9 june 2016
For more than seven months, Israeli forces have kept a staircase leading to Qurtuba school and the surrounding neighbourhood in occupied al-Khalil (Hebron), under closed military zone (CMZ) orders, blocking access for Palestinians only.
Despite the lifting of the closed military zone (CMZ) in the Tel Rumeida neighbourhood and the tiny stretch of Shuhada Street that is still accessible for Palestinians, access to Qurtuba stairs has been kept blocked by Israeli forces for Palestinians to use.
The access-restriction only applies for Palestinians though – who are entirely denied the use of the stairs – while settlers are free to use the stairs however they please.
The stairs, right at Daboya checkpoint mark the line where Palestinians are no longer allowed to proceed on Shuhada Street, as from there, on the street, is “settlers-only.” Therefore, the stairs were a major thoroughfare for Palestinians, as it is the only option to proceed when coming down this tiny strip of Shuhada Street which is accessible for Palestinians.
Around 70 families have been depending on the stairs to access their homes through Shuhada Street. All of these families, with their homes further up from the stairs, are now forced to take a longer and more-strenuous detour through olive-groves. These families include old people, women, little children and sick people – none of whom will be allowed passage, regardless.
Additionally, the stairs have been the main access to the Muslim cemetry, as well as the second hand market in the Abu Sneineh neighbourhoood, which regularly attracts hundreds of people. With the access through the stairs closed, Israeli forces are effectively forcing all these Palestinians to take much longer detours, who, depending on the way, might even require a 15-minute taxi-ride.
With settlers, and most often internationals, allowed to use the stairs; there is no reason to keep up with the discriminatory blocking of access for Palestinians.
On 1st July 2016, Israeli forces started registering some arbitrarily picked Palestinian families on Shuhada Street for the use of the Qurtuba stairs, refusing to register all the families actually depending on the access through their stairs to reach their homes. The arbitrariness of the Israeli decision – and, at times, the utter ridiculousness – was illustrated when Israeli forces at Daboya checkpoint denied a Palestinian man carrying a watermelon to pass up the stairs despite permission to pass – unless he would leave the watermelon.
What kind of threat that watermelon would have posed to the Israeli forces, is a question that will probably never be answered.
This illustrates that the closure of the stairs is deliberately designed to keep Palestinians away – based on the simple fact that they are Palestinians – while everyone else can use the stairs without any problems.
With an official closed military zone order in place, at the moment, it remains to be seen whether or not the Israeli forces will uphold this racist strategy which seems to be a continuation at an attempt of forced displacement and, thus, ethnic cleansing first implemented with the CMZ of the whole neighbourhood, now continued on a smaller scale.
Despite the lifting of the closed military zone (CMZ) in the Tel Rumeida neighbourhood and the tiny stretch of Shuhada Street that is still accessible for Palestinians, access to Qurtuba stairs has been kept blocked by Israeli forces for Palestinians to use.
The access-restriction only applies for Palestinians though – who are entirely denied the use of the stairs – while settlers are free to use the stairs however they please.
The stairs, right at Daboya checkpoint mark the line where Palestinians are no longer allowed to proceed on Shuhada Street, as from there, on the street, is “settlers-only.” Therefore, the stairs were a major thoroughfare for Palestinians, as it is the only option to proceed when coming down this tiny strip of Shuhada Street which is accessible for Palestinians.
Around 70 families have been depending on the stairs to access their homes through Shuhada Street. All of these families, with their homes further up from the stairs, are now forced to take a longer and more-strenuous detour through olive-groves. These families include old people, women, little children and sick people – none of whom will be allowed passage, regardless.
Additionally, the stairs have been the main access to the Muslim cemetry, as well as the second hand market in the Abu Sneineh neighbourhoood, which regularly attracts hundreds of people. With the access through the stairs closed, Israeli forces are effectively forcing all these Palestinians to take much longer detours, who, depending on the way, might even require a 15-minute taxi-ride.
With settlers, and most often internationals, allowed to use the stairs; there is no reason to keep up with the discriminatory blocking of access for Palestinians.
