20 oct 2018
Chairman of the Palestinian Businessmen Association in the Gaza Strip Ali al-Hayek on Saturday said that only 10% of Gaza's private sector facilities are still operating normally in view of the Israeli blockade continuing for the 12th year in a row.
Al-Hayek said in a press statement that the private sector is no longer able to withstand more economic crises.
He added that most industrial and commercial facilities in Gaza are partially or completely suspended and need urgent support, noting that about 80% of Gaza employees work for the private sector.
In light of the presence of 380,000 jobless workers and 220,000 unemployed graduates, al-Hayek said, efforts should be focused on financially supporting existing enterprises and reactivating international development projects.
Al-Hayek expressed his hope that Egypt's efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation will succeed because this would effectively help improve the economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian official called for immediate intervention at the local and international levels to alleviate the economic and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip which is accompanied by unprecedented rates of unemployment, poverty, and food insecurity.
Al-Hayek said in a press statement that the private sector is no longer able to withstand more economic crises.
He added that most industrial and commercial facilities in Gaza are partially or completely suspended and need urgent support, noting that about 80% of Gaza employees work for the private sector.
In light of the presence of 380,000 jobless workers and 220,000 unemployed graduates, al-Hayek said, efforts should be focused on financially supporting existing enterprises and reactivating international development projects.
Al-Hayek expressed his hope that Egypt's efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation will succeed because this would effectively help improve the economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian official called for immediate intervention at the local and international levels to alleviate the economic and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip which is accompanied by unprecedented rates of unemployment, poverty, and food insecurity.
Israeli settlers on Saturday morning attacked Palestinian farmers who were harvesting olives in Burin town, south of Nablus city in the northern West Bank.
Head of Burin's village council Yahya Qadous told the PIC reporter that a group of Israeli settlers coming from Yitzhar settlement attacked Palestinian farmers under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces.
Qadous said that confrontations broke out between the settlers and the Palestinian farmers during which the Israeli forces fired teargas canisters at the farmers.
Meanwhile in the same town, another group of settlers attacked the house of the Palestinian citizen Basheer al-Zaben and uprooted the fence installed around the house to protect it.
An Israeli military patrol later raided the area, provided protection to the settlers who were clashing with Palestinian citizens, and heavily fired teargas canisters at the Palestinians.
Head of Burin's village council Yahya Qadous told the PIC reporter that a group of Israeli settlers coming from Yitzhar settlement attacked Palestinian farmers under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces.
Qadous said that confrontations broke out between the settlers and the Palestinian farmers during which the Israeli forces fired teargas canisters at the farmers.
Meanwhile in the same town, another group of settlers attacked the house of the Palestinian citizen Basheer al-Zaben and uprooted the fence installed around the house to protect it.
An Israeli military patrol later raided the area, provided protection to the settlers who were clashing with Palestinian citizens, and heavily fired teargas canisters at the Palestinians.
The Israeli navy on Saturday morning arrested two Palestinian fishermen off northern Gaza shore.
Head of the Palestinian Fishermen Syndicate in Gaza Nizar Ayyash said in a press statement that the Israeli navy arrested two fishermen sailing off Beit Lahia and seized their boats.
Ayyash said that Israeli gunboats attacked a Palestinian fishing boat in the early morning hours, arrested the two brothers on board Karim and Mohammed Abu Hassan, and confiscated their boat.
He affirmed that the Abu Hassan brothers were fishing within the three-nautical-mile zone allowed by the Israeli authorities.
According to al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, the Israeli naval forces have committed 232 violations against Gaza fishermen since the beginning of 2018, including 39 arrests.
Head of the Palestinian Fishermen Syndicate in Gaza Nizar Ayyash said in a press statement that the Israeli navy arrested two fishermen sailing off Beit Lahia and seized their boats.
Ayyash said that Israeli gunboats attacked a Palestinian fishing boat in the early morning hours, arrested the two brothers on board Karim and Mohammed Abu Hassan, and confiscated their boat.
He affirmed that the Abu Hassan brothers were fishing within the three-nautical-mile zone allowed by the Israeli authorities.
According to al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, the Israeli naval forces have committed 232 violations against Gaza fishermen since the beginning of 2018, including 39 arrests.
