5 mar 2015
An Israeli court issued on Thursday 16 administrative detention orders against Palestinian prisoners.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society said that the administrative detention of 13 prisoners was extended, while three others received administrative prison sentences for the first time.
Since the beginning of March, 29 administrative detention orders have been issued against Palestinian prisoners.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society said that the administrative detention of 13 prisoners was extended, while three others received administrative prison sentences for the first time.
Since the beginning of March, 29 administrative detention orders have been issued against Palestinian prisoners.
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Soldiers in the morning on the stairs outside the ISM house
To date, ISM volunteers in Al-Khalil (Hebron) have faced two attempted night raids, two invasions, and continual daily harassment from Israeli occupation forces. Other organizations in Hebron, including Youth Against Settlements and Christian Peacemaker Teams, have also faced harassment including raids, detentions, and arrests. On the night from the 18 to the 19 of February Israeli Military tried to raid the ISM apartment in Hebron. Four volunteers woke up to a loud banging on the front door at one a clock in the morning. Soldiers constantly banged on the front door, threatening to break it open, if the volunteers refused to |
open it. Repeated questions for whether they had a warrant to legally enter the apartment were negated and replied with comments such as “we don’t need a warrant” and “I am the law”. The soldiers also threatened the volunteers that if they don’t open the door “bad things will happen.” In order to stop internationals from documenting and getting an overview of the situation, the soldiers aimed green lasers mounted on their rifles through the apartment windows.
A few days before this incident the internationals were prevented from standing near a school were schoolchildren had to pass a group of soldiers. Israeli forces called the police, who detained ISM volunteers and took pictures of their passports. During the night raid volunteers recognized the voices of the soldiers who had detained them earlier. Soldiers also told them “we don’t need to see your passports, we already saw it.”
The following day ISMers were stopped in the street at every possibility and ID-checked. In the afternoon, on their way back to the apartment, Palestinians warned the ISMers that fifteen soldiers have been asking for them and were trying to arrest them. After about an hour the volunteers were able to come back to the apartment, as the soldiers went back to the military base.
On the morning of the 25th of February, about twenty minutes after two out of the three volunteers left the apartment, soldiers were banging on the door of the apartment another time, demanding that it be opened. The soldiers claimed they were searching for Issa, a prominent member of the Palestinian activist group Youth Against Settlements, whose house was raided the same on the night of that same day. Issa was not present in the apartment at the time. Soldiers threatened the volunteer inside the house, saying that if they were not allowed to come inside, they would “come back at night, break the door and throw grenades into the house.” They threatened that the ISM volunteers “won’t be able to close an eye during night-time.” After more than an hour the dozen soldiers, who had been threatening to enter the house while stopping the other volunteers from going inside finally left.
A small number of soldiers came to the apartment three times that evening, knocking on the door but leaving after only a few minutes.
The following night around 1:00 AM, the volunteers woke up to loud noises at the door, as soldiers started to force it open. The soldiers did not answer when ISM activists asked whether they had a warrant. After about 30 minutes the soldiers broke the door open and came into the apartment, aiming their guns at volunteers.
ISM volunteers tried to document the break-in as soldiers searched the house; they were gathered into the kitchen and at one point prohibited from making phone calls.
The soldiers took a map from the wall of the apartment, claiming it was sufficient evidence for having the volunteers deported. They left after 30 minutes, threatening that within 24 hours the volunteers will be arrested by the immigration police. As the activists had expected, the threats were groundless; over a week later they continue to work in Al-Khalil.
The following night, when volunteers came back late at night around quarter to one, seven soldiers were just collecting the tools they used to break down the newly repaired door. Another three soldiers stopped the ISM volunteers from going back inside the apartment. After a few minutes, ISMers managed to reach the apartment and found the door destroyed and their personal belongings ransacked.
On the same night, Israeli forces also raided the house of Youth Against Settlements (YAS), also searching the house and taking only one poster off the wall. Soldiers raided the house on the eve of the Open Shuhada Street demonstration; they also arrested Issa Amro, the coordinator of YAS, about a week before.
The harassment did not stop after the Open Shuhada Street demonstration – where around 20 were injured, several activists including an17-year-old and a female German activist were shot with live ammunition, and three were arrested.
A couple of days later Israeli border police detained and arrested two volunteers from Christian Peacemaker Teams, stopping them after they had been walking Palestinian kindergarteners home from school.
Soldiers continue to harass, threaten, and detain international solidarity volunteers. Just this morning two ISM and two CPT volunteers were detained for over an hour at a checkpoint, after monitoring the border police aggression toward schoolchildren that morning.
