28 mar 2020
Israeli occupation forces demolished today a room belonging to a Palestinian villager in the village of Zawiya, near the West Bank town of Salfit, local sources said.
An Israeli army force accompanied by a bulldozer broke into the village before demolishing the room, which was used for agricultural purposes. The room belongs to a local villager identified as Salah Raddad.
Israeli occupation authorities ban almost all Palestinian construction in about 70 percent of the occupied West Bank, in favor of the illegal settlement activities in the territory.
An Israeli army force accompanied by a bulldozer broke into the village before demolishing the room, which was used for agricultural purposes. The room belongs to a local villager identified as Salah Raddad.
Israeli occupation authorities ban almost all Palestinian construction in about 70 percent of the occupied West Bank, in favor of the illegal settlement activities in the territory.
For the second day in a row, fanatic Jewish settlers attacked today the village of Al-Tuwani, south of the city of Hebron in the West Bank, according to a local source.
Fo'ad Amour, a local rights activist, told WAFA that settlers from the illegal settlement of Havat Ma'on, nearby, attacked the village and pelted stones at herders and other civilians in the full sight of Israeli soldiers who did nothing to stop the attack.
Amour added that not only did the soldiers do nothing to stop the attack, but further attacked with teargas and stun grenades protesters who attempted to fend off the attack. video
No injuries were reported among the Palestinian civilians in the village.
Israeli settlers are notorious for their violence against Palestinians, but assaults on Palestinian farmers and herders have been frequent over the past few months.
Armed settlers and soldiers often prevent Palestinian shepherds from herding in the open pastures of the occupied West Bank in order to force them to abandon the area.
Fo'ad Amour, a local rights activist, told WAFA that settlers from the illegal settlement of Havat Ma'on, nearby, attacked the village and pelted stones at herders and other civilians in the full sight of Israeli soldiers who did nothing to stop the attack.
Amour added that not only did the soldiers do nothing to stop the attack, but further attacked with teargas and stun grenades protesters who attempted to fend off the attack. video
No injuries were reported among the Palestinian civilians in the village.
Israeli settlers are notorious for their violence against Palestinians, but assaults on Palestinian farmers and herders have been frequent over the past few months.
Armed settlers and soldiers often prevent Palestinian shepherds from herding in the open pastures of the occupied West Bank in order to force them to abandon the area.
A horde of extremist Jewish settlers on Saturday chopped off dozens of olive trees in Sa’ir town, east of al-Khalil city in the occupied West Bank.
According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, settlers from the illegal settlement of Asfar cut off and stole more than 300 olive trees on a tract of land in al-Qanoub area of Sa’ir town.
The olive grove is around 40 dunums and belongs to a local resident called Sameer Shalaldeh.
Incidents of sabotage and violence by extremist Jewish settlers against Palestinians and their property are a daily occurrence throughout the West Bank.
However, Israeli security and military authorities exhibit extreme incompetence in addressing such widespread occurrence of settlers’ crimes.
According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, settlers from the illegal settlement of Asfar cut off and stole more than 300 olive trees on a tract of land in al-Qanoub area of Sa’ir town.
The olive grove is around 40 dunums and belongs to a local resident called Sameer Shalaldeh.
Incidents of sabotage and violence by extremist Jewish settlers against Palestinians and their property are a daily occurrence throughout the West Bank.
However, Israeli security and military authorities exhibit extreme incompetence in addressing such widespread occurrence of settlers’ crimes.
Israeli soldiers opened fire today at Palestinian farmer and herders east of Khan Younis, in the south of the besieged Gaza Strip, and forced them to leave the area, reported WAFA correspondent.
He said the soldiers stationed behind the border fence east of Khan Younis opened fire at herders east of Abasan town and at farmers east of al-Qarara town. No injuries were reported.
Soldiers regularly open fire at people near the border fence, including farmers attending to their land, in order to keep them as far from the border as possible.
He said the soldiers stationed behind the border fence east of Khan Younis opened fire at herders east of Abasan town and at farmers east of al-Qarara town. No injuries were reported.
Soldiers regularly open fire at people near the border fence, including farmers attending to their land, in order to keep them as far from the border as possible.
27 mar 2020
Israeli settlers attacked today Palestinian herders and other civilians in the village of Al-Tuwani, south of the city of Hebron in the West Bank, according to a local activist.
