10 may 2019
Israeli soldiers attacked, on Friday evening, several Palestinian fishing boats with live fire, in Gaza territorial waters, forcing the fishermen to return to the shore in fear of further violations.
Eyewitnesses said the navy ships attacked the fishing boats near the shore of the Sudaniyya area, northwest of Gaza city.
The attack is part of ongoing violations against the Palestinian fishermen, in addition to the farmers and workers on their lands near the perimeter fence across the eastern parts of the coastal region.
Eyewitnesses said the navy ships attacked the fishing boats near the shore of the Sudaniyya area, northwest of Gaza city.
The attack is part of ongoing violations against the Palestinian fishermen, in addition to the farmers and workers on their lands near the perimeter fence across the eastern parts of the coastal region.
Israeli authorities have reopened the Kerem Shalom border crossing and allowed the entry of fuel into the besieged Gaza Strip, on Friday.
According to Hebrew-language news outlets, Israeli authorities decided to reopen Gaza’s main commercial crossing, known as Kerem Shalom, in order to allow the entry of fuel.
There are three crossings into the Gaza Strip; two are controlled by Israel and one by Egypt. The Gaza-Israel crossings are the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, that is specifically for pedestrians, and Kerem Shalom in the southern Gaza Strip for the entry of goods and fuel. The Gaza-Egypt crossing is the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, but is often closed and lacks infrastructure for it to be a main commercial crossing.
In January, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) warned of the deteriorating situation of the Palestinian patients in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing crisis of fuel shortage.
PCHR called upon the Palestinian Authority (PA) and international organizations to urgently intervene since then to ensure the rapid flow of fuel needed for the operation of generators in the health facilities in the Gaza Strip.
According to Hebrew-language news outlets, Israeli authorities decided to reopen Gaza’s main commercial crossing, known as Kerem Shalom, in order to allow the entry of fuel.
There are three crossings into the Gaza Strip; two are controlled by Israel and one by Egypt. The Gaza-Israel crossings are the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, that is specifically for pedestrians, and Kerem Shalom in the southern Gaza Strip for the entry of goods and fuel. The Gaza-Egypt crossing is the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, but is often closed and lacks infrastructure for it to be a main commercial crossing.
In January, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) warned of the deteriorating situation of the Palestinian patients in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing crisis of fuel shortage.
PCHR called upon the Palestinian Authority (PA) and international organizations to urgently intervene since then to ensure the rapid flow of fuel needed for the operation of generators in the health facilities in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli authorities decided to expand the permitted fishing zone off Gaza’s coast, on Friday, to 12 nautical miles after drastically reducing the zone to only six over a week ago.
Head of the Fishermen Union in Gaza, Nizar Ayyash, said that Israeli authorities notified Palestinians in the Gaza Strip of their decision to allow the expansion of the permitted fishing zone starting from 10 a.m. on Friday morning.
Over a week ago, Israeli authorities reduced the permitted fishing zone to six nautical miles and destroyed Palestinian fishing nets nine nautical miles off Gaza’s coast.
The decision to reduce the fishing zone came after the Hamas movement allegedly fired six rockets, one of which landed near the coast of Ashdod City, in southern Israel, while the others were directed towards the sea.
According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 1994, a permitted fishing range of 20 nautical miles was agreed on between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In practice, Israel only allowed fishing up to 12 nautical miles until 2006, when the fishing zone was reduced to six and later to three.
Head of the Fishermen Union in Gaza, Nizar Ayyash, said that Israeli authorities notified Palestinians in the Gaza Strip of their decision to allow the expansion of the permitted fishing zone starting from 10 a.m. on Friday morning.
Over a week ago, Israeli authorities reduced the permitted fishing zone to six nautical miles and destroyed Palestinian fishing nets nine nautical miles off Gaza’s coast.
The decision to reduce the fishing zone came after the Hamas movement allegedly fired six rockets, one of which landed near the coast of Ashdod City, in southern Israel, while the others were directed towards the sea.
According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 1994, a permitted fishing range of 20 nautical miles was agreed on between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In practice, Israel only allowed fishing up to 12 nautical miles until 2006, when the fishing zone was reduced to six and later to three.
Israeli soldiers shot, on Friday morning, a Palestinian farmer while working on his own land, east of Gaza city.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers, stationed across the perimeter fence, fired many live rounds at Palestinian farmers, wounding one of them.
Palestinian Red Crescent medics rushed to the area, and moved the wounded man to the Shifa Medical Center, west of Gaza city.
The attack is part of ongoing violations against the farmers and workers along the eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, in addition to the frequent assaults against the fishermen in Palestinian territorial waters.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers, stationed across the perimeter fence, fired many live rounds at Palestinian farmers, wounding one of them.
