26 mar 2020

Israeli troops in occupied east Jerusalem, abducted, late on Wednesday night, nine Palestinian residents, according to local sources.
Palestinian sources said that the Israeli abduction operations occurred in several parts of the old city of occupied east Jerusalem, mainly in the al-‘Isawiya neighborhood, adding that the soldiers invaded a number of residential homes and abducted four Palestinian youths.
The abducted youths were identified as Netham Abu Rmooze, Hatem Keswani, Jehad Abu Rmooze, Tayseer Mohaisen, Mohammad Mohaisen, Suheib Siyama, Hamda Abuelhoms.
It was also noted that more youths were abducted near the Bab Alasbat gate of the holy Islamic shrine of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli abductions of local Palestinian youths occur frequently in occupied East Jerusalem, where Israel has tightened restrictions on the Arab-Palestinian residents of the area.
Such Israeli-imposed restrictions, have reportedly escalated, following the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the occupation state of Israel, back in May, 2018.
Palestinian sources said that the Israeli abduction operations occurred in several parts of the old city of occupied east Jerusalem, mainly in the al-‘Isawiya neighborhood, adding that the soldiers invaded a number of residential homes and abducted four Palestinian youths.
The abducted youths were identified as Netham Abu Rmooze, Hatem Keswani, Jehad Abu Rmooze, Tayseer Mohaisen, Mohammad Mohaisen, Suheib Siyama, Hamda Abuelhoms.
It was also noted that more youths were abducted near the Bab Alasbat gate of the holy Islamic shrine of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli abductions of local Palestinian youths occur frequently in occupied East Jerusalem, where Israel has tightened restrictions on the Arab-Palestinian residents of the area.
Such Israeli-imposed restrictions, have reportedly escalated, following the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the occupation state of Israel, back in May, 2018.
25 mar 2020

Israel is set Wednesday evening to release two out of four Palestinian prisoners who have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, announced the Prisoners’ Affairs Committee.
The Committee said that Israeli authorities are scheduled to release two out of four Palestinian prisoners who have been under quarantine in the Ramla Prison Clinic for ten days as a precautionary measure on suspicion of contracting the virus after coming into contact with an ill Israeli prison officer today evening.
It elaborated that the two prisoners, identified as residents of the West Bank city of Nablus, would be dropped off at Beit Sira military checkpoint, west of Ramallah city.
Awaiting for them at the checkpoint would be Palestinian medics who would examine them and place them under quarantine until their test results prove negative.
The Committee said that Israeli authorities are scheduled to release two out of four Palestinian prisoners who have been under quarantine in the Ramla Prison Clinic for ten days as a precautionary measure on suspicion of contracting the virus after coming into contact with an ill Israeli prison officer today evening.
It elaborated that the two prisoners, identified as residents of the West Bank city of Nablus, would be dropped off at Beit Sira military checkpoint, west of Ramallah city.
Awaiting for them at the checkpoint would be Palestinian medics who would examine them and place them under quarantine until their test results prove negative.

