30 may 2016
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has decided to decrease the restricted fishing zone which it allowed Gaza fishermen to work in off the coast of the besieged enclave for about two months.
Chief of the fishermen Nizar Ayyash told Quds Press that he was officially told that the IOA cancelled the nine-nautical-mile fishing zone after the sardine season ended.
According to the Israeli decision, the fishing zone will be six nautical miles as before.
Ayyash pointed out, however, that the Israeli occupation navy persisted in attacking fishermen within nine to six nautical miles during that period.
The Palestinian ministry of civil affairs had announced last April that it agreed with the Israeli side to expand the fishing zone from six to nine nautical miles within a distance extending from the coast of Gaza Valley to the Egyptian border in southern Gaza.
Chief of the fishermen Nizar Ayyash told Quds Press that he was officially told that the IOA cancelled the nine-nautical-mile fishing zone after the sardine season ended.
According to the Israeli decision, the fishing zone will be six nautical miles as before.
Ayyash pointed out, however, that the Israeli occupation navy persisted in attacking fishermen within nine to six nautical miles during that period.
The Palestinian ministry of civil affairs had announced last April that it agreed with the Israeli side to expand the fishing zone from six to nine nautical miles within a distance extending from the coast of Gaza Valley to the Egyptian border in southern Gaza.
Israeli military bulldozers in Salfit leveled four ancient Palestinian historical villages in favor of an illegal settlement, locals said Monday.
Palestinian inhabitants of the Deir Ballout town said Israeli bulldozers leveled the Deir Kalaa and Deir Samaan archeological villages in western Salfit.
Eyewitnesses from the Brukin town also warned of the Israeli occupation authority's intents to isolate the Mughr al-Sahms village surrounded by the Ariel settlement factories.
Farmers from Salfit province said the Khirbet al-Shajara village was completely dismembered from its neighboring towns due to the Israeli apartheid wall.
The Palestinian natives of the area could no longer access the water wells and fertile lands which their forefathers have been cultivating for thousands of years.
Researcher in settlement affairs Khaled Maali said Israeli illegal settlement activity reduced several historical sites carved in stones and olive groves to rubble.
Palestinian inhabitants of the Deir Ballout town said Israeli bulldozers leveled the Deir Kalaa and Deir Samaan archeological villages in western Salfit.
Eyewitnesses from the Brukin town also warned of the Israeli occupation authority's intents to isolate the Mughr al-Sahms village surrounded by the Ariel settlement factories.
Farmers from Salfit province said the Khirbet al-Shajara village was completely dismembered from its neighboring towns due to the Israeli apartheid wall.
The Palestinian natives of the area could no longer access the water wells and fertile lands which their forefathers have been cultivating for thousands of years.
Researcher in settlement affairs Khaled Maali said Israeli illegal settlement activity reduced several historical sites carved in stones and olive groves to rubble.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at dawn, the northern West Bank district of Nablus, violently searched homes, and kidnapped eleven Palestinians, including a woman. On Sunday evening, the soldiers kidnapped two Palestinians near Jenin, and confiscated twelve tractors.
The PPS said that the soldiers invaded Beit Forik town, southeast of Nablus, searched homes and kidnapped Shadi Ali Mleitat, 33, and his wife Mais Mahmoud Mleitat, 28, after invading their home and searching it.
The Palestinian People’s Party (PPS) in Nablus has reported that the soldiers also stormed and ransacked the home of one of its political leaders, identified as Sami Zalmout.
The soldiers also invaded Salem village, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, violently searched the homes of Fakhri Yousef Hamdan, and his son Khattab.
The soldiers also kidnapped two Palestinians, identified as Khalil Mustafa Hamdan, and his son Menhil.
The PPS said that the soldiers assaulted Hamdan’s other son, Samuel, causing various cuts and bruises.
In addition, the army invaded Deir al-Hatab village, east of Nablus, searched many homes and kidnapped three Palestinians, identified as Amjad Mahmoud Odeh (secretary of Fateh movement in the village), Majed Mahmoud Odeh, 41, and Mohammad Hamad Odeh, 27.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Rojeeb village, east of Nablus, broke into and searched many homes and kidnapped four Palestinians.
