11 feb 2020
Israeli authorities today issued a halt on construction orders against four structures in the area of Hamsa al-Tahta, in the northern Jordan Valley, according to local sources.
Aref Daraghmeh, an activist, told WAFA that the order includes a halt on construction of three residential structures and an animal barn.
Aref Daraghmeh, an activist, told WAFA that the order includes a halt on construction of three residential structures and an animal barn.
Israeli navy today opened gunfire and water hoses towards Palestinian fishermen who were sailing into the Gaza coast to the west of the Gaza city damaging boats, reported WAFA correspondent.
He said that the fishermen were sailing only three nautical miles into the sea when Israeli navy boats opened gunfire and water hoses at them damaging at least on fishing boat.
As a result, the fishermen had to leave the water and abruptly end their fishing mission, which is their only source of income.
According to B’Tselem, the Israeli military “routinely” abuses fishermen “on various grounds,” explaining: “One reason alleged is boats sailing beyond the permitted area, even when fishermen use GPS devices and ensure they remain within the permitted boundaries.”
Fishermen in Gaza suffer from Israel’s gradual destruction of the fishing sector in Gaza.
Before it imposed the blockade on Gaza, Israel used to permit fishing up to 12 nautical miles from shore. Since imposing the blockade, Israel has changed the area of the permitted fishing zone several times a year, said B’Tselem, the Israeli information center for human rights in occupied territories.
He said that the fishermen were sailing only three nautical miles into the sea when Israeli navy boats opened gunfire and water hoses at them damaging at least on fishing boat.
As a result, the fishermen had to leave the water and abruptly end their fishing mission, which is their only source of income.
According to B’Tselem, the Israeli military “routinely” abuses fishermen “on various grounds,” explaining: “One reason alleged is boats sailing beyond the permitted area, even when fishermen use GPS devices and ensure they remain within the permitted boundaries.”
Fishermen in Gaza suffer from Israel’s gradual destruction of the fishing sector in Gaza.
Before it imposed the blockade on Gaza, Israel used to permit fishing up to 12 nautical miles from shore. Since imposing the blockade, Israel has changed the area of the permitted fishing zone several times a year, said B’Tselem, the Israeli information center for human rights in occupied territories.
10 feb 2020
Israeli occupation forces on Monday pumped large amounts of rainwater into agricultural lands east of besieged Gaza.
Union of Agricultural Work Committees said in a statement that Israeli occupation forces opened rainwater dams along the border with the besieged Gaza Strip, causing farmlands east of Gaza City to sink.
This is the fifth time this season Israeli forces have caused damage to large amounts of crops in the already-starved Gaza.
This repeated move has caused Palestinian farmers in Gaza losses estimated at half a million dollars, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Union of Agricultural Work Committees said in a statement that Israeli occupation forces opened rainwater dams along the border with the besieged Gaza Strip, causing farmlands east of Gaza City to sink.
This is the fifth time this season Israeli forces have caused damage to large amounts of crops in the already-starved Gaza.
This repeated move has caused Palestinian farmers in Gaza losses estimated at half a million dollars, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Several armored Israeli military vehicles invaded, on Monday morning, Palestinian farmlands east of the al-Maghazi refugee camp, in central Gaza, and bulldozed them.
Media sources said the vehicles, including five bulldozers, came from a military base across the perimeter fence and invaded the lands through Abu Safiyya gate, east of al-Maghazi.
They added that the vehicles advanced dozens of meters across the fence, bulldozed large areas of farmlands, and installed sandhills.
During the invasions, military helicopters and drones were seen flying over the area, and several parts of the Gaza Strip.
Media sources said the vehicles, including five bulldozers, came from a military base across the perimeter fence and invaded the lands through Abu Safiyya gate, east of al-Maghazi.
They added that the vehicles advanced dozens of meters across the fence, bulldozed large areas of farmlands, and installed sandhills.
During the invasions, military helicopters and drones were seen flying over the area, and several parts of the Gaza Strip.
9 feb 2020
Minister of National Economy, Khaled Osseili, said on Sunday, that the Palestinian government was pursuing political, diplomatic and legal action to reverse Israel’s recent ban on the export of Palestinian agricultural abroad, which is aimed at stifling the Palestinian economy, WAFA reported.
At an emergency meeting of the Palestinian Exports Council in Ramallah, Osseili described the Israeli ban as a flagrant violation of the rules of the World Trade Organization, to which Israel is a member.
He affirmed the Palestinian government’s support for local farmers and exporters, and stressed the importance of joining forces by all parties.
Tareq Abu Laban, assistant undersecretary for the economic sector in the Ministry of Agriculture, stated on Sunday, that the decision to ban all Palestinian agricultural exports to the world markets via Jordan came into effect today.
In a phone interview with WAFA, Abu Laban said that the Israeli government’s decision to ban the export of Palestinian vegetables, fruits, olive oil and dates was in response to the Palestinian government’s October 2019 decision to ban the import of Israeli calves into the Palestinian market.
The value of these exports amounts to $100 million annually, and the majority of them are cultivated in the Jordan Valley region, which Israel has threatened to annex under the so called “deal of the century” proposal.
