24 mar 2014
The Israeli prisons administration released on Sunday a child and a young man from Silwan and Anata after completing their prison sentences.
Release Mohammad Raed Siam
The administration of Hasharon prison released 16-year old Mohammad Raed Siam after spending 14 months in the occupation’s prisons.
Mohammad Siam was arrested from his house in Silwan on 20/01/2013 and was exposed to harsh interrogation in Al-Maskobyeh despite his young age. He suffered a bad medical and psychological situation during the first arrest period and was charged with throwing stones, Molotov cocktails and fireworks towards a settlement outpost in Silwan.
Siam explained that the young prisoners suffer from very difficult condition in the Israeli prisons.
Release Mohammad Raed Siam
The administration of Hasharon prison released 16-year old Mohammad Raed Siam after spending 14 months in the occupation’s prisons.
Mohammad Siam was arrested from his house in Silwan on 20/01/2013 and was exposed to harsh interrogation in Al-Maskobyeh despite his young age. He suffered a bad medical and psychological situation during the first arrest period and was charged with throwing stones, Molotov cocktails and fireworks towards a settlement outpost in Silwan.
Siam explained that the young prisoners suffer from very difficult condition in the Israeli prisons.
Releasing the Jerusalemite Haitham Salhab
The occupation authorities released on Sunday afternoon the 35-year old Jerusalemite Haitham Mousa Ibrahim Salhab after completing his 7-year prison sentence; note that he was released from Al-Naqab (Negev) desert prison.
Haitham was arrested on 03/03/2007 and was convicted of several charges and was transferred in between several prisons; Haitham is married and has three children.
The occupation authorities released on Sunday afternoon the 35-year old Jerusalemite Haitham Mousa Ibrahim Salhab after completing his 7-year prison sentence; note that he was released from Al-Naqab (Negev) desert prison.
Haitham was arrested on 03/03/2007 and was convicted of several charges and was transferred in between several prisons; Haitham is married and has three children.
Khaled Shweiki
The District court judge sentenced on Monday two Jerusalemite young men from Silwan and Shu’fat refugee camp.
Sentencing Khaled Shweiki
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the District judge sentenced 34-year old Khaled Shweiki for 30 months of actual imprisonment and a suspended probation of 10 months; note that he was arrested at the end of February 2013 after the Israeli forces raided his house in Silwan and he was subjected to harsh interrogation in the cells of Al-Maskobyeh on charges of “making and throwing bombs”.
Sentencing Ishaq Ghateet
In a related matter, Al-Dameer organization lawyer, Mohammad Mahmoud, said that the District judge sentenced 19-year old Ishaq Ghateet from Shu’fat refugee camp for 21 months of actual imprisonment and a suspended probation of 9 months for 2 years on charges on throwing stones and Molotov cocktails.
Extending the arrest of four Jerusalemites from Esawyeh
The Magistrate court judge extended on Monday the arrest of four Jerusalemites from Esawyeh. Mohammad Mahmoud said that the judge extended the arrest of Tamer Atef Obeid and Louai Sarandah until Tuesday, and Mohammad Shafiq Obeid and Mohammad Jom’a Obeid until Wednesday on charges of throwing stones; note that they were arrested on Monday early morning after raiding their houses in the village of Esawyeh.
Conditional releases
The Magistrate judge released Naser Qos, head of Prisoner’s Club in Jerusalem, and Ala’ Haddad, member of the Jerusalemites detainees and prisoners families committee, and Ahmad Al-Ghoul, director of Fateh Youth Movement in Jerusalem and Odai Sub Laban with a financial bail of 1000 NIS and a third-party bail of 5000 NIS and on condition of isolating them from Damascus Gate for 60 days and only allowing them to pass by in the area.
Releasing Dia’ Abbasi
The police of Salah Eddin Street released 23-year old Dia’ Yousef Abbasi after detaining him for several hours and assaulting him using pepper spray in addition to beating him.
Abbasi’s brother said that a force from the borders police arrested Dia’ from Herod’s Gate while he was heading home to Silwan. They assaulted him and sprayed him with pepper gas for no reason and then took him to Salah Eddin Street police station where he was detained from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. under the pretext of insulting a policeman; he was then released with a 500-NIS bail.
Dia’ suffered bruises and swelling in his limbs in addition to burns in his eyes due to the assault he was exposed to.
The District court judge sentenced on Monday two Jerusalemite young men from Silwan and Shu’fat refugee camp.
Sentencing Khaled Shweiki
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the District judge sentenced 34-year old Khaled Shweiki for 30 months of actual imprisonment and a suspended probation of 10 months; note that he was arrested at the end of February 2013 after the Israeli forces raided his house in Silwan and he was subjected to harsh interrogation in the cells of Al-Maskobyeh on charges of “making and throwing bombs”.
Sentencing Ishaq Ghateet
In a related matter, Al-Dameer organization lawyer, Mohammad Mahmoud, said that the District judge sentenced 19-year old Ishaq Ghateet from Shu’fat refugee camp for 21 months of actual imprisonment and a suspended probation of 9 months for 2 years on charges on throwing stones and Molotov cocktails.
Extending the arrest of four Jerusalemites from Esawyeh
The Magistrate court judge extended on Monday the arrest of four Jerusalemites from Esawyeh. Mohammad Mahmoud said that the judge extended the arrest of Tamer Atef Obeid and Louai Sarandah until Tuesday, and Mohammad Shafiq Obeid and Mohammad Jom’a Obeid until Wednesday on charges of throwing stones; note that they were arrested on Monday early morning after raiding their houses in the village of Esawyeh.
Conditional releases
The Magistrate judge released Naser Qos, head of Prisoner’s Club in Jerusalem, and Ala’ Haddad, member of the Jerusalemites detainees and prisoners families committee, and Ahmad Al-Ghoul, director of Fateh Youth Movement in Jerusalem and Odai Sub Laban with a financial bail of 1000 NIS and a third-party bail of 5000 NIS and on condition of isolating them from Damascus Gate for 60 days and only allowing them to pass by in the area.
Releasing Dia’ Abbasi
The police of Salah Eddin Street released 23-year old Dia’ Yousef Abbasi after detaining him for several hours and assaulting him using pepper spray in addition to beating him.
Abbasi’s brother said that a force from the borders police arrested Dia’ from Herod’s Gate while he was heading home to Silwan. They assaulted him and sprayed him with pepper gas for no reason and then took him to Salah Eddin Street police station where he was detained from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. under the pretext of insulting a policeman; he was then released with a 500-NIS bail.
Dia’ suffered bruises and swelling in his limbs in addition to burns in his eyes due to the assault he was exposed to.
Monday, March 24, 2014, marked the fourth day in a row of clashes between residents of Aida refugee camp and Israeli forces, after Palestinian activists tore through the separation wall which surrounds the camp.
Local popular committee member Munthir Amira told Ma'an News Agency that Israeli special forces raided the Bethlehem-area refugee camp on Monday evening, detaining 24-year-old Muatasim Basim Abu Khdeir.
A number of Israeli soldiers gathered in the area of Aida's Key of Return, Amira said. Troops were also stationed on residents' rooftops, using them as military posts during clashes with Palestinians in the area.
The raid came on the same day which Israeli forces reinstalled a section of the separation wall that had been destroyed by Palestinians in the camp, on Thursday.
There are 19 refugee camps in the occupied West Bank, within which live about a quarter of the 771,000 registered refugees in the territory.
