11 sept 2013
The Israeli forces arrested 4 Jerusalemites early this morning from the neighbourhood of Al-Sowaneh east of the old city of Jerusalem.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the Israeli forces arrested Mohammad Riyad Abu Lafi, Mohammad Al-Mutasem Abu Lafi, Nihad Msha’she’ and Mohammad Msha’she’.
They also arrested Ibrahim Rizeq and Mutasem Al-Atrash on Monday night.
In a related matter, the Israel Magistrate court decided to release Mohammad Shalabi, Abdullah Sinjlawi, Tarek Zorba and Shadi Abu Farha on condition of sending them away from the old city for two weeks; the court also released the two minors Nour Shalabi and Mohammad Abu Sneineh on the same conditions.
The general prosecution submitted an appeal to the District court on Monday afternoon in order to extend the arrest of 4 young men from the old city of Jerusalem until Tuesday morning.
Lawyer Mufeed Al-Hajj from the prisoner’s club explained that the Magistrate court decided to release the four young men on Monday morning for lack of evidence, but the prosecution requested to freeze the decision until they submit an appeal to the District court. The Magistrate court gave the prosecution until 4 p.m. Monday to submit the appeal. The prosecution submitted the appeal and the court scheduled a hearing at 0830 a.m. on Tuesday. The four young men are: Ahmad Abu Sbeih, Abdelatheem Abu Sbeih, Adli Najib and Thaer Zghayyar.
Al-Hajj said that Mahmoud Jaber who was arrested on Monday and investigated regarding the events that took place on 04/09/2013 was presented to court and was then released after paying a 500-NIS bail and on condition of house arrest for 5 days. Mahmoud was arrested again on Tuesday and was investigated regarding the events on 06/09/2013 as the court has pictures that prove his participation; his arrest was extended until Wednesday.
Al-Hajj noted that the Magistrate court released on Monday the minor Mahmoud Zaghal who is in 10th grade after paying a 1000-NIS bail and on condition of house arrest with allowing him to go to his school in the old city accompanied by one of his parents.
The court released him because he is a minor, and he was arrested 3 days ago on charges of participating on the 4th of September events; an indictment was submitted against him that included charges of throwing stones and participating in a protest.
Mohammad Mahmoud, Al-Dameer organization Lawyer, said that the Magistrate court extended the arrest of Ali Mansour Mahmoud until Tuesday, and released Ali Darwish with no conditions.
The court also extended the arrest of Mahmoud Amira and Sharif Abu Turk until Wednesday, and investigated Sharif’s father, Mahfouz Abu Turk, to find out where his son was last Friday. Mahfouz confirmed that his son prayed the Friday prayer in Sur-Baher last Friday.
The District court judge extended the arrest of Ahmad Dirbas and Mohammad Hussein Obeid until the so-called “conduct officer” releases his report on the 14th of October, 2013.
A witnesses hearing session was held in the District court regarding the cases of Suhaib, Shidad and Shadi Al-A’war; another session to continue hearing witnesses was scheduled to be on the 4th of November, 2013.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the Israeli forces arrested Mohammad Riyad Abu Lafi, Mohammad Al-Mutasem Abu Lafi, Nihad Msha’she’ and Mohammad Msha’she’.
They also arrested Ibrahim Rizeq and Mutasem Al-Atrash on Monday night.
In a related matter, the Israel Magistrate court decided to release Mohammad Shalabi, Abdullah Sinjlawi, Tarek Zorba and Shadi Abu Farha on condition of sending them away from the old city for two weeks; the court also released the two minors Nour Shalabi and Mohammad Abu Sneineh on the same conditions.
The general prosecution submitted an appeal to the District court on Monday afternoon in order to extend the arrest of 4 young men from the old city of Jerusalem until Tuesday morning.
Lawyer Mufeed Al-Hajj from the prisoner’s club explained that the Magistrate court decided to release the four young men on Monday morning for lack of evidence, but the prosecution requested to freeze the decision until they submit an appeal to the District court. The Magistrate court gave the prosecution until 4 p.m. Monday to submit the appeal. The prosecution submitted the appeal and the court scheduled a hearing at 0830 a.m. on Tuesday. The four young men are: Ahmad Abu Sbeih, Abdelatheem Abu Sbeih, Adli Najib and Thaer Zghayyar.
Al-Hajj said that Mahmoud Jaber who was arrested on Monday and investigated regarding the events that took place on 04/09/2013 was presented to court and was then released after paying a 500-NIS bail and on condition of house arrest for 5 days. Mahmoud was arrested again on Tuesday and was investigated regarding the events on 06/09/2013 as the court has pictures that prove his participation; his arrest was extended until Wednesday.
Al-Hajj noted that the Magistrate court released on Monday the minor Mahmoud Zaghal who is in 10th grade after paying a 1000-NIS bail and on condition of house arrest with allowing him to go to his school in the old city accompanied by one of his parents.
The court released him because he is a minor, and he was arrested 3 days ago on charges of participating on the 4th of September events; an indictment was submitted against him that included charges of throwing stones and participating in a protest.
Mohammad Mahmoud, Al-Dameer organization Lawyer, said that the Magistrate court extended the arrest of Ali Mansour Mahmoud until Tuesday, and released Ali Darwish with no conditions.
The court also extended the arrest of Mahmoud Amira and Sharif Abu Turk until Wednesday, and investigated Sharif’s father, Mahfouz Abu Turk, to find out where his son was last Friday. Mahfouz confirmed that his son prayed the Friday prayer in Sur-Baher last Friday.
The District court judge extended the arrest of Ahmad Dirbas and Mohammad Hussein Obeid until the so-called “conduct officer” releases his report on the 14th of October, 2013.
A witnesses hearing session was held in the District court regarding the cases of Suhaib, Shidad and Shadi Al-A’war; another session to continue hearing witnesses was scheduled to be on the 4th of November, 2013.
Three Israelis helped boost terror group's popularity among capital's Muslim population through various educational, welfare activities
"A Hamas 'charity' operating in Jerusalem is assisting in the absorption of the terror group's ideology," the capital's District Court determined Wednesday, after convicting three Israelis of activity in a terrorist organization.
Yakav Abu Asav, Qafah Sarhan and Ahmad Aliyan were part of the effort to establish Hamas' social infrastructure in the city. According to the indictment and ruling, the three served as the heads of Hamas' advisory council in Jerusalem and worked to boost Hamas' popularity among the capital's Muslim population in the city by promoting diverse activities in the fields of education, welfare and religious services.
The courts said that as part of the illicit activity, Hamas operated an "activists' committee" in three different parts of the city. An advisory council comprised of key Hamas supporters from each part of the city would convene from time to time to promote the agenda of the Islamist group, which rules the Gaza Strip.
Judge Amnon Cohen said the supposed charitable activities served as the basis for the transition to terrorist activity. He said the charity organizations are a key component in Hamas' Dawah (proselytizing) system in the West Bank. According to Cohen, this is "a system of community services offered by Hamas to its supporters and the general Palestinian population in the fields of religion, medicine and welfare through the operation of a system of educational institutions for all ages that is concentrated near the mosques."
"This system of services, which supposedly has a humanitarian purpose, is meant to expand the public support base of the terror organization and create within the population an economic dependency on the terror group, as well create sympathy and a commitment to its path and values," the judge said. A fourth defendant in the affair, Ashraf A'ashur, was recently convicted as part of a plea bargain of financing terror, after he worked to transfer funds to Hamas.
"A Hamas 'charity' operating in Jerusalem is assisting in the absorption of the terror group's ideology," the capital's District Court determined Wednesday, after convicting three Israelis of activity in a terrorist organization.
