28 oct 2013
Member of the political bureau of Hamas Ezzat Resheq condemned the campaign of arrests waged against the leaders and cadres of the movement in the West Bank on Sunday night. Resheq said in statements published on his Facebook page on Monday "the detention of the MPs and the Hamas leaders in Nablus and al-Khalil confirms the state of confusion and panic experienced by the occupation leaders."
He pointed out that the campaign of arrests comes as a result of the crime of security coordination between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and the occupation state.
The occupation forces announced the arrest of 20 Palestinians in Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarem and al-Khalil on Sunday night, including a number of leaders and cadres of Hamas, two MPs from the Change and Reform Bloc and more than ten members of the Islamic bloc at An-Najah National University.
The Palestinian Legislative Council appealed to Arab and Islamic countries, the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to immediately intervene "to protect the Palestinian elected representatives from the Israeli racist policy", and called on the Palestinians and Arabs to unite their ranks to confront the occupation plans.
Ahmed Bahar, First Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, condemned in a press statement the abduction of the MPs, and stressed that "this policy constitutes a flagrant violation of all international treaties and conventions, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention."
Bahar considered that kidnapping the MPs "represents a continuation of the occupation schemes to disrupt the work of the Palestinian Legislative Council", and held the occupation fully responsible for the consequences of this arrests campaign.
He called on all the members of the Legislative Council to attend the Council meetings, and to actively contribute in advancing the Palestinian reconciliation process.
For his part, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a statement on Monday that the campaign of arrests "came in the framework of the American-Israeli coordination with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and aimed to create disruption in the Palestinian equation to ensure strengthening one party over another."
Barhoum stressed that these arrests will not deter Hamas and its supporters from adopting the choice of resistance in the defense of the people, the land and the holy places, adding that it will accelerate the outbreak of a Palestinian Intifada and revolution."
Meanwhile, the Hamas leader in the West Bank Faze’ Sawaftah condemned in remarks "the wide and fierce campaign of arrests" which targeted the movement leaders at dawn Monday.
He pointed out that this campaign came in an attempt "to calm down the Israeli angry street following the occupation government's decision to release a group of veteran prisoners who had been arrested before the Oslo agreement."
Sawaftah stressed that this campaign of arrests will never undermine the determination of the members of Hamas movement.
He pointed out that the campaign of arrests comes as a result of the crime of security coordination between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and the occupation state.
The occupation forces announced the arrest of 20 Palestinians in Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarem and al-Khalil on Sunday night, including a number of leaders and cadres of Hamas, two MPs from the Change and Reform Bloc and more than ten members of the Islamic bloc at An-Najah National University.
The Palestinian Legislative Council appealed to Arab and Islamic countries, the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to immediately intervene "to protect the Palestinian elected representatives from the Israeli racist policy", and called on the Palestinians and Arabs to unite their ranks to confront the occupation plans.
Ahmed Bahar, First Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, condemned in a press statement the abduction of the MPs, and stressed that "this policy constitutes a flagrant violation of all international treaties and conventions, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention."
Bahar considered that kidnapping the MPs "represents a continuation of the occupation schemes to disrupt the work of the Palestinian Legislative Council", and held the occupation fully responsible for the consequences of this arrests campaign.
He called on all the members of the Legislative Council to attend the Council meetings, and to actively contribute in advancing the Palestinian reconciliation process.
For his part, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a statement on Monday that the campaign of arrests "came in the framework of the American-Israeli coordination with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and aimed to create disruption in the Palestinian equation to ensure strengthening one party over another."
Barhoum stressed that these arrests will not deter Hamas and its supporters from adopting the choice of resistance in the defense of the people, the land and the holy places, adding that it will accelerate the outbreak of a Palestinian Intifada and revolution."
Meanwhile, the Hamas leader in the West Bank Faze’ Sawaftah condemned in remarks "the wide and fierce campaign of arrests" which targeted the movement leaders at dawn Monday.
He pointed out that this campaign came in an attempt "to calm down the Israeli angry street following the occupation government's decision to release a group of veteran prisoners who had been arrested before the Oslo agreement."
Sawaftah stressed that this campaign of arrests will never undermine the determination of the members of Hamas movement.
Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) in Jenin, warned on Sunday of the deterioration of the health status of prisoner Salem Kassab, aged 28 from the village of Kafrdan west of Jenin, who lost sight in one of his eyes. Ragheb Abu Diak, Secretary of the PPS, said in a press statement that captive Kassab lost his eyesight due to the deliberate policy of medical neglect in the Israeli occupation prisons.
He added that the Kassab, detained for more than ten years and sentenced to 11 years, has been suffering from problems in the left eye since his arrest.
Abu Diak noted that Kassab needs a surgery but the prison doctors have been refusing to perform it.
He called on the human rights organizations, particularly the International Red Cross to exert pressure on the occupation authorities to allow specialized doctors to visit prisoner Kassab to provide the necessary treatment for him.
The Palestinian government in Gaza held the occupation authorities fully responsible for the lives of sick prisoners, in light of the deterioration of health conditions of some prisoners who suffers cancer.
The Minister for Prisoners and ex-detainees Atallah Abu Subbah said at a press conference held on Sunday evening at the ministry's headquarters in Gaza City in the presence of the families of patient captives that the sick prisoners in Israeli jails are subjected to a systematic crime inside the prisons.
He urged the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross to immediately intervene to save the sick prisoners.
There are 1200 sick prisoners, 25 of them suffer from cancer, in the Israeli jails. More than 150 captives need urgent surgeries.
Abu Subbah, noted that the Israeli prison clinics are lacking specialized doctors, medicines and medical equipment, which has exacerbated the captives' illnesses.
He called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and save the Palestinian prisoners, before it's too late.
He added that the Kassab, detained for more than ten years and sentenced to 11 years, has been suffering from problems in the left eye since his arrest.
Abu Diak noted that Kassab needs a surgery but the prison doctors have been refusing to perform it.
He called on the human rights organizations, particularly the International Red Cross to exert pressure on the occupation authorities to allow specialized doctors to visit prisoner Kassab to provide the necessary treatment for him.
The Palestinian government in Gaza held the occupation authorities fully responsible for the lives of sick prisoners, in light of the deterioration of health conditions of some prisoners who suffers cancer.
The Minister for Prisoners and ex-detainees Atallah Abu Subbah said at a press conference held on Sunday evening at the ministry's headquarters in Gaza City in the presence of the families of patient captives that the sick prisoners in Israeli jails are subjected to a systematic crime inside the prisons.
He urged the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross to immediately intervene to save the sick prisoners.
There are 1200 sick prisoners, 25 of them suffer from cancer, in the Israeli jails. More than 150 captives need urgent surgeries.
Abu Subbah, noted that the Israeli prison clinics are lacking specialized doctors, medicines and medical equipment, which has exacerbated the captives' illnesses.
