9 oct 2018
Israeli soldiers and employees of the Israeli Health Ministry invaded, Monday, a clinic run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Sahera Gate area, in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers and health department employees invaded the clinic, and attempted to break into its pharmacy, allegedly to document the available medicines, their descriptions and usage in addition to the place of manufacturing.
The invasion into the UNRWA clinic came just days after the Jerusalem City Council said it intends to shut down all UNRWA-run facilities in occupied Jerusalem.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat announced that the Agency’s operations in Jerusalem would be shut down, although many Palestinians depend on UNRWA for medical, educational and food services.
In response, UNRWA representatives said that the Israeli shutdown of the Agency’s operations is likely a violation of the agreements made between the Israeli government and the United Nations.
In addition, they questioned Barkat’s motives in making this move, which comes just two months before he is scheduled to leave office. Barkat has also repeatedly expressed anti-Palestinian sentiments, and has taken a number of measures to discriminate against the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem and to force their removal.
A report in the Israeli daily Ha’aretz noted that when Barkat made his announcement that he will shut down UNRWA in Jerusalem, he “didn’t give an interview next to UNRWA’s main Jerusalem activity center, in the Shuafat refugee camp. The camp, located on the opposite side of a separation barrier, is barely recognized by the city as a neighborhood and the city hardly provides it with any services. It’s UNRWA that steps in to provide the camp with education, health and welfare services.”
The Jerusalem City Council said it plans to shut down the UNRWA clinic in Shu’fat refugee camp, and in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, under the allegation that the UN-run clinics were not licensed by the Health Ministry, and the patients “can receive services from Kupat Holim health maintenance organization.
The Mayor claims that the 1,800 Palestinian students which attend UNRWA schools in Jerusalem would be “absorbed into existing schools”. But Israeli government schools are highly segregated, and those that are designated for Palestinians in Jerusalem are extremely overcrowded and underfunded already.
The city government of Jerusalem made no indication as to how they would carry out this plan – and Palestinian residents fear that there is no plan, and they will be shut out of schools and medical care altogether.
In addition, UNRWA provides trash service and cleanup for the refugee camp. With the Israeli government takeover, residents fear a backlog of garbage along with excessive fees being imposed on Jerusalem’s poorest residents.
The mayor’s statement claims that UNRWA is “an illegal organization operating to advance terrorism and incitement”. But there is no evidence presented to back this bizarre claim.
There is already a major shortage of classrooms, early childcare centers, medical clinics, maternity clinics, welfare and sanitation services in the Palestinian areas of Jerusalem.
UNRWA has, until now, been able to provide some of the needed services for Palestinian refugees who live within the city of Jerusalem. With the shutdown of UNRWA, the refugees expect that they will simply end up being more neglected and unable to access medical care, education or sanitation.
Attorney Nazreen Elayan told the Israeli paper Ha’aretz, “Instead of establishing infrastructure where needed, Barkat wants to take over existing infrastructure. We are fighting for years with the city to open more mother-child centers in East Jerusalem and it hasn’t done so. So now they’re going to take over the good clinics run by UNRWA”.
In it’s statement in support of Mayor Barkat, the city council of Jerusalem stated, “Barkat’s decision aims to blow up the lie of the ‘Palestinian refugee problem,’ which is part of the Palestinian Authority’s propaganda under UN sponsorship and encouragement, which aims to destroy Israel by eternalizing refugee status and the perpetual call for the ‘right of return’ to Israel,.”
Chris Gunness, a spokesman for UNRWA, told the paper, “The statement (by Barkat) challenges the independent humanitarian, non-discriminatory actions by UNRWA and doesn’t reflect the traditionally positive dialogue between UNRWA and Israel.”
And attorney Danny Seidman told reporters, “How can the mayor of Jerusalem declare war on a recognized international establishment that does no damage and is helpful? It’s all about theater, pure McCarthyism for the sake of Likud primaries”.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers and health department employees invaded the clinic, and attempted to break into its pharmacy, allegedly to document the available medicines, their descriptions and usage in addition to the place of manufacturing.