A few days before this incident the internationals were prevented from standing near a school were schoolchildren had to pass a group of soldiers. Israeli forces called the police, who detained ISM volunteers and took pictures of their passports. During the night raid volunteers recognized the voices of the soldiers who had detained them earlier. Soldiers also told them “we don’t need to see your passports, we already saw it.”
The following day ISMers were stopped in the street at every possibility and ID-checked. In the afternoon, on their way back to the apartment, Palestinians warned the ISMers that fifteen soldiers have been asking for them and were trying to arrest them. After about an hour the volunteers were able to come back to the apartment, as the soldiers went back to the military base.
On the morning of the 25th of February, about twenty minutes after two out of the three volunteers left the apartment, soldiers were banging on the door of the apartment another time, demanding that it be opened. The soldiers claimed they were searching for Issa, a prominent member of the Palestinian activist group Youth Against Settlements, whose house was raided the same on the night of that same day. Issa was not present in the apartment at the time. Soldiers threatened the volunteer inside the house, saying that if they were not allowed to come inside, they would “come back at night, break the door and throw grenades into the house.” They threatened that the ISM volunteers “won’t be able to close an eye during night-time.” After more than an hour the dozen soldiers, who had been threatening to enter the house while stopping the other volunteers from going inside finally left.
A small number of soldiers came to the apartment three times that evening, knocking on the door but leaving after only a few minutes.
The following night around 1:00 AM, the volunteers woke up to loud noises at the door, as soldiers started to force it open. The soldiers did not answer when ISM activists asked whether they had a warrant. After about 30 minutes the soldiers broke the door open and came into the apartment, aiming their guns at volunteers.
ISM volunteers tried to document the break-in as soldiers searched the house; they were gathered into the kitchen and at one point prohibited from making phone calls.
The soldiers took a map from the wall of the apartment, claiming it was sufficient evidence for having the volunteers deported. They left after 30 minutes, threatening that within 24 hours the volunteers will be arrested by the immigration police. As the activists had expected, the threats were groundless; over a week later they continue to work in Al-Khalil.
The following night, when volunteers came back late at night around quarter to one, seven soldiers were just collecting the tools they used to break down the newly repaired door. Another three soldiers stopped the ISM volunteers from going back inside the apartment. After a few minutes, ISMers managed to reach the apartment and found the door destroyed and their personal belongings ransacked.
On the same night, Israeli forces also raided the house of Youth Against Settlements (YAS), also searching the house and taking only one poster off the wall. Soldiers raided the house on the eve of the Open Shuhada Street demonstration; they also arrested Issa Amro, the coordinator of YAS, about a week before.
The harassment did not stop after the Open Shuhada Street demonstration – where around 20 were injured, several activists including an17-year-old and a female German activist were shot with live ammunition, and three were arrested.
A couple of days later Israeli border police detained and arrested two volunteers from Christian Peacemaker Teams, stopping them after they had been walking Palestinian kindergarteners home from school.
Soldiers continue to harass, threaten, and detain international solidarity volunteers. Just this morning two ISM and two CPT volunteers were detained for over an hour at a checkpoint, after monitoring the border police aggression toward schoolchildren that morning.
Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, on Thursday at dawn, the Safa area north of Beit Ummar town, in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, broke into and searched several homes, and kidnapped a lawyer.
Mohammad ‘Ayyad ‘Awad, spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Ummar, said the soldiers kidnapped lawyer Yasser Mohammad Ekhlayyel, 43, a former political prisoner who spent ten years in Israeli prisons.
‘Awad added that the soldiers searched and ransacked Ekhlayyel’s home, causing excessive damage.
They also invaded the home of former political prisoner, lawyer Khaled Khalil Ekhlayyel, who also spent ten years in Israeli prisons.
In addition, soldiers stormed the home of detainee Mos’ab Qawqas Ekhlayyel, who was kidnapped by the army a few months ago, and ransacked his property.
The army installed roadblocks on the main entrances of Halhoul town, north of Hebron, and Sa’ir town, south of the city, stopped and searched dozens of cars and interrogated the residents while inspecting their ID cards.
Mohammad ‘Ayyad ‘Awad, spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Ummar, said the soldiers kidnapped lawyer Yasser Mohammad Ekhlayyel, 43, a former political prisoner who spent ten years in Israeli prisons.
‘Awad added that the soldiers searched and ransacked Ekhlayyel’s home, causing excessive damage.
They also invaded the home of former political prisoner, lawyer Khaled Khalil Ekhlayyel, who also spent ten years in Israeli prisons.