Fo'ad Amour, a local rights activist, told WAFA that settlers accompanied by attack dogs assaulted herders in the village and injured one of them in his abdomen and hand. He was moved to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. video
Israeli settlers are notorious for their attacks on Palestinians, but assaults on Palestinian farmers and herders have been frequent over the past few months.
Armed settlers and soldiers often prevent Palestinian shepherds from herding in the open pastures of the occupied West Bank in order to force them to abandon the area.
Fo'ad Amour, a local rights activist, told WAFA that settlers accompanied by attack dogs assaulted herders in the village and injured one of them in his abdomen and hand. He was moved to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. video
Israeli settlers are notorious for their attacks on Palestinians, but assaults on Palestinian farmers and herders have been frequent over the past few months.
Armed settlers and soldiers often prevent Palestinian shepherds from herding in the open pastures of the occupied West Bank in order to force them to abandon the area.
26 mar 2020
Israeli forces Thursday demolished a farming shed and a water well in Deir Ballut town, west of Salfit city, according to an official.
Governor of Salfit Abdallah Kmeil said that Israeli forces escorted a bulldozer into Wadi Sarida area, where the heavy machinery tore down a farming shed and a water well belonging to Aziz Yusef Abdullah, a villager.
He noted that Israeli forces were exploiting the lockdown enforced on the occupied territories over coronavirus spread to expedite the implementation of their schemes to seize Palestinian land.
Located 15 kilometers to the west of Salfit city, Deir Ballut has a population of some 4,100 and occupied a total area of 11,900 dunams. It boasts several archeological sites dating back to the Byzantine era, such as St. Simeon Monastery and al-Qal'a Monastery.
Before 1948, the village owned 40,000 dunums of land (10,000 acres). In 1967, 20% of the land of Deir Ballut (or 2,000 acres) was confiscated into Israel.
Since then, like so many other villages in Palestine, Deir Ballut has been subjected to almost continual land theft for Israeli settlements, bypass roads, and military installations.
Under the Oslo Accords, an agreement made 25 years ago that was supposed to last just five years towards a self-governing country alongside Israel, the Palestinian Authority was given limied control over a small pocket of land occupying 621 dunams, accounting for almost 5 percent of the village’s total area. In contrast, Israel maintains control over the remainder, classified as Area C.
Israel has constructed a section of the apartheid wall, which encircles the village from three directions, confiscating and isolating some 4,050 dunams of fertile land for colonial settlement activities and pushing the villagers into a crowded enclave, a ghetto, surrounded by walls, settlements and military installations.
Israel has established two colonial settlements, namely Alei Zahav and Pedu’el, on lands confiscated from the village. It has confiscated more land for the construction of settler-only by-pass road 446, which extends two kilometers on the village’s land.
Israel demolishes Palestinian houses and structures almost on a daily basis as a means to achieve “demographic control” of the occupied territories.
Israel denies planning permits for Palestinians to build on their own land or to extend existing houses to accommodate natural growth, particularly in Jerusalem and Area C, which constitutes 60 percent of the occupied West Bank and falls under full Israeli military rule, forcing residents to build without obtaining rarely-granted permits to provide shelters for their families.
In contrast, Israel argues that building within existing colonial settlements is necessary to accommodate the “natural growth” of settlers. Therefore, it much more easily gives the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers there building permits and provides them with roads, electricity, water and sewage systems that remain inaccessible to many neighboring Palestinians.
Governor of Salfit Abdallah Kmeil said that Israeli forces escorted a bulldozer into Wadi Sarida area, where the heavy machinery tore down a farming shed and a water well belonging to Aziz Yusef Abdullah, a villager.
He noted that Israeli forces were exploiting the lockdown enforced on the occupied territories over coronavirus spread to expedite the implementation of their schemes to seize Palestinian land.
Located 15 kilometers to the west of Salfit city, Deir Ballut has a population of some 4,100 and occupied a total area of 11,900 dunams. It boasts several archeological sites dating back to the Byzantine era, such as St. Simeon Monastery and al-Qal'a Monastery.
Before 1948, the village owned 40,000 dunums of land (10,000 acres). In 1967, 20% of the land of Deir Ballut (or 2,000 acres) was confiscated into Israel.
Since then, like so many other villages in Palestine, Deir Ballut has been subjected to almost continual land theft for Israeli settlements, bypass roads, and military installations.