The head of Rojeeb Village Council Awni Dweikat, said the kidnapped Palestinians have been identified as Mahmoud Abu Aisha, Ma’zouz Ahmad Rawajba, Waleed Saleem Rawajba, and Marouf Ahmad Dweikat.
In addition, the PPS said the soldiers invaded homes belonging to Saif Hamdan Rawajba, Raslan Rawajba and Jamal Halabi, in addition to smashing the doors of two meat shops, belonging to residents Marouf Dweikat and Hamadan Rawajba, in the center of the town, and searched them.
In related news, the soldiers invaded various communities in the West Bank districts of Bethlehem and Jenin, and kidnapped five Palestinians; four including a child in Bethlehem, and one in Jenin.
On Sunday evening, the soldiers invaded Msalya village, south of Jenin, confiscated twelve tractors belonging to the villagers, and kidnapped a father, identified as Raed Yahya ‘Alawna, and his son Yahya.
The PPS said that the soldiers invaded Beit Forik town, southeast of Nablus, searched homes and kidnapped Shadi Ali Mleitat, 33, and his wife Mais Mahmoud Mleitat, 28, after invading their home and searching it.
The Palestinian People’s Party (PPS) in Nablus has reported that the soldiers also stormed and ransacked the home of one of its political leaders, identified as Sami Zalmout.
The soldiers also invaded Salem village, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, violently searched the homes of Fakhri Yousef Hamdan, and his son Khattab.
The soldiers also kidnapped two Palestinians, identified as Khalil Mustafa Hamdan, and his son Menhil.
The PPS said that the soldiers assaulted Hamdan’s other son, Samuel, causing various cuts and bruises.
In addition, the army invaded Deir al-Hatab village, east of Nablus, searched many homes and kidnapped three Palestinians, identified as Amjad Mahmoud Odeh (secretary of Fateh movement in the village), Majed Mahmoud Odeh, 41, and Mohammad Hamad Odeh, 27.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Rojeeb village, east of Nablus, broke into and searched many homes and kidnapped four Palestinians.
The head of Rojeeb Village Council Awni Dweikat, said the kidnapped Palestinians have been identified as Mahmoud Abu Aisha, Ma’zouz Ahmad Rawajba, Waleed Saleem Rawajba, and Marouf Ahmad Dweikat.
In addition, the PPS said the soldiers invaded homes belonging to Saif Hamdan Rawajba, Raslan Rawajba and Jamal Halabi, in addition to smashing the doors of two meat shops, belonging to residents Marouf Dweikat and Hamadan Rawajba, in the center of the town, and searched them.
In related news, the soldiers invaded various communities in the West Bank districts of Bethlehem and Jenin, and kidnapped five Palestinians; four including a child in Bethlehem, and one in Jenin.
On Sunday evening, the soldiers invaded Msalya village, south of Jenin, confiscated twelve tractors belonging to the villagers, and kidnapped a father, identified as Raed Yahya ‘Alawna, and his son Yahya.
28 may 2016
A horde of Jewish settlers on Saturday morning bulldozed Palestinian agricultural plots of lands on the outskirts of Deir Ballut town, west of Salfit province.
According to local farmers, the settlers aim to annex more lands for the expansion of Bedo'ial and Leshem settlements, east of the town.
They warned that the entire green plains of Deir Ballut would be seized gradually for the expansion of settlements, calling for immediate action to stop the appropriation of their lands and pastures.
In an earlier incident, another group of settlers on Friday evening wreaked havoc on a cultivated piece of land belonging to a Palestinian farmer in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem.
According to local sources, the settlers destroyed the main gate of the fenced land in al-Absiya area near Eliezer settlement and caused widespread damage to vegetable crops.
They also mangled grapevines in a nearby field belonging to another Palestinian citizen, the sources added. The Israeli occupation army, in turn, placed a caravan on a Palestinian-owned plot of land as part of a plan to expand the boundaries of Daniel settlement, south of Bethlehem.
According to local farmers, the settlers aim to annex more lands for the expansion of Bedo'ial and Leshem settlements, east of the town.
They warned that the entire green plains of Deir Ballut would be seized gradually for the expansion of settlements, calling for immediate action to stop the appropriation of their lands and pastures.