He called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and save the Palestinian prisoners, before it's too late.
A Palestinian child from the village of Bani Na'im, east of the city of al-Khalil in the south of the occupied West Bank, was arrested at dawn Sunday by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF). Local sources told PIC's correspondent that the IOF arrested 13-year-old boy Mahmoud Manasra after raiding and searching his family house. He was then transferred to an unknown destination.
The Israeli forces have carried out arrest campaigns in al-Khalil since the beginning of last month. They arrested more than 160 citizens, including a large number of children.
The Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS) in the occupied West Bank said that the Israeli soldiers arrested 10 children from the town of Bani Na'im during this month.
The child Ahmed Manasra who had been arrested several days ago talked after his release about the harsh conditions of his detention and the torture which he was exposed to by soldiers, from the moment of his arrest.
He revealed that the Israeli forces tried to force him to sign a blank paper, but he refused. He was then transferred to Ofer court, where he appeared before a judge and then released on bail of one thousand shekels pending trial.
The Israeli forces have carried out arrest campaigns in al-Khalil since the beginning of last month. They arrested more than 160 citizens, including a large number of children.
The Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS) in the occupied West Bank said that the Israeli soldiers arrested 10 children from the town of Bani Na'im during this month.
The child Ahmed Manasra who had been arrested several days ago talked after his release about the harsh conditions of his detention and the torture which he was exposed to by soldiers, from the moment of his arrest.
He revealed that the Israeli forces tried to force him to sign a blank paper, but he refused. He was then transferred to Ofer court, where he appeared before a judge and then released on bail of one thousand shekels pending trial.
Lance Mahmoud Raddad-Lance Ghanem and Masood
Israeli special army forces stormed Deir Sharaf crossing near Shavei Shomron settlement, north west of Nablus city, and nabbed three young men on Sunday evening. Ahmed Beitawi, a researcher at the Tadamun foundation for human rights, said in a press release on Monday that IOF soldiers in plain clothes stormed the crossing in a civilian bus with Palestinian plates.
He said that soldiers suddenly got out of the bus and arrested the three young men, who are in their twenties, near a restaurant.
Eyewitnesses told Tadamun that IOF soldiers arrived to the scene later on and confiscated all cameras of shops near the kidnap operation and all records of what happened.
Beitawi said that the foundation could not verify the identity of the three young men.
Israeli special army forces stormed Deir Sharaf crossing near Shavei Shomron settlement, north west of Nablus city, and nabbed three young men on Sunday evening. Ahmed Beitawi, a researcher at the Tadamun foundation for human rights, said in a press release on Monday that IOF soldiers in plain clothes stormed the crossing in a civilian bus with Palestinian plates.
He said that soldiers suddenly got out of the bus and arrested the three young men, who are in their twenties, near a restaurant.
Eyewitnesses told Tadamun that IOF soldiers arrived to the scene later on and confiscated all cameras of shops near the kidnap operation and all records of what happened.
Beitawi said that the foundation could not verify the identity of the three young men.
Detainee Akram Yousef Fasisi has been transferred to hospital after 30 days of hunger strike protesting his administrative detention, his family said on Monday. Family members told Ahrar center for prisoners’ studies and human rights that Fasisi had started his hunger strike on 29th September and was adamant on continuing in his strike until his release.
Fuad Al-Khafsh, the director of the center, said that Fasisi’s health condition was worsening due to the long period of hunger strike and the Ofer prison administration transferred him to Ramle prison hospital.
He said that Fasisi is deprived of family visits, which raised concern among his relatives who asked all parties concerned to visit him.
Fasisi, who served one and a half years in Israeli jail in 2011, was arrested on 16/11/2012 and held in administrative custody that was renewed without charge or trial.
Fuad Al-Khafsh, the director of the center, said that Fasisi’s health condition was worsening due to the long period of hunger strike and the Ofer prison administration transferred him to Ramle prison hospital.
He said that Fasisi is deprived of family visits, which raised concern among his relatives who asked all parties concerned to visit him.
Fasisi, who served one and a half years in Israeli jail in 2011, was arrested on 16/11/2012 and held in administrative custody that was renewed without charge or trial.
Local sources have reported [Monday October 28, 2013] that a number of extremist Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian man in his own land, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, before settlement guards kidnapped him instead of removing the settlers.
The sources said that the settlers violently attacked Mohammad Qabha, 45 years of age, striking him repeatedly to different part of his body causing various injuries.
Qabha is from Sinjil village, near Ramallah; the settlers came from Maale Labouna illegal settlement south of Nablus.
Settlement guards then kidnapped the man and took him into the illegal settlement.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli soldiers invaded various districts in the occupied West Bank, and kidnapped 23 Palestinians before taking them to different interrogation and detention facilities.
The sources said that the settlers violently attacked Mohammad Qabha, 45 years of age, striking him repeatedly to different part of his body causing various injuries.
Qabha is from Sinjil village, near Ramallah; the settlers came from Maale Labouna illegal settlement south of Nablus.
Settlement guards then kidnapped the man and took him into the illegal settlement.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli soldiers invaded various districts in the occupied West Bank, and kidnapped 23 Palestinians before taking them to different interrogation and detention facilities.
Amir Eshtayya, Abu Bakr, Abbdul-Rahman Bishtawy, Abdul-Rahman Eshtayya, Samir Abu Sho’eib and Kamal Qatalouni
Israeli soldiers invaded various areas in the occupied West Bank, broke into homes and violently searched them, before kidnapping 21 Palestinians, and taking them to unknown destinations. Two of the kidnapped are legislators from Hebron.
Local sources have reported that dozens of military jeeps invaded Rafidia and Ad-Dahiya neighborhoods, the Northern Mountain area, and the Askar refugee camp in Nablus, and kidnapped twelve Palestinians.
The kidnapped have been identified as Anas Raddad, Anas Ghanem, Abbdul-Rahman Bishtawy, Abdul-Rahman Eshtayya, Awni Shakhsheer, Abdullah Bani Odah, Samir Abu Sho’eib, Amir Tanbour, Amir Eshtayya, Mos’ad Al-Kouni, Kamal Qatalouni and Amjad Bishkar
Israeli soldiers invaded various areas in the occupied West Bank, broke into homes and violently searched them, before kidnapping 21 Palestinians, and taking them to unknown destinations. Two of the kidnapped are legislators from Hebron.
Local sources have reported that dozens of military jeeps invaded Rafidia and Ad-Dahiya neighborhoods, the Northern Mountain area, and the Askar refugee camp in Nablus, and kidnapped twelve Palestinians.