Aida camp is a frequent site of clashes because it is located beside Rachel's Tomb, which is surrounded on three sides by the Israeli annexation wall, despite being in the middle of the Palestinian city of Bethlehem.
More than 760,000 Palestinians -- estimated today to number 4.8 million with their descendants -- were pushed into exile or driven out of their homes in the conflict surrounding Israel's creation in 1948.
Local popular committee member Munthir Amira told Ma'an News Agency that Israeli special forces raided the Bethlehem-area refugee camp on Monday evening, detaining 24-year-old Muatasim Basim Abu Khdeir.
A number of Israeli soldiers gathered in the area of Aida's Key of Return, Amira said. Troops were also stationed on residents' rooftops, using them as military posts during clashes with Palestinians in the area.
The raid came on the same day which Israeli forces reinstalled a section of the separation wall that had been destroyed by Palestinians in the camp, on Thursday.
There are 19 refugee camps in the occupied West Bank, within which live about a quarter of the 771,000 registered refugees in the territory.
Aida camp is a frequent site of clashes because it is located beside Rachel's Tomb, which is surrounded on three sides by the Israeli annexation wall, despite being in the middle of the Palestinian city of Bethlehem.
More than 760,000 Palestinians -- estimated today to number 4.8 million with their descendants -- were pushed into exile or driven out of their homes in the conflict surrounding Israel's creation in 1948.
Israeli occupation forces shot and injured a Palestinian youth from Abu Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, the southern West Bank.
Yousuf Saqer,21, sustained moderate injuries after the Israeli soldiers shot him with live and rubber-coated bullets.
Some sources from Abu Akar family said, “the Israeli troops raided our house at 6:30 am and climbed its roof turning it into a garrison.”
“A state of calm prevailed in the camp during the last few hours after three days of clashes, “ it pointed out.
Locals said that the occupation intended to deliberately climb houses near the Apartheid Wall in an attempt to provoke the Palestinian citizens living there.
The Israeli forces released some of the family members while others remained in detention. They ordered residents of the house to evacuate their home for claimed military purposes.
Violent clashes erupted yesterday between hundreds of Palestinians and Israeli soldiers in Ayda Camp, leading to injuring three Israelis and dozens of Palestinians.
Yousuf Saqer,21, sustained moderate injuries after the Israeli soldiers shot him with live and rubber-coated bullets.
Some sources from Abu Akar family said, “the Israeli troops raided our house at 6:30 am and climbed its roof turning it into a garrison.”
“A state of calm prevailed in the camp during the last few hours after three days of clashes, “ it pointed out.
Locals said that the occupation intended to deliberately climb houses near the Apartheid Wall in an attempt to provoke the Palestinian citizens living there.
The Israeli forces released some of the family members while others remained in detention. They ordered residents of the house to evacuate their home for claimed military purposes.
Violent clashes erupted yesterday between hundreds of Palestinians and Israeli soldiers in Ayda Camp, leading to injuring three Israelis and dozens of Palestinians.
An Israeli court judge on Monday ordered the release of four people from Jerusalem on bail and on the condition that they not enter Damascus Gate for 60 days.
Prisoner’s society lawyer Mufeed al-Hajj said that its director in Jerusalem Nasser Qaws, Jerusalem prisoners families committee member Alaa Haddad, head of the Fatah-affiliated youth group al-Shabeeba Ahmad al-Ghoul, and Adi Sublabban were released on bail of 1,000 shekels, with a third-party guarantee of 5000 shekels, and on the condition that they do not enter Damascus Gate for 60 days.
The four were arrested on Saturday evening in a demonstration against the killing of three militants in Jenin.
Arresting four Jerusalemites from Esawyeh
The Israeli occupation forces arrested four Jerusalemite citizens on Monday morning from the village of Esawyeh. The detainees are: Tamer Atef Obeid, Mahmoud Shafiq Obeid, Louai Sarandah and Louai Obeid.
Prisoner’s society lawyer Mufeed al-Hajj said that its director in Jerusalem Nasser Qaws, Jerusalem prisoners families committee member Alaa Haddad, head of the Fatah-affiliated youth group al-Shabeeba Ahmad al-Ghoul, and Adi Sublabban were released on bail of 1,000 shekels, with a third-party guarantee of 5000 shekels, and on the condition that they do not enter Damascus Gate for 60 days.
The four were arrested on Saturday evening in a demonstration against the killing of three militants in Jenin.
Arresting four Jerusalemites from Esawyeh
The Israeli occupation forces arrested four Jerusalemite citizens on Monday morning from the village of Esawyeh. The detainees are: Tamer Atef Obeid, Mahmoud Shafiq Obeid, Louai Sarandah and Louai Obeid.
A special unit of the Israeli occupation forces known aa "Mustarbeen" kidnapped monday night a Palestinian youth at the entrance of Aida refugee camp and beat him severely .Eye witnesses told PNN in a telephone call that the undercover unit attacked "Mutassim Alsurefee 20 years " from the camp near the Aida Youth Center and assaulted him, throw on the ground and beat him violently .
The witnesses added " members of Israeli special units have arrested the young man when he was walking in the street towards the youth center.
Residents of the neighborhood screamed at the Israeli undercover units in an attempt to prevent them from keep attacking and beat him the witnesses said.
The residents end their talk saying large forces of the Israeli army arrived in the area and besieged and prevented citizens from going out of their homes as Israeli soldiers directing their guns at the direction of the people who stood on the windows of their homes windows and chanted slogans against the Israeli occupation .
Witnesses said that large forces deployed in the streets of the camp so far and they predicted that the Israeli army will carry out arrests in the camp after days of clashes that led to wounded a number of Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were injured.
The witnesses added " members of Israeli special units have arrested the young man when he was walking in the street towards the youth center.
Residents of the neighborhood screamed at the Israeli undercover units in an attempt to prevent them from keep attacking and beat him the witnesses said.
The residents end their talk saying large forces of the Israeli army arrived in the area and besieged and prevented citizens from going out of their homes as Israeli soldiers directing their guns at the direction of the people who stood on the windows of their homes windows and chanted slogans against the Israeli occupation .
Witnesses said that large forces deployed in the streets of the camp so far and they predicted that the Israeli army will carry out arrests in the camp after days of clashes that led to wounded a number of Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were injured.
Tension is running high in the Israeli Shatta jail after guards attacked Palestinian prisoners in rooms 6 and 8 and ordered them to strip for search. Human rights sources said on Monday that the prisoners refused the order, which prompted the jailers to break into all prison rooms and order all prisoners out of them.
They added that the guards smashed all electric appliances in the rooms and poured oil on the prisoners’ clothes after collecting them in one room.
The sources quoted prisoners as saying that the prison administration threatened to deprive them of visits and to impose fines on each one of them.
The prisoners responded to the measures by refusing meals and decided that on Tuesday they would return the breakfast and dinner meals in protest at the quelling and at damaging their belongings.
The sources said that a similar assault was reported in Gilboa jail in ward 5, and added that visitors were forced to go back without seeing their imprisoned relatives.
They added that the guards smashed all electric appliances in the rooms and poured oil on the prisoners’ clothes after collecting them in one room.
The sources quoted prisoners as saying that the prison administration threatened to deprive them of visits and to impose fines on each one of them.
The prisoners responded to the measures by refusing meals and decided that on Tuesday they would return the breakfast and dinner meals in protest at the quelling and at damaging their belongings.
The sources said that a similar assault was reported in Gilboa jail in ward 5, and added that visitors were forced to go back without seeing their imprisoned relatives.