19 oct 2018
The German Development Bank has signed an agreement with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to provide the UN agency with an additional €8 million ($9.2m) to continue work aimed at improving housing conditions in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
This agreement comes in the same context as a previous agreement signed in July to mark the beginning of the second phase of a project to reconstruct Gaza’s homes following Israel’s assault on the Strip in 2014.
The project’s second phase initially included the reconstruction of 345 homes at a budget of €13.15 million ($15.1 million). But with the additional funding obtained from the German government-owned bank, 566 homes are targeted for reconstruction, with a budget of €21.15 million ($24.3 million).
The acting head of the German Representative Office in Ramallah said that since 2014 Germany has offered more than €100 million ($115 million) for the reconstruction of houses in Gaza.
The project is due to last 18 months. During its previous phase, 115 homes were built in collaboration with the Norwegian Refugee Council.
This agreement comes in the same context as a previous agreement signed in July to mark the beginning of the second phase of a project to reconstruct Gaza’s homes following Israel’s assault on the Strip in 2014.
The project’s second phase initially included the reconstruction of 345 homes at a budget of €13.15 million ($15.1 million). But with the additional funding obtained from the German government-owned bank, 566 homes are targeted for reconstruction, with a budget of €21.15 million ($24.3 million).
The acting head of the German Representative Office in Ramallah said that since 2014 Germany has offered more than €100 million ($115 million) for the reconstruction of houses in Gaza.
The project is due to last 18 months. During its previous phase, 115 homes were built in collaboration with the Norwegian Refugee Council.
18 oct 2018
The Israeli occupation forces at daybreak Thursday knocked down Palestinian structures in the West Bank, leaving a number of civilians homeless.
Israeli bulldozers rolled into Khirbet al-Marajem, in Duma, south of Nablus, and demolished a Palestinian room covering 60 square meters.
Head of the Duma village council, Abdul Salam Dawabsheh, said the demolition was carried out under the pretext that the facility is located in the Israeli-occupied Area C.
At the same time, the occupation forces demolished a Palestinian home in al-Hashimiya neighborhood, east of al-Bireh, in the central occupied West Bank.
Local sources Israeli patrols broke into the area and reduced a home belonging to the Matriya family to rubble.
The occupation forces also seize vehicles and closed off the area, denying journalists access into the demolition site.
Israeli bulldozers rolled into Khirbet al-Marajem, in Duma, south of Nablus, and demolished a Palestinian room covering 60 square meters.
Head of the Duma village council, Abdul Salam Dawabsheh, said the demolition was carried out under the pretext that the facility is located in the Israeli-occupied Area C.
At the same time, the occupation forces demolished a Palestinian home in al-Hashimiya neighborhood, east of al-Bireh, in the central occupied West Bank.
Local sources Israeli patrols broke into the area and reduced a home belonging to the Matriya family to rubble.
The occupation forces also seize vehicles and closed off the area, denying journalists access into the demolition site.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday evening confiscated at least 10 Palestinian vehicles during a campaign in Beit Ur al‑Tahta village, southwest of Ramallah in the West Bank.
According to a local source, Israeli border troops sets up makeshift checkpoints at the entrance to the village and inside it, and embarked on intercepting cars.
More than 10 cars were seized during this IOF campaign, while many drivers at the main entrance to the village received financial penalties.
According to a local source, Israeli border troops sets up makeshift checkpoints at the entrance to the village and inside it, and embarked on intercepting cars.
More than 10 cars were seized during this IOF campaign, while many drivers at the main entrance to the village received financial penalties.
17 oct 2018
A number of illegal extremist Israeli colonialists attacked, Wednesday, Palestinian shepherds in the Northern Plains of the occupied West Bank, and stole a sheep.
Aref Daraghma, a human rights activist, said the colonists chased several Palestinian shepherds, forcing them out of grazing lands, near the illegal Shidmot colony.
Daraghma added that the assailants attacked the shepherds, and stole a sheep owned by a local shepherd, identified as Barakat Ali Zohdi.
In related news, Israeli soldiers invaded Khirbat Yizra village, east of Tubas in northeastern West Bank, and used drone to photograph Palestinian homes and structures.
Aref Daraghma, a human rights activist, said the colonists chased several Palestinian shepherds, forcing them out of grazing lands, near the illegal Shidmot colony.
