh investigation in the Israeli Mascoubiya lock-up.
Lawyer Maamoun al-Hashim, from the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, said Assem has been exhaustively interrogated, almost around the clock. As a result he has gone sleepless for days.
The military court at the Mascoubiya jail extended is remand for another 12 days pending further investigation. He has also been denied the right to meet with his lawyer.
The Israeli court also extended the detention of his 17-year-old brother for another five days.
Assem’s father Omar, aged 66, and his brother Assef have been held in Israeli custody from the day their brother Salah was fatally shot by the Israeli military on December 12, 2018.
Assem Barghouhti, a Palestinian in his 30s, was arrested a couple of days earlier in the Abu Shukheidem village, northwest of Ramallah.
Barghouti, from the West Bank village of Kober, has been accused of taking part in an anti-occupation attack carried out in partnership with his slain brother Salah near Ofra settlement.
His father has been held for a total of 28 years in Israeli occupation jails. His uncle Nael is the longest-serving detainee in the world.
Lawyer Maamoun al-Hashim, from the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, said Assem has been exhaustively interrogated, almost around the clock. As a result he has gone sleepless for days.
The military court at the Mascoubiya jail extended is remand for another 12 days pending further investigation. He has also been denied the right to meet with his lawyer.
The Israeli court also extended the detention of his 17-year-old brother for another five days.
Assem’s father Omar, aged 66, and his brother Assef have been held in Israeli custody from the day their brother Salah was fatally shot by the Israeli military on December 12, 2018.
Assem Barghouhti, a Palestinian in his 30s, was arrested a couple of days earlier in the Abu Shukheidem village, northwest of Ramallah.
Barghouti, from the West Bank village of Kober, has been accused of taking part in an anti-occupation attack carried out in partnership with his slain brother Salah near Ofra settlement.
His father has been held for a total of 28 years in Israeli occupation jails. His uncle Nael is the longest-serving detainee in the world.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Thursday at dawn, six Palestinians, including a young man who was detained minutes after his release from prison, and assaulted two others, in several parts of Hebron governorate, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Dozens of soldiers invaded several neighborhoods in Hebron city, before storming and violently searching homes, and abducted Mohammad Radwan Hashlamoun and Ismael Fawwaz Masalma.
The soldiers also invaded homes in Ethna town, west of Hebron, and abducted Mohammad Yahia Abu Jheisha.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Deir Samit town, southwest of Hebron, and abducted Ismael Shaher Sharawna, from his home.
In Doura town, southwest of Hebron, the soldiers abducted Hasan Mahmoud Abu Zneid and Ahmad Bassam az-Zeer, after forcing them out of their homes, and repeatedly assaulted them, while interrogating them in the streets.
The soldiers also abducted Abdul-Qader Ahmad Badawi, 24, a political prisoner from al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, just moments following his release from Hadarim Israeli prison after completing his six-year prison sentence.
It is worth mentioning that the soldiers invaded and ransacked many homes in several villages, towns and refugee camps in the governorate, especially in Doura, Deir Samit, Yatta, Sa’ir, Beit ‘Awwa and the ath-Thaheriyya.
Dozens of soldiers invaded several neighborhoods in Hebron city, before storming and violently searching homes, and abducted Mohammad Radwan Hashlamoun and Ismael Fawwaz Masalma.
The soldiers also invaded homes in Ethna town, west of Hebron, and abducted Mohammad Yahia Abu Jheisha.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Deir Samit town, southwest of Hebron, and abducted Ismael Shaher Sharawna, from his home.
In Doura town, southwest of Hebron, the soldiers abducted Hasan Mahmoud Abu Zneid and Ahmad Bassam az-Zeer, after forcing them out of their homes, and repeatedly assaulted them, while interrogating them in the streets.
The soldiers also abducted Abdul-Qader Ahmad Badawi, 24, a political prisoner from al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, just moments following his release from Hadarim Israeli prison after completing his six-year prison sentence.
It is worth mentioning that the soldiers invaded and ransacked many homes in several villages, towns and refugee camps in the governorate, especially in Doura, Deir Samit, Yatta, Sa’ir, Beit ‘Awwa and the ath-Thaheriyya.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Thursday kidnapped at least 20 Palestinian citizens from their homes in different West Bank areas.
In Qalqilya, the IOF kidnapped four Palestinian citizens from their homes in the town Kafr Qaddum and Azzun.
Two teenagers were also kidnapped from their homes in Kafr Ni'ma town, west of Ramallah.
Clashes reportedly broke out between Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers in Jenin city and its refugee camp, north of the West Bank. One young man suffered a rubber bullet injury and many others suffered from their exposure to tear gas fumes.
Local sources in Jenin refugee camp told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that Israeli soldiers stormed and ransacked the house of Sheikh Bassam al-Saadi and rounded up his son, Yehya.
The IOF also broke into the house of Nidal Zaydan in Jenin city, interrogated his father for hours before kidnapping the former from an area in the city.
Another young citizen called Munadel Nufay’at was taken prisoner during a raid on his home in Ya’bad town, south of Jenin.
Four other citizens were kidnapped from their homes in al-Khalil province and a sum of money were confiscated during an IOF campaign in al-Khalil city.
In Nablus, the IOF stormed Madama town and confiscated two cars belonging to ex-detainee Ammar Qut and his father.
Minors among 16 Palestinians detained by Israeli forces
Israeli forces detained at least 16 Palestinians, including minors, across the occupied West Bank on predawn Thursday.
