21 nov 2013
A Palestinian young man died of dehydration and malnutrition in Yarmouk refugee, camp south of Damascus, on Wednesday night. The action group for Palestinians in Syria said in a statement on Thursday that Mahmoud Obaidi died as a result of the tight siege on the Yarmouk refugee for 127 days so far.
It said that the Syrian regular army siege of the camp depleted most of its food stock and other basic and medical supplies, noting that hospitals and clinics in the camp were closed due to the continued shelling and looting.
The group said that almost all other refugee camps in Syria are subjected to similar siege and shelling.
The group also published appeals by Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria to Jordan calling for aiding them. The refugees said they were held in Cyber City compound and were isolated from the outside world and not allowed to leave the compound.
The refugees said that they were treated like detainees and are only allowed out if Jordanians guaranteed their return. They said that some families fled the compound in view of the difficult living conditions inside it and were now wanted for the Jordanian security.
It said that the Syrian regular army siege of the camp depleted most of its food stock and other basic and medical supplies, noting that hospitals and clinics in the camp were closed due to the continued shelling and looting.
The group said that almost all other refugee camps in Syria are subjected to similar siege and shelling.
The group also published appeals by Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria to Jordan calling for aiding them. The refugees said they were held in Cyber City compound and were isolated from the outside world and not allowed to leave the compound.
The refugees said that they were treated like detainees and are only allowed out if Jordanians guaranteed their return. They said that some families fled the compound in view of the difficult living conditions inside it and were now wanted for the Jordanian security.
20 nov 2013
Minister of Justice in Gaza Mohammed Abul Sabh has affirmed that the Palestinian refugees’ right of return to their homeland was inalienable and none could surrender it. Abul Sabh was speaking on Wednesday in response to French president Francois Hollande’s statement that the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah could give up the right of return.
He said that the right of return was guaranteed by the international law, adding that the 13th article of the international declaration of human rights stipulates:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”
The minister said that the right of return is the individual and collective right of more than six million Palestinian refugees who were displaced by occupation.
He underlined that the right of return is “a national, sacred right” according to the international law and the international declaration of human rights that was issued on 10th December 1948.
Abul Sabh said that RoR was not for bargaining or negotiations and could not be surrendered or replaced or amended.
Hollande revealed in statements published by Hebrew daily Ha’aretz that the PA leadership had displayed flexibility regarding RoR in return for its demand of halting Israeli settlement activity.
He said that the right of return was guaranteed by the international law, adding that the 13th article of the international declaration of human rights stipulates:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”
The minister said that the right of return is the individual and collective right of more than six million Palestinian refugees who were displaced by occupation.
He underlined that the right of return is “a national, sacred right” according to the international law and the international declaration of human rights that was issued on 10th December 1948.
Abul Sabh said that RoR was not for bargaining or negotiations and could not be surrendered or replaced or amended.
Hollande revealed in statements published by Hebrew daily Ha’aretz that the PA leadership had displayed flexibility regarding RoR in return for its demand of halting Israeli settlement activity.
The popular committees of the Palestinian refugee camps in the northern West Bank declared its decision to shut down UNRWA's offices on Wednesday and Thursday. The strike will exclude schools and medical centers, the popular committees of Palestinian refugee camps in the northern West Bank explained.
The popular committees' decision came in protest against UNRWA's reductions in its services provided to Palestinian refugees in the region.
The popular committees declared a set of weekly protest steps, based on the results of the planned meeting with UNRWA on Thursday.
The popular committees' decision came in protest against UNRWA's reductions in its services provided to Palestinian refugees in the region.
The popular committees declared a set of weekly protest steps, based on the results of the planned meeting with UNRWA on Thursday.
Outgoing commissioner general of UNRWA Filippo Grandi warned on Tuesday that the impoverished Gaza Strip is getting quickly unsuitable for human life as a result of the blockade, expecting further military escalation between Gaza and Israel. Grandi made his warning before the advisory commission of major donors and governments hosting the Palestinian refugees during a meeting held yesterday in the Jordanian capital Amman.
"Gaza is quickly becoming uninhabitable, and further conflict is bound, as before, to affect civilians in Gaza and southern Israel, unless its causes are addressed," the UN official said.
He called on the international community not to forget Gaza and to address the human dimension.
Grandi also warned that 19 out of 20 UNRWA construction projects in Gaza had ground to a halt.
Grandi said that since March, UNRWA has not had any construction projects cleared by the Israeli government, and has been unable to import building materials since last month.
"Following the closure of most smuggling tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, and given that Israel does not allow exports and hence a resumption of normal economic activities, prices are rising because commodities are becoming scarce, lack of fuel has provoked the closure of the power plant, the few jobs available in the construction industry are disappearing; and the list continues," Grandi underlined.
"Perhaps strengthening the human security of the people of Gaza is a better avenue to ensuring regional stability than physical closures, political isolation and military action. To obtain this, first and foremost, the Israeli blockade, which is illegal, must be lifted. Meanwhile, the United Nations must be allowed to at least continue construction projects and provide a few extra jobs to the beleaguered population," he added.
"Gaza is quickly becoming uninhabitable, and further conflict is bound, as before, to affect civilians in Gaza and southern Israel, unless its causes are addressed," the UN official said.
He called on the international community not to forget Gaza and to address the human dimension.
Grandi also warned that 19 out of 20 UNRWA construction projects in Gaza had ground to a halt.
Grandi said that since March, UNRWA has not had any construction projects cleared by the Israeli government, and has been unable to import building materials since last month.
"Following the closure of most smuggling tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, and given that Israel does not allow exports and hence a resumption of normal economic activities, prices are rising because commodities are becoming scarce, lack of fuel has provoked the closure of the power plant, the few jobs available in the construction industry are disappearing; and the list continues," Grandi underlined.
