28 july 2019
Palestinian children hold posters of Mohammed Halabi, the Gaza director of World Vision, during a 2016 protest in Rafah to support him
In recent years, a crackdown by Israeli authorities on human rights NGOs – particularly those focused on Palestinian rights – has caused considerable concern internationally, attracting attention in both the media and at the governmental level.
Yet, perhaps the most egregious case of Israel’s targeting of the humanitarian sector has been taking place over the last three years with almost zero coverage.
In June 2016, Israeli authorities arrested Mohammed Halabi at the Gaza Strip’s Erez crossing. Halabi, a father of five, was working as the Gaza director for the international humanitarian NGO World Vision, and was returning from a meeting in Jerusalem at the time of his arrest.
Alarm bells ringing
Seven weeks later, Israel’s internal security agency, the Shin Bet, announced with much fanfare spectacular charges against Halabi – namely, that he had used his role to redirect tens of millions in World Vision funds to Hamas, as part of a decade-long conspiracy to infiltrate the charity.
Incredibly, however, three years on, there has been no conviction. The trial has seen some 120 court sessions, in what has been described by the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs as “one of the longest trials” ever. Halabi maintains his innocence.
Alarm bells should have been ringing from the start – in particular, due to the appalling conditions Halabi has been subjected to, and the ongoing denial of his right to due process. After his detention, the World Vision staffer was held for three weeks without access to a lawyer (the maximum such period in non-“security” cases is 48 hours).
Halabi, his family, and lawyers have provided multiple and credible accounts of torture at the hands of Shin Bet interrogators – indeed, even “several witnesses the prosecution has presented to court have also accused Israeli intelligence officers of torturing them during interrogation”.
Local and global human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have long recorded the routine use of torture by Israeli authorities. Meanwhile, as documented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Halabi’s lawyer was only given access “to all previously undisclosed evidence one year and a half after the start of the trial” and “permitted to start examining defence witnesses 24 months into the trial”.
In addition, Halabi reportedly “never receives accurate translations of the court proceedings”, and Israel has also refused to allow his lawyer “to visit Gaza and meet witnesses who could bolster his case” or to grant permits for witnesses to come and testify in court.
Judicial farce
Extraordinarily, in March 2017, the judge himself urged Halabi to accept a plea deal, on the grounds that Palestinian suspects in “security” cases are almost always convicted: “You’ve read the numbers and the statistics,” the judge told him. “You know how these issues are handled.”
But it’s not just the judicial farce that undermines the case against Halabi; it is also the matter of the evidence, or lack thereof. After World Vision pointed out that the amount of money allegedly diverted to Hamas exceeded the NGO’s total budget, an Israeli government spokesperson said the exact figures were irrelevant.
In recent years, a crackdown by Israeli authorities on human rights NGOs – particularly those focused on Palestinian rights – has caused considerable concern internationally, attracting attention in both the media and at the governmental level.
Yet, perhaps the most egregious case of Israel’s targeting of the humanitarian sector has been taking place over the last three years with almost zero coverage.
In June 2016, Israeli authorities arrested Mohammed Halabi at the Gaza Strip’s Erez crossing. Halabi, a father of five, was working as the Gaza director for the international humanitarian NGO World Vision, and was returning from a meeting in Jerusalem at the time of his arrest.
Alarm bells ringing
Seven weeks later, Israel’s internal security agency, the Shin Bet, announced with much fanfare spectacular charges against Halabi – namely, that he had used his role to redirect tens of millions in World Vision funds to Hamas, as part of a decade-long conspiracy to infiltrate the charity.
Incredibly, however, three years on, there has been no conviction. The trial has seen some 120 court sessions, in what has been described by the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs as “one of the longest trials” ever. Halabi maintains his innocence.
Alarm bells should have been ringing from the start – in particular, due to the appalling conditions Halabi has been subjected to, and the ongoing denial of his right to due process. After his detention, the World Vision staffer was held for three weeks without access to a lawyer (the maximum such period in non-“security” cases is 48 hours).
Halabi, his family, and lawyers have provided multiple and credible accounts of torture at the hands of Shin Bet interrogators – indeed, even “several witnesses the prosecution has presented to court have also accused Israeli intelligence officers of torturing them during interrogation”.