On 1st July 2016, Israeli forces started registering some arbitrarily picked Palestinian families on Shuhada Street for the use of the Qurtuba stairs, refusing to register all the families actually depending on the access through their stairs to reach their homes. The arbitrariness of the Israeli decision – and, at times, the utter ridiculousness – was illustrated when Israeli forces at Daboya checkpoint denied a Palestinian man carrying a watermelon to pass up the stairs despite permission to pass – unless he would leave the watermelon.
What kind of threat that watermelon would have posed to the Israeli forces, is a question that will probably never be answered.
This illustrates that the closure of the stairs is deliberately designed to keep Palestinians away – based on the simple fact that they are Palestinians – while everyone else can use the stairs without any problems.
With an official closed military zone order in place, at the moment, it remains to be seen whether or not the Israeli forces will uphold this racist strategy which seems to be a continuation at an attempt of forced displacement and, thus, ethnic cleansing first implemented with the CMZ of the whole neighbourhood, now continued on a smaller scale.
2 june 2016
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday afternoon arrested two Palestinian citizens, one of them after he tried to prevent soldiers from detaining a child in Occupied Jerusalem.
According to Quds Press, plain-clothes policemen and border soldiers stormed Attur neighborhood in east Jerusalem and kidnapped Khaled Khuwais, a school doorkeeper, after he intervened to prevent the arrest of a child.
The Israeli forces also assaulted a female teacher who also tried to save the boy from arrest.
There is still no information if the boy was detained or not.
Earlier on the same day, the Israeli police had carried out dawn raids on homes in the neighborhoods of Attur and Suwanna in Jerusalem and kidnapped more than 33 Palestinians, including teenagers and children.
In another incident, the Israeli police said yesterday it had arrested a 43-year-old Palestinian from northern Palestine on allegations of inciting violence on his Facebook page. An Israeli magistrate court extended his detention until next Sunday at the request of the police.
According to Quds Press, plain-clothes policemen and border soldiers stormed Attur neighborhood in east Jerusalem and kidnapped Khaled Khuwais, a school doorkeeper, after he intervened to prevent the arrest of a child.
The Israeli forces also assaulted a female teacher who also tried to save the boy from arrest.
There is still no information if the boy was detained or not.
Earlier on the same day, the Israeli police had carried out dawn raids on homes in the neighborhoods of Attur and Suwanna in Jerusalem and kidnapped more than 33 Palestinians, including teenagers and children.
In another incident, the Israeli police said yesterday it had arrested a 43-year-old Palestinian from northern Palestine on allegations of inciting violence on his Facebook page. An Israeli magistrate court extended his detention until next Sunday at the request of the police.
29 may 2016
Palestinian media reports documented the killing of 14 high-school students, including 3 girls, who were shot by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) during Jerusalem Intifada which broke out on October 01, 2015.
The 14 martyrs have been missed in the high school final examinations which are taking place in the West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem.
They are Mustafa al-Khatib, Mohammad Halabiya, and Sawsan Mansour from Occupied Jerusalem; Daniya Ershaid, Adnan al-Mashni, Kulezar al-Ewaiwi, Mohammad Shalalde, Ahmad al-Kawazbe and Walid Tarayreh from al-Khalil; Ahmad Abu al-Rub and Nouruddin Saba’neh from Jenin; Mohammad Zaghlawan and Labib Azem from Nablus and Ahmad Amer from Salfit.
78,523 Palestinian high-school students on Saturday started sitting for the final examinations for 2016 locally known as “Tawjihi” which last until June 15.
The 14 martyrs have been missed in the high school final examinations which are taking place in the West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem.
They are Mustafa al-Khatib, Mohammad Halabiya, and Sawsan Mansour from Occupied Jerusalem; Daniya Ershaid, Adnan al-Mashni, Kulezar al-Ewaiwi, Mohammad Shalalde, Ahmad al-Kawazbe and Walid Tarayreh from al-Khalil; Ahmad Abu al-Rub and Nouruddin Saba’neh from Jenin; Mohammad Zaghlawan and Labib Azem from Nablus and Ahmad Amer from Salfit.
78,523 Palestinian high-school students on Saturday started sitting for the final examinations for 2016 locally known as “Tawjihi” which last until June 15.
23 may 2016
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) at dawn Sunday waged a large-scale search and storming campaign in Saeer town near al-Khalil that covered all of the town’s districts.