"Perhaps strengthening the human security of the people of Gaza is a better avenue to ensuring regional stability than physical closures, political isolation and military action. To obtain this, first and foremost, the Israeli blockade, which is illegal, must be lifted. Meanwhile, the United Nations must be allowed to at least continue construction projects and provide a few extra jobs to the beleaguered population," he added.
19 nov 2013
European parliament to discuss report on death of refugees in mediterranean
The Euro-mid observer for human rights and the council for European Palestinian relations (CEPR) issued recently a new report on the Palestinian and Syrian refugees fleeing the Syrian war titled, "Death boats: The journey of refugees from Syria to Europe in search of their dignity."
They will present their report today, 19th of November, during a hearing at the European parliament in Strasbourg intended for discussing the treatment of Palestinian refugees in Europe and the failure of the Italian and Maltese authorities to save the lives of many fleeing refugees. The report highlights the risky boat trips which the Palestinian and Syrian war refugees are forced to take across the mediterranean sea in an attempt to reach the Italian and Maltese territories and the resultant death of many of them, especially in the tragic sinking incident that took place last month.
The Euro-mid observer and the CEPR said in a joint statement that the hearing would be held at the invitation of the Euro-Palestine action group at the European parliament, affirming that the session would be chaired by European lawmaker David Martin, head of the group.
General strike hits UNRWA after failing to meet employees' demands
All the UNRWA offices and sectors in the West Bank saw on Monday morning a general strike after all its employees refrained from going to their workplaces in protest at the agency's reluctance to meet their demands. This strike was called for by the union of the UNRWA employees to pressure the agency to improve their employment status.
The employees demand the UNRWA to conduct a survey of the salaries and give them raises without any partiality, use the bonus and promotion system fairly, stop its prejudice policy against the political prisoners and not to dispense with the contracted employees involved in certain programs.
According to head of the UNRWA employees' union Shaker Al-Resheq, the employees will continue their protest steps and may go on open-ended strike as long as the agency refuses to fulfil their demands.
Resheq expressed his hope that the Palestinian refugees in the West Bank would understand the current situation and pledged that the employees would do their utmost to serve them.
European parliament to discuss report on death of refugees in mediterranean
The Euro-mid observer for human rights and the council for European Palestinian relations (CEPR) issued recently a new report on the Palestinian and Syrian refugees fleeing the Syrian war titled, "Death boats: The journey of refugees from Syria to Europe in search of their dignity."
They will present their report today, 19th of November, during a hearing at the European parliament in Strasbourg intended for discussing the treatment of Palestinian refugees in Europe and the failure of the Italian and Maltese authorities to save the lives of many fleeing refugees. The report highlights the risky boat trips which the Palestinian and Syrian war refugees are forced to take across the mediterranean sea in an attempt to reach the Italian and Maltese territories and the resultant death of many of them, especially in the tragic sinking incident that took place last month.
The Euro-mid observer and the CEPR said in a joint statement that the hearing would be held at the invitation of the Euro-Palestine action group at the European parliament, affirming that the session would be chaired by European lawmaker David Martin, head of the group.
General strike hits UNRWA after failing to meet employees' demands
All the UNRWA offices and sectors in the West Bank saw on Monday morning a general strike after all its employees refrained from going to their workplaces in protest at the agency's reluctance to meet their demands. This strike was called for by the union of the UNRWA employees to pressure the agency to improve their employment status.
The employees demand the UNRWA to conduct a survey of the salaries and give them raises without any partiality, use the bonus and promotion system fairly, stop its prejudice policy against the political prisoners and not to dispense with the contracted employees involved in certain programs.
According to head of the UNRWA employees' union Shaker Al-Resheq, the employees will continue their protest steps and may go on open-ended strike as long as the agency refuses to fulfil their demands.
Resheq expressed his hope that the Palestinian refugees in the West Bank would understand the current situation and pledged that the employees would do their utmost to serve them.
18 nov 2013
Six Palestinian refugees killed in Syria
Six Palestinian refugees were killed in Syria over the past 24 hours in shelling on their camps, activists in those camps said on Monday. The action group for Palestinians of Syria said in a press release that four of the martyrs, including a woman, fell in Dera refugee camp that came under heavy shelling.
A young man was killed in Yarmouk refugee camp, south of Damascus, the group said, adding that he was gunned down by a sniper while walking near a secondary school.
It said that another youth was killed in clashes in Khan Danun refugee camp.
The action group noted that armed clashes and mortar shells, which slam the refugee camps almost daily, inflict casualties among the refugees, adding that all Palestinian refugee camps in Syria have been under tight siege for months.
Lieberman's whims on Palestinian refugees
By Khalid Amayreh
The gung-ho scandal-ridden Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has accused the Palestinian people of brazenly continuing to invoke the mantra of Palestinian refugees in order to keep the Palestinian cause alive.
Lieberman, who was reinstated recently as Foreign Minister following a long legal battle, was quoted as saying that the Palestinians were using the refugees as a tool by refusing to allow them to assimilate in their host countries.
"Jews from Arab countries came to Israel as refugees, but unlike the Palestinians, they integrated and became citizens," Lieberman reportedly told lawmakers Monday.
. "Palestinians entrenched their refugee status in order to build an ethos. They do everything to prevent refugees from integrating in the countries they live in."
Well, Lieberman is trying to re-write history with his lies, lies that really go beyond Chutzpah.
There are a thousand ways to refute Lieberman's lies. The right of millions of Palestinian refugees, brutally uprooted from their homes and villages at the hands of Jewish-Zionist invaders from Eastern Europe, is deep-rooted and well-established in international law. It is not a whim or a mantra or an unsubstantiated claim or an invention. It is a sacred, legitimate right that is totally compatible with the laws of man and the laws of God.