Local and global human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have long recorded the routine use of torture by Israeli authorities. Meanwhile, as documented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Halabi’s lawyer was only given access “to all previously undisclosed evidence one year and a half after the start of the trial” and “permitted to start examining defence witnesses 24 months into the trial”.
In addition, Halabi reportedly “never receives accurate translations of the court proceedings”, and Israel has also refused to allow his lawyer “to visit Gaza and meet witnesses who could bolster his case” or to grant permits for witnesses to come and testify in court.
Judicial farce
Extraordinarily, in March 2017, the judge himself urged Halabi to accept a plea deal, on the grounds that Palestinian suspects in “security” cases are almost always convicted: “You’ve read the numbers and the statistics,” the judge told him. “You know how these issues are handled.”
But it’s not just the judicial farce that undermines the case against Halabi; it is also the matter of the evidence, or lack thereof. After World Vision pointed out that the amount of money allegedly diverted to Hamas exceeded the NGO’s total budget, an Israeli government spokesperson said the exact figures were irrelevant.
Halabi appears in an Israeli court in Beersheva in August 2016
In August 2016, “Western diplomats” told Haaretz that they had not received any intelligence or evidence about Halabi. The following year, an Australian government investigation “found no evidence taxpayer money was misused by the World Vision NGO in the Gaza Strip”.
World Vision, which initiated two separate inquiries – carried out by Deloitte for World Vision International, and Ernst and Young for World Vision Australia – reiterated as recently as May that it had still not seen “any evidence” to support the Israeli authorities’ allegations.
Comments by multiple sources – including World Vision, Israeli media, and Halabi’s family – suggest a key role might have been played by an ex-World Vision employee who “bore a grudge” after being fired by Halabi. Having left Gaza, the individual is allegedly “now acting as a witness in the Israeli case”.
Confession under torture
In the immediate aftermath of the indictments being announced, a senior Israeli official declared that “the evidence is the confession of the detainee”. This “confession” was obtained from Halabi when he had no legal representation and was subject to torture – and one that he subsequently retracted.
So, what is going on here?
The 2016 indictments were headline news internationally, and Israeli officials went to great efforts to publicise the allegations among journalists and diplomats.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan claimed the indictments proved substantial links between aid groups and “terrorist” organisations, adding for good measure: “I imagine that in the World Vision organisation, which is very anti-Israeli, they turned a blind eye.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry focused on “spread[ing] the news …among liberal and religious groups who support World Vision”, and the ministry’s then-director, Dore Gold, wrote to foreign ministries around the world, baldly asserting that Halabi “is actually a major figure in the Hamas terrorist organisation”.
Even as the court case drags on, Israel and its supporters have repeated the accusations against Halabi as fact, as part of a broader agenda. A recent publication [pdf] by Israel’s Strategic Affairs Ministry, for example, cites the unproven allegations as proof of “international relief organisations” having ties with Hamas. NGO Monitor, a serial harasser of civil society groups, states on its website that Halabi was “revealed … to be a Hamas terrorist”.
Disturbing silenceIncreasing attention is being paid to the deteriorating atmosphere for human rights groups at the hands of Israeli authorities; even a UK minister recently acknowledged reports of “pressure exerted against NGOs, particularly those critical of Israel’s conduct in the occupied Palestinian territories”.
But while examples such as the ongoing efforts to deport Human Rights Watch official Omar Shakir – and to a lesser extent, legislative and financial steps targeting NGOs – have elicited international criticism, there is a disturbing silence over the Halabi case.
The nightmare experienced by Halabi and his family exposes the routine violence and corruption of Israel’s Shin Bet and judicial system, and the relationship between the two. It has also highlighted the deference offered to that system by Israel’s Western allies, and the inability to see – or call out – a politicised stitch-up dressed up as “counter-terrorism”.
In 2016, Israeli rights groups slammed authorities for using Halabi’s indictment to attack “humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip as a whole”. For NGOs in Gaza, Halabi’s case prompts the question – could we be next? As Israel seeks to shrink the humanitarian space, intimidation works.
Whatever the result of an utterly discredited legal process, Halabi’s case is now a litmus test for Western governments, and their willingness to push back against Israel’s assault on civil society.
The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Ben White
Ben White is the author of ‘Israeli Apartheid: A Beginner’s Guide’ and ‘Palestinians in Israel: Segregation, Discrimination and Democracy’. He is a writer for Middle East Monitor, and his articles have been published by Al Jazeera, al-Araby, Huffington Post, The Electronic Intifada, The Guardian, and more.
