10 mar 2020
Israeli settlers today uprooted vine trees in the village of al-Khader, to the south of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, according to a local source.
Hasan Breijieh, from the Committee of Wall and Settlement Resistance, told WAFA that the settlers uprooted a number of trees in village land owned by local residents located near illegal Israeli settlements.
He warned that the settlers could be making use of the current emergency state declared in the West Bank in order to seize more Palestinian land.
Over the past two weeks, Israeli settlers uprooted about 800 trees al-Khader and 400 others in nearby Wadi Fukin village.
Hasan Breijieh, from the Committee of Wall and Settlement Resistance, told WAFA that the settlers uprooted a number of trees in village land owned by local residents located near illegal Israeli settlements.
He warned that the settlers could be making use of the current emergency state declared in the West Bank in order to seize more Palestinian land.
Over the past two weeks, Israeli settlers uprooted about 800 trees al-Khader and 400 others in nearby Wadi Fukin village.
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Rakan Abed El Rahman for Middle East Eye
Experts say Israeli policies and wars are to blame for a deepening water crisis in Gaza that will have detrimental effects on public health, especially on the most vulnerable segment of society: children. [Transcript by Ali Salam] Ahmed Hills – Water and Environmental Expert “96% of Gaza’s residents rely on groundwater for their daily needs, including drinking water. More than 35% – 40% of the Gaza Strip’s sewage is not connected to a sewage system because of the Israeli blockade and the Palestinian political division. |
So, Gaza’s groundwater is exposed to pollution. Only 2% of Gaza’s groundwater is drinkable, and that does not cover people’s needs.
The valleys of the Gaza Strip are dry in general. Huge dams were built on its upstreams with a calculated capacity to block as much rainfall as possible, which would fall on all of Palestine and flow into the Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation built the dams and rebuilt reservoirs next to them, filling up the reservoirs with the water it blocks.”
Khalid Al-Tibi – Director of Gaza’s Environmental Health Department
“The segment of society most affected by polluted water are children and the elderly. Polluted water can cause serious health problems, especially diarrhea, typhoid or paratyphoid, which is caused by salmonella microbes. All these diseases can develop in children when they drink polluted water.”
Monther Shublaq – Director of Coastal Municipalities Water Utility
“To improve the water situation in the Gaza Strip, step-by-step solutions must be found, such as small desalination plants, rainwater collection, wastewater treatment, seawater desalination and infrastructure like reservoirs and pipelines. Pollution form sewage has environmental, health and social effects. It also causes further degradation of the groundwater.
The most significant challenges that led to our water disasters have been the three Israeli wars on the Gaza Strip. The wars continuously destroyed all the reservoirs, wells and pipelines. Israel is not subject to any reliable system. Some projects have been delayed for four or five years. There was talk of bringing heavy equipment for the water authorities, such as drills, in order to maintain the pipeline, wells and networks.
This equipment was bought in 2015, so it’s been five years and this equipment is still at a storage unit in the West Bank.”
Ahmed Al-Hor – Water Vendor
“The percentage of people who can’t afford to buy water is between 80% to 90%. The situation is difficult. Sometimes, I know a customer does not have drinkable water, and I ask him if he wants to buy it, but he replies ‘no,’ because he doesn’t have money.”
Walid Badwan – Gaza Resident
“I fill my gallon containers with water from this street tap because I cannot afford to buy water at all. Water is essential for my home, but I cannot buy it. I walk long distances to get drinkable water. This is, of course, a burden on me and my children. Usually the tap water is cut off for half of the day. And when tap water is available, it is not good for drinking.”
Mohamed Abo Al-Kher – Gaza Resident
“Tap water causes diseases like kidney stones. Every month, when I have enough money, like 5 shekels ($1.50), I buy water. Sometimes I have to borrow money.”
Khalid Al-Tibi – Director of Gaza’s Environmental Health Department
“Private desalination plants remove salt and harmful chemicals from polluted water. Then the water is sterilised and sold to citizens for drinking. But this is a temporary solution, not a strategic one until we get our water rights from the Israeli occupation.”
Ahmed Hills – Water and Environmental Expert
“When water is drawn from wells or taken from desalination stations, it is exposed to different types of bacteria, viruses and parasites, especially during the distribution process.”
