16 aug 2017
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday demolished two coal-production facilities and seized several tons of wood in Ya'bad town to the southwest of Jenin, local sources reported.
Representative of coal workshops in Ya'bad, Kayed Abu Baker, said that an Israeli force accompanied by bulldozers broke into the area and confiscated several tons of wood used for manufacturing charcoal.
In an interview with Quds Press, Abu Baker added that the Israeli bulldozers swept away huge amounts of coal that were still under manufacturing causing a fire in the neighboring lands.
Abu Baker explained that Palestinian coal-production workshops are targeted at the request of Israeli settlers in the nearby settlements who claim that these workshops pollute the environment and cause health problems.
Abu Baker stressed in previous statements that Israeli settlers invent false excuses to seize more Palestinian lands in favor of expanding settlements.
He pointed to the existence of similar coal plants in the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories near the Israeli population centers yet no complaints are raised against them.
He noted that there are more than 30 coal-production workshops in the area which are repeatedly targeted by the IOF and which represent the main source of income for more than 1,000 Palestinian families living in Ya’bad and the surrounding villages.
The Palestinian unionist affirmed that the demolition on Wednesday took place without a prior warning, adding that owners of coal-production facilities in the area had previously filed complaints to human rights organizations and courts about the Israeli targeting of their facilities without reaching any positive result.
He continued that they will keep in contact with the concerned authorities to take the necessary legal steps against these violations.
Representative of coal workshops in Ya'bad, Kayed Abu Baker, said that an Israeli force accompanied by bulldozers broke into the area and confiscated several tons of wood used for manufacturing charcoal.
In an interview with Quds Press, Abu Baker added that the Israeli bulldozers swept away huge amounts of coal that were still under manufacturing causing a fire in the neighboring lands.
Abu Baker explained that Palestinian coal-production workshops are targeted at the request of Israeli settlers in the nearby settlements who claim that these workshops pollute the environment and cause health problems.
Abu Baker stressed in previous statements that Israeli settlers invent false excuses to seize more Palestinian lands in favor of expanding settlements.
He pointed to the existence of similar coal plants in the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories near the Israeli population centers yet no complaints are raised against them.
He noted that there are more than 30 coal-production workshops in the area which are repeatedly targeted by the IOF and which represent the main source of income for more than 1,000 Palestinian families living in Ya’bad and the surrounding villages.
The Palestinian unionist affirmed that the demolition on Wednesday took place without a prior warning, adding that owners of coal-production facilities in the area had previously filed complaints to human rights organizations and courts about the Israeli targeting of their facilities without reaching any positive result.
He continued that they will keep in contact with the concerned authorities to take the necessary legal steps against these violations.
15 aug 2017
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Tuesday at dawn, several homes in occupied East Jerusalem, and Hebron in the southern part of the West Bank, violently searched them and abducted six Palestinians in Hebron and one in Jerusalem. The army also broke into shops and warehouses in Tulkarem, in northern West Bank.
The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) said the soldiers abducted Abdul-Halim Ibrahim Qfeisha, 16, and Saleh Raed Abu Markhiyya, from their homes in Hebron city, and another young man, identified as Ala’ Mohammad Ziyadat, from Bani Neim town, east of Hebron.
The soldiers also invaded Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, searched and ransacked many homes and abducted Issa Hasan ‘Aadi, 28, Moath Wael Ekhlayyel, 21, and Mohammad Fawzi Awad, before taking them to Etzion military base and security center.
In related news, the soldiers abducted Amjad Hani Shweiki, 19, after invading his home in Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in Jerusalem.
The young man was cuffed and blindfolded, before the soldiers took him to an interrogation center in the city.
In Tulkarem, the soldiers invaded many shops and blacksmith workshops, in various neighborhoods in the city.
The invasions simultaneously took place in al-Haddadin road, north of Tulkarem, and Nablus Street. The soldiers broke the locks of the shops’ doors, and violently searched them, causing excessive damage.
The invaded structures are a sanitary products shop, owned by Hamal Salam Zeidan, two lathe workshops owned by Tamer Allariyya and Jamal Fseesy, a store owned by Omar Safaqa and a warehouse for sanitary products, owned by Nidal ad-Daleq.
The owners said the invasion has no legal foundation, and that the soldiers did not even present any justifications, and added that the sole purpose of these violations is to cause destruction.