The invasion into the UNRWA clinic came just days after the Jerusalem City Council said it intends to shut down all UNRWA-run facilities in occupied Jerusalem.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat announced that the Agency’s operations in Jerusalem would be shut down, although many Palestinians depend on UNRWA for medical, educational and food services.
In response, UNRWA representatives said that the Israeli shutdown of the Agency’s operations is likely a violation of the agreements made between the Israeli government and the United Nations.
In addition, they questioned Barkat’s motives in making this move, which comes just two months before he is scheduled to leave office. Barkat has also repeatedly expressed anti-Palestinian sentiments, and has taken a number of measures to discriminate against the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem and to force their removal.
A report in the Israeli daily Ha’aretz noted that when Barkat made his announcement that he will shut down UNRWA in Jerusalem, he “didn’t give an interview next to UNRWA’s main Jerusalem activity center, in the Shuafat refugee camp. The camp, located on the opposite side of a separation barrier, is barely recognized by the city as a neighborhood and the city hardly provides it with any services. It’s UNRWA that steps in to provide the camp with education, health and welfare services.”
The Jerusalem City Council said it plans to shut down the UNRWA clinic in Shu’fat refugee camp, and in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, under the allegation that the UN-run clinics were not licensed by the Health Ministry, and the patients “can receive services from Kupat Holim health maintenance organization.
The Mayor claims that the 1,800 Palestinian students which attend UNRWA schools in Jerusalem would be “absorbed into existing schools”. But Israeli government schools are highly segregated, and those that are designated for Palestinians in Jerusalem are extremely overcrowded and underfunded already.
The city government of Jerusalem made no indication as to how they would carry out this plan – and Palestinian residents fear that there is no plan, and they will be shut out of schools and medical care altogether.
In addition, UNRWA provides trash service and cleanup for the refugee camp. With the Israeli government takeover, residents fear a backlog of garbage along with excessive fees being imposed on Jerusalem’s poorest residents.
The mayor’s statement claims that UNRWA is “an illegal organization operating to advance terrorism and incitement”. But there is no evidence presented to back this bizarre claim.
There is already a major shortage of classrooms, early childcare centers, medical clinics, maternity clinics, welfare and sanitation services in the Palestinian areas of Jerusalem.
UNRWA has, until now, been able to provide some of the needed services for Palestinian refugees who live within the city of Jerusalem. With the shutdown of UNRWA, the refugees expect that they will simply end up being more neglected and unable to access medical care, education or sanitation.
Attorney Nazreen Elayan told the Israeli paper Ha’aretz, “Instead of establishing infrastructure where needed, Barkat wants to take over existing infrastructure. We are fighting for years with the city to open more mother-child centers in East Jerusalem and it hasn’t done so. So now they’re going to take over the good clinics run by UNRWA”.
In it’s statement in support of Mayor Barkat, the city council of Jerusalem stated, “Barkat’s decision aims to blow up the lie of the ‘Palestinian refugee problem,’ which is part of the Palestinian Authority’s propaganda under UN sponsorship and encouragement, which aims to destroy Israel by eternalizing refugee status and the perpetual call for the ‘right of return’ to Israel,.”
Chris Gunness, a spokesman for UNRWA, told the paper, “The statement (by Barkat) challenges the independent humanitarian, non-discriminatory actions by UNRWA and doesn’t reflect the traditionally positive dialogue between UNRWA and Israel.”
And attorney Danny Seidman told reporters, “How can the mayor of Jerusalem declare war on a recognized international establishment that does no damage and is helpful? It’s all about theater, pure McCarthyism for the sake of Likud primaries”.
5 oct 2018
As part of the American-Israeli plan to obliterate the issue of the Palestinian refugees and their right to return to their homes, the Israeli municipality in Occupied Jerusalem has announced its intent to remove UNRWA from the holy city.
It has accused the UN body of operating illegally and promoting incitement against Israel.
According to the Hebrew media, Israeli mayor of the occupied city Nir Barkat said schools, clinics and sports centers, among other services operated by UNRWA in east Jerusalem, will be taken over by Israeli authorities.