According to article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and return to his country.
Israel has been claiming ad nauseam that the Palestinians left their homes voluntarily, a claim that is void of any iota of truth.
However, even, for the sake of argument, if this were true, these people would still have an inalienable right to return home.
But Israel itself is an outlaw in every respect and it is really hard to invoke international law when talking about Israel. Israel and international law are an eternal oxymoron.
Indeed, Israel is a war crime or a crime against humanity par excel lance. And in truth, were it not for its brute force, Nazi-like savagery and unlimited western backing, Israel shouldn't exist as a nation-state. Hence, Israel owes its continued existence not to the power of logic or any legitimacy but rather to the logic of power. Otherwise, Israel has no moral legitimacy. It never will.
Lieberman may continue to babble about the absolutely and totally-just cause of Palestinian refugees. But the robe of lie is short, however long it may look.
Sixty-five years have passed since these peaceable but oppressed Palestinians were expelled from their homes. They have suffered so immeasurably and uninterruptedly for so long on no account other than that they didn't belong to the "correct tribe."
Hence trying to belittle or underestimate their right to return to their homes is tantamount to denying the obvious.
In any case, the refugees themselves and all honest-minded people of the world, and irrespective of their ethnicity and belief systems, will never allow this paramount right to go into oblivion or be diluted in futile political bargaining.
True, some Palestinian leaders, including Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas have made remarks undermining the paramountcy and sacredness of the right of return.
However, it must be understood that no political leader under the sun, elected or otherwise, has any right to compromise on this central issue of the Palestinian plight. The right of return is the heart and soul of the Palestinian problem.
Abbas is free to give up his personal right but he can't speak on behalf of ten million Palestinians each of whom has a long-standing score to settle with Israel. Nor does he have the right to speak on behalf of 1500,000,000 million Muslims for whom Palestine and the Aqsa Mosque is an integral part of their religious belief.
In the final analysis, we don't seek the liquidation or eradication of any people. We only want to go back home.
A final point. Lieberman and other Zionist officials keep making corrupt analogies between Palestinian refugees and so-called Jewish refugees.
But in truth there is no such a thing as Jewish refugees. The so-called Jewish refugees are fictional, not real refugees. These people were invited to Israel in order to fulfill Zionism. In numerous cases, they were coerced and terrorized into leaving their homes and native lands, as testified by Naeim Gilaadi, an Iraqi Jew, in his famous book "The Iraqi Jews."
Even in the Hebrew language, these "new comers" are still referred to as "aliya makers" or ascenders, hardly an epithet for wretched refugees.
Hence, all honest and free-minded people ought to strongly reject cheap efforts by Lieberman and other Zionist officials to turn the black into white and the big lie into a "truth."
Six Palestinian refugees killed in Syria
Six Palestinian refugees were killed in Syria over the past 24 hours in shelling on their camps, activists in those camps said on Monday. The action group for Palestinians of Syria said in a press release that four of the martyrs, including a woman, fell in Dera refugee camp that came under heavy shelling.
A young man was killed in Yarmouk refugee camp, south of Damascus, the group said, adding that he was gunned down by a sniper while walking near a secondary school.
It said that another youth was killed in clashes in Khan Danun refugee camp.
The action group noted that armed clashes and mortar shells, which slam the refugee camps almost daily, inflict casualties among the refugees, adding that all Palestinian refugee camps in Syria have been under tight siege for months.
Lieberman's whims on Palestinian refugees
By Khalid Amayreh
The gung-ho scandal-ridden Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has accused the Palestinian people of brazenly continuing to invoke the mantra of Palestinian refugees in order to keep the Palestinian cause alive.
Lieberman, who was reinstated recently as Foreign Minister following a long legal battle, was quoted as saying that the Palestinians were using the refugees as a tool by refusing to allow them to assimilate in their host countries.
"Jews from Arab countries came to Israel as refugees, but unlike the Palestinians, they integrated and became citizens," Lieberman reportedly told lawmakers Monday.
. "Palestinians entrenched their refugee status in order to build an ethos. They do everything to prevent refugees from integrating in the countries they live in."
Well, Lieberman is trying to re-write history with his lies, lies that really go beyond Chutzpah.
There are a thousand ways to refute Lieberman's lies. The right of millions of Palestinian refugees, brutally uprooted from their homes and villages at the hands of Jewish-Zionist invaders from Eastern Europe, is deep-rooted and well-established in international law. It is not a whim or a mantra or an unsubstantiated claim or an invention. It is a sacred, legitimate right that is totally compatible with the laws of man and the laws of God.
According to article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and return to his country.
Israel has been claiming ad nauseam that the Palestinians left their homes voluntarily, a claim that is void of any iota of truth.
However, even, for the sake of argument, if this were true, these people would still have an inalienable right to return home.
But Israel itself is an outlaw in every respect and it is really hard to invoke international law when talking about Israel. Israel and international law are an eternal oxymoron.
Indeed, Israel is a war crime or a crime against humanity par excel lance. And in truth, were it not for its brute force, Nazi-like savagery and unlimited western backing, Israel shouldn't exist as a nation-state. Hence, Israel owes its continued existence not to the power of logic or any legitimacy but rather to the logic of power. Otherwise, Israel has no moral legitimacy. It never will.
Lieberman may continue to babble about the absolutely and totally-just cause of Palestinian refugees. But the robe of lie is short, however long it may look.
Sixty-five years have passed since these peaceable but oppressed Palestinians were expelled from their homes. They have suffered so immeasurably and uninterruptedly for so long on no account other than that they didn't belong to the "correct tribe."
Hence trying to belittle or underestimate their right to return to their homes is tantamount to denying the obvious.