The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) said the soldiers abducted Abdul-Halim Ibrahim Qfeisha, 16, and Saleh Raed Abu Markhiyya, from their homes in Hebron city, and another young man, identified as Ala’ Mohammad Ziyadat, from Bani Neim town, east of Hebron.
The soldiers also invaded Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, searched and ransacked many homes and abducted Issa Hasan ‘Aadi, 28, Moath Wael Ekhlayyel, 21, and Mohammad Fawzi Awad, before taking them to Etzion military base and security center.
In related news, the soldiers abducted Amjad Hani Shweiki, 19, after invading his home in Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in Jerusalem.
The young man was cuffed and blindfolded, before the soldiers took him to an interrogation center in the city.
In Tulkarem, the soldiers invaded many shops and blacksmith workshops, in various neighborhoods in the city.
The invasions simultaneously took place in al-Haddadin road, north of Tulkarem, and Nablus Street. The soldiers broke the locks of the shops’ doors, and violently searched them, causing excessive damage.
The invaded structures are a sanitary products shop, owned by Hamal Salam Zeidan, two lathe workshops owned by Tamer Allariyya and Jamal Fseesy, a store owned by Omar Safaqa and a warehouse for sanitary products, owned by Nidal ad-Daleq.
The owners said the invasion has no legal foundation, and that the soldiers did not even present any justifications, and added that the sole purpose of these violations is to cause destruction.
|
Background:
This summer, the Gaza Power Authority confirmed that the current electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip is the worst it has ever been, after fuel from Egypt was stopped and the Israeli electrical supply to the Gaza power lines was reduced, reportedly at the request of the Palestinian Authority. Gaza consumes currently more than 500 MW of power, while as recently as July, the quantities of electricity currently available in the Gaza Strip did not exceed 95 MW (approximately 2 hours per every 30), according to the Authority. The most severe consequences of the crisis are experienced by hospitals and their patients, and whereas generators can partially compensate the |
lack of electricity, regular fallouts interfere with treatments. This has particularly negative effects for the dialysis section of the hospital, where an interruption in electricity provision leads to an interruption of the blood cycle rotation.
Robert Piper, UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, has warned that Palestinians are being “held hostage to this longstanding Israeli siege.”
“A further increase in the length of blackouts is likely to lead to a total collapse of basic services, including critical functions in the health, water and sanitation sectors,” he warned.
The Gaza Strip is home to some two million people, more than three-quarters of whom the United Nations says depend on humanitarian aid.
Power reductions come despite stark warnings of the humanitarian implications for Gazan civilians, who already suffer from critical shortages of power, with most homes receiving only a few hours even before the cut.
Robert Piper, UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, has warned that Palestinians are being “held hostage to this longstanding Israeli siege.”
“A further increase in the length of blackouts is likely to lead to a total collapse of basic services, including critical functions in the health, water and sanitation sectors,” he warned.
The Gaza Strip is home to some two million people, more than three-quarters of whom the United Nations says depend on humanitarian aid.
Power reductions come despite stark warnings of the humanitarian implications for Gazan civilians, who already suffer from critical shortages of power, with most homes receiving only a few hours even before the cut.
14 aug 2017
Joint crews from the Jerusalem Municipality and Israeli police forces on Monday raided Palestinian shops in al-Wad street and Bab Khan al-Zeit area in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem to pressure traders to pay heavy taxes, local sources reported.
The merchants charged that the taxes were unjustified.
According to a local source, many of the Palestinian shop owners closed their businesses in the Old City in order to avoid paying the high municipal taxes.
The merchants charged that the taxes were unjustified.
According to a local source, many of the Palestinian shop owners closed their businesses in the Old City in order to avoid paying the high municipal taxes.
13 aug 2017
Gaza's Electricity Distribution Company said Sunday that the total amount of power available in the Gaza Strip does not exceed 94 MWs which represents one-sixth of the daily consumption in the coastal enclave estimated at 600 MWs.
The Company said in a morning statement that the Israeli lines are operating at a capacity of 70 MWs and the only generator of Gaza's power plant can provide 24 MWs a day, while the Egyptian lines have been out of order for more than a month now.
For his part, Mohammed Thabet, who is in charge of public relations at the Company, said that it is not possible to set a fixed electricity distribution schedule in view of the broken Egyptian feeding lines and the limited amount of power currently available.
