23 mar 2020
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Monday evening, five Palestinians for disinfecting public facilities near the Lion’s Gate, leading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in the occupied Palestinian capital, Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers abducted the Palestinians in the al-Ghazali Square, in Bab Al-Asbat (Lion’s Gate), while they were disinfecting public facilities as a precaution amidst the spread of Coronavirus. video
They added that the soldiers took the four Palestinians to a Police station in the Hebron Gate area, in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers abducted the Palestinians in the al-Ghazali Square, in Bab Al-Asbat (Lion’s Gate), while they were disinfecting public facilities as a precaution amidst the spread of Coronavirus. video
They added that the soldiers took the four Palestinians to a Police station in the Hebron Gate area, in Jerusalem’s Old City.
The League of Arab States, consisting of 22 Arab countries, addressed international human rights organizations and other relevant bodies, on Monday, what they describe as an imperative release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, from Israeli jails.
A press release, issued by the Deputy-Secretary General of the Arab States’ League for the Israel-occupied Arab and Palestinian Territories’ Affairs, Said Abu Ali, was in response to a worldwide Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
The statement read that all relevant international conventions and the international law consider providing protection for prisoners as imperative, especially in times of pandemics, such as the current global situation.
Mr. Abu Ali called on key international countries to pressure Israeli authorities for the release of 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, including hundreds of elderly with poor immunity, 180 juveniles and 43 women, to prevent the prison population from contracting and spreading the contagious disease.
Abu Ali also called for ensuring protection and proper safety measures for the thousands of Palestinian prisoners, inside Israeli jails.
The Arab-Palestinian official’s appeal comes in the backdrop of media reports that Coronavirus cases inside Israel has so far reached several hundreds, with some Israeli health officials warning that the number could increase to thousands, unless more necessary measures are taken.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly imposed a total lockdown all across Israel, citing growing concerns that the virus could widely spread in the upcoming weeks.
Palestinian media reports confirmed that four Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli Megedo prison, one of the largest Israeli detention facilities for Palestinians, have tested positive for COVID-19. The Palestinian Government has also increased precautions in the occupied West Bank.
A press release, issued by the Deputy-Secretary General of the Arab States’ League for the Israel-occupied Arab and Palestinian Territories’ Affairs, Said Abu Ali, was in response to a worldwide Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
The statement read that all relevant international conventions and the international law consider providing protection for prisoners as imperative, especially in times of pandemics, such as the current global situation.
Mr. Abu Ali called on key international countries to pressure Israeli authorities for the release of 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, including hundreds of elderly with poor immunity, 180 juveniles and 43 women, to prevent the prison population from contracting and spreading the contagious disease.
Abu Ali also called for ensuring protection and proper safety measures for the thousands of Palestinian prisoners, inside Israeli jails.
The Arab-Palestinian official’s appeal comes in the backdrop of media reports that Coronavirus cases inside Israel has so far reached several hundreds, with some Israeli health officials warning that the number could increase to thousands, unless more necessary measures are taken.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly imposed a total lockdown all across Israel, citing growing concerns that the virus could widely spread in the upcoming weeks.
Palestinian media reports confirmed that four Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli Megedo prison, one of the largest Israeli detention facilities for Palestinians, have tested positive for COVID-19. The Palestinian Government has also increased precautions in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli soldiers abducted, Monday, three Palestinian men in Qalqilia governorate, in northern West Bank, after invading and violently searching their homes, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported.
The PPS said the soldiers invaded and ransacked homes in Sniria village, south of Qalqilia, before abducting ‘Ala Sadeq Omar, 38, and Mamdouh al-Barri, 26.
It added that the soldiers also invaded and searched homes in Azzoun town, east of Qalqilia, and abducted Mahmoud Ghannawi, 40.
The PPS said the soldiers invaded and ransacked homes in Sniria village, south of Qalqilia, before abducting ‘Ala Sadeq Omar, 38, and Mamdouh al-Barri, 26.
It added that the soldiers also invaded and searched homes in Azzoun town, east of Qalqilia, and abducted Mahmoud Ghannawi, 40.
