7 june 2014
Lawyers for the Ministry of Prisoner Affairs on Friday accused Israeli prison services of treating around 125 hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners with "barbarity" as they entered their 45th day without food in protest against their detention with trial.
The lawyers said that the Palestinian prisoners who have been on strike one month and a half are being sent to Israeli hospitals constantly, are in pain, have lost a lot of weight and are showing signs of exhaustion, fatigue and faintness.
"Israeli prison services are treating the hunger-striking prisoners with spite, brutality and barbarity on official orders from Israeli leadership to pressure prisoners," the lawyers alleged.
Ministry lawyer Mutaz Shuqeirat said that he visited Ayalon prison in Ramle where he said that the prisoners' conditions are "worrying," especially the ones in solitary confinement.
Ministry lawyer Karim Ajwa said that he visited Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, where six prisoners are currently being held, but was only able to see three of them.
Ajwa said that all of the prisoners he saw had their hands and legs cuffed as they were in the hospital beds.
On Friday, UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over the fate of the hunger-strikers, saying that the administrative detainees should either be released or charged, in line with strikers' demands.
Administrative detention refers to the tactic of keeping a prisoner without charge or trial for extended periods of time, often due to "security" concerns.
Israel routinely uses this tactic on detained Palestinians, even though international law stipulates it only be used in exceptional circumstances.
The lawyers said that the Palestinian prisoners who have been on strike one month and a half are being sent to Israeli hospitals constantly, are in pain, have lost a lot of weight and are showing signs of exhaustion, fatigue and faintness.
"Israeli prison services are treating the hunger-striking prisoners with spite, brutality and barbarity on official orders from Israeli leadership to pressure prisoners," the lawyers alleged.
Ministry lawyer Mutaz Shuqeirat said that he visited Ayalon prison in Ramle where he said that the prisoners' conditions are "worrying," especially the ones in solitary confinement.
Ministry lawyer Karim Ajwa said that he visited Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, where six prisoners are currently being held, but was only able to see three of them.
Ajwa said that all of the prisoners he saw had their hands and legs cuffed as they were in the hospital beds.
On Friday, UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over the fate of the hunger-strikers, saying that the administrative detainees should either be released or charged, in line with strikers' demands.
Administrative detention refers to the tactic of keeping a prisoner without charge or trial for extended periods of time, often due to "security" concerns.
Israel routinely uses this tactic on detained Palestinians, even though international law stipulates it only be used in exceptional circumstances.
Israeli forces briefly detained the Governor of Hebron, Kamel Hmaid, in Hebron, on Saturday.
The governor was on his way to make an inspection visit to the schools where students are taking Tawjihi examinations, according to WAFA. He was accompanied by directors from the Ministry of Education and some heads of security.
WAFA correspondence reported that forces detained Hmaid at the southern entrance of Hebron, near the illegal Israeli settlement outpost of ‘Beit Hajai’, where he was held for half an hour before being released.
No further details were given in regard to the circumstances surrounding the detention.
However, WAFA reports that, in order to ensure the normal and smooth functioning of educational process, over 450 police officers have been stationed at schools where about 10,800 students from Hebron governorate are now taking the Tawjihi examinations.
Hebron is the site of frequent violence directed at Palestinians, which includes attacks on children walking to school and damage to Palestinian properties.
The governor was on his way to make an inspection visit to the schools where students are taking Tawjihi examinations, according to WAFA. He was accompanied by directors from the Ministry of Education and some heads of security.
WAFA correspondence reported that forces detained Hmaid at the southern entrance of Hebron, near the illegal Israeli settlement outpost of ‘Beit Hajai’, where he was held for half an hour before being released.
No further details were given in regard to the circumstances surrounding the detention.
However, WAFA reports that, in order to ensure the normal and smooth functioning of educational process, over 450 police officers have been stationed at schools where about 10,800 students from Hebron governorate are now taking the Tawjihi examinations.
Hebron is the site of frequent violence directed at Palestinians, which includes attacks on children walking to school and damage to Palestinian properties.
Euromid Observer for Human Rights launched a petition to end Israeli policy of administrative detention, measured against some 200 Palestinians in prisons. More than 100 Palestinian administrative detainees in Israeli prisons have been on a hunger strike for 45 days, demanding a stop to their unjustified measure of the 'Israel Prison Service."
The number has gradually increased to nearly 190 as many prisoners decided to show solidarity with the hunger strikers and draw a universal eye to the Israel's arbitrary policies and human rights violations.
The Euro-Mid Observer for Human Rights is a Geneva-based nonprofit organization dedicated to defending human rights in the MENA region.
To sign the petition, kindly visit the link below:
Euromid Observer' launches petition to end Israel's administrative detention'
The number has gradually increased to nearly 190 as many prisoners decided to show solidarity with the hunger strikers and draw a universal eye to the Israel's arbitrary policies and human rights violations.
The Euro-Mid Observer for Human Rights is a Geneva-based nonprofit organization dedicated to defending human rights in the MENA region.
To sign the petition, kindly visit the link below:
Euromid Observer' launches petition to end Israel's administrative detention'
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) summoned at dawn Saturday 19 Palestinians including 2 women in different parts of the West Bank, and arrested three citizens in Bethlehem. Local sources told the PIC reporter that the IOF summoned the liberated prisoner Youssef al-Laham, 38, from Bethlehem.
In Jenin, IOF stormed Araba town and served summonses to two Palestinian women to Salam military camp.