Yakav Abu Asav, Qafah Sarhan and Ahmad Aliyan were part of the effort to establish Hamas' social infrastructure in the city. According to the indictment and ruling, the three served as the heads of Hamas' advisory council in Jerusalem and worked to boost Hamas' popularity among the capital's Muslim population in the city by promoting diverse activities in the fields of education, welfare and religious services.
The courts said that as part of the illicit activity, Hamas operated an "activists' committee" in three different parts of the city. An advisory council comprised of key Hamas supporters from each part of the city would convene from time to time to promote the agenda of the Islamist group, which rules the Gaza Strip.
Judge Amnon Cohen said the supposed charitable activities served as the basis for the transition to terrorist activity. He said the charity organizations are a key component in Hamas' Dawah (proselytizing) system in the West Bank. According to Cohen, this is "a system of community services offered by Hamas to its supporters and the general Palestinian population in the fields of religion, medicine and welfare through the operation of a system of educational institutions for all ages that is concentrated near the mosques."
"This system of services, which supposedly has a humanitarian purpose, is meant to expand the public support base of the terror organization and create within the population an economic dependency on the terror group, as well create sympathy and a commitment to its path and values," the judge said. A fourth defendant in the affair, Ashraf A'ashur, was recently convicted as part of a plea bargain of financing terror, after he worked to transfer funds to Hamas.
Jailed Gaza engineer Dirar Abu Sisi is due to be moved out of solitary confinement in the next 48 hours, a prisoners group said Wednesday.
Raafat Hamdona, media director from the Ahrar Center for Prisoners Studies, said Abu Sisi began a hunger strike on Aug. 16 to demand his release from solitary confinement and to be allowed family visits.
He will be moved from Eshel prison to another jail with better conditions after a deal was struck between prisoners' representatives and the Israeli prison administration.
PA ministry lawyer Rami al-Alami said that Abu Sisi suffers from severe health problems.
Israeli prison services spokeswoman Sivan Weizman said this week that all electrical appliances apart from a fan had been removed from Abu Sisi's cell after he went on hunger strike.
Abu Sisi, an engineer who was former technical director at Gaza's sole electricity plant, disappeared from a train in Ukraine in February 2011. Israel later announced it was holding him. According to the PA, Abu Sisi has spent his entire detention in solitary confinement.
According to a summary of charges by Israel, Abu Sisi is on trial for "activity in a terrorist organization, hundreds of counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and arms production offenses" as a member of Hamas.
Raafat Hamdona, media director from the Ahrar Center for Prisoners Studies, said Abu Sisi began a hunger strike on Aug. 16 to demand his release from solitary confinement and to be allowed family visits.
He will be moved from Eshel prison to another jail with better conditions after a deal was struck between prisoners' representatives and the Israeli prison administration.
PA ministry lawyer Rami al-Alami said that Abu Sisi suffers from severe health problems.
Israeli prison services spokeswoman Sivan Weizman said this week that all electrical appliances apart from a fan had been removed from Abu Sisi's cell after he went on hunger strike.
Abu Sisi, an engineer who was former technical director at Gaza's sole electricity plant, disappeared from a train in Ukraine in February 2011. Israel later announced it was holding him. According to the PA, Abu Sisi has spent his entire detention in solitary confinement.
According to a summary of charges by Israel, Abu Sisi is on trial for "activity in a terrorist organization, hundreds of counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and arms production offenses" as a member of Hamas.
Israeli forces detained a man at the "container" checkpoint outside of Bethlehem on Wednesday.
Khalil Riyad Namoura, 20, from Dura in Hebron was arrested after Israeli forces held him at the checkpoint for four hours before taking him to an unknown location.
Khalil Riyad Namoura, 20, from Dura in Hebron was arrested after Israeli forces held him at the checkpoint for four hours before taking him to an unknown location.
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) forced liberated prisoner Samer Al-Juba to take a forced break from his education at a university in Al-Khalil and return to his hometown in Beersheba. The Ahrar center for prisoners’ studies said in a statement on Wednesday that Samer, 21, was arrested twice before the first for one month in 2010 and the second for seven months in 2012.
The center quoted Samer as saying that it was the first time he had heard of such an order and added that he left back for Beersheba and abandoned his studies in Al-Khalil University.
He said that the IOA claimed he posed danger to the region, adding, “I don’t know what is that danger”.
Ahrar statement described the IOA decision as “oppressive and inhuman”, adding that freedom of movement, residence, and education should be available to all without any restrictions.
The center quoted Samer as saying that it was the first time he had heard of such an order and added that he left back for Beersheba and abandoned his studies in Al-Khalil University.
He said that the IOA claimed he posed danger to the region, adding, “I don’t know what is that danger”.
Ahrar statement described the IOA decision as “oppressive and inhuman”, adding that freedom of movement, residence, and education should be available to all without any restrictions.
Israel exploits the need of patients to travel and uses the crossings as a trap, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights reported. It noted that the Israeli military forces escalated its measures against Palestinian patients and their escorts who travel through Erez Crossing.
According to the monitoring and documenting unit at Al Mezan, Israeli Military forces have arrested more than 13 Palestinians at Erez crossing since the beginning of 2013. Of the 13, two were patients and four were patient escorts. There were also two businessmen among the arrested.
The Israeli authorities continue to exploit the Palestinian need to travel, using crossings as snares. The crossing allows for little dignity in the process of traveling to Israel which compounds the already very present threat of arrest and pressure to collaborate.
Mohammed Al Bakri, 24, was detained on last Sunday at Erez Crossing on his way to receive medical treatment at St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem accompanied with his mother. He was interviewed by Israel Security Agency and ordered his mother to leave.
Al Mezan Center lawyer reported that Israeli court extended his detention to September 16, 2013 and he is held now at Ashkelon prison.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights strongly condemns and is deeply concerned about the ongoing arrests of medical patients, their escorts in addition to internationals using this crossing. Al Mezan views this as a continuation of Israel’s blackmail policy of Palestinian patients to exploit their suffering and need for treatment in order to turn them into collaborators. This, Al Mezan stresses, constitutes a grave violation of the rules under International Humanitarian Law, namely the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Al Mezan calls on the international community to promptly and effectively intervene in any way in order to stop Israel’s ongoing and systematic violations and ensure safe access to hospitals and medical treatment for Palestinian patients and other residents in the Gaza Strip.
Interior ministry: Israel uses Beit Hanoun crossing as a trap for Gaza patients
The Palestinian ministry of interior in Gaza said that the Israeli-controlled Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, north of Gaza, turned into a trap for the detention of Palestinian patients who seek medical treatment in the hospitals of the 1948 occupied lands. The ministry's human rights department stated in a press release that the Israeli army kidnapped dozens of Gazan patients who went to Beit Hanoun crossing to process their travel documents.
The department stated that these Gazan patients resorted to Beit Hanoun crossing after Egypt banned their access to its territory.
It charged that the PA had convinced the Israeli regime and the Egyptian authorities to make Beit Hanoun crossing a substitute for Rafah border crossing in order to use it as a snare to kidnap Palestinian passengers.
The human rights department of the interior ministry appealed to the international community to assume its responsibility toward the Gaza population who are exposed to mass punishment and slow death as a result of the inhumane blockade imposed on them by Israel and Egypt.
According to the monitoring and documenting unit at Al Mezan, Israeli Military forces have arrested more than 13 Palestinians at Erez crossing since the beginning of 2013. Of the 13, two were patients and four were patient escorts. There were also two businessmen among the arrested.
The Israeli authorities continue to exploit the Palestinian need to travel, using crossings as snares. The crossing allows for little dignity in the process of traveling to Israel which compounds the already very present threat of arrest and pressure to collaborate.
