22 mar 2015
A number of Palestinian citizens suffered suffocation after inhaling tear gas fired by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) during violent clashes in Burin town to the south of Nablus. A Palestinian citizen was nabbed during the clashes.
Eyewitnesses told a PIC reporter that IOF soldiers in more than 15 Israeli military vehicles suddenly stormed the town amid heavy fire of tear gas bombs.
The clashes broke out between local youths and the invading forces, and several Palestinians suffered breathing problems. Ambulances immediately arrived to the scene to evacuate the casualties.
A Palestinian young man was nabbed during the clashes after IOF soldiers violently stormed and searched his home in the town. He was taken to unknown detention center.
Eyewitnesses told a PIC reporter that IOF soldiers in more than 15 Israeli military vehicles suddenly stormed the town amid heavy fire of tear gas bombs.
The clashes broke out between local youths and the invading forces, and several Palestinians suffered breathing problems. Ambulances immediately arrived to the scene to evacuate the casualties.
A Palestinian young man was nabbed during the clashes after IOF soldiers violently stormed and searched his home in the town. He was taken to unknown detention center.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Sunday evening, Burin village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and kidnapped a Palestinian child.
The Palestine TV has reported that a number of Israeli military vehicles invaded the village before the soldiers stormed the home of Mohammad Najjar, and violently searched the property before kidnapping his 15 years of age son, Hussein.
It added that clashes took place after the soldiers invaded the village, especially when the army started sealing its entrances; no injuries were reported.
The soldiers withdrew from the village later, and took the kidnapped child to an unknown destination.
The Palestine TV has reported that a number of Israeli military vehicles invaded the village before the soldiers stormed the home of Mohammad Najjar, and violently searched the property before kidnapping his 15 years of age son, Hussein.
It added that clashes took place after the soldiers invaded the village, especially when the army started sealing its entrances; no injuries were reported.
The soldiers withdrew from the village later, and took the kidnapped child to an unknown destination.
The Israeli Police released Sunday a young Palestinian woman from occupied Jerusalem, after imposing a 5000 NIS fine on her, and ordered her away from the Al-Aqsa Mosque for fifteen days. She was one of four Palestinians kidnapped, Sunday, near the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Lawyer Ramzi Kteilat of the Qodsona Foundation for Human Rights, said resident Sondos al-Qawasmi was released after the court issued its verdict.
Al-Qawasmi, 22 years of age, was kidnapped earlier on Sunday in front of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, after the soldiers denied her access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Also on Sunday, the police kidnapped Mohammad Abu Gharbiyya, 18, and Mohammad Nasser Ed-Deen, 14, from Jerusalem’s Old City.
Abu Gharbiyya will be sent to court Monday, while the Nasser will remain under interrogation allegedly for “attacking an Israeli settler.”
In addition, the police released an elderly man, identified as Ribhi Khader Abu al-Hummus, 70 years of age; he has to appear in front of the District Court, Monday.
Lawyer Kteilat said the detained Palestinians were all kidnapped, on Sunday morning, in front of the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He added that the police attacked many Palestinians, and kidnapped five, after they tried to prevent a group of Israeli extremists from raiding the yards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Lawyer Ramzi Kteilat of the Qodsona Foundation for Human Rights, said resident Sondos al-Qawasmi was released after the court issued its verdict.
Al-Qawasmi, 22 years of age, was kidnapped earlier on Sunday in front of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, after the soldiers denied her access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Also on Sunday, the police kidnapped Mohammad Abu Gharbiyya, 18, and Mohammad Nasser Ed-Deen, 14, from Jerusalem’s Old City.
Abu Gharbiyya will be sent to court Monday, while the Nasser will remain under interrogation allegedly for “attacking an Israeli settler.”
In addition, the police released an elderly man, identified as Ribhi Khader Abu al-Hummus, 70 years of age; he has to appear in front of the District Court, Monday.