In August 2016, “Western diplomats” told Haaretz that they had not received any intelligence or evidence about Halabi. The following year, an Australian government investigation “found no evidence taxpayer money was misused by the World Vision NGO in the Gaza Strip”.
World Vision, which initiated two separate inquiries – carried out by Deloitte for World Vision International, and Ernst and Young for World Vision Australia – reiterated as recently as May that it had still not seen “any evidence” to support the Israeli authorities’ allegations.
Comments by multiple sources – including World Vision, Israeli media, and Halabi’s family – suggest a key role might have been played by an ex-World Vision employee who “bore a grudge” after being fired by Halabi. Having left Gaza, the individual is allegedly “now acting as a witness in the Israeli case”.
Confession under torture
In the immediate aftermath of the indictments being announced, a senior Israeli official declared that “the evidence is the confession of the detainee”. This “confession” was obtained from Halabi when he had no legal representation and was subject to torture – and one that he subsequently retracted.
So, what is going on here?
The 2016 indictments were headline news internationally, and Israeli officials went to great efforts to publicise the allegations among journalists and diplomats.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan claimed the indictments proved substantial links between aid groups and “terrorist” organisations, adding for good measure: “I imagine that in the World Vision organisation, which is very anti-Israeli, they turned a blind eye.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry focused on “spread[ing] the news …among liberal and religious groups who support World Vision”, and the ministry’s then-director, Dore Gold, wrote to foreign ministries around the world, baldly asserting that Halabi “is actually a major figure in the Hamas terrorist organisation”.
Even as the court case drags on, Israel and its supporters have repeated the accusations against Halabi as fact, as part of a broader agenda. A recent publication [pdf] by Israel’s Strategic Affairs Ministry, for example, cites the unproven allegations as proof of “international relief organisations” having ties with Hamas. NGO Monitor, a serial harasser of civil society groups, states on its website that Halabi was “revealed … to be a Hamas terrorist”.
Disturbing silenceIncreasing attention is being paid to the deteriorating atmosphere for human rights groups at the hands of Israeli authorities; even a UK minister recently acknowledged reports of “pressure exerted against NGOs, particularly those critical of Israel’s conduct in the occupied Palestinian territories”.
But while examples such as the ongoing efforts to deport Human Rights Watch official Omar Shakir – and to a lesser extent, legislative and financial steps targeting NGOs – have elicited international criticism, there is a disturbing silence over the Halabi case.
The nightmare experienced by Halabi and his family exposes the routine violence and corruption of Israel’s Shin Bet and judicial system, and the relationship between the two. It has also highlighted the deference offered to that system by Israel’s Western allies, and the inability to see – or call out – a politicised stitch-up dressed up as “counter-terrorism”.
In 2016, Israeli rights groups slammed authorities for using Halabi’s indictment to attack “humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip as a whole”. For NGOs in Gaza, Halabi’s case prompts the question – could we be next? As Israel seeks to shrink the humanitarian space, intimidation works.
Whatever the result of an utterly discredited legal process, Halabi’s case is now a litmus test for Western governments, and their willingness to push back against Israel’s assault on civil society.
The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Ben White
Ben White is the author of ‘Israeli Apartheid: A Beginner’s Guide’ and ‘Palestinians in Israel: Segregation, Discrimination and Democracy’. He is a writer for Middle East Monitor, and his articles have been published by Al Jazeera, al-Araby, Huffington Post, The Electronic Intifada, The Guardian, and more.
The Palestinian Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission on Sunday said that the administrative detainee Munir al-Abed, 22, has started a hunger strike in Israeli jails in protest at his detention without charge or trial.
The Commission said that the Israel Prison Service as a punishment placed al-Abed in an isolation cell and decided to prevent him from seeing his family.
The Israeli occupation authorities arrested al-Abed in February and ever since he has been detained administratively without charge or indictment.
In addition to al-Abed, 9 Palestinian prisoners have been on hunger strike in Israeli jails for different periods in protest at their administrative detention, including Huthaifa Halabiya, Ismail Ali, Mohammed Abu Akar, Mustafa al-Hasanat, Hasan al-Zaghari, Ahmad Ghannam, Sultan al-Khalouf, Hamza Awwad and Hassan Awwad.
