11 may 2020
In light of COVID-19 crisis, UN officials today called for the immediate release of Palestinian children held in Israeli detention centers.
In a joint press statement, Jamie McGoldrick, Humanitarian Coordinator in the occupied Palestinian territory, Genevieve Boutin, UNICEF Special Representative in State of Palestine, and James Heenan, Head of the UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory, expressed serious concern over the continued detention of Palestinian children by the Israeli army, particularly in light of the current COVID-19 outbreak.
At the end of March, 194 Palestinian children were detained by the Israeli authorities in prisons and detention centres, mainly in Israel, according to data released by the Israeli Prison Service.
This is higher than the monthly average number of children detained in 2019. Of the total, the vast majority of these children have not been convicted of any offence but are being held in pre-trial detention.
“We are seriously concerned over the continued detention of Palestinian children by Israeli authorities,” they said in their statement.
“The rights of children to protection, safety and wellbeing must be upheld at all times. In normal times, the arrest or detention of a child should be a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time. This is enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which both Israel and State of Palestine have ratified.”
The UN officials said that during a pandemic, states should pay increased attention to children's protection needs and children's rights, and the best interests of children should be a primary consideration in all actions taken by governments.
“Children in detention face heightened risk of contracting COVID-19, with physical distancing and other preventive measures often absent or difficult to achieve. Moreover, since the start of the COVID-19 crisis in Israel, legal proceedings are on hold, almost all prison visits are cancelled, and children are denied in-person access to their families and their lawyers.
This creates additional hardship, psychological suffering, and prevents the child from receiving the legal advice to which they are entitled. For children awaiting trial, these pressures could put them under increased pressure to incriminate themselves, pleading guilty to be released faster,” said the UN officials.
“The best way to uphold the rights of detained children amidst a dangerous pandemic, in any country, is to release them from detention and to put a moratorium on new admissions into detention facilities. We call on the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to do so immediately.”
In a joint press statement, Jamie McGoldrick, Humanitarian Coordinator in the occupied Palestinian territory, Genevieve Boutin, UNICEF Special Representative in State of Palestine, and James Heenan, Head of the UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory, expressed serious concern over the continued detention of Palestinian children by the Israeli army, particularly in light of the current COVID-19 outbreak.
At the end of March, 194 Palestinian children were detained by the Israeli authorities in prisons and detention centres, mainly in Israel, according to data released by the Israeli Prison Service.
This is higher than the monthly average number of children detained in 2019. Of the total, the vast majority of these children have not been convicted of any offence but are being held in pre-trial detention.
“We are seriously concerned over the continued detention of Palestinian children by Israeli authorities,” they said in their statement.
“The rights of children to protection, safety and wellbeing must be upheld at all times. In normal times, the arrest or detention of a child should be a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time. This is enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which both Israel and State of Palestine have ratified.”
The UN officials said that during a pandemic, states should pay increased attention to children's protection needs and children's rights, and the best interests of children should be a primary consideration in all actions taken by governments.
“Children in detention face heightened risk of contracting COVID-19, with physical distancing and other preventive measures often absent or difficult to achieve. Moreover, since the start of the COVID-19 crisis in Israel, legal proceedings are on hold, almost all prison visits are cancelled, and children are denied in-person access to their families and their lawyers.
This creates additional hardship, psychological suffering, and prevents the child from receiving the legal advice to which they are entitled. For children awaiting trial, these pressures could put them under increased pressure to incriminate themselves, pleading guilty to be released faster,” said the UN officials.
“The best way to uphold the rights of detained children amidst a dangerous pandemic, in any country, is to release them from detention and to put a moratorium on new admissions into detention facilities. We call on the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to do so immediately.”
Undercover Israeli soldiers assaulted and kidnapped, on Monday evening, 13 young Palestinian men in Silwan town, in occupied East Jerusalem. video
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) has reported that the undercover soldiers infiltrated into the Central Neighborhood of the town, in occupied East Jerusalem and kidnapped the thirteen Palestinians, including four children. video
Silwanic added that the officers repeatedly assaulted the Palestinians with clubs and batons, before moving them to the Police Station in Salahuddin Street, in Jerusalem.
Mohammad Mahmoud, a Palestinian Lawyer working or Silwanic, said he managed to visit with the abducted Palestinians, and observed their cuts and bruises resulting from being assaulted while being kidnapped and apparently in the police station itself.