Lawyer Kteilat said the detained Palestinians were all kidnapped, on Sunday morning, in front of the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He added that the police attacked many Palestinians, and kidnapped five, after they tried to prevent a group of Israeli extremists from raiding the yards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) detained at dawn Sunday five Palestinians in the West Bank after storming and searching their houses.
The website of Israeli TV Seventh Channel said the Israeli army rounded up five of Hamas members who are wanted by Israeli intelligence.
Security sources in al-Khalil said the IOF stormed four towns in al-Khalil, arrested a young man and took him to an unknown destination.
In the same context, the IOF soldiers raided at dawn a town in Salfit governorate, wreaked havoc in it and broke into the houses of the town, and arrested two men; one is a lawyer, whose wedding is after two weeks, and the other is a university student.
The website of Israeli TV Seventh Channel said the Israeli army rounded up five of Hamas members who are wanted by Israeli intelligence.
Security sources in al-Khalil said the IOF stormed four towns in al-Khalil, arrested a young man and took him to an unknown destination.
In the same context, the IOF soldiers raided at dawn a town in Salfit governorate, wreaked havoc in it and broke into the houses of the town, and arrested two men; one is a lawyer, whose wedding is after two weeks, and the other is a university student.
The Palestinian Prisoner Center for Studies said that the inquiry committee that had been formed by the European Union (EU) following the death of prisoner Arafat Jaradat in an Israeli jail was useless.
"It has been a whole year since the committee visited Palestine to check on the conditions of prisoners in Israeli jails and detention centers and met with many political and human rights figures as well as a number of ex-detainees and representatives of official and international institutions, and since then we have heard nothing from it," spokesman for the Center Riyadh al-Ashqar stated in a press release on Sunday.
Ashqar affirmed that the families of prisoners pinned a lot of hope on this committee in its capacity as an international legal body able to pressure Israel to improve the incarceration conditions of their relatives in its jails.
"Although it was prevented by the occupation from visiting its prisons and detention centers, including the Ramla prison hospital, to see the reality of the situation there, the arrival of such high-level committee constituted then a glimmer of hope to both the prisoners and their families," the spokesman for the Prisoner Center said.
He pointed out that Israel's refusal to allow the European committee to enter its detention facilities was an explicit acknowledgment of committing violations against the Palestinian prisoners in its jails.
"It has been a whole year since the committee visited Palestine to check on the conditions of prisoners in Israeli jails and detention centers and met with many political and human rights figures as well as a number of ex-detainees and representatives of official and international institutions, and since then we have heard nothing from it," spokesman for the Center Riyadh al-Ashqar stated in a press release on Sunday.
Ashqar affirmed that the families of prisoners pinned a lot of hope on this committee in its capacity as an international legal body able to pressure Israel to improve the incarceration conditions of their relatives in its jails.
"Although it was prevented by the occupation from visiting its prisons and detention centers, including the Ramla prison hospital, to see the reality of the situation there, the arrival of such high-level committee constituted then a glimmer of hope to both the prisoners and their families," the spokesman for the Prisoner Center said.
He pointed out that Israel's refusal to allow the European committee to enter its detention facilities was an explicit acknowledgment of committing violations against the Palestinian prisoners in its jails.
Fifteen Palestinians being held in
Israeli prisons are suffering from cancer and are at risk of dying, the
Hossam Association of Palestinian Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners has said.
The organization said in a statement, according to Ma'an, that they believed the number was in fact higher, as the 15 include only those who have been diagnosed with cancer, but many others have tumors whose malignancy is not known because Israeli prison authorities have limited their access to tests.
The organization blamed Israeli authorities for contributing to an environment in which Palestinian prisoners faced a heightened risk of cancer due to high levels of radiation inside prison cells.
The group said that Israeli authorities set up devices to jam satellite and telephone signals near rooms where Palestinians are being held. They also pointed to the use of radiation in security scanners that prisoners are forced to go through during frequent searches and examinations.
The statement also said that a number of prisons are located near the Dimona nuclear reactor as well as toxic waste dumps in the Negev Desert, another factor which it said contributed to the high incidence of cancer.