In any case, the refugees themselves and all honest-minded people of the world, and irrespective of their ethnicity and belief systems, will never allow this paramount right to go into oblivion or be diluted in futile political bargaining.
True, some Palestinian leaders, including Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas have made remarks undermining the paramountcy and sacredness of the right of return.
However, it must be understood that no political leader under the sun, elected or otherwise, has any right to compromise on this central issue of the Palestinian plight. The right of return is the heart and soul of the Palestinian problem.
Abbas is free to give up his personal right but he can't speak on behalf of ten million Palestinians each of whom has a long-standing score to settle with Israel. Nor does he have the right to speak on behalf of 1500,000,000 million Muslims for whom Palestine and the Aqsa Mosque is an integral part of their religious belief.
In the final analysis, we don't seek the liquidation or eradication of any people. We only want to go back home.
A final point. Lieberman and other Zionist officials keep making corrupt analogies between Palestinian refugees and so-called Jewish refugees.
But in truth there is no such a thing as Jewish refugees. The so-called Jewish refugees are fictional, not real refugees. These people were invited to Israel in order to fulfill Zionism. In numerous cases, they were coerced and terrorized into leaving their homes and native lands, as testified by Naeim Gilaadi, an Iraqi Jew, in his famous book "The Iraqi Jews."
Even in the Hebrew language, these "new comers" are still referred to as "aliya makers" or ascenders, hardly an epithet for wretched refugees.
Hence, all honest and free-minded people ought to strongly reject cheap efforts by Lieberman and other Zionist officials to turn the black into white and the big lie into a "truth."
17 nov 2013
An official in the Energy Authority said the authority submitted a proposal to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to buy fuel from the Israeli occupation to run the Gaza power plant. Deputy Chairman of the Energy Authority Fathi al-Sheikh Khalil told ALRAY Sunday that "the UNRWA shall buy fuel from the Israeli side and Qatar pledge to pay for the differences between Gaza and West Bank in the price of diesel fuel,"
"The UNRWA delivered the proposal to the Israeli side on Wednesday and has not received any response to it until now," Sheikh Khalil pointed out.
He explained that "in the event UNRWA manages to buy the required quantities of fuel to run the power plant, the old timetable of the power cuts shall be effective again [eight-hour power cut a day],"
"The authority is on constant contact with international organizations in the Gaza Strip to negotiate a solution to the blackouts that last for long hours," the official stressed, adding that "the government, for its part, has contacted foreign countries to curb the crisis,"
The lone power plant in Gaza has been on a complete halt for the 17th day in a row for the lack of the diesel fuel needed to run it. The problem had worsened when the Ramallah authority imposed an additional tax on diesel fuel it imports from (Israel).
The Gaza Strip's only power station supplies the Palestinian enclave with up to two-thirds of its energy needs. It needs 600,000 liters of fuel a day to keep running.
Gaza's energy sector is crippled by a ban on importing materials for locally implemented construction, leaving power stations unable to function. The plant suffered damage in Israeli attacks on Gaza in 2008 and 2006.
The electricity crisis has impacted many sectors; significantly environment and health. Observers warned of a disaster that could happen should not a solution to the problem is reached soon.
"The UNRWA delivered the proposal to the Israeli side on Wednesday and has not received any response to it until now," Sheikh Khalil pointed out.
He explained that "in the event UNRWA manages to buy the required quantities of fuel to run the power plant, the old timetable of the power cuts shall be effective again [eight-hour power cut a day],"
"The authority is on constant contact with international organizations in the Gaza Strip to negotiate a solution to the blackouts that last for long hours," the official stressed, adding that "the government, for its part, has contacted foreign countries to curb the crisis,"
The lone power plant in Gaza has been on a complete halt for the 17th day in a row for the lack of the diesel fuel needed to run it. The problem had worsened when the Ramallah authority imposed an additional tax on diesel fuel it imports from (Israel).
The Gaza Strip's only power station supplies the Palestinian enclave with up to two-thirds of its energy needs. It needs 600,000 liters of fuel a day to keep running.
Gaza's energy sector is crippled by a ban on importing materials for locally implemented construction, leaving power stations unable to function. The plant suffered damage in Israeli attacks on Gaza in 2008 and 2006.
The electricity crisis has impacted many sectors; significantly environment and health. Observers warned of a disaster that could happen should not a solution to the problem is reached soon.
Mass destruction in Syria due to the continued violence
14 Palestinians were killed over the last week in the continued violence in Syria, a statement of the Action Group for Palestinians in Syria showed. The group said Saturday in a statement that it "documented the deaths during the period between 9 and 15 November 2013,"
On Saturday, November 9, young man Mahmoud Awad died in a shooting in the Yarmouk refugee camp.
On Sunday, November 10, child Omar Hussein died of drought and lack of food and medical care due to the blockade imposed on the Yarmouk refugee camp, while young man Fayez al-Hassan passed when a shell struck the Deir Yassin Street in behind Palestine Hospital.
On Monday, November 11, young man Maher al-Nassar of the Yarmouk refugee camp, held by the Syrian army for nine months, was tortured to death in the central Syrian security prisons, while Ahmed Zaidan died in the shelling of the Yarmouk refugee camp.
On Tuesday, November 12, Hassan Awad , and Ibrahim Temaa fell in the bombing of al-Orouba neighborhood in the Yarmouk refugee camp, while Ali Troah died of his wounds he sustained in a sniper fire at the entrance to the Yarmouk refugee camp a few days ago.
On Thursday, November 14, youth Ahmed Jihad, a recruit of Palestinian Liberation Army, died in clashes between the army and Syrian rebel groups; Maher Khattab, a resident of Jaramana refugee camp, died after being injured by shrapnel in the Qishleh area; Waseem Jariyan fell in clashes in the Yarmouk refugee camp.