The IOF declared the area as a closed military zone after claiming that shooting at settlers had taken place on a road leading to the town.
Clashes had earlier broken out between IOF soldiers and Palestinian youths in the southern area of al-Khalil city. The PIC reporter revealed that Israeli soldiers who were stationed at a barrier in the city unleashed tear gas and sound grenades at school students.
Clashes extended to the vicinity of Tariq Bin Ziyad School, he pointed out.
Israeli forces erected a makeshift barrier Sunday morning at the northern gate of Halhoul city and another one at the gate of al-Aroub refugee camp in northern al-Khalil. The IOF soldiers stopped Palestinians’ vehicles, searched the passengers, and checked their IDs which led to a traffic jam.
The IOF declared the area as a closed military zone after claiming that shooting at settlers had taken place on a road leading to the town.
Clashes had earlier broken out between IOF soldiers and Palestinian youths in the southern area of al-Khalil city. The PIC reporter revealed that Israeli soldiers who were stationed at a barrier in the city unleashed tear gas and sound grenades at school students.
Clashes extended to the vicinity of Tariq Bin Ziyad School, he pointed out.
Israeli forces erected a makeshift barrier Sunday morning at the northern gate of Halhoul city and another one at the gate of al-Aroub refugee camp in northern al-Khalil. The IOF soldiers stopped Palestinians’ vehicles, searched the passengers, and checked their IDs which led to a traffic jam.
19 may 2016
Israeli soldiers invaded, earlier on Thursday, several Palestinian cities and towns in different parts of the occupied West Bank, and kidnapped six Palestinians. The soldiers also attacked schoolchildren, near Bethlehem, and detained them.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said the soldiers invaded various areas in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, and kidnapped Basman Makhoul, 17, and Khaled Hussein Abu Khazna, 22.
The PPS added that the soldiers kidnapped a former political prisoner, identified as Monadel Sharqawi, from Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank.
The soldiers also invaded the southern West bank district of Hebron, and kidnapped two Palestinians, identified as Marwan Yousef Rajabi, 33, and Hamza Shehda al-‘Allami.
Furthermore, the soldiers attacked and detained several schoolchildren in Teqoua’ town, east of the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
The children were walking on the main road, in the center of the town, when the soldiers attacked and detained them. The Palestinian District Coordination Office (DCO), contacted its Israeli counterpart in an attempt to release the children.
In related news, the soldiers kidnapped a Palestinian woman, identified as Wi’am Lutfi Manasra, 50, while visiting her son, Osama Sallal, in Section Two of the Ramon Israeli prison.
Manasra is from Bani Neim town, east of Hebron; her son is serving a 17-year imprisonment term.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said the soldiers invaded various areas in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, and kidnapped Basman Makhoul, 17, and Khaled Hussein Abu Khazna, 22.
The PPS added that the soldiers kidnapped a former political prisoner, identified as Monadel Sharqawi, from Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank.
The soldiers also invaded the southern West bank district of Hebron, and kidnapped two Palestinians, identified as Marwan Yousef Rajabi, 33, and Hamza Shehda al-‘Allami.
Furthermore, the soldiers attacked and detained several schoolchildren in Teqoua’ town, east of the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
The children were walking on the main road, in the center of the town, when the soldiers attacked and detained them. The Palestinian District Coordination Office (DCO), contacted its Israeli counterpart in an attempt to release the children.
In related news, the soldiers kidnapped a Palestinian woman, identified as Wi’am Lutfi Manasra, 50, while visiting her son, Osama Sallal, in Section Two of the Ramon Israeli prison.
Manasra is from Bani Neim town, east of Hebron; her son is serving a 17-year imprisonment term.
14 may 2016
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, Saturday, two Palestinians in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied Jerusalem. Many Palestinians were injured in the Schools Street, in Jerusalem.
Media sources in Hebron said the soldiers have kidnapped a young man, identified as Islam Ayman Tamimi, 21, near the Ibrahim Mosque, in Hebron’s Old City.
Tamimi’s family said the soldiers detained many young men near the mosque, before kidnapping Islam, and took him to an unknown destination.
In addition, the soldiers invaded the Schools Street, in Jabal al-Mokabber neighborhood, southeast of Jerusalem, and closed it, causing a huge traffic jam.