Daraghma added that the assailants attacked the shepherds, and stole a sheep owned by a local shepherd, identified as Barakat Ali Zohdi.
In related news, Israeli soldiers invaded Khirbat Yizra village, east of Tubas in northeastern West Bank, and used drone to photograph Palestinian homes and structures.
A Palestinian young man was injured Wednesday after being attacked by a group of settlers in Barqa town west of Nablus, northern West Bank.
Head of the village council Jihad Salah affirmed that dozens of settlers violently attacked the young man Mahmoud Sa'id Hussein, 20, while picking olives in his agricultural land near the evacuated settlement of Homesh.
The injured youth was taken to hospital for treatment, suffering different bruises and injuries in his hand and face.
A Palestinian mother of eight was killed last week when settlers threw stones at a car she was in.
Head of the village council Jihad Salah affirmed that dozens of settlers violently attacked the young man Mahmoud Sa'id Hussein, 20, while picking olives in his agricultural land near the evacuated settlement of Homesh.
The injured youth was taken to hospital for treatment, suffering different bruises and injuries in his hand and face.
A Palestinian mother of eight was killed last week when settlers threw stones at a car she was in.
The Israeli occupation army on Wednesday morning closed crossings with the Gaza Strip and decided to decrease the fishing zone in Gaza waters to three nautical miles.
Maher Abul-Awf, director of central operations at the crossings and border authority, said that the Palestinian Authority liaison office informed the Palestinian side of its decision to close the commercial Karam Abu Salem crossing and the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which is used for passengers, until further notice.
Abul-Awf added that the limit for fishing off the coast of Gaza was also reduced to three nautical miles due to the fall of a rocket in Beersheba, which he described as “current events.’
Maariv newspaper, for its part, confirmed that those measures were taken by Israeli army minister Avigdor Lieberman in response to the rocket attack on Beersheba, which caused damage to a house there.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army also responded by waging several aerial attacks on Gaza. Three citizens were reportedly injured in an air raid on Rafah.
Maher Abul-Awf, director of central operations at the crossings and border authority, said that the Palestinian Authority liaison office informed the Palestinian side of its decision to close the commercial Karam Abu Salem crossing and the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which is used for passengers, until further notice.
Abul-Awf added that the limit for fishing off the coast of Gaza was also reduced to three nautical miles due to the fall of a rocket in Beersheba, which he described as “current events.’
Maariv newspaper, for its part, confirmed that those measures were taken by Israeli army minister Avigdor Lieberman in response to the rocket attack on Beersheba, which caused damage to a house there.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army also responded by waging several aerial attacks on Gaza. Three citizens were reportedly injured in an air raid on Rafah.
Maher Abul-Awf, director of central operations at the crossings and border authority, said that the Palestinian Authority liaison office informed the Palestinian side of its decision to close the commercial Karam Abu Salem crossing and the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which is used for passengers, until further notice.
Abul-Awf added that the limit for fishing off the coast of Gaza was also reduced to three nautical miles due to the fall of a rocket in Beersheba, which he described as “current events.’
Maariv newspaper, for its part, confirmed that those measures were taken by Israeli army minister Avigdor Lieberman in response to the rocket attack on Beersheba, which caused damage to a house there.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army also responded by waging several aerial attacks on Gaza. Three citizens were reportedly injured in an air raid on Rafah.
Maher Abul-Awf, director of central operations at the crossings and border authority, said that the Palestinian Authority liaison office informed the Palestinian side of its decision to close the commercial Karam Abu Salem crossing and the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which is used for passengers, until further notice.
Abul-Awf added that the limit for fishing off the coast of Gaza was also reduced to three nautical miles due to the fall of a rocket in Beersheba, which he described as “current events.’
Maariv newspaper, for its part, confirmed that those measures were taken by Israeli army minister Avigdor Lieberman in response to the rocket attack on Beersheba, which caused damage to a house there.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army also responded by waging several aerial attacks on Gaza. Three citizens were reportedly injured in an air raid on Rafah.
Palestinian minister of housing and public works Mufid Hasayneh said on Tuesday that Kuwait approved a contribution of $2.5 million from the Kuwait Arab Economic Development Fund to help reconstruct the besieged Gaza Strip's infrastructure.