In addition, soldiers stormed the home of detainee Mos’ab Qawqas Ekhlayyel, who was kidnapped by the army a few months ago, and ransacked his property.
The army installed roadblocks on the main entrances of Halhoul town, north of Hebron, and Sa’ir town, south of the city, stopped and searched dozens of cars and interrogated the residents while inspecting their ID cards.
Palestinian activists have launched a social media campaign for the release of the youngest Palestinian prisoner Khaled al-Sheikh under the slogan "Free Khaled al-Sheikh."
The 15-year-old Khaled has been detained for more than two months on charges of throwing stones and setting fire to tires.
Khaled’s family warned of his difficult health condition as he suffers from anemia and did not receive any medication since his arrest on December 25, 2014.
MP Jamal al-Khudari has earlier declared a social media campaign calling for the release of the imprisoned minor Khaled al-Sheikh from Israeli occupation jails.
The campaign includes online hash tags and sending electronic letters to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Commission president, in addition to flyers and handbills to raise awareness about Khaled's issue.
The Popular Committee Against the Siege has also organized two sit-ins in Gaza Strip calling for Khaled's freedom amid the participation of Gaza's children.
Two candle marches were organized in Gaza and occupied Jerusalem under the title "Free Palestinian prisoners.. Free Khaled al-Sheikh."
On February 25, the Ofer military court sentenced Khaled, the youngest Palestinian boy in Israeli jails, to four months imprisonment, in addition to a fine estimated at 2000 shekels.
There are currently 300 Palestinian children detained behind Israeli bars as Palestinian children's arrest constitutes a systematic Israeli policy.
The 15-year-old Khaled has been detained for more than two months on charges of throwing stones and setting fire to tires.
Khaled’s family warned of his difficult health condition as he suffers from anemia and did not receive any medication since his arrest on December 25, 2014.
MP Jamal al-Khudari has earlier declared a social media campaign calling for the release of the imprisoned minor Khaled al-Sheikh from Israeli occupation jails.
The campaign includes online hash tags and sending electronic letters to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Commission president, in addition to flyers and handbills to raise awareness about Khaled's issue.
The Popular Committee Against the Siege has also organized two sit-ins in Gaza Strip calling for Khaled's freedom amid the participation of Gaza's children.
Two candle marches were organized in Gaza and occupied Jerusalem under the title "Free Palestinian prisoners.. Free Khaled al-Sheikh."
On February 25, the Ofer military court sentenced Khaled, the youngest Palestinian boy in Israeli jails, to four months imprisonment, in addition to a fine estimated at 2000 shekels.
There are currently 300 Palestinian children detained behind Israeli bars as Palestinian children's arrest constitutes a systematic Israeli policy.
A Palestinian official source said that two Palestinian fishermen suffered bullet injuries and three others were detained on Thursday morning when the Israeli occupation navy attacked them off the northern shores of the Gaza Strip.
The official source, who works for the Palestinian ministry of agriculture, told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the Israeli navy opened machinegun fire at the fishermen as they were working off the coast of al-Sudaniya area and wounded two of them, identified as Eid Mohsen and Ziyad Fahed.
He added that the naval forces confiscated a boat belonging to fisherman Mahmoud Zaidan and detained three others on board, pointing out that another fishing boat sustained damage in the gunfire attack.
The Israeli navy did not comply with the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement concluded between Israel and the Palestinian resistance on August 26, 2014, and it has committed, since then, many violations against fishermen and their boats.
This agreement includes allowing Palestinian fishermen to sail and fish within six nautical miles in the Gaza Sea; however, all Israeli attacks took place within these nautical miles, which proves that Israel deliberately tightens restrictions on Gaza fishermen and their livelihoods.
The official source, who works for the Palestinian ministry of agriculture, told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the Israeli navy opened machinegun fire at the fishermen as they were working off the coast of al-Sudaniya area and wounded two of them, identified as Eid Mohsen and Ziyad Fahed.
He added that the naval forces confiscated a boat belonging to fisherman Mahmoud Zaidan and detained three others on board, pointing out that another fishing boat sustained damage in the gunfire attack.
The Israeli navy did not comply with the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement concluded between Israel and the Palestinian resistance on August 26, 2014, and it has committed, since then, many violations against fishermen and their boats.
This agreement includes allowing Palestinian fishermen to sail and fish within six nautical miles in the Gaza Sea; however, all Israeli attacks took place within these nautical miles, which proves that Israel deliberately tightens restrictions on Gaza fishermen and their livelihoods.