He added that the Israeli army and police are alleging that the thirteen Palestinians are “involved in throwing Molotov cocktails at army vehicles,” during invasions into their town.
The Palestinians have been identified as:
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) has reported that the undercover soldiers infiltrated into the Central Neighborhood of the town, in occupied East Jerusalem and kidnapped the thirteen Palestinians, including four children. video
Silwanic added that the officers repeatedly assaulted the Palestinians with clubs and batons, before moving them to the Police Station in Salahuddin Street, in Jerusalem.
Mohammad Mahmoud, a Palestinian Lawyer working or Silwanic, said he managed to visit with the abducted Palestinians, and observed their cuts and bruises resulting from being assaulted while being kidnapped and apparently in the police station itself.
He added that the Israeli army and police are alleging that the thirteen Palestinians are “involved in throwing Molotov cocktails at army vehicles,” during invasions into their town.
The Palestinians have been identified as:
- Amir Matar.
- Mohammad Matar.
- Ali Jaber.
- Amir Jaber.
- Mahmoud Jawad Jaber.
- Yazan Hamed Jaber.
- Daoud Nidal Taweel.
- Wisam Karaki.
- Montaser Nidal Abu Naab.
- Wa’el Abu Naab.
- Mohammad Abdullah Abu Naab.
- Omar Jamil Zaghal.
- Ahmad Shweyyat.
Israeli troops abducted, early on Monday, two Palestinian youths, shortly after they shot and wounded them, in the Qafeen village, north of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem.
The Tulkarem-based Palestinian Prisoners’ Committee reported that Arqam Harsha, 20 and Awni T’oma, 24, were been abducted during invasion of their homes by Israeli military.
The prisoners’ committee maintained that an Israeli army force broke into the home of Harsha and opened fire inside the home, causing the injury of Harsha himself.
No further details were reported.
In the meantime, the committee added that Israeli troops stormed the family home of Awni T’oma, before they abducted him.
Some unconfirmed reports suggested that T’oma was also shot and wounded during the Israeli abduction operation.
Israeli abduction of Palestinian youths, across the West Bank, occur on near daily basis. Currently, Israel holds around 5,000 Palestinian prisoners in various jails and detention centers inside Israel and the occupied West Bank.
IOF shoots, arrests Palestinian at his home in Tulkarem
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday shot and kidnapped a Palestinian citizen from his house in Qaffin town in the West Bank district of Tulkarem.
Local sources said that the IOF stormed Qaffin town in the early morning and broke into the house of Palestinian youth Arqam Harsha, 20, and wreaked havoc on it.
The IOF later assaulted Harsha, shot him in the leg and arrested him.
No further information has been given yet on Harsha’s health condition or where he was taken by the IOF soldiers.
The Tulkarem-based Palestinian Prisoners’ Committee reported that Arqam Harsha, 20 and Awni T’oma, 24, were been abducted during invasion of their homes by Israeli military.
The prisoners’ committee maintained that an Israeli army force broke into the home of Harsha and opened fire inside the home, causing the injury of Harsha himself.
No further details were reported.
In the meantime, the committee added that Israeli troops stormed the family home of Awni T’oma, before they abducted him.
Some unconfirmed reports suggested that T’oma was also shot and wounded during the Israeli abduction operation.
Israeli abduction of Palestinian youths, across the West Bank, occur on near daily basis. Currently, Israel holds around 5,000 Palestinian prisoners in various jails and detention centers inside Israel and the occupied West Bank.
IOF shoots, arrests Palestinian at his home in Tulkarem
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday shot and kidnapped a Palestinian citizen from his house in Qaffin town in the West Bank district of Tulkarem.
Local sources said that the IOF stormed Qaffin town in the early morning and broke into the house of Palestinian youth Arqam Harsha, 20, and wreaked havoc on it.
The IOF later assaulted Harsha, shot him in the leg and arrested him.
No further information has been given yet on Harsha’s health condition or where he was taken by the IOF soldiers.
|
|
Violent clashes broke out at dawn Monday after the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) embarked on demolishing a house belonging to the family of Palestinian prisoner Qassam al-Barghouthi in Kobar town in Ramallah. video
According to local sources, the events started after Israeli troops aboard military vehicles and bulldozers stormed Kobar town and started to knock down a house belonging to the family of prisoner Barghouthi. video The IOF showered angry young men in the town with rubber bullets and a volley of tear gas and stun grenades, wounding one of them in his face. A military jeep also caught fire when local youths hurled fire bombs at it during the events. video The IO had notified the prisoner’s family last February of its intent to demolish its two-story home. |
Prisoner Barghouthi was kidnaped by the IOF in September last year and was exposed to harsh interrogation and physical torture at the hands of Israeli officers.