The association said that Israel is violating international and humanitarian laws by keeping these prisoners and other sick prisoners in detention as their lives are in danger and they do not pose any danger or threat to Israel.
It claimed in the statement that a total of 1,500 Palestinian prisoners are suffering from some kind of illness, out of a total of around 5,500 Palestinians being currently held in Israeli jails.
The association called upon the international community to uphold its legal and humanitarian responsibilities towards the prisoners and their rights.
The association listed a number of the most pressing cases it was aware of inside Israeli prisons.
The case of Mutasem Radad from Tulkarem is one of the most critical among these, it said, as he has reached an advanced stage of cancer and has undergone several surgeries. They also highlighted Yusri al-Masri from the Gaza Strip who suffers from a malignant tumor in his thyroid and underwent surgery to remove the tumor in December 2013.
The association's statement added that other prisoners suffering cancer include:
- Prisoner Amer Muhammad Bahr from Abu Dis in Jerusalem, whose health is deteriorating severely as he is suffering from colon cancer and there is a risk of the disease spreading to different areas of the body.
- Prisoner Tareq al-Assi from the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, who was diagnosed with colon cancer several years ago after suffering from severe bleeding and weight loss.
- Prisoner Moussa Said Sufan from Tulkarem, who went through a hunger strike recently protesting for better conditions in which to undergo treatment for his disease, as he suffers from a tumor in his ear and neck area. He has been scheduled to undergo a surgery to remove the tumor but it was never carried out.
-Prisoner Fawwaz Baara from Nablus, who is suffering from a tumor in the ear.
-Prisoner Mahmoud Muhammad al-Sharha from Hebron, who is suffering from a malignant tumor in his throat.
-Prisoner Nassim Khattab from Gaza, who is suffering from a testicular tumor.
-Prisoner Khalil Abu Hadrus from Bethlehem, who is suffering from a tumor in his left thigh. -Prisoner Hazem Miqdad from Gaza, who is suffering from tumor in his liver.
-Prisoner Nabil al-Natsheh, a member of parliament who is suffering from Lymphoma.
-Prisoner Abdullah Mahmoud Abu Latifeh, 29, from Bethlehem, who is suffering from a brain tumor.
-Prisoner Shadi Qaraan from Tulkarem, who is suffering from a testicular tumor.
-Prisoner Naji Nathmi Arar from Qarawat Bani Zaid in Ramallah, who is suffering from a neck tumor.
-Prisoner Iyad Shaaban Dawus from the northern Gaza Strip, who is suffering from a foot tumor.
The organization said in a statement, according to Ma'an, that they believed the number was in fact higher, as the 15 include only those who have been diagnosed with cancer, but many others have tumors whose malignancy is not known because Israeli prison authorities have limited their access to tests.
The organization blamed Israeli authorities for contributing to an environment in which Palestinian prisoners faced a heightened risk of cancer due to high levels of radiation inside prison cells.
The group said that Israeli authorities set up devices to jam satellite and telephone signals near rooms where Palestinians are being held. They also pointed to the use of radiation in security scanners that prisoners are forced to go through during frequent searches and examinations.
The statement also said that a number of prisons are located near the Dimona nuclear reactor as well as toxic waste dumps in the Negev Desert, another factor which it said contributed to the high incidence of cancer.
The association said that Israel is violating international and humanitarian laws by keeping these prisoners and other sick prisoners in detention as their lives are in danger and they do not pose any danger or threat to Israel.
It claimed in the statement that a total of 1,500 Palestinian prisoners are suffering from some kind of illness, out of a total of around 5,500 Palestinians being currently held in Israeli jails.
The association called upon the international community to uphold its legal and humanitarian responsibilities towards the prisoners and their rights.
The association listed a number of the most pressing cases it was aware of inside Israeli prisons.
The case of Mutasem Radad from Tulkarem is one of the most critical among these, it said, as he has reached an advanced stage of cancer and has undergone several surgeries. They also highlighted Yusri al-Masri from the Gaza Strip who suffers from a malignant tumor in his thyroid and underwent surgery to remove the tumor in December 2013.