Spokesperson of Waed Association for Prisoners and Ex-prisoners Abdullah Qandil said prisoner Dirar Abu Sisi was transferred today Monday from “Eshel” prison to “Soroka” hospital in Beersheba due to the deterioration in his health. Qandil confirmed that the IPS transferred Abu Sisi to “Soroka” hospital. "His health is in danger and it’s worsening steadily," he added.
Abu Sisi is arrested inside an unhealthy and inhumanitarian isolated cell in “Eshel Prison” since arresting him. He is exposed to various acts of torture and humiliation by the IPS and suffers from heart and stomach troubles and high blood pressure.
Abu Sisi , 44, is married to Ukrainian Veronica Abu Sisi and a father of six children. He worked as a director of Palestine Company for Power Generation in the Gaza Strip .
He was kidnapped by personnel of Mossad on 18 February 2011in Ukraine while he was about to complete the procedures of getting the Ukrainian nationality.
Abu Sisi is arrested inside an unhealthy and inhumanitarian isolated cell in “Eshel Prison” since arresting him. He is exposed to various acts of torture and humiliation by the IPS and suffers from heart and stomach troubles and high blood pressure.
Abu Sisi , 44, is married to Ukrainian Veronica Abu Sisi and a father of six children. He worked as a director of Palestine Company for Power Generation in the Gaza Strip .
He was kidnapped by personnel of Mossad on 18 February 2011in Ukraine while he was about to complete the procedures of getting the Ukrainian nationality.
Israeli authorities allowed on Monday, families from the Gaza Strip to visit their sons in Nafha Israeli prison.
Director of Media in International Committee of the Red Cross, Nasser al-Najjar, said that 89 families, including 17 children, from the Gaza Strip crossed at dawn the Beit Hanoun Crossing (Erez) north of the Gaza Strip, to visit 51 prisoners detained in the Nafha Israeli jail.
The Israeli occupation prevented last Monday, the families of the Gaza prisoners from visiting their sons, due to the alleged rockets that landed on the settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip.
Israeli authorities allowed the families from the Gaza Strip to visit their sons in Israeli prisons inside occupied Palestine on Mondays, after being deprived of visits for over six years.
It's worth mentioning that Israel detains more than 5,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails, including 490 from the Gaza Strip, who suffer from difficult conditions, while 206 prisoners died due to medical negligence.
Director of Media in International Committee of the Red Cross, Nasser al-Najjar, said that 89 families, including 17 children, from the Gaza Strip crossed at dawn the Beit Hanoun Crossing (Erez) north of the Gaza Strip, to visit 51 prisoners detained in the Nafha Israeli jail.
The Israeli occupation prevented last Monday, the families of the Gaza prisoners from visiting their sons, due to the alleged rockets that landed on the settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip.
Israeli authorities allowed the families from the Gaza Strip to visit their sons in Israeli prisons inside occupied Palestine on Mondays, after being deprived of visits for over six years.
It's worth mentioning that Israel detains more than 5,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails, including 490 from the Gaza Strip, who suffer from difficult conditions, while 206 prisoners died due to medical negligence.
Israeli occupation forces arrested 18 Palestinians from the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Nablus and Hebron.
Security source said that IOF forces arrested five Palestinians from the village of Tkou' east of Bethlehem, and searched several houses. The detainees were identified as: Sameeh Zaghl Jabriel, 21, Imad Sulaiman Zaghal Jabriel, 21, Izz Ad-Din Kamel Zaghal Jebriel, 21, and his brother Mujahed , 26, and Sameer Mohammed al-Badan,20.
In Aida refugee camp, Israeli forces arrested nine members of Abu Aker family after raiding and searching their house.
Hussain Abu Aker, a family member, said that Israeli forces arrested his father Mustafa Abu Aker, 57, his uncle Saleh, 51, Majdi Mustafa, 26, and Khalil Mustafa Abu Aker, 22, who was injured by a rubber-coated bullet to his neck.
The Israeli soldiers also arrested Ammar Mustafa Abu Aker, 29, Qassam Saleh Abu Aker, 24, Mohammed Saleh Abu Aker, 25, Murad Ibrahim Abu Aker, 26, and Ali Eid Abu Aker, 26.
All the detainees were transferred to an unknown location.
In Nablus, Israeli occupation forces arrested a number of Palestinians from Balata refugee camp, east of the city.
Witnesses said that a number of military jeeps raided the camp at dawn, searched several houses and arrested Jaber Eweis, 45, and Iyad Namir Ka'bi, 25.
In Hebron, IOF forces arrested a Palestinian from Khalyet al-Myeh east of Yatta village, south of the West Bank city of Hebron.
Coordinator of Popular Resistance to Resist Wall and Settlement in Hebron, Rateb al-Jbour, Israeli forces carried out search campaign in a number of houses and stores in the area, arrested Imad Ayed Eid al-Najjar and took him to an unknown location. The forces declared the Khalyet al-Myeh a closed military area.
Al-Jbour condemned the Israeli brutal practices committed against the Palestinians and their property and called on humanitarian and international bodies to put an end to these measures that aim at deporting the Palestinians from their land.
Israeli Assaults and Kidnappings Continue Across West Bank
Israeli forces, Monday, abducted eight people in the West Bank districts of Bethlehem and Nablus, as well as summoned another for interrogation, according to local and security sources.
Army forces stormed the village of Taqou, to the east of Bethlehem, and took with them five young Palestinians, all in their twenties, including two brothers, after raiding and searching their houses.
According to WAFA, forces also broke into Aida refugee camp, near Bethlehem, and raided Lajee Center, a Palestinian creative cultural children's centre in the camp, after breaking down its main gate. They also took over the rooftop of the center and turned it into a military outpost.
Three Palestinians were shot and injured by rubber-coated metal bullets fired by Israeli forces in Aida refugee camp, to the north of Bethlehem, according to local sources.
Three citizens, including a female, were injured after being fired upon by Israeli forces. The people, including one seriously-injured, were admitted into Beit Jala hospital for treatment.
Forces declared the camp and the surrounding area a closed military zone, where they used equipment to fix some damaged parts of the apartheid wall which surrounds the camp.
Forces raided other homes in the area, taking a local resident into custody, security sources told WAFA.
Meanwhile, in Nablus, soldiers in army vehicles broke through the nearby Balata refugee camp, kidnapping two people, 25 and 45, after searching several homes in the area.
Israeli settlers assaulted and beat up a Palestinian resident in the village of Burin, to the south of Nablus.
The Palestinian, who was identified as Belal Dakhil, said that settlers attacked him and beat him up, under the protection of Israeli soldiers, while he was at the eastern part of the village checking on his house, which he was ordered by the Israeli army to stop the construction of, back in 2001.
Suspected settlers punctured the tires of dozens of Palestinian cars in annexed East Jerusalem, in the latest so-called "price tag" hate crime, police and an AFP correspondent said.
The attack took place in Beit Hanina with Hebrew graffiti on a nearby bus reading "Gentiles in the country are enemies".
Police said the tires of 34 cars were punctured, but an AFP correspondent at the scene placed the number at 45, noting all four wheels of each car were slashed.
Residents told Ma'an that the damage was discovered at 5 a.m. as locals left their homes to go to work.
In the Jenin district, Israeli forces invaded the village of Silat al-Harithiya, raided and searched several homes, interrogating residents. They also served a 22-year-old with a summons to appear for interrogation at the nearby Salem military base.