Mohammed Al Bakri, 24, was detained on last Sunday at Erez Crossing on his way to receive medical treatment at St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem accompanied with his mother. He was interviewed by Israel Security Agency and ordered his mother to leave.
Al Mezan Center lawyer reported that Israeli court extended his detention to September 16, 2013 and he is held now at Ashkelon prison.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights strongly condemns and is deeply concerned about the ongoing arrests of medical patients, their escorts in addition to internationals using this crossing. Al Mezan views this as a continuation of Israel’s blackmail policy of Palestinian patients to exploit their suffering and need for treatment in order to turn them into collaborators. This, Al Mezan stresses, constitutes a grave violation of the rules under International Humanitarian Law, namely the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Al Mezan calls on the international community to promptly and effectively intervene in any way in order to stop Israel’s ongoing and systematic violations and ensure safe access to hospitals and medical treatment for Palestinian patients and other residents in the Gaza Strip.
Interior ministry: Israel uses Beit Hanoun crossing as a trap for Gaza patients
The Palestinian ministry of interior in Gaza said that the Israeli-controlled Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, north of Gaza, turned into a trap for the detention of Palestinian patients who seek medical treatment in the hospitals of the 1948 occupied lands. The ministry's human rights department stated in a press release that the Israeli army kidnapped dozens of Gazan patients who went to Beit Hanoun crossing to process their travel documents.
The department stated that these Gazan patients resorted to Beit Hanoun crossing after Egypt banned their access to its territory.
It charged that the PA had convinced the Israeli regime and the Egyptian authorities to make Beit Hanoun crossing a substitute for Rafah border crossing in order to use it as a snare to kidnap Palestinian passengers.
The human rights department of the interior ministry appealed to the international community to assume its responsibility toward the Gaza population who are exposed to mass punishment and slow death as a result of the inhumane blockade imposed on them by Israel and Egypt.
The Israeli authorities Wednesday informed Abdul Latif Ghaith, a resident of East Jerusalem and chairman of the board of the Ramallah-based Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, that he will not be allowed to enter the West Bank for six more months, according to a statement by Addameer. This is the fifth consecutive time Ghaith, 71, one of the founders of Addameer, has been banned from entering the West Bank.
The order said the ban was issued because “it was necessary to protect law and order” in the West Bank.
Addameer condemned the ban saying it violates the right of Ghaith for freedom of movement.
The order said the ban was issued because “it was necessary to protect law and order” in the West Bank.
Addameer condemned the ban saying it violates the right of Ghaith for freedom of movement.
The Israeli Prison Services (IPS) stormed on Wednesday morning section 11 in Eshel prison and transferred the leader in Hamas movement Ahmed Qudra to another prison, according to the Palestine Center for Prisoners' Studies. Riad Ashqar, a researcher at the center, stated that the IPS informed Qudra of its decision to transfer him to another prison causing a state of tension to prevail in the prison.
The IPS has also transferred on Monday Salim Ju'beh to Hadarim prison under the pretext of protesting the Israeli special unit's break-in into the prison.
Ashqar pointed out that the Israeli special unit has attacked, during storming the prison, a number of prisoners due to their support to the prisoner Dirar Abu Sisi's hunger strike.
The researcher said that the IPS is used to transferring prisoners from one prison to another in an attempt to undermine the prisoners' spirits.
The IPS has also transferred on Monday Salim Ju'beh to Hadarim prison under the pretext of protesting the Israeli special unit's break-in into the prison.
Ashqar pointed out that the Israeli special unit has attacked, during storming the prison, a number of prisoners due to their support to the prisoner Dirar Abu Sisi's hunger strike.
The researcher said that the IPS is used to transferring prisoners from one prison to another in an attempt to undermine the prisoners' spirits.
The Palestinian patient prisoner Naim Younis Shawamra's family has set up a solidarity tent outside their house in Dura town in al-Khalil after his serious health deterioration. The family expressed their deep concern over their son's health status, calling on human rights institutions and national forces to intervene for the release of their son to receive the necessary treatment.
Naim, a father of 4 children, was arrested in 1995 and sentenced to life term in prison.
Naim, a father of 4 children, was arrested in 1995 and sentenced to life term in prison.
Administrative detainee Khalil Abu Arqub has gone on hunger strike four days ago in Megiddo jail, Tadamun foundation for human rights said on Wednesday. Ahmed Al-Beitawi, a researcher with the foundation, said that Abu Arqub, from Oyun Abu Seif hamlet near Dura town in Al-Khalil, started his hunger strike last Sunday.
He said that Abu Arqub, 35, was demanding his transfer to a jail near to his hometown in the south, instead of the northern Megiddo jail, to facilitate his relatives’ visits.
He said that the prison administration transferred the hunger striker from Ward 5 to solitary confinement as soon as he declared his strike and refused to speak with him on his demands.
Beitawi said that the Israeli prison service had arbitrarily moved Abu Arqub to Megiddo jail ten months ago.
He recalled that Abu Arqub, an Islamic Jihad activist, had previously served four years in Israeli jails.
The Israeli occupation forces nabbed Abu Arqub on 10/7/2012 only few days after his first son was born. He was held in administrative detention, without trial or charge, since then and his mother died six months ago.
He said that Abu Arqub, 35, was demanding his transfer to a jail near to his hometown in the south, instead of the northern Megiddo jail, to facilitate his relatives’ visits.
He said that the prison administration transferred the hunger striker from Ward 5 to solitary confinement as soon as he declared his strike and refused to speak with him on his demands.
Beitawi said that the Israeli prison service had arbitrarily moved Abu Arqub to Megiddo jail ten months ago.
He recalled that Abu Arqub, an Islamic Jihad activist, had previously served four years in Israeli jails.
The Israeli occupation forces nabbed Abu Arqub on 10/7/2012 only few days after his first son was born. He was held in administrative detention, without trial or charge, since then and his mother died six months ago.
Salem Military Court has sentenced the female captive Mayser Atyani, 47, for three months and imposed a fine of 2,000 shekels against her, her family told Ahrar Center for Prisoners' Studies. The family stated that Mayser was sentenced for entering the occupied area of Tira inside the Green Line without a permit.
For his part, Fouad Khuffash, the director of the Center, stated that Atyani, who is an activist in prisoners' issues and a member of the Palestinian Women Union in Nablus, was arrested in August 2013 and transferred directly to Hasharon prison.
Atyani was previously arrested four years ago, where she was held for 13 consecutive days in an Israeli interrogation center.
For his part, Fouad Khuffash, the director of the Center, stated that Atyani, who is an activist in prisoners' issues and a member of the Palestinian Women Union in Nablus, was arrested in August 2013 and transferred directly to Hasharon prison.
Atyani was previously arrested four years ago, where she was held for 13 consecutive days in an Israeli interrogation center.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday evening violently attacked hundreds of Palestinian and foreign activists who rallied in protest at Israel's closure of the road to Qaryut village, south of Nablus. The road to Qaryut village has been blocked by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) since the start of the second Aqsa intifada in 2000.
Dozens of Israeli troops were deployed along Qaryut road and in the nearby fields in order to prevent the protestors from closing the road which leads to Shilo settlement.
They fired a hail of tear gas and stun grenades at the protestors and physically assaulted journalists in an attempt to bar them from covering the events.
The IOF also established checkpoints, intercepted hundreds of Palestinian cars travelling between Nablus and Ramallah and kidnapped more than 10 anti-settlement activists.
In another incident on the same day, the IOF set up a checkpoint on Jenin-Haifa road near Kafr Dan village and another one between the villages of Ta'nak and Anin, west of Jenin city, and intercepted Palestinian cars.
Local sources said that the IOF detained dozens of passengers and subjected them to search and hours of interrogation at the pretext of looking for wanted young men.