The association's statement added that other prisoners suffering cancer include:
- Prisoner Amer Muhammad Bahr from Abu Dis in Jerusalem, whose health is deteriorating severely as he is suffering from colon cancer and there is a risk of the disease spreading to different areas of the body.
- Prisoner Tareq al-Assi from the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, who was diagnosed with colon cancer several years ago after suffering from severe bleeding and weight loss.
- Prisoner Moussa Said Sufan from Tulkarem, who went through a hunger strike recently protesting for better conditions in which to undergo treatment for his disease, as he suffers from a tumor in his ear and neck area. He has been scheduled to undergo a surgery to remove the tumor but it was never carried out.
-Prisoner Fawwaz Baara from Nablus, who is suffering from a tumor in the ear.
-Prisoner Mahmoud Muhammad al-Sharha from Hebron, who is suffering from a malignant tumor in his throat.
-Prisoner Nassim Khattab from Gaza, who is suffering from a testicular tumor.
-Prisoner Khalil Abu Hadrus from Bethlehem, who is suffering from a tumor in his left thigh. -Prisoner Hazem Miqdad from Gaza, who is suffering from tumor in his liver.
-Prisoner Nabil al-Natsheh, a member of parliament who is suffering from Lymphoma.
-Prisoner Abdullah Mahmoud Abu Latifeh, 29, from Bethlehem, who is suffering from a brain tumor.
-Prisoner Shadi Qaraan from Tulkarem, who is suffering from a testicular tumor.
-Prisoner Naji Nathmi Arar from Qarawat Bani Zaid in Ramallah, who is suffering from a neck tumor.
-Prisoner Iyad Shaaban Dawus from the northern Gaza Strip, who is suffering from a foot tumor.
21 mar 2015
Israeli policemen rounded up Saturday noon three minors in Occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli media sources said the Israeli policemen arrested three Jerusalemite juveniles aged 15-16 years old in Mount of Olives in Jerusalem after alleging they robbed Jews.
The sources said the three minors, whose identities have not been disclosed, are residents of East Jerusalem.
Israeli media sources said the Israeli policemen arrested three Jerusalemite juveniles aged 15-16 years old in Mount of Olives in Jerusalem after alleging they robbed Jews.
The sources said the three minors, whose identities have not been disclosed, are residents of East Jerusalem.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rounded up four Palestinian citizens near a Jewish settlement in al-Khalil province for possession of melee weapons.
Radio Israel said on Friday that the four are from Dura town in al-Khalil and had knives, axes, and chains in their car.
They said that the four were taken in for interrogation about the possession of those weapons.
IOF arrests Palestinian in al-Khalil
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested at dawn Saturday a young Palestinian man in al-Khalil and took him to an unknown destination.
Local sources said the IOF soldiers arrested a 32-year-old man called Mohammad Aref al-Sharabati after breaking into his home in the city and intimidating women and children during the arrest operation.
The sources added that the IOF soldiers set up mobile checkpoints in different West Bank districts especially in al-Khalil.
The Israeli army soldiers blocked the traffic, searched vehicles of Palestinians, and checked their identity cards, the sources said.
Radio Israel said on Friday that the four are from Dura town in al-Khalil and had knives, axes, and chains in their car.
They said that the four were taken in for interrogation about the possession of those weapons.
IOF arrests Palestinian in al-Khalil
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested at dawn Saturday a young Palestinian man in al-Khalil and took him to an unknown destination.
Local sources said the IOF soldiers arrested a 32-year-old man called Mohammad Aref al-Sharabati after breaking into his home in the city and intimidating women and children during the arrest operation.
The sources added that the IOF soldiers set up mobile checkpoints in different West Bank districts especially in al-Khalil.
The Israeli army soldiers blocked the traffic, searched vehicles of Palestinians, and checked their identity cards, the sources said.
20 mar 2015
Israeli soldiers attacked, Friday, the weekly protest against the Annexation Wall and settlements, in Kufur Qaddoum village, near the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, wounding three Palestinians, including cameraman working for a European news agency.