Under the Oslo Accords, an agreement made 25 years ago that was supposed to last just five years towards a self-governing country alongside Israel, the Palestinian Authority was given limied control over a small pocket of land occupying 621 dunams, accounting for almost 5 percent of the village’s total area. In contrast, Israel maintains control over the remainder, classified as Area C.
Israel has constructed a section of the apartheid wall, which encircles the village from three directions, confiscating and isolating some 4,050 dunams of fertile land for colonial settlement activities and pushing the villagers into a crowded enclave, a ghetto, surrounded by walls, settlements and military installations.
Israel has established two colonial settlements, namely Alei Zahav and Pedu’el, on lands confiscated from the village. It has confiscated more land for the construction of settler-only by-pass road 446, which extends two kilometers on the village’s land.
Israel demolishes Palestinian houses and structures almost on a daily basis as a means to achieve “demographic control” of the occupied territories.
Israel denies planning permits for Palestinians to build on their own land or to extend existing houses to accommodate natural growth, particularly in Jerusalem and Area C, which constitutes 60 percent of the occupied West Bank and falls under full Israeli military rule, forcing residents to build without obtaining rarely-granted permits to provide shelters for their families.
In contrast, Israel argues that building within existing colonial settlements is necessary to accommodate the “natural growth” of settlers. Therefore, it much more easily gives the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers there building permits and provides them with roads, electricity, water and sewage systems that remain inaccessible to many neighboring Palestinians.
Israeli forces today demolished a residential structure and seized tents and other equipment in the Jordan Valley village of Ibziq, north of the occupied West Bank city of Tubas, according to a local official.
Abdul Majeed Khdeirat, head of Ibziq village council, said Israeli forces raided the village and destroyed a 70-square-meter shack and two water and electricity pumps.
He added that the forces also seized eight tents that were not set up yet, solar panels, six spraying equipment, and building blocks for use by the village's mosque, clinic and council, under the pretext that the construction was taking place in a military zone.
Abdul Majeed Khdeirat, head of Ibziq village council, said Israeli forces raided the village and destroyed a 70-square-meter shack and two water and electricity pumps.
He added that the forces also seized eight tents that were not set up yet, solar panels, six spraying equipment, and building blocks for use by the village's mosque, clinic and council, under the pretext that the construction was taking place in a military zone.
25 mar 2020
Israeli settlers Wednesday damaged 50 olive trees and grapevines in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem city.
Hisham Mohammad Sbeih, the landowner, told WAFA that he entered his grove, located in proximity to the Gush Etzion colonial settlement bloc, today, but he was completely shocked to find out that settlers had damaged 40 grapevines and 10 olive trees.
He pointed out that this was not the first time that settlers wreaked havoc in his land, and that settlers were exploiting the lockdown enforced on Bethlehem district over coronavirus spread to expedite the destruction of Palestinian groves.
Israeli settler violence against Palestinians and their property is commonplace in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
It includes arsons of property and mosques, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, attacks on vulnerable homes, among others.
Between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law.
Hisham Mohammad Sbeih, the landowner, told WAFA that he entered his grove, located in proximity to the Gush Etzion colonial settlement bloc, today, but he was completely shocked to find out that settlers had damaged 40 grapevines and 10 olive trees.
He pointed out that this was not the first time that settlers wreaked havoc in his land, and that settlers were exploiting the lockdown enforced on Bethlehem district over coronavirus spread to expedite the destruction of Palestinian groves.
Israeli settler violence against Palestinians and their property is commonplace in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
It includes arsons of property and mosques, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, attacks on vulnerable homes, among others.
Between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law.
Scores of Palestinians suffocated from Israeli military teargas west of Shweika neighborhood, north of Tulkarem city in the northern West Bank.
WAFA correspondent reported that heavily-deployed Israeli soldiers opened fire towards Palestinian farmers tending to their farmlands close to the military gate of the section of Israel’s apartheid wall, located west of the neighborhood, causing scores to suffer from excessive tear gas inhalation.
WAFA correspondent reported that heavily-deployed Israeli soldiers opened fire towards Palestinian farmers tending to their farmlands close to the military gate of the section of Israel’s apartheid wall, located west of the neighborhood, causing scores to suffer from excessive tear gas inhalation.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened marchingun fire at farmers in southern Gaza and fishermen off Gaza coast on Wednesday morning.
Local sources said that IOF soldiers opened fire at farmers working in their land in eastern Khan Younis to the south of Gaza Strip.
They added that the IOF also opened heavy fire at Palestinian fishermen off northern Gaza coast.