In al-Khalil, Israeli forces summoned three young men from Yatta town and three liberated prisoners from Fawar refugee camp, in addition to six youths in Aroub camp, north of the city.
In Bethlehem, three Palestinian youths were arrested in Jabal Fardiss area and taken to an unknown destination.
In the same context, Israeli occupation forces raided at dawn Saturday Qaryout village, south of Nablus, amid heavy fire of tear gas bombs.
Tear gas bombs were heavily and randomly fired at Palestinian citizens, causing a state of panic among children, local sources told the PIC reporter.
IOF soldiers summoned two citizens after storming their homes in the village, the sources added.
On the other hand, dozens suffered breathing difficulties on Saturday morning during clashes in Beit Ummar village, northern al-Khalil, after Israeli forces fired tear gas bombs.
The clashes erupted after Israeli forces brutally broke into Mohammed Awad's home, causing a state of panic among children and women.
In Jenin, IOF stormed Araba town and served summonses to two Palestinian women to Salam military camp.
In al-Khalil, Israeli forces summoned three young men from Yatta town and three liberated prisoners from Fawar refugee camp, in addition to six youths in Aroub camp, north of the city.
In Bethlehem, three Palestinian youths were arrested in Jabal Fardiss area and taken to an unknown destination.
In the same context, Israeli occupation forces raided at dawn Saturday Qaryout village, south of Nablus, amid heavy fire of tear gas bombs.
Tear gas bombs were heavily and randomly fired at Palestinian citizens, causing a state of panic among children, local sources told the PIC reporter.
IOF soldiers summoned two citizens after storming their homes in the village, the sources added.
On the other hand, dozens suffered breathing difficulties on Saturday morning during clashes in Beit Ummar village, northern al-Khalil, after Israeli forces fired tear gas bombs.
The clashes erupted after Israeli forces brutally broke into Mohammed Awad's home, causing a state of panic among children and women.
Palestinian administrative detainees in Israeli occupation jails have entered their 45th day of hunger strike on Saturday demanding an end to their arbitrary incarceration without trial or charge. Human rights sources said that Israeli jailers forced the hunger strikers into solitary confinement rooms and confiscated their personal belongings with the exception of clothes to pressure them into ending their strike.
The Israeli prison service is refusing to open dialog with the hunger strikers and said was ready to negotiate only those who are not on strike, a matter that was categorically turned down by the prisoners.
The sources said that at least 70 of the hunger strikers were transferred to hospitals after their health condition seriously deteriorated.
The Israeli prison service is refusing to open dialog with the hunger strikers and said was ready to negotiate only those who are not on strike, a matter that was categorically turned down by the prisoners.
The sources said that at least 70 of the hunger strikers were transferred to hospitals after their health condition seriously deteriorated.
Administrative detainee Ayman Atabish is on his 100th day of hunger strike on Saturday demanding his immediate release. Atabish, who is held without charge or trial, is also demanding an end to the policy of “secret files” against detainees upon which the Israeli intelligence continues to renew their incarceration.
He is serving a six-month detention period that could be renewed based on the “secret files”.
The detainee’s family fear for his life due to his health deterioration especially when his heart muscles are weakening because of the hunger strike.
Palestinian prisoner on 100th day of hunger strike
Ayman Itbeish, 34, on Saturday finished his 100th day of a hunger strike against his indefinite detention with charge by Israeli authorities, and is one of the longest-striking prisoners currently being held.
Ibteish has been detained several times previously and has gone on hunger strikes three times in the past -- twice in protest against his detention with trial -- including for 105 days last year, the Palestinian Prisoner's Society said in a report.
Israeli authorities, however, ended that strike in September with an agreement to end his administrative detention and a promise to reach a final decision on his case. This agreement was broken, however, when they re-arrested Ibteish sometime after after he was released.
Itbeish is currently being held in Assaf Harofeh medical center in central Israel and is considered to be at high risk, the Palestinian Prisoner's Society, adding that he suffers from eye, kidney and stomach problems as well as numbness in his limbs and asthma.
Ibteish has been detained five times in the past, the first of which was in 1999 when he was 18 and he was sentenced for 18 months in prison, the second when he was administratively detained and sentenced for 7 months, and the third when he was sentenced for six years.
He was later detained again for three years without any charge or trial until he was freed and then detained again for the fifth time, again with no charge against him.
During his open hunger strike, Itbeish appealed to the Israeli military court which refused his appeal, verifying his detention and ignoring his risky health condition, claiming that there is no connection between his strike and the military court.
Itbeish is still continuing his education that has been repeatedly interrupted by detentions.
Director of the Hebron branch of the Prisoner's Amjad Najjar warned against the continuation of Ibteish's detention while his health is in a state of high risk.
Najjar demanded urgent action and support for the prisoner on his 100 day of hunger strike, as well as support for the 125 hunger-striking prisoners who have now entered their 45th day.
Palestinian prisoner human rights organization Addameer estimates that around 183 Palestinians are currently being held in administrative detention.
Over 800,000 Palestinians have been detained since 1967, with 5,224 currently being held in Israeli prisons, according to the PLO.
He is serving a six-month detention period that could be renewed based on the “secret files”.
The detainee’s family fear for his life due to his health deterioration especially when his heart muscles are weakening because of the hunger strike.
Palestinian prisoner on 100th day of hunger strike
Ayman Itbeish, 34, on Saturday finished his 100th day of a hunger strike against his indefinite detention with charge by Israeli authorities, and is one of the longest-striking prisoners currently being held.