Tension has flared up in the Israeli Raymond jail after squads of the Israeli suppressive units stormed section 5 Wednesday.
The Palestinian Prisoner Society said in a statement Israeli troops broke into Section 5 and scoured cell N°69.
A round of exhaustive inter-prison transfers has been carried out by the Israeli prison service (IPS) among 45 Palestinian detainees affiliated with different political parties.
Earlier, afternoon Tuesday, the Mohjat Al-Quds foundation for martyrs and prisoners said the IPS pledged to meet the demands of the Islamic Jihad-affiliated prisoners after the latter joined a series of protest moves initiated in response to the IPS intransigence.
The agreement stipulates the return of the leader of the captive movement Zaid Bseiso to the Israeli Raymond jail after he was transferred to the Nafha lock-up.
The IPS further pledged to never carry out inter-prison transfers among the Jihad leaders except after prior coordination with their leadership and to cancel all sanctions imposed on Islamic Jihad-affiliated detainees.
The Palestinian Prisoner Society said in a statement Israeli troops broke into Section 5 and scoured cell N°69.
A round of exhaustive inter-prison transfers has been carried out by the Israeli prison service (IPS) among 45 Palestinian detainees affiliated with different political parties.
Earlier, afternoon Tuesday, the Mohjat Al-Quds foundation for martyrs and prisoners said the IPS pledged to meet the demands of the Islamic Jihad-affiliated prisoners after the latter joined a series of protest moves initiated in response to the IPS intransigence.
The agreement stipulates the return of the leader of the captive movement Zaid Bseiso to the Israeli Raymond jail after he was transferred to the Nafha lock-up.
The IPS further pledged to never carry out inter-prison transfers among the Jihad leaders except after prior coordination with their leadership and to cancel all sanctions imposed on Islamic Jihad-affiliated detainees.
The Palestinian prisoner Ibrahim Jamal lost his sight and ability to speak after hitting his head on the end of the iron bed in Eshel prison, Ahrar Center for Prisoners’ Studies reported on Wednesday.
The center called on human rights institutions including Doctors Without Borders and Physicians for Human Rights and Arab MKs to urgently intervene to save the prisoner’s life.
Spokesperson for Palestinian prisoners held in Eshel prison Muammar Shahrur appealed to all international human rights institutions to bear their moral responsibilities and to seriously work to save Jamal before it is too late.
He was neither able to speak nor to see, Jamal’s wife told Ahrar following her visit to the prison. He was then transferred to the prison clinic after he fell unconscious, she continued.
"He didn’t receive any medical treatment despite being injured in the prison," the wife added.
For his part, head of the center Fuad al-Khuffash said that Jamal is already suffering from an incurable disease.
Al-Khuffash stressed the urgent need to provide the prisoner with the appropriate treatment and to immediately release him.
Jamal, a father of six children, was detained in September 17 last year.
The center called on human rights institutions including Doctors Without Borders and Physicians for Human Rights and Arab MKs to urgently intervene to save the prisoner’s life.
Spokesperson for Palestinian prisoners held in Eshel prison Muammar Shahrur appealed to all international human rights institutions to bear their moral responsibilities and to seriously work to save Jamal before it is too late.
He was neither able to speak nor to see, Jamal’s wife told Ahrar following her visit to the prison. He was then transferred to the prison clinic after he fell unconscious, she continued.
"He didn’t receive any medical treatment despite being injured in the prison," the wife added.
For his part, head of the center Fuad al-Khuffash said that Jamal is already suffering from an incurable disease.
Al-Khuffash stressed the urgent need to provide the prisoner with the appropriate treatment and to immediately release him.
Jamal, a father of six children, was detained in September 17 last year.
4 mar 2015
Palestinian minors held in Israeli detention centers are subjected to torture, and inhuman and degrading treatment at hands of Israeli jailers, Palestinian prisoners’ affairs authority said Wednesday.
In its statement, the Palestinian authority quoted the 17-year-old Zaid Zidan as stating that he was brutally beaten all over his body before being transferred handcuffed and blindfolded to Sofin detention center.
Zaid was shackled in the "shabah" position (painful binding of the detainee's hands and feet to a chair) for five hours despite the very cold weather, according to the statement.
The statement also quoted the detained minor Yazid Suwaidan, 16, as saying that he was detained on January 27 after being summoned for investigation.
He suffered the same fate as Zaid, as he was savagely assaulted at the hands of Israeli soldiers before being transferred to Hawara detention center, the statement added.
Almost 300 Palestinian minors are currently held in Israeli jails suffering from very difficult detention conditions.