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails today sent a humanitarian appeal to the world calling to save them from the deadly coronavirus pandemic before it kills them.
“The feeling of imminent threat and danger to our lives in Israeli prisons is growing day by day, even hour by hour,” said the prisoners in the letter of appeal directed to human rights organizations and “those who believe in freedom.”
“The Coronavirus is spreading and is threatening the region and entire world. We are always hearing new instructions and regulations by the Israeli government to its population, like all governments in the world on what to do to stop the spread of the virus.
When it comes to our situation, the political prisoners in Israeli jails, we are not hearing or seeing any measures or even answers to our most basic questions; what if the virus spread in prisons? What are the practical and humane steps that will be taken by the prison authorities?”
They added: “The only thing we are told from the prison administration is that they are taking all cautionary measures and for us this is not acceptable; especially knowing that there are now hundreds of sick prisoners who are suffering many health problems, some are sever like asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.”
They said: “We are sending this appeal to the world and all those concerned for human rights to save what is left of us who have lost our freedom and to save us from this virus that is threatening our lives and nothing is being done by those who are responsible and accountable under international law.
Medical negligence and indifference has haunted Palestinian prisoners for decades and many lost their lives due to such behavior. We say this as we also hear that the Israeli medical system cannot even handle the current amount of patients in its own society and that number is increasing. If this is the situation that means we expect no response when it hits the prisons unless international pressure mounts.
“The only way and hope to stop the spread of this disease is due diligence, prevention and hygiene. The Israeli prison administration does not provide us with the required sterilization supplies, tools or even face masks. They behave in formalities that are more like threats rather than conducting tests or taking precautions. We only have contact with the outside world through the jailers who are indifferent in their approach to us and can possibly carry the virus and pass it on to us and nothing is being regulated from that end.
They, in turn, if they fall ill, are able to take measures by moving away from the public and receive necessary treatment.
“We hold the prison administration, the Israeli government, those who are silent about what is going on, and all those who defend human rights, the full responsibility of our wellbeing and health.”
In their appeal, the prisoners called on the “free people of the world”: “Do not leave us to die in our prison beds as this infection spreads without anyone showing any care. What does the world expect of us? To rebel as some prisoners have in some countries only to be killed by bullets before they were eliminated by the virus?
“This is a cry to the whole world, and we have lists of cases of those who are suffering from poor health conditions in Israeli prisons, knowing that the numbers of patients are much higher.”
The letter, written by The Palestinian Prison Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, included names of 35 ill Palestinian prisoners.
“The feeling of imminent threat and danger to our lives in Israeli prisons is growing day by day, even hour by hour,” said the prisoners in the letter of appeal directed to human rights organizations and “those who believe in freedom.”
“The Coronavirus is spreading and is threatening the region and entire world. We are always hearing new instructions and regulations by the Israeli government to its population, like all governments in the world on what to do to stop the spread of the virus.
When it comes to our situation, the political prisoners in Israeli jails, we are not hearing or seeing any measures or even answers to our most basic questions; what if the virus spread in prisons? What are the practical and humane steps that will be taken by the prison authorities?”
They added: “The only thing we are told from the prison administration is that they are taking all cautionary measures and for us this is not acceptable; especially knowing that there are now hundreds of sick prisoners who are suffering many health problems, some are sever like asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.”
They said: “We are sending this appeal to the world and all those concerned for human rights to save what is left of us who have lost our freedom and to save us from this virus that is threatening our lives and nothing is being done by those who are responsible and accountable under international law.
Medical negligence and indifference has haunted Palestinian prisoners for decades and many lost their lives due to such behavior. We say this as we also hear that the Israeli medical system cannot even handle the current amount of patients in its own society and that number is increasing. If this is the situation that means we expect no response when it hits the prisons unless international pressure mounts.
“The only way and hope to stop the spread of this disease is due diligence, prevention and hygiene. The Israeli prison administration does not provide us with the required sterilization supplies, tools or even face masks. They behave in formalities that are more like threats rather than conducting tests or taking precautions. We only have contact with the outside world through the jailers who are indifferent in their approach to us and can possibly carry the virus and pass it on to us and nothing is being regulated from that end.
They, in turn, if they fall ill, are able to take measures by moving away from the public and receive necessary treatment.
“We hold the prison administration, the Israeli government, those who are silent about what is going on, and all those who defend human rights, the full responsibility of our wellbeing and health.”
In their appeal, the prisoners called on the “free people of the world”: “Do not leave us to die in our prison beds as this infection spreads without anyone showing any care. What does the world expect of us? To rebel as some prisoners have in some countries only to be killed by bullets before they were eliminated by the virus?
“This is a cry to the whole world, and we have lists of cases of those who are suffering from poor health conditions in Israeli prisons, knowing that the numbers of patients are much higher.”
The letter, written by The Palestinian Prison Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, included names of 35 ill Palestinian prisoners.

The Israeli authorities released today a Palestinian prisoner after serving 16 years in Israeli jails, according to the head of the Prisoner Society in the northern West Bank city of Jenin.
He told WAFA that Israel freed Mohammad Faris, 37, from the village of Zibdeh, south of Jenin, who was first arrested on March 26, 2004 for resisting the occupation.
He said the prisoner was freed at a military checkpoint near the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
He told WAFA that Israel freed Mohammad Faris, 37, from the village of Zibdeh, south of Jenin, who was first arrested on March 26, 2004 for resisting the occupation.
He said the prisoner was freed at a military checkpoint near the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