The Gaza Strip has been suffering for more than 10 years from a suffocating power crisis especially after Israel bombed Gaza's sole power plant and recently reduced the amount of power supplied to the coastal enclave through the Israeli lines at the request of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. Gazans barely enjoy 4 hours of electricity a day.
The Company said in a morning statement that the Israeli lines are operating at a capacity of 70 MWs and the only generator of Gaza's power plant can provide 24 MWs a day, while the Egyptian lines have been out of order for more than a month now.
For his part, Mohammed Thabet, who is in charge of public relations at the Company, said that it is not possible to set a fixed electricity distribution schedule in view of the broken Egyptian feeding lines and the limited amount of power currently available.
The Gaza Strip has been suffering for more than 10 years from a suffocating power crisis especially after Israel bombed Gaza's sole power plant and recently reduced the amount of power supplied to the coastal enclave through the Israeli lines at the request of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. Gazans barely enjoy 4 hours of electricity a day.
9 aug 2017
Head of Retirement Authority at the Palestinian Authority (PA) government, Majed al-Helo, announced on Wednesday that 7,000 civil employees in the Gaza Strip were referred to early retirement in August.
In statements to Voice of Palestine radio, Helo said that these employees were forced into early retirement because they work in ministries run by the government administrative committee formed by Hamas in Gaza.
He explained that the targeted employees received 40 to 70% of their salaries in accordance with standards set by the PA government's Council of Ministers.
Head of the government administrative committee in Gaza, Abdulsalam Siam, two days ago announced a "plan" to address the repercussions of possible enforced retirement decisions waged by the PA president Mahmoud Abbas against the PA employees in the Gaza Strip.
Siam said that the number of the PA civil servants currently employed in Gaza is 11,000, 95% of whom are in the ministries of Health and Education.
The PA government, led by Rami Hamdallah, issued in July a decision targeting more than 6,000 PA employees in Gaza for early retirement. Most of these employees work in the health and education sectors.
In April, Abbas launched a series of punitive measures against the Gaza Strip targeting all aspects of life in the coastal enclave, and two days ago, he pledged to take even more similar measures.
In statements to Voice of Palestine radio, Helo said that these employees were forced into early retirement because they work in ministries run by the government administrative committee formed by Hamas in Gaza.
He explained that the targeted employees received 40 to 70% of their salaries in accordance with standards set by the PA government's Council of Ministers.
Head of the government administrative committee in Gaza, Abdulsalam Siam, two days ago announced a "plan" to address the repercussions of possible enforced retirement decisions waged by the PA president Mahmoud Abbas against the PA employees in the Gaza Strip.
Siam said that the number of the PA civil servants currently employed in Gaza is 11,000, 95% of whom are in the ministries of Health and Education.
The PA government, led by Rami Hamdallah, issued in July a decision targeting more than 6,000 PA employees in Gaza for early retirement. Most of these employees work in the health and education sectors.
In April, Abbas launched a series of punitive measures against the Gaza Strip targeting all aspects of life in the coastal enclave, and two days ago, he pledged to take even more similar measures.
8 aug 2017
Fanatic Jewish settlers on Tuesday afternoon torched hundreds of dunums of Palestinian agricultural lands in Aqraba town south of Nablus city.
Yousef Deiriyeh, member of the anti-settlement committee in the town, told Quds Press that extremist settlers of Itamar settlement arrived in groups and set fire to lands planted with citrus trees in Ain al-Douweh and Ain al-Jehir areas to the east of the town.
Palestinian firefighting teams could not approach the affected areas as Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) were deployed in the site along with the attacking settlers.
Jewish settlers every now and then carry out similar attacks against the town and its inhabitants under the protection of IOF soldiers.
Yousef Deiriyeh, member of the anti-settlement committee in the town, told Quds Press that extremist settlers of Itamar settlement arrived in groups and set fire to lands planted with citrus trees in Ain al-Douweh and Ain al-Jehir areas to the east of the town.
Palestinian firefighting teams could not approach the affected areas as Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) were deployed in the site along with the attacking settlers.
Jewish settlers every now and then carry out similar attacks against the town and its inhabitants under the protection of IOF soldiers.
The Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) on Tuesday afternoon served demolition notifications to a number of local residents in Ramallah under the pretext their buildings were built without “Israeli permit.”
Mayor of Silwad town affirmed that Israeli soldiers handed the residents demolition orders for industrial facilities, a house, and a school under the pretext of being built without permits.
According to Quds Press, the notified Salam School serves more than 400 students.