The Commission said that the Israel Prison Service as a punishment placed al-Abed in an isolation cell and decided to prevent him from seeing his family.
The Israeli occupation authorities arrested al-Abed in February and ever since he has been detained administratively without charge or indictment.
In addition to al-Abed, 9 Palestinian prisoners have been on hunger strike in Israeli jails for different periods in protest at their administrative detention, including Huthaifa Halabiya, Ismail Ali, Mohammed Abu Akar, Mustafa al-Hasanat, Hasan al-Zaghari, Ahmad Ghannam, Sultan al-Khalouf, Hamza Awwad and Hassan Awwad.
The Israeli occupation authorities on Sunday decided to banish five Palestinian citizens from al-Isawiya, their hometown, in Jerusalem for two weeks.
According to Wadi Hilweh Information Center, the Israeli authorities ordered Ahmad Zomorrod, Ahmad al-Khadour, Wadi' Elyan, Malek Mustafa and Nayef Obeid to stay away from al-Isawiya for 14 days.
Wadi Hilweh reported that the Israeli authorities have recently deported dozens of Palestinian youths from al-Isawiya as part of collective punishment measures waged against the town's residents.
According to Wadi Hilweh Information Center, the Israeli authorities ordered Ahmad Zomorrod, Ahmad al-Khadour, Wadi' Elyan, Malek Mustafa and Nayef Obeid to stay away from al-Isawiya for 14 days.
Wadi Hilweh reported that the Israeli authorities have recently deported dozens of Palestinian youths from al-Isawiya as part of collective punishment measures waged against the town's residents.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday arrested 16 Palestinian citizens in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Local sources said that the IOF at dawn kidnapped 14 Palestinian citizens, including a child, during home raids in different West Bank areas.
Last night the IOF arrested two Palestinian young men on Gaza border for allegedly attempting to sneak into the 1948 occupied territories.
Israeli media sources reported that the two detainees were transferred to an undeclared destination for interrogation.
Army Abducts Three Palestinians In Bethlehem
Israeli soldiers abducted, Sunday, three Palestinians, including one child, in Bethlehem governorate, south of occupied East Jerusalem, in the West Bank.
Media sources said the soldiers invaded and searched several homes in various parts of Bethlehem, and surrounding communities, and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
They added that the soldiers abducted a child, identified as Ahmad Maher Khalifa, 14, in addition Qoteiba Khalifa and Ahmad Maher Ekhmayyes.
In related news, the soldiers invaded Doura town, south of Hebron, broke into the home of Abdul-Fattah Amro, and violently searched the property, before summoning his son, Shadi, for interrogation.
The soldiers also installed military roadblocks at several roads leading to ath-Thaheriyya town, south of Hebron, and Halhoul, north of the city, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
Israeli Soldiers Abduct Eight Palestinians In al-‘Isawiya, Three In Al-Ram, In Jerusalem
Israeli soldiers abducted, earlier Sunday, eight Palestinians, including a child, from the town of al-‘Isawiya, and three in the al-Ram town, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Media sources said the soldiers invaded and searched many homes, and abducted the seven Palestinians, including one child, before moving them to a few interrogation and detention facilities.
They added that the abducted Palestinians have been identified as Samer Anwar Obeid, Mohammad Ayman Obeid, Mohammad Adnan Obeid, Mohannad Anwar Obeid, Mohammad Ali Nasser, Shaker Ali Mustafa, Shaker Amjad Mustafa, and the child, Emad Jarrah Nasser, only 12 years of age.
It is worth mentioning that al-‘Isawiya has been under a strict military siege over the last two months, while the soldiers continue to invade and ransack homes and property, in addition to abducting dozens of Palestinians.
On June 27, 2019, the soldiers Mohammad Samir Obeid, 21, during a protest in al-‘Isawiya when Israeli soldiers shot him with several bullets, including a live round in the heart.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded the town of al-Ram, northeast of Jerusalem, and abducted Hamza Rajabi, Faraj Edrees and Mohammad Edrees.
Local sources said that the IOF at dawn kidnapped 14 Palestinian citizens, including a child, during home raids in different West Bank areas.
Last night the IOF arrested two Palestinian young men on Gaza border for allegedly attempting to sneak into the 1948 occupied territories.