A Palestinian political prisoner in the Israeli Nafha prison in the south of Israel set fire this morning to a room used by the prison guards to protest the prison administration’s neglect of the health conditions for the prisoners.
According to Qadri Abu Bakr, head of the Palestinian Authority’s Prisoners Affairs Commission, the prisoner, Ayman Sharabati, who is serving a life sentence, set the room on fire when the prisoners were taking their daily walk out of their cells to protest the way the Israel Prisons Service (IPS) deals with the health situation in prisons and not taking enough precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease among the prisoners.
He said the prisoner was immediately place in solitary confinement in the prison.
Abu Bakr said the IPS removed all the doctors and nurses from the prisons and kept only one nurse in every prison, which he described as part of the Israeli policy of medical negligence of prisoners.
He warned that this policy, if it continues, could generate serious reactions from the prisoners.
Regarding the four prisoners in Magiddo prison who were quarantined after they were suspected of contracting coronavirus disease from an Israeli interrogator, Abu Bakr said an attorney from the commission has contacted the prisoners who did not show any symptoms of the virus.
Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Organization said yesterday that its lawyer, Samer Sam’an, managed to speak via a phone call to the prisoners put in quarantine at Ramleh prison clinic.
It said the prisoners informed the lawyer that they were not tested for the coronavirus disease yet. Their temperature is taken twice a day, and no other medical tests are made so far.
Abu Bakr urged the Red Cross and other rights organizations to intervene on behalf of the prisoners to make sure they get the proper health care in this time of coronavirus pandemic.
A similar call was yesterday made by Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh during his meeting with the head of the Jerusalem office of the Red Cross.
There are over 5000 Palestinian prisoners serving time in Israeli jails for resisting its occupation of the Palestinian lands.
According to Qadri Abu Bakr, head of the Palestinian Authority’s Prisoners Affairs Commission, the prisoner, Ayman Sharabati, who is serving a life sentence, set the room on fire when the prisoners were taking their daily walk out of their cells to protest the way the Israel Prisons Service (IPS) deals with the health situation in prisons and not taking enough precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease among the prisoners.
He said the prisoner was immediately place in solitary confinement in the prison.
Abu Bakr said the IPS removed all the doctors and nurses from the prisons and kept only one nurse in every prison, which he described as part of the Israeli policy of medical negligence of prisoners.
He warned that this policy, if it continues, could generate serious reactions from the prisoners.
Regarding the four prisoners in Magiddo prison who were quarantined after they were suspected of contracting coronavirus disease from an Israeli interrogator, Abu Bakr said an attorney from the commission has contacted the prisoners who did not show any symptoms of the virus.
Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Organization said yesterday that its lawyer, Samer Sam’an, managed to speak via a phone call to the prisoners put in quarantine at Ramleh prison clinic.
It said the prisoners informed the lawyer that they were not tested for the coronavirus disease yet. Their temperature is taken twice a day, and no other medical tests are made so far.
Abu Bakr urged the Red Cross and other rights organizations to intervene on behalf of the prisoners to make sure they get the proper health care in this time of coronavirus pandemic.
A similar call was yesterday made by Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh during his meeting with the head of the Jerusalem office of the Red Cross.
There are over 5000 Palestinian prisoners serving time in Israeli jails for resisting its occupation of the Palestinian lands.
A Palestinian political prisoner in the Israeli Nafha prison in the south of Israel set himself on fire this morning to protest the prison’s administration neglect of the health conditions of the prisoners.

An Israeli settler, on Monday, exploited the lockdown imposed in the occupied territories to raze Palestinian land between Rafat and Qalandia towns, northwest of Jerusalem, said a municipal source.
Mayor of Qalandia, Ra’fat Awad told Palestinian WAFA News Agency that the illegal colonist razed a tract of Palestinian-owned land between the aforementioned towns, planted it with saplings and erected a fence around it, before being spotted and repelled by staff from the Jerusalem Governor’s Office.
Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, condemned Israel for its accelerated annexation of Palestinian land.
Dr. Ashrawi tweeted “As we are in lockdown in Palestine and the settlers are on the rampage, Israel should take back its settlers and keep them there. It should release our vulnerable prisoners.”
Meanwhile, Director of the Anti-Wall and Settlement Commission, Hassan Breijah said that settlers constructed and paved a settler-only road and set up several mobile homes on Palestinian-owned land in Khallet An-Nahleh, south of Bethlehem.
Mayor of Qalandia, Ra’fat Awad told Palestinian WAFA News Agency that the illegal colonist razed a tract of Palestinian-owned land between the aforementioned towns, planted it with saplings and erected a fence around it, before being spotted and repelled by staff from the Jerusalem Governor’s Office.
Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, condemned Israel for its accelerated annexation of Palestinian land.
Dr. Ashrawi tweeted “As we are in lockdown in Palestine and the settlers are on the rampage, Israel should take back its settlers and keep them there. It should release our vulnerable prisoners.”
Meanwhile, Director of the Anti-Wall and Settlement Commission, Hassan Breijah said that settlers constructed and paved a settler-only road and set up several mobile homes on Palestinian-owned land in Khallet An-Nahleh, south of Bethlehem.
24 mar 2020