The kidnapped have been identified as Anas Raddad, Anas Ghanem, Abbdul-Rahman Bishtawy, Abdul-Rahman Eshtayya, Awni Shakhsheer, Abdullah Bani Odah, Samir Abu Sho’eib, Amir Tanbour, Amir Eshtayya, Mos’ad Al-Kouni, Kamal Qatalouni and Amjad Bishkar
Abdullah Bani Odah, Anas Raddad, Anas Ghanem, Mos’ad Al-Kouni, Amjad Bishkar, Amir Tanbour and Awni Shakhsheer.
Dozens of soldiers also invaded Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, broke into the homes of legislators Nizar Ramadan, 55, and Maher Bader, 56, and kidnapped them after violently searching their properties.
Also in Hebron, soldiers kidnapped three Palestinians after violently breaking into their homes and searching them causing excessive property damage. The three have been identified as Mos’ab Zghayyar, 23, Mos’ab Faweeh, 20, and Adnan Abu Yabbana, 53.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded Ya’bod town, near the northern West bank city of Jenin, and kidnapped Jihad Nasser Abu Bakr, 22.
Dozens of soldiers also invaded Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, broke into the homes of legislators Nizar Ramadan, 55, and Maher Bader, 56, and kidnapped them after violently searching their properties.
Also in Hebron, soldiers kidnapped three Palestinians after violently breaking into their homes and searching them causing excessive property damage. The three have been identified as Mos’ab Zghayyar, 23, Mos’ab Faweeh, 20, and Adnan Abu Yabbana, 53.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded Ya’bod town, near the northern West bank city of Jenin, and kidnapped Jihad Nasser Abu Bakr, 22.
Mos’ab Zghayyar, Maher Bader, Nizar Ramadan, Adnan Abu Yabbana, Qadry Bsharat and Musab Qafisha
Soldiers also handed a resident identified as Jihad Moneer Abu Bakr, 21, a military order to head to the Salem military base for interrogation.
In the central West Bank district of Tubas, soldiers invaded Tammoun town, violently broke into several homes and kidnapped three Palestinians identified as Qadry Bsharat, Abdullah Bani Odah, and Bassem Bani Odah.
Soldiers also invaded various villages, towns and refugee camps in different parts of the West Bank, and violently searched dozens of homes.
The army further installed roadblocks on different roads and main junctions in the occupied West Bank.
Soldiers also handed a resident identified as Jihad Moneer Abu Bakr, 21, a military order to head to the Salem military base for interrogation.
In the central West Bank district of Tubas, soldiers invaded Tammoun town, violently broke into several homes and kidnapped three Palestinians identified as Qadry Bsharat, Abdullah Bani Odah, and Bassem Bani Odah.
Soldiers also invaded various villages, towns and refugee camps in different parts of the West Bank, and violently searched dozens of homes.
The army further installed roadblocks on different roads and main junctions in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) launched a rabid arrest campaign in the West Bank at dawn Monday that included the detention of two MPs affiliated with Hamas and other activists. Local sources said that IOF soldiers arrested MPs Nizar Ramadan and Mohammed Maher Badr in Al-Khalil and three leaders and activists in the movement in the same city.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers rounded up the representative of the Islamic bloc in the Najah University in Nablus Amjad Bashkar along with the former representative Abdulrahman Eshtiye and member of the students’ council Amir Eshtiye.
Local sources said that the soldiers also detained at least nine other students at the same university.
The Ahrar center for prisoners’ studies and human rights denounced the new wave of arrests, adding that it fell in line with the IOF targeting of Hamas movement.
Ahrar pointed out that the campaign came at a time Israel was about to free 26 prisoners as part of the deal for the resumption of PA-Israel negotiations.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers rounded up the representative of the Islamic bloc in the Najah University in Nablus Amjad Bashkar along with the former representative Abdulrahman Eshtiye and member of the students’ council Amir Eshtiye.
Local sources said that the soldiers also detained at least nine other students at the same university.
The Ahrar center for prisoners’ studies and human rights denounced the new wave of arrests, adding that it fell in line with the IOF targeting of Hamas movement.
Ahrar pointed out that the campaign came at a time Israel was about to free 26 prisoners as part of the deal for the resumption of PA-Israel negotiations.
A Palestinian prisoner was severely tortured by Israeli forces after his arrest, prisoner support group Addameer said Sunday.
Addameer Lawyer Mohammad al-Aabed met with Nidal Amar, 42, who is suspected of kidnapping and killing Israeli soldier Tomer Hazan. Amar told the lawyer that he was tortured in ways "only seen in movies," but refused to go into details.
Amar said that his brother Abdel Salam came up with the idea of kidnapping a soldier to demand the release of their third brother Noureddin, who is serving a 29-year sentence in Israeli jails.
He added that he was promised a reward of 5 million shekels from a group he refused to name.
Amar said that he and Abdel Salam invited Hazan, who he worked with in a restaurant in Petah Tikva to their house in Beit Amin village near Qalqiliya. They then lured him to a mountain where Amar asked his brother for the money he was promised. When Abdel Salam said that the money was unavailable, Amar allegedly tied Hazan’s hands, unbuckled his belt and strangled him to death with it.
Amar added that he acted it in a state of hysteria because he feared that he would get arrested and spend a long time in jail for kidnapping a soldier, according to the group.
Addameer Lawyer Mohammad al-Aabed met with Nidal Amar, 42, who is suspected of kidnapping and killing Israeli soldier Tomer Hazan. Amar told the lawyer that he was tortured in ways "only seen in movies," but refused to go into details.
Amar said that his brother Abdel Salam came up with the idea of kidnapping a soldier to demand the release of their third brother Noureddin, who is serving a 29-year sentence in Israeli jails.
He added that he was promised a reward of 5 million shekels from a group he refused to name.
Amar said that he and Abdel Salam invited Hazan, who he worked with in a restaurant in Petah Tikva to their house in Beit Amin village near Qalqiliya. They then lured him to a mountain where Amar asked his brother for the money he was promised. When Abdel Salam said that the money was unavailable, Amar allegedly tied Hazan’s hands, unbuckled his belt and strangled him to death with it.
Amar added that he acted it in a state of hysteria because he feared that he would get arrested and spend a long time in jail for kidnapping a soldier, according to the group.
The Israeli Ministerial Cabinet held a meeting on Sunday, to discuss the release of 26 Palestinian detainees as part of direct talks with the Palestinian Authority, and determined the names of the detainees.
The 26 are detainees who have been imprisoned by Israel since before the first Oslo Agreement of 1994.
Those detainees spent between 19 -28 years in Israel prisons, five of them are from Gaza. They will be released this coming Tuesday.
The announcement came after the Legislative Committee of the Knesset turned down a proposed bill filed by Israeli Member of Knesset, Orit Strock, demanding a legislation that would prevent the release of Palestinian political prisoners.