Israeli media sources reported that the two detainees were transferred to an undeclared destination for interrogation.
Army Abducts Three Palestinians In Bethlehem
Israeli soldiers abducted, Sunday, three Palestinians, including one child, in Bethlehem governorate, south of occupied East Jerusalem, in the West Bank.
Media sources said the soldiers invaded and searched several homes in various parts of Bethlehem, and surrounding communities, and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
They added that the soldiers abducted a child, identified as Ahmad Maher Khalifa, 14, in addition Qoteiba Khalifa and Ahmad Maher Ekhmayyes.
In related news, the soldiers invaded Doura town, south of Hebron, broke into the home of Abdul-Fattah Amro, and violently searched the property, before summoning his son, Shadi, for interrogation.
The soldiers also installed military roadblocks at several roads leading to ath-Thaheriyya town, south of Hebron, and Halhoul, north of the city, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
Israeli Soldiers Abduct Eight Palestinians In al-‘Isawiya, Three In Al-Ram, In Jerusalem
Israeli soldiers abducted, earlier Sunday, eight Palestinians, including a child, from the town of al-‘Isawiya, and three in the al-Ram town, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Media sources said the soldiers invaded and searched many homes, and abducted the seven Palestinians, including one child, before moving them to a few interrogation and detention facilities.
They added that the abducted Palestinians have been identified as Samer Anwar Obeid, Mohammad Ayman Obeid, Mohammad Adnan Obeid, Mohannad Anwar Obeid, Mohammad Ali Nasser, Shaker Ali Mustafa, Shaker Amjad Mustafa, and the child, Emad Jarrah Nasser, only 12 years of age.
It is worth mentioning that al-‘Isawiya has been under a strict military siege over the last two months, while the soldiers continue to invade and ransack homes and property, in addition to abducting dozens of Palestinians.
On June 27, 2019, the soldiers Mohammad Samir Obeid, 21, during a protest in al-‘Isawiya when Israeli soldiers shot him with several bullets, including a live round in the heart.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded the town of al-Ram, northeast of Jerusalem, and abducted Hamza Rajabi, Faraj Edrees and Mohammad Edrees.
On the morning of the 25th of July, Huzaifa Bader, 27, was rushed to Ramleh Prison Hospital in the occupied West Bank, after he had been on hunger strike for 25 days. With his health deteriorating and with no sign of progress in his legal battle, his family don’t know how much longer he can cope. It may be a matter of hours.
Huzaifa began his hunger strike at the start of July, having spent just over 13 months in administrative detention. Israeli forces have held him without charge, extended his detention arbitrarily and held him in solitary confinement.
Huzaifa began his hunger strike at the start of July, having spent just over 13 months in administrative detention. Israeli forces have held him without charge, extended his detention arbitrarily and held him in solitary confinement.
Bader’s six-month old daughter who has never met her father
Huzaifa, who became a father while in prison is still waiting to see his daughter, Majdal, who is now 6 months old. His family told ISM that with every extension of his detention he has become more and more desperate to hold her for the first time.
The situation has only been made all the more unbearable, for Huzaifa, because of his medical condition. A childhood accident left him with burns on almost 90% of his body and he has required specialist medical treatment ever since.
During the period of his detention, Israel has not only denied him any kind of justice (or even anything resembling due process) but has gone as far as to deny him the medical treatment he needs. His brother, Musaab, told ISM, ‘We wish to see him back with his family to enjoy a normal life, and to come back and receive the medical treatment he needs.’
With the situation becoming more desperate for him and his family, Huzaifa took the decision to go on hunger strike at the beginning of the month and, now, 25 days in, he is fighting for his life. His father appealed to all the human rights organisations to take notice of the appalling case of his son, saying, ‘Huzaifa is strong and will keep fighting for his rights.’
The whole town of Abu Dis has been showing its support for his hunger strike and the 40 or so other prisoners from Abu Dis held by the Israeli occupation. A protest tent was set up by his wife and parents, and has been visited by the people of Abu Dis every single night the huger strike has gone on. Even his six month old daughter, who now faces the prospect of never meeting her father, has attended.
After hearing the news, his family, supporters and the people of Abu Dis have taken to the streets again while Huzaifa is fighting for justice, and his life. His family told this morning that the military has still not let his lawyer see him.