On Thursday, November 15, Mosa al-Shalhawi died of wounds he survived after an earlier bombing of the Maliha area in Rural Damascus. Bashar Aidi died after being injured by shrapnel of a shell that fell a few days ago at the Yarmouk refugee camp , while Bilal Omar of the Yarmouk refugee camp died of wounds he suffered several ago days in a bombing of the camp.
14 Palestinians were killed over the last week in the continued violence in Syria, a statement of the Action Group for Palestinians in Syria showed. The group said Saturday in a statement that it "documented the deaths during the period between 9 and 15 November 2013,"
On Saturday, November 9, young man Mahmoud Awad died in a shooting in the Yarmouk refugee camp.
On Sunday, November 10, child Omar Hussein died of drought and lack of food and medical care due to the blockade imposed on the Yarmouk refugee camp, while young man Fayez al-Hassan passed when a shell struck the Deir Yassin Street in behind Palestine Hospital.
On Monday, November 11, young man Maher al-Nassar of the Yarmouk refugee camp, held by the Syrian army for nine months, was tortured to death in the central Syrian security prisons, while Ahmed Zaidan died in the shelling of the Yarmouk refugee camp.
On Tuesday, November 12, Hassan Awad , and Ibrahim Temaa fell in the bombing of al-Orouba neighborhood in the Yarmouk refugee camp, while Ali Troah died of his wounds he sustained in a sniper fire at the entrance to the Yarmouk refugee camp a few days ago.
On Thursday, November 14, youth Ahmed Jihad, a recruit of Palestinian Liberation Army, died in clashes between the army and Syrian rebel groups; Maher Khattab, a resident of Jaramana refugee camp, died after being injured by shrapnel in the Qishleh area; Waseem Jariyan fell in clashes in the Yarmouk refugee camp.
On Thursday, November 15, Mosa al-Shalhawi died of wounds he survived after an earlier bombing of the Maliha area in Rural Damascus. Bashar Aidi died after being injured by shrapnel of a shell that fell a few days ago at the Yarmouk refugee camp , while Bilal Omar of the Yarmouk refugee camp died of wounds he suffered several ago days in a bombing of the camp.
16 nov 2013
The international bureau to follow up the affairs of Palestinians in Syria, formed last Monday, started a series of contacts in order to solve the issue of Palestinian refugees from Syria, detained in Thailand, and to help dozens of refugees living in difficult circumstances. The international bureau said in a press statement on Saturday it is working on resolving the issue of Palestinians from Syria detained in Thailand. It contacted several parties in Thailand, particularly the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) there, and received promises to resolve the issue.
It pointed out that the authorities in Thailand are detaining three Palestinian young men and two women; one of them was arrested with her two children.
The international bureau explained that it has coordinated efforts with more than three specialized institutions in London, Geneva and Thailand, and that it contacted the Embassy of Thailand in London, which promised to follow up this issue.
It added: "We have received the last contact from the Thai embassy in London on Friday evening. They told us that the embassy is following up the case with the Ministry Foreign Affairs, and said they will inform us about any developments during the coming two days."
It pointed out that the authorities in Thailand are detaining three Palestinian young men and two women; one of them was arrested with her two children.
The international bureau explained that it has coordinated efforts with more than three specialized institutions in London, Geneva and Thailand, and that it contacted the Embassy of Thailand in London, which promised to follow up this issue.
It added: "We have received the last contact from the Thai embassy in London on Friday evening. They told us that the embassy is following up the case with the Ministry Foreign Affairs, and said they will inform us about any developments during the coming two days."
More Palestinians were killed in the armed clashes and projectile attacks that happened during the last 24 hours in Palestinian refugee camps in Syria. The action group for the Palestinian refugees in Syria said on Saturday that two Palestinian refugees were killed in Al-Yarmouk camp, south of Damascus, and a third one was killed in the countryside of Damascus.
The action group affirmed that the Palestinians in Al-Yarmouk refugee camp, under tight blockade for 123 days running, organized a rally following the Friday prayers to demand the warring parties to neutralize the Palestinian refugee camp in the Syrian conflict.
The protestors also called for executing the initiative of the Palestine liberation organization (PLO) and ending the blockade imposed by the Syrian regime forces on Al-Yarmouk refugee camp.
The action group affirmed that the Palestinians in Al-Yarmouk refugee camp, under tight blockade for 123 days running, organized a rally following the Friday prayers to demand the warring parties to neutralize the Palestinian refugee camp in the Syrian conflict.
The protestors also called for executing the initiative of the Palestine liberation organization (PLO) and ending the blockade imposed by the Syrian regime forces on Al-Yarmouk refugee camp.
14 nov 2013
Osama Hamdan, head of Hamas’s foreign relations department, confirmed that considerable efforts have been made to neutralize Palestinian refugees in Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria, pointing out that "efforts included the evacuation of armed men from the camp." Hamdan called on Tuesday for providing help for the refugees fleeing from the ongoing conflicts, and not to involve Palestinian camps in the internal Syrian affairs.
He pointed out that attempts to enter an aid convoy by UNRWA and the Syrian Red Crescent failed, adding that the convoy will be allowed to enter the camp on Wednesday, according to official promises.
Considerable efforts have been made by Hamas movement and Palestinian factions to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees who flee from their camps in Syria and Lebanon. The only solution for Palestinian refugees' crisis is to return to their homeland, Hamdan stressed.
The leader in Hamas movement confirmed that right of return can only be achieved after halting the ongoing absurd negotiations.
He pointed out that attempts to enter an aid convoy by UNRWA and the Syrian Red Crescent failed, adding that the convoy will be allowed to enter the camp on Wednesday, according to official promises.
Considerable efforts have been made by Hamas movement and Palestinian factions to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees who flee from their camps in Syria and Lebanon. The only solution for Palestinian refugees' crisis is to return to their homeland, Hamdan stressed.