Ibteish has been detained several times previously and has gone on hunger strikes three times in the past -- twice in protest against his detention with trial -- including for 105 days last year, the Palestinian Prisoner's Society said in a report.
Israeli authorities, however, ended that strike in September with an agreement to end his administrative detention and a promise to reach a final decision on his case. This agreement was broken, however, when they re-arrested Ibteish sometime after after he was released.
Itbeish is currently being held in Assaf Harofeh medical center in central Israel and is considered to be at high risk, the Palestinian Prisoner's Society, adding that he suffers from eye, kidney and stomach problems as well as numbness in his limbs and asthma.
Ibteish has been detained five times in the past, the first of which was in 1999 when he was 18 and he was sentenced for 18 months in prison, the second when he was administratively detained and sentenced for 7 months, and the third when he was sentenced for six years.
He was later detained again for three years without any charge or trial until he was freed and then detained again for the fifth time, again with no charge against him.
During his open hunger strike, Itbeish appealed to the Israeli military court which refused his appeal, verifying his detention and ignoring his risky health condition, claiming that there is no connection between his strike and the military court.
Itbeish is still continuing his education that has been repeatedly interrupted by detentions.
Director of the Hebron branch of the Prisoner's Amjad Najjar warned against the continuation of Ibteish's detention while his health is in a state of high risk.
Najjar demanded urgent action and support for the prisoner on his 100 day of hunger strike, as well as support for the 125 hunger-striking prisoners who have now entered their 45th day.
Palestinian prisoner human rights organization Addameer estimates that around 183 Palestinians are currently being held in administrative detention.
Over 800,000 Palestinians have been detained since 1967, with 5,224 currently being held in Israeli prisons, according to the PLO.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed concern Friday about the deteriorating health of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike, calling on Israel to charge or release them without delay. Around 125 Palestinian prisoners have been on hunger strike for more than six weeks, most of them administrative detainees protesting against being held indefinitely without trial.
"The secretary general is concerned about reports regarding the deteriorating health of Palestinian administrative detainees who have been on hunger strike for over a month," Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement Friday.
"He reiterates his long-standing position that administrative detainees should be charged or released without delay."
The UN High commissioner for human rights has also expressed concern regarding a bill before Israel's parliament that would permit force-feeding and medical treatment of prisoners on hunger strike, against their will under certain conditions, in contravention of international standards, the spokesman added.
Among those refusing food are six parliamentarians from the Palestinian Legislative Council, all of whom are administrative detainees, according to Israeli and Palestinian rights groups.
Overall 290 Palestinians are refusing food, including 70 being treated in hospital, the Israel Prisons Service said Sunday.
About 5,000 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons, nearly 200 of them under administrative detention orders, which allow suspects to be jailed without trial for up to six months.
Such orders can be renewed indefinitely by a military court.
Ban Ki-moon to Israel: Put the detainees on trial or release them
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged Israel to put the Palestinian administrative detainees on trial or else release them without further delay. Ban Ki-moon expressed concern in a statement on Friday over the deterioration in the health condition of the Palestinian administrative detainees who have been on hunger strike for one and a half month.
He said that the UN was closely following up the issue of those detainees.
The Palestinian administrative detainees, held without trial or charge, have been on hunger strike for 45 days demanding their release.
"The secretary general is concerned about reports regarding the deteriorating health of Palestinian administrative detainees who have been on hunger strike for over a month," Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement Friday.
"He reiterates his long-standing position that administrative detainees should be charged or released without delay."
The UN High commissioner for human rights has also expressed concern regarding a bill before Israel's parliament that would permit force-feeding and medical treatment of prisoners on hunger strike, against their will under certain conditions, in contravention of international standards, the spokesman added.
Among those refusing food are six parliamentarians from the Palestinian Legislative Council, all of whom are administrative detainees, according to Israeli and Palestinian rights groups.
Overall 290 Palestinians are refusing food, including 70 being treated in hospital, the Israel Prisons Service said Sunday.
About 5,000 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons, nearly 200 of them under administrative detention orders, which allow suspects to be jailed without trial for up to six months.
Such orders can be renewed indefinitely by a military court.
Ban Ki-moon to Israel: Put the detainees on trial or release them
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged Israel to put the Palestinian administrative detainees on trial or else release them without further delay. Ban Ki-moon expressed concern in a statement on Friday over the deterioration in the health condition of the Palestinian administrative detainees who have been on hunger strike for one and a half month.
He said that the UN was closely following up the issue of those detainees.
The Palestinian administrative detainees, held without trial or charge, have been on hunger strike for 45 days demanding their release.
The Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) strongly denounced the Israeli military invasion against its Jerusalem branch, during live broadcast, and the detention of two employees and a guest speaker.
It said “the attack is yet another example of Israeli assaults against the Palestinians, and their media departments.”
The army and police claimed the broadcast is not licensed by Israel, “therefore illegal and must be stopped”, while the PBC affirmed it is legally operating in occupied East Jerusalem, and obtained all permits similar to all Arab and foreign agencies operating in Jerusalem.
It added that, on Friday morning, the Police requested the director of “Good Morning Jerusalem”, Ibrahim Qleibo, and the program host, to stop the show.
The PBC said the attack is part of ongoing Israeli violations against the Palestinians and their institutions in every part of occupied Palestine, especially in occupied Jerusalem, the capital of the Palestinian state.
The Police broke into the Pal Media office in occupied Jerusalem, and kidnapped show director, Nader Bebers, Pal Media Coordinator, Ashfar Shweiki, in addition to Ala’ al-Haddad, member of a detainees’ committee in occupied Jerusalem.