The municipality did not provide an exact timeline to carry out the decision, but it said schools serving 1,800 students would be closed by the end of the current school year.
Barkat, who will leave office following municipal elections at the end of the month, admitted that the US decision to cut $300 million in aid to the agency earlier this year encouraged Israel to take such move.
"The US decision has created a rare opportunity to replace UNRWA's services with services of the Jerusalem municipality. We are putting an end to the lie of the 'Palestinian refugee problem' and the attempts at creating a false sovereignty within a sovereignty," Barkat said in a statement, claiming the schools and clinics were illegal and operate without an Israeli license.
Jerusalem's municipality said the move was coordinated with the Israeli government.
UNRWA has yet to respond to the Israeli decision.
It has accused the UN body of operating illegally and promoting incitement against Israel.
According to the Hebrew media, Israeli mayor of the occupied city Nir Barkat said schools, clinics and sports centers, among other services operated by UNRWA in east Jerusalem, will be taken over by Israeli authorities.
The municipality did not provide an exact timeline to carry out the decision, but it said schools serving 1,800 students would be closed by the end of the current school year.
Barkat, who will leave office following municipal elections at the end of the month, admitted that the US decision to cut $300 million in aid to the agency earlier this year encouraged Israel to take such move.
"The US decision has created a rare opportunity to replace UNRWA's services with services of the Jerusalem municipality. We are putting an end to the lie of the 'Palestinian refugee problem' and the attempts at creating a false sovereignty within a sovereignty," Barkat said in a statement, claiming the schools and clinics were illegal and operate without an Israeli license.
Jerusalem's municipality said the move was coordinated with the Israeli government.
UNRWA has yet to respond to the Israeli decision.
28 sept 2018
Ayman Safadi, the Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has reported Thursday, that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), has received $118 million from a number of countries to help in continuing its essential services.
Safadi told the al-Ghad daily Jordanian news agency that supporting the UNRWA is very essential to provide 5 Million Palestinian refugees with basic services, including education to more than 500.000 students in UNRWA schools, and the needed medical services to the refugees, especially the children and the elderly.
He added that Jordan is sending a message to the world, telling the international community that the suffering of the refugees is ongoing, and the word cares about them.
The Jordanian official also stated that the meeting, which was held in support of the UNRWA, was very successful, and thanked Sweden, Turkey, Japan, Germany and the European Union, in addition to UN Secretary General, António Guterres, for their support, and for allocating further essential funding to the UNRWA.
Safadi told the al-Ghad daily Jordanian news agency that supporting the UNRWA is very essential to provide 5 Million Palestinian refugees with basic services, including education to more than 500.000 students in UNRWA schools, and the needed medical services to the refugees, especially the children and the elderly.
He added that Jordan is sending a message to the world, telling the international community that the suffering of the refugees is ongoing, and the word cares about them.
The Jordanian official also stated that the meeting, which was held in support of the UNRWA, was very successful, and thanked Sweden, Turkey, Japan, Germany and the European Union, in addition to UN Secretary General, António Guterres, for their support, and for allocating further essential funding to the UNRWA.
26 sept 2018
“Israel Hayom” newspaper, on Wednesday, unveiled an official Israeli document, issued by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which denies the existence of millions of Palestinian refugees.
The document affirms the need for settling the refugees residing in Jordan. It also claims that there are links between the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and Hamas, saying that the agency is exaggerating the number of refugees and blurring the facts, in order to keep the refugee issue instead of resolving it.
According to the PNN, the document considers that the “refugee” classification applies to a very limited number of Palestinians, the same position expressed by the US administration in a report, recently, which states that there are only “tens of thousands of Palestinians refugees” only, instead of the 5.3 million refugees registered with UNRWA.
The document referred to UN General Assembly Resolution 149, which states that refugees should be returned, claiming that the resolution is non-binding and that the General Assembly does not have the capacity to commit to decisions, but only recommendations.