Dozens of Israeli troops were deployed along Qaryut road and in the nearby fields in order to prevent the protestors from closing the road which leads to Shilo settlement.
They fired a hail of tear gas and stun grenades at the protestors and physically assaulted journalists in an attempt to bar them from covering the events.
The IOF also established checkpoints, intercepted hundreds of Palestinian cars travelling between Nablus and Ramallah and kidnapped more than 10 anti-settlement activists.
In another incident on the same day, the IOF set up a checkpoint on Jenin-Haifa road near Kafr Dan village and another one between the villages of Ta'nak and Anin, west of Jenin city, and intercepted Palestinian cars.
Local sources said that the IOF detained dozens of passengers and subjected them to search and hours of interrogation at the pretext of looking for wanted young men.
Israeli forces Wednesday arrested 11 Palestinians from across the West Bank, including a minor from East Jerusalem, according to local and security sources. In the town of Howara, south of Nablus, undercover Israeli soldiers entered a restaurant and ordered breakfast. When three youths entered the restaurant, the undercover soldiers surprised them and arrested them.
Forces arrested three other Palestinians age 16, 21, and 24 from the town of Kufr Qaddoum, east of Qalqilya, after raiding and searching their homes at dawn.
Meanwhile, three Palestinians, including two brothers from the Hebron area, were arrested while they were crossing a checkpoint on their way back from their place of work in Jenin.
A 25-year-old Palestinian was also arrested from the Hebron area.
In Jenin, forces arrested a 33-year-old Palestinians after raiding and searching his family home as well as handed his father a notice to appear before the Israeli intelligence in Salem military camp west of Jenin.
Meanwhile in Jerusalem, Israeli police arrested a 17-year-old Palestinian after raiding his family home in the town of Izzariyah, east of Jerusalem.
Forces arrested three other Palestinians age 16, 21, and 24 from the town of Kufr Qaddoum, east of Qalqilya, after raiding and searching their homes at dawn.
Meanwhile, three Palestinians, including two brothers from the Hebron area, were arrested while they were crossing a checkpoint on their way back from their place of work in Jenin.
A 25-year-old Palestinian was also arrested from the Hebron area.
In Jenin, forces arrested a 33-year-old Palestinians after raiding and searching his family home as well as handed his father a notice to appear before the Israeli intelligence in Salem military camp west of Jenin.
Meanwhile in Jerusalem, Israeli police arrested a 17-year-old Palestinian after raiding his family home in the town of Izzariyah, east of Jerusalem.
Israeli occupation forces arrested on Wednesday, three Palestinians from Kufr Qaddum, east of Qalqiliya after several military vehicles raided the village at dawn.
Media Coordinator of the weekly protests in Kufr Qaddoum, Murad Eshteiwi, said that a force from the Israeli Army raided the village at 3:30 AM and arrested Ahmed Mohammed Barham, 16, a student at Kufr Qaddum high school, Maan Mohammed Amer, 21, and Fadi Bassem Joma, 24, after searching their houses.
Eshteiwi called on human rights institutions to immediately intervene to stop the child arrest policy, as children are subjected to psychological stress, especially during investigations in Israeli jails and interrogation centers.
Media Coordinator of the weekly protests in Kufr Qaddoum, Murad Eshteiwi, said that a force from the Israeli Army raided the village at 3:30 AM and arrested Ahmed Mohammed Barham, 16, a student at Kufr Qaddum high school, Maan Mohammed Amer, 21, and Fadi Bassem Joma, 24, after searching their houses.
Eshteiwi called on human rights institutions to immediately intervene to stop the child arrest policy, as children are subjected to psychological stress, especially during investigations in Israeli jails and interrogation centers.
Dozens of Israeli military jeeps invaded various areas in the northern and southern parts of the occupied West Bank, broke into and searched dozens of homes, and interrogated the residents after forcing them out of their homes.
Local sources in Beta village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, have reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the village, and broke into the home of Mohammad Dweikat before forcing him and his family out of their property.
Dweikat, a political official of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), stated that the soldiers violently searched his home, causing excessive property damage, and used it as an interrogation facility.
He said that the soldiers detained more than twenty residents from the village, and interrogated them in his home for several hours.
The soldiers warned the residents of harsh consequences should they approach the main road where Israeli settlers drive to and from their illegal settlements.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded Kufur Qaddoum village, near Nablus, and kidnapped two young men, and a child, before taking them to an unknown destination.
The three have been identified as Ma’an Al-Qaddoumi, Fadi Al-Qaddoumi, and Hammoudy Al-Qaddoumi (child).
Furthermore, dozens of soldiers invaded the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem leading to clashes with local youths, especially in Al-Isra’ Street.
Soldiers also invaded Al-Ras nearby village, and searched several homes before kidnapping two children identified as Ali Bdeirat, 16, and Mohammad Ahmad Ata, 15.
Army also invaded Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, and kidnapped a youth identified as Bilal Abdul-Aziz.
Local sources in the city have reported that the army kidnapped two children in the city on Tuesday at night.
Clashes have also been reported in the Al-Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, after dozens of soldiers invaded it.
It is worth mentioning that, on Tuesday at dawn [September 10, 2013], dozens of soldiers invaded the camp, violently broke into homes and searched them before kidnapping at least 17 Palestinians.
Earlier on Wednesday, soldiers installed several roadblocks in various areas, west of Jenin in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
Also, resident Khalil Riyadh Nammoura, 21, from Doura town, near Hebron, was kidnapped at the Container roadblock, north east of occupied Jerusalem. خليل رياض نموره (20 عاما
Local sources in Beta village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, have reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the village, and broke into the home of Mohammad Dweikat before forcing him and his family out of their property.
Dweikat, a political official of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), stated that the soldiers violently searched his home, causing excessive property damage, and used it as an interrogation facility.
He said that the soldiers detained more than twenty residents from the village, and interrogated them in his home for several hours.
The soldiers warned the residents of harsh consequences should they approach the main road where Israeli settlers drive to and from their illegal settlements.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded Kufur Qaddoum village, near Nablus, and kidnapped two young men, and a child, before taking them to an unknown destination.
The three have been identified as Ma’an Al-Qaddoumi, Fadi Al-Qaddoumi, and Hammoudy Al-Qaddoumi (child).
Furthermore, dozens of soldiers invaded the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem leading to clashes with local youths, especially in Al-Isra’ Street.
Soldiers also invaded Al-Ras nearby village, and searched several homes before kidnapping two children identified as Ali Bdeirat, 16, and Mohammad Ahmad Ata, 15.
Army also invaded Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, and kidnapped a youth identified as Bilal Abdul-Aziz.
Local sources in the city have reported that the army kidnapped two children in the city on Tuesday at night.
Clashes have also been reported in the Al-Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, after dozens of soldiers invaded it.
It is worth mentioning that, on Tuesday at dawn [September 10, 2013], dozens of soldiers invaded the camp, violently broke into homes and searched them before kidnapping at least 17 Palestinians.
Earlier on Wednesday, soldiers installed several roadblocks in various areas, west of Jenin in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
Also, resident Khalil Riyadh Nammoura, 21, from Doura town, near Hebron, was kidnapped at the Container roadblock, north east of occupied Jerusalem. خليل رياض نموره (20 عاما
Tuesday evening [September 10, 2013] Two Palestinian children have been kidnapped by Israeli soldiers invading the Ar-Ras village, south of Tulkarem, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
Local sources have reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the village, harassed several residents, and kidnapped two children identified as Ali Bdeirat, 16, and Mohammad Zaky, 15.
The two kidnapped children were playing in a farmland west of the village. The soldiers cuffed the two children, and took them to an unknown destination.