Last week, the Palestinian government, declared a ban on Israeli products coming into the Palestinian market, including vegetables, fruits, juices, mineral water and carbonated drinks, in response to Bennet’s decision to ban Palestinian agricultural products into Israel.
At an emergency meeting of the Palestinian Exports Council in Ramallah, Osseili described the Israeli ban as a flagrant violation of the rules of the World Trade Organization, to which Israel is a member.
He affirmed the Palestinian government’s support for local farmers and exporters, and stressed the importance of joining forces by all parties.
Tareq Abu Laban, assistant undersecretary for the economic sector in the Ministry of Agriculture, stated on Sunday, that the decision to ban all Palestinian agricultural exports to the world markets via Jordan came into effect today.
In a phone interview with WAFA, Abu Laban said that the Israeli government’s decision to ban the export of Palestinian vegetables, fruits, olive oil and dates was in response to the Palestinian government’s October 2019 decision to ban the import of Israeli calves into the Palestinian market.
The value of these exports amounts to $100 million annually, and the majority of them are cultivated in the Jordan Valley region, which Israel has threatened to annex under the so called “deal of the century” proposal.
Last week, the Palestinian government, declared a ban on Israeli products coming into the Palestinian market, including vegetables, fruits, juices, mineral water and carbonated drinks, in response to Bennet’s decision to ban Palestinian agricultural products into Israel.
7 feb 2020
The Ministry of National Economy said in a statement today that Israeli occupation authorities have recently returned back several Palestinian-produced truckloads of agricultural products that were destined for export abroad.
It said that during the past two days, Israeli occupation authorities banned the exit of all Palestinian agricultural items to the outside world, and informed their exporters that the ban would remain in effect until further notice.
"The decision of the Israeli "Defense" Minister Naftali Bennet was apparently not restricted to preventing the entry of Palestinian agricultural products to the Israeli market, but also included a ban on such exports to the countries of the world, including dates and olive oil," said the ministry.
Earlier this week, the Palestinian government declared a ban on the entry of Israeli products into the Palestinian market, including vegetables, fruits, juices, mineral water and carbonated drinks.
This was in response to Bennet’s decision banning the entry of Palestinian agricultural products into Israel, in retaliation for the Palestinian government's boycott of Israeli-produced cattle for almost four months.
Exports of Palestinian agricultural products to Israel amounted to 88 million dollars during 2018, which represents 68% of the total Palestinian agricultural exports to the world, estimated at 130 million dollars in 2018.
It said that during the past two days, Israeli occupation authorities banned the exit of all Palestinian agricultural items to the outside world, and informed their exporters that the ban would remain in effect until further notice.
"The decision of the Israeli "Defense" Minister Naftali Bennet was apparently not restricted to preventing the entry of Palestinian agricultural products to the Israeli market, but also included a ban on such exports to the countries of the world, including dates and olive oil," said the ministry.
Earlier this week, the Palestinian government declared a ban on the entry of Israeli products into the Palestinian market, including vegetables, fruits, juices, mineral water and carbonated drinks.
This was in response to Bennet’s decision banning the entry of Palestinian agricultural products into Israel, in retaliation for the Palestinian government's boycott of Israeli-produced cattle for almost four months.
Exports of Palestinian agricultural products to Israel amounted to 88 million dollars during 2018, which represents 68% of the total Palestinian agricultural exports to the world, estimated at 130 million dollars in 2018.
6 feb 2020
Israeli forces notified today for the demolition of a stable and two storage shops in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal al-Mukabber, citing unpermitted construction as a pretext, according to local sources.
The Israeli occupation army on Wednesday announced it was reducing the size of the Gaza fishing zone by a third in light of the continued launch of projectiles and airborne incendiaries towards Israeli areas.
“Following security consultations, it has been decided today (Wednesday), to restrict the fishing zone of the Gaza Strip from 15 nautical miles to 10 nautical miles, starting from 4 p.m. until further notice,” the Israeli military liaison to the Palestinians said in a statement published Israeli newspapers.
However, such Gaza attacks on Israeli areas resumed recently after the Israeli occupation authority deliberately and repeatedly opened floodgates to dams and flooded vast tracts of farmlands and roads in the east of Gaza, causing considerable losses to the agricultural sector in particular.
“Following security consultations, it has been decided today (Wednesday), to restrict the fishing zone of the Gaza Strip from 15 nautical miles to 10 nautical miles, starting from 4 p.m. until further notice,” the Israeli military liaison to the Palestinians said in a statement published Israeli newspapers.
However, such Gaza attacks on Israeli areas resumed recently after the Israeli occupation authority deliberately and repeatedly opened floodgates to dams and flooded vast tracts of farmlands and roads in the east of Gaza, causing considerable losses to the agricultural sector in particular.
Israeli forces, on Wednesday, demolished a shack and seized another in the village of Deir Qaddis, north of the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, according to the Palestinian News and Info Agency (WAFA).