The soldiers then fired many concussion grenades and gas bombs at students, trying to reach their schools, causing dozens of them to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation. Many youngsters also hurled stones at army vehicles.
In addition, the soldiers kidnapped a young Palestinian man from the Al-Aqsa Sharia School, inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied Jerusalem.
A mosque guard said the soldiers cuffed and blindfolded the kidnapped young man, and took him to an interrogation center in the city. His name remained unknown until the time of this report.
Media sources in Hebron said the soldiers have kidnapped a young man, identified as Islam Ayman Tamimi, 21, near the Ibrahim Mosque, in Hebron’s Old City.
Tamimi’s family said the soldiers detained many young men near the mosque, before kidnapping Islam, and took him to an unknown destination.
In addition, the soldiers invaded the Schools Street, in Jabal al-Mokabber neighborhood, southeast of Jerusalem, and closed it, causing a huge traffic jam.
The soldiers then fired many concussion grenades and gas bombs at students, trying to reach their schools, causing dozens of them to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation. Many youngsters also hurled stones at army vehicles.
In addition, the soldiers kidnapped a young Palestinian man from the Al-Aqsa Sharia School, inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied Jerusalem.
A mosque guard said the soldiers cuffed and blindfolded the kidnapped young man, and took him to an interrogation center in the city. His name remained unknown until the time of this report.
10 may 2016
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) handed a letter to the 21-year-old Palestinian ex-detainee girl Asma al-Qadah banning her from going to university for five months which threatens her completion of university studies.
Islam al-Qadah told Quds Press that Israeli intelligence forces summoned his sister to be interviewed in Ariel settlement and handed her the ban order one month after her release after three months of administrative detention with no charge or trial.
Asma al-Qadah is a Bachelor student in the English Department. She serves as the cultural committee secretary at the student union council. She is affiliated with the Islamic bloc, the student wing of Hamas Movement, in Beirzit University.
Islam al-Qadah told Quds Press that Israeli intelligence forces summoned his sister to be interviewed in Ariel settlement and handed her the ban order one month after her release after three months of administrative detention with no charge or trial.
Asma al-Qadah is a Bachelor student in the English Department. She serves as the cultural committee secretary at the student union council. She is affiliated with the Islamic bloc, the student wing of Hamas Movement, in Beirzit University.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested at dawn Tuesday a university student from Kafer Qalil town south of Nablus to the north of occupied Jerusalem.
The Palestinian journalist Nawaf al-Amer told the PIC reporter that Israeli forces stormed and violently searched his house at 2 a.m. before arresting his son.
His 20-year-old son Baraa, a student at al-Najah University, was arrested only one day before the final exams, Al-Amer elaborated.
Mobile phones, laptops, cameras, and an amount of money were stolen during the Israeli raid into the house, he added. The journalist Nawaf al-Amer is a former political detainee who was jailed last year in PA jails.
The Palestinian journalist Nawaf al-Amer told the PIC reporter that Israeli forces stormed and violently searched his house at 2 a.m. before arresting his son.
His 20-year-old son Baraa, a student at al-Najah University, was arrested only one day before the final exams, Al-Amer elaborated.
Mobile phones, laptops, cameras, and an amount of money were stolen during the Israeli raid into the house, he added. The journalist Nawaf al-Amer is a former political detainee who was jailed last year in PA jails.
4 may 2016
Members of the Israeli Anat Cohen settler gang and soldiers aggressively attacked Palestinian schoolchildren and instructors at the Qurtuba school in al-Khalil city on Wednesday morning.
Eyewitnesses said Israeli fanatic settlers violently assaulted the Palestinian schoolchildren at the same time as the occupation soldiers cracked down on instructors and prevented them from getting to school.
The Israeli Anat Cohen gang is notorious for its crimes and aggressions on Palestinian civilians and children.
Eyewitnesses said Israeli fanatic settlers violently assaulted the Palestinian schoolchildren at the same time as the occupation soldiers cracked down on instructors and prevented them from getting to school.
The Israeli Anat Cohen gang is notorious for its crimes and aggressions on Palestinian civilians and children.
26 apr 2016
Israeli soldiers have kidnapped, on Tuesday at dawn and on Monday evening, four Palestinians, including a 12-year-old child in occupied East Jerusalem. The army claims the three other Palestinians are from Nablus, and “planned to carry out an attack in Jerusalem.”
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) in occupied Jerusalem, said the soldiers invaded the town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and kidnapped a child.
Silwanic stated that the soldiers kidnapped Adam Jibreel Salaima, only 12 years of age, while heading to school in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood.
The soldiers also chased many schoolchildren in Ayman al-‘Abbassi Street, pushing most of them to seek shelter in nearby Palestinian homes. Adam was kidnapping after the soldiers invaded some of these homes.
Silwanic said that dozens of soldiers invaded the town, and were extensively deployed in various neighborhoods while scores of settlers, living in a number of illegal outposts in the town, celebrated in the streets.
In addition, the soldiers harassed many children walking to school, in the Schools Street, in Ras al-Amoud, and fired sound bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets.
In related news, Israeli media sources said a security force of Yamam Unit, arrested on Tuesday at night, three Palestinians from the northern West Bank district of Nablus.
They added that the three Palestinians were “illegally staying in Jerusalem”, and were allegedly “planning an attack in the city”. They were moved to a detention center for interrogation.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) in occupied Jerusalem, said the soldiers invaded the town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and kidnapped a child.
Silwanic stated that the soldiers kidnapped Adam Jibreel Salaima, only 12 years of age, while heading to school in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood.
The soldiers also chased many schoolchildren in Ayman al-‘Abbassi Street, pushing most of them to seek shelter in nearby Palestinian homes. Adam was kidnapping after the soldiers invaded some of these homes.
Silwanic said that dozens of soldiers invaded the town, and were extensively deployed in various neighborhoods while scores of settlers, living in a number of illegal outposts in the town, celebrated in the streets.
In addition, the soldiers harassed many children walking to school, in the Schools Street, in Ras al-Amoud, and fired sound bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets.
In related news, Israeli media sources said a security force of Yamam Unit, arrested on Tuesday at night, three Palestinians from the northern West Bank district of Nablus.
They added that the three Palestinians were “illegally staying in Jerusalem”, and were allegedly “planning an attack in the city”. They were moved to a detention center for interrogation.
20 apr 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) stormed Wednesday afternoon Azzoun town south of Qalqilia which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that IOF closed the main entrance to Azzoun town before breaking into its neighborhoods amid heavy fire of teargas bombs.
Several local shops were also raided while passing by citizens were stopped and investigated, the sources added. Local youths responded by throwing stones and empty bottles at the soldiers who were deployed in large numbers in the town.
Also on Wednesday, Israeli policemen arrested a Palestinian young man during clashes that erupted in Katana village northwest of occupied Jerusalem.
The clashes broke out when Israeli policemen stormed the village by the end of the school day and started firing teargas bombs at the students while leaving their schools, local activists reported.
Several students choked on tear gas while nearby trees were burned due to the excessive use of teargas bombs. Local youths responded by stoning the Israeli policemen who tried to break into the secondary school in the village at the pretext of looking for students who were throwing stones but were prevented by the headmaster from entering the building.
A Palestinian young man was arrested for allegedly being involved in the clashes. More than 40 Palestinians were arrested since the early morning hours during Israeli raids across West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that IOF closed the main entrance to Azzoun town before breaking into its neighborhoods amid heavy fire of teargas bombs.
Several local shops were also raided while passing by citizens were stopped and investigated, the sources added. Local youths responded by throwing stones and empty bottles at the soldiers who were deployed in large numbers in the town.
Also on Wednesday, Israeli policemen arrested a Palestinian young man during clashes that erupted in Katana village northwest of occupied Jerusalem.
The clashes broke out when Israeli policemen stormed the village by the end of the school day and started firing teargas bombs at the students while leaving their schools, local activists reported.
Several students choked on tear gas while nearby trees were burned due to the excessive use of teargas bombs. Local youths responded by stoning the Israeli policemen who tried to break into the secondary school in the village at the pretext of looking for students who were throwing stones but were prevented by the headmaster from entering the building.
A Palestinian young man was arrested for allegedly being involved in the clashes. More than 40 Palestinians were arrested since the early morning hours during Israeli raids across West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