Israeli media sources have reported that eight ministers, including four of the Likud Party of Benjamin Netanyahu, voted against the proposed bill, while only ministers of the Jewish Home and Israel Our Home fundamentalist parties voted for it.
Nine of the 26 detainees were taken prisoner between the years 1984 and 1986. The rest were taken prisoner in the period between 1990 and 1994.
23 of them have been sentenced to more than 99 years, while the remaining three are serving terms that range between 28 and 38 years.
After direct peace talks were resumed, Israel released, on August 14, 26 veteran detainees, held before the first Oslo Agreement, and agreed to release the second phase on November 29, a third phase on December 29, and a fourth on March 28 2014.
This was part of an agreement, mediated by the United States, to ensure the resumption of peace talks that were halted for three years due to ongoing Israeli violations, including invasions, arrests, and ongoing settlement activities.
The agreement is meant to ensure the release of all 104 detainees held by Israel since before 1993 on four stages.
The 26 are detainees who have been imprisoned by Israel since before the first Oslo Agreement of 1994.
Those detainees spent between 19 -28 years in Israel prisons, five of them are from Gaza. They will be released this coming Tuesday.
The announcement came after the Legislative Committee of the Knesset turned down a proposed bill filed by Israeli Member of Knesset, Orit Strock, demanding a legislation that would prevent the release of Palestinian political prisoners.
Israeli media sources have reported that eight ministers, including four of the Likud Party of Benjamin Netanyahu, voted against the proposed bill, while only ministers of the Jewish Home and Israel Our Home fundamentalist parties voted for it.
Nine of the 26 detainees were taken prisoner between the years 1984 and 1986. The rest were taken prisoner in the period between 1990 and 1994.
23 of them have been sentenced to more than 99 years, while the remaining three are serving terms that range between 28 and 38 years.
After direct peace talks were resumed, Israel released, on August 14, 26 veteran detainees, held before the first Oslo Agreement, and agreed to release the second phase on November 29, a third phase on December 29, and a fourth on March 28 2014.
This was part of an agreement, mediated by the United States, to ensure the resumption of peace talks that were halted for three years due to ongoing Israeli violations, including invasions, arrests, and ongoing settlement activities.
The agreement is meant to ensure the release of all 104 detainees held by Israel since before 1993 on four stages.
27 oct 2013
Activist Yehya Saleh
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided three villages to the east and west of Ramallah at dawn Sunday and rounded up seven Palestinians. Eyewitnesses and local sources told Quds Press that IOF soldiers stormed the villages of Kufr Nima and Ras Karkar west of Ramallah and Silwad to the east of it in addition to the city itself.
They noted that four Palestinians were detained in Kufr Nima, all of whom are liberated prisoners, who served two and half years to six years in Israeli jails.
Relatives of one of the detainees quoted officers accompanying the soldiers as saying that the village would witness a series of raids and arrests.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian youth was arrested in Ras Karkar and another in Ramallah city at dawn while a third was nabbed in Silwad at a late night hour on Saturday after confrontations with young men in the town, locals reported.
The sources did not know where the detainees were taken but said they were most probably held in Ofer prison near Ramallah.
In a related incident, IOF soldiers beat up a Palestinian driver with their rifle butts in Masafer Yatta, south of Al-Khalil, on Sunday.
Ratib Al-Jabour, an activist in Yatta, told the PIC that IOF soldiers intercepted the car and beat up the driver for transporting students and punctured tires of his car.
He charged that the IOF soldiers’ practices in the area aim at obstructing normal life and forcing inhabitants to abandon it to pave the way before settlement activity.
In another development, the PIC reporter said that IOF soldiers intercepted a public vehicle at the southern entrance to Al-Khalil and served a summons to a student in Al-Khalil university.
He said that the student, Yehya Saleh, is an activist in prisoners’ affairs, adding that Saleh was previously held in Israeli jails twice and served 15 months in captivity en aggregate.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided three villages to the east and west of Ramallah at dawn Sunday and rounded up seven Palestinians. Eyewitnesses and local sources told Quds Press that IOF soldiers stormed the villages of Kufr Nima and Ras Karkar west of Ramallah and Silwad to the east of it in addition to the city itself.
They noted that four Palestinians were detained in Kufr Nima, all of whom are liberated prisoners, who served two and half years to six years in Israeli jails.
Relatives of one of the detainees quoted officers accompanying the soldiers as saying that the village would witness a series of raids and arrests.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian youth was arrested in Ras Karkar and another in Ramallah city at dawn while a third was nabbed in Silwad at a late night hour on Saturday after confrontations with young men in the town, locals reported.
The sources did not know where the detainees were taken but said they were most probably held in Ofer prison near Ramallah.
In a related incident, IOF soldiers beat up a Palestinian driver with their rifle butts in Masafer Yatta, south of Al-Khalil, on Sunday.
Ratib Al-Jabour, an activist in Yatta, told the PIC that IOF soldiers intercepted the car and beat up the driver for transporting students and punctured tires of his car.
He charged that the IOF soldiers’ practices in the area aim at obstructing normal life and forcing inhabitants to abandon it to pave the way before settlement activity.
In another development, the PIC reporter said that IOF soldiers intercepted a public vehicle at the southern entrance to Al-Khalil and served a summons to a student in Al-Khalil university.
He said that the student, Yehya Saleh, is an activist in prisoners’ affairs, adding that Saleh was previously held in Israeli jails twice and served 15 months in captivity en aggregate.
The Palestinian prisoner Thaer Halahla, who is detained in Eshel jail and suffers from hepatitis, appealed for providing him with the appropriate treatment . Halahla said: "I am not asking for my release. My only demand is to be given the appropriate medicine for my illness," and he stressed that in case his demand is not met he will boycott the prison Clinic.
The captive told Prisoners Society's lawyer that the painkillers aggravated his illness, noting that the judges have recommended seven times that Halahleh be provided with treatment but the prison administration still refuses that. "Every time they take me to the hospital, and then I return to the prison without receiving any kind of treatment or undergoing any examination."
He said that for two days he had refused the medicines to force the prison authorities to provide him with the appropriate treatment, but the administration still procrastinates until this moment.
Captive Halahla participated in the prisoners' open-ended hunger strike last year to protest his administrative detention. He was re-arrested last April.
The captive told Prisoners Society's lawyer that the painkillers aggravated his illness, noting that the judges have recommended seven times that Halahleh be provided with treatment but the prison administration still refuses that. "Every time they take me to the hospital, and then I return to the prison without receiving any kind of treatment or undergoing any examination."
He said that for two days he had refused the medicines to force the prison authorities to provide him with the appropriate treatment, but the administration still procrastinates until this moment.
Captive Halahla participated in the prisoners' open-ended hunger strike last year to protest his administrative detention. He was re-arrested last April.