Palestinian Red Crescent medics rushed to the area, and moved the wounded man to the Shifa Medical Center, west of Gaza city.
The attack is part of ongoing violations against the farmers and workers along the eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, in addition to the frequent assaults against the fishermen in Palestinian territorial waters.
9 may 2019
The Government of Canada has provided the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) with a contribution of CAD$3.2 million (approximately US $2.4 million) to support 128,000 vulnerable Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, on Thursday.
According to a press release, WFP will use the funds to meet basic food needs of 91,000 food-insecure non-refugees in Gaza through electronic vouchers for around one and a half months and 37,000 vulnerable Bedouin and herders in the West Bank for three months.
WFP Representative and Country Director, Stephen Kearney, "We're grateful for Canada's commitment to provide food assistance to the most vulnerable Palestinians."
Kearney said, "Continued food assistance is critical as the number of food-insecure people in Palestine is on the rise with people having to skip meals, take on debts and count on the support of neighbors and friends."
WFP assists the non-refugee communities in Gaza and the West Bank who are most acutely hit by the lack of jobs and who receive less than US$1 a day to cover basic housing, clothing, and food needs.
WFP will use part of this contribution to organize nutrition and health awareness sessions where families can learn how to prepare healthy and vitamin-rich meals using their WFP food entitlements. Special attention will be given to pregnant and nursing mothers and caregivers of children under the age of five years.
"WFP is a long standing and trusted partner. In addition to WFP's important work meeting the basic food needs of poor men and women in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, Canada values WFP's impact on the local economy - promoting local farmers, food processors, and shops."
Representative of Canada to the Palestinian Authority, Douglas Scott Proudfoot, said "Working with partners such as WFP that advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is a key priority for Canada."
Under the terms of its four-year plan in Palestine, WFP aims to provide food assistance to 360,000 of the people most affected by food insecurity, primarily in Gaza and Area C of the West Bank. Since 2011, WFP has invested more than US$210 million into the Palestinian economy through food vouchers.
According to a press release, WFP will use the funds to meet basic food needs of 91,000 food-insecure non-refugees in Gaza through electronic vouchers for around one and a half months and 37,000 vulnerable Bedouin and herders in the West Bank for three months.
WFP Representative and Country Director, Stephen Kearney, "We're grateful for Canada's commitment to provide food assistance to the most vulnerable Palestinians."
Kearney said, "Continued food assistance is critical as the number of food-insecure people in Palestine is on the rise with people having to skip meals, take on debts and count on the support of neighbors and friends."
WFP assists the non-refugee communities in Gaza and the West Bank who are most acutely hit by the lack of jobs and who receive less than US$1 a day to cover basic housing, clothing, and food needs.
WFP will use part of this contribution to organize nutrition and health awareness sessions where families can learn how to prepare healthy and vitamin-rich meals using their WFP food entitlements. Special attention will be given to pregnant and nursing mothers and caregivers of children under the age of five years.
"WFP is a long standing and trusted partner. In addition to WFP's important work meeting the basic food needs of poor men and women in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, Canada values WFP's impact on the local economy - promoting local farmers, food processors, and shops."
Representative of Canada to the Palestinian Authority, Douglas Scott Proudfoot, said "Working with partners such as WFP that advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is a key priority for Canada."
Under the terms of its four-year plan in Palestine, WFP aims to provide food assistance to 360,000 of the people most affected by food insecurity, primarily in Gaza and Area C of the West Bank. Since 2011, WFP has invested more than US$210 million into the Palestinian economy through food vouchers.
Israeli forces sealed off a major and vital road connecting the northwest villages of the central occupied West Bank city of Ramallah and the town of Birzeit, on Thursday, in addition to imposing a general closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Local sources told Ma'an that Israeli forces closed the metal gate, that is set up at the entrance of the village of Nabi Saleh, which residents of several Ramallah-area villages usually use to travel to Ramallah and other towns nearby, forcing them to look for alternative roads.
Sources pointed out that Israeli forces imposed this closure, in order to allow Israeli settlers to hold celebrations near the illegal Israeli settlement of Halamish, which was built on Palestinian lands, marking the 71st anniversary of the establishment of Israel, which is also known as the 1948 Nakba or “catastrophe” to the Palestinians.
Palestinians commemorate the Nakba or “catastrophe,” which is when an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes when the state of Israel was created.
Israeli authorities also imposed a general closure, including sealing off all border crossings across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, for the entire day on the occasion of Israel’s independence.
Such restrictions effects the livelihoods of the tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Debilitating poverty and lack of employment drive many workers in the occupied West Bank to enter Israel in search of work. Israel's imposition of closures on the Palestinian territory has severely affected the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who depend on entering Israel, or its illegal settlements, for employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, the majority of the more than 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are sealed inside the coastal enclave due to a decade long military blockade imposed by Israel and upheld by Egypt on the southern border.
Local sources told Ma'an that Israeli forces closed the metal gate, that is set up at the entrance of the village of Nabi Saleh, which residents of several Ramallah-area villages usually use to travel to Ramallah and other towns nearby, forcing them to look for alternative roads.
Sources pointed out that Israeli forces imposed this closure, in order to allow Israeli settlers to hold celebrations near the illegal Israeli settlement of Halamish, which was built on Palestinian lands, marking the 71st anniversary of the establishment of Israel, which is also known as the 1948 Nakba or “catastrophe” to the Palestinians.
Palestinians commemorate the Nakba or “catastrophe,” which is when an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes when the state of Israel was created.
Israeli authorities also imposed a general closure, including sealing off all border crossings across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, for the entire day on the occasion of Israel’s independence.
Such restrictions effects the livelihoods of the tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Debilitating poverty and lack of employment drive many workers in the occupied West Bank to enter Israel in search of work. Israel's imposition of closures on the Palestinian territory has severely affected the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who depend on entering Israel, or its illegal settlements, for employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, the majority of the more than 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are sealed inside the coastal enclave due to a decade long military blockade imposed by Israel and upheld by Egypt on the southern border.
7 may 2019
At least 830 housing units sustained damage or were completely destroyed during the last Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, according to an initial report by the ministry of public works and housing.
According to the report, 130 housing units were reduced to rubble and 700 others were partially damaged during the recent Israeli attacks on Gaza.
However, field crews from the ministry are still working on collecting information on more housing units that sustained destruction or damage before providing final statistics in this regard.
According to the report, 130 housing units were reduced to rubble and 700 others were partially damaged during the recent Israeli attacks on Gaza.
However, field crews from the ministry are still working on collecting information on more housing units that sustained destruction or damage before providing final statistics in this regard.
Thirteen Palestinian schools in the besieged Gaza Strip were severely damaged in the Israeli escalation across the Strip, which claimed the lives of 27 Palestinians and injured at least 154 others, on Tuesday.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education in Gaza said in a statement that the windows and doors of 13 schools were completely damaged, as well as the walls cracked.
The ministry also said that the shrapnel of the Israeli missiles and debris of the targeted buildings directly hit the classrooms.
The ministry expressed its “strong condemnation” regarding the Israeli escalation on Gaza, which damaged basic infrastructure in all fields, and stressed that this is a violation of the international laws and conventions.
The ministry called for the international community to halt Israeli practices and hold Israel accountable for its violations.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education in Gaza said in a statement that the windows and doors of 13 schools were completely damaged, as well as the walls cracked.
The ministry also said that the shrapnel of the Israeli missiles and debris of the targeted buildings directly hit the classrooms.
The ministry expressed its “strong condemnation” regarding the Israeli escalation on Gaza, which damaged basic infrastructure in all fields, and stressed that this is a violation of the international laws and conventions.
The ministry called for the international community to halt Israeli practices and hold Israel accountable for its violations.
Head of Hamas’s political bureau Ismail Haneyya has expressed his appreciation to the Qatari leadership for allocating 480 million dollars in support of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza.
In a press release on Monday, Haneyya said that this new support from Qatar reflected the reality of its noble Arab positions towards Palestine and its people.
“We have received with great respect and appreciation the Qatari Emir’s decision to allocate 480 million dollars to support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza, which was made on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan,” Haneyya said.
“I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to his Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the leadership and people of the State of Qatar for this generous position.”
Qatar’s foreign ministry said Monday that it would give the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank 480$ million dollars on the heels of a dramatic Israeli military escalation against the besieged coastal enclave.
The funds would go to humanitarian relief including 300 million dollars for the Palestinian Authority’s health and education sectors and the remaining 180 million dollars to urgent rescue, UN programs, and electricity services, according to Reuters.
In a press release on Monday, Haneyya said that this new support from Qatar reflected the reality of its noble Arab positions towards Palestine and its people.
“We have received with great respect and appreciation the Qatari Emir’s decision to allocate 480 million dollars to support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza, which was made on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan,” Haneyya said.
“I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to his Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the leadership and people of the State of Qatar for this generous position.”
Qatar’s foreign ministry said Monday that it would give the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank 480$ million dollars on the heels of a dramatic Israeli military escalation against the besieged coastal enclave.
The funds would go to humanitarian relief including 300 million dollars for the Palestinian Authority’s health and education sectors and the remaining 180 million dollars to urgent rescue, UN programs, and electricity services, according to Reuters.
Qatar will transfer some $480 million to Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, according to an announcement by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, on Tuesday.
Of the total sum of money, Qatar said that $300 million are aimed for health and education endeavors in the Palestinian Authority (PA) and $180 million will fund humanitarian aid, support for United Nations programs, and renovation works to improve electrical systems — most probably in the Gaza Strip.