The army further stormed the town of Ya’bad to the west of Jenin. No arrests were reported.
Security source said that IOF forces arrested five Palestinians from the village of Tkou' east of Bethlehem, and searched several houses. The detainees were identified as: Sameeh Zaghl Jabriel, 21, Imad Sulaiman Zaghal Jabriel, 21, Izz Ad-Din Kamel Zaghal Jebriel, 21, and his brother Mujahed , 26, and Sameer Mohammed al-Badan,20.
In Aida refugee camp, Israeli forces arrested nine members of Abu Aker family after raiding and searching their house.
Hussain Abu Aker, a family member, said that Israeli forces arrested his father Mustafa Abu Aker, 57, his uncle Saleh, 51, Majdi Mustafa, 26, and Khalil Mustafa Abu Aker, 22, who was injured by a rubber-coated bullet to his neck.
The Israeli soldiers also arrested Ammar Mustafa Abu Aker, 29, Qassam Saleh Abu Aker, 24, Mohammed Saleh Abu Aker, 25, Murad Ibrahim Abu Aker, 26, and Ali Eid Abu Aker, 26.
All the detainees were transferred to an unknown location.
In Nablus, Israeli occupation forces arrested a number of Palestinians from Balata refugee camp, east of the city.
Witnesses said that a number of military jeeps raided the camp at dawn, searched several houses and arrested Jaber Eweis, 45, and Iyad Namir Ka'bi, 25.
In Hebron, IOF forces arrested a Palestinian from Khalyet al-Myeh east of Yatta village, south of the West Bank city of Hebron.
Coordinator of Popular Resistance to Resist Wall and Settlement in Hebron, Rateb al-Jbour, Israeli forces carried out search campaign in a number of houses and stores in the area, arrested Imad Ayed Eid al-Najjar and took him to an unknown location. The forces declared the Khalyet al-Myeh a closed military area.
Al-Jbour condemned the Israeli brutal practices committed against the Palestinians and their property and called on humanitarian and international bodies to put an end to these measures that aim at deporting the Palestinians from their land.
Israeli Assaults and Kidnappings Continue Across West Bank
Israeli forces, Monday, abducted eight people in the West Bank districts of Bethlehem and Nablus, as well as summoned another for interrogation, according to local and security sources.
Army forces stormed the village of Taqou, to the east of Bethlehem, and took with them five young Palestinians, all in their twenties, including two brothers, after raiding and searching their houses.
According to WAFA, forces also broke into Aida refugee camp, near Bethlehem, and raided Lajee Center, a Palestinian creative cultural children's centre in the camp, after breaking down its main gate. They also took over the rooftop of the center and turned it into a military outpost.
Three Palestinians were shot and injured by rubber-coated metal bullets fired by Israeli forces in Aida refugee camp, to the north of Bethlehem, according to local sources.
Three citizens, including a female, were injured after being fired upon by Israeli forces. The people, including one seriously-injured, were admitted into Beit Jala hospital for treatment.
Forces declared the camp and the surrounding area a closed military zone, where they used equipment to fix some damaged parts of the apartheid wall which surrounds the camp.
Forces raided other homes in the area, taking a local resident into custody, security sources told WAFA.
Meanwhile, in Nablus, soldiers in army vehicles broke through the nearby Balata refugee camp, kidnapping two people, 25 and 45, after searching several homes in the area.
Israeli settlers assaulted and beat up a Palestinian resident in the village of Burin, to the south of Nablus.
The Palestinian, who was identified as Belal Dakhil, said that settlers attacked him and beat him up, under the protection of Israeli soldiers, while he was at the eastern part of the village checking on his house, which he was ordered by the Israeli army to stop the construction of, back in 2001.
Suspected settlers punctured the tires of dozens of Palestinian cars in annexed East Jerusalem, in the latest so-called "price tag" hate crime, police and an AFP correspondent said.
The attack took place in Beit Hanina with Hebrew graffiti on a nearby bus reading "Gentiles in the country are enemies".
Police said the tires of 34 cars were punctured, but an AFP correspondent at the scene placed the number at 45, noting all four wheels of each car were slashed.
Residents told Ma'an that the damage was discovered at 5 a.m. as locals left their homes to go to work.
In the Jenin district, Israeli forces invaded the village of Silat al-Harithiya, raided and searched several homes, interrogating residents. They also served a 22-year-old with a summons to appear for interrogation at the nearby Salem military base.
The army further stormed the town of Ya’bad to the west of Jenin. No arrests were reported.
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Israeli Occupation Forces raided Monday morning, the Aida refugee camp in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. The army troops were deployed in more than one area in the camp, and prevented students from reaching their schools.
Salah Ajarmeh, Director of the Lajee Center, said that Israeli army forces raided since the early hours of the morning, the center that is located in the main entrance of the camp. Israeli soldiers also stormed the house of Abu Aker family . |
Eyewitnesses told PNN that Israeli army raided the UNRWA school and fired tear gas canisters and rubber-coated bullets near its entrances and closed the school.
It's worth mentioning that Israeli forces arrested Sunday night, nine members of Abu Aker family after raiding their house.
One of the family members said that Israeli army stormed the houses and turned it into a military outpost.
All the detainees were transferred to an unknown location.
It's worth noting that Israeli Occupation Forces have escalated their attacks in the past three days in the Aida refugee camp and carried out violent attacks against the citizens and their property.
It's worth mentioning that Israeli forces arrested Sunday night, nine members of Abu Aker family after raiding their house.
One of the family members said that Israeli army stormed the houses and turned it into a military outpost.
All the detainees were transferred to an unknown location.
It's worth noting that Israeli Occupation Forces have escalated their attacks in the past three days in the Aida refugee camp and carried out violent attacks against the citizens and their property.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided Nablus city and Balata refugee camp, to the east of the city, and rounded up three Palestinians at dawn Monday. Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that a big number of IOF soldiers in army jeeps entered Balata refugee camp before dawn and arrested two Palestinians, Jabir Uwais, 45, and Iyad Ka’abi, 25..
They said that Uwais is a liberated prisoner and was held in Israeli and Palestinian Authority jails for a few years on the charge of affiliation with Hamas movement.
The sources said that the IOF patrols then raided Nablus city and broke into the home of Basem Hawash, 38, and ransacked his house before taking him away.
Hawash, a father of three children, has one of his legs amputated.
They said that Uwais is a liberated prisoner and was held in Israeli and Palestinian Authority jails for a few years on the charge of affiliation with Hamas movement.
The sources said that the IOF patrols then raided Nablus city and broke into the home of Basem Hawash, 38, and ransacked his house before taking him away.
Hawash, a father of three children, has one of his legs amputated.
23 mar 2014
The guards of Shaare Zedek hospital prevented on Thursday night a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance from entering the hospital to transfer an old woman from Shu’fat refugee camp.
The paramedic officer, Ali Abu Ghazaleh, explained that the guards prevented him from entering the hospital in the ambulance and detained him twice at the first and second gates.
He said: “the guards at the first gate stopped the ambulance for few minutes and after checking my ID they allowed me to get in. At the second gate, we were surprised when the guards prevented us from entering and they detained the car including the passengers (driver, three paramedics and an 84-year old sick woman) for half an hour.
He added: “we had a conversation and the guards and their boss claimed that I do not have a permit and the vehicle doesn’t have a permit either.” One of them said: “if it was a “David’s Star” vehicle, then we would let it in without inspection or any delay.”