In an earlier incident, another group of settlers on Friday evening wreaked havoc on a cultivated piece of land belonging to a Palestinian farmer in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem.
According to local sources, the settlers destroyed the main gate of the fenced land in al-Absiya area near Eliezer settlement and caused widespread damage to vegetable crops.
They also mangled grapevines in a nearby field belonging to another Palestinian citizen, the sources added. The Israeli occupation army, in turn, placed a caravan on a Palestinian-owned plot of land as part of a plan to expand the boundaries of Daniel settlement, south of Bethlehem.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) prevented Friday Palestinian farmers from reaching their agricultural lands west of Jenin.
Local farmers told PIC reporter that Israeli soldiers deployed in large numbers in the western villages of the city and asked them to immediately leave their agricultural lands for being allegedly located near the Apartheid Wall.
The soldiers arbitrarily stormed the lands and forced us to immediately leave our land although it is not adjacent to the separation wall, one of the threatened farmers clarified.
As part of its status quo policy, Israel usually prevents Palestinians’ access to their lands of the villages fall in areas outside of the separation wall.
Local farmers told PIC reporter that Israeli soldiers deployed in large numbers in the western villages of the city and asked them to immediately leave their agricultural lands for being allegedly located near the Apartheid Wall.
The soldiers arbitrarily stormed the lands and forced us to immediately leave our land although it is not adjacent to the separation wall, one of the threatened farmers clarified.
As part of its status quo policy, Israel usually prevents Palestinians’ access to their lands of the villages fall in areas outside of the separation wall.
27 may 2016
Jewish settlers set Palestinian agricultural land on fire in southern Nablus on Friday afternoon.
The Urif village council chairman, Yousef Shehada, said that around 40 settlers from the Yitzhar settlement crept into the land cultivated with olive trees and set fire to the land lot.
He added that the land lot was located in between Urif and Assira al-Qabaliya villages, adding that firefighters rushed to put off the blaze.
The Urif village council chairman, Yousef Shehada, said that around 40 settlers from the Yitzhar settlement crept into the land cultivated with olive trees and set fire to the land lot.
He added that the land lot was located in between Urif and Assira al-Qabaliya villages, adding that firefighters rushed to put off the blaze.
26 may 2016
The Israeli Authorities decided to demolish homes, agricultural sheds, in addition to water and electricity networks, in Douma Palestinian village, south of Nablus, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official in charge of Israeli settlements’ files in the northern West Bank, said the army issued demolition orders against four homes, agricultural sheds and networks, in addition to an electricity grid.
He also said that the soldiers destroyed an agricultural road, east of Douma, preventing the villagers from reaching their lands.
The official further stated that the ‘Civil Administration Office’, run by the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank, has officially informed the Palestinians that their constructions and networks “were built without permits,” in areas that are under full Israeli control, and gave them 45 days to file appeals.
The demolition orders were issued against constructions belonging to the following Palestinians;
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official in charge of Israeli settlements’ files in the northern West Bank, said the army issued demolition orders against four homes, agricultural sheds and networks, in addition to an electricity grid.
He also said that the soldiers destroyed an agricultural road, east of Douma, preventing the villagers from reaching their lands.
The official further stated that the ‘Civil Administration Office’, run by the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank, has officially informed the Palestinians that their constructions and networks “were built without permits,” in areas that are under full Israeli control, and gave them 45 days to file appeals.
The demolition orders were issued against constructions belonging to the following Palestinians;
- Ali Dawabsha – Two-story home .
- Rezeq Dawabsha – A room and an agricultural shed.
- Marar family – Two-story home.
- Mohammad Faqeer – Three-story home.
- Ali Shadi Karshan – A Shed belonging.
- Electricity network – Ahmad Abdul-Khaleq Dawabsha.
- A 600-meter agricultural road.
25 may 2016
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) confiscated 1000-meter-long plastic water pipes that belong to the Palestinian farmer Abdulmahdi al-Salamain in al-Hadidiyah hamlet in the Jordan Valley and warned him of extending new water pipes.