In related news, soldiers kidnapped three Palestinians north of the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
The army claimed that soldiers stopped a car transporting the three, and located two rifles and several magazines.
Furthermore, dozens of soldiers closed the main entrance of the Al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, stopped and searched Palestinian cars while interrogating the residents.
The incident led to clashes between the soldiers and local youths who hurled stones at them; the army fired rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades.
Medical sources said that at least two residents received treatment for the effects of teargas inhalation.
Local sources have reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the village, harassed several residents, and kidnapped two children identified as Ali Bdeirat, 16, and Mohammad Zaky, 15.
The two kidnapped children were playing in a farmland west of the village. The soldiers cuffed the two children, and took them to an unknown destination.
In related news, soldiers kidnapped three Palestinians north of the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
The army claimed that soldiers stopped a car transporting the three, and located two rifles and several magazines.
Furthermore, dozens of soldiers closed the main entrance of the Al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, stopped and searched Palestinian cars while interrogating the residents.
The incident led to clashes between the soldiers and local youths who hurled stones at them; the army fired rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades.
Medical sources said that at least two residents received treatment for the effects of teargas inhalation.
10 sept 2013
The District court sentenced on Tuesday afternoon a young man and three children from the town of Silwan on charges of stabbing an Israeli settler, and the making of Molotov cocktails as well as throwing them, in addition to throwing firecrackers and stones at the settlement outposts in Silwan.
Mohammad Mahmoud, Al-Dameer organization lawyer, said that the District court judge sentenced 18-year old Mohammad Sameeh Abbasi for 7 years of actual imprisonment, and a suspended probation of 10 months for 3 years in addition to a fine of 30 thousand NIS.
The judge also sentenced the child Majdi Abbasi for 5 years of actual imprisonment, and a suspended probation of 8 months for 3 years and a fine of 10 thousand NIS, while 15-year old Ayman Sameeh Abbasi and 13-year old Mohammad Sultan Abbasi were each sentenced for a year and a half of actual imprisonment and 3 thousand NIS fine and a suspended probation of 6 months for 3 years. The two children have until October 3rd to turn themselves in to the police so they can serve their sentences.
The lawyer said that he will appeal the sentences in the Supreme Court in Jerusalem.
The young man along with the children were arrested at the beginning of last November, and were exposed to harsh investigation despite being young.
After a few sessions, Mohammad Sameeh Abbasi and Ayman Abbasi were accused of stabbing a settler in Ras Al-Amoud on 02/11/2012, and Mohammad Sultan and Ayman Sameeh Abbasi were accused of monitoring the stabbing and were then released on condition of house arrest.
Mohammad Mahmoud, Al-Dameer organization lawyer, said that the District court judge sentenced 18-year old Mohammad Sameeh Abbasi for 7 years of actual imprisonment, and a suspended probation of 10 months for 3 years in addition to a fine of 30 thousand NIS.
The judge also sentenced the child Majdi Abbasi for 5 years of actual imprisonment, and a suspended probation of 8 months for 3 years and a fine of 10 thousand NIS, while 15-year old Ayman Sameeh Abbasi and 13-year old Mohammad Sultan Abbasi were each sentenced for a year and a half of actual imprisonment and 3 thousand NIS fine and a suspended probation of 6 months for 3 years. The two children have until October 3rd to turn themselves in to the police so they can serve their sentences.
The lawyer said that he will appeal the sentences in the Supreme Court in Jerusalem.
The young man along with the children were arrested at the beginning of last November, and were exposed to harsh investigation despite being young.
After a few sessions, Mohammad Sameeh Abbasi and Ayman Abbasi were accused of stabbing a settler in Ras Al-Amoud on 02/11/2012, and Mohammad Sultan and Ayman Sameeh Abbasi were accused of monitoring the stabbing and were then released on condition of house arrest.
-For immediate release-
The Association of International Aid Agencies (AIDA), a network of more than 80 international aid and development agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel has today condemned the detention of a Polish humanitarian aid worker, KamilQandil, who has been denied entry to Israel. For more than a week Qandil has been held in an Israeli detention center pending a court hearing to determine if he will be allowed entry or forced to terminate his work and return to Poland.
The agencies said the International Community must act urgently to press the government of Israel to respect internationally recognized principles regarding humanitarian access by immediately releasing Qandil and facilitating his entry into Israel.
The agencies noted that Qandil, who is a Polish national and employee of Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH), has a valid work visa issued by the state of Israel, which affords him multiple entries into the country.
Despite the work visa, Qandil was detained at the Ben Gurion airport on September 2, 2013 on “security grounds,” which Israeli authorities have declined to reveal.
As an employee of PAH, Qandil has been working on projects to bring vital water resources to Palestinian families in the South Hebron Hills section of the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) maintains full military and civil control. PAH receives funding from the Polish government to rehabilitate rain water cisterns, which Palestinian families depend on to irrigate their agricultural fields and earn an income from farming. A number of cisterns rehabilitated by PAH have been previously demolished by Israel, prompting a diplomatic response form Warsaw.
Yadin Elam, Qandil’s attorney has said:
“Kamil’s case presents serious questions about the way Israel’s immigration authorities and Israel Security Agency (ISA) operate, as well as the ability of foreign nationals and humanitarian workers to access a fair and transparent system of justice. It is an uphill battle to defend Kamil in a legal process where both the defendant and his lawyer are shrouded in a veil of ignorance, as we know nothing about the nature of the allegations against Kamil.”
Marta Kaszubska, Head of Mission from Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH) has said:
“The humanitarian community is providing Palestinians with water because the Israeli government has not met its obligation to provide for the basic needs of the population it occupies. The Israeli government is setting a worrying precedent by denying the entry of humanitarian workers who are at the forefront of ensuring that the needs of vulnerable people are met.”
The Association of International Aid Agencies (AIDA), a network of more than 80 international aid and development agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel has today condemned the detention of a Polish humanitarian aid worker, KamilQandil, who has been denied entry to Israel. For more than a week Qandil has been held in an Israeli detention center pending a court hearing to determine if he will be allowed entry or forced to terminate his work and return to Poland.
The agencies said the International Community must act urgently to press the government of Israel to respect internationally recognized principles regarding humanitarian access by immediately releasing Qandil and facilitating his entry into Israel.
The agencies noted that Qandil, who is a Polish national and employee of Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH), has a valid work visa issued by the state of Israel, which affords him multiple entries into the country.
Despite the work visa, Qandil was detained at the Ben Gurion airport on September 2, 2013 on “security grounds,” which Israeli authorities have declined to reveal.
As an employee of PAH, Qandil has been working on projects to bring vital water resources to Palestinian families in the South Hebron Hills section of the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) maintains full military and civil control. PAH receives funding from the Polish government to rehabilitate rain water cisterns, which Palestinian families depend on to irrigate their agricultural fields and earn an income from farming. A number of cisterns rehabilitated by PAH have been previously demolished by Israel, prompting a diplomatic response form Warsaw.
Yadin Elam, Qandil’s attorney has said:
“Kamil’s case presents serious questions about the way Israel’s immigration authorities and Israel Security Agency (ISA) operate, as well as the ability of foreign nationals and humanitarian workers to access a fair and transparent system of justice. It is an uphill battle to defend Kamil in a legal process where both the defendant and his lawyer are shrouded in a veil of ignorance, as we know nothing about the nature of the allegations against Kamil.”
Marta Kaszubska, Head of Mission from Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH) has said:
“The humanitarian community is providing Palestinians with water because the Israeli government has not met its obligation to provide for the basic needs of the population it occupies. The Israeli government is setting a worrying precedent by denying the entry of humanitarian workers who are at the forefront of ensuring that the needs of vulnerable people are met.”