Qais Haitham Mustafa 13
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Sunday evening, five Palestinians, including two children, in Salfit, in central West Bank, and in the occupied East Jerusalem.
Media sources in Salfit said several army jeeps invaded the az-Zawiya town, west of the city, before storming and searching homes.
They added that the soldiers abducted three Palestinians, identified as Mo’taz Mashhour Shqeir, Ibrahim Hasan Shqeir, and Nour Amin Abu Laila.
In addition, several army jeeps invaded the Jerusalem town of al-‘Isawiya, before abducting two children, identified as Daoud Aa’ed Atiya, who was taken prisoner near the al-Arba’in Mosque, and Qais Haitham Mustafa, who was in front of his home.
Local sources said the soldiers also fired a barrage of gas bombs and concussion grenades at Palestinian protesters in the area.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Sunday evening, five Palestinians, including two children, in Salfit, in central West Bank, and in the occupied East Jerusalem.
Media sources in Salfit said several army jeeps invaded the az-Zawiya town, west of the city, before storming and searching homes.
They added that the soldiers abducted three Palestinians, identified as Mo’taz Mashhour Shqeir, Ibrahim Hasan Shqeir, and Nour Amin Abu Laila.
In addition, several army jeeps invaded the Jerusalem town of al-‘Isawiya, before abducting two children, identified as Daoud Aa’ed Atiya, who was taken prisoner near the al-Arba’in Mosque, and Qais Haitham Mustafa, who was in front of his home.
Local sources said the soldiers also fired a barrage of gas bombs and concussion grenades at Palestinian protesters in the area.
Three Palestinian citizens, including a child, were arrested by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) late Sunday in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Local sources said the IOF stormed al-Isawiya town in Jerusalem and randomly fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian homes in Obeid neighborhood.
The IOF soldiers kidnapped a child identified as Dawood Atiya, 13, near the village's mosque before they withdrew.
Meanwhile, the IOF arrested two Palestinian youths at the entrance of Abud village west of the West Bank city of Ramallah. Their identities have not been announced yet.
Another raid was reported in Qalqilya where violent clashes broke out between Palestinian youths and IOF soldiers. No injuries or arrests were reported.
Local sources said the IOF stormed al-Isawiya town in Jerusalem and randomly fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian homes in Obeid neighborhood.
The IOF soldiers kidnapped a child identified as Dawood Atiya, 13, near the village's mosque before they withdrew.
Meanwhile, the IOF arrested two Palestinian youths at the entrance of Abud village west of the West Bank city of Ramallah. Their identities have not been announced yet.
Another raid was reported in Qalqilya where violent clashes broke out between Palestinian youths and IOF soldiers. No injuries or arrests were reported.
22 mar 2020
The Israeli occupation police on Sunday evening kidnaped a Jerusalemite teenager during a campaign in Ras al-Amud neighborhood of Silwan district, east of the holy city.
The police also set up a makeshift checkpoint in Ras al-Amud and embarked on intercepting and searching cars.
Meanwhile, pro-Aqsa activist Hanadi al-Halawani received a summons from the Israeli police for interrogation.
In another context, Jerusalemite activist Nidham Abu Romouz said that the Israeli police ban Muslim worshipers from reaching the Aqsa Mosque for prayers at the pretext of preventing the spread of coronavirus while allowing Jewish settlers to defile it and tour its courtyards on a daily basis.
The police also set up a makeshift checkpoint in Ras al-Amud and embarked on intercepting and searching cars.
Meanwhile, pro-Aqsa activist Hanadi al-Halawani received a summons from the Israeli police for interrogation.
In another context, Jerusalemite activist Nidham Abu Romouz said that the Israeli police ban Muslim worshipers from reaching the Aqsa Mosque for prayers at the pretext of preventing the spread of coronavirus while allowing Jewish settlers to defile it and tour its courtyards on a daily basis.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday morning arrested four Palestinian youths at a checkpoint near Mevo Dotan settlement which was built illegally on Palestinian lands in Ya'bad town, southwest of Jenin City.
Local sources said that IOF soldiers stationed at Dotan checkpoint stopped Palestinian vehicles, searched them, and detained four Palestinian youths.