He has been accused of being a member of the resistance group that carried out a bombing operation in August 2019 at Ein Bubin spring near the illegal settlement of Dolev in the occupied West Bank.
One Jewish settler was killed and two others sustained injuries in the bombing incident.
He has been accused of being a member of the resistance group that carried out a bombing operation in August 2019 at Ein Bubin spring near the illegal settlement of Dolev in the occupied West Bank.
One Jewish settler was killed and two others sustained injuries in the bombing incident.
Two Palestinian young men suffered bullet injuries on Sunday evening during clashes with the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of al-Khalil.
Local sources said that violent clashes took place at the main entrance to al-Fawwar camp, during which the IOF fired rubber and live bullets.
They added that one young man was injured by a live round and another by a rubber bullet during the events.
Meanwhile, the IOF kidnaped a Palestinian young man as he was trying to cross through the Huwara military checkpoint at the southern entrance to Nablus city.
The IOF also shut down the checkpoint after detaining the young man, causing a heavy build-up of traffic in both directions of the road.
Local sources said that violent clashes took place at the main entrance to al-Fawwar camp, during which the IOF fired rubber and live bullets.
They added that one young man was injured by a live round and another by a rubber bullet during the events.
Meanwhile, the IOF kidnaped a Palestinian young man as he was trying to cross through the Huwara military checkpoint at the southern entrance to Nablus city.
The IOF also shut down the checkpoint after detaining the young man, causing a heavy build-up of traffic in both directions of the road.
The Israeli occupation police on Sunday kidnaped two Palestinian young men after raiding their homes in Bab Huta neighborhood in the Old City of Jerusalem.
According to local sources, police forces broke into and ransacked two homes in the neighborhood before rounding up two young men identified as Mustafa Abu Ghazalah and Mohamed Sharifa.
Meanwhile, Israeli police officers in the evening stormed the cemetery of Issawiya district and checked the IDs of Palestinian citizens working there. video
It has been long months of aggressive practices by Israeli police in different Palestinian neighborhoods of east Jerusalem, especially in Issawiya.
Excessive police brutality and indiscriminate daily raids with no justification have left the Jerusalemite residents exhausted – and there is no end in sight.
Israeli forces, for long months, have been detaining hundreds of residents, including minors, issuing traffic tickets for spurious infractions, serving house demolition orders, and committing acts of violence against the Jerusalemite natives.
According to local sources, police forces broke into and ransacked two homes in the neighborhood before rounding up two young men identified as Mustafa Abu Ghazalah and Mohamed Sharifa.
Meanwhile, Israeli police officers in the evening stormed the cemetery of Issawiya district and checked the IDs of Palestinian citizens working there. video
It has been long months of aggressive practices by Israeli police in different Palestinian neighborhoods of east Jerusalem, especially in Issawiya.
Excessive police brutality and indiscriminate daily raids with no justification have left the Jerusalemite residents exhausted – and there is no end in sight.
Israeli forces, for long months, have been detaining hundreds of residents, including minors, issuing traffic tickets for spurious infractions, serving house demolition orders, and committing acts of violence against the Jerusalemite natives.
For the fifth time in row, Israeli authorities reportedly extended, on Sunday, the imprisonment of a Palestinian teen from the West Bank city of Jenin, in the northern occupied West Bank.
Family members of the teen detainee, Qassem Abu Bakr, 17, told media outlets, on Sunday, that the Israeli military court of Salem, near Jenin, extended the detention of their son for five more days, without charges.
The family sources confirmed that the youth, Qassem, was sentenced to 18 months, in August of 2018, and has been imprisoned in the Jalama Israeli prison since he was abducted from his home town of Ya’bad, southwest of Jenin city.
Israeli authorities continue to hold around 5,000 Palestinian prisoners inside various detention centers and prisons. 183 of those incarcerated, are children under the age of 18.
Family members of the teen detainee, Qassem Abu Bakr, 17, told media outlets, on Sunday, that the Israeli military court of Salem, near Jenin, extended the detention of their son for five more days, without charges.