The leader in Hamas movement confirmed that right of return can only be achieved after halting the ongoing absurd negotiations.
13 nov 2013
Palestinian activists in Syria confirmed that 5 refugees in the Yarmouk refugee camp (south of the capital Damascus) were killed during the shelling that targeted the camp in the past 24 hours. Action Group for Palestinians in Syria said in a statement that the bombing which targeted the neighborhood of Arouba in the camp killed 4 Palestinians, and caused many injuries.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian refugee Ali Tarwiyah from the Yarmouk camp died last night of wounds he sustained a few days ago after being shot by sniper.
The group pointed to the continued bombings and attacks targeting all the Palestinian camps in the Syrian territories, and which coincide with the tightening of the blockade, especially in the Yarmouk camp which has been under siege for the 120th day unabated.
The statement noted that the recent agreement to neutralize the Palestinian refugee camps from the ongoing conflict in Syria has not been enforced until this moment.
The Action Group also confirmed that the Lebanese authorities have continued to prevent entry of a large number of Palestinian refugees displaced from Syria into its territories, and called on the competent authorities to move to save the refugees.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian refugee Ali Tarwiyah from the Yarmouk camp died last night of wounds he sustained a few days ago after being shot by sniper.
The group pointed to the continued bombings and attacks targeting all the Palestinian camps in the Syrian territories, and which coincide with the tightening of the blockade, especially in the Yarmouk camp which has been under siege for the 120th day unabated.
The statement noted that the recent agreement to neutralize the Palestinian refugee camps from the ongoing conflict in Syria has not been enforced until this moment.
The Action Group also confirmed that the Lebanese authorities have continued to prevent entry of a large number of Palestinian refugees displaced from Syria into its territories, and called on the competent authorities to move to save the refugees.
12 nov 2013
A “Workshop on the situation of Palestinian refugees of Syria” was held on Monday in Istanbul organized by the Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) and the Action Group for the Palestinians in Syria (AGPS), in addition to the Turkish Assembly of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (Vidar). Dr. Tareq Hamoud, the coordinator of AGPS, has stated during the workshop that there are great efforts made in support of Palestinian refugees in Syrian but they are not enough in light of their difficult humanitarian situation in refugee camps.
He stressed the need for an urgent intervention to document the crimes committed against them especially that there is no official party doing this job.
Majed Al-Zeer, head of PRC, stated that the Palestinian refugees' plight dates back to the Israeli occupation of their lands from which they were displaced and expelled.
Palestinian refugees' suffering in Syria is part of the Palestinian refugees' suffering around the world, he added, saying that the official dereliction has deepened and doubled their plight and led to tragic scenes in Italy and Malta and other places.
For its part, the Turkish Assembly of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (Vidar) pointed out to the difficulties faced by Palestinian refugees to obtain residence permits. Various problems have obliged Palestinian refugees to flee illegally to European countries, it stated, vowing to continue following up their plight.
As a guest of Honor, Bulent Yildrim, head of the Turkish charity IHH that sponsored the June 2010 Gaza Flotilla, called on Palestinian leaders topped by Meshaal and Abbas to coordinate with Turkish authorities to facilitate the Palestinian refugees' entry to Turkey.
He confirmed that his organization will always be in support of the Palestinian cause and people.
He stressed the need for an urgent intervention to document the crimes committed against them especially that there is no official party doing this job.
Majed Al-Zeer, head of PRC, stated that the Palestinian refugees' plight dates back to the Israeli occupation of their lands from which they were displaced and expelled.
Palestinian refugees' suffering in Syria is part of the Palestinian refugees' suffering around the world, he added, saying that the official dereliction has deepened and doubled their plight and led to tragic scenes in Italy and Malta and other places.
For its part, the Turkish Assembly of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (Vidar) pointed out to the difficulties faced by Palestinian refugees to obtain residence permits. Various problems have obliged Palestinian refugees to flee illegally to European countries, it stated, vowing to continue following up their plight.
As a guest of Honor, Bulent Yildrim, head of the Turkish charity IHH that sponsored the June 2010 Gaza Flotilla, called on Palestinian leaders topped by Meshaal and Abbas to coordinate with Turkish authorities to facilitate the Palestinian refugees' entry to Turkey.
He confirmed that his organization will always be in support of the Palestinian cause and people.
Egypt has detained over 1,500 refugees from Syria, including at least 400 Palestinians and 250 children as young as two months old, for weeks and sometimes months, Human Rights Watch(HRW) reported on Monday. Security officials have acknowledged that the refugees will be held indefinitely until they leave the country.
The report noted that Palestinian refugees from Syria are especially vulnerable because Egyptian policy prevents them from seeking protection from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), contrary to UNHCR’s mandate under the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Egyptian authorities tell detained Palestinians that their only alternative to indefinite detention is to go to Lebanon, where they are only permitted to legally enter on a 48-hour transit visa, or to return to war-torn Syria.
“Egypt is leaving hundreds of Palestinians from Syria with no protection from Syria’s killing fields except indefinite detention in miserable conditions,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director.
“Egypt should immediately release those being held and allow UNHCR to give them the protection they are due under international law,” he added.
The report recommended that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who currently in Cairo, should seize the opportunity to insist upon the immediate release of detained refugees.
The report noted that Palestinian refugees from Syria are especially vulnerable because Egyptian policy prevents them from seeking protection from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), contrary to UNHCR’s mandate under the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Egyptian authorities tell detained Palestinians that their only alternative to indefinite detention is to go to Lebanon, where they are only permitted to legally enter on a 48-hour transit visa, or to return to war-torn Syria.
“Egypt is leaving hundreds of Palestinians from Syria with no protection from Syria’s killing fields except indefinite detention in miserable conditions,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director.