Through the document, Israel called on the European countries to amend what it called a “historical mistake” of granting UNRWA a mandate related to Palestinian refugees and their attachment to the United Nations refugee agency.
07/21/18 World Refugee Day 2018 Report: Palestinians are the Largest Population of Refugees
The document affirms the need for settling the refugees residing in Jordan. It also claims that there are links between the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and Hamas, saying that the agency is exaggerating the number of refugees and blurring the facts, in order to keep the refugee issue instead of resolving it.
According to the PNN, the document considers that the “refugee” classification applies to a very limited number of Palestinians, the same position expressed by the US administration in a report, recently, which states that there are only “tens of thousands of Palestinians refugees” only, instead of the 5.3 million refugees registered with UNRWA.
The document referred to UN General Assembly Resolution 149, which states that refugees should be returned, claiming that the resolution is non-binding and that the General Assembly does not have the capacity to commit to decisions, but only recommendations.
Through the document, Israel called on the European countries to amend what it called a “historical mistake” of granting UNRWA a mandate related to Palestinian refugees and their attachment to the United Nations refugee agency.
07/21/18 World Refugee Day 2018 Report: Palestinians are the Largest Population of Refugees
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Dozens of Palestinian refugees protested in front of the Unied Nations’ headquarters in besieged Gaza City, on Wednesday, in rejection of the United States President Donald Trump’s speech and US decisions affecting the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA).
The protest comes under the slogan “No to Jeopardizing the Rights of Refugees”, in time with the UN General Assembly convening, to affirm the right of refugees to return and live decently and in persistence to their just demands under all of their legitimate rights. Kayid Jarbou, a youth activist, stressed on Palestinians’ rejection of their rights being jeopardized, pointing out that the silence of the UN and the international community on Israeli crimes and US-international decisions against the people cannot be accepted. |
According to Ma’an News Agency, Jarbou described Trump’s speech as “abuse,” saying that it confirms US decisions to liquidate the case and to not recognize all international resolutions, and that it adopts a vision which is considered a crime against the people and the international community.
Protesters raised signs condemning the sanctions on UNRWA services.
For her part, protester Suad Musleh called upon Trump to allow the return of refugees to their homes and to compensate them before ending UNRWA’s services, in accordance with Resolution 194, which calls for the return of refugees to their homes.
Musleh also called upon Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to confirm the right of return and compensate refugees, during his speech to the UNGA.
Protesters raised signs condemning the sanctions on UNRWA services.
For her part, protester Suad Musleh called upon Trump to allow the return of refugees to their homes and to compensate them before ending UNRWA’s services, in accordance with Resolution 194, which calls for the return of refugees to their homes.
Musleh also called upon Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to confirm the right of return and compensate refugees, during his speech to the UNGA.
20 sept 2018
A seminar was held on Monday by the London-based Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) in partnership with the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria (AGPS) on the sidelines of the UN Human Rights Council’s 39th session in Geneva.
The side-event shed light on the arbitrary abductions and enforced disappearances recorded among the Palestinians of Syria.
A plethora of academics and researchers were in attendance. The session was moderated by human rights activist Olzhas Toleugazin.
Speaking at the inaugurating address, AGPS’s CEO, Ahmad Husain, briefed the audience on the calamitous situation of the Palestinians of Syria, 1,700 among whom have been secretly held in Syrian dungeons, where 556 others have also been tortured to death.
Lawyer and former detainee in Syria Wael Zahraoui narrated his tragic experience in Syrian locks ups and the cruel torture tactics pursued by the Syrian authorities against hundreds of men, women, and minors held behind prison bars.
Zahrawi said several detainees tortured in Syrian jails often return to their cells with one or two organs being taken out of their bodies, in a crime the like of which has never been recorded throughout history.
Wrapping up the seminar, CEO of Syria’s Violations Documentation Center Youssef Wahba underscored the fragile legal status of the Palestinians of Syria and the fallouts of the “protection gap” wrought on thousands of Palestinians all the way though the seven-year warfare.
Wahba warned that the violations perpetrated in Syrian penitentiaries amount to state terrorism of the kind committed by stakeholders in the embattled Syrian territories.