Israeli forces Tuesday evening detained two Palestinian brothers from Khirbet Ein al-Hilweh village in the northern Jordan Valley.
Mu'taz Besharat, an settlement construction watchdog in the Tubas district, said that Israeli military vehicles stormed the village, where soldiers rounded up two brothers, aged 65 and 52.
On Monday, Israeli settlers assaulted the son of one of the detainees, a shepherd, for herding his cows in the area.
Israeli forces frequently raid Palestinian houses almost on a daily basis across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians.
The Jordan Valley, which is a fertile strip of land running west along the Jordan River, is home to about 65,000 Palestinians and makes up approximately 30% of the West Bank.
Since 1967, when the Israeli army occupied the West Bank, Israel has transferred at least 11,000 of its Jewish citizens to the Jordan Valley. Some of the settlements in which they live were built almost entirely on private Palestinian land.
The Israel military has also designated about 46 percent of the Jordan Valley as a closed military zone since the beginning of the occupation in June 1967, and has been utilizing the pretext of military drills to forcefully displace Palestinian families living there as part of a policy of ethnic cleansing and stifling Palestinian development in the area.
Approximately 6,200 Palestinians live in 38 communities in places earmarked for military use and have had to obtain permission from the Israeli authorities to enter and live in their communities.
In violation of international law, the Israeli military not only temporarily displaces the communities on a regular basis, but also confiscates their farmlands, demolishes their homes and infrastructure from time to time.
Besides undergoing temporary displacement, the Palestinian families living there face a myriad restrictions on access to resources and services.
Meanwhile, Israel exploits the resources of the area and generates profit by allocating generous tracts of land and water resources for the benefit of settlers.
Israeli politicians have made it clear on several occasions that the highly strategic Jordan Valley would remain under their control in any eventuality.
Mu'taz Besharat, an settlement construction watchdog in the Tubas district, said that Israeli military vehicles stormed the village, where soldiers rounded up two brothers, aged 65 and 52.
On Monday, Israeli settlers assaulted the son of one of the detainees, a shepherd, for herding his cows in the area.
Israeli forces frequently raid Palestinian houses almost on a daily basis across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians.
The Jordan Valley, which is a fertile strip of land running west along the Jordan River, is home to about 65,000 Palestinians and makes up approximately 30% of the West Bank.
Since 1967, when the Israeli army occupied the West Bank, Israel has transferred at least 11,000 of its Jewish citizens to the Jordan Valley. Some of the settlements in which they live were built almost entirely on private Palestinian land.
The Israel military has also designated about 46 percent of the Jordan Valley as a closed military zone since the beginning of the occupation in June 1967, and has been utilizing the pretext of military drills to forcefully displace Palestinian families living there as part of a policy of ethnic cleansing and stifling Palestinian development in the area.
Approximately 6,200 Palestinians live in 38 communities in places earmarked for military use and have had to obtain permission from the Israeli authorities to enter and live in their communities.
In violation of international law, the Israeli military not only temporarily displaces the communities on a regular basis, but also confiscates their farmlands, demolishes their homes and infrastructure from time to time.
Besides undergoing temporary displacement, the Palestinian families living there face a myriad restrictions on access to resources and services.
Meanwhile, Israel exploits the resources of the area and generates profit by allocating generous tracts of land and water resources for the benefit of settlers.
Israeli politicians have made it clear on several occasions that the highly strategic Jordan Valley would remain under their control in any eventuality.

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails today returned their food portions and closed their sections in protest against the Israeli Prison Services (IPS) policies that aim to strip them from their rights while exploiting the current COVID-19 situation to punish them, according to a statement by the Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS).
The PPS said that instead of helping the prisoners deal with the coronavirus disease, the IPS removed from the prisons’ canteens 140 items, including essential cleaning material required to provide protection against coronavirus.
It said the prisoners were also denied visits by their families and lawyers under the pretext of coronavirus measures while not doing anything for them inside the crowded and closed-in prison cells.
The PPS said that instead of helping the prisoners deal with the coronavirus disease, the IPS removed from the prisons’ canteens 140 items, including essential cleaning material required to provide protection against coronavirus.
It said the prisoners were also denied visits by their families and lawyers under the pretext of coronavirus measures while not doing anything for them inside the crowded and closed-in prison cells.