Show host, Mona Abu ‘Assab, was forced to end her live show under gunpoint, after the police and the army invaded the offices and the studio.
The PBC demanded Arab and international institutions to condemn the attack, and to expose the ongoing Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and their media outlets, especially in occupied Jerusalem.
It said Israel is acting on fully isolating Jerusalem, and separating its indigenous Palestinians from the rest of occupied Palestine, adding that Jerusalem is the capital of the anticipated Palestinian State, and that “the occupation, its settlements and violations, cannot wipe out the deep Arab, Islamic and Christian history, in the holy city”.
The PBC further said all Israeli measures, violations and settlements in occupied Jerusalem are illegitimate and violate International Law as Jerusalem is under illegal occupation.
Israeli police spokesperson, Luba Samri, said the attack was part of what she called “an investigation into the contents of the show”, according to Ma'an News Agency.
Samri confirmed three were kidnapped during the raid, and that they were released later on, and alleged “no programs were interrupted during the attack”. The three were interrogated for several hours, and were denied legal representation.
It said “the attack is yet another example of Israeli assaults against the Palestinians, and their media departments.”
The army and police claimed the broadcast is not licensed by Israel, “therefore illegal and must be stopped”, while the PBC affirmed it is legally operating in occupied East Jerusalem, and obtained all permits similar to all Arab and foreign agencies operating in Jerusalem.
It added that, on Friday morning, the Police requested the director of “Good Morning Jerusalem”, Ibrahim Qleibo, and the program host, to stop the show.
The PBC said the attack is part of ongoing Israeli violations against the Palestinians and their institutions in every part of occupied Palestine, especially in occupied Jerusalem, the capital of the Palestinian state.
The Police broke into the Pal Media office in occupied Jerusalem, and kidnapped show director, Nader Bebers, Pal Media Coordinator, Ashfar Shweiki, in addition to Ala’ al-Haddad, member of a detainees’ committee in occupied Jerusalem.
Show host, Mona Abu ‘Assab, was forced to end her live show under gunpoint, after the police and the army invaded the offices and the studio.
The PBC demanded Arab and international institutions to condemn the attack, and to expose the ongoing Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and their media outlets, especially in occupied Jerusalem.
It said Israel is acting on fully isolating Jerusalem, and separating its indigenous Palestinians from the rest of occupied Palestine, adding that Jerusalem is the capital of the anticipated Palestinian State, and that “the occupation, its settlements and violations, cannot wipe out the deep Arab, Islamic and Christian history, in the holy city”.
The PBC further said all Israeli measures, violations and settlements in occupied Jerusalem are illegitimate and violate International Law as Jerusalem is under illegal occupation.
Israeli police spokesperson, Luba Samri, said the attack was part of what she called “an investigation into the contents of the show”, according to Ma'an News Agency.
Samri confirmed three were kidnapped during the raid, and that they were released later on, and alleged “no programs were interrupted during the attack”. The three were interrogated for several hours, and were denied legal representation.
The detainees wrote the letter on Thursday, May 29, 2014
Hunger Striking Detainees Affirm Steadfastness
In a letter sent by hunger striking Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, the detainees stated their strike, and their ongoing legitimate battle, is ongoing despite aggression, and despite their pain, suffering and illness.
“From the heart of our cells, from our pain and suffering, our hunger that weakened us, and our fragile bodies, our legs that cannot hold us anymore, and our weak arms, we remain steadfast and continue our strike,” the letter stated.
“Our bodies are collapsing, we can barely move our eyes, our heartbeats slowly fading away, and even writing this letter required a hard work,” the detainees said. “We are writing this letter to express our suffering, the abuse carried out against us every single day. Our battle today entered its 36 day, and we are ongoing with this strike.”
“We are sending a scream, a shout, from behind the walls of our dark cells, between the tusks of death and our jailers, while death stands in front of us, inhabits our cells,” they said. “We don’t know who will be taken by death first, but the jailor is just waiting, betting on our defeat.”
“Our great beloved Palestinian people, do you accept to have us be an easy bite between the fangs of our merciless jailers?”, the letter reads. “We are behind bars, spending years of our lives for Palestine, for its liberation and the freedom of its people.”
“The Palestinian people are steadfast on their land; as any other nation, they have the right to freedom, independence and dignity. Our battle, as administrative detainees, is open-ended. We started our hunger strike 36 days ago, while this battle is just of one countless battles for freedom, it is a battle against injustice wherever its exists.”
“We have no guns, no rifles, no cannons; we are armed with the weapon of hunger. This is how we resist this sword pointed at our necks, the sword of administrative detention, holding us without charges or trial.”
“Our great Palestinian nation, defenders of justice all over the world, organizations struggling for Palestinian rights, all governments and free media outlets; you are our only hope."
"You are the hope of solidarity and support while we hold this lengthy battle, the battle of every Palestinian, for liberation, dignity. and for the end of this illegitimate administrative detention, indefinitely holding us prisoner without charges or trial.”
“Peace and God’s blessing and mercy be upon you - your hunger striking brothers in the Zionist jails of darkness and oppression. Representing the detainees; detainee Khalil Mousa Zawahra, and detainee Mousa Yacoub Ma’marjy. Thursday, May 29 2014”
Hunger Striking Detainees Affirm Steadfastness
In a letter sent by hunger striking Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, the detainees stated their strike, and their ongoing legitimate battle, is ongoing despite aggression, and despite their pain, suffering and illness.
