4 apr 2018
Israeli forces, Wednesday, opened fire on shepherds while they were grazing their livestock in pastures along Gaza borders with Israel, said WAFA sources.
The shepherds were forced to leave the pastures located along the borders in fear of their lives. No injuries were reported.
The shepherds were forced to leave the pastures located along the borders in fear of their lives. No injuries were reported.
Senior Hamas official Mohamed al-Farra said that his Movement would start on Wednesday, April 4, to distribute one million dollars among the neediest of families in the Gaza Strip.
The initiative will target 10,000 beneficiaries, including poor families, tenants who are unable to pay their house rents, widows and divorced women, with the aim of alleviating their suffering in light of the hash economic conditions in besieged Gaza.
According to Farra, charities and the Zakat committees of the Palestinian ministry of religious affairs in Gaza cooperated with Hamas in choosing the beneficiaries.
Recently, Hamas handed out two million dollars to more than 1,000 university students and 1,000 hospital cleaning workers in coordination with the ministry of social affairs.
The initiative will target 10,000 beneficiaries, including poor families, tenants who are unable to pay their house rents, widows and divorced women, with the aim of alleviating their suffering in light of the hash economic conditions in besieged Gaza.
According to Farra, charities and the Zakat committees of the Palestinian ministry of religious affairs in Gaza cooperated with Hamas in choosing the beneficiaries.
Recently, Hamas handed out two million dollars to more than 1,000 university students and 1,000 hospital cleaning workers in coordination with the ministry of social affairs.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday forced Palestinian storeowners in the Old City of al-Khalil to close their businesses in order to allow Jewish settlers to celebrate their Passover holiday.
According to a Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reporter, dozens of soldiers forced storekeepers in the Old City neighborhoods of Beersheba, Shuhada, Omyan, Qazazin, Laban and Bab al-Baladiya to close their businesses.
The Israeli measure pleased the settlers and raised the ire of local citizens after it disrupted the commercial life in their Old City of al-Khalil
Consequently, skirmishes broke out between Palestinian young men and Israeli soldiers in Beersheba neighborhood later in the afternoon after settlers swarmed an archeological area there.
One young man identified as Hasan Zaheda was taken prisoner during the events.
According to a Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reporter, dozens of soldiers forced storekeepers in the Old City neighborhoods of Beersheba, Shuhada, Omyan, Qazazin, Laban and Bab al-Baladiya to close their businesses.
The Israeli measure pleased the settlers and raised the ire of local citizens after it disrupted the commercial life in their Old City of al-Khalil
Consequently, skirmishes broke out between Palestinian young men and Israeli soldiers in Beersheba neighborhood later in the afternoon after settlers swarmed an archeological area there.
One young man identified as Hasan Zaheda was taken prisoner during the events.
2 apr 2018
With its unprecedented pledge of USD 50 million to UNRWA at a recent ministerial conference in Rome, Qatar will become one of UNRWA’s top donors and will have a major impact on the Agency’s ability to continue its vital services to the vulnerable Palestine refugee community during this period of dramatic financial crisis.
PNN reports that, at an extraordinary ministerial conference on 15 March, entitled “Preserving Dignity and Sharing Responsibility – Mobilizing Collective Action for UNRWA,” Qatar made the largest pledge, which will safeguard Palestine refugee children’s access to education in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon for the remainder of the current academic year as well as other core and essential services the Agency provides to Palestine refugees in the Middle East.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who was present at the conference, praised Qatar for its announced funding to UNRWA saying in a statement, “I sincerely thank the Emir for Qatar’s generous contribution in support of Palestine refugees.”
Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani said it was important for Qatar to fund the essential services of UNRWA: “In affirmation of the State of Qatar’s steady support policy towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the State of Qatar announced the donation of US$ 50 million to enable UNRWA to provide the necessary services to Palestine refugees.”
In response to this outstanding pledge, UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl expressed gratitude. “I applaud Qatar for translating its political commitment into action and for its support to the Palestine refugee community in the region” and he added : “I am deeply and sincerely thankful to the government for this remarkable announcement and to His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani for his strong trust in UNRWA. ”
The partnership between UNRWA and the State of Qatar has been developing for years and with this unprecedented donation will now enter a new phase, with a significant focus on education, including emergency education, particularly in Syria and Gaza.
UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s Programme Budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.
PNN reports that, at an extraordinary ministerial conference on 15 March, entitled “Preserving Dignity and Sharing Responsibility – Mobilizing Collective Action for UNRWA,” Qatar made the largest pledge, which will safeguard Palestine refugee children’s access to education in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon for the remainder of the current academic year as well as other core and essential services the Agency provides to Palestine refugees in the Middle East.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who was present at the conference, praised Qatar for its announced funding to UNRWA saying in a statement, “I sincerely thank the Emir for Qatar’s generous contribution in support of Palestine refugees.”
Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani said it was important for Qatar to fund the essential services of UNRWA: “In affirmation of the State of Qatar’s steady support policy towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the State of Qatar announced the donation of US$ 50 million to enable UNRWA to provide the necessary services to Palestine refugees.”
In response to this outstanding pledge, UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl expressed gratitude. “I applaud Qatar for translating its political commitment into action and for its support to the Palestine refugee community in the region” and he added : “I am deeply and sincerely thankful to the government for this remarkable announcement and to His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani for his strong trust in UNRWA. ”
The partnership between UNRWA and the State of Qatar has been developing for years and with this unprecedented donation will now enter a new phase, with a significant focus on education, including emergency education, particularly in Syria and Gaza.
UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s Programme Budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.
Israeli soldiers resorted to the excessive use of force, Sunday, against Palestinians planning trees on their lands in Deir Ballout town, west of Salfit, in northeastern West Bank, causing several injuries, during a nonviolent activity aimed at Planting trees on lands threatened by Israel’s illegal construction of expansion of its colonies and the Annexation Wall.
One of the wounded is Fawwaz Nasser, of the Popular Work department of the Palestinian Committee against the Wall and Colonies; he was shot with a rubber-coated bullet in his arm.
Many Palestinians suffered the severe effects of teargas inhalation and received the needed treatment.
The soldiers assaulted the Palestinians for holding this nonviolent activist and plant olive trees, on lands near the illegal Annexation Wall, and are targeted with illegal annexation by Israel.
Among the participants in the nonviolent activity was Salfit Governor Ibrahim al-Balawi, and the head of the National Committee against the Wall and Colonies, Minister Walid Assaf, Fateh Secretary in Salfit Abdul-Sattar Awwad, in addition to many officials, representatives of nongovernmental and social organizations.
The participants stressed on the importance of planting and protecting the lands, especially those threatened by Israel’s illegal Wall and colonies, and are under constant attacks by the colonizers, in addition to the lands that became isolated behind the illegal Annexation Wall.
One of the wounded is Fawwaz Nasser, of the Popular Work department of the Palestinian Committee against the Wall and Colonies; he was shot with a rubber-coated bullet in his arm.
Many Palestinians suffered the severe effects of teargas inhalation and received the needed treatment.
The soldiers assaulted the Palestinians for holding this nonviolent activist and plant olive trees, on lands near the illegal Annexation Wall, and are targeted with illegal annexation by Israel.
Among the participants in the nonviolent activity was Salfit Governor Ibrahim al-Balawi, and the head of the National Committee against the Wall and Colonies, Minister Walid Assaf, Fateh Secretary in Salfit Abdul-Sattar Awwad, in addition to many officials, representatives of nongovernmental and social organizations.
The participants stressed on the importance of planting and protecting the lands, especially those threatened by Israel’s illegal Wall and colonies, and are under constant attacks by the colonizers, in addition to the lands that became isolated behind the illegal Annexation Wall.
1 apr 2018
Israeli settlers, on Sunday, flooded their sewage into an orchard planted with grapes near the town of Beit Ummar, to the north of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, according to local sources.
Yousef Abu Maria, an anti-settlement activist, told WAFA that extremist Israeli settlers from the Gush Etzion settlement, nearby, flooded sewage into a 40-dunam orchard planted with grapes in order to damage the crops, which belong to Palestinian farmers.
He said that Palestinian farmers in the area have incurred significant losses as a result of similar flooding of sewage by Israeli settlers in recent years.
Yousef Abu Maria, an anti-settlement activist, told WAFA that extremist Israeli settlers from the Gush Etzion settlement, nearby, flooded sewage into a 40-dunam orchard planted with grapes in order to damage the crops, which belong to Palestinian farmers.
He said that Palestinian farmers in the area have incurred significant losses as a result of similar flooding of sewage by Israeli settlers in recent years.
A Palestinian report has revealed that the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) started to carry out a major railway project aimed at linking its illegal settlements in the West Bank with the 1948 occupied territory (Israel).
According to a report released recently by the National Bureau for Defending Land, the railway project will first link all West Bank settlements with each other and then link them all with cities in Israel. The project is expected to be completed in 2025.
The IOA already seized about 2,000 dunums of Palestinian land for the project, especially in the West Bank villages of Zawiya, Mas-ha, Biddya, Sarta, Kafr ad-Dik and Bruqin.
The project, which includes 11 railway lines and 30 passenger stations, will lead to the destruction of vast tracts of agricultural land and water resources in the annexed Palestinian areas.
According to a report released recently by the National Bureau for Defending Land, the railway project will first link all West Bank settlements with each other and then link them all with cities in Israel. The project is expected to be completed in 2025.
The IOA already seized about 2,000 dunums of Palestinian land for the project, especially in the West Bank villages of Zawiya, Mas-ha, Biddya, Sarta, Kafr ad-Dik and Bruqin.
The project, which includes 11 railway lines and 30 passenger stations, will lead to the destruction of vast tracts of agricultural land and water resources in the annexed Palestinian areas.
30 mar 2018
Villagers from Turmus Ayya, a village to the northeast of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, were able to foil attempts by Israeli settlers to take over Palestinian-owned land near the village, on Friday, said the village mayor.
Rasmi Shehadeh said, according to WAFA, that a group of settlers from the illegal settlements of Adi-Ad and Shilo, nearby, and who were escorted by Israeli army, stormed into an area near the village and assaulted farmers who were working on their own land.
He said the farmers were able to compel the settlers to leave the land, before the soldiers attacked the farmers with teargas and rubber-coated rounds.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
According to the Israeli rights group B’Tselem, “As the occupying force, Israel must protect the Palestinians in the West Bank. However, the Israeli authorities neglect to fulfill this responsibility and do not do enough to prevent Israeli civilians from attacking Palestinians, their property and their lands.”
Rasmi Shehadeh said, according to WAFA, that a group of settlers from the illegal settlements of Adi-Ad and Shilo, nearby, and who were escorted by Israeli army, stormed into an area near the village and assaulted farmers who were working on their own land.
He said the farmers were able to compel the settlers to leave the land, before the soldiers attacked the farmers with teargas and rubber-coated rounds.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
According to the Israeli rights group B’Tselem, “As the occupying force, Israel must protect the Palestinians in the West Bank. However, the Israeli authorities neglect to fulfill this responsibility and do not do enough to prevent Israeli civilians from attacking Palestinians, their property and their lands.”
28 mar 2018
B'Tselem organization on Tuesday launched a petition to foil an Israeli plan to displace thousands of Palestinians who live in about 200 communities in Area C in the West Bank.
B'Tselem said in a report, "It's happening right now and every day. Israel is trying to displace thousands of Palestinians who live in about 200 farming-shepherding communities in Area C of the West Bank. Dozens of these communities face imminent expulsion, and others are subject to various forms of abuse, violence and dispossession."
The organization affirmed that Israel's goal is to establish as many facts on the ground as possible in order to make more land available for settlements.
The report noted that Israel is focusing its military campaign on three areas in the West Bank.
The first area is located south of al-Khalil mountains. Nearly 1,000 people, about half of whom are minors, live in this area. The Israeli army began transferring out local residents in late 1999 arguing that the land had been declared a "firing zone" since the 1980s.
The Second area is Ma'ale Adumim. In the 1980s and 1990s Israel expelled hundreds of Bedouins of the Jahalin tribe in order to establish and later expand the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim. The Palestinians were transferred to a permanent site created for them near Abu Dis garbage dump losing access to the farmlands that were their livelihood.
Now, the report said, another 3,000 local residents are facing imminent expulsion. This number includes about 1,400 who live in an area that Israel has designated E1 and earmarked for expanding Ma'ale Adumim to create a contiguous urban bloc between the settlement and East Jerusalem.
The third area is Jordan Valley. About 2,700 Palestinians live in this area in about 20 shepherding communities. The Israeli army has declared much of these communities "firing zones" and regularly conducts training exercises near them. Residents in some communities are repeatedly forced to evacuate their homes so soldiers can train nearby.
B'Tselem said in a report, "It's happening right now and every day. Israel is trying to displace thousands of Palestinians who live in about 200 farming-shepherding communities in Area C of the West Bank. Dozens of these communities face imminent expulsion, and others are subject to various forms of abuse, violence and dispossession."
The organization affirmed that Israel's goal is to establish as many facts on the ground as possible in order to make more land available for settlements.
The report noted that Israel is focusing its military campaign on three areas in the West Bank.
The first area is located south of al-Khalil mountains. Nearly 1,000 people, about half of whom are minors, live in this area. The Israeli army began transferring out local residents in late 1999 arguing that the land had been declared a "firing zone" since the 1980s.
The Second area is Ma'ale Adumim. In the 1980s and 1990s Israel expelled hundreds of Bedouins of the Jahalin tribe in order to establish and later expand the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim. The Palestinians were transferred to a permanent site created for them near Abu Dis garbage dump losing access to the farmlands that were their livelihood.
Now, the report said, another 3,000 local residents are facing imminent expulsion. This number includes about 1,400 who live in an area that Israel has designated E1 and earmarked for expanding Ma'ale Adumim to create a contiguous urban bloc between the settlement and East Jerusalem.
The third area is Jordan Valley. About 2,700 Palestinians live in this area in about 20 shepherding communities. The Israeli army has declared much of these communities "firing zones" and regularly conducts training exercises near them. Residents in some communities are repeatedly forced to evacuate their homes so soldiers can train nearby.
26 mar 2018
A Palestinian farmer, Taysir Suleiman of Huwara town south of Nablus city, was assaulted and injured by extremist Jewish settlers while he was working in his farm on Monday.
The official of settlement file in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Daghlas, told the PIC reporter that a group of fanatic Jewish settlers of Yitzhar illegal settlement attacked the 50-year-old man by severe beating in al-Luhuf area west of the town.
The farmer was left with bruises and fractions as well as injuries in the head. He was moved to Rafidiya Governmental Hospital for treatment.
The official of settlement file in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Daghlas, told the PIC reporter that a group of fanatic Jewish settlers of Yitzhar illegal settlement attacked the 50-year-old man by severe beating in al-Luhuf area west of the town.
The farmer was left with bruises and fractions as well as injuries in the head. He was moved to Rafidiya Governmental Hospital for treatment.
25 mar 2018
Extremist Jewish settlers on Sunday attacked Palestinian farmers while working in their farms in Emmatain town near the illegal settlement of Havat Gilad east of Qalqilya, leaving one farmer injured.
The Palestinian official of settlement in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Daghlas, said that Israeli settlers have escalated their violations against Palestinians over the past months under protection by Israeli army.
The Palestinian official of settlement in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Daghlas, said that Israeli settlers have escalated their violations against Palestinians over the past months under protection by Israeli army.
A group of extremist Israeli colonizers attacked, Sunday, a Palestinian shepherd in grazing lands east Tawania area, in Yatta town, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, causing fractures and bruises.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the National and Popular Committees against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in southern Hebron, said the Israeli assailants came from Ma’on and Havat Ma’on illegal colonialist outpost, installed on Palestinian lands.
He added that the colonizers attacked Jom’a Mousa Rib’ey, 45, causing various cuts and bruises, in addition to fractures in his left leg, and lacerations in the head.
The wounded shepherd suffered moderate injuries, and was rushed to Abu Hasan al-Qassem Hospital, in Yatta.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the National and Popular Committees against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in southern Hebron, said the Israeli assailants came from Ma’on and Havat Ma’on illegal colonialist outpost, installed on Palestinian lands.
He added that the colonizers attacked Jom’a Mousa Rib’ey, 45, causing various cuts and bruises, in addition to fractures in his left leg, and lacerations in the head.
The wounded shepherd suffered moderate injuries, and was rushed to Abu Hasan al-Qassem Hospital, in Yatta.
24 mar 2018
Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli bulldozers on Saturday morning started to raze tracts of land in preparation for the expansion of the industrial Emanuel settlement at the expense of Palestinian lands in Jinsafut village east of Qalqilya.
