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.
17 oct 2018
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.
4 oct 2018
Israeli troops aboard military vehicles stormed Wednesday Masafer Yatta area, south of al-Khalil, and prevented local families from setting up prefabricated homes on their own lands to live in them.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that a crew of employees from the Israeli army’s civil administration escorted by soldiers stormed al-Mafqara village, east of Yatta, and confiscated foundations that the residents intended to deploy before placing the mobile homes on them.
A local resident said that Israeli border soldiers seized, for the second consecutive time during the current week, caravan bases he prepared for his mobile home, and threatened to confiscate any structural preparations he makes again on the site.
“They have confiscated in our village more than six bases used for the caravans that we intend to live in because we are forbidden to build homes or live in caves, and now the caravans are also not allowed.
All this is aimed at forcing us to leave our land, but we will be sleeping in the open and we are not leaving our land,” he affirmed.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that a crew of employees from the Israeli army’s civil administration escorted by soldiers stormed al-Mafqara village, east of Yatta, and confiscated foundations that the residents intended to deploy before placing the mobile homes on them.
A local resident said that Israeli border soldiers seized, for the second consecutive time during the current week, caravan bases he prepared for his mobile home, and threatened to confiscate any structural preparations he makes again on the site.
“They have confiscated in our village more than six bases used for the caravans that we intend to live in because we are forbidden to build homes or live in caves, and now the caravans are also not allowed.
All this is aimed at forcing us to leave our land, but we will be sleeping in the open and we are not leaving our land,” he affirmed.
24 sept 2018
The Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to Palestine, Takeshi Okubo, visited the Farkha village, in the northern occupied West Bank district of Salfit, on Sunday, to celebrate the completion of a project funded by the Government of Japan.
According to a press release, Japan funded the Farkha village council with $89,851 to improve the learning environment in the village's secondary mixed school through Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
An additional floor with four classrooms was constructed through the project, with the aim of stopping the use of the old classrooms, which threatened the lives of students.
Due to the completed project, 76 students, from 9th to 12th grade, will benefit from an improved, safe and healthy learning environment.
During Okubo's visit, he emphasized Japan's firm commitment of supporting the Palestinian people from a human security perspective, as well as the "importance of implementing social and economic development projects needed for Palestinian communities."
According to a press release, Japan funded the Farkha village council with $89,851 to improve the learning environment in the village's secondary mixed school through Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
An additional floor with four classrooms was constructed through the project, with the aim of stopping the use of the old classrooms, which threatened the lives of students.
Due to the completed project, 76 students, from 9th to 12th grade, will benefit from an improved, safe and healthy learning environment.
During Okubo's visit, he emphasized Japan's firm commitment of supporting the Palestinian people from a human security perspective, as well as the "importance of implementing social and economic development projects needed for Palestinian communities."
21 sept 2018
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Thursday in the western area of Salfit city tried to prevent the local municipal council from drilling an artesian well.
Municipal official Ra’ed al-Zair said that the drilling activity would continue despite Israeli attempts to prevent the municipality from digging a well for the local residents.
Zair affirmed that the Salfit municipality is responsible for serving the city and its residents.
The Israeli occupation authority in the West Bank persist in stealing groundwater seizing natural resources in Palestinian areas and using them to the benefit of Jewish settlers.
Municipal official Ra’ed al-Zair said that the drilling activity would continue despite Israeli attempts to prevent the municipality from digging a well for the local residents.
Zair affirmed that the Salfit municipality is responsible for serving the city and its residents.
The Israeli occupation authority in the West Bank persist in stealing groundwater seizing natural resources in Palestinian areas and using them to the benefit of Jewish settlers.