“From the heart of our cells, from our pain and suffering, our hunger that weakened us, and our fragile bodies, our legs that cannot hold us anymore, and our weak arms, we remain steadfast and continue our strike,” the letter stated.
“Our bodies are collapsing, we can barely move our eyes, our heartbeats slowly fading away, and even writing this letter required a hard work,” the detainees said. “We are writing this letter to express our suffering, the abuse carried out against us every single day. Our battle today entered its 36 day, and we are ongoing with this strike.”
“We are sending a scream, a shout, from behind the walls of our dark cells, between the tusks of death and our jailers, while death stands in front of us, inhabits our cells,” they said. “We don’t know who will be taken by death first, but the jailor is just waiting, betting on our defeat.”
“Our great beloved Palestinian people, do you accept to have us be an easy bite between the fangs of our merciless jailers?”, the letter reads. “We are behind bars, spending years of our lives for Palestine, for its liberation and the freedom of its people.”
“The Palestinian people are steadfast on their land; as any other nation, they have the right to freedom, independence and dignity. Our battle, as administrative detainees, is open-ended. We started our hunger strike 36 days ago, while this battle is just of one countless battles for freedom, it is a battle against injustice wherever its exists.”
“We have no guns, no rifles, no cannons; we are armed with the weapon of hunger. This is how we resist this sword pointed at our necks, the sword of administrative detention, holding us without charges or trial.”
“Our great Palestinian nation, defenders of justice all over the world, organizations struggling for Palestinian rights, all governments and free media outlets; you are our only hope."
"You are the hope of solidarity and support while we hold this lengthy battle, the battle of every Palestinian, for liberation, dignity. and for the end of this illegitimate administrative detention, indefinitely holding us prisoner without charges or trial.”
“Peace and God’s blessing and mercy be upon you - your hunger striking brothers in the Zionist jails of darkness and oppression. Representing the detainees; detainee Khalil Mousa Zawahra, and detainee Mousa Yacoub Ma’marjy. Thursday, May 29 2014”
Farmland Burnt By Israeli Fire Near Bethlehem
Palestinian medical sources have reported that several Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and one child was injured, during clashes with Israeli soldiers in front of the Ofer Israeli Prison, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and near the Qalandia terminal.
Eyewitnesses told the WAFA Palestinian news agency that the soldiers violently assaulted nonviolent protesters in front of the Ofer prison, leading to clashes between the soldiers and the protesters.
The army fired rubber-coated metal bullets and dozens of gas bombs, causing scores of Palestinians to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Medical sources said the soldiers also kidnapped Maher Haroun, 17 years of age, and took him to an unknown destination.
The Radio Bethlehem 2000 has reported that clashes also took place near the Qalandia terminal, south of Ramallah, and that the soldiers fired several gas bombs, concussion grenades, and rubber-coated metal bullets.
Dozens of residents received treatment for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In related news, soldiers attacked Palestinian protesters in Teqoua’ town, east of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and fired gas bombs and concussion grenades at them.
Local sources said many bombs set off by the soldiers caused fire in dozens of dunams of farmlands planted with wheat barley and olive trees.
Palestinian medical sources have reported that several Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and one child was injured, during clashes with Israeli soldiers in front of the Ofer Israeli Prison, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and near the Qalandia terminal.
Eyewitnesses told the WAFA Palestinian news agency that the soldiers violently assaulted nonviolent protesters in front of the Ofer prison, leading to clashes between the soldiers and the protesters.
The army fired rubber-coated metal bullets and dozens of gas bombs, causing scores of Palestinians to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Medical sources said the soldiers also kidnapped Maher Haroun, 17 years of age, and took him to an unknown destination.
The Radio Bethlehem 2000 has reported that clashes also took place near the Qalandia terminal, south of Ramallah, and that the soldiers fired several gas bombs, concussion grenades, and rubber-coated metal bullets.
Dozens of residents received treatment for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In related news, soldiers attacked Palestinian protesters in Teqoua’ town, east of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and fired gas bombs and concussion grenades at them.
Local sources said many bombs set off by the soldiers caused fire in dozens of dunams of farmlands planted with wheat barley and olive trees.
Israeli Navy boats have opened fire at Palestinian fishermen boats again, this time in the al-Sodania area, northwest of Gaza.
PNN correspondence has reported that the sounds of bombs and gun shootings were heard near the fishing boats, which were within the area of 6 miles officially allowed for Palestinians to fish in.
However, the Israeli Navy continues to follow them through the Gaza Sea, opening fire towards their boats, arresting them and preventing them from fishing.
Palestinian Medical sources reported no injuries.
PNN correspondence has reported that the sounds of bombs and gun shootings were heard near the fishing boats, which were within the area of 6 miles officially allowed for Palestinians to fish in.
However, the Israeli Navy continues to follow them through the Gaza Sea, opening fire towards their boats, arresting them and preventing them from fishing.
Palestinian Medical sources reported no injuries.
6 june 2014
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Israeli police raided the East Jerusalem studios of Palestine TV on Friday and briefly detained three staff for questioning, a spokeswoman said.
"Police carried out searches at the headquarters of the television channel, as part of an investigation into the content of its programm," spokeswoman Luba Samri told AFP. "Three employees were arrested, questioned and released," she said, adding that "no programs were interrupted and the investigation is ongoing." Israeli public radio said police suspected Palestine TV of broadcasting "incitements to violence." |
A Palestinian media report online said two cameramen and one guest on the channel's "Good Morning Jerusalem" program were held for questioning.