Appeals are scheduled to be filed against the Israeli orders especially that the threatened facilities are licensed by the Palestinian municipality, the mayor pointed out.
The Israeli authorities seek to displace dozens of Palestinian families from their towns in a prelude to expand nearby Israeli settlements.
Mayor of Silwad town affirmed that Israeli soldiers handed the residents demolition orders for industrial facilities, a house, and a school under the pretext of being built without permits.
According to Quds Press, the notified Salam School serves more than 400 students.
Appeals are scheduled to be filed against the Israeli orders especially that the threatened facilities are licensed by the Palestinian municipality, the mayor pointed out.
The Israeli authorities seek to displace dozens of Palestinian families from their towns in a prelude to expand nearby Israeli settlements.
4 aug 2017
The Israeli occupation army on Thursday evening closed the road barrier known locally as Sadat al-Fahs, south of al-Khalil city, kidnapped a Palestinian businessman and confiscated a large sum of money from him.
A local source told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the Israeli army’s closure of the road prevented Palestinian citizens and vehicles from entering or leaving Sadat al-Fahs area, where nearly 500 factories and workshops for the production of construction materials are located.
The source also said that Israeli soldiers set up a makeshift checkpoint on road 60 near Sadat al-Fahs barrier, intercepted citizens and vehicles and embarked on searching them.
He added that the soldiers forced a Palestinian businessman identified as Saadi Abd-Rabo to leave his car, seized 34,000 dollars from inside it and arrested him, with no known reason.
A local source told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the Israeli army’s closure of the road prevented Palestinian citizens and vehicles from entering or leaving Sadat al-Fahs area, where nearly 500 factories and workshops for the production of construction materials are located.
The source also said that Israeli soldiers set up a makeshift checkpoint on road 60 near Sadat al-Fahs barrier, intercepted citizens and vehicles and embarked on searching them.
He added that the soldiers forced a Palestinian businessman identified as Saadi Abd-Rabo to leave his car, seized 34,000 dollars from inside it and arrested him, with no known reason.
2 aug 2017
At the behest of the attorney general, the Israeli high court of justice on Tuesday postponed its hearing on a petition filed by international human rights groups demanding an end to Israel’s reduction of electricity supply to the beleaguered Gaza Strip.
Lawyer Khaled Dusouqee, who filed the petition on behalf of French and Swedish human rights groups, stated that the Israeli attorney general submitted a request asking for postponing the hearing to give the government some time to discuss the issue and provide a response.
Dusouqee added that the court judge adjourned the hearing for two weeks and demanded the Israeli government to respond to the complaint filed by the organizations before the end of this period, otherwise he would issue a final judgment on the case.
Israel decided last June to reduce the amount of electricity supply to Gaza at the request of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.
Accordingly, electricity provided for Gaza through Israel’s cross-border power lines have been decreased from 120 to 48 megawatts.
Lawyer Khaled Dusouqee, who filed the petition on behalf of French and Swedish human rights groups, stated that the Israeli attorney general submitted a request asking for postponing the hearing to give the government some time to discuss the issue and provide a response.
Dusouqee added that the court judge adjourned the hearing for two weeks and demanded the Israeli government to respond to the complaint filed by the organizations before the end of this period, otherwise he would issue a final judgment on the case.
Israel decided last June to reduce the amount of electricity supply to Gaza at the request of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.
Accordingly, electricity provided for Gaza through Israel’s cross-border power lines have been decreased from 120 to 48 megawatts.
Israeli soldiers illegally confiscated, on Tuesday, a garbage truck owned by Qabalan town council, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official charge of Israeli settlements’ file in the northern part of the West Bank, said the soldiers chased the garbage truck near Yanoun area, close to Aqraba town, and forced the driver out before taking the truck to Huwwara military base, south of Nablus.
The driver was heading to an area dedicated to garbage disposal when the soldiers stopped him, and the army did not even give him a reason for the takeover of the truck.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official charge of Israeli settlements’ file in the northern part of the West Bank, said the soldiers chased the garbage truck near Yanoun area, close to Aqraba town, and forced the driver out before taking the truck to Huwwara military base, south of Nablus.
The driver was heading to an area dedicated to garbage disposal when the soldiers stopped him, and the army did not even give him a reason for the takeover of the truck.
17 july 2017
Palestinian municipal authorities in the central West Bank city of Salfit declared a state of emergency after Israel’s national water company of Mekorot completely cut off water supply to the city.