Thaer Halahla 7 sept 2013
Meanwhile, prisoners at Megiddo Prison told the Palestinian Prisoners Society's lawyer that the health conditions of a number of sick captives have deteriorated and warned of the increasing numbers of patients in the Israeli jail.
PPS's lawyer visited a number of sick prisoners, including Salem Kassab from Jenin detained since 2003 and sentenced to 11 years. Kassab suffers from problem in his eyes that has worsened during the years of his detention and caused him to lose sight in his left eye.
The lawyer also visited the prisoner Ahmed Khallouf, from Jenin sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, who is suffering from bone infection.
Khallouf told the lawyer that his suffering exacerbated due to the medical negligence and the harsh conditions in the Gilboa prison.
Meanwhile, prisoners at Megiddo Prison told the Palestinian Prisoners Society's lawyer that the health conditions of a number of sick captives have deteriorated and warned of the increasing numbers of patients in the Israeli jail.
PPS's lawyer visited a number of sick prisoners, including Salem Kassab from Jenin detained since 2003 and sentenced to 11 years. Kassab suffers from problem in his eyes that has worsened during the years of his detention and caused him to lose sight in his left eye.
The lawyer also visited the prisoner Ahmed Khallouf, from Jenin sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, who is suffering from bone infection.
Khallouf told the lawyer that his suffering exacerbated due to the medical negligence and the harsh conditions in the Gilboa prison.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) is still holding 13 Palestinian MPs and a former minister in jail, the Ahrar center for prisoners’ studies and human rights said. Director of the center Fuad Al-Khafsh said in a statement on Saturday that nine of those MPs are held in administrative detention, without trial or charge.
He said that the IOA was still adamant on holding those MPs despite requests from official and international institutions for their release.
Khafsh pointed out that the nine deputies held in administrative custody some of them are ill and most of them had been repeatedly released then arrested anew in a bid to drain their efforts and cripple their work.
The director championed formation of local and international pressure groups for the release of those MPs, noting that the IOA started persecuting those MPs since the victory of Hamas in 2006 general elections.
He said that the IOA was still adamant on holding those MPs despite requests from official and international institutions for their release.
Khafsh pointed out that the nine deputies held in administrative custody some of them are ill and most of them had been repeatedly released then arrested anew in a bid to drain their efforts and cripple their work.
The director championed formation of local and international pressure groups for the release of those MPs, noting that the IOA started persecuting those MPs since the victory of Hamas in 2006 general elections.
26 oct 2013
Israel will release 32 veteran prisoners on Tuesday in conjunction with ongoing peace negotiations, a Palestinian Authority official said.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs Ziad Abu Ain said that the names of the 32 long-term prisoners will be announced on Sunday, and that they will be formally greeted when they are released on Tuesday.
PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Qaraqe said that a total of 78 prisoners - all of whom have been in Israeli jails since 1994 or earlier - would be released by March of 2014.
Qaraqe additionally expressed his hope that Israel would release prisoners with deteriorating medical conditions.
Prior to the beginning of renewed peace negotiations, Israel announced that it would release a total of 104 Palestinian prisoner in stages. It released a batch of 26 prisoners in August after the negotiations began.
Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the United States after nearly three years of impasse.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs Ziad Abu Ain said that the names of the 32 long-term prisoners will be announced on Sunday, and that they will be formally greeted when they are released on Tuesday.
PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Qaraqe said that a total of 78 prisoners - all of whom have been in Israeli jails since 1994 or earlier - would be released by March of 2014.
Qaraqe additionally expressed his hope that Israel would release prisoners with deteriorating medical conditions.
Prior to the beginning of renewed peace negotiations, Israel announced that it would release a total of 104 Palestinian prisoner in stages. It released a batch of 26 prisoners in August after the negotiations began.
Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the United States after nearly three years of impasse.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
A group of Jewish settlers assaulted and wounded a Palestinian man and his wife in Al-Khalil on Saturday while Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested two citizens in Halhoul town near the city. Palestinian security sources told Quds Press that settlers from Kiryat Arba settlement, established on Palestinian land in Al-Khalil, severely beat up Mohammed Al-Qaimeri and his wife in Ras area, which is close to the settlement.
They said that Palestinian ambulance crews rushed to the area and transferred the couple to hospital where their wounds were described as moderate.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers stormed the town of Halhoul, north of Al-Khalil, at dawn Saturday and set up roadblocks at entrances to other villages in the province.
Local sources said that IOF soldiers detained 17-year-old Qusay Qawasme and 19-year-old Ala’a Al-Arja in Halhoul.
They said that Palestinian ambulance crews rushed to the area and transferred the couple to hospital where their wounds were described as moderate.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers stormed the town of Halhoul, north of Al-Khalil, at dawn Saturday and set up roadblocks at entrances to other villages in the province.
Local sources said that IOF soldiers detained 17-year-old Qusay Qawasme and 19-year-old Ala’a Al-Arja in Halhoul.
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A Palestinian woman has been arrested and accused of attempting to stab an Israeli soldier at a checkpoint outside Hebron al-Khalil. Rejecting the accusations, her lawyer says the woman has been framed by the soldiers. |
25 oct 2013
Israeli sources have reported that the Israeli Housing Ministry is planning to issue tenders for the construction of hundreds of units in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, this coming week.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, quoted a government official stating that the announcement of the bids will take place as Israeli releases 25 Palestinian political prisoners, part of the second stage of detainees’ release to boost direct talks with the Palestinians.
The new constructions will be in major settlement blocks in the occupied West Bank, and in occupied East Jerusalem.
Haaretz said that the official claimed that the understandings, mediated by the United States, leading to the resumption of direct peace talks with the Palestinians, “did not include any commitment from Tel Aviv to freeze settlement construction activities”.
It added that, during their Wednesday meeting in Rome, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, informed U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, of the new Israeli construction plan. Kerry also informed the Palestinians of the Israeli decision.
According to the paper, Netanyahu is trying to appease the settlers, especially right-wingers, as they will be holding massive protests against the release of Palestinian political prisoners.
Furthermore, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Danny Dannon, sent a letter to Israeli ministers asking them to oppose the release of the detainees.
An Israeli government official said that Netanyahu intends to go ahead with the release of the detainees as planned, as the understanding reached with the Palestinians obliges Tel Aviv to release 104 detainees, held since before the first Oslo Agreement of 1993, on four stages.
The first stage, conducted on August 14, included the release of 26 veteran detainees, the second stage is planned to be conducted on October 29, while the third state is planned for December 29 and the fourth on March 28 2014.
The Israeli cabinet will be holding a session this coming Sunday to approve the names of detainees who would be released, before publishing the list to grant the public 48 hours to file petitions to the High Court. The actual release is scheduled to be conducted Tuesday.
In previous cases of prisoners release, the Israeli High Court rejected all appeals, and said that it does not interfere with decisions made Israel’s political leaders.
Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, and in occupied East Jerusalem as illegal and violate International Law.
Israel repeatedly doubled and tripled its settlement activities to appease right wing extremists who protest the release of political prisoners, and protest the demolition and removal of illegal settlement outposts built on private Palestinian property.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, quoted a government official stating that the announcement of the bids will take place as Israeli releases 25 Palestinian political prisoners, part of the second stage of detainees’ release to boost direct talks with the Palestinians.
The new constructions will be in major settlement blocks in the occupied West Bank, and in occupied East Jerusalem.
Haaretz said that the official claimed that the understandings, mediated by the United States, leading to the resumption of direct peace talks with the Palestinians, “did not include any commitment from Tel Aviv to freeze settlement construction activities”.
It added that, during their Wednesday meeting in Rome, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, informed U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, of the new Israeli construction plan. Kerry also informed the Palestinians of the Israeli decision.
According to the paper, Netanyahu is trying to appease the settlers, especially right-wingers, as they will be holding massive protests against the release of Palestinian political prisoners.
Furthermore, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Danny Dannon, sent a letter to Israeli ministers asking them to oppose the release of the detainees.
An Israeli government official said that Netanyahu intends to go ahead with the release of the detainees as planned, as the understanding reached with the Palestinians obliges Tel Aviv to release 104 detainees, held since before the first Oslo Agreement of 1993, on four stages.
The first stage, conducted on August 14, included the release of 26 veteran detainees, the second stage is planned to be conducted on October 29, while the third state is planned for December 29 and the fourth on March 28 2014.
The Israeli cabinet will be holding a session this coming Sunday to approve the names of detainees who would be released, before publishing the list to grant the public 48 hours to file petitions to the High Court. The actual release is scheduled to be conducted Tuesday.
In previous cases of prisoners release, the Israeli High Court rejected all appeals, and said that it does not interfere with decisions made Israel’s political leaders.
Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied West Bank, and in occupied East Jerusalem as illegal and violate International Law.
Israel repeatedly doubled and tripled its settlement activities to appease right wing extremists who protest the release of political prisoners, and protest the demolition and removal of illegal settlement outposts built on private Palestinian property.
A state of high tension prevailed in Negev prison after Israeli Prison Services (IPS) imposed harsh penalties against administrative detainees as a response to their protests in different prisons. Palestine Center for Prisoners' Studies confirmed that the IPS insists on isolating 60 administrative detainees in section 6, 23, and 25 following their decision to boycott court sessions starting from Friday.
The prisoners in Negev prison warned the IPS of implications of any punitive measures against them, threatening to step up their protests.
Administrative detainees have declared protest steps starting by the end of this month demanding that they are either charged and tried in an ordinary court of law or released without delay, as befitting the norms of criminal justice systems.
Meanwhile, the leader in Hamas Movement Sheikh Jamal al-Tawil stated that administrative detainees' protest steps will contribute significantly to end the tragedy of administrative detainees.
The detainees' decision to boycott the Israeli courts' sessions would be followed by other steps till their demands are met, he pointed out.
For his part, the PPS stated that 140 administrative detainees will carry out a number of protest steps starting from Friday.
The protest steps include boycotting of Israeli courts, declaring a hunger strike for two days per week in December, and then declaring hunger strike for three days per week in case their demands are not achieved, the center added.
The prisoners in Negev prison warned the IPS of implications of any punitive measures against them, threatening to step up their protests.
Administrative detainees have declared protest steps starting by the end of this month demanding that they are either charged and tried in an ordinary court of law or released without delay, as befitting the norms of criminal justice systems.
Meanwhile, the leader in Hamas Movement Sheikh Jamal al-Tawil stated that administrative detainees' protest steps will contribute significantly to end the tragedy of administrative detainees.
The detainees' decision to boycott the Israeli courts' sessions would be followed by other steps till their demands are met, he pointed out.
For his part, the PPS stated that 140 administrative detainees will carry out a number of protest steps starting from Friday.
The protest steps include boycotting of Israeli courts, declaring a hunger strike for two days per week in December, and then declaring hunger strike for three days per week in case their demands are not achieved, the center added.
Jordanian prisoner Alaa Hammad, 35, sentenced to 12 years, continued his hunger strike launched since 176 days despite his serious health deterioration. Hammad is being held in Barzillai Hospital where he suffers serious and critical health conditions, human rights sources said.
Hammad suffers from chest pains and muscle atrophy in addition to constant headache and pains all over his body.
The Jordanian hunger striker is adamant on continuing despite his exhaustion and worsening condition where he has lost more than 30 kg of his weight since declaring the strike.
The prison administration tightened recently its punitive measures against him in an attempt to break his strike. He is being searched on a daily basis, in addition to being tied to bed and prevented from performing his prayers.
In a letter to the Palestinian people and institutions, Hammad has blamed everyone for not supporting his hunger strike which led to more Israeli restrictions and harassments against him.
Although the Jordanian prisoners have stopped their hunger strike two months ago after reaching an agreement, the IPS did not allow family visits to them, he said.
Hammad suffers from chest pains and muscle atrophy in addition to constant headache and pains all over his body.
The Jordanian hunger striker is adamant on continuing despite his exhaustion and worsening condition where he has lost more than 30 kg of his weight since declaring the strike.
The prison administration tightened recently its punitive measures against him in an attempt to break his strike. He is being searched on a daily basis, in addition to being tied to bed and prevented from performing his prayers.
In a letter to the Palestinian people and institutions, Hammad has blamed everyone for not supporting his hunger strike which led to more Israeli restrictions and harassments against him.
Although the Jordanian prisoners have stopped their hunger strike two months ago after reaching an agreement, the IPS did not allow family visits to them, he said.
Israeli daily, Maariv, has reported that the Israeli cabinet will be holding a vote on a new law meant to prevent the government from releasing Palestinian political prisoners. The votes only comes a few days before Israel implements second phase of releasing detainees.
The Jewish Home party, a fundamentalist coalition partner of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, presented the proposal.
The timing comes just as Israel prepares to release some Palestinian detainees by the end of this meant as part of the efforts to “boost direct talks with the Palestinians”.
Jewish Party officials said the meeting between Israeli Chief Negotiator, Tzipi Livni, and her Palestinian counterpart, Dr. Saeb Erekat, as well as the rest of the negotiations teams, will not be able to achieve any progress.
It added that Netanyahu and his government will act on boosting and escalating settlement construction and expansion activities in the occupied West Bank, and occupied Jerusalem.
Leader of the Jewish Home Party, Naftali Bennett, criticized head of the Hatnuah Party, former Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, for what he called “supporting the release of Palestinian political prisoners”, and for heading the talks with the Palestinian side.