Israeli soldiers raided the offices of a Palestinian newspaper in Ramallah on May 28, ordering it to stop printing publications by Islamist movement Hamas, managers said.
In December, the Foreign Press Association accused the Israeli army of "deliberately targeting" journalists after soldiers fired rubber bullets and threw stun grenades at photojournalists clearly identified as press.
The Tel Aviv-based group, which represents journalists of all foreign media, said troops had directly targeted a group of photographers covering clashes at the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah.
Israeli soldiers raided the offices of a Palestinian newspaper in Ramallah on May 28, ordering it to stop printing publications by Islamist movement Hamas, managers said.
In December, the Foreign Press Association accused the Israeli army of "deliberately targeting" journalists after soldiers fired rubber bullets and threw stun grenades at photojournalists clearly identified as press.
The Tel Aviv-based group, which represents journalists of all foreign media, said troops had directly targeted a group of photographers covering clashes at the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah.
Hundreds of Palestinians held a vigil on Thursday night at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in western Gaza City in solidarity with hundreds of prisoners on hunger strike against their detention without trial.
Demonstrators held candles aloft and spelled out "The prisoners are in danger … support is a duty" with them on the ground during the protest, which was organized by the Popular Committee against the Siege to support 100 prisoners who have been on strike for more than 40 days, along with hundreds more who have since joined the strike.
Head of the committee Jamal al-Khudari said in a press conference that "the prisoners are in real danger in Israeli prisons," stressing that "administrative detention is illegal and against all international laws."
"Gaza is under siege by Israel only," he added,"but the prisoners are being held under more than one siege."
Al-Khudari called for support from the government as well as from other Arab and Islamic officials to help the prisoners and to pressure Israel to end their policy of detention without charge or trial of Palestinian prisoners, which is the goal of the hunger strike.
Al-Khudari announced that the committee had called 2014 a year for freeing prisoners and ending their imprisonment and confinement, and that all the committee's activities will be in support for prisoners and against the Israeli siege of Gaza, which has been in place since 2007.
5,224 Palestinian prisoners are currently being held in Israeli prisons, according to the PLO, and 800,000 have been arrested by Israel since the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza began in 1967.
Demonstrators held candles aloft and spelled out "The prisoners are in danger … support is a duty" with them on the ground during the protest, which was organized by the Popular Committee against the Siege to support 100 prisoners who have been on strike for more than 40 days, along with hundreds more who have since joined the strike.
Head of the committee Jamal al-Khudari said in a press conference that "the prisoners are in real danger in Israeli prisons," stressing that "administrative detention is illegal and against all international laws."
"Gaza is under siege by Israel only," he added,"but the prisoners are being held under more than one siege."
Al-Khudari called for support from the government as well as from other Arab and Islamic officials to help the prisoners and to pressure Israel to end their policy of detention without charge or trial of Palestinian prisoners, which is the goal of the hunger strike.
Al-Khudari announced that the committee had called 2014 a year for freeing prisoners and ending their imprisonment and confinement, and that all the committee's activities will be in support for prisoners and against the Israeli siege of Gaza, which has been in place since 2007.
5,224 Palestinian prisoners are currently being held in Israeli prisons, according to the PLO, and 800,000 have been arrested by Israel since the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza began in 1967.
The Israeli army said on Friday that a Palestinian had been detained near Azzun west of Nablus for trying to "stab a soldier" after he was stopped in his vehicle during a patrol in the area.
The army said in a statement that the patrol had "apprehended a suspicious vehicle for checkup" and during the inspection the man in the vehicle "took out a knife and attempted to stab the soldier with it" after he was told to remove a "suspicious object apparent in his pocket."
The Israeli army subsequently "captured" the man and transferred him for "security questioning."
The man was reportedly 15 years old.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said that the teen was taken to a police station to investigate details of the incident.
The army said in a statement that the patrol had "apprehended a suspicious vehicle for checkup" and during the inspection the man in the vehicle "took out a knife and attempted to stab the soldier with it" after he was told to remove a "suspicious object apparent in his pocket."
The Israeli army subsequently "captured" the man and transferred him for "security questioning."
The man was reportedly 15 years old.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said that the teen was taken to a police station to investigate details of the incident.
Salem Military Court sentenced Thursday afternoon Reem Hamarsheh, the wife of activist Adnan Hamarsheh, to eight months in prison.
Local sources confirmed that the court refused to consider the medical and humanitarian condition of the female detainee who has children and has to provide for them, especially that her husband is also held behind Israeli jails.
She was arrested for "ridiculous charges," the sources added.
Reem was arrested three months ago at Karama crossing after her arrival from Jordan, while her husband, who still suffers from health problems, was arrested on the same day.
Local sources confirmed that the court refused to consider the medical and humanitarian condition of the female detainee who has children and has to provide for them, especially that her husband is also held behind Israeli jails.
She was arrested for "ridiculous charges," the sources added.
Reem was arrested three months ago at Karama crossing after her arrival from Jordan, while her husband, who still suffers from health problems, was arrested on the same day.
As 120 prisoners enter their sixth week of a water-only hunger strike, and the Israeli government announces plans to begin force-feeding the hunger strikers, a United Nations committee has weighed in on the issue that led the prisoners to begin the hunger strike – detention without trial or charge.
The practice is known in Israel as ‘administrative detention’, and is used to imprison Palestinians for an indefinite period with no charges or trial. The Israeli government says the practice is necessary for ‘security reasons’, as part of the state of emergency that was declared in 1967 and has not been lifted since.