Khalid Al-Tibi – Director of Gaza’s Environmental Health Department
“Water [from private desalination plants] doesn’t meet the required health standards for human consumption. Calcium deficiencies lead to osteoporosis and lack of fluoride leads to tooth decay.”
Produced and Translated by Rakan Abed El Rahman
The valleys of the Gaza Strip are dry in general. Huge dams were built on its upstreams with a calculated capacity to block as much rainfall as possible, which would fall on all of Palestine and flow into the Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation built the dams and rebuilt reservoirs next to them, filling up the reservoirs with the water it blocks.”
Khalid Al-Tibi – Director of Gaza’s Environmental Health Department
“The segment of society most affected by polluted water are children and the elderly. Polluted water can cause serious health problems, especially diarrhea, typhoid or paratyphoid, which is caused by salmonella microbes. All these diseases can develop in children when they drink polluted water.”
Monther Shublaq – Director of Coastal Municipalities Water Utility
“To improve the water situation in the Gaza Strip, step-by-step solutions must be found, such as small desalination plants, rainwater collection, wastewater treatment, seawater desalination and infrastructure like reservoirs and pipelines. Pollution form sewage has environmental, health and social effects. It also causes further degradation of the groundwater.
The most significant challenges that led to our water disasters have been the three Israeli wars on the Gaza Strip. The wars continuously destroyed all the reservoirs, wells and pipelines. Israel is not subject to any reliable system. Some projects have been delayed for four or five years. There was talk of bringing heavy equipment for the water authorities, such as drills, in order to maintain the pipeline, wells and networks.
This equipment was bought in 2015, so it’s been five years and this equipment is still at a storage unit in the West Bank.”
Ahmed Al-Hor – Water Vendor
“The percentage of people who can’t afford to buy water is between 80% to 90%. The situation is difficult. Sometimes, I know a customer does not have drinkable water, and I ask him if he wants to buy it, but he replies ‘no,’ because he doesn’t have money.”
Walid Badwan – Gaza Resident
“I fill my gallon containers with water from this street tap because I cannot afford to buy water at all. Water is essential for my home, but I cannot buy it. I walk long distances to get drinkable water. This is, of course, a burden on me and my children. Usually the tap water is cut off for half of the day. And when tap water is available, it is not good for drinking.”
Mohamed Abo Al-Kher – Gaza Resident
“Tap water causes diseases like kidney stones. Every month, when I have enough money, like 5 shekels ($1.50), I buy water. Sometimes I have to borrow money.”
Khalid Al-Tibi – Director of Gaza’s Environmental Health Department
“Private desalination plants remove salt and harmful chemicals from polluted water. Then the water is sterilised and sold to citizens for drinking. But this is a temporary solution, not a strategic one until we get our water rights from the Israeli occupation.”
Ahmed Hills – Water and Environmental Expert
“When water is drawn from wells or taken from desalination stations, it is exposed to different types of bacteria, viruses and parasites, especially during the distribution process.”
Khalid Al-Tibi – Director of Gaza’s Environmental Health Department
“Water [from private desalination plants] doesn’t meet the required health standards for human consumption. Calcium deficiencies lead to osteoporosis and lack of fluoride leads to tooth decay.”
Produced and Translated by Rakan Abed El Rahman
9 mar 2020
Israeli occupation army on Monday morning carried out a limited incursion into border lands east of al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
Local sources said that a number of bulldozers, escorted by armed forces, moved a few hundred meters into the eastern side of al-Bureij refugee camp.
They added that the Israeli army bulldozers leveled agricultural lands along the border fence before they withdrew from the area.
Local sources said that a number of bulldozers, escorted by armed forces, moved a few hundred meters into the eastern side of al-Bureij refugee camp.
They added that the Israeli army bulldozers leveled agricultural lands along the border fence before they withdrew from the area.
Israeli forces today uprooted hundreds of olive saplings in the village of Wadi Fukin, to the West of Bethlehem in the south of the occupied West Bank, according to a local source.
Nidal Manasra, member of Wadi Fukin village council, told WAFA that Israeli soldiers raided the village and uprooted about 400 olive saplings planted in land belonging to a local Palestinian resident.