He explained that the guards forced the paramedics to transfer the woman on a stretcher despite the cold weather.
Ala’ Arna’out, coordinator for volunteers’ affairs in Jerusalem, explained that an official claim was filed to the Israeli Ministry of Health against the guards of the hospital and pointed out that there are audio and video recordings of the incident.
He also pointed out that the ambulances have the necessary Israeli permits to operate anywhere without any obstruction or delay.
The paramedic officer, Ali Abu Ghazaleh, explained that the guards prevented him from entering the hospital in the ambulance and detained him twice at the first and second gates.
He said: “the guards at the first gate stopped the ambulance for few minutes and after checking my ID they allowed me to get in. At the second gate, we were surprised when the guards prevented us from entering and they detained the car including the passengers (driver, three paramedics and an 84-year old sick woman) for half an hour.
He added: “we had a conversation and the guards and their boss claimed that I do not have a permit and the vehicle doesn’t have a permit either.” One of them said: “if it was a “David’s Star” vehicle, then we would let it in without inspection or any delay.”
He explained that the guards forced the paramedics to transfer the woman on a stretcher despite the cold weather.
Ala’ Arna’out, coordinator for volunteers’ affairs in Jerusalem, explained that an official claim was filed to the Israeli Ministry of Health against the guards of the hospital and pointed out that there are audio and video recordings of the incident.
He also pointed out that the ambulances have the necessary Israeli permits to operate anywhere without any obstruction or delay.
The Magistrate court judge extended on Sunday the arrest of Naser Qos, head of Prisoner’s Club in Jerusalem, and Ala’ Haddad, member of the Jerusalemites detainees and prisoners families committee, and Ahmad Al-Ghoul, director of Fateh Youth Movement in Jerusalem and Odai Sub Laban until Monday and the activist Ahmad Hadeeb and Mouamar Rabyeh until Tuesday; note that they were arrested on Saturday night after the occupation forces suppressed a sit-in to condemn the Martyrdom of three young men in Jenin.
In a related matter, Amjad Abu Asab, the head of Jerusalemites detainees and prisoners families committee, said that the occupation forces transferred Ala’ Haddad on Saturday night to the hospital for treatment after one of the prison guards closed the door on his fingers injuring him and causing him to bleed; Naser Qos lost consciousness while being at Al-Maskobyeh.
In a related matter, Amjad Abu Asab, the head of Jerusalemites detainees and prisoners families committee, said that the occupation forces transferred Ala’ Haddad on Saturday night to the hospital for treatment after one of the prison guards closed the door on his fingers injuring him and causing him to bleed; Naser Qos lost consciousness while being at Al-Maskobyeh.
Lawyer Hiba Masalha revealed that the Israeli investigators are still treating the Palestinian child prisoners in brutal and immoral way, during the arrest and interrogation processes. Masalha in a news release on Saturday quoted the 16-year-old prisoner Mohammed Abu Riala, from the town of Issawiya in occupied Jerusalem and who has been detained since 13 February 2014 in Hasharon prison, as saying that he has been tortured in Mascobiya interrogation center.
Abu Riala said that during the interrogation he was been handcuffed and blindfolded, while the Israeli investigators continued to hit him in the head and abdomen and threatened to tear out his nails and to cut his tongue with a pincer.
The lawyer added that another minor prisoner Ayham Mofleh, who has been held in Megiddo jail, was moved to the Israeli Afula hospital after he went into hysteria at night, and started suffering shortness of breath.
Abu Riala said that during the interrogation he was been handcuffed and blindfolded, while the Israeli investigators continued to hit him in the head and abdomen and threatened to tear out his nails and to cut his tongue with a pincer.
The lawyer added that another minor prisoner Ayham Mofleh, who has been held in Megiddo jail, was moved to the Israeli Afula hospital after he went into hysteria at night, and started suffering shortness of breath.
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By Monjed Jado.
Aida refugee camp, located in the north of Bethlehem in the West Bank, turned into a battlefield after being raided by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), who declared the camp a closed military zone. This third day of clashes, the IOF intensified their attacks on Aida camp, storming it with large forces in the morning and carrying out violent attacks against the residents of the camp and their property. Clashes began today as soon as the soldiers entered into the camp and started shooting tear gas at the youth who had gathered next to the hole in the wall. |
Local sources told Palestine News Network that the Israeli army used live ammunition, rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas during their attacks. They targeted houses and cars, which led to the suffocation of dozens of residents of the camp, including some children and elderly people. The people in the camp responded to these attacks throwing rocks and bricks to the soldiers.
One of the activist from the camp, Mohammad Lutfi (known as Habshi), fractured his ankle today while trying to evacuate some children from one of the houses in the camp. The building had been targeted by the Israeli soldiers and was full of tear gas
Three young men were shot by the occupation forces during the clashes. One of them was injured with live bullets in his leg, whereas the two others were hit by rubber bullets.
The occupation forces also stormed Mustafa Abu Aker’s family home, located near the UNRWA school and the military tower. It is next to this home, on the wall, where the young activists dug the hole during the past two days and the army decided to invade it for its strategic location.
Besides attacking the youth and the other residents of the camp, the soldiers also targeted a press car and they burnt down two more cars by firing tear gas directly at them. During the confrontations Israeli soldiers fired bullets at the car of an Associated Press photographer, while he was trying to cover the clashes in the camp. The photographer, Eyed Hamad, told PNN that the Israeli soldier opened fire on his car at a very short distance, not more than three or four meters, despite there was a clear sign in the car telling it is a ‘Foreign Press Car’.
This attack on the Associated Press photographer comes a day after the Israeli army detained three journalists in Aida camp. Moses Al-Shaeer, from France-Presse Agency, Abdul Rahman Yunes, photographer of the Al-quds newspaper and an American freelance photographer. In addition, an Italian photographer was injured in the face two days ago during clashes in Aida.
Israeli sources said this evening that a soldier was injured, hit by a stone thrown by the youth in Aida refugee camp.
One of the activist from the camp, Mohammad Lutfi (known as Habshi), fractured his ankle today while trying to evacuate some children from one of the houses in the camp. The building had been targeted by the Israeli soldiers and was full of tear gas
Three young men were shot by the occupation forces during the clashes. One of them was injured with live bullets in his leg, whereas the two others were hit by rubber bullets.
The occupation forces also stormed Mustafa Abu Aker’s family home, located near the UNRWA school and the military tower. It is next to this home, on the wall, where the young activists dug the hole during the past two days and the army decided to invade it for its strategic location.
Besides attacking the youth and the other residents of the camp, the soldiers also targeted a press car and they burnt down two more cars by firing tear gas directly at them. During the confrontations Israeli soldiers fired bullets at the car of an Associated Press photographer, while he was trying to cover the clashes in the camp. The photographer, Eyed Hamad, told PNN that the Israeli soldier opened fire on his car at a very short distance, not more than three or four meters, despite there was a clear sign in the car telling it is a ‘Foreign Press Car’.
This attack on the Associated Press photographer comes a day after the Israeli army detained three journalists in Aida camp. Moses Al-Shaeer, from France-Presse Agency, Abdul Rahman Yunes, photographer of the Al-quds newspaper and an American freelance photographer. In addition, an Italian photographer was injured in the face two days ago during clashes in Aida.
Israeli sources said this evening that a soldier was injured, hit by a stone thrown by the youth in Aida refugee camp.
Israeli forces, Sunday, abducted two people from the West Bank and another from the Jerusalem area. Others were summoned others for interrogation, according to local and security sources.