Bennett said he hopes Likud Party members, the party of Benjamin Netanyahu, would support him, and vote for the new law preventing the release of Palestinian detainees.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Detainees, Issa Qaraqe’, said that the second phase of detainees’ release would be conducted on October 29, while the third phase will be implemented on December 29, then March 28 2014.
He affirmed that the release of political prisoners does not depend on the progress of direct peace talks between Tel Aviv and Ramallah.
His statements contradict statements of Israeli officials who said the release of any detainee is dependent on the progress of direct talks, and the situation on the ground.
The Jewish Home party, a fundamentalist coalition partner of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, presented the proposal.
The timing comes just as Israel prepares to release some Palestinian detainees by the end of this meant as part of the efforts to “boost direct talks with the Palestinians”.
Jewish Party officials said the meeting between Israeli Chief Negotiator, Tzipi Livni, and her Palestinian counterpart, Dr. Saeb Erekat, as well as the rest of the negotiations teams, will not be able to achieve any progress.
It added that Netanyahu and his government will act on boosting and escalating settlement construction and expansion activities in the occupied West Bank, and occupied Jerusalem.
Leader of the Jewish Home Party, Naftali Bennett, criticized head of the Hatnuah Party, former Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, for what he called “supporting the release of Palestinian political prisoners”, and for heading the talks with the Palestinian side.
Bennett said he hopes Likud Party members, the party of Benjamin Netanyahu, would support him, and vote for the new law preventing the release of Palestinian detainees.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Detainees, Issa Qaraqe’, said that the second phase of detainees’ release would be conducted on October 29, while the third phase will be implemented on December 29, then March 28 2014.
He affirmed that the release of political prisoners does not depend on the progress of direct peace talks between Tel Aviv and Ramallah.
His statements contradict statements of Israeli officials who said the release of any detainee is dependent on the progress of direct talks, and the situation on the ground.
24 oct 2013
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) nabbed two Palestinians from villages east of Bethlehem on Thursday and served demolition notifications in Al-Khalil. Local sources told the PIC reporter that IOF soldiers arrested a 23-year-old youth in Obaidiya village after searching many homes.
IOF patrols in nearby Taku village arrested another young man after searching his family home.
Meanwhile, citizens in Shuyukh village, east of Al-Khalil city, said that IOF soldiers served demolition notifications to a number of houses that are still under construction.
The notifications said that a court hearing would be held on 10 November to decide on the case as the houses were built without permit in areas under Israel’s full control as stipulated in the Olso accords.
Citizens said that IOF had already served demolition notices to dozens of homes built on the outskirts of the village.
IOF patrols in nearby Taku village arrested another young man after searching his family home.
Meanwhile, citizens in Shuyukh village, east of Al-Khalil city, said that IOF soldiers served demolition notifications to a number of houses that are still under construction.
The notifications said that a court hearing would be held on 10 November to decide on the case as the houses were built without permit in areas under Israel’s full control as stipulated in the Olso accords.
Citizens said that IOF had already served demolition notices to dozens of homes built on the outskirts of the village.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed the village of Qabatiya to the east of Jenin at dawn Thursday and arrested two brothers. Local sources told the PIC that IOF soldiers burst into the home of Nabil Zakarne and searched it before taking away his two sons Ahmed, 26, and Mohammed, 21.
The sources said that the IOF soldiers combed the nearby villages of Masliya and Muthalath Al-Shuhada.
In a separate incident, IOF troops launched military exercises south of Nablus on Wednesday night.
Locals opined that the IOF was preparing for a third Palestinian intifada and means of dealing with it.
The sources said that the IOF soldiers combed the nearby villages of Masliya and Muthalath Al-Shuhada.
In a separate incident, IOF troops launched military exercises south of Nablus on Wednesday night.
Locals opined that the IOF was preparing for a third Palestinian intifada and means of dealing with it.
Palestinian citizens expelled from the occupied Palestinian city of Bethlehem 12 years ago held a press conference in front of the house of the Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas in the Gaza Strip. Spokesman of the deportees, Fahmi Kanan, blamed Abbas for the length of time they spent in Gaza without returning to their home city as agreed between the PA and the Israeli occupation.
The agreement reached between the PA and the Israeli occupation meant that they should have returned two years after the time they were expelled.
Kanan addressed Abbas saying: "We chose to stand before your house in order to send you a message that our homesickness towards this city is bigger than your homesickness to this house. Add to that, we are away from our families and relatives of our original homes."
Asking Abbas to take serious measures on this issue, Kanan called upon him to contact the EU, the UN and the international community. Kanan reiterated that expelling them is a violation to international humanitarian law and to the Geneva Conventions.
He called upon Abbas to work with international institutions on applying the agreed upon conditions.
It is worth mentioning that, in addition to the 26 deportees, their family members travelled to Gaza to live with them.
The agreement reached between the PA and the Israeli occupation meant that they should have returned two years after the time they were expelled.
Kanan addressed Abbas saying: "We chose to stand before your house in order to send you a message that our homesickness towards this city is bigger than your homesickness to this house. Add to that, we are away from our families and relatives of our original homes."
Asking Abbas to take serious measures on this issue, Kanan called upon him to contact the EU, the UN and the international community. Kanan reiterated that expelling them is a violation to international humanitarian law and to the Geneva Conventions.
He called upon Abbas to work with international institutions on applying the agreed upon conditions.
It is worth mentioning that, in addition to the 26 deportees, their family members travelled to Gaza to live with them.
Palestinian human rights lawyer Anas Bargouthi was released on bail today. © Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association
The Israeli authorities must drop all charges against a Palestinian human rights lawyer released on bail last night, Amnesty International said. A military judge at Ofer Military Court ordered the release of Anas Bargouthi on bail because confessions from other detainees submitted as evidence failed to prove he is a security threat – particularly since the accusations against him relate to alleged activities from over a year ago.
“The release of Anas Bargouthi is positive news but he should have never been detained and charged in the first place,” said Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Programme Director at Amnesty International.
“It is unacceptable for Israeli authorities to continue to prosecute activists because of their peaceful work in defence of human rights. This release should be a first step towards the authorities ending their harassment of Palestinian human rights defenders.”
Anas Barghouti, a lawyer with the Addameer Association for Prisoner Support and Human Rights, was arrested by the Israeli army on 15 September 2013 at a checkpoint north of Bethlehem in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Nine days later, he was charged with “membership in the Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine”, an organization which Israel has banned, and “leadership of a committee to organize demonstrations”. He denies both charges. If convicted on these charges, Anas Barghouti faces up to 18 months in prison. Amnesty International would again consider him to be a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely for his work on behalf of prisoners and the peaceful expression of his political views.