It is worth noting that illegal Israeli settlers uprooted during the last couple of weeks about 800 olive and vine tress from al- Khader land, located to the south of Bethlehem.
Nidal Manasra, member of Wadi Fukin village council, told WAFA that Israeli soldiers raided the village and uprooted about 400 olive saplings planted in land belonging to a local Palestinian resident.
It is worth noting that illegal Israeli settlers uprooted during the last couple of weeks about 800 olive and vine tress from al- Khader land, located to the south of Bethlehem.
Flares lit up the sky over the eastern border area of Gaza City on Sunday evening as the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) intensively fired live rounds at agricultural plots of land.
According to local sources, the IOF opened fire at cultivated lands in the east of Gaza City, with no known reason, and used flares to light up the sky over the area.
A Palestinian observation point in the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp (central Gaza) also came under gunfire attack, with no reported casualties.
According to local sources, the IOF opened fire at cultivated lands in the east of Gaza City, with no known reason, and used flares to light up the sky over the area.
A Palestinian observation point in the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp (central Gaza) also came under gunfire attack, with no reported casualties.
8 mar 2020
Israeli forces seized today digging equipment in Birin area to the east of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, occupied West Bank, According to a local activist.
Fuad al-'Amour, the coordinator of the Protection and Steadfastness Committee in Masafer Yatta, told WAFA correspondent and seized two excavators belonging to local resident Mohammed Abu Turkey.
Fuad al-'Amour, the coordinator of the Protection and Steadfastness Committee in Masafer Yatta, told WAFA correspondent and seized two excavators belonging to local resident Mohammed Abu Turkey.
Israeli occupation authorities notified today members of a local Palestinian family in Yarza area, in the northern Jordan Valley, to remove their residential tents and animal barns, according to a local official.
Mutaz Bsharat, an official in charge of the Jordan Valley’s file in Tubas, said Israeli forces handed a notice ordering members of Abu Thaher family to remove their residential tents and animal barns.
Israeli forces demolished in mid-December 2019 and on the 1st of January 2020 tents and animal bars belonging to the same family.
Mutaz Bsharat, an official in charge of the Jordan Valley’s file in Tubas, said Israeli forces handed a notice ordering members of Abu Thaher family to remove their residential tents and animal barns.
Israeli forces demolished in mid-December 2019 and on the 1st of January 2020 tents and animal bars belonging to the same family.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Government of Japan have joined efforts on a project that aims to procure and deliver urgently needed essential drugs and medical consumables for Al Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem with the award of a new grant under Japan’s supplementary budget.
“The Government of Japan decided to extend the financial assistance to Al-Makassed Hospital due to the very important role that the hospital played as a main referral hospital which receives patients not only from Jerusalem and West Bank but also from Gaza,” said Masayuki Magoshi, Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to Palestine.
He added, “UNOPS is one of our important partners to implement humanitarian assistance targeting the health and the protection of IDPs and refugees in Palestine.”
The support from UNOPS and Japan to Al Makassed Hospital throughout the 12 months project, will ensure that urgently needed essential drugs and medical consumables are available for around 1,350 patients (at least 50% female) seeking health services at Al Makassed Hospital.
On this occasion, Tokumitsu Kobayashi UNOPS Director in Palestine expressed, “UNOPS is committed to working hand-in-hand with the government of Japan in its efforts to deliver necessary drugs and medical supplies that will enable Al Makassed Hospital to provide uninterrupted healthcare".
“The Government of Japan decided to extend the financial assistance to Al-Makassed Hospital due to the very important role that the hospital played as a main referral hospital which receives patients not only from Jerusalem and West Bank but also from Gaza,” said Masayuki Magoshi, Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to Palestine.
He added, “UNOPS is one of our important partners to implement humanitarian assistance targeting the health and the protection of IDPs and refugees in Palestine.”
The support from UNOPS and Japan to Al Makassed Hospital throughout the 12 months project, will ensure that urgently needed essential drugs and medical consumables are available for around 1,350 patients (at least 50% female) seeking health services at Al Makassed Hospital.