In its statement, the Palestinian authority quoted the 17-year-old Zaid Zidan as stating that he was brutally beaten all over his body before being transferred handcuffed and blindfolded to Sofin detention center.
Zaid was shackled in the "shabah" position (painful binding of the detainee's hands and feet to a chair) for five hours despite the very cold weather, according to the statement.
The statement also quoted the detained minor Yazid Suwaidan, 16, as saying that he was detained on January 27 after being summoned for investigation.
He suffered the same fate as Zaid, as he was savagely assaulted at the hands of Israeli soldiers before being transferred to Hawara detention center, the statement added.
Almost 300 Palestinian minors are currently held in Israeli jails suffering from very difficult detention conditions.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested at dawn Wednesday eight “wanted” Palestinians in the West Bank, Israeli radio said.
Two of the reported detainees were charged with being involved in carrying out “attacks” against Israeli soldiers and settlers, the broadcast claimed.
The detainees, including seven from Ramallah and another from al-Khalil, were all transferred to Israeli investigation centers.
Meanwhile, local sources said that two other young men, from Jenin, were also nabbed this morning while being in occupied Jerusalem.
The IOF also raided Jenin refugee camp and nabbed a young man charged with an alleged stabbing attempt. Another Palestinian citizen was also detained overnight in the city under the same pretext.
Also in Jenin, three citizens were summoned for investigation Wednesday morning in Qabatia town as Israeli forces broke into its neighborhoods.
A number of homes were violently stormed and searched during the raid.
On the other hand, Wadi al-Hilweh Information Center pointed out that violent clashes broke out overnight in Silwan town in occupied Jerusalem after Israeli forces stormed Abassiya and Ein Loza neighborhoods.
Heavy tear gas bombs and rubber bullets were deliberately fired towards local residents and their homes in the town, the sources added.
An Israeli Undercover Unit has also stormed into Ein Loza neighborhood and kidnapped a boy after brutally beating him.
Two of the reported detainees were charged with being involved in carrying out “attacks” against Israeli soldiers and settlers, the broadcast claimed.
The detainees, including seven from Ramallah and another from al-Khalil, were all transferred to Israeli investigation centers.
Meanwhile, local sources said that two other young men, from Jenin, were also nabbed this morning while being in occupied Jerusalem.
The IOF also raided Jenin refugee camp and nabbed a young man charged with an alleged stabbing attempt. Another Palestinian citizen was also detained overnight in the city under the same pretext.
Also in Jenin, three citizens were summoned for investigation Wednesday morning in Qabatia town as Israeli forces broke into its neighborhoods.
A number of homes were violently stormed and searched during the raid.
On the other hand, Wadi al-Hilweh Information Center pointed out that violent clashes broke out overnight in Silwan town in occupied Jerusalem after Israeli forces stormed Abassiya and Ein Loza neighborhoods.
Heavy tear gas bombs and rubber bullets were deliberately fired towards local residents and their homes in the town, the sources added.
An Israeli Undercover Unit has also stormed into Ein Loza neighborhood and kidnapped a boy after brutally beating him.
The Israeli prison service (IPS) pledged to meet the demands of the Islamic Jihad-affiliated prisoners after the latter joined a series of protest moves initiated in response to the IPS intransigence, the Mohjat Al-Quds foundation for martyrs and prisoners said on Tuesday evening.
The agreement reached stipulates, among other things, the return of the leader of the captive movement Zaid Bseiso to the Israeli Raymond jail after he was transferred to the Nafha lock-up.
The IPS further pledged to never carry out inter-prison transfers among the Jihad leaders except after prior coordination with their leadership.
Other articles of the agreement included pledges to cancel all sanctions imposed on Islamic Jihad-affiliated detainees.
The Mohjat al-Quds Foundation branded the deal a new victory achieved by the Palestinian detainees in their struggle against the oppressive Israeli prison authorities.
The agreement reached stipulates, among other things, the return of the leader of the captive movement Zaid Bseiso to the Israeli Raymond jail after he was transferred to the Nafha lock-up.
The IPS further pledged to never carry out inter-prison transfers among the Jihad leaders except after prior coordination with their leadership.
Other articles of the agreement included pledges to cancel all sanctions imposed on Islamic Jihad-affiliated detainees.
The Mohjat al-Quds Foundation branded the deal a new victory achieved by the Palestinian detainees in their struggle against the oppressive Israeli prison authorities.
The Israeli occupation police at dawn Tuesday arrested 68 Palestinian workers in a mass-abduction campaign launched across 1948 Occupied Palestine.