Saeed Abu Zaid, head of the Deir Qaddis village council, said that Israeli soldiers stormed the area and proceeded to demolish one shack and seize another belonging to Anwar Nasser.
Important to note that Israeli has increased its campaign of demolishing Palestinian homes, on Tuesday, a Palestinian home was demolished in Jerusalem, leaving a family homeless.
Saeed Abu Zaid, head of the Deir Qaddis village council, said that Israeli soldiers stormed the area and proceeded to demolish one shack and seize another belonging to Anwar Nasser.
Important to note that Israeli has increased its campaign of demolishing Palestinian homes, on Tuesday, a Palestinian home was demolished in Jerusalem, leaving a family homeless.
On February 2, 2020, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) announced tightening restrictions on the movement of goods into the Gaza Strip and on the movement of merchants/businesspersons in response to incendiary balloons and projectiles fired towards Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip.
In a press release, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon, announced freezing facilitations relevant to commerce, economy and movement across checkpoints, including decreasing the number of businesspersons permits and ceasing import of cement to the Gaza Strip.
The Coordinator proclaimed that these measures are in response to violence against Israel in its border area with the Gaza Strip and launching projectiles towards Israel.
According to PCHR follow-up, Israeli authorities informed the Presidential Committee for Goods Coordination in Gaza that its decision to ban the entry of cement into the Gaza Strip is effective as of February 1, 2020. Simultaneously, IOF annulled 460 exit permits previously issued for businesspersons from the Gaza Strip.
It should be noted that this decision followed Israeli authorities’ decision 3 days earlier to allow entry of the type of cement used for tiling through Kerm Shalom crossing in a departure from the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) managed by the United Nations. While entry of cement used to make concrete was sustained through GRM.
This decision falls under the Israeli closure policy imposed on the Gaza Strip since June 2007, as tight restrictions are imposed on the movement of persons and goods ever since. In terms of commercial crossing, Israeli authorities have 62 items listed on the “dual-use” items, these items include basic materials and commodities.
Furthermore, Israeli authorities continue to ban Gaza exports except for a marginal amount that does not exceed 5.7% of the Gaza monthly exports prior to June 2007.
As to crossings dedicated for the movement of individuals, IOF continue to impose extreme restrictions on the freedom of movement of the Gaza population through Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing and only allows a limited number of categories with great limitations.
These newly adopted measures by Israel will deepen the humanitarian and living crises of the Gaza Strip, especially under the skyrocketing unemployment, poverty and food insecurity.
The Gaza unemployment has reached 45%, a total of 217,100 thousand workers unemployed, while more than 50% are under the poverty line according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics poverty in the Gaza Strip is 53%, and more than 67% of the Gaza population suffer from food insecurity according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights is greatly concerned about IOF’s decision to tighten the Gaza closure for its grave consequences on the economic and living conditions of the Gaza Strip population.
PCHR believes that this decision is a form of collective punishment and retaliatory action committed by IOF against Palestinian civilians.
In light of the above, PCHR calls upon the international community to act:
In a press release, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon, announced freezing facilitations relevant to commerce, economy and movement across checkpoints, including decreasing the number of businesspersons permits and ceasing import of cement to the Gaza Strip.
The Coordinator proclaimed that these measures are in response to violence against Israel in its border area with the Gaza Strip and launching projectiles towards Israel.
According to PCHR follow-up, Israeli authorities informed the Presidential Committee for Goods Coordination in Gaza that its decision to ban the entry of cement into the Gaza Strip is effective as of February 1, 2020. Simultaneously, IOF annulled 460 exit permits previously issued for businesspersons from the Gaza Strip.
It should be noted that this decision followed Israeli authorities’ decision 3 days earlier to allow entry of the type of cement used for tiling through Kerm Shalom crossing in a departure from the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) managed by the United Nations. While entry of cement used to make concrete was sustained through GRM.
This decision falls under the Israeli closure policy imposed on the Gaza Strip since June 2007, as tight restrictions are imposed on the movement of persons and goods ever since. In terms of commercial crossing, Israeli authorities have 62 items listed on the “dual-use” items, these items include basic materials and commodities.
Furthermore, Israeli authorities continue to ban Gaza exports except for a marginal amount that does not exceed 5.7% of the Gaza monthly exports prior to June 2007.
As to crossings dedicated for the movement of individuals, IOF continue to impose extreme restrictions on the freedom of movement of the Gaza population through Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing and only allows a limited number of categories with great limitations.
These newly adopted measures by Israel will deepen the humanitarian and living crises of the Gaza Strip, especially under the skyrocketing unemployment, poverty and food insecurity.
The Gaza unemployment has reached 45%, a total of 217,100 thousand workers unemployed, while more than 50% are under the poverty line according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics poverty in the Gaza Strip is 53%, and more than 67% of the Gaza population suffer from food insecurity according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights is greatly concerned about IOF’s decision to tighten the Gaza closure for its grave consequences on the economic and living conditions of the Gaza Strip population.
PCHR believes that this decision is a form of collective punishment and retaliatory action committed by IOF against Palestinian civilians.
In light of the above, PCHR calls upon the international community to act: