4 mar 2020
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday attacked Palestinian shepherds and bulldozed Palestinian lands in Shwei'er area in the northern Jordan Valley.
Local sources said that the IOF expelled Palestinian worshipers out of the area by force and razed agricultural lands for settlement expansion.
In Bethlehem in the West Bank, the IOF stormed Beit Jala town and handed a Palestinian citizen named Ramzi Qaisiya a notice that his farmland will be razed in the coming days.
Last month the IOF demolished Qaisiya's home and restaurant at the pretext of being unlicensed.
Local sources said that the IOF expelled Palestinian worshipers out of the area by force and razed agricultural lands for settlement expansion.
In Bethlehem in the West Bank, the IOF stormed Beit Jala town and handed a Palestinian citizen named Ramzi Qaisiya a notice that his farmland will be razed in the coming days.
Last month the IOF demolished Qaisiya's home and restaurant at the pretext of being unlicensed.
Israeli settlers today placed a fence around a privately-owned Palestinian land in Beit Ummar, a town in the south of the occupied West Bank, in an effort to take it over, said activist Mohammad Awad.
He told WAFA that settlers, under army protection, placed the fence around a 12-dunum plot of land planted with almonds, grape vines, olive trees and forest trees in the north of the town owned by Saqer Abu Ayyash.
He said Abu Ayyash has been leading a 20-year legal battle against the settlers to prove his ownership of the plot by presenting land deeds proving ownership.
“They came back today and placed a fence around the land and when I showed up to stop them, they said I should go to the (Israeli military) Civil Administration and ask them about the land,” said Abu Ayyash.
He told WAFA that settlers, under army protection, placed the fence around a 12-dunum plot of land planted with almonds, grape vines, olive trees and forest trees in the north of the town owned by Saqer Abu Ayyash.
He said Abu Ayyash has been leading a 20-year legal battle against the settlers to prove his ownership of the plot by presenting land deeds proving ownership.
“They came back today and placed a fence around the land and when I showed up to stop them, they said I should go to the (Israeli military) Civil Administration and ask them about the land,” said Abu Ayyash.
Israeli forces today razed Palestinian-owned lands in the area of Wadi al-Makh'rour, to the west of Bethlehem city in the occupied West Bank, according to local sources.
Witnesses told WAFA that Israeli bulldozers Israeli forces imposed a curfew in the area and prevented citizens from entering or leaving it, before embarking on razing about five dunmus of private-owned land.
Wadi al-Makhrour is a popular hiking space for Palestinians. It is best enjoyed during the late afternoon in the summer when the sun is about to set.
According to the online portal for Palestinian tourism, www.visitpalestine.ps, the area encompasses both natural and agricultural landscapes and is well known for its ancient terraces and stone towers called qusur, built of neatly placed rocks that used to serve as storage rooms for various crops planted in the wadi.
The area is famous for its hills replete with agricultural terraces planted with olive, apricot, and fig trees. The abundance of the place is owed to the underground natural springs and the hard work of the landowners.
Some parts of the valley are home to natural forests with remarkable tree species such as Palestine oak (Quercus calliprinos).
Israeli forces have been targeting Wadi al-Makhrour seeking to forcefully displace the indigenous Palestinian population from their land for Jewish-only settlement expansion.
The largely Christian city of Beit Jala is flanked by illegal Israeli Gilo and Har Gilo settlements to the north and northwest.
Witnesses told WAFA that Israeli bulldozers Israeli forces imposed a curfew in the area and prevented citizens from entering or leaving it, before embarking on razing about five dunmus of private-owned land.
Wadi al-Makhrour is a popular hiking space for Palestinians. It is best enjoyed during the late afternoon in the summer when the sun is about to set.
According to the online portal for Palestinian tourism, www.visitpalestine.ps, the area encompasses both natural and agricultural landscapes and is well known for its ancient terraces and stone towers called qusur, built of neatly placed rocks that used to serve as storage rooms for various crops planted in the wadi.
The area is famous for its hills replete with agricultural terraces planted with olive, apricot, and fig trees. The abundance of the place is owed to the underground natural springs and the hard work of the landowners.
Some parts of the valley are home to natural forests with remarkable tree species such as Palestine oak (Quercus calliprinos).
Israeli forces have been targeting Wadi al-Makhrour seeking to forcefully displace the indigenous Palestinian population from their land for Jewish-only settlement expansion.
The largely Christian city of Beit Jala is flanked by illegal Israeli Gilo and Har Gilo settlements to the north and northwest.
Israeli navy today opened gunfire towards Palestinian fishermen who were sailing off the Gaza shore to the west of the town of Beit Lahia, north of the enclave, reported WAFA correspondent.
No injuries were reported, however.
Despite the signed agreements between the Palestinians and Israel, which allow fishermen to go 12 nautical miles inside the Mediterranean Sea, the Israeli navy targets fishermen almost daily and does not allow them to go further than three nautical miles, which the fishermen say is not enough to catch fish.
A large number of Gazans rely on fishing for daily living in light of the tight decade-old blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip.
No injuries were reported, however.
Despite the signed agreements between the Palestinians and Israel, which allow fishermen to go 12 nautical miles inside the Mediterranean Sea, the Israeli navy targets fishermen almost daily and does not allow them to go further than three nautical miles, which the fishermen say is not enough to catch fish.
A large number of Gazans rely on fishing for daily living in light of the tight decade-old blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip.
3 mar 2020
The Israeli army today closed a road farmers in Khirbet Shaab al-Batm in Masafer Yatta in the south of the occupied West Bank used to reach their fields, according to Rateb Jabour, a local activist. video
He told WAFA that Israeli forces raided the area and closed the road that connects the hamlet with Masafer Yatta.
He said the Committee against the Wall and Settlements had rehabilitated the road to make it easier for local residents to access their homes and fields.
The Israeli army has previously destroyed the same road in an effort to force the Palestinian inhabitants to leave their homes and lands in order to replace them with illegal settlements.
He told WAFA that Israeli forces raided the area and closed the road that connects the hamlet with Masafer Yatta.
He said the Committee against the Wall and Settlements had rehabilitated the road to make it easier for local residents to access their homes and fields.
The Israeli army has previously destroyed the same road in an effort to force the Palestinian inhabitants to leave their homes and lands in order to replace them with illegal settlements.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday morning attacked Palestinian farmers and fishermen in the besieged Gaza Strip.
A local field observer told Quds Press that four army bulldozers and one excavator infiltrated into a border area inside Gaza, particularly on the eastern side of al-Nahda neighborhood in Rafah.
He said that the bulldozers and the excavators embarked on digging and leveling lands in the area, while Israeli soldiers fired some tear gas canisters at farmers in the east of al-Qarara town in Khan Yunis (southern Gaza).
The teargas attack forced the farmers to leave their plots of land and stay away from the area.
In the northwest of Gaza, Israeli gunboats opened machinegun fire at fishermen and their boats off the shore of Beit Lahia town. Luckily no one was hurt in the gunfire attack.
A local field observer told Quds Press that four army bulldozers and one excavator infiltrated into a border area inside Gaza, particularly on the eastern side of al-Nahda neighborhood in Rafah.
He said that the bulldozers and the excavators embarked on digging and leveling lands in the area, while Israeli soldiers fired some tear gas canisters at farmers in the east of al-Qarara town in Khan Yunis (southern Gaza).
The teargas attack forced the farmers to leave their plots of land and stay away from the area.
In the northwest of Gaza, Israeli gunboats opened machinegun fire at fishermen and their boats off the shore of Beit Lahia town. Luckily no one was hurt in the gunfire attack.
A Palestinian official report has showed an increase in the number of Israeli violations against Gaza fishermen in February, compared to previous months.
The report, which was released by the agricultural work committees in Gaza, said that 19 different violations were committed last month by the Israeli occupation navy and their gunboats against fishermen.
Those violations included pursuits, attacks with live ammunition and water cannons, and attempts to capsize fishing boats.
Three fishermen moderately injured when Israeli naval forces used water cannons and live ammunition against them during the reporting period.
The violations also included the detention of three fishermen after their exposure to attacks by Israeli forces in Gaza waters.
In addition, the Israeli navy confiscated one boat, damaged two others partially, and ruined seven fishing nets during the same period.
In a related context, the report pointed out that the Israeli occupation army had reduced or expanded the fishing zone in Gaza waters eight times last month and completely prevented fishing activities along the Gaza coast for three days during the last military tension.
The report, which was released by the agricultural work committees in Gaza, said that 19 different violations were committed last month by the Israeli occupation navy and their gunboats against fishermen.
Those violations included pursuits, attacks with live ammunition and water cannons, and attempts to capsize fishing boats.
Three fishermen moderately injured when Israeli naval forces used water cannons and live ammunition against them during the reporting period.
The violations also included the detention of three fishermen after their exposure to attacks by Israeli forces in Gaza waters.
In addition, the Israeli navy confiscated one boat, damaged two others partially, and ruined seven fishing nets during the same period.
In a related context, the report pointed out that the Israeli occupation army had reduced or expanded the fishing zone in Gaza waters eight times last month and completely prevented fishing activities along the Gaza coast for three days during the last military tension.
2 mar 2020
A horde of Jewish settlers on Monday chopped off and uprooted dozens of olive trees and grapevines in Husan town in the west of Bethlehem and other olive trees in Bruqin town in western Salfit.
According to local sources, settlers from the illegal settlement of Brukhin wreaked havoc on and removed about 40 olive trees belonging to local residents in Bruqin town.
In Bethlehem, setters from the illegal settlement of Beitar Illit — built illegally on seized Palestinian lands in the towns of Husan, Wadi Fukin and Nahalin — also went on the rampage through olive groves and vineyards, destroying 100 olive trees and 60 grapevines in al-Qiddees area of Husan town.
The fields belong to farmers Mohamed Hamamra and Hamza Hamamra.
In a similar incident, a horde of Jewish settlers on Sunday evening uprooted about 200 olive saplings belonging to a Palestinian farmer from al-Mughayir village in eastern Ramallah, north of the occupied West Bank.
During the last few days, about 780 trees in Palestinian olive groves and vineyards in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, were destroyed or uprooted by Jewish thugs.
According to local sources, settlers from the illegal settlement of Brukhin wreaked havoc on and removed about 40 olive trees belonging to local residents in Bruqin town.
In Bethlehem, setters from the illegal settlement of Beitar Illit — built illegally on seized Palestinian lands in the towns of Husan, Wadi Fukin and Nahalin — also went on the rampage through olive groves and vineyards, destroying 100 olive trees and 60 grapevines in al-Qiddees area of Husan town.
The fields belong to farmers Mohamed Hamamra and Hamza Hamamra.
In a similar incident, a horde of Jewish settlers on Sunday evening uprooted about 200 olive saplings belonging to a Palestinian farmer from al-Mughayir village in eastern Ramallah, north of the occupied West Bank.
During the last few days, about 780 trees in Palestinian olive groves and vineyards in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, were destroyed or uprooted by Jewish thugs.
A horde of Jewish settlers on Sunday evening uprooted about dozens of olive saplings belonging to a Palestinian farmer from al-Mughayir village in eastern Ramallah, north of the occupied West Bank.
According to local sources, settlers from the illegal settlement of Adei Ad infiltrated into an agricultural area near Mughayir village and uprooted and stole 200 olive saplings on a plot of land belonging to farmer Hussein Abu Alya.
In an attempt to hide their crime, the settlers plowed the land, the sources said.
During the past three days, about 780 trees in Palestinian olive groves and vineyards in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, were destroyed or uprooted by Jewish settlers.
According to local sources, settlers from the illegal settlement of Adei Ad infiltrated into an agricultural area near Mughayir village and uprooted and stole 200 olive saplings on a plot of land belonging to farmer Hussein Abu Alya.
In an attempt to hide their crime, the settlers plowed the land, the sources said.
During the past three days, about 780 trees in Palestinian olive groves and vineyards in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, were destroyed or uprooted by Jewish settlers.
1 mar 2020
Israeli colonialist settlers, illegally squatting on Palestinian lands, chopped Saturday 200 grapevines in Faghour area, in the al-Khader town, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, bringing the number of uprooted grapevines and olive trees in the West Bank to 780 in three days.
Emad Da’dou, a nonviolent young activist in al-Khader, said the colonies chopped 200 grapevines, owned by a local farmer, identified as Mohammad Ibrahim Abu al-Kat’a.
He added that the attack took place in an area that is subject to frequent similar violations, and only comes a day after the colonists uprooted 300 grapevines, owned by Nasser Isamel Marzouq, near the illegal colonies of Daniel and Eliezer.
On Thursday, the colonists chopped 200 olive trees and 80 grapevines in lands, owned by Marwan Abdul-Salama Salah and Anas Fathi Salam, near Eliezer colony.
It is worth mentioning that the colonists conduct hundreds of similar violations each year, targeting olive orchards, farmlands, and grapevines across the occupied West Bank, in addition to flooding lands with wastewater.
The Israeli assailants also frequently try to fence the Palestinian lands and squat on them in order to annex them to build new colonialist outposts or to expand existing ones.
All of Israel’s colonies in the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem, whether they have been authorized by various Israeli governments or not, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, in addition to numerous international resolutions and treaties.
Emad Da’dou, a nonviolent young activist in al-Khader, said the colonies chopped 200 grapevines, owned by a local farmer, identified as Mohammad Ibrahim Abu al-Kat’a.
He added that the attack took place in an area that is subject to frequent similar violations, and only comes a day after the colonists uprooted 300 grapevines, owned by Nasser Isamel Marzouq, near the illegal colonies of Daniel and Eliezer.
On Thursday, the colonists chopped 200 olive trees and 80 grapevines in lands, owned by Marwan Abdul-Salama Salah and Anas Fathi Salam, near Eliezer colony.
It is worth mentioning that the colonists conduct hundreds of similar violations each year, targeting olive orchards, farmlands, and grapevines across the occupied West Bank, in addition to flooding lands with wastewater.
The Israeli assailants also frequently try to fence the Palestinian lands and squat on them in order to annex them to build new colonialist outposts or to expand existing ones.
All of Israel’s colonies in the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem, whether they have been authorized by various Israeli governments or not, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, in addition to numerous international resolutions and treaties.