Prisoner Emad Rabaya has said that the Israeli prison authority had deliberately taken him back to jail after a surgical operation in an army jeep instead of an ambulance. He said in a complaint that he had undergone a surgery in Soroka hospital in the Negev a few days ago and was carried back to jail in a jeep allocated for the transfer of prisoners to and from courts.
He said that retuning him to jail in such a vehicle posed dangers to his life as he was forced to sit on metal seat, adding that he requested to be transferred in an ordinary car but his request was denied. Rabaya said that he suffered pain and the trip badly affected the stitches.
The prisoner asked through his lawyer in Jenin, Rabaya’s hometown, on Tuesday for improving conditions of sick internees, who suffer a lot inside Israeli jails.
Rabaya, who is sentenced to 23 years in jail, had served more than 11 years and is suffering several ailments.
He said that retuning him to jail in such a vehicle posed dangers to his life as he was forced to sit on metal seat, adding that he requested to be transferred in an ordinary car but his request was denied. Rabaya said that he suffered pain and the trip badly affected the stitches.
The prisoner asked through his lawyer in Jenin, Rabaya’s hometown, on Tuesday for improving conditions of sick internees, who suffer a lot inside Israeli jails.
Rabaya, who is sentenced to 23 years in jail, had served more than 11 years and is suffering several ailments.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rounded up 70 Palestinians from Arub refugee camp, north of Al-Khalil, since the start of 2013. The Palestinian prisoner’s society in Al-Khalil said in a report on Tuesday that most of the detainees were either minors or ex-prisoners.
It said that the detainees were in the age category 18 – 26, adding that the soldiers sabotage searched homes during the raids.
The society charged that the soldiers confiscate mobile phones, computers, cameras, books, and sometime money and golden jewelry are stolen.
It said that the detainees were in the age category 18 – 26, adding that the soldiers sabotage searched homes during the raids.
The society charged that the soldiers confiscate mobile phones, computers, cameras, books, and sometime money and golden jewelry are stolen.
The Israeli Magistrate court in occupied Jerusalem on Tuesday ordered the banishment of four Jerusalemites for two weeks. The four were arrested last Friday after they joined in defending the Aqsa Mosque against settlers’ attack.
Local sources said that the banishment includes deprivation of entering the Old City and the Aqsa Mosque.
The same court had ruled on Monday the banishment of two children for the same period.
Palestinian political circles warned of the dangerous banishment policy pursued by the Israeli occupation authorities against Jerusalemites, which, they said, aim at emptying the holy city of its indigenous inhabitants.
Local sources said that the banishment includes deprivation of entering the Old City and the Aqsa Mosque.
The same court had ruled on Monday the banishment of two children for the same period.
Palestinian political circles warned of the dangerous banishment policy pursued by the Israeli occupation authorities against Jerusalemites, which, they said, aim at emptying the holy city of its indigenous inhabitants.
Palestinian prisoners' center for studies reported that dozens of elements of the Israeli special units stormed Section 11 at Eshel jail and the attacked the prisoners. The center said in a statement on Tuesday that different Israeli units raided in the late hours of Monday evening the room No. 10 and assaulted leaders of the captive movement, including the deputy head of the senior leadership of Hamas prisoners captive Mahmoud Issa, from the occupied city of Jerusalem.
The statement added that the Israeli elements were heavily armed and conducted searches until Tuesday 4 am.
Researcher Riad al-Ashqar, Media Director of the center, noted that the prisoners will take a tough stance and escalatory steps in solidarity with their colleagues who had been assaulted.
He also called on the Palestinian factions to organize marches and events in support of the captives, and escalate the resistance against the occupation in response to the attack on the prisoners.
The statement added that the Israeli elements were heavily armed and conducted searches until Tuesday 4 am.
Researcher Riad al-Ashqar, Media Director of the center, noted that the prisoners will take a tough stance and escalatory steps in solidarity with their colleagues who had been assaulted.
He also called on the Palestinian factions to organize marches and events in support of the captives, and escalate the resistance against the occupation in response to the attack on the prisoners.
A Gaza-based human rights group Tuesday denounced Israeli policy of arresting patients leaving the Gaza Strip through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing with Israel to reach hospitals in Jerusalem or the West Bank. Mezan Center for Human Rights said the Israeli authorities at Erez arrested on Sunday Muhammad Zaki Bakri, 24, from Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, when he reached the crossing after obtaining an Israeli army-issued permit on his way to a hospital in East Jerusalem for treatment.
It said Bakri, who was accompanied by his mother, was interrogated for several hours by Israeli security service agents, who later told his mother that her son has been arrested and that she has to return to Gaza.
The mother told Mezan that she saw marks of beating on her son’s face and neck and that his cloths were partially torn, indicating he was beaten while in custody.
The center said Bakri was taken to a prison in Askalan and has been remanded until next week.
Patients referred for treatment to hospitals outside the Gaza Strip have in most cases to go through Erez and only after obtaining an Israeli permit.
Mezan said Israel uses agony and despair of Palestinian patients from Gaza to arrest them as they try to get treatment outside Gaza after it was impossible to get the treatment in Gaza hospitals.
Many patients used to travel to Egypt for treatment and go through the Palestinian-controlled Rafah crossing to avoid arrest by Israel.
However, with the constant Egyptian closure of Rafah, patients find no alternative other than to seek treatment in hospitals in Israel, East Jerusalem or the West Bank, which means they have to travel through the Israeli Erez crossing.
Mezan also said Israel often uses the need of people to get a permit for treatment outside Gaza in order to blackmail them into collaborating with it on security matters and spy on their people in Gaza or the West Bank.
It said Israel arrested 14 people as they were trying to cross Erez since the start of this year, seven of them were patients or people accompanying them.
It said Bakri, who was accompanied by his mother, was interrogated for several hours by Israeli security service agents, who later told his mother that her son has been arrested and that she has to return to Gaza.
The mother told Mezan that she saw marks of beating on her son’s face and neck and that his cloths were partially torn, indicating he was beaten while in custody.
The center said Bakri was taken to a prison in Askalan and has been remanded until next week.
Patients referred for treatment to hospitals outside the Gaza Strip have in most cases to go through Erez and only after obtaining an Israeli permit.
Mezan said Israel uses agony and despair of Palestinian patients from Gaza to arrest them as they try to get treatment outside Gaza after it was impossible to get the treatment in Gaza hospitals.
Many patients used to travel to Egypt for treatment and go through the Palestinian-controlled Rafah crossing to avoid arrest by Israel.
However, with the constant Egyptian closure of Rafah, patients find no alternative other than to seek treatment in hospitals in Israel, East Jerusalem or the West Bank, which means they have to travel through the Israeli Erez crossing.
Mezan also said Israel often uses the need of people to get a permit for treatment outside Gaza in order to blackmail them into collaborating with it on security matters and spy on their people in Gaza or the West Bank.
It said Israel arrested 14 people as they were trying to cross Erez since the start of this year, seven of them were patients or people accompanying them.
Tuesday at dawn [September 10, 2013] Israeli soldiers kidnapped four Palestinians in As-Suwwana neighborhood, in occupied East Jerusalem, and two Palestinians in Azmout town, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Local sources in Jerusalem said that several military jeeps invaded As-Suwwana, broke into and searched several homes causing property damage, and kidnapped four young men.
The four have been identified as Mohammad Riyadh Abu Lafy, Mohammad Al-Mo’tasem-billah Abu Safy, Mohammad Msha’sha’, and Nihad Msha’sha’.
The attacks come less than 24 hours since the army kidnapped ten Palestinians in Sur Baher, Al-Eesawiyya and the Old City.
Earlier on Tuesday, soldiers invaded Azmout village, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and kidnapped two brothers after violently searching their home.