Israeli police sources said a mass-arrest campaign carried out Tuesday in Galilee and the environs of the Arab towns culminated in the apprehension of 68 Palestinian workers residing in the Green Line without legal permits.
A series of makeshift checkpoints had been pitched while Palestinian vehicles had been chased down by the Israeli officers in collaboration with the border guard police throughout the campaign.
The same sources claimed that officers chased a vehicle carrying three Palestinians. The detainees were taken to a detention center pending questioning and are expected to appear in court in Tiberias to extend their remand due to unlicensed permits.
Earlier, afternoon Monday, a wave of search campaigns and arbitrary home break-ins has been launched by the Israeli cops in Rahat city, in the southern region of 1948 Occupied Palestine, in search for unlicensed Palestinian workers.
The Israeli authorities, meanwhile, extended the detention of 15 Palestinian workers under the same pretext and deported others to the West Bank after they were forced to sign a document pledging never to return.
Hundreds of jobless Palestinians, mostly youngsters, have been striving to break through 1948 Occupied Palestine after the Israeli authorities denied them access to their workplaces allegedly due to unlicensed permits, forcing such a category of people to shell out exorbitant cash to smugglers as the only means to earn a living for their children in the West Bank.
Israeli police sources said a mass-arrest campaign carried out Tuesday in Galilee and the environs of the Arab towns culminated in the apprehension of 68 Palestinian workers residing in the Green Line without legal permits.
A series of makeshift checkpoints had been pitched while Palestinian vehicles had been chased down by the Israeli officers in collaboration with the border guard police throughout the campaign.
The same sources claimed that officers chased a vehicle carrying three Palestinians. The detainees were taken to a detention center pending questioning and are expected to appear in court in Tiberias to extend their remand due to unlicensed permits.
Earlier, afternoon Monday, a wave of search campaigns and arbitrary home break-ins has been launched by the Israeli cops in Rahat city, in the southern region of 1948 Occupied Palestine, in search for unlicensed Palestinian workers.
The Israeli authorities, meanwhile, extended the detention of 15 Palestinian workers under the same pretext and deported others to the West Bank after they were forced to sign a document pledging never to return.
Hundreds of jobless Palestinians, mostly youngsters, have been striving to break through 1948 Occupied Palestine after the Israeli authorities denied them access to their workplaces allegedly due to unlicensed permits, forcing such a category of people to shell out exorbitant cash to smugglers as the only means to earn a living for their children in the West Bank.
3 mar 2015
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) nabbed Tuesday three children under 13 years of age from al-Khalil to the south of the West Bank.
Local sources confirmed that three students aged 13 were detained while on their way to school in al-Khalil.
The students were searched and taken to an Israeli detention center on charges of having in their possession a school compass, the sources added.
Along the same line, Israeli radio said that IOF soldiers detained overnight four ”wanted” Palestinian citizens in Nablus and Bethlehem.
The detainees were transferred to Israeli investigation centers, according to Israeli sources.
A 20-year-old university student was among the detainees.
Following the arrest campaign, clashes broke out in Nablus at dawn Tuesday. No injuries were reported.
Local sources added that make-shift checkpoints were erected throughout the West Bank, where Palestinian vehicles were stopped and searched under the pretext of looking for wanted persons.
Local sources confirmed that three students aged 13 were detained while on their way to school in al-Khalil.
The students were searched and taken to an Israeli detention center on charges of having in their possession a school compass, the sources added.
Along the same line, Israeli radio said that IOF soldiers detained overnight four ”wanted” Palestinian citizens in Nablus and Bethlehem.
The detainees were transferred to Israeli investigation centers, according to Israeli sources.
A 20-year-old university student was among the detainees.
Following the arrest campaign, clashes broke out in Nablus at dawn Tuesday. No injuries were reported.
Local sources added that make-shift checkpoints were erected throughout the West Bank, where Palestinian vehicles were stopped and searched under the pretext of looking for wanted persons.
Several Israeli soldiers, accompanied by a number of Israeli extremists, living in a nearby illegal colony, attacked on Monday evening, five Palestinians Palestinians in a their farmlands, near Bethlehem, and kidnapped them.
Ghazal said the kidnapped Palestinians were harvesting Gundelia plants in their lands, in Kissan village, close an illegal Israeli colony, illegally built on privately owned Palestinian lands.
Ghazal added that the soldiers held and interrogated the five young Palestinian men for several hours, and moved them to the Etzion military base, south of Bethlehem.
The Five have been identified as Sbeih Hasan ‘Obeyyat, Mahmoud ‘Aawad ‘Obeyyat, Omar ‘Ayesh ‘Obeyyat, his brother ‘Aref, and Salman Mohammad ‘Obeyyat; all in their twenties.