Dotan checkpoint is located on the main road linking Jenin and Tulkarem provinces in the West Bank. The IOF closes the checkpoint most of the time hindering the movement of thousands of residents, merchants, workers and farmers.
Local sources said that IOF soldiers stationed at Dotan checkpoint stopped Palestinian vehicles, searched them, and detained four Palestinian youths.
Dotan checkpoint is located on the main road linking Jenin and Tulkarem provinces in the West Bank. The IOF closes the checkpoint most of the time hindering the movement of thousands of residents, merchants, workers and farmers.
The Israeli occupation police on Saturday evening kidnaped two Jerusalemite young men near the Aqsa Mosque’s Hitta Gate after they performed prayers at the holy site.
There was no immediate information about their identities and the reason for their detention.
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian citizens were able to perform the Isha prayers outside and inside the Aqsa Mosque’s Bab al-Rahma prayer building despite entry and gathering restrictions imposed by the Israeli police on Muslim worshipers.
Police forces also raided the house of Sheikh Abdul-Adheem Salhab, head of the Islamic Awqaf Council, in Beit Hanina neighborhood and handed him a notice ordering him to pay a financial penalty of 5,000 shekels.
The police claimed that Sheikh Salhab failed to call on Muslim worshipers to refrain from performing the Friday prayers at the Aqsa Mosque as a precaution measure against coronavirus.
On Friday, the Israeli police shut most of the Aqsa Mosque’s gates and assaulted many Palestinian citizens as they were trying to pray at the holy site.
There was no immediate information about their identities and the reason for their detention.
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian citizens were able to perform the Isha prayers outside and inside the Aqsa Mosque’s Bab al-Rahma prayer building despite entry and gathering restrictions imposed by the Israeli police on Muslim worshipers.
Police forces also raided the house of Sheikh Abdul-Adheem Salhab, head of the Islamic Awqaf Council, in Beit Hanina neighborhood and handed him a notice ordering him to pay a financial penalty of 5,000 shekels.
The police claimed that Sheikh Salhab failed to call on Muslim worshipers to refrain from performing the Friday prayers at the Aqsa Mosque as a precaution measure against coronavirus.
On Friday, the Israeli police shut most of the Aqsa Mosque’s gates and assaulted many Palestinian citizens as they were trying to pray at the holy site.
Palestinian former minister of prisoners affairs Wasfi Kabha on Saturday said the Israeli occupation authorities have refused to provide Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails with face masks and other safety supplies to protect themselves against coronavirus.
Kabha said the prisoners were asked to use their socks as safety masks by the Israel Prison Service in a blatant disregard for their lives.
Given the overcrowding in Israeli prison cells and the absence of cleaning supplies at the prison canteens, Palestinian detainees are now more vulnerable in light of the coronavirus outbreak, he noted.
Kabha, an ex-detainee, said that most of the diseases affecting Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails usually result from the lack of health care and hygiene supplies.
There is no periodic cleaning of the prisoners' old and dirty rooms, let alone sterilization, he added.
The former minister said there are 1,000 detainees in Israeli jails with health problems, including 28 suffering from chronic diseases, which means they are at a higher risk to catch coronavirus.
He called on concerned human rights organizations locally and internationally to pressure the Israeli authorities to take all necessary preventive measures that would ensure the Palestinian prisoners' safety during the coronavirus pandemic.
Kabha said the prisoners were asked to use their socks as safety masks by the Israel Prison Service in a blatant disregard for their lives.
Given the overcrowding in Israeli prison cells and the absence of cleaning supplies at the prison canteens, Palestinian detainees are now more vulnerable in light of the coronavirus outbreak, he noted.
Kabha, an ex-detainee, said that most of the diseases affecting Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails usually result from the lack of health care and hygiene supplies.
There is no periodic cleaning of the prisoners' old and dirty rooms, let alone sterilization, he added.
The former minister said there are 1,000 detainees in Israeli jails with health problems, including 28 suffering from chronic diseases, which means they are at a higher risk to catch coronavirus.
He called on concerned human rights organizations locally and internationally to pressure the Israeli authorities to take all necessary preventive measures that would ensure the Palestinian prisoners' safety during the coronavirus pandemic.