Qatar's decision followed the Egypt-mediated ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza took effect.
The ceasefire agreement came after two days of escalation, during which 27 Palestinians were killed and at least 154 others were injured as Israeli warplanes carried out about 320 airstrikes across Gaza, while over 600 rockets were fired from Gaza towards southern Israel.
Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas politburo, expressed his gratitude to Qatar for its decision to transfer $480 million to the Palestinian people in the Strip.
He said, "We thank Qatar for the honorable grant, which seeks to help the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Qatar continues, even under the most difficult conditions, to support Palestine and its nation.”
Of the total sum of money, Qatar said that $300 million are aimed for health and education endeavors in the Palestinian Authority (PA) and $180 million will fund humanitarian aid, support for United Nations programs, and renovation works to improve electrical systems — most probably in the Gaza Strip.
Qatar's decision followed the Egypt-mediated ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza took effect.
The ceasefire agreement came after two days of escalation, during which 27 Palestinians were killed and at least 154 others were injured as Israeli warplanes carried out about 320 airstrikes across Gaza, while over 600 rockets were fired from Gaza towards southern Israel.
Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas politburo, expressed his gratitude to Qatar for its decision to transfer $480 million to the Palestinian people in the Strip.
He said, "We thank Qatar for the honorable grant, which seeks to help the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Qatar continues, even under the most difficult conditions, to support Palestine and its nation.”
6 may 2019
A number of bulldozers, belonging to Israeli settlers, razed and leveled Palestinian-owned agricultural lands, on Monday, in Madama village, south of the northern occupied West Bank district of Nablus.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that bulldozers belonging to Israeli settlers started to raze and level Palestinian lands, in order to pave a settler-only road in the area.
Daghlas added that the Israeli settlers were from the illegal settlement of Yitzhar and that the settler-only road would enable Israeli settlers to reach spring water in the area.
The Israeli NGO B'Tselem reported that Israeli settlers' vandalism in the occupied West Bank is a daily routine and is fully backed by Israeli authorities.
The Palestinian government has no jurisdiction over Israelis in the West Bank, and violent acts carried out by Israeli settlers often occur in the presence of Israeli military forces who rarely act to protect Palestinian residents.
Over 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law, with recent announcements of settlement expansion provoking condemnation from the international community.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that bulldozers belonging to Israeli settlers started to raze and level Palestinian lands, in order to pave a settler-only road in the area.
Daghlas added that the Israeli settlers were from the illegal settlement of Yitzhar and that the settler-only road would enable Israeli settlers to reach spring water in the area.
The Israeli NGO B'Tselem reported that Israeli settlers' vandalism in the occupied West Bank is a daily routine and is fully backed by Israeli authorities.
The Palestinian government has no jurisdiction over Israelis in the West Bank, and violent acts carried out by Israeli settlers often occur in the presence of Israeli military forces who rarely act to protect Palestinian residents.
Over 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law, with recent announcements of settlement expansion provoking condemnation from the international community.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Monday at dawn, a young Palestinian man, and summoned another for interrogation, in addition to searching many homes, and cars, confiscated surveillance equipment and destroyed solar panels, in Hebron governorate, in southern West Bank.
Media sources said several army jeeps invaded the al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, searched homes and abducted Husam Atef Jawabra, 24.
They added that the soldiers also invaded and searched the home of Tareq Abdul-Samad al-Mitwer, in Sa’ir town north of Hebron and summoned him for interrogation.
In addition, the soldiers invaded and searched homes in Ethna town, north of Hebron, in addition to Khirbat Jouret ash-Sham’a village in Sa’ir town, northeast of Hebron, before confiscating surveillance equipment, in addition to destroying solar panels owned by Ibrahim Mohammad Shalalda.
In related news, the soldiers invaded several neighborhoods in Hebron city, and searched a home, owned by Bashir Rajabi, and installed roadblocks on the entrances of Sa’ir and Halhoul town, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
Media sources said several army jeeps invaded the al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, searched homes and abducted Husam Atef Jawabra, 24.
They added that the soldiers also invaded and searched the home of Tareq Abdul-Samad al-Mitwer, in Sa’ir town north of Hebron and summoned him for interrogation.
In addition, the soldiers invaded and searched homes in Ethna town, north of Hebron, in addition to Khirbat Jouret ash-Sham’a village in Sa’ir town, northeast of Hebron, before confiscating surveillance equipment, in addition to destroying solar panels owned by Ibrahim Mohammad Shalalda.
In related news, the soldiers invaded several neighborhoods in Hebron city, and searched a home, owned by Bashir Rajabi, and installed roadblocks on the entrances of Sa’ir and Halhoul town, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