But Palestinians claim that the practice is used to silence political dissenters, and organizers of non-violent protests. In addition, the United Nations has, on several occasions, called on Israel to end the practice of imprisonment without trial or charge, as it is a direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
On Thursday, the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories issued a statement urging Israel to respond to the “desperate plea” of the 120 hunger striking prisoners by either charging them with a crime or releasing them.
Holding prisoners without charge is a practice which is condemned under international law and widely criticized as undemocratic and despotic.
In the statement, the UN Committee said of the hunger strike, “It is a desperate plea by these detainees to be afforded a very basic standard of due process: to know what they are accused of and to be able to defend themselves.”
The Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories is also known as the Special Committee on Israeli Practices. It was established by United Nations General Assembly in 1968 with the aim of ensuring and "respect for and implementation of human rights in [the Palestinian] occupied territories."
The practice is known in Israel as ‘administrative detention’, and is used to imprison Palestinians for an indefinite period with no charges or trial. The Israeli government says the practice is necessary for ‘security reasons’, as part of the state of emergency that was declared in 1967 and has not been lifted since.
But Palestinians claim that the practice is used to silence political dissenters, and organizers of non-violent protests. In addition, the United Nations has, on several occasions, called on Israel to end the practice of imprisonment without trial or charge, as it is a direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
On Thursday, the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories issued a statement urging Israel to respond to the “desperate plea” of the 120 hunger striking prisoners by either charging them with a crime or releasing them.
Holding prisoners without charge is a practice which is condemned under international law and widely criticized as undemocratic and despotic.
In the statement, the UN Committee said of the hunger strike, “It is a desperate plea by these detainees to be afforded a very basic standard of due process: to know what they are accused of and to be able to defend themselves.”
The Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories is also known as the Special Committee on Israeli Practices. It was established by United Nations General Assembly in 1968 with the aim of ensuring and "respect for and implementation of human rights in [the Palestinian] occupied territories."
The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights inside the Green Line (Adalah) sent an urgent letter to the Israeli Attorney General demanding an end to the practice of physical and psychological torture and ill-treatment against Palestinian children from the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) during their arrest and interrogation by Israeli security personnel.
Adalah requested that the AG open criminal investigations into such cases and prosecute those responsible for these serious crimes, the center's statement said.
According to the human rights center, Adalah's letter is based on 21 shocking testimonies made by Palestinian children and recorded by lawyers from "the Defense for Children International/Palestine Section (DCI/PS)."
"The dangerous practices described in the testimonies constitute serious criminal offenses such as assault, damage, threat, sexual harassment and other unlawful activity committed by security authorities, ranging from soldiers, to GSS interrogators, and to prison wardens."
"The children's testimonies revealed that most of the arrests were made during raids in the late hours of the night. Their homes are violently broken into by dozens of soldiers who intimidated both the children and their families. In all the testimonies, the children acknowledged the binding of their hands and feet, blindfolding of their eyes, and their transfer to military vehicles which were hundreds of meters away from the location of the arrest. In many cases, the soldiers went into the children's rooms, aggressively woke them up, and shackled their hands and feet while they were still in bed."
In one of the testimonies documented in the statement, "a child spoke of how he woke up to the brutal kicks of the soldiers as he was sleeping in his bed. After they woke him, they tied his hands and feet for more than half a day, even though the child's finger was severed up to the middle from a previous incident; this led to a serious infection and forced the doctors to amputate the child's entire finger. In many cases, when parents spoke to soldiers for information regarding the arrest of their children, the soldiers responded with beatings and insults against the family members."
In most cases, the child was arrested without them or their families knowing the reason for the arrest, without a relative accompanying the child during the arrest, and without informing them or the families where they would be moved to. The testimonies also reveal that during the child's transfer to the interrogation site, the soldiers used extreme physical and verbal abuse against them, including beatings, smashing the child's head against a wall, threats of violence, and threats of sexual assault and rape, according to Adalah.
In one of the testimonies, a child reported that "after the soldiers beat him in his own home, they isolated all his family members in one room and kept him in the main hall of the house. After the soldiers finished interrogating him, they brought four other children, who were friends of the detained child, into the house and began beating him in front of them. Amidst the torture and beatings, the child "confessed" to throwing stones and "confessed" that his friends also participated. Later in the interrogation site, the child withdrew his confessions and said he only admitted to the misdemeanors in order to stop the beatings."
Investigators used interrogation techniques that are prohibited by law. For example, all the children acknowledged that the interrogations lasted for many hours and that they were left handcuffed on both their hands and feet while seated on a low chair. The investigators threatened the children with beatings, isolation, torturing their fathers and raping their mothers and sisters, the statement continued.
Most of the children also said that "they had been strip-searched while naked through many phases of the investigation. Children who refused to be strip-searched while naked were violently assaulted by the wardens as a result."
Furthermore, the children's investigations were conducted without the company of a lawyer or a relative. When the children asked the investigators if they could receive legal advice from a lawyer, the investigators responded by saying that it is "forbidden" to meet with a lawyer. The experiences of long hours of investigations while being denied access to a toilet, and denied food and sufficient drinking water, were common among the testimonies. In some cases, investigators refused to give the children food for dozens of hours unless they confessed to the charges against them.
In all the testimonies gathered by Adalah center, "the children were held under solitary confinement and isolated from the outside world for days, and sometimes even weeks, at a time. One of the children said in his testimony that he was kept in solitary confinement for 28 consecutive days. All the minors also described their cells as being in very poor conditions; the cells were very small, without any windows, and comprised of a small mattress and a toilet which had a terrible smell."