Factories have been shut down due to the water shortage while locals have been forced to pay for water brought in large tankers for household use.
Every summer Israel implements a policy of water cuts against Palestinian communities to meet the increased demand for water in settlements.
Even without the cutbacks, the amount of water supplied to Palestinian communities is much smaller than the water available to Israeli settlers in the neighboring settlements and falls short of the amount recommended by the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO).
Factories have been shut down due to the water shortage while locals have been forced to pay for water brought in large tankers for household use.
Every summer Israel implements a policy of water cuts against Palestinian communities to meet the increased demand for water in settlements.
Even without the cutbacks, the amount of water supplied to Palestinian communities is much smaller than the water available to Israeli settlers in the neighboring settlements and falls short of the amount recommended by the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO).
16 july 2017
A Palestinian citizen was forced to knock down his own shop in Occupied Jerusalem after Israeli municipal crews threatened to fine him.
Palestinian citizen Hussein al-Kiswani said he demolished his own shop in Beit Hanina, north of Occupied Jerusalem, for fear of being fined by the Israeli occupation authorities.
Al-Kiswani said the occupation authorities turned down his appeals to cancel a demolition notification targeting his shop.
Israeli municipal crews threatened to reduce his shop to rubble and subject him to a steep fine in case he does not carry out the demolition on his own.
The targeted shop covers an area of 100 square meters and is worth over $100,000.
Al-Kiswani slammed the demolition order as arbitrary and oppressive, saying: “The Israelis don’t care an inch about us. They did not pay a heed to our appeals for a permit.”
Palestinian citizen Hussein al-Kiswani said he demolished his own shop in Beit Hanina, north of Occupied Jerusalem, for fear of being fined by the Israeli occupation authorities.
Al-Kiswani said the occupation authorities turned down his appeals to cancel a demolition notification targeting his shop.
Israeli municipal crews threatened to reduce his shop to rubble and subject him to a steep fine in case he does not carry out the demolition on his own.
The targeted shop covers an area of 100 square meters and is worth over $100,000.
Al-Kiswani slammed the demolition order as arbitrary and oppressive, saying: “The Israelis don’t care an inch about us. They did not pay a heed to our appeals for a permit.”
15 july 2017
The Israeli police threatened on Saturday to fine the merchants who open their shops in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Merchant Tareq al-Amouri told Quds Press that Jerusalem has not witnessed such a bad situation for years.
Amouri said that despite the short distance between his house and his shop in the Old City, it took him an hour and a half to reach the city because of the so many checkpoints he had to pass through.
He pointed out that when he approached Bab al-Amud checkpoint, the Israeli police did not allow him to pass.
The merchants who opened their shops on Saturday were beaten by the Israeli police and threatened to be fined with 5,000 shekels (1,400 dollars) if they did not close their shops immediately, he affirmed.
Amouri reported that no one is currently allowed to enter the Old City except its residents after being subjected to "humiliating" physical searches.
Three Palestinian youths were killed on Friday in an armed clash with the Israeli police near al-Aqsa Mosque. Two Israeli officers were also pronounced dead.
Following the clash, al-Aqsa Mosque's gates were closed before Palestinian worshipers for the first time since 1969 and many checkpoints were deployed in the Old City.
According to Israeli police statements, the Mosque will remain closed until the completion of all investigations into the incident.
Merchant Tareq al-Amouri told Quds Press that Jerusalem has not witnessed such a bad situation for years.
Amouri said that despite the short distance between his house and his shop in the Old City, it took him an hour and a half to reach the city because of the so many checkpoints he had to pass through.
He pointed out that when he approached Bab al-Amud checkpoint, the Israeli police did not allow him to pass.
The merchants who opened their shops on Saturday were beaten by the Israeli police and threatened to be fined with 5,000 shekels (1,400 dollars) if they did not close their shops immediately, he affirmed.
Amouri reported that no one is currently allowed to enter the Old City except its residents after being subjected to "humiliating" physical searches.
Three Palestinian youths were killed on Friday in an armed clash with the Israeli police near al-Aqsa Mosque. Two Israeli officers were also pronounced dead.
Following the clash, al-Aqsa Mosque's gates were closed before Palestinian worshipers for the first time since 1969 and many checkpoints were deployed in the Old City.
According to Israeli police statements, the Mosque will remain closed until the completion of all investigations into the incident.