The villagers hold weekly protests also demanding Israel to reopen the village’s main road that the army closed with concrete blocks thirteen years ago.
Murad Eshteiwy, coordinator of the Popular Committee in Kufur Qaddoum, said the soldiers used excessive force against the protesters, and fired rounds of live ammunition and gas bombs, in addition to spraying the protesters with wastewater mixed with chemicals.
The attack led to clashes between dozens of local youths and the invading Israeli soldiers.
Two Palestinians, identified as Mohammad Jom’a, 17, and Mohammad al-Baz, 22, were injured by rubber-coated metal bullets, while Palestinian cameraman working for a European news agency suffered various cuts and bruises.
The photographer was hurt after falling to the ground as a number of soldiers were pushing him around, along with other journalists, in an attempt to force them to leave.
Eshteiwy said a number of soldiers ambushed the protesters in an abandoned olive mill building, and detained Zahi ‘Ali, 47 years of age, for several hours before releasing him.
He added that the soldiers deliberately sprayed the home of Zohdi Eshteiwy with wastewater, before topping the building to use it as a military tower; soldiers also used the building to fire on the protesters.
The villagers hold weekly protests also demanding Israel to reopen the village’s main road that the army closed with concrete blocks thirteen years ago.
Murad Eshteiwy, coordinator of the Popular Committee in Kufur Qaddoum, said the soldiers used excessive force against the protesters, and fired rounds of live ammunition and gas bombs, in addition to spraying the protesters with wastewater mixed with chemicals.
The attack led to clashes between dozens of local youths and the invading Israeli soldiers.
Two Palestinians, identified as Mohammad Jom’a, 17, and Mohammad al-Baz, 22, were injured by rubber-coated metal bullets, while Palestinian cameraman working for a European news agency suffered various cuts and bruises.
The photographer was hurt after falling to the ground as a number of soldiers were pushing him around, along with other journalists, in an attempt to force them to leave.
Eshteiwy said a number of soldiers ambushed the protesters in an abandoned olive mill building, and detained Zahi ‘Ali, 47 years of age, for several hours before releasing him.
He added that the soldiers deliberately sprayed the home of Zohdi Eshteiwy with wastewater, before topping the building to use it as a military tower; soldiers also used the building to fire on the protesters.
The Israeli prison authority persists in violating the rights of more than 6,500 Palestinian prisoners in its jails, a Palestinian human rights center said Thursday.
The prisoners’ center for studies said that the Palestinian prisoners’ difficult detention conditions as they are denied access to basic human needs and exposed to severe punitive measures, including solitary confinement and administrative detention.
The center added the prisoners always complain of food quality and quantity in Israeli jails, overnight search raids, strip search, mass transfers, and medical neglect, especially against those with health problems.
According to the center, the Israeli prison authority responds to incitement statements made against the Palestinian prisoners by Israeli politicians, like the ones made previously by foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman and former homeland security minister Tzachi Hanegbi.
The prisoners’ center for studies said that the Palestinian prisoners’ difficult detention conditions as they are denied access to basic human needs and exposed to severe punitive measures, including solitary confinement and administrative detention.
The center added the prisoners always complain of food quality and quantity in Israeli jails, overnight search raids, strip search, mass transfers, and medical neglect, especially against those with health problems.
According to the center, the Israeli prison authority responds to incitement statements made against the Palestinian prisoners by Israeli politicians, like the ones made previously by foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman and former homeland security minister Tzachi Hanegbi.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Friday morning, the town of Doura, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and kidnapped two Palestinians. Soldiers also invaded a home in Beit Ummar, and held a family in one room.
Eyewitnesses in Doura said several military vehicles invaded the town, installed roadblocks, and conducted military searches of homes, causing property damage.
They added that the soldiers kidnapped Ma’moun Mohammad al-‘Awawda, 24, and Nihad Emteir al-‘Awawda, 32, and took her to an unknown destination.