In a statement, Hasayneh said there were ongoing efforts with other Arab countries to get more financial aid to reconstruct Gaza.
The Kuwaiti aid will be used to rehabilitate damaged roads across Gaza.
In a statement, Hasayneh said there were ongoing efforts with other Arab countries to get more financial aid to reconstruct Gaza.
The Kuwaiti aid will be used to rehabilitate damaged roads across Gaza.
16 oct 2018
Israel's Jerusalem municipality crews, escorted by the Israeli police, on Tuesday stormed Shu'fat refugee camp.
Local sources said that the municipality crews broke into several Palestinian shops, issued heavy fines to business owners, and harassed workers and taxi drivers.
Palestinians in East Jerusalem have long complained that high taxes levied by the Israeli-controlled municipality make it nearly impossible to run profitable businesses.
These taxes are actually part of an Israeli plan to gradually push the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem to leave the city.
Local sources said that the municipality crews broke into several Palestinian shops, issued heavy fines to business owners, and harassed workers and taxi drivers.
Palestinians in East Jerusalem have long complained that high taxes levied by the Israeli-controlled municipality make it nearly impossible to run profitable businesses.
These taxes are actually part of an Israeli plan to gradually push the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem to leave the city.
MP Jamal al-Khudari, head of the Popular Committee against the Siege, has accused the Israeli occupation state of persisting in banning the entry of fuel and cooking gas shipments to the Gaza Strip for the third consecutive day, warning that such practice would compound the humanitarian suffering of the population.
In a press release on Tuesday, Khudari affirmed that the fuel crisis which homes, hospitals, bakeries and factories suffer from nowadays would largely exacerbate as a result of this Israeli ban.
He also pointed out to the worsening economic conditions of the population of Gaza, saying that 85 percent of the population live below the poverty line and 350,000 citizens are unemployed.
In a press release on Tuesday, Khudari affirmed that the fuel crisis which homes, hospitals, bakeries and factories suffer from nowadays would largely exacerbate as a result of this Israeli ban.
He also pointed out to the worsening economic conditions of the population of Gaza, saying that 85 percent of the population live below the poverty line and 350,000 citizens are unemployed.
Israeli settlers stormed the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar, east of Jerusalem, on Monday, and flooded the area with wastewater for a second time.
Locals said that Israeli settlers from the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Kfar Adummim, stormed the village and flooded Khan al-Ahmar with wastewater, causing serious environmental and health hazard for residents.
Ma’an sources added that the wastewater from the Kfar Adummim settlement flooded large areas of the village, as Israeli settlers attempted to assist the Israeli government in forcing the residents to leave the area.
This is not the first time Israeli settlers flooded the village with wastewater, causing serious damage to land and property.
Khan al-Ahmar is in danger of being demolished by Israeli forces at any moment, which would displace 181 people, half of whom are children.
Critics and human rights organizations argue that the demolition is part of an Israeli plan to expand the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Kfar Adummim, and to create a region of contiguous Israeli control from Jerusalem almost to the Dead Sea, which would make a contiguous Palestinian state impossible.
Israel has been constantly trying to uproot Bedouin communities from the area to east of Jerusalem, to allow settlement expansion in the area, which would later turn the entire eastern part of the West Bank into a settlement zone.
Although international humanitarian law prohibits the demolition of the village and illegal confiscation of private property, Israeli forces continue their planned expansion by forcing evictions and violating basic human rights of the people.
Israel is attempting to displace the residents of Khan al-Ahmar from the area, in order to complete their illegal settlement project labeled as E1.
The Israeli government set up the contentious “E1 corridor” to link annexed occupied East Jerusalem with the enormous illegal Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, by confiscating 12,000 dunams (2,965 acres) of Palestinian-owned lands from occupied East Jerusalem to the Dead Sea.
Israeli authorities plan to build thousands of homes for Jewish-only settlements in E1, which would effectively divide the West Bank and make the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state — as envisaged by the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict — almost impossible.
Locals said that Israeli settlers from the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Kfar Adummim, stormed the village and flooded Khan al-Ahmar with wastewater, causing serious environmental and health hazard for residents.
Ma’an sources added that the wastewater from the Kfar Adummim settlement flooded large areas of the village, as Israeli settlers attempted to assist the Israeli government in forcing the residents to leave the area.