Two people, ages 25 and 35, were kidnapped by Israeli forces from the city of Hebron and the nearby town of Dora, after their houses were searched and content vandalized.
Forces also handed summons to appear before the Israeli intelligence to almost a dozen people from the Hebron area, according to WAFA.
On Saturday, March 22, Israeli police took Zaaid Salame Mehamre, a shepherd from the Palestinian village of Maghayr Al-Abeed, while he was grazing his sheep on Jabel Doff (the location where the Havat Ma'on outpost used to stand before the year 2000, when it was moved to Hill 833).
The action was carried out under the accusation of “trespassing”, although no official documents on the ownership of the land were presented, according to the Alternative Information Center (AIC).
Meanwhile, the army set up a military checkpoint at the entrance to Fawwar refugee camp, stopping vehicles and checking the identity cards of the drivers.
In Jerusalem, Israeli police took into custody a worker, age 28, from the village of Husan to the west of Bethlehem, under the pretext of entering Israel without permission.
In the Jenin district, army forces stormed the village of Al-Yamoun amid the firing of stun grenades and tear gas towards residents, causing several cases of suffocation. The forces also handed eight people summons for interrogation. No arrests were reported.
Three Palestinian youth were shot with rubber-coated steel bullets fired at them by Israeli forces, during confrontations which continued for the second day in Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, according to medical sources.
The sources told WAFA that forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters toward the residents, shooting and injuring three youth. Several other Palestinians suffered from tear gas suffocation.
They were transferred to hospital for treatment.
Soldiers opened fire at a journalist’s car while he was covering confrontations between forces and youth in Aida refugee camp, to the north of Bethlehem, according to the attacked journalist.
Journalist Iyad Ahmad, who works for the Associated Press, said that soldiers opened fire at his car while he was driving to the camp to cover the news, causing damage to the car.
To be noted, Israeli army recently intensified their arbitrary measures against journalists, including detention for periods of several hours and imposing restrictions on their free movement.
Israeli settlers attacked several Palestinian farmers in the village of Burin, south of Nablus, injuring one, according to a local activist.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in the north of the West Bank, told WAFA that a number of settlers attacked farmers and hurled stones at them while they were working on opening an agricultural road, at the eastern part of the village.
He said that settlers surrounded one of the farmers, beat him and threw stones at him, causing him several injuries throughout his body.
He was transferred to hospital for treatment where his condition was described as moderate.
Two people, ages 25 and 35, were kidnapped by Israeli forces from the city of Hebron and the nearby town of Dora, after their houses were searched and content vandalized.
Forces also handed summons to appear before the Israeli intelligence to almost a dozen people from the Hebron area, according to WAFA.
On Saturday, March 22, Israeli police took Zaaid Salame Mehamre, a shepherd from the Palestinian village of Maghayr Al-Abeed, while he was grazing his sheep on Jabel Doff (the location where the Havat Ma'on outpost used to stand before the year 2000, when it was moved to Hill 833).
The action was carried out under the accusation of “trespassing”, although no official documents on the ownership of the land were presented, according to the Alternative Information Center (AIC).
Meanwhile, the army set up a military checkpoint at the entrance to Fawwar refugee camp, stopping vehicles and checking the identity cards of the drivers.
In Jerusalem, Israeli police took into custody a worker, age 28, from the village of Husan to the west of Bethlehem, under the pretext of entering Israel without permission.
In the Jenin district, army forces stormed the village of Al-Yamoun amid the firing of stun grenades and tear gas towards residents, causing several cases of suffocation. The forces also handed eight people summons for interrogation. No arrests were reported.
Three Palestinian youth were shot with rubber-coated steel bullets fired at them by Israeli forces, during confrontations which continued for the second day in Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, according to medical sources.
The sources told WAFA that forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters toward the residents, shooting and injuring three youth. Several other Palestinians suffered from tear gas suffocation.
They were transferred to hospital for treatment.
Soldiers opened fire at a journalist’s car while he was covering confrontations between forces and youth in Aida refugee camp, to the north of Bethlehem, according to the attacked journalist.
Journalist Iyad Ahmad, who works for the Associated Press, said that soldiers opened fire at his car while he was driving to the camp to cover the news, causing damage to the car.
To be noted, Israeli army recently intensified their arbitrary measures against journalists, including detention for periods of several hours and imposing restrictions on their free movement.
Israeli settlers attacked several Palestinian farmers in the village of Burin, south of Nablus, injuring one, according to a local activist.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in the north of the West Bank, told WAFA that a number of settlers attacked farmers and hurled stones at them while they were working on opening an agricultural road, at the eastern part of the village.
He said that settlers surrounded one of the farmers, beat him and threw stones at him, causing him several injuries throughout his body.
He was transferred to hospital for treatment where his condition was described as moderate.
Detainee Ala’a Rabi, from Dura town south of Al-Khali, has been on hunger strike for a week protesting harsh interrogation methods and continued incarceration. Karim Ajwa, a lawyer for the ministry of prisoners, said that Rabi has been on hunger strike since 16/3/2014, adding that he was held in custody since 27/2/2014 in Askalan prison.
The lawyer said that Rabi was demanding an end to the investigation with him, noting that he was maltreated and cruelly tortured at the hands of Israeli interrogators.
However, the lawyer pointed out, Rabi’s detention was extended for eight more days for further investigation.
The lawyer said that Rabi was demanding an end to the investigation with him, noting that he was maltreated and cruelly tortured at the hands of Israeli interrogators.
However, the lawyer pointed out, Rabi’s detention was extended for eight more days for further investigation.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested three Palestinians including a lawyer at dawn Sunday. Local sources said that IOF soldiers arrested Samer Al-Talbishi from Dourban area in Al-Khalil city and Hamza Abu Saleh, a lawyer, from Dura town to the south of Al-Khalil.
They said that IOF soldiers raided a number of suburbs in the city of Al-Khalil and served summonses for intelligence interrogation.
Meanwhile, other IOF units detained a Palestinian worker from Husan village, west of Bethlehem, and served a summons to another in Beit Fajjar village.
Local sources said that the worker, Ibrahim Za’ul, was taken from his place of work in Jerusalem at the pretext he was working without entry permit.
They said that IOF soldiers raided a number of suburbs in the city of Al-Khalil and served summonses for intelligence interrogation.
Meanwhile, other IOF units detained a Palestinian worker from Husan village, west of Bethlehem, and served a summons to another in Beit Fajjar village.
Local sources said that the worker, Ibrahim Za’ul, was taken from his place of work in Jerusalem at the pretext he was working without entry permit.
The Zionist occupation forces arrested Sunday Morning a young man from the southern West Bank city of Hebron . The occupation forces raided the home of Tamer al-Labeeshy in Doerban neighborhood west Hebron, before arresting him and leading him to an unknown destination.
The forces also raided a number of citizens’ houses in the province, and handed the citizens interrogation summons.
Citizen Issa Mokhamara from Yatta town and Shawkat al-Rojoub from Al Koom village, west of the province were handed summons to be interrogated by the Zionist intelligence.
The forces also raided a number of citizens’ houses in the province, and handed the citizens interrogation summons.
Citizen Issa Mokhamara from Yatta town and Shawkat al-Rojoub from Al Koom village, west of the province were handed summons to be interrogated by the Zionist intelligence.
Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas warned Saturday of action if Israel failed to release the fourth and final batch of veteran prisoners as agreed under a US-backed deal.