Ghazal said the kidnapped Palestinians were harvesting Gundelia plants in their lands, in Kissan village, close an illegal Israeli colony, illegally built on privately owned Palestinian lands.
Ghazal added that the soldiers held and interrogated the five young Palestinian men for several hours, and moved them to the Etzion military base, south of Bethlehem.
The Five have been identified as Sbeih Hasan ‘Obeyyat, Mahmoud ‘Aawad ‘Obeyyat, Omar ‘Ayesh ‘Obeyyat, his brother ‘Aref, and Salman Mohammad ‘Obeyyat; all in their twenties.
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The website of Israel's second channel on Monday released a video clip showing a group of Israeli soldiers chasing a Palestinian child and unleashing a dog on him.
The video recording showed the soldiers laughing and calling the child a coward as the dog was savaging him. The child was crying and seemed to be extremely traumatized. The website pointed out that the incident happened last December near Gush Etzion settlement, adding that the child was detained at the time on allegations of throwing stones at the soldiers. The video clip has been published by the Palestinian Information Center (PIC). Israeli politician leaks classified army video showing soldiers using dogs to attack Palestinian boy A video posted on Facebook Monday by a right-wing Israeli politician, then quickly removed, showed graphic evidence of what Palestinians have reported to be a common Israeli military practice: using dogs to attack unarmed civilians, including children. In the video leaked by Michael Ben-Ari on his Facebook page, two Israeli soldiers are holding onto a 16-year old boy, and forcing a dog to bite the child while commanding the dog 'Bite him!' and saying to the boy, 'Who's the coward now?' in Hebrew. |
The incident in question has been identified as a December 23rd 2014 attack by Israeli soldiers who captured the child in a 'buffer zone' between Beit Ummar, a town located near Hebron in the southern part of the West Bank, and a nearby Israeli settlement built on land stolen from the Palestinian residents of Beit Ummar.
Before it was removed, the video was copied and spread around the internet. In response, the Israeli military issued a statement saying that the incident was 'irregular' and 'would be investigated'.
But the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, B'Tselem, has documented numerous occasions on which the Israeli military used dogs as weapons against unarmed Palestinian civilians.
On December 24th, 2014, in fact, B'Tselem posted a report of this particular incident, and video footage of the abduction of 16-year old Hamzeh Abu Hashem. But while the B'Tselem video included a number of disturbing elements, including soldiers chasing down and pinning a 16-year old boy suspected of throwing stones, and an Israeli settler pointing a gun directly at the boy with impunity, the video did not show the actual attack on the boy by the dogs.
But the clip posted by Ben-Ari does show the dogs being used as weapons, in an image reminiscent of the use of dogs by U.S. police in the southern part of the country during the civil rights era using German shepherds to attack protesters.
According to the B'Tselem report about the incident, posted on December 24th 2014, "At approximately 2 P.M. on Tuesday, 23 Dec. 2014, a confrontation developed between several dozen Palestinians and soldiers in the Special Security Area (SSA) surrounding the settlement of Carmei Tzur, south of Beit Umar in the West Bank. The area is the site of frequent confrontations between soldiers and Palestinian residents of Beit Umar, whose land was appropriated for the settlement and the SSA.
"The SSA, which is supposed to serve as a buffer zone that no one but security forces may enter, was established on privately-owned Palestinian land. The owners need to obtain a special permit to reach and cultivate their land, but such permits are issued for only several days a year. In contrast, security forces allow settlers free access to the stolen land.
"Video filmed by B’Tselem camera volunteer Muhammad ‘Awwad. The footage shows the soldiers with the attack dogs on village land and the arrest of 16-year-old Hamzeh Abu Hashem, but not the attack itself. Further on, soldiers are seen taking the teen into the SSA and locking the gate behind them, after which Palestinians verbally confront them, demanding his release. A settler, probably the settlement’s head of security, is seen cocking his weapon and the soldiers do nothing to stop him.
"During the confrontation, Palestinians threw stones at soldiers, who responded with use of crowd control weapons. About an hour after the incident began, at around 3 P.M., two soldiers arrived on the spot with two dogs, who were captured on video by B’Tselem volunteer Muhammad ‘Awwad. According to eyewitness reports, one of the dogs (seen lunging forward at the beginning of the footage) attacked and bit one of the Palestinians confronting the soldiers, 16-year-old Hamzeh Abu Hashem. The soldiers then removed the dogs, handcuffed Abu Hashem, and took him to the settlement of Carmei Tzur. From there, he was taken by ambulance to an Israeli hospital. Abu Hashem’s family reported that he was arrested and taken from hospital to Ofer Prison. "
Before it was removed, the video was copied and spread around the internet. In response, the Israeli military issued a statement saying that the incident was 'irregular' and 'would be investigated'.