In addition, media spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Ummar, Mohammad ‘Awad, said the soldiers invaded the town before violently breaking into the home of ‘Ali ‘Ayyad ‘Awad.
He added that the soldiers held the six family members in one room while searching and ransacking their property in the at-Tarbeeqa area. The soldiers also searched the area around the invaded property.
Eyewitnesses in Doura said several military vehicles invaded the town, installed roadblocks, and conducted military searches of homes, causing property damage.
They added that the soldiers kidnapped Ma’moun Mohammad al-‘Awawda, 24, and Nihad Emteir al-‘Awawda, 32, and took her to an unknown destination.
In addition, media spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Ummar, Mohammad ‘Awad, said the soldiers invaded the town before violently breaking into the home of ‘Ali ‘Ayyad ‘Awad.
He added that the soldiers held the six family members in one room while searching and ransacking their property in the at-Tarbeeqa area. The soldiers also searched the area around the invaded property.
The Palestinian Detainees Studies Center has reported that the Israeli Prison Authority renewed, Thursday, the administrative detention order against ailing detainee Nabil Na’im an-Natsha, 58, for additional four months, without charges or trial.
Riyadh al-Ashqar, the Center’s media spokesperson, said detainee an-Natsha was kidnapped by the army on March 27, 2013, and received a six-month Administrative Detention order that was renewed four consecutive times.
The detainee was supposed to be released Thursday, but received a new order just before he was supposed to be freed.
Al-Ashqar said that, prior to his latest arrest, an-Natsha was imprisoned for more than 10 years, largely held under Administrative Detention, and was, in 1992, forced into exile for one year.
An-Natsha suffers from various health issues, including lymphoma (lymph nodes cancer), coronary artery disease, slipped disk and sharp lower-back pain, high blood pressure, and left ventricular hypertrophy. (Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a condition in which the muscle wall of heart's left pumping chamber (ventricle) becomes thickened (hypertrophy).
He held Israel and its Prison Administration responsible for an-Natsha’s life, who was moved to various Israeli hospitals without receiving the constant care and treatment, and called for his immediate release.
Al-Ashqar also called on Doctors Without Borders, the World Health Organization, the International Red Cross, and all related human rights and medical organizations to intervene and pressure Israel into releasing an-Natsha due to his deteriorating condition, so he can receive the needed medical attention, especially since Israel is not pressing any charges against him.
It is worth mentioning that in 2007, Basil, one of Nabil’s sons and a member of the Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, was killed during armed clashes with Israeli soldiers in Beit Kahel, in Hebron; two Israeli soldiers were killed.
Riyadh al-Ashqar, the Center’s media spokesperson, said detainee an-Natsha was kidnapped by the army on March 27, 2013, and received a six-month Administrative Detention order that was renewed four consecutive times.
The detainee was supposed to be released Thursday, but received a new order just before he was supposed to be freed.
Al-Ashqar said that, prior to his latest arrest, an-Natsha was imprisoned for more than 10 years, largely held under Administrative Detention, and was, in 1992, forced into exile for one year.
An-Natsha suffers from various health issues, including lymphoma (lymph nodes cancer), coronary artery disease, slipped disk and sharp lower-back pain, high blood pressure, and left ventricular hypertrophy. (Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a condition in which the muscle wall of heart's left pumping chamber (ventricle) becomes thickened (hypertrophy).
He held Israel and its Prison Administration responsible for an-Natsha’s life, who was moved to various Israeli hospitals without receiving the constant care and treatment, and called for his immediate release.
Al-Ashqar also called on Doctors Without Borders, the World Health Organization, the International Red Cross, and all related human rights and medical organizations to intervene and pressure Israel into releasing an-Natsha due to his deteriorating condition, so he can receive the needed medical attention, especially since Israel is not pressing any charges against him.
It is worth mentioning that in 2007, Basil, one of Nabil’s sons and a member of the Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, was killed during armed clashes with Israeli soldiers in Beit Kahel, in Hebron; two Israeli soldiers were killed.