On this occasion, Tokumitsu Kobayashi UNOPS Director in Palestine expressed, “UNOPS is committed to working hand-in-hand with the government of Japan in its efforts to deliver necessary drugs and medical supplies that will enable Al Makassed Hospital to provide uninterrupted healthcare".
7 mar 2020
In new remarks by the Gaza-based head of the Popular Committee for Breaking the Israel-imposed Blockade of Gaza, Dr. Jamal Alkhodary said that Palestinian women in Gaza have been badly affected by the Israeli blockade, in terms of labor.
The statement, released Saturday by Alkhudary to local media outlets, suggested that the rate of unemployment among Gaza women, has reached an unprecedented level; reaching as high as 90% .
Alkhudary maintained that women constitute 49 percent of the overall Palestinian population in both the coastal territory of Gaza and the West Bank, asserting that women play key roles in development of the Palestinian society, as well as in the struggle for freedom and equality.
Also, he pointed out that under the Israeli blockade of Gaza, Gaza-based women have suffered the brunt of Israel’s restrictions and frequent deadly attacks on the territory, as women have lost beloved ones such as children, husbands, brothers or parents.
According to Alkhudary, supporting female labor in the Gaza Strip, has increasingly become vital, as many thousands of women have lost sources of income, due to the Israel-forced absent of family members.
He called on all relevant local and international organizations that are concerned with women development, to promptly provide support and assistance to Palestinian women in Gaza, by creating some new operation programs that could alleviate the suffering of those women.
The man’s statements came on the eve of International Women’s Day March 8.
Over the past 13 years, Israel has been enforcing a blockade on the Gaza Strip, with a great deal of restrictions on the coastal enclave.
A part of Israeli measures against Gaza has been numerous military attacks that have claimed the lives of thousands of residents, including women, men and children.
Israel alleges that its siege has been imposed for security reasons, after the Islamist Hamas party was elected in 2006 and formed a government in the tiny coastal territory following an internal fight with the Fatah party of western-backed Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.
The statement, released Saturday by Alkhudary to local media outlets, suggested that the rate of unemployment among Gaza women, has reached an unprecedented level; reaching as high as 90% .
Alkhudary maintained that women constitute 49 percent of the overall Palestinian population in both the coastal territory of Gaza and the West Bank, asserting that women play key roles in development of the Palestinian society, as well as in the struggle for freedom and equality.
Also, he pointed out that under the Israeli blockade of Gaza, Gaza-based women have suffered the brunt of Israel’s restrictions and frequent deadly attacks on the territory, as women have lost beloved ones such as children, husbands, brothers or parents.
According to Alkhudary, supporting female labor in the Gaza Strip, has increasingly become vital, as many thousands of women have lost sources of income, due to the Israel-forced absent of family members.
He called on all relevant local and international organizations that are concerned with women development, to promptly provide support and assistance to Palestinian women in Gaza, by creating some new operation programs that could alleviate the suffering of those women.
The man’s statements came on the eve of International Women’s Day March 8.
Over the past 13 years, Israel has been enforcing a blockade on the Gaza Strip, with a great deal of restrictions on the coastal enclave.
A part of Israeli measures against Gaza has been numerous military attacks that have claimed the lives of thousands of residents, including women, men and children.
Israel alleges that its siege has been imposed for security reasons, after the Islamist Hamas party was elected in 2006 and formed a government in the tiny coastal territory following an internal fight with the Fatah party of western-backed Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.
5 mar 2020
Israeli authorities today ordered a halt on construction of agricultural structures in the village of Azzun Atma, to the south of the northern occupied West Bank city of Qalqilya, and a retaining wall in a village near Ramallah, local sources said. video
The sources said that Israeli forces notified Farouq Quzmar of the order to stop building the structures, claiming they were being built without a permit.
Sources also said that the Israeli army destroyed a retaining wall for a farm in the village of Nilin, west of Ramallah. video
During the demolition of the wall, residents confronted the soldiers who assaulted one youth and injured him, said the sources.
The sources said that Israeli forces notified Farouq Quzmar of the order to stop building the structures, claiming they were being built without a permit.
Sources also said that the Israeli army destroyed a retaining wall for a farm in the village of Nilin, west of Ramallah. video
During the demolition of the wall, residents confronted the soldiers who assaulted one youth and injured him, said the sources.