“Egypt should immediately release those being held and allow UNHCR to give them the protection they are due under international law,” he added.
The report recommended that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who currently in Cairo, should seize the opportunity to insist upon the immediate release of detained refugees.
10 nov 2013
Participants in the conference of the "Right of Return", which was held on Saturday in Jordan, unanimously agreed that the Palestinian people will not accept a substitute for their homeland. The second Conference of Return was organized by the Jordanian Engineers Association, in cooperation with the Jordanian Society for the return of the refugees, in the Jordanian Professional Associations Complex.
The former head of the Jordanian Senate Taher Masri said: "The Palestinian cause has entered the most serious stages," pointing to the growing Israeli Judaization and settlement schemes, which aim to obliterate the Arab and Islamic landmarks in Palestine.
Masri stressed that the right of return is an inalienable right and should never be surrendered.
For his part, deputy head of the Jordanian Engineers Association Majed Tabbaa stressed the futility of negotiations at a time the Israeli Knesset is trying to enact laws to divide the Aqsa Mosque.
The former head of the Jordanian Bar Association Saleh Armouti said that the right of return cannot be restored in negotiations, but rather through struggle and armed resistance, and stressed that the Palestinian negotiator does not have the right to waive this right.
He stated that the right of return is a legitimate right that cannot be subjected to statute of limitations, and condemned the Arab and international silence vis-à-vis the Israeli violations of this right.
Osama Aqibify, talking on behalf of Palestinians from the 1948 occupied lands, said: "The Zionist entity has stolen approximately 11 million dunums of land in the Negev, forcibly displaced tens of thousands of Palestinian families, and is still exercising this policy of forced displacement."
He stressed that the Palestinian people in the 1948 territories will not give up their lands, despite all the Israeli efforts and the restrictions imposed on them.
On the sidelines of the conference, the participants launched an international campaign to collect signatures, to ask Britain to apologize for the "Balfour Declaration".
The conference also discussed papers on the right of return and the conditions and suffering of the Palestinian refugees in the host countries, in light of the developments in the Arab region.
The former head of the Jordanian Senate Taher Masri said: "The Palestinian cause has entered the most serious stages," pointing to the growing Israeli Judaization and settlement schemes, which aim to obliterate the Arab and Islamic landmarks in Palestine.
Masri stressed that the right of return is an inalienable right and should never be surrendered.
For his part, deputy head of the Jordanian Engineers Association Majed Tabbaa stressed the futility of negotiations at a time the Israeli Knesset is trying to enact laws to divide the Aqsa Mosque.
The former head of the Jordanian Bar Association Saleh Armouti said that the right of return cannot be restored in negotiations, but rather through struggle and armed resistance, and stressed that the Palestinian negotiator does not have the right to waive this right.
He stated that the right of return is a legitimate right that cannot be subjected to statute of limitations, and condemned the Arab and international silence vis-à-vis the Israeli violations of this right.
Osama Aqibify, talking on behalf of Palestinians from the 1948 occupied lands, said: "The Zionist entity has stolen approximately 11 million dunums of land in the Negev, forcibly displaced tens of thousands of Palestinian families, and is still exercising this policy of forced displacement."
He stressed that the Palestinian people in the 1948 territories will not give up their lands, despite all the Israeli efforts and the restrictions imposed on them.
On the sidelines of the conference, the participants launched an international campaign to collect signatures, to ask Britain to apologize for the "Balfour Declaration".
The conference also discussed papers on the right of return and the conditions and suffering of the Palestinian refugees in the host countries, in light of the developments in the Arab region.
9 nov 2013
Abbas and Mansour in a previous meeting
Egypt's interim President Adly Mansour will meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Sunday, an Egyptian diplomat said.
Abbas's visit, the source says, comes to reaffirm the strength of relations between the two sides.
Egyptian ambassador to the Palestinian Authority (PA) Yasser Othman said we invited the PA President Mahmoud Abbas to Cairo to confirm the Egyptian support for President Abbas and to thank him on his stance in support of the Egyptian people's June 30 revolution,"
In a statement to the Al-Ayyam daily, Othman said "we appreciate the PA's position and certainly will forget those who stood with and backed Egypt,..."
"The visit comes up a critical phase of the peace process and thus we would confirm our stance siding with the President Abbas's stance and rejecting Israeli measures particularly the settlement activities...," he added, stressing that "Egypt had sent an official invitation to Abbas,"
It also, he pointed out, will take on Palestinian reconciliation and ways to push it forward; moreover, the visit will discuss the situation in Gaza and how to work regarding the siege imposed on it and make it easier for our Palestinian brothers,"
"Egypt and the Palestinian leadership are keen to lift the Gaza siege and thus will be put on the table every possible action may help the Palestinian citizens [in Gaza]," he said.
Al Jazeera Arabic had quoted European diplomatic sources as saying that "President Abbas devoted his last tour in Europe to warn of any decline in support of the July coup in Egypt led by Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi,"
Aljazeera.net reported Thursday well-informed European diplomats as saying "Abbas solid firmly defended the Egyptian state after the July 3 coup,"
"Italian officials were surprised by Abbas's 'fierce defense' of the coup in Egypt and his statement on the need to support it during the current period, while condoning even mentioning the plight of the Palestinian refugees drowned off the Maltese shores after fleeing Syria," according to the Qatari Network.
Egypt's interim President Adly Mansour will meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Sunday, an Egyptian diplomat said.
Abbas's visit, the source says, comes to reaffirm the strength of relations between the two sides.
Egyptian ambassador to the Palestinian Authority (PA) Yasser Othman said we invited the PA President Mahmoud Abbas to Cairo to confirm the Egyptian support for President Abbas and to thank him on his stance in support of the Egyptian people's June 30 revolution,"
In a statement to the Al-Ayyam daily, Othman said "we appreciate the PA's position and certainly will forget those who stood with and backed Egypt,..."