The PIC reporter said that the hamlet, which is 33 kilometers far from east of Tubas, has been subjected to ceaseless demolition operations that affected most housing and agricultural facilities in the area by Israeli forces for the purpose of displacing its inhabitants.
The hamlet is inhabited by about 100 Palestinians who depend on agricultural and livestock for their living. They belong to Bsharat and Bani Odeh families who reside in Tammoun town in Tubas governorate.
The PIC reporter said that the hamlet, which is 33 kilometers far from east of Tubas, has been subjected to ceaseless demolition operations that affected most housing and agricultural facilities in the area by Israeli forces for the purpose of displacing its inhabitants.
The hamlet is inhabited by about 100 Palestinians who depend on agricultural and livestock for their living. They belong to Bsharat and Bani Odeh families who reside in Tammoun town in Tubas governorate.
22 may 2016
Israeli navy ships opened fire, on Sunday morning, at several Palestinian fishing boats near the shore in Gaza waters, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, kidnapped ten fishers, and confiscated five boats in two separate attacks.
Zakariyya Abu Bakr, the head of the Fishers Committees of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees said the kidnapped fishers have been identified as Rasem Ishaq Zayed, Mohammad Ishaq Zayed, Saqer Younis Zayed, Ayman Younis Zayed, Khaled Mahmoud Zayed, As’ad Mohammad Sultan, Mohammad Mahmoud Sultan and Ayman Mahmoud Sultan.
The fishers, who were kidnapped in the second attack, have been identified as Ahmad Mohammad Zayed and Ibrahim Zayed.
They were all taken to an unknown destination, after the navy towed their boats.
The attack is part of repeated Israeli violations against the fishers in the besieged coastal region, in addition to its attacks against Gaza farmers and workers, in Palestinian lands close to the border fence.
Zakariyya Abu Bakr, the head of the Fishers Committees of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees said the kidnapped fishers have been identified as Rasem Ishaq Zayed, Mohammad Ishaq Zayed, Saqer Younis Zayed, Ayman Younis Zayed, Khaled Mahmoud Zayed, As’ad Mohammad Sultan, Mohammad Mahmoud Sultan and Ayman Mahmoud Sultan.
The fishers, who were kidnapped in the second attack, have been identified as Ahmad Mohammad Zayed and Ibrahim Zayed.
They were all taken to an unknown destination, after the navy towed their boats.
The attack is part of repeated Israeli violations against the fishers in the besieged coastal region, in addition to its attacks against Gaza farmers and workers, in Palestinian lands close to the border fence.
19 may 2016
The Israeli occupation army on Wednesday afternoon informed Palestinian citizens of its intention to remove their agricultural water tanks in Beit Ummar town, north of al-Khalil city.
Media activist Mohamed Awad reported that an employee from the civil administration of the Israeli army escorted by soldiers handed demolition notices against four water tanks in the areas of Beit Zatta, al-Ferdaws, and Thagrat al-Shabk to the north and east of the town.
Awad told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that those tanks belong to citizens from the families of Abu Mariya and Barghit.
He pointed out that those agricultural tanks were built as part of a project funded by the European Union (EU) to develop Palestinian water sources and agricultural lands in the West Bank.
Media activist Mohamed Awad reported that an employee from the civil administration of the Israeli army escorted by soldiers handed demolition notices against four water tanks in the areas of Beit Zatta, al-Ferdaws, and Thagrat al-Shabk to the north and east of the town.
Awad told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that those tanks belong to citizens from the families of Abu Mariya and Barghit.
He pointed out that those agricultural tanks were built as part of a project funded by the European Union (EU) to develop Palestinian water sources and agricultural lands in the West Bank.
17 may 2016
The national income in the Gaza Strip has fallen by half, and its unemployment and poverty rates have risen to 50 and 80 percent respectively, according to the Turkish humanitarian group IHH.
IHH head Fehmi Yildirim told a news conference in Istanbul on Monday that "the Gaza people live in an open-air prison as a result of Israel's blockade."
Yildirim warned that "Israel's siege will not only destroy the economic and political structures of Gaza, but also it will tear the social fabric of the society."
He pointed out that "more than 100,000 people in Gaza are homeless and staying with relatives" as a result of the repeated wars on Gaza.