According to Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS), Israeli forces detained six Palestinians in the southern West Bank district of Hebron. They were identified as Ismail Fawaz al-Qawasme, Muhammad Radwan al-Hashlamon, Ismail Shaher Riyan al-Sharawne, Muhammad Yahya Abu Jahisha, Hassan Mahmoud Abu Zanid, and Ahmad Bassam al-Zeir.
In the Abu Dis village, in the central West Bank district of Jerusalem, one Palestinian was detained and identified as Abdullah Harbi Fahed Hussein.
In the central West Bank district of Ramallah, Israeli forces detained two Palestinian minors. They were identified as Ayoub Ehsan Muhammad Nisser, 14, and Asaad Ahmad al-Haji Attaya, 17.
In the northern West Bank district of Qalqiliya, three Palestinians were detained. PPS identified them as Abed al-Kareem Yasser Hussein, Hamza Mustafa Shteiwi, 15, and Abed al-Rahman Daoud Shteiwi, 16.
In addition, Yousef Daoud Shteiwi, 14, the younger brother of Hamza and Abed Shteiwi, was summoned for interrogation by the Israeli army to the illegal Israeli settlement of Kadummim in the Qalqiliya district.
In the northern West Bank district of Jenin, four former Palestinian prisoners were detained. PPS identified them as Nidal Amin Hazem, Yahya Bassam al-Saadi, Munadel Nafiaat, and Bahaa Muhammad Abu Tabikh.
According to prisoners rights group Addameer, there are 5,500 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli prisons, of whom 230 are child prisoners and 41 are under the age of 16 years.
In Qalqilya, the IOF kidnapped four Palestinian citizens from their homes in the town Kafr Qaddum and Azzun.
Two teenagers were also kidnapped from their homes in Kafr Ni'ma town, west of Ramallah.
Clashes reportedly broke out between Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers in Jenin city and its refugee camp, north of the West Bank. One young man suffered a rubber bullet injury and many others suffered from their exposure to tear gas fumes.
Local sources in Jenin refugee camp told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that Israeli soldiers stormed and ransacked the house of Sheikh Bassam al-Saadi and rounded up his son, Yehya.
The IOF also broke into the house of Nidal Zaydan in Jenin city, interrogated his father for hours before kidnapping the former from an area in the city.
Another young citizen called Munadel Nufay’at was taken prisoner during a raid on his home in Ya’bad town, south of Jenin.
Four other citizens were kidnapped from their homes in al-Khalil province and a sum of money were confiscated during an IOF campaign in al-Khalil city.
In Nablus, the IOF stormed Madama town and confiscated two cars belonging to ex-detainee Ammar Qut and his father.
Minors among 16 Palestinians detained by Israeli forces
Israeli forces detained at least 16 Palestinians, including minors, across the occupied West Bank on predawn Thursday.
According to Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS), Israeli forces detained six Palestinians in the southern West Bank district of Hebron. They were identified as Ismail Fawaz al-Qawasme, Muhammad Radwan al-Hashlamon, Ismail Shaher Riyan al-Sharawne, Muhammad Yahya Abu Jahisha, Hassan Mahmoud Abu Zanid, and Ahmad Bassam al-Zeir.
In the Abu Dis village, in the central West Bank district of Jerusalem, one Palestinian was detained and identified as Abdullah Harbi Fahed Hussein.
In the central West Bank district of Ramallah, Israeli forces detained two Palestinian minors. They were identified as Ayoub Ehsan Muhammad Nisser, 14, and Asaad Ahmad al-Haji Attaya, 17.
In the northern West Bank district of Qalqiliya, three Palestinians were detained. PPS identified them as Abed al-Kareem Yasser Hussein, Hamza Mustafa Shteiwi, 15, and Abed al-Rahman Daoud Shteiwi, 16.
In addition, Yousef Daoud Shteiwi, 14, the younger brother of Hamza and Abed Shteiwi, was summoned for interrogation by the Israeli army to the illegal Israeli settlement of Kadummim in the Qalqiliya district.
In the northern West Bank district of Jenin, four former Palestinian prisoners were detained. PPS identified them as Nidal Amin Hazem, Yahya Bassam al-Saadi, Munadel Nafiaat, and Bahaa Muhammad Abu Tabikh.
According to prisoners rights group Addameer, there are 5,500 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli prisons, of whom 230 are child prisoners and 41 are under the age of 16 years.
The family of Palestinian prisoner Azmi Nafa’ appealed on Wednesday to the human rights institutions to pressurize the Israeli occupation authorities to provide their injured son with urgent medical therapy.
The family said Azmi should undergo an urgent surgery so as to be treated for wounds inflicted by Israeli bullet fire after he was directly shot in his face and hand at the Zaatara military checkpoint.
Azmi’s father said following a visit to his son, sentenced to 20 years in Israeli jails, that the prison authorities have been dragging their feet over the prisoner’s appeals for an upper jaw surgery.
Azmi was arrested by the Israeli occupation forces on November 24, 2015, over allegations of an attempted anti-occupation car-ramming attack.
The family said Azmi should undergo an urgent surgery so as to be treated for wounds inflicted by Israeli bullet fire after he was directly shot in his face and hand at the Zaatara military checkpoint.
Azmi’s father said following a visit to his son, sentenced to 20 years in Israeli jails, that the prison authorities have been dragging their feet over the prisoner’s appeals for an upper jaw surgery.
Azmi was arrested by the Israeli occupation forces on November 24, 2015, over allegations of an attempted anti-occupation car-ramming attack.