The walls of the cells, according to the testimonies, were rough and could not be leaned on. The testimonies also showed that the cells are kept lit 24 hours a day by a bright yellow light that hurt the children's eyes and prevented them from sleeping, causing them to lose comprehension of time.
In its letter, Adalah Attorneys Fady Khoury and Nadeem Shehadeh stated in the letter that: "The practices that appear in the testimonies constitute a serious violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by Israeli law and international law, including the right to dignity, the right to physical integrity, the right to liberty, and the right to privacy. These rights must be respected by all authorities in Israel, from the army to the investigation authorities."
Adalah’s attorneys further highlighted the fact that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) treaty, to which the state of Israel is a signatory, obliges Israel to immediately inform the child and his relatives regarding the charges against the child and to ensure adequate legal representation for the child from the moment of his first arrest.
The CRC also obliges Israel to refrain from extorting children through physical and psychological pressure in order to attain confessions under duress. Furthermore, the treaty forbids children's exposure to any type of abuse, torture, humiliation and inhuman treatment.
Adalah requested that the AG open criminal investigations into such cases and prosecute those responsible for these serious crimes, the center's statement said.
According to the human rights center, Adalah's letter is based on 21 shocking testimonies made by Palestinian children and recorded by lawyers from "the Defense for Children International/Palestine Section (DCI/PS)."
"The dangerous practices described in the testimonies constitute serious criminal offenses such as assault, damage, threat, sexual harassment and other unlawful activity committed by security authorities, ranging from soldiers, to GSS interrogators, and to prison wardens."
"The children's testimonies revealed that most of the arrests were made during raids in the late hours of the night. Their homes are violently broken into by dozens of soldiers who intimidated both the children and their families. In all the testimonies, the children acknowledged the binding of their hands and feet, blindfolding of their eyes, and their transfer to military vehicles which were hundreds of meters away from the location of the arrest. In many cases, the soldiers went into the children's rooms, aggressively woke them up, and shackled their hands and feet while they were still in bed."
In one of the testimonies documented in the statement, "a child spoke of how he woke up to the brutal kicks of the soldiers as he was sleeping in his bed. After they woke him, they tied his hands and feet for more than half a day, even though the child's finger was severed up to the middle from a previous incident; this led to a serious infection and forced the doctors to amputate the child's entire finger. In many cases, when parents spoke to soldiers for information regarding the arrest of their children, the soldiers responded with beatings and insults against the family members."
In most cases, the child was arrested without them or their families knowing the reason for the arrest, without a relative accompanying the child during the arrest, and without informing them or the families where they would be moved to. The testimonies also reveal that during the child's transfer to the interrogation site, the soldiers used extreme physical and verbal abuse against them, including beatings, smashing the child's head against a wall, threats of violence, and threats of sexual assault and rape, according to Adalah.
In one of the testimonies, a child reported that "after the soldiers beat him in his own home, they isolated all his family members in one room and kept him in the main hall of the house. After the soldiers finished interrogating him, they brought four other children, who were friends of the detained child, into the house and began beating him in front of them. Amidst the torture and beatings, the child "confessed" to throwing stones and "confessed" that his friends also participated. Later in the interrogation site, the child withdrew his confessions and said he only admitted to the misdemeanors in order to stop the beatings."
Investigators used interrogation techniques that are prohibited by law. For example, all the children acknowledged that the interrogations lasted for many hours and that they were left handcuffed on both their hands and feet while seated on a low chair. The investigators threatened the children with beatings, isolation, torturing their fathers and raping their mothers and sisters, the statement continued.
Most of the children also said that "they had been strip-searched while naked through many phases of the investigation. Children who refused to be strip-searched while naked were violently assaulted by the wardens as a result."
Furthermore, the children's investigations were conducted without the company of a lawyer or a relative. When the children asked the investigators if they could receive legal advice from a lawyer, the investigators responded by saying that it is "forbidden" to meet with a lawyer. The experiences of long hours of investigations while being denied access to a toilet, and denied food and sufficient drinking water, were common among the testimonies. In some cases, investigators refused to give the children food for dozens of hours unless they confessed to the charges against them.
In all the testimonies gathered by Adalah center, "the children were held under solitary confinement and isolated from the outside world for days, and sometimes even weeks, at a time. One of the children said in his testimony that he was kept in solitary confinement for 28 consecutive days. All the minors also described their cells as being in very poor conditions; the cells were very small, without any windows, and comprised of a small mattress and a toilet which had a terrible smell."
The walls of the cells, according to the testimonies, were rough and could not be leaned on. The testimonies also showed that the cells are kept lit 24 hours a day by a bright yellow light that hurt the children's eyes and prevented them from sleeping, causing them to lose comprehension of time.
In its letter, Adalah Attorneys Fady Khoury and Nadeem Shehadeh stated in the letter that: "The practices that appear in the testimonies constitute a serious violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by Israeli law and international law, including the right to dignity, the right to physical integrity, the right to liberty, and the right to privacy. These rights must be respected by all authorities in Israel, from the army to the investigation authorities."
Adalah’s attorneys further highlighted the fact that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) treaty, to which the state of Israel is a signatory, obliges Israel to immediately inform the child and his relatives regarding the charges against the child and to ensure adequate legal representation for the child from the moment of his first arrest.
The CRC also obliges Israel to refrain from extorting children through physical and psychological pressure in order to attain confessions under duress. Furthermore, the treaty forbids children's exposure to any type of abuse, torture, humiliation and inhuman treatment.