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A Palestinian from the northern Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, in the central occupied West Bank, demolished his own home on Thursday afternoon, upon order by an Israeli court. video
Fadi Shawamreh said, according to Ma’an News Agency, that he had to demolish his own home; that was built in 2006, following an order by an Israeli court that the house was not licensed. Shawamreh said that a demolition order against his house was issued after he started renovating the ceiling and walls of the house, over the past two years. He added that he was able to postpone the demolition several times until a final order was issued by the court to demolish the structure. The court allowed Shawamreh until the beginning of September to carry out its order, or else paying demolition fees imposed by the Israeli municipality |
for crews that would be carrying out the demolition instead.
Shawamreh said that Israeli municipality crews, escorted by Israeli forces, had raided his house several months ago to demolish the structure, evacuated its content and assaulted those present at the time, however, the demolition was prevented by a lawyer.
He pointed out that the municipality had imposed a fine of 50,000 shekels, on another part of his house, a steel-structure with a cement floor, several years ago.
Israel rarely grants Palestinians permits to build in East Jerusalem, though the Jerusalem municipality has claimed that compared to the Jewish population, they receive a disproportionately low number of permit applications from Palestinian communities, which also see high approval ratings.
For Jewish Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem’s illegal settlements, the planning, marketing, development and infrastructure are funded and executed by the Israeli government. By contrast, in Palestinian neighborhoods, all the burden falls on individual families to contend with a lengthy permit application that can last several years and cost tens of thousands of dollars.
According to Daniel Seidemann of the NGO Terrestrial Jerusalem, “Since 1967, the Government of Israel has directly engaged in the construction of 55,000 units for Israelis in East Jerusalem; in contrast, fewer than 600 units have been built for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the last of which were built 40 years ago. So much for (Jerusalem Mayor Nir) Barkat’s claim ‘we build for everyone.'”
Shawamreh said that Israeli municipality crews, escorted by Israeli forces, had raided his house several months ago to demolish the structure, evacuated its content and assaulted those present at the time, however, the demolition was prevented by a lawyer.
He pointed out that the municipality had imposed a fine of 50,000 shekels, on another part of his house, a steel-structure with a cement floor, several years ago.
Israel rarely grants Palestinians permits to build in East Jerusalem, though the Jerusalem municipality has claimed that compared to the Jewish population, they receive a disproportionately low number of permit applications from Palestinian communities, which also see high approval ratings.
For Jewish Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem’s illegal settlements, the planning, marketing, development and infrastructure are funded and executed by the Israeli government. By contrast, in Palestinian neighborhoods, all the burden falls on individual families to contend with a lengthy permit application that can last several years and cost tens of thousands of dollars.
According to Daniel Seidemann of the NGO Terrestrial Jerusalem, “Since 1967, the Government of Israel has directly engaged in the construction of 55,000 units for Israelis in East Jerusalem; in contrast, fewer than 600 units have been built for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the last of which were built 40 years ago. So much for (Jerusalem Mayor Nir) Barkat’s claim ‘we build for everyone.'”
17 sept 2018
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday issued a stop-construction order against a Palestinian facility in Kardala village in the Jordan Valley.
Activist Aref Daraghmeh said that the IOF ordered a halt to the construction of a medical and social services complex in Kardala village.
The IOF constantly targets Palestinian families living in the Jordan Valley with demolition and displacement in an attempt to pressure them to leave the area which is known of its importance on the strategic, agricultural and military levels.
Activist Aref Daraghmeh said that the IOF ordered a halt to the construction of a medical and social services complex in Kardala village.
The IOF constantly targets Palestinian families living in the Jordan Valley with demolition and displacement in an attempt to pressure them to leave the area which is known of its importance on the strategic, agricultural and military levels.
13 sept 2018
The Israeli Occupation Authorities issued on Thursday new demolition orders against a number of Palestinian facilities in Laban town, south of the northern West Bank province of Nablus.
According to Quds Press, Israli forces stormed the town early today and handed six local families demolition orders of their homes for allegedly being built without permit.
Stop-work orders were also issued against a number of buildings being built at the main street in the town, the sources added.
According to Quds Press, Israli forces stormed the town early today and handed six local families demolition orders of their homes for allegedly being built without permit.