The two have been identified as Rayeq Ibrahim Sbeih, 60, and his brother Aziz, 30. Soldiers also broke into and searched several homes in the village causing damage.
In related news, Israeli sources have reported that Palestinian youths hurled two Molotov cocktails at an Israeli settlement bus driving near ‘Aboud village, west of Ramallah, causing no damages or injuries. Dozens of soldiers invaded the area and searched it; no arrests have been reported.
Also on Tuesday at dawn, dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded the Al-Arroub Refugee Camp, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, violently broke into dozens of homes and searched them, and kidnapped at least 17 Palestinians.
Local sources in Jerusalem said that several military jeeps invaded As-Suwwana, broke into and searched several homes causing property damage, and kidnapped four young men.
The four have been identified as Mohammad Riyadh Abu Lafy, Mohammad Al-Mo’tasem-billah Abu Safy, Mohammad Msha’sha’, and Nihad Msha’sha’.
The attacks come less than 24 hours since the army kidnapped ten Palestinians in Sur Baher, Al-Eesawiyya and the Old City.
Earlier on Tuesday, soldiers invaded Azmout village, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and kidnapped two brothers after violently searching their home.
The two have been identified as Rayeq Ibrahim Sbeih, 60, and his brother Aziz, 30. Soldiers also broke into and searched several homes in the village causing damage.
In related news, Israeli sources have reported that Palestinian youths hurled two Molotov cocktails at an Israeli settlement bus driving near ‘Aboud village, west of Ramallah, causing no damages or injuries. Dozens of soldiers invaded the area and searched it; no arrests have been reported.
Also on Tuesday at dawn, dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded the Al-Arroub Refugee Camp, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, violently broke into dozens of homes and searched them, and kidnapped at least 17 Palestinians.
Protesters in white suits covered in fake blood arrive at Sde Dov Air Force Base in north Tel Aviv to protest Operation Cast Lead, January 2, 2013. The signs read: “You have children’s blood on your hands.”
Four and a half years after 20 activists were arrested in Tel Aviv for protesting Operation Cast Lead, a court acquits them of all charges. The question is why — despite video evidence showing they did nothing wrong — did the police continue to aggressively push to indict the protesters on bogus charges?
It was hard to remain apathetic as difficult-to-digest reports arrived from Gaza during the Israeli attack in the winter of 2008-2009, known as “Cast Lead.” According to data from B’Tselem, 1,391 Palestinians were killed in the fighting (759 of whom were not combatants, and 344 of whom were minors).
A group of Israeli activists decided to stage a protest action at the entrance of Tel Aviv’s Sde Dov Airport, one of the Air Force bases from which planes attacked the Gaza Strip. The short protest, during which activists wore white suits stained with “blood” and laid on the ground for a number of minutes at the airport’s entrance, ended with the arrest and indictment of 16 activists. Last week, after three days in jail, thousands of shekels in bail and four and a half years of court hearings, all of the accused were acquitted. (Read the full court verdict in Hebrew.)
Despite the fact that it was a legitimate protest and despite the fact that the protesters acceded to the police’s orders, for some reason unknown, the officers on the scene decided to arrest them while they were standing on the sidewalk and causing no disruption to traffic, as can be seen in the video below, shot by David Reeb:
Four and a half years after 20 activists were arrested in Tel Aviv for protesting Operation Cast Lead, a court acquits them of all charges. The question is why — despite video evidence showing they did nothing wrong — did the police continue to aggressively push to indict the protesters on bogus charges?
It was hard to remain apathetic as difficult-to-digest reports arrived from Gaza during the Israeli attack in the winter of 2008-2009, known as “Cast Lead.” According to data from B’Tselem, 1,391 Palestinians were killed in the fighting (759 of whom were not combatants, and 344 of whom were minors).
A group of Israeli activists decided to stage a protest action at the entrance of Tel Aviv’s Sde Dov Airport, one of the Air Force bases from which planes attacked the Gaza Strip. The short protest, during which activists wore white suits stained with “blood” and laid on the ground for a number of minutes at the airport’s entrance, ended with the arrest and indictment of 16 activists. Last week, after three days in jail, thousands of shekels in bail and four and a half years of court hearings, all of the accused were acquitted. (Read the full court verdict in Hebrew.)
Despite the fact that it was a legitimate protest and despite the fact that the protesters acceded to the police’s orders, for some reason unknown, the officers on the scene decided to arrest them while they were standing on the sidewalk and causing no disruption to traffic, as can be seen in the video below, shot by David Reeb:
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Still, for some unknown reason the police prosecution decided to file an indictment against the protesters, in which they are accused of attempting to enter a military base by force, among other charges. Contrast that with the video shot by Reeb, where you can see the protesters following request of the guard at the entrance — not to enter.
Additionally, they were accused of preventing pilots from arriving for their flights, even though it’s clear from the video that the blockage lasted only a few minutes and that there were no cars waiting to enter the base. If that wasn’t enough, the police prosecutor requested to indict the protesters with “rioting” after the officers ordered the demonstration be dispersed. This, despite the video, in which it is clearly seen that no such rioting took place. At least by the protesters. |
The police’s problematic conduct, however, continued in court. In her verdict, Judge Hadassah Naor leveled criticism at one of the prosecution’s witnesses, specifically. “The testimony of the prosecution’s witness, Mr. Uri Elishkov, contradicts what is seen in the video. There is no choice but to reject the testimony; in the best case it is a subjective account and imprecise explanation of the events, and in the worst case, an attempt to present an incorrect and falsified picture of the event.”
We asked the police spokesperson for comment on the decision to indict, on Elishkov’s testimony and about protecting protesters’ rights. The police spokesperson decided not to respond to the questions we sent them. “With no relation to the specific request, customarily we don’t respond to judicial decisions in the media,” the police wrote in their reply. “In general, all judicial decisions, especially acquittals, are honored and the necessary lessons are taken from them.” The police spokesperson’s decision to evade the difficult issues raised in the verdict about the police’s behavior, both in the field and in court, testifies to its refusal to recognize the police’s role in a democratic society.
*In the data on numbers of Palestinian deaths and their identities, there are differences between the numbers provided by the IDF and those from B’Tselem. Idan Landau’s Hebrew-language blog addresses the disparity here and here.
We asked the police spokesperson for comment on the decision to indict, on Elishkov’s testimony and about protecting protesters’ rights. The police spokesperson decided not to respond to the questions we sent them. “With no relation to the specific request, customarily we don’t respond to judicial decisions in the media,” the police wrote in their reply. “In general, all judicial decisions, especially acquittals, are honored and the necessary lessons are taken from them.” The police spokesperson’s decision to evade the difficult issues raised in the verdict about the police’s behavior, both in the field and in court, testifies to its refusal to recognize the police’s role in a democratic society.
*In the data on numbers of Palestinian deaths and their identities, there are differences between the numbers provided by the IDF and those from B’Tselem. Idan Landau’s Hebrew-language blog addresses the disparity here and here.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed the village of Azmut to the east of the of the northern West Bank city of Nablus where they raided several houses. Eyewitnesses reported that a large Israeli military force stormed the village and raided the houses of citizens in search of weapons, according to their claim.
They also broke into and searched the house of the director of the Palestinian Prisoner Society in Nablus Raed Amer.
The Israeli soldiers did not find weapons inside these houses. However, they arrested two citizens.
Meanwhile, the IOF stormed the Aroub refugee camp north of al-Khalil and arrested 12 Palestinians.
Local sources said that a large number of Israeli soldiers were deployed in the camp and raided several houses, before withdrawing at the early morning hours.
They also broke into and searched the house of the director of the Palestinian Prisoner Society in Nablus Raed Amer.