According to him, 80 percent of the population depends on humanitarian aid and 44 percent of them lack food security.
IHH head Fehmi Yildirim told a news conference in Istanbul on Monday that "the Gaza people live in an open-air prison as a result of Israel's blockade."
Yildirim warned that "Israel's siege will not only destroy the economic and political structures of Gaza, but also it will tear the social fabric of the society."
He pointed out that "more than 100,000 people in Gaza are homeless and staying with relatives" as a result of the repeated wars on Gaza.
According to him, 80 percent of the population depends on humanitarian aid and 44 percent of them lack food security.
Israeli water company Mekorot on Tuesday cut off supplies to the central West Bank city of Salfit for unknown reasons, the city municipality said Monday morning.
The municipality urged in its statement the local residents to rationalize water consumption and to take necessary precautionary measures.
The statement also called for storing enough water to meet their needs during the period of disconnection in order to avoid any water shortage.
One of the factors that explains Israel’s effort to take over land in the Salfit governorate is that its villages of Kafr Addik, Bruqin, Sarta and Biddyia are standing on the second largest aquifer in historical Palestine.
The water is exploited by Israeli water company Mekorot, which means that Palestinians have to buy limited resources of water for an excessive price while the surrounding settlements have access to an unlimited amount for a low price.
The municipality urged in its statement the local residents to rationalize water consumption and to take necessary precautionary measures.
The statement also called for storing enough water to meet their needs during the period of disconnection in order to avoid any water shortage.
One of the factors that explains Israel’s effort to take over land in the Salfit governorate is that its villages of Kafr Addik, Bruqin, Sarta and Biddyia are standing on the second largest aquifer in historical Palestine.
The water is exploited by Israeli water company Mekorot, which means that Palestinians have to buy limited resources of water for an excessive price while the surrounding settlements have access to an unlimited amount for a low price.
Israeli navy ships attacked, on Tuesday morning, several Palestinian fishing boats, kidnapped two fishers, and confiscated their boat, before towing it to the Ashdod Port.
The Palestinian Fishers Syndicate said the two kidnapped fishers have been identified as Samer Zayed and his brother Ibrahim.
In related news, the army released eight fishers, who were among ten fishers kidnapped in Gaza territorial waters, northwest of Gaza city, on Sunday. The two other fishers remained held by Israel.
There are approximately 3500 fishers in the Gaza Strip; they own around 700 boats, and provide income to more than 70.000 Palestinians.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) issued a statistical report, just a few days ago, documenting 47 Israeli attacks against the Palestinian fishers since the beginning of this year.
The attacks included 24 incidents of live navy fire against the fishers, leading to the injury of five of them, and the abduction of 35 others, in addition to the confiscation of nine boats.
The Palestinian Fishers Syndicate said the two kidnapped fishers have been identified as Samer Zayed and his brother Ibrahim.
In related news, the army released eight fishers, who were among ten fishers kidnapped in Gaza territorial waters, northwest of Gaza city, on Sunday. The two other fishers remained held by Israel.
There are approximately 3500 fishers in the Gaza Strip; they own around 700 boats, and provide income to more than 70.000 Palestinians.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) issued a statistical report, just a few days ago, documenting 47 Israeli attacks against the Palestinian fishers since the beginning of this year.
The attacks included 24 incidents of live navy fire against the fishers, leading to the injury of five of them, and the abduction of 35 others, in addition to the confiscation of nine boats.
16 may 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) set fire Monday afternoon to dozens of Palestinian-owned agricultural dunums planted with olive trees west of Ramallah.
Local sources affirmed that Israeli forces deliberately set fire to dozens of dunums in Badras town west of Ramallah, burning dozens of olive trees. Palestinian farmers were prevented from reaching their agricultural lands to put down the fire, the sources pointed out.
Two days ago, Israeli forces set fire to 8000 dunums of Palestinian-owned agricultural lands near Nejehot settlement illegally built west of Dura town in al-Khalil.
Local sources affirmed that Israeli forces deliberately set fire to dozens of dunums in Badras town west of Ramallah, burning dozens of olive trees. Palestinian farmers were prevented from reaching their agricultural lands to put down the fire, the sources pointed out.