Visit the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
Huzaifa, who became a father while in prison is still waiting to see his daughter, Majdal, who is now 6 months old. His family told ISM that with every extension of his detention he has become more and more desperate to hold her for the first time.
The situation has only been made all the more unbearable, for Huzaifa, because of his medical condition. A childhood accident left him with burns on almost 90% of his body and he has required specialist medical treatment ever since.
During the period of his detention, Israel has not only denied him any kind of justice (or even anything resembling due process) but has gone as far as to deny him the medical treatment he needs. His brother, Musaab, told ISM, ‘We wish to see him back with his family to enjoy a normal life, and to come back and receive the medical treatment he needs.’
With the situation becoming more desperate for him and his family, Huzaifa took the decision to go on hunger strike at the beginning of the month and, now, 25 days in, he is fighting for his life. His father appealed to all the human rights organisations to take notice of the appalling case of his son, saying, ‘Huzaifa is strong and will keep fighting for his rights.’
The whole town of Abu Dis has been showing its support for his hunger strike and the 40 or so other prisoners from Abu Dis held by the Israeli occupation. A protest tent was set up by his wife and parents, and has been visited by the people of Abu Dis every single night the huger strike has gone on. Even his six month old daughter, who now faces the prospect of never meeting her father, has attended.
After hearing the news, his family, supporters and the people of Abu Dis have taken to the streets again while Huzaifa is fighting for justice, and his life. His family told this morning that the military has still not let his lawyer see him.
Visit the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
27 july 2019
Muhjat al-Quds Foundation for Martyrs and Prisoners has said that the Palestinian prisoners in section 1 of Ramon jail have been exposed recently to repeated raids on their cells and financial penalties.
This came in a letter written by prisoners from the Islamic Jihad Movement in the jail and a copy of which was obtained by Muhjat al-Quds.
According to the letter, the cells in section 1 of the jail has been raided and ransacked repeatedly by Israeli forces since the prison administration reneged on a pledge to provide the detainees with public telephones in all sections.
The prisoners also said in their letter that each one of them in section 1 was fined 250 shekels as part of wanton punitive measures against them.
Muhjat al-Quds said the repressive measures against the prisoners in Ramon jail are aimed at making incarceration life more difficult for them and creating a state of instability among them.
The Foundation appealed to human rights groups and the Red Cross to intervene and pressure Israel to stop its repressive practices against the Palestinian prisoners, especially in Ramon jail.
This came in a letter written by prisoners from the Islamic Jihad Movement in the jail and a copy of which was obtained by Muhjat al-Quds.
According to the letter, the cells in section 1 of the jail has been raided and ransacked repeatedly by Israeli forces since the prison administration reneged on a pledge to provide the detainees with public telephones in all sections.
The prisoners also said in their letter that each one of them in section 1 was fined 250 shekels as part of wanton punitive measures against them.
Muhjat al-Quds said the repressive measures against the prisoners in Ramon jail are aimed at making incarceration life more difficult for them and creating a state of instability among them.
The Foundation appealed to human rights groups and the Red Cross to intervene and pressure Israel to stop its repressive practices against the Palestinian prisoners, especially in Ramon jail.
Israeli soldiers assaulted and abducted, on Friday evening, a Palestinian teenage boy in the Bab az-Zawiya area, in Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Media sources in Hebron said dozens of soldiers invaded the area, and fired many live rounds, gas bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians protesting the invasion.
They added that the soldiers detained Ezz Yousef al-Atrash, and repeatedly assaulted him, causing various cuts and bruises, before abducting him.
The soldiers were extensively deployed in the area, and closed many roads in and around Bab az-Zawiya, before stopping and searching local Palestinians and vehicles.
Media sources in Hebron said dozens of soldiers invaded the area, and fired many live rounds, gas bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians protesting the invasion.
They added that the soldiers detained Ezz Yousef al-Atrash, and repeatedly assaulted him, causing various cuts and bruises, before abducting him.
The soldiers were extensively deployed in the area, and closed many roads in and around Bab az-Zawiya, before stopping and searching local Palestinians and vehicles.
26 july 2019
Israeli authorities demolished the Palestinian Bedouin village of Al-Araqib for the 148th time, today, the second time this week, while abducting village leader Sheikh Sayyah Al-Turi, Arab48 reported.
According to local residents, in the morning, occupation authorities bulldozed and destroyed homes and tents under the protection of occupation police forces.