The Addameer Association for Prisoner Support and Human Rights provides legal support to Palestinians held by the Palestinian Authority’s security forces and campaigns for the rights of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
His arrest is part of a pattern of harassment by the Israeli authorities of Palestinian human rights organizations and activists in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which includes arbitrary detentions, restrictions on movement, and raids of homes and offices.
On 11 December 2012, Israeli security forces raided the offices of Addameer and two other Palestinian NGOs in Ramallah, seizing computers, work files and equipment and ransacking the premises.
Addameer’s chair, Abdullatif Ghaith, a resident of East Jerusalem, has been banned by Israel’s military from entering other parts of the occupied West Bank or travelling abroad since 2011.
On 23 September 2013, one week after the arrest of Anas Bargouthi, Israeli forces arrested Samer Arbid, Addameer’s accountant. He was placed in custody for questioning until 21 October, when he was given a four-month administrative detention order.
Administrative detention is detention by military order without charge or trial which can be extended indefinitely.
Another activist from Addameer, Ayman Nasser, was arrested on 15 October 2012 and charged with offences including membership of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and carrying out activities in support of Palestinian prisoners. He was convicted of these charges a month later and spent a year in prison after a trial by military court. He was released on 21 October 2013.
When in detention Ayman Nasser told his lawyer that he had been tortured during interrogation following his arrest. He said that he was interrogated for up to 20 hours every day and that during the interrogation he was kept in a stress position on a chair with his hands tied behind his back.
The Israeli authorities must drop all charges against a Palestinian human rights lawyer released on bail last night, Amnesty International said. A military judge at Ofer Military Court ordered the release of Anas Bargouthi on bail because confessions from other detainees submitted as evidence failed to prove he is a security threat – particularly since the accusations against him relate to alleged activities from over a year ago.
“The release of Anas Bargouthi is positive news but he should have never been detained and charged in the first place,” said Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Programme Director at Amnesty International.
“It is unacceptable for Israeli authorities to continue to prosecute activists because of their peaceful work in defence of human rights. This release should be a first step towards the authorities ending their harassment of Palestinian human rights defenders.”
Anas Barghouti, a lawyer with the Addameer Association for Prisoner Support and Human Rights, was arrested by the Israeli army on 15 September 2013 at a checkpoint north of Bethlehem in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Nine days later, he was charged with “membership in the Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine”, an organization which Israel has banned, and “leadership of a committee to organize demonstrations”. He denies both charges. If convicted on these charges, Anas Barghouti faces up to 18 months in prison. Amnesty International would again consider him to be a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely for his work on behalf of prisoners and the peaceful expression of his political views.
The Addameer Association for Prisoner Support and Human Rights provides legal support to Palestinians held by the Palestinian Authority’s security forces and campaigns for the rights of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
His arrest is part of a pattern of harassment by the Israeli authorities of Palestinian human rights organizations and activists in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which includes arbitrary detentions, restrictions on movement, and raids of homes and offices.
On 11 December 2012, Israeli security forces raided the offices of Addameer and two other Palestinian NGOs in Ramallah, seizing computers, work files and equipment and ransacking the premises.
Addameer’s chair, Abdullatif Ghaith, a resident of East Jerusalem, has been banned by Israel’s military from entering other parts of the occupied West Bank or travelling abroad since 2011.
On 23 September 2013, one week after the arrest of Anas Bargouthi, Israeli forces arrested Samer Arbid, Addameer’s accountant. He was placed in custody for questioning until 21 October, when he was given a four-month administrative detention order.
Administrative detention is detention by military order without charge or trial which can be extended indefinitely.
Another activist from Addameer, Ayman Nasser, was arrested on 15 October 2012 and charged with offences including membership of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and carrying out activities in support of Palestinian prisoners. He was convicted of these charges a month later and spent a year in prison after a trial by military court. He was released on 21 October 2013.
When in detention Ayman Nasser told his lawyer that he had been tortured during interrogation following his arrest. He said that he was interrogated for up to 20 hours every day and that during the interrogation he was kept in a stress position on a chair with his hands tied behind his back.
Israeli Army troops arrested Thursday, 12 Palestinians from West Bank various cities on claims they are "wanted" by the Israeli authorities and transferred them to interrogation centers.
Coordinator of Popular Committee against apartheid wall and settlement in Hebron, Rateb al-Jbour, said that Israeli forces stormed at dawn, Raqa area, north of Yatta town, searched the house of Kamel Abdul Qader al-Jundi and rummaged with the contents.
Al-Jbour said in a press release that Israeli soldiers detained the Jundi family members in a small room, for more than 3 hours.
Al-Jbour condemned the brutal measures by the Israeli occupation against Palestinians and their property.
In Hebron, Israeli soldiers assaulted a minor in the old city.
Local sources said that Israeli soldiers severely beat 9-year-old Farahat al-Rajbi near the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old city. Adding that, the child suffered severe bruising after a group of settlers assaulted him in the same place, few days ago.
Israeli soldiers assaulted on Tuesday night, 15-year-old Hamdan Mohammed Sha'abneh in as-Shuhada' Street in the old city. The boy was transferred to Aliya Hospital after losing consciousness.
PNN reporter quoted sources in the village as saying that Israeli forces stormed Dar Salah village, east of Bethlehem, and arrested Mohammed Daoud Thahbyeh, 34, after raiding and searching his house.
In Nablus, Israeli forces closed Wednesday night, Hawarah checkpoint, south of the city, and carried out a military training in the area.
Media outlets in Nablus reported that Israeli soldiers closed the checkpoint and hindered the movement of the Palestinians residents.
Coordinator of Popular Committee against apartheid wall and settlement in Hebron, Rateb al-Jbour, said that Israeli forces stormed at dawn, Raqa area, north of Yatta town, searched the house of Kamel Abdul Qader al-Jundi and rummaged with the contents.
Al-Jbour said in a press release that Israeli soldiers detained the Jundi family members in a small room, for more than 3 hours.
Al-Jbour condemned the brutal measures by the Israeli occupation against Palestinians and their property.
In Hebron, Israeli soldiers assaulted a minor in the old city.
Local sources said that Israeli soldiers severely beat 9-year-old Farahat al-Rajbi near the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old city. Adding that, the child suffered severe bruising after a group of settlers assaulted him in the same place, few days ago.
Israeli soldiers assaulted on Tuesday night, 15-year-old Hamdan Mohammed Sha'abneh in as-Shuhada' Street in the old city. The boy was transferred to Aliya Hospital after losing consciousness.
PNN reporter quoted sources in the village as saying that Israeli forces stormed Dar Salah village, east of Bethlehem, and arrested Mohammed Daoud Thahbyeh, 34, after raiding and searching his house.
In Nablus, Israeli forces closed Wednesday night, Hawarah checkpoint, south of the city, and carried out a military training in the area.
Media outlets in Nablus reported that Israeli soldiers closed the checkpoint and hindered the movement of the Palestinians residents.