The family sources confirmed that the youth, Qassem, was sentenced to 18 months, in August of 2018, and has been imprisoned in the Jalama Israeli prison since he was abducted from his home town of Ya’bad, southwest of Jenin city.
Israeli authorities continue to hold around 5,000 Palestinian prisoners inside various detention centers and prisons. 183 of those incarcerated, are children under the age of 18.
10 may 2020
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday shot a Palestinian citizen and arrested another in Tulkarem and Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said that the IOF opened fire at a Palestinian workman near a separation wall gate west of Fir’oun village in the West Bank district of Tulkarem.
The workman, whose identity has not been known yet, was injured in the leg and detained by the IOF.
Such incidents are witnessed regularly in Tulkarem as the IOF continues to target Palestinian workmen who use separation wall gates to enter the 1948 occupied territories for work.
Meanwhile, the IOF kidnapped a Palestinian journalist from his home in Beit Hanina town in Jerusalem.
Local sources said that the IOF broke into the house of journalist Anan Najib and wreaked havoc on it before he was arrested.
A father of three, Najib is an ex-detainee who had served several years in Israeli jails.
Eyewitnesses said that the IOF opened fire at a Palestinian workman near a separation wall gate west of Fir’oun village in the West Bank district of Tulkarem.
The workman, whose identity has not been known yet, was injured in the leg and detained by the IOF.
Such incidents are witnessed regularly in Tulkarem as the IOF continues to target Palestinian workmen who use separation wall gates to enter the 1948 occupied territories for work.
Meanwhile, the IOF kidnapped a Palestinian journalist from his home in Beit Hanina town in Jerusalem.
Local sources said that the IOF broke into the house of journalist Anan Najib and wreaked havoc on it before he was arrested.
A father of three, Najib is an ex-detainee who had served several years in Israeli jails.
9 may 2020
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Saturday morning kidnaped a Palestinian university student at a military checkpoint in southern Nablus.
The detainee was identified as Mohamed al-Namrouti, a student of the Arab American University. He already served four years in an Israeli jail.
He was taken prisoner at the Za'atara checkpoint as he was on his way to Ramallah city.
The detainee was identified as Mohamed al-Namrouti, a student of the Arab American University. He already served four years in an Israeli jail.
He was taken prisoner at the Za'atara checkpoint as he was on his way to Ramallah city.
Israel’s district court in Beersheba city has turned down an appeal submitted by the Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs against the prison verdict that were issued recently against 53-year-old prisoner Sabri Qindeel, a businessman from the Gaza Strip.
According to the Commission, the Beersheba court decided to retain the three-year prison sentence that had been issued previously against prisoner Qindeel and to reduce the financial penalty to 75,000 shekels.
Prisoner Qindeel, a businessman and father of six children, was kidnaped by the Israeli intelligence at the Beit Hanoun (Erez) border crossing in northern Gaza in July 2018 after he went there for an interview, thinking he would be allowed to travel to the 1948 occupied lands on a business trip.
According to the Commission, the Beersheba court decided to retain the three-year prison sentence that had been issued previously against prisoner Qindeel and to reduce the financial penalty to 75,000 shekels.
Prisoner Qindeel, a businessman and father of six children, was kidnaped by the Israeli intelligence at the Beit Hanoun (Erez) border crossing in northern Gaza in July 2018 after he went there for an interview, thinking he would be allowed to travel to the 1948 occupied lands on a business trip.
Palestinian young men last night threw Molotov cocktails at an Israeli military watchtower in Aboud village, west of Ramallah, and escaped the area.
According to local sources, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed the village, randomly opened fire in its streets and blocked its main entrance following the incident.
In Qalqilya, overnight violent clashes broke out between local youths and the IOF at the northern checkpoint near Azzun town.
The IOF intensively fired stun grenades and tear gas canisters at the young men.
Three local young men had been kidnaped by the IOF on Friday evening near the illegal settlement of Qadumim in the east of Qalqilya.
In a separate incident, Israeli police forces at dawn Saturday kidnaped 23-year-old Mohamed Khadour from his home in Bir Ayoub neighborhood in Silwan district, south of the Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem. video
According to local sources, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed the village, randomly opened fire in its streets and blocked its main entrance following the incident.
In Qalqilya, overnight violent clashes broke out between local youths and the IOF at the northern checkpoint near Azzun town.
The IOF intensively fired stun grenades and tear gas canisters at the young men.
Three local young men had been kidnaped by the IOF on Friday evening near the illegal settlement of Qadumim in the east of Qalqilya.