Stop-work orders were also issued against a number of buildings being built at the main street in the town, the sources added.
8 sept 2018
Popular Committee Against the Siege on Saturday said that 2,000 houses destroyed by the Israeli army in the 2014 assault on the Gaza Strip have not been reconstructed because of the lack of funding and ban imposed on the entry of building materials into the enclave.
Head of the Committee, Jama al-Khudari, warned that 2000 families in Gaza have been living under difficult humanitarian conditions since the 2014 assault, in view of the irregular payments they get for their monthly rent and the delayed reconstruction.
Al-Khudari in a press statement called on donors to fulfill the financial pledges they made at the donor conference held in Cairo following the 2014 war, and stressed the need for pressuring Israel to lift the blockade and allow the entry of building materials into Gaza.
"We appreciate the donors' efforts for the reconstruction of thousands of houses that were completely or partially destroyed during the war," he added.
Al-Khudari asked Egypt and Norway, who sponsored Cairo's donor conference, to follow up with donors and collect the pledged funds to end the tragedy of affected families in Gaza.
Head of the Committee, Jama al-Khudari, warned that 2000 families in Gaza have been living under difficult humanitarian conditions since the 2014 assault, in view of the irregular payments they get for their monthly rent and the delayed reconstruction.
Al-Khudari in a press statement called on donors to fulfill the financial pledges they made at the donor conference held in Cairo following the 2014 war, and stressed the need for pressuring Israel to lift the blockade and allow the entry of building materials into Gaza.
"We appreciate the donors' efforts for the reconstruction of thousands of houses that were completely or partially destroyed during the war," he added.
Al-Khudari asked Egypt and Norway, who sponsored Cairo's donor conference, to follow up with donors and collect the pledged funds to end the tragedy of affected families in Gaza.
31 aug 2018
Israeli forces, on Thursday, ordered a Palestinian family, from the southern occupied West Bank city of Hebron, to stop reconstruction on their home, and detained the workers.
According to Hebron’s Palestinian Reconstruction Commission, Israeli forces raided Ishaq Maharmeh’s house in the Old City of Hebron, which is under full Israeli control, and ordered him to stop reconstruction and maintenance work at the house.
Sources confirmed that Israeli forces stopped work under the pretext that Maharmeh must obtain military permission issued by the Israeli Civil Administration, first.
Israeli forces detained several workers who were working on renovation inside Maharmeh’s home. However, their identities remained unknown, according to Ma’an.
The Palestinian Civil Liaison said that it was informed of the military’s decision to prevent the repair work.
The liaison added that efforts are being made to reverse the decision, so that the Reconstruction Commission could complete the task.
The commission tries to help Palestinian residents of the Old City of Hebron with renovating their homes, in order to prevent people from leaving their homes, as Israel plans to take over Palestinian homes and transfer ownership to Israeli settlers.
Hebron’s flash-point Old City has been declared a “closed military zone” by the Israeli army since November of 2015, and all non-resident Palestinians have been prevented from entering the area.
Palestinians residing in the Old City were required to register under a numbering system, following the declaration, in order to pass through the 17 military checkpoints that crisscross the area.
Some 800 Israeli settlers live illegally in the area, and have been able to move freely.
Despite being located in the center of Hebron city, which is under Palestinian jurisdiction, the Old City is located in an area designated as “H2” and is under full Israeli military control.
Around 40,000 Palestinians live in H2, and report frequent and often violent harassment by Israeli settlers attempting to push locals out of the Old City, and the harsh restrictions imposed by the military which prevent Palestinians from carrying out daily activities.
According to Hebron’s Palestinian Reconstruction Commission, Israeli forces raided Ishaq Maharmeh’s house in the Old City of Hebron, which is under full Israeli control, and ordered him to stop reconstruction and maintenance work at the house.
Sources confirmed that Israeli forces stopped work under the pretext that Maharmeh must obtain military permission issued by the Israeli Civil Administration, first.