"We are awaiting the release of the fourth batch of prisoners, as agreed upon with the Israelis through the United States," he told members of the central committee of his Fatah movement.
"We are saying, if they are not released, this is a violation of the agreement and allows us to act however we see fit within the norms of international agreements."
Israel agreed to release a total of 104 long-term prisoners when talks kick-started by US Secretary of State John Kerry began in July.
It has freed 78 so far, nearly all of them who had been imprisoned for over 20 years.
But Israeli ministers have warned that should the Palestinians not agree to extend talks beyond their April 29 deadline, they will not release the remaining detainees as scheduled on March 29.
Earlier this month, Abbas said Palestinians will not agree to extend peace talks with Israel unless it releases more prisoners beyond the final batch.
The US is fighting an uphill battle to get the two sides to agree to a framework proposal to extend the so far fruitless negotiations to the year's end.
Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the US after nearly three years of impasse.
Israel's government has announced the construction of thousands of settler housing units and its army has killed 60 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since the talks began.
"We are awaiting the release of the fourth batch of prisoners, as agreed upon with the Israelis through the United States," he told members of the central committee of his Fatah movement.
"We are saying, if they are not released, this is a violation of the agreement and allows us to act however we see fit within the norms of international agreements."
Israel agreed to release a total of 104 long-term prisoners when talks kick-started by US Secretary of State John Kerry began in July.
It has freed 78 so far, nearly all of them who had been imprisoned for over 20 years.
But Israeli ministers have warned that should the Palestinians not agree to extend talks beyond their April 29 deadline, they will not release the remaining detainees as scheduled on March 29.
Earlier this month, Abbas said Palestinians will not agree to extend peace talks with Israel unless it releases more prisoners beyond the final batch.
The US is fighting an uphill battle to get the two sides to agree to a framework proposal to extend the so far fruitless negotiations to the year's end.
Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the US after nearly three years of impasse.
Israel's government has announced the construction of thousands of settler housing units and its army has killed 60 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since the talks began.
22 mar 2014
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The Israeli forces arrested six Jerusalemites on Saturday while suppressing a sit-in at Damascus Gate to condemn the Martyrdom of three Palestinians in Jenin.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the Special Forces arrested Naser Qos, head of Prisoner’s Club in Jerusalem, and Ala’ Haddad, member of the Jerusalemites detainees and prisoners families committee, and Ahmad Al-Ghoul, director of Fateh Youth Movement in Jerusalem, activist Ahmad Hadeeb, Mouamar Rabyeh and Odai Sub Laban. The forces fired sound grenades and rubber bullets in the courtyard of Damascus Gate to suppress the sit-in which was called for by Fateh Youth Movement and Jerusalemite Youth Movement. |
They also assaulted the residents who were passing by in the street and the Special Forces blocked Damascus Gate and prevented the young men from entering the gate to reach their work and residence.
The clashes lasted for more than two hours as Jerusalemites insisted on staying and condemning the crime in Jenin despite being assaulted by the Israeli forces and severely beat and harassed by the Calvary units.
Jerusalemites performed the Evening Prayer in the courtyard of Damascus Gate and then headed towards Sultan Suleiman Street onto Herod’s Gate where they were also harassed and suppressed by the forces.
The sit-in was marked by the participation of all Palestinian parties.
The clashes lasted for more than two hours as Jerusalemites insisted on staying and condemning the crime in Jenin despite being assaulted by the Israeli forces and severely beat and harassed by the Calvary units.
Jerusalemites performed the Evening Prayer in the courtyard of Damascus Gate and then headed towards Sultan Suleiman Street onto Herod’s Gate where they were also harassed and suppressed by the forces.
The sit-in was marked by the participation of all Palestinian parties.
Israeli authorities refused to co-operate with the European Parliament mission, effectively preventing it from fulfilling its mandate. Nevertheless, the MEPs insisted that the fact-finding mission continue in the absence of co-operation from Israeli authorities, said a Statement from European Parliament Ad Hoc Delegation on Friday. European Parliament delegation has traveled to Israel to assess the conditions of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. This is the first such international mission to take up the issue of Palestinian prisoners and a clear sign of the EU’s and its Member States’ commitment to dealing with the question of prisoners in a constructive manner.
The cross-party delegation included Emer Costello MEP (Chair, S&D, Ireland), Nicole Kiil-Nielsen MEP (Greens, France), Patrick Le Hyaric (GUE, France) and Jacek Protasiewicz (EPP, Poland) and held meetings in the region on 19 and 20 March 2014.
The visit took place on foot of a European Parliament resolution adopted on 14 March 2013, following the death of a Palestinian prisoner Arafat Jaradat. More than 200 Palestinians lost their lives in Israeli prisons and detention centers since 1967.
The resolution highlighted the plight of prisoners being held in Israel and called for the fact-finding mission.
Almost 5,000 Palestinian detainees - including women and children, pre-Oslo prisoners, and eleven elected Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, among them Marwan Barghouti, continue to be detained in Israeli prisons. Israel continues to use administrative detention, without formal charge or trial, against Palestinians as a substitute to fair judicial process.
Palestinian prisoners are held in prisons and detention centers that are, all but one, located inside Israel which is in contravention of the Fourth Geneva convention. Basic human rights such as family visits, access to health care and education are restricted.
In spite of its clear mandate, the Delegation was denied access to the prisons and unable to secure meetings with the Israeli Ministries of Justice, the Interior and Foreign Affairs.
The chair Emer Costello expressed the Delegation’s strong dissatisfaction at the decision by the Israeli authorities to refuse to co-operate with the European Parliament mission, effectively preventing it from fulfilling its mandate.
Nevertheless, the MEPs insisted that the fact-finding mission continue in the absence of co-operation from Israeli authorities. The MEPs met with Israeli and Palestinian public representatives, civil society and human rights organizations in an effort to draw a true picture of the state of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
The Chief Prosecutor of the Military Court in Ofer did meet the Delegation and outlined the military court system in some detail. Aspects of his presentation were in contradiction to what had been related by the other interlocutors. He did acknowledge the need to discuss with international organizations such as UNICEF in relation to concerns of due process in the military courts.
The MEPs concluded that issue of the Palestinian prisoners is inextricably linked to the political situation. Ultimately it will only be resolved in the context of a realistic and lasting conclusion to the Middle East Peace Process based on the two-state solution.
The MEPs called for the continuation of the prisoner release programme so that all pre-Oslo prisoners will be released and furthermore called for the release of the Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
The cross-party delegation included Emer Costello MEP (Chair, S&D, Ireland), Nicole Kiil-Nielsen MEP (Greens, France), Patrick Le Hyaric (GUE, France) and Jacek Protasiewicz (EPP, Poland) and held meetings in the region on 19 and 20 March 2014.
The visit took place on foot of a European Parliament resolution adopted on 14 March 2013, following the death of a Palestinian prisoner Arafat Jaradat. More than 200 Palestinians lost their lives in Israeli prisons and detention centers since 1967.
The resolution highlighted the plight of prisoners being held in Israel and called for the fact-finding mission.
Almost 5,000 Palestinian detainees - including women and children, pre-Oslo prisoners, and eleven elected Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, among them Marwan Barghouti, continue to be detained in Israeli prisons. Israel continues to use administrative detention, without formal charge or trial, against Palestinians as a substitute to fair judicial process.
Palestinian prisoners are held in prisons and detention centers that are, all but one, located inside Israel which is in contravention of the Fourth Geneva convention. Basic human rights such as family visits, access to health care and education are restricted.