Eyewitnesses also confirmed that police arrested Sheikh Sayyah Al-Turi, who had only been released from Ramla prison on Tuesday morning after being detained for seven months.
Al-Turi’s sentence was extended for 60 days after prison services conditioned his release on his forcible transfer and deportation from Al-Araqib to the city of Rahat. Israeli authorities demolished Al-Araqib for the 147th time the day before Al-Turi’s release.
The Bedouin village is one of 51 “unrecognized” Arab villages in the Negev and is constantly targeted for demolition ahead of plans to Judaize the Negev by building homes for new Jewish communities. Israeli bulldozers, which Bedouins are charged for, have demolished everything, from the trees to the water tanks, but Bedouin residents have tried to rebuild it every time.
Bedouins in the Negev must abide by the same laws as Jewish Israeli citizens. They pay taxes but do not enjoy the same rights and services as Jews, in Israel, and the state has repeatedly refused to connect the towns to the national grid, water supplies and other vital amenities.
Israeli authorities claim that the Bedouins are on the land illegally, as it is “state property”. However, the Bedouins’ ownership was registered as long ago as when they lived in the area under Ottoman rule. The State of Israel, established in 1948, does not recognize their title deeds.
In 1969, Israel called on Palestinian land owners to register their land with the authorities, but since then they have not accepted any of the applications made by Palestinian residents of the Negev.
According to local residents, in the morning, occupation authorities bulldozed and destroyed homes and tents under the protection of occupation police forces.
Eyewitnesses also confirmed that police arrested Sheikh Sayyah Al-Turi, who had only been released from Ramla prison on Tuesday morning after being detained for seven months.
Al-Turi’s sentence was extended for 60 days after prison services conditioned his release on his forcible transfer and deportation from Al-Araqib to the city of Rahat. Israeli authorities demolished Al-Araqib for the 147th time the day before Al-Turi’s release.
The Bedouin village is one of 51 “unrecognized” Arab villages in the Negev and is constantly targeted for demolition ahead of plans to Judaize the Negev by building homes for new Jewish communities. Israeli bulldozers, which Bedouins are charged for, have demolished everything, from the trees to the water tanks, but Bedouin residents have tried to rebuild it every time.
Bedouins in the Negev must abide by the same laws as Jewish Israeli citizens. They pay taxes but do not enjoy the same rights and services as Jews, in Israel, and the state has repeatedly refused to connect the towns to the national grid, water supplies and other vital amenities.
Israeli authorities claim that the Bedouins are on the land illegally, as it is “state property”. However, the Bedouins’ ownership was registered as long ago as when they lived in the area under Ottoman rule. The State of Israel, established in 1948, does not recognize their title deeds.
In 1969, Israel called on Palestinian land owners to register their land with the authorities, but since then they have not accepted any of the applications made by Palestinian residents of the Negev.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Thursday evening, two young Palestinian men at a sudden military roadblock, near Tulkarem, in northern West Bank, Palestine News Network (PNN) has reported.
PNN said that the two young men, who remained unidentified at the time of this report, were driving near Taybeh military roadblock, when the soldiers stopped them at a sudden roadblock which was installed in the area.
The soldiers stopped the car and searched it, before reportedly locating a rifle. The two young men were detained and moved to an interrogation facility at a nearby military base.
PNN said that the two young men, who remained unidentified at the time of this report, were driving near Taybeh military roadblock, when the soldiers stopped them at a sudden roadblock which was installed in the area.
The soldiers stopped the car and searched it, before reportedly locating a rifle. The two young men were detained and moved to an interrogation facility at a nearby military base.
Israeli soldiers abducted and injured, overnight until dawn hours Friday, many Palestinians during extensive and violent invasions and searches of homes and property in Fasayel village, north of Jericho in the occupied West Bank.
Media sources said dozens of soldiers in armored jeeps, and vehicles, invaded the village from several directions, and stormed all its neighborhoods, before violently searching homes and interrogating the families.
They added that the soldiers fired gas bombs and concussion grenades at Palestinians, protesting the invasion, causing many to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
During the invasions and searches of homes, the soldiers abducted many Palestinians; four of them have been identified as Ahmad Mousa Nawawra, Fathi Ahmad Nawawra, Zakariya Khaled Nawawra and Fahmi Mohammad Sourka.