Israeli forces detained several workers who were working on renovation inside Maharmeh’s home. However, their identities remained unknown, according to Ma’an.
The Palestinian Civil Liaison said that it was informed of the military’s decision to prevent the repair work.
The liaison added that efforts are being made to reverse the decision, so that the Reconstruction Commission could complete the task.
The commission tries to help Palestinian residents of the Old City of Hebron with renovating their homes, in order to prevent people from leaving their homes, as Israel plans to take over Palestinian homes and transfer ownership to Israeli settlers.
Hebron’s flash-point Old City has been declared a “closed military zone” by the Israeli army since November of 2015, and all non-resident Palestinians have been prevented from entering the area.
Palestinians residing in the Old City were required to register under a numbering system, following the declaration, in order to pass through the 17 military checkpoints that crisscross the area.
Some 800 Israeli settlers live illegally in the area, and have been able to move freely.
Despite being located in the center of Hebron city, which is under Palestinian jurisdiction, the Old City is located in an area designated as “H2” and is under full Israeli military control.
Around 40,000 Palestinians live in H2, and report frequent and often violent harassment by Israeli settlers attempting to push locals out of the Old City, and the harsh restrictions imposed by the military which prevent Palestinians from carrying out daily activities.
30 july 2018
Israeli forces demolished a steel structure used for housing sheep on Monday east of Yatta City in the southern West bank district of Hebron.
Locals said that an Israeli bulldozers escorted by soldiers demolished the structure, in the Tuba area east of Yatta, under the pretext of being built without the nearly impossible-to-obtain Israeli building permit.
Sources added that the demolished structure belonged to Ismail Elayyan and that he had not received a prior notice regarding the demolition.
The demolished structure provides economic lifelines to many Palestinian families; the damages have yet to be counted.
In Area C, the more than 60 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli security and civilian control, Palestinian construction and land management is prohibited unless through consent or authorization by the Israeli Civil Administration.
Nearly all Palestinian applications for building permits in Area C are denied by the Israeli authorities, forcing communities to build illegally.
Locals said that an Israeli bulldozers escorted by soldiers demolished the structure, in the Tuba area east of Yatta, under the pretext of being built without the nearly impossible-to-obtain Israeli building permit.
Sources added that the demolished structure belonged to Ismail Elayyan and that he had not received a prior notice regarding the demolition.
The demolished structure provides economic lifelines to many Palestinian families; the damages have yet to be counted.
In Area C, the more than 60 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli security and civilian control, Palestinian construction and land management is prohibited unless through consent or authorization by the Israeli Civil Administration.
Nearly all Palestinian applications for building permits in Area C are denied by the Israeli authorities, forcing communities to build illegally.
26 july 2018
The Israeli occupation army on Wednesday notified the local residents of Kisan village, south of Bethlehem in the West Bank, of its intent to demolish Abu Hurayrah Mosque.
Local sources said the Israeli army delivered a final stop-work and demolition order against the Mosque in the village.
The Israeli army threatened to take legal action against the stakeholders and raze the Mosque at their own expense if the Mosque was not demolished soon.
Kisan village has been exposed over years to widespread land theft by Israel in order to build and expand the illegal settlements of Ma'ale Amos and Mitzpe Shalem, and the outpost of Eibi Hankhal.
In addition, vast tracts of land were also annexed from the village to build a military base and several roads for Jewish settlers.
Local sources said the Israeli army delivered a final stop-work and demolition order against the Mosque in the village.
The Israeli army threatened to take legal action against the stakeholders and raze the Mosque at their own expense if the Mosque was not demolished soon.
Kisan village has been exposed over years to widespread land theft by Israel in order to build and expand the illegal settlements of Ma'ale Amos and Mitzpe Shalem, and the outpost of Eibi Hankhal.
In addition, vast tracts of land were also annexed from the village to build a military base and several roads for Jewish settlers.