But the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, B'Tselem, has documented numerous occasions on which the Israeli military used dogs as weapons against unarmed Palestinian civilians.
On December 24th, 2014, in fact, B'Tselem posted a report of this particular incident, and video footage of the abduction of 16-year old Hamzeh Abu Hashem. But while the B'Tselem video included a number of disturbing elements, including soldiers chasing down and pinning a 16-year old boy suspected of throwing stones, and an Israeli settler pointing a gun directly at the boy with impunity, the video did not show the actual attack on the boy by the dogs.
But the clip posted by Ben-Ari does show the dogs being used as weapons, in an image reminiscent of the use of dogs by U.S. police in the southern part of the country during the civil rights era using German shepherds to attack protesters.
According to the B'Tselem report about the incident, posted on December 24th 2014, "At approximately 2 P.M. on Tuesday, 23 Dec. 2014, a confrontation developed between several dozen Palestinians and soldiers in the Special Security Area (SSA) surrounding the settlement of Carmei Tzur, south of Beit Umar in the West Bank. The area is the site of frequent confrontations between soldiers and Palestinian residents of Beit Umar, whose land was appropriated for the settlement and the SSA.
"The SSA, which is supposed to serve as a buffer zone that no one but security forces may enter, was established on privately-owned Palestinian land. The owners need to obtain a special permit to reach and cultivate their land, but such permits are issued for only several days a year. In contrast, security forces allow settlers free access to the stolen land.
"Video filmed by B’Tselem camera volunteer Muhammad ‘Awwad. The footage shows the soldiers with the attack dogs on village land and the arrest of 16-year-old Hamzeh Abu Hashem, but not the attack itself. Further on, soldiers are seen taking the teen into the SSA and locking the gate behind them, after which Palestinians verbally confront them, demanding his release. A settler, probably the settlement’s head of security, is seen cocking his weapon and the soldiers do nothing to stop him.
"During the confrontation, Palestinians threw stones at soldiers, who responded with use of crowd control weapons. About an hour after the incident began, at around 3 P.M., two soldiers arrived on the spot with two dogs, who were captured on video by B’Tselem volunteer Muhammad ‘Awwad. According to eyewitness reports, one of the dogs (seen lunging forward at the beginning of the footage) attacked and bit one of the Palestinians confronting the soldiers, 16-year-old Hamzeh Abu Hashem. The soldiers then removed the dogs, handcuffed Abu Hashem, and took him to the settlement of Carmei Tzur. From there, he was taken by ambulance to an Israeli hospital. Abu Hashem’s family reported that he was arrested and taken from hospital to Ofer Prison. "
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at noontime Monday stormed Beit Furik, near the West Bank city of Nablus, and scoured the family home of an ex-prisoner, a few hours after the latter was rounded up from his workplace in 1948 Occupied Palestine.
A PIC correspondent quoted a local activist as reporting that a round of clashes burst out between the IOF soldiers and a group of Palestinian unarmed protesters after a flock of IOF patrols raided Beit Furik and stationed near al-Sahaba Mosque.
The IOF soldiers broke into the house of prisoner Mlitat and locked up all members of his family in one single room, moments before they rummaged through the home and ransacked it.
Prisoner Mlitat, a construction worker, was reportedly released in Wafa al-Aharar prisoner swap deal.
Meanwhile, by-standers at the scene said an Israeli military truck carrying huge blocks arrived at the Beit Furik military checkpoint in an attempt to seal off the area with more cement blocks.
Palestinian vehicles and passengers’ IDs had meticulously been inspected in the process.
A PIC correspondent quoted a local activist as reporting that a round of clashes burst out between the IOF soldiers and a group of Palestinian unarmed protesters after a flock of IOF patrols raided Beit Furik and stationed near al-Sahaba Mosque.
The IOF soldiers broke into the house of prisoner Mlitat and locked up all members of his family in one single room, moments before they rummaged through the home and ransacked it.
Prisoner Mlitat, a construction worker, was reportedly released in Wafa al-Aharar prisoner swap deal.
Meanwhile, by-standers at the scene said an Israeli military truck carrying huge blocks arrived at the Beit Furik military checkpoint in an attempt to seal off the area with more cement blocks.
Palestinian vehicles and passengers’ IDs had meticulously been inspected in the process.