The PIC reporter said that Palestinian sheep herders in the area have repeatedly complained that the grazing area adjacent to the settlement is constantly shrinking due to the unceasing settlement construction activities there.
Moreover, he added, Emanuel settlement's factories have caused major damages to the environment in the neighboring towns and villages of Qalqilya and Salfit.
The Palestinian researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that Emanuel's factories, which were built in 1991, are expanding at the expense of Palestinian lands in Fandaqumiya, Jinsafut and Deir Istiya.
Ma'ali affirmed that these factories, with poor health and safety conditions, pollute the environment by pouring their liquid waste in Palestinian valleys.
The PIC reporter said that Palestinian sheep herders in the area have repeatedly complained that the grazing area adjacent to the settlement is constantly shrinking due to the unceasing settlement construction activities there.
Moreover, he added, Emanuel settlement's factories have caused major damages to the environment in the neighboring towns and villages of Qalqilya and Salfit.
The Palestinian researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that Emanuel's factories, which were built in 1991, are expanding at the expense of Palestinian lands in Fandaqumiya, Jinsafut and Deir Istiya.
Ma'ali affirmed that these factories, with poor health and safety conditions, pollute the environment by pouring their liquid waste in Palestinian valleys.
22 mar 2018
The heavy firing of live ammunition and tear gas canisters, by Israeli forces, during confrontations that erupted on Thursday, in the village of Sebastia, to the northwest of Nablus, caused fire to break out, causing damage to agricultural crops and trees, said a local official.
Head of Sebastia village council, Mohammad ‘Azem, said an Israeli military force stormed the town amid the heavy firing of live ammunition and tear gas canisters toward the village locals and their homes, causing a nearby land planted with trees and crops to catch fire.
No injuries or arrests were reported, according to WAFA.
Forces reportedly removed a Palestinian flag that was raised at an archaeological site in the village.
Head of Sebastia village council, Mohammad ‘Azem, said an Israeli military force stormed the town amid the heavy firing of live ammunition and tear gas canisters toward the village locals and their homes, causing a nearby land planted with trees and crops to catch fire.
No injuries or arrests were reported, according to WAFA.
Forces reportedly removed a Palestinian flag that was raised at an archaeological site in the village.
Several Israeli tanks, and armored military bulldozers, invaded on Thursday morning Palestinian farmlands in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, bulldozed sections close to the border fence, and fired live rounds.
The soldiers fired dozens of live rounds into Palestinian agricultural lands, and at farmers, east of the al-Qarara town, northeast of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, forcing the Palestinians to leave in fear for their lives.
The soldiers also invaded lands east of Abasan area, in Khan Younis, and bulldozed sections near the border fence, while military drones hovered overhead.
It is worth mentioning that the soldiers, and for the third consecutive day, continued the installation of barbed wire fences, near the border fence along the eastern part of the Gaza Strip.
The soldiers fired dozens of live rounds into Palestinian agricultural lands, and at farmers, east of the al-Qarara town, northeast of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, forcing the Palestinians to leave in fear for their lives.
The soldiers also invaded lands east of Abasan area, in Khan Younis, and bulldozed sections near the border fence, while military drones hovered overhead.
It is worth mentioning that the soldiers, and for the third consecutive day, continued the installation of barbed wire fences, near the border fence along the eastern part of the Gaza Strip.
21 mar 2018
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday morning banned Palestinian farmers from entering their farms in Madama town south of Nablus city in the northern West Bank.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that IOF soldiers prevented the farmers from approaching their lands, with an area estimated at ten dunums, and threatened them with shooting and arrest.
The eyewitnesses pointed out that the farms are located in Area B which is controlled by the Palestinian Authority.
However, the IOF banned the farmers from entering and plowing their agricultural lands disregard the fact that they had earlier coordinated with Israeli occupation authorities for accessing their farms securely.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that IOF soldiers prevented the farmers from approaching their lands, with an area estimated at ten dunums, and threatened them with shooting and arrest.
The eyewitnesses pointed out that the farms are located in Area B which is controlled by the Palestinian Authority.
However, the IOF banned the farmers from entering and plowing their agricultural lands disregard the fact that they had earlier coordinated with Israeli occupation authorities for accessing their farms securely.