"The visit comes up a critical phase of the peace process and thus we would confirm our stance siding with the President Abbas's stance and rejecting Israeli measures particularly the settlement activities...," he added, stressing that "Egypt had sent an official invitation to Abbas,"
It also, he pointed out, will take on Palestinian reconciliation and ways to push it forward; moreover, the visit will discuss the situation in Gaza and how to work regarding the siege imposed on it and make it easier for our Palestinian brothers,"
"Egypt and the Palestinian leadership are keen to lift the Gaza siege and thus will be put on the table every possible action may help the Palestinian citizens [in Gaza]," he said.
Al Jazeera Arabic had quoted European diplomatic sources as saying that "President Abbas devoted his last tour in Europe to warn of any decline in support of the July coup in Egypt led by Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi,"
Aljazeera.net reported Thursday well-informed European diplomats as saying "Abbas solid firmly defended the Egyptian state after the July 3 coup,"
"Italian officials were surprised by Abbas's 'fierce defense' of the coup in Egypt and his statement on the need to support it during the current period, while condoning even mentioning the plight of the Palestinian refugees drowned off the Maltese shores after fleeing Syria," according to the Qatari Network.
5 nov 2013
The Palestinian Return Centre called in an urgent letter to the Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby to deal with the Palestinian refugees' issue within Arab-African Summit anticipated in Kuwait on 19 and 20 November. The letter stated that the number of Palestinian victims has reached 1600 martyrs since the outbreak of the events in Syria, while more than three-quarters of them were displaced in different parts inside and outside Syria after the destruction of their houses.
The letter called on Arab countries to bear their responsibilities in supporting Palestinian refugees politically, legally and economically according to Arab league resolutions most notably Casablanca Protocol of 1965 that gave full social and economic rights to Palestinian refugees.
We consider the Arab-African Summit an opportunity to discuss the issue of Palestinian refugees in Syria in light of their increasing suffering, the letter said.
The letter called on Arab countries to bear their responsibilities in supporting Palestinian refugees politically, legally and economically according to Arab league resolutions most notably Casablanca Protocol of 1965 that gave full social and economic rights to Palestinian refugees.
We consider the Arab-African Summit an opportunity to discuss the issue of Palestinian refugees in Syria in light of their increasing suffering, the letter said.
4 nov 2013
The effects of repeated shelling that targeted Sbinah Palestinian refugees camp in Damascus
Eight Palestinians were killed, on Sunday, due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria reported.
The group said in a statement, the Martyrs were Mohiuddin, Shahd and Mustafa Koshat, Hanan al-Farra, Mona Bandannain addition to two children Judy and Amran Bakr who were targeted by a rocket while trying to get out of Sbinah barrier.
The youth Mohammed Fathi Mghari was also killed in a bombing attack on Dar'a camp, raising the number of the killed Palestinians to 1722. The Group pointed out that the camp of Handarat in Aleppo was bombed, while a shell landed on a house of the refugee Abu Yasser.
The group also said that the refugees in the camps are still suffering from humanitarian crisis and living under extremely hard conditions as a result of the lack of food, medicine and baby milk.
Eight Palestinians were killed, on Sunday, due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria reported.
The group said in a statement, the Martyrs were Mohiuddin, Shahd and Mustafa Koshat, Hanan al-Farra, Mona Bandannain addition to two children Judy and Amran Bakr who were targeted by a rocket while trying to get out of Sbinah barrier.
The youth Mohammed Fathi Mghari was also killed in a bombing attack on Dar'a camp, raising the number of the killed Palestinians to 1722. The Group pointed out that the camp of Handarat in Aleppo was bombed, while a shell landed on a house of the refugee Abu Yasser.
The group also said that the refugees in the camps are still suffering from humanitarian crisis and living under extremely hard conditions as a result of the lack of food, medicine and baby milk.
3 nov 2013
More than three hundred Palestinian and Syrian refugees staged a sit-in in the Italian island of Lampedusa on Saturday to protest against the poor living conditions in the refugees’ camp on the island. The protesters appealed to the human rights organizations and the international community to intervene and end their “disastrous” living conditions on that island.
They handed a memorandum to the director of the camp demanding the improvement of their living conditions, equipping the clinic with necessary medicines and medical materials and equipment, and quickly deporting them from the island towards the Italian cities.
Quds Press agency quoted one of the protesters as saying that the Italian authorities have been ignoring the presence of large numbers of refugees in the Lampedusa camp, and pointed to the difficult living conditions which the refugees have been suffering.
One of the doctors, who works to provide medical care for refugees, warned of the seriousness of health conditions caused by the overcrowding, noting that some contagious skin diseases began to appear among the refugees.
Delegations of Palestinian institutions operating in Europe, which visited the refugees who survived the sinking of their ship, appealed to the relief institutions in Europe to provide legal, humanitarian and political assistance to the refugees.
They handed a memorandum to the director of the camp demanding the improvement of their living conditions, equipping the clinic with necessary medicines and medical materials and equipment, and quickly deporting them from the island towards the Italian cities.
Quds Press agency quoted one of the protesters as saying that the Italian authorities have been ignoring the presence of large numbers of refugees in the Lampedusa camp, and pointed to the difficult living conditions which the refugees have been suffering.
One of the doctors, who works to provide medical care for refugees, warned of the seriousness of health conditions caused by the overcrowding, noting that some contagious skin diseases began to appear among the refugees.
Delegations of Palestinian institutions operating in Europe, which visited the refugees who survived the sinking of their ship, appealed to the relief institutions in Europe to provide legal, humanitarian and political assistance to the refugees.