In a separate incident, Israeli police forces at dawn Saturday kidnaped 23-year-old Mohamed Khadour from his home in Bir Ayoub neighborhood in Silwan district, south of the Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem. video
Palestinian teen, Yahya Maher Zagheer was released on house-arrest, on Friday, until May 17, 2020 and a 5000 shekel fine was imposed.
The teen was arrested on Thursday morning, from his home in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.
In related news, Israeli forces detained a young Palestinian female, on Friday, near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, southern occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Information Center reported that the young lady was arrested for alleged knife possession, and then transferred to an unknown location.
According to Addameer, Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association, Israel holds 183 youths under the age of 18, including 20 under the age of 16.
The teen was arrested on Thursday morning, from his home in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.
In related news, Israeli forces detained a young Palestinian female, on Friday, near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, southern occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Information Center reported that the young lady was arrested for alleged knife possession, and then transferred to an unknown location.
According to Addameer, Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association, Israel holds 183 youths under the age of 18, including 20 under the age of 16.
Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said yesterday that banks operating in Palestine will continue to handle accounts of prisoners despite Israeli threats against the banks.
His statement came after the banks decided to stop handling these accounts after Israel has passed a law in which it would take action against the banks that manage accounts for prisoners serving time in Israel for resisting its occupation.
Israel has already seized millions of dollars from the tax revenues its collects on the behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA) on goods arriving at its ports and destined to the Palestinian territories which it claimed amount to the sums the PA pays the prisoners and their families every month.
Shtayyeh said that his office has reached an agreement with the banks to freeze their action until a committee established to look into this matter presents its recommendation.
The committee was set up last week and includes the Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA), the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, the Association of Banks in Palestine and the Ministry of Finance. It is expected to present its recommendations next week.
The PMA also said in a statement that the decision of the banks’ association regarding closing the accounts of the prisoners last week was done without its knowledge and in violation of its procedures and instructions.
It said the committee established by the Prime Minister has begun its work on assessing the risks facing the accounts of the families of the prisoners and the implications of the Israeli military order on the operating banks.
The PMA also condemned attacks at bank branches in the West Bank following their decision to close the accounts of the prisoners.
It said that this matter should be dealt with wisely in a way to prevent an Israeli seizure of money from the banks as it did in 2004 when soldiers raided several banks and seized money Israel claimed was for organizations it deemed as illegal.
His statement came after the banks decided to stop handling these accounts after Israel has passed a law in which it would take action against the banks that manage accounts for prisoners serving time in Israel for resisting its occupation.
Israel has already seized millions of dollars from the tax revenues its collects on the behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA) on goods arriving at its ports and destined to the Palestinian territories which it claimed amount to the sums the PA pays the prisoners and their families every month.
Shtayyeh said that his office has reached an agreement with the banks to freeze their action until a committee established to look into this matter presents its recommendation.
The committee was set up last week and includes the Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA), the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission, the Association of Banks in Palestine and the Ministry of Finance. It is expected to present its recommendations next week.
The PMA also said in a statement that the decision of the banks’ association regarding closing the accounts of the prisoners last week was done without its knowledge and in violation of its procedures and instructions.
It said the committee established by the Prime Minister has begun its work on assessing the risks facing the accounts of the families of the prisoners and the implications of the Israeli military order on the operating banks.
The PMA also condemned attacks at bank branches in the West Bank following their decision to close the accounts of the prisoners.
It said that this matter should be dealt with wisely in a way to prevent an Israeli seizure of money from the banks as it did in 2004 when soldiers raided several banks and seized money Israel claimed was for organizations it deemed as illegal.
8 may 2020
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Friday afternoon arrested a Palestinian girl near the Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank city of al-Khalil.
Local sources said that the IOF stopped a girl near the Ibrahimi Mosque over alleged knife possession.
The girl was detained and transferred to an undeclared destination.
IOF and settler harassment of the Palestinians in the West Bank has been on the rise since the coronavirus crisis started, with unprecedented spike in arbitrary arrests, land seizures and home raids in particular.
Local sources said that the IOF stopped a girl near the Ibrahimi Mosque over alleged knife possession.
The girl was detained and transferred to an undeclared destination.
IOF and settler harassment of the Palestinians in the West Bank has been on the rise since the coronavirus crisis started, with unprecedented spike in arbitrary arrests, land seizures and home raids in particular.