The sources said that no casualties were reported.
Local sources said that IOF soldiers opened fire at farmers working in their land in eastern Khan Younis to the south of Gaza Strip.
They added that the IOF also opened heavy fire at Palestinian fishermen off northern Gaza coast.
The sources said that no casualties were reported.
24 mar 2020
Israeli settlers today attacked Palestinian residents of the village of Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah, injuring two, according to the head of the village council Marwan Sabbah.
He told WAFA that settlers attacked with sharp tools village farmers as they were working on their land and injured two people.
The settlers had left their cattle to graze in the village’s agricultural land, which provoked the farmers and forced them to rush to protect their land from the settlers’ animals leading to confrontations between the residents and the settlers.
Israeli soldiers in the area closed roads leading to the village and kept one of the wounded, said Sabbah, which made is difficult for them to know how he was doing.
He told WAFA that settlers attacked with sharp tools village farmers as they were working on their land and injured two people.
The settlers had left their cattle to graze in the village’s agricultural land, which provoked the farmers and forced them to rush to protect their land from the settlers’ animals leading to confrontations between the residents and the settlers.
Israeli soldiers in the area closed roads leading to the village and kept one of the wounded, said Sabbah, which made is difficult for them to know how he was doing.
Treatment of Palestinian workers at their workplaces in Israel in light of the coronavirus pandemic is inhumane, today said Palestinian government spokesman Ibrahim Milhem.
He condemned what he described as “the racist and inhumane” behavior of the Israeli authorities and employers in dealing with the Palestinian workers.
Milhem was reacting to an incident yesterday in which Israeli forces literarily threw a Palestinian worker on the roadside near the Beit Sera military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank despite his difficult health conditions and without informing him that he had the coronavirus infection. video
The worker was later picked up by Palestinian health workers and transferred to a special center for corona patients in the West Bank.
Milhem called on the Palestinian workers not to accept work at infected workshops and factories in Israel and to demand decent humane treatment from their Israeli employers.
"If you have to work for a living, then let it be with dignity, and not in this demeaning way," he said.
“We are doing everything we can to get our workers not to accept work in Israel under these difficult circumstances, and not to throw themselves into these incubators of this pandemic in order to guarantee their safety and the safety of their families and community,” he added.
The Palestinian government had said workers who want to work in Israel had until last Sunday to arrange for their stay inside Israel for one month and not to go back and forth between their workplaces and homes in the occupied West Bank in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic, which is spreading much faster in Israel than in the Palestinian territories.
It called on Israel to ensure humanitarian conditions for the around 50,000 Palestinian workers who have found themselves stuck in Israel for at least one month.
Update: Milhem said that corona test conducted on a Palestinian worker from the village of Beit Sera, who was left yesterday by Israeli forces at a West Bank checkpoint after he fell sick at his workplace in Israel, has turned out to be negative and therefore the man was transferred to hospital for treatment.
He condemned what he described as “the racist and inhumane” behavior of the Israeli authorities and employers in dealing with the Palestinian workers.
Milhem was reacting to an incident yesterday in which Israeli forces literarily threw a Palestinian worker on the roadside near the Beit Sera military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank despite his difficult health conditions and without informing him that he had the coronavirus infection. video
The worker was later picked up by Palestinian health workers and transferred to a special center for corona patients in the West Bank.
Milhem called on the Palestinian workers not to accept work at infected workshops and factories in Israel and to demand decent humane treatment from their Israeli employers.
"If you have to work for a living, then let it be with dignity, and not in this demeaning way," he said.
“We are doing everything we can to get our workers not to accept work in Israel under these difficult circumstances, and not to throw themselves into these incubators of this pandemic in order to guarantee their safety and the safety of their families and community,” he added.
The Palestinian government had said workers who want to work in Israel had until last Sunday to arrange for their stay inside Israel for one month and not to go back and forth between their workplaces and homes in the occupied West Bank in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic, which is spreading much faster in Israel than in the Palestinian territories.
It called on Israel to ensure humanitarian conditions for the around 50,000 Palestinian workers who have found themselves stuck in Israel for at least one month.
Update: Milhem said that corona test conducted on a Palestinian worker from the village of Beit Sera, who was left yesterday by Israeli forces at a West Bank checkpoint after he fell sick at his workplace in Israel, has turned out to be negative and therefore the man was transferred to hospital for treatment.