Media sources said dozens of soldiers in armored jeeps, and vehicles, invaded the village from several directions, and stormed all its neighborhoods, before violently searching homes and interrogating the families.
They added that the soldiers fired gas bombs and concussion grenades at Palestinians, protesting the invasion, causing many to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
During the invasions and searches of homes, the soldiers abducted many Palestinians; four of them have been identified as Ahmad Mousa Nawawra, Fathi Ahmad Nawawra, Zakariya Khaled Nawawra and Fahmi Mohammad Sourka.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Friday, at dawn, seven Palestinians from their homes, in the al-‘Isawiya town, in the center of occupied East Jerusalem.
Media sources said the soldiers invaded and ransacked several homes, and abducted Mohammad Fares Oleyyan, Mohammad Abu Libda, Yousef Abu Libda, Mohammad Haitham Mahmoud, Moudi Abu Ryala, Ala’ Aby Ryala and Nasser Obeid.
The invasions and violent searches of Palestinian property in al-‘Isawiya has been on ongoing for several months, and include imposing high fines and fees on the Palestinians, their vehicles and property, in addition to the abduction of dozens of them.
On June 27th, the soldiers invaded the town, and killed Mohammad Samir Obeid, 21, after shooting him with several live rounds, including one in the heart.
Seven Palestinians detained from Jerusalem
Israeli police dawn Friday detained seven Palestinians from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiyeh.The seven Palestinians were rounded up purportedly for partaking in anti-occupation activities.
For the residents of Issawiyeh, a Palestinian village of some 20,000, and other parts of occupied East Jerusalem, military raids and building demolitions are a daily reality.
The village is plagued by poor infrastructure, residents are constantly harassed by the Israeli Border Police and anyone, including children, run the risk of arbitrary arrest.
Israeli police and municipality staff frequently hand out fine notices for various violations, such as improperly maintained vehicles, severely disrupting Palestinian residents’ lives.
Media sources said the soldiers invaded and ransacked several homes, and abducted Mohammad Fares Oleyyan, Mohammad Abu Libda, Yousef Abu Libda, Mohammad Haitham Mahmoud, Moudi Abu Ryala, Ala’ Aby Ryala and Nasser Obeid.
The invasions and violent searches of Palestinian property in al-‘Isawiya has been on ongoing for several months, and include imposing high fines and fees on the Palestinians, their vehicles and property, in addition to the abduction of dozens of them.
On June 27th, the soldiers invaded the town, and killed Mohammad Samir Obeid, 21, after shooting him with several live rounds, including one in the heart.
Seven Palestinians detained from Jerusalem
Israeli police dawn Friday detained seven Palestinians from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiyeh.The seven Palestinians were rounded up purportedly for partaking in anti-occupation activities.
For the residents of Issawiyeh, a Palestinian village of some 20,000, and other parts of occupied East Jerusalem, military raids and building demolitions are a daily reality.
The village is plagued by poor infrastructure, residents are constantly harassed by the Israeli Border Police and anyone, including children, run the risk of arbitrary arrest.
Israeli police and municipality staff frequently hand out fine notices for various violations, such as improperly maintained vehicles, severely disrupting Palestinian residents’ lives.
The Israeli occupation police on Thursday resumed their repressive campaign against the Palestinians in Issawiya district, east of Jerusalem, brutalizing and arresting a number of them.
According to local sources, Israeli police forces stormed and ransacked homes in Issawiya and assaulted some young citizens before arresting them.
The detainees were identified as Adham Sibta, Mohamed Khallaf, Mohamed Abd Atiya, Nasim Muheisen, Tha’er Mahmoud and his sons, Mohamed and Abdul-Rahman.
For over 40 days, the residents of Issawiya have been exposed to several Israeli repressive measures, including violent raids on homes, physical assaults, arrests, harassments and threats to demolish their homes and displace them.
According to local sources, Israeli police forces stormed and ransacked homes in Issawiya and assaulted some young citizens before arresting them.
The detainees were identified as Adham Sibta, Mohamed Khallaf, Mohamed Abd Atiya, Nasim Muheisen, Tha’er Mahmoud and his sons, Mohamed and Abdul-Rahman.
For over 40 days, the residents of Issawiya have been exposed to several Israeli repressive measures, including violent raids on homes, physical assaults, arrests, harassments and threats to demolish their homes and displace them.