Two days ago, Israeli forces set fire to 8000 dunums of Palestinian-owned agricultural lands near Nejehot settlement illegally built west of Dura town in al-Khalil.
15 may 2016
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The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) set fire to 8000 dunums of Palestinian-owned agricultural lands near Nejehot settlement illegally built west of Dura town in al-Khalil.
Israeli forces were deployed overnight in large numbers near the settlement and carried out search operations for “wanted persons” who were allegedly planning to storm the illegal settlement. During the search operation, IOF soldiers heavily fired flare bombs which led to the outbreak of fire in the neighboring agricultural lands. The PIC reporter said that thousands of dunums planted with olive, fig, grape, and almond trees were burnt since the early morning hours. Israeli forces prevented the Palestinian civil defense crews from reaching the area and confiscated a fire truck while trying to put down the fire. |
The fire reached a nearby house owned by Jadallah family. Fortunately, the civil defense crews managed to evacuate the family members. However, three citizens suffered breathing difficulties.
Gaza's electricity company announced it will return to an electricity rationing schedule of eight-hour intervals followed by eight hours without power for all districts in the Gaza Strip.
Spokesperson for the company Tariq Labid told Ma'an that they were informed by the Palestinian Energy Authority that a second power generator is now operational, which will allow the gradual return to the usual eight-hour schedule.
He added that only one of the two Egyptian power lines is currently operational, while the other remained disconnected.
The line was disabled ten days ago, and the Gaza Strip has been on a electricity rationing schedule of six-hour intervals followed by 12 hours without power ever since, deepening an already severe electricity crisis.
The Egyptian lines that provide electricity to the southern Gaza Strip contribute 20 megawatts.
Even at full capacity, Egyptian and Israeli electricity grids, together with Gaza's sole power plant, fail to cover the Gaza Strip’s energy needs. The power plant has not run at full capacity in years, with Israel's crippling blockade severely limiting fuel imports into the coastal enclave.
Gaza's electricity crisis made headlines last week when three small children died in a house fire caused by candles that the family used during a power cut.
The Gaza Strip was left almost entirely without power during a number of days last month due to maintenance work on power lines from both Israel and Egypt as well as the ongoing tax disputes on fuel for the enclave’s near-defunct power station.
Spokesperson for the company Tariq Labid told Ma'an that they were informed by the Palestinian Energy Authority that a second power generator is now operational, which will allow the gradual return to the usual eight-hour schedule.
He added that only one of the two Egyptian power lines is currently operational, while the other remained disconnected.
The line was disabled ten days ago, and the Gaza Strip has been on a electricity rationing schedule of six-hour intervals followed by 12 hours without power ever since, deepening an already severe electricity crisis.
The Egyptian lines that provide electricity to the southern Gaza Strip contribute 20 megawatts.
Even at full capacity, Egyptian and Israeli electricity grids, together with Gaza's sole power plant, fail to cover the Gaza Strip’s energy needs. The power plant has not run at full capacity in years, with Israel's crippling blockade severely limiting fuel imports into the coastal enclave.
Gaza's electricity crisis made headlines last week when three small children died in a house fire caused by candles that the family used during a power cut.
The Gaza Strip was left almost entirely without power during a number of days last month due to maintenance work on power lines from both Israel and Egypt as well as the ongoing tax disputes on fuel for the enclave’s near-defunct power station.
Dozens of Palestinian citizens suffered from inhaling tear gas and several olive trees went on fire during violent confrontations with Israeli soldiers on Saturday in Kafr Qaddum town, east of Qalqiliya city.
According to Murad Shetewi, coordinator of the popular resistance in the town, the sky of Kafr Qaddum was clouded with thick toxic smoke because of the intensity of tear gas fired randomly by Israeli troops.
Olive trees and grassland also caught fire as a result of stun grenades fired by the soldiers during the events.
Shetewi said that Palestinian fire trucks were unable to reach the place because the road was closed with dirt mounds, which forced firemen to walk to the area and control the fire manually.
According to Murad Shetewi, coordinator of the popular resistance in the town, the sky of Kafr Qaddum was clouded with thick toxic smoke because of the intensity of tear gas fired randomly by Israeli troops.