This is not the first time Israeli settlers flooded the village with wastewater, causing serious damage to land and property.
Khan al-Ahmar is in danger of being demolished by Israeli forces at any moment, which would displace 181 people, half of whom are children.
Critics and human rights organizations argue that the demolition is part of an Israeli plan to expand the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Kfar Adummim, and to create a region of contiguous Israeli control from Jerusalem almost to the Dead Sea, which would make a contiguous Palestinian state impossible.
Israel has been constantly trying to uproot Bedouin communities from the area to east of Jerusalem, to allow settlement expansion in the area, which would later turn the entire eastern part of the West Bank into a settlement zone.
Although international humanitarian law prohibits the demolition of the village and illegal confiscation of private property, Israeli forces continue their planned expansion by forcing evictions and violating basic human rights of the people.
Israel is attempting to displace the residents of Khan al-Ahmar from the area, in order to complete their illegal settlement project labeled as E1.
The Israeli government set up the contentious “E1 corridor” to link annexed occupied East Jerusalem with the enormous illegal Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, by confiscating 12,000 dunams (2,965 acres) of Palestinian-owned lands from occupied East Jerusalem to the Dead Sea.
Israeli authorities plan to build thousands of homes for Jewish-only settlements in E1, which would effectively divide the West Bank and make the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state — as envisaged by the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict — almost impossible.
15 oct 2018
Israeli soldiers invaded, Monday, Masafer Yatta town, near the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and confiscated equipment used for digging water wells, in addition to a crane and electricity generator.
Media sources in Hebron said the soldiers invaded Susiya village, in Masafer Yatta, and confiscated the equipment, before taking them to an unknown destination.
The confiscated equipment is owned by a local resident, identified as Husam Na’im Hamamda, who was working on a project on a land owned by Farid Ahmad Jabour.
The attack took place after many soldiers surrounded the area, which is subject to frequent violations, and invaded it.
Media sources in Hebron said the soldiers invaded Susiya village, in Masafer Yatta, and confiscated the equipment, before taking them to an unknown destination.
The confiscated equipment is owned by a local resident, identified as Husam Na’im Hamamda, who was working on a project on a land owned by Farid Ahmad Jabour.
The attack took place after many soldiers surrounded the area, which is subject to frequent violations, and invaded it.
A number of illegal extremist Israeli colonialist settlers invaded, Monday, Palestinian orchards in Deir al-Hatab village, east of the northern West bank city of Nablus, and attacked Palestinians picking their olive trees, wounding one.
The attack was carried out by colonists from Elon Moreh illegal colony, which was built on privately-owned Palestinian lands.
The assailants invaded Palestinian orchards in Khallet Ismael and al-Jaldat areas, in Deir al-Hatab village.
Medical sources said one Palestinian, identified as Amjad Awwad, suffered various cuts and bruises.
In related news, a group of colonialist settlers invaded Palestinian olive orchards, south of Burin village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, chased the villages and stole their olive harvest.
The attack was carried out by colonists from Elon Moreh illegal colony, which was built on privately-owned Palestinian lands.
The assailants invaded Palestinian orchards in Khallet Ismael and al-Jaldat areas, in Deir al-Hatab village.
Medical sources said one Palestinian, identified as Amjad Awwad, suffered various cuts and bruises.
In related news, a group of colonialist settlers invaded Palestinian olive orchards, south of Burin village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, chased the villages and stole their olive harvest.
Israeli settlers chopped on Sunday evening 100 olive trees from Palestinian land in al-Mugheir village, northwest of Ramallah.
Head of the Mugheir village council Ameen Abu Alya said the locals were shocked as they caught sight of Israelis from Adi Ad settlement, built on Palestinian lands in the area, chopping over 100 olive trees.
Israeli settlers routinely damage and steal Palestinian olive harvest in the occupied West Bank. Such assaults go unnoticed by the Israeli occupation authorities.
Head of the Mugheir village council Ameen Abu Alya said the locals were shocked as they caught sight of Israelis from Adi Ad settlement, built on Palestinian lands in the area, chopping over 100 olive trees.
Israeli settlers routinely damage and steal Palestinian olive harvest in the occupied West Bank. Such assaults go unnoticed by the Israeli occupation authorities.
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