The Israeli soldiers did not find weapons inside these houses. However, they arrested two citizens.
Meanwhile, the IOF stormed the Aroub refugee camp north of al-Khalil and arrested 12 Palestinians.
Local sources said that a large number of Israeli soldiers were deployed in the camp and raided several houses, before withdrawing at the early morning hours.
The Israeli District Court has extended, on Monday, the detention of four Jerusalemites until Tuesday morning after an appeal submitted by the Israeli Public Prosecution. PPS lawyer pointed out that the Israeli court has released the four detainees on Monday for lack of evidence, but the Israeli Public Prosecution has appealed against the court's order. Their detention has been renewed to appear before court on Tuesday. Nine Jerusalemites were arrested Monday morning by Israeli forces.
The Magistrate's Court has released on Sunday the Jerusalemite citizen Mahmoud Jaber on bail of 500 shekels and house arrest for 5 days. However, he was re-arrested yesterday.
The court also released, yesterday, the minor Mahmoud Zugol after paying a bail of one thousand shekels, in addition to house arrest. He was arrested three days ago for throwing stones.
For his part, Dameer Foundation's lawyer stated that the Magistrate's Court has extended the arrest of three Jerusalemites till Wednesday and released another without conditions.
Meanwhile, the Central court extended the arrest of two other Jerusalemites from Issawiya town.
The arrest of 9 Jerusalemites from Sur-Baher, Al-Esawyeh and Old City of Jerusalem
The Israeli forces carried out a series of arrests on Monday and arrested several young men and children from the villages of Sur-Baher and Esawyeh and from the old city of Jerusalem on charges of throwing stones in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Among the people arrested from the old city were Ahmad Abu Sbeih, Aboud Abu Sbeih, Thaer Zghayyar and Adli Najib.
Sharif Mahfouz Abu Turk and Mousa Amir were arrested from Sur-Baher, and Amir Khaldoun Mustafa, Mohammad Mansour Mahmoud and Ali Darwish were arrested from Esawyeh.
The Magistrate's Court has released on Sunday the Jerusalemite citizen Mahmoud Jaber on bail of 500 shekels and house arrest for 5 days. However, he was re-arrested yesterday.
The court also released, yesterday, the minor Mahmoud Zugol after paying a bail of one thousand shekels, in addition to house arrest. He was arrested three days ago for throwing stones.
For his part, Dameer Foundation's lawyer stated that the Magistrate's Court has extended the arrest of three Jerusalemites till Wednesday and released another without conditions.
Meanwhile, the Central court extended the arrest of two other Jerusalemites from Issawiya town.
The arrest of 9 Jerusalemites from Sur-Baher, Al-Esawyeh and Old City of Jerusalem
The Israeli forces carried out a series of arrests on Monday and arrested several young men and children from the villages of Sur-Baher and Esawyeh and from the old city of Jerusalem on charges of throwing stones in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Among the people arrested from the old city were Ahmad Abu Sbeih, Aboud Abu Sbeih, Thaer Zghayyar and Adli Najib.
Sharif Mahfouz Abu Turk and Mousa Amir were arrested from Sur-Baher, and Amir Khaldoun Mustafa, Mohammad Mansour Mahmoud and Ali Darwish were arrested from Esawyeh.
Israeli Supreme Court refused, on Monday, to release the leader in Islamic Jihad movement in Jenin Sheikh Sharif Tahayna, and renewed his administrative detention for six more months. Local sources said that the court rejected the petition submitted on behalf of captive Tahayna who is held in administrative detention since October 2012 and approved his detention for more six months.
Tahayna, from Silat al-Harithiya town in Jenin, has spent 13 years in aggregate in Israeli jails, mostly in administrative detention, in addition to being detained more than once by PA forces.
Tahayna, from Silat al-Harithiya town in Jenin, has spent 13 years in aggregate in Israeli jails, mostly in administrative detention, in addition to being detained more than once by PA forces.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested four Palestinian youngsters on Monday after approaching the border fence in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian security sources told the PIC reporter that the four young men came too close to the IOF military position east of Wadi Gaza before they were apprehended by the IOF troops.
They added that IOF armored vehicles arrived at the scene as soon as the young men reached the fence and took them away. The sources said that the soldiers did not use gunfire in the arrest.
They added that IOF armored vehicles arrived at the scene as soon as the young men reached the fence and took them away. The sources said that the soldiers did not use gunfire in the arrest.
The families of Jenin city prisoners, who suffer from serious diseases, called for launching an international campaign against the medical neglect policy pursued by Israeli jailers against their sons. In a joint press release on Monday, the families appealed to all Arab and international human rights groups to take legal action against Israel for its violations against the prisoners, especially the patients in its jails.
The families expressed their concern over the lives of their ill sons, especially since some patients had already died and many others developed chronic diseases after they did not receive appropriate medical treatment and health care.
The families expressed their concern over the lives of their ill sons, especially since some patients had already died and many others developed chronic diseases after they did not receive appropriate medical treatment and health care.
[Tuesday at dawn September 10 2013] Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded the Al-Arroub Refugee Camp, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, violently broke into dozens of homes and searched them, and kidnapped at least 17 Palestinians.
Local sources have reported that the soldiers attacked several Palestinians while searching their homes, and distributed leaflets in the camp threatening “harsh consequences should local youths continue to throw stones at the soldiers and settlers in the area”.
The 17 kidnapped Palestinians have been identified as Monther and Nidal Mohammad Jawabra, Nael Saleh Jawabra, Wajdy Ash-Shareef, Mohammad Abu Joudah, Anan Abu Afifa, Mohammad and Ahmad Abu Sillam, Mo’taz Abu Sham’a, Mohammad and Ahmad Nayef Badawy, Baha’ Majed Ra’ey, Ammar Ez Al-Jawabra, Tareq Yasser Al-Jawabra, Mahmoud Mohammad Al-Jawabra, Ahmad Nayef, and Mo’taz Ismail Ash-Shareef.
Dozens of soldiers also searched lands near the camp, broke into and searched an Internet Coffee Shop, located in front of the camp, and interrogated several residents.
Ahmad Abu Kheiran, Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in refugee camps in the southern part of the West Bank, stated that the army has escalated its invasions into the camp, and that the soldiers kidnaped numerous school and college students during these invasions.
He added that the soldiers, accompanied by Border Guard Policemen, have been harassing the residents, including women and children, on a daily basis, an issue that caused further tension and frequent clashes.
Local sources have reported that the soldiers attacked several Palestinians while searching their homes, and distributed leaflets in the camp threatening “harsh consequences should local youths continue to throw stones at the soldiers and settlers in the area”.
The 17 kidnapped Palestinians have been identified as Monther and Nidal Mohammad Jawabra, Nael Saleh Jawabra, Wajdy Ash-Shareef, Mohammad Abu Joudah, Anan Abu Afifa, Mohammad and Ahmad Abu Sillam, Mo’taz Abu Sham’a, Mohammad and Ahmad Nayef Badawy, Baha’ Majed Ra’ey, Ammar Ez Al-Jawabra, Tareq Yasser Al-Jawabra, Mahmoud Mohammad Al-Jawabra, Ahmad Nayef, and Mo’taz Ismail Ash-Shareef.
Dozens of soldiers also searched lands near the camp, broke into and searched an Internet Coffee Shop, located in front of the camp, and interrogated several residents.
Ahmad Abu Kheiran, Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in refugee camps in the southern part of the West Bank, stated that the army has escalated its invasions into the camp, and that the soldiers kidnaped numerous school and college students during these invasions.
He added that the soldiers, accompanied by Border Guard Policemen, have been harassing the residents, including women and children, on a daily basis, an issue that caused further tension and frequent clashes.