Olive trees and grassland also caught fire as a result of stun grenades fired by the soldiers during the events.
Shetewi said that Palestinian fire trucks were unable to reach the place because the road was closed with dirt mounds, which forced firemen to walk to the area and control the fire manually.
14 may 2016
The last power line from Egypt to the besieged Gaza Strip was disconnected on Saturday after reported damage, exacerbating an already severe electricity shortage in the southern Gaza Strip, and leaving the areas of Rafah and Khan Yunis in a full electric blackout.
The two lines which feed electricity to the southern Gaza Strip from Egypt, at a capacity of 20-24 megawatts, have been completely disconnected, Gaza’s electricity company announced.
One of the connecting lines was disabled two weeks ago, leading Gaza’s electricity company to announce an electricity rationing of six hour intervals followed by 12 hours without power for all districts in Gaza, as the company could only operate one of their four generators. The recent damage and subsequent disconnection cut the last of the two connecting lines providing electricity to the southern part of the besieged enclave.
The Gaza Strip was left almost entirely without power during a number of days last month due to maintenance work on power lines from both Israel and Egypt as well as the ongoing tax disputes on fuel for the enclave’s near-defunct power station.
Palestinian officials announced at the end of April the Gaza Strip would be exempted from paying fuel tax this summer, marking a temporary resolution to the tax dispute that has deepened an electricity crisis in the besieged enclave.
The 80 to 100 percent exemption on fuel tax was expected to go into effect May 1 to continue until the end of the summer, intended to guarantee Gaza eight hours of electricity per day from the besieged enclave's sole power plant.
The power plant -- alongside Egyptian and Israeli electricity grids -- fail to cover the territory's energy needs and has suffered from chronic fuel shortages due to Israel's near-decade long blockade that is upheld by Egypt.
War has also taken its toll, and during Israel's 50-day offensive on Gaza in 2014, the power plant was targeted, completely knocking it out of commission.
The two lines which feed electricity to the southern Gaza Strip from Egypt, at a capacity of 20-24 megawatts, have been completely disconnected, Gaza’s electricity company announced.
One of the connecting lines was disabled two weeks ago, leading Gaza’s electricity company to announce an electricity rationing of six hour intervals followed by 12 hours without power for all districts in Gaza, as the company could only operate one of their four generators. The recent damage and subsequent disconnection cut the last of the two connecting lines providing electricity to the southern part of the besieged enclave.
The Gaza Strip was left almost entirely without power during a number of days last month due to maintenance work on power lines from both Israel and Egypt as well as the ongoing tax disputes on fuel for the enclave’s near-defunct power station.
Palestinian officials announced at the end of April the Gaza Strip would be exempted from paying fuel tax this summer, marking a temporary resolution to the tax dispute that has deepened an electricity crisis in the besieged enclave.
The 80 to 100 percent exemption on fuel tax was expected to go into effect May 1 to continue until the end of the summer, intended to guarantee Gaza eight hours of electricity per day from the besieged enclave's sole power plant.
The power plant -- alongside Egyptian and Israeli electricity grids -- fail to cover the territory's energy needs and has suffered from chronic fuel shortages due to Israel's near-decade long blockade that is upheld by Egypt.
War has also taken its toll, and during Israel's 50-day offensive on Gaza in 2014, the power plant was targeted, completely knocking it out of commission.
Vast tracts of cultivated land went on fire and burned near al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of al-Khalil city, after Israeli troops at dawn Saturday fired flares during a campaign in the camp.
The invading troops also clashed with local young men in the neighborhoods of the camp and intensively fired tear gas and stun grenades at them.
Another group of soldiers also stormed at dawn different neighborhoods of Bethlehem.
In a separate incident, several military patrols at an early morning hour raided Iraq Burin town, south of Nablus, and stayed there for several hours before withdrawing, without making arrests.
The invading troops also clashed with local young men in the neighborhoods of the camp and intensively fired tear gas and stun grenades at them.
Another group of soldiers also stormed at dawn different neighborhoods of Bethlehem.
In a separate incident, several military patrols at an early morning hour raided Iraq Burin town, south of Nablus, and stayed there for several hours before withdrawing, without making arrests.