In spite of its clear mandate, the Delegation was denied access to the prisons and unable to secure meetings with the Israeli Ministries of Justice, the Interior and Foreign Affairs.
The chair Emer Costello expressed the Delegation’s strong dissatisfaction at the decision by the Israeli authorities to refuse to co-operate with the European Parliament mission, effectively preventing it from fulfilling its mandate.
Nevertheless, the MEPs insisted that the fact-finding mission continue in the absence of co-operation from Israeli authorities. The MEPs met with Israeli and Palestinian public representatives, civil society and human rights organizations in an effort to draw a true picture of the state of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
The Chief Prosecutor of the Military Court in Ofer did meet the Delegation and outlined the military court system in some detail. Aspects of his presentation were in contradiction to what had been related by the other interlocutors. He did acknowledge the need to discuss with international organizations such as UNICEF in relation to concerns of due process in the military courts.
The MEPs concluded that issue of the Palestinian prisoners is inextricably linked to the political situation. Ultimately it will only be resolved in the context of a realistic and lasting conclusion to the Middle East Peace Process based on the two-state solution.
The MEPs called for the continuation of the prisoner release programme so that all pre-Oslo prisoners will be released and furthermore called for the release of the Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Bethlehem/PNN/Monjed Jadou report-Photo by Jad Jadou -
Israeli occupation forces stormed Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, on Friday night, and fired tear gas on the houses of the camp, six people including a week-old baby were suffocated, Italian photographer was injured by a metal bullet in her eye & a house burned.
Witnesses and residents in the camp told Palestine News Network PNN that Israeli occupation army stormed the camp on Friday evening shot metal bullets and tear gas at the camp, which led to the burning of Ayed Abu Aker home and wounding six members of his family and wounding Italian photographer "Ivana Befale" working freelance photographer.
Ivan transferred to Beit Jalla hospital, where it was decided to hold her surgery tomorrow morning according to a medical source
Muhammad Lutfi, a resident of the camp said, large number of Israeli military jeeps stormed the camp through the main entrance and stationed near UNRWA schools and the soldiers fired tear gas deliberately on people's houses, wounding Bisan Murad Malash baby girl her age seven days posing a threat to her life.
Lutfi added Israeli army want to revenge because numbers of children in the camp dig a hole in the apartheid wall last night.
Moses Al shaer member of journalists' Syndicate denounced the shooting on the Italian photographer.
He told Palestine News Network PNN that targeting the Italian photographer and hit her specifically in the eye by Israeli army is part of Israeli policy of intimidation journalists and tries to prevent them from filming what is happening in Palestine.
He also stressed the need for the International Federation of Journalists to put pressure on Israel to stop its attacks on photographers and reporters.
On Thursday night Palestinian activists created a hole in the Israeli segregation wall near the Aida refugee camp in the city of Bethlehem.
Few months ago, activists also created a hole in the wall and set fire to the Israeli watchtower near the camp. Israeli forces stormed the camp and arrested a number of Palestinians.
Israeli occupation forces stormed Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, on Friday night, and fired tear gas on the houses of the camp, six people including a week-old baby were suffocated, Italian photographer was injured by a metal bullet in her eye & a house burned.
Witnesses and residents in the camp told Palestine News Network PNN that Israeli occupation army stormed the camp on Friday evening shot metal bullets and tear gas at the camp, which led to the burning of Ayed Abu Aker home and wounding six members of his family and wounding Italian photographer "Ivana Befale" working freelance photographer.
Ivan transferred to Beit Jalla hospital, where it was decided to hold her surgery tomorrow morning according to a medical source
Muhammad Lutfi, a resident of the camp said, large number of Israeli military jeeps stormed the camp through the main entrance and stationed near UNRWA schools and the soldiers fired tear gas deliberately on people's houses, wounding Bisan Murad Malash baby girl her age seven days posing a threat to her life.
Lutfi added Israeli army want to revenge because numbers of children in the camp dig a hole in the apartheid wall last night.
Moses Al shaer member of journalists' Syndicate denounced the shooting on the Italian photographer.
He told Palestine News Network PNN that targeting the Italian photographer and hit her specifically in the eye by Israeli army is part of Israeli policy of intimidation journalists and tries to prevent them from filming what is happening in Palestine.
He also stressed the need for the International Federation of Journalists to put pressure on Israel to stop its attacks on photographers and reporters.
On Thursday night Palestinian activists created a hole in the Israeli segregation wall near the Aida refugee camp in the city of Bethlehem.
Few months ago, activists also created a hole in the wall and set fire to the Israeli watchtower near the camp. Israeli forces stormed the camp and arrested a number of Palestinians.
Palestinians carry the body of Arafat Jaradat, likely died under torture in Israel prison, during his funeral in the West Bank village of Saeer
An European Union parliamentary delegation on Thursday urged Israel to release long-term Palestinian prisoners. "We believe that the release of prisoners... is central to the peace process," said Emer Costello, who headed the EU delegation on a three-day fact-finding mission on Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
The visit of four EU MPs came as Israel was mulling whether or not to release a final batch of long-term Palestinian prisoners under its commitments to US-brokered peace talks.
Israel agreed to release a total of 104 prisoners when talks kick-started by US Secretary of State John Kerry began in July.
It has freed 78 so far, but Israeli ministers have implicitly warned that should the Palestinians not agree to extend talks beyond their April 29 deadline, they will not release the remaining inmates as scheduled on March 29.
"We would certainly hope that those prisoner releases would continue and would take place. It is important as well that there are people in custody who are actually pre-Oslo," Costello said, referring to inmates who were supposed to be released under the 1993 Oslo peace accords.
"From the EU parliament's perspective... we (have) expressed major concern about the fact that there are currently 11 members of the PLC (Palestinian parliament) being held in custody... We would be seeking their release," she added.
Costello said Israel had barred the delegation from visiting the prisons, confining the trip to meetings with Israeli MPs and local rights groups.
Israel holds more than 5,000 Palestinians in its prisons, most of them on security grounds. Around 150 of these are held under administrative detention, without charge or trial, and another 150 are minors.
An European Union parliamentary delegation on Thursday urged Israel to release long-term Palestinian prisoners. "We believe that the release of prisoners... is central to the peace process," said Emer Costello, who headed the EU delegation on a three-day fact-finding mission on Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
The visit of four EU MPs came as Israel was mulling whether or not to release a final batch of long-term Palestinian prisoners under its commitments to US-brokered peace talks.
Israel agreed to release a total of 104 prisoners when talks kick-started by US Secretary of State John Kerry began in July.
It has freed 78 so far, but Israeli ministers have implicitly warned that should the Palestinians not agree to extend talks beyond their April 29 deadline, they will not release the remaining inmates as scheduled on March 29.
"We would certainly hope that those prisoner releases would continue and would take place. It is important as well that there are people in custody who are actually pre-Oslo," Costello said, referring to inmates who were supposed to be released under the 1993 Oslo peace accords.
"From the EU parliament's perspective... we (have) expressed major concern about the fact that there are currently 11 members of the PLC (Palestinian parliament) being held in custody... We would be seeking their release," she added.
Costello said Israel had barred the delegation from visiting the prisons, confining the trip to meetings with Israeli MPs and local rights groups.
Israel holds more than 5,000 Palestinians in its prisons, most of them on security grounds. Around 150 of these are held under administrative detention, without charge or trial, and another 150 are minors.