Wahba called on the Palestine Liberation Organization and official Palestinian bodies to live up to their responsibilities as regards the situation of the Palestinians of Syria and to take those involved in war crimes against them to regional and international courts.
PRC is an independent, non-partisan organization advocating the rights of Palestinian refugees. In July 2015, the centre was granted consultative status at the United Nations as a Non-governmental organization (NGO) in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), in recognition of its efforts in standing up for Palestinian human rights.
The side-event shed light on the arbitrary abductions and enforced disappearances recorded among the Palestinians of Syria.
A plethora of academics and researchers were in attendance. The session was moderated by human rights activist Olzhas Toleugazin.
Speaking at the inaugurating address, AGPS’s CEO, Ahmad Husain, briefed the audience on the calamitous situation of the Palestinians of Syria, 1,700 among whom have been secretly held in Syrian dungeons, where 556 others have also been tortured to death.
Lawyer and former detainee in Syria Wael Zahraoui narrated his tragic experience in Syrian locks ups and the cruel torture tactics pursued by the Syrian authorities against hundreds of men, women, and minors held behind prison bars.
Zahrawi said several detainees tortured in Syrian jails often return to their cells with one or two organs being taken out of their bodies, in a crime the like of which has never been recorded throughout history.
Wrapping up the seminar, CEO of Syria’s Violations Documentation Center Youssef Wahba underscored the fragile legal status of the Palestinians of Syria and the fallouts of the “protection gap” wrought on thousands of Palestinians all the way though the seven-year warfare.
Wahba warned that the violations perpetrated in Syrian penitentiaries amount to state terrorism of the kind committed by stakeholders in the embattled Syrian territories.
Wahba called on the Palestine Liberation Organization and official Palestinian bodies to live up to their responsibilities as regards the situation of the Palestinians of Syria and to take those involved in war crimes against them to regional and international courts.
PRC is an independent, non-partisan organization advocating the rights of Palestinian refugees. In July 2015, the centre was granted consultative status at the United Nations as a Non-governmental organization (NGO) in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), in recognition of its efforts in standing up for Palestinian human rights.
17 sept 2018
The Lebanese authorities on Sunday released the Palestinian girl Manal Abu Seyam, aged 15, after they detained her for days.
Over recent days, Abu Seyam’s detention stirred seething anger among the Palestinian refugee community.
The girl was arrested at a hospital, to which she had been admitted following a horrific traffic accident in Rehab region, in Lebanon.
The Lebanese authorities claimed the girl entered Lebanon with her family via illegal routes and that she cannot be treated as a Syrian refugee as she was carrying Palestinian-Syrian identity documents.
Palestinian refugees from Syria have been subjected to a precarious legal status in Lebanon, where they are often treated as foreigners rather than legitimate asylum-seekers.
Hundreds of Palestinians formerly sheltered in Syria have fled the war-torn country in the hunt for a safe shelter to take provisional refuge in.
Over recent days, Abu Seyam’s detention stirred seething anger among the Palestinian refugee community.
The girl was arrested at a hospital, to which she had been admitted following a horrific traffic accident in Rehab region, in Lebanon.
The Lebanese authorities claimed the girl entered Lebanon with her family via illegal routes and that she cannot be treated as a Syrian refugee as she was carrying Palestinian-Syrian identity documents.
Palestinian refugees from Syria have been subjected to a precarious legal status in Lebanon, where they are often treated as foreigners rather than legitimate asylum-seekers.
Hundreds of Palestinians formerly sheltered in Syria have fled the war-torn country in the hunt for a safe shelter to take provisional refuge in.
15 sept 2018
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Israeli tanks on Friday evening fired artillery shells at an UNRWA school east of Abasan town in the southern Gaza Strip.
Local sources said that school was cancelled for Saturday after Israeli tanks attacked Abu Tuaima school causing partial damages in some rooms. Israeli occupation army announced that two Hamas posts were bombed on Friday after grenades were thrown at its forces near the border fence. The army claimed that an Israeli officer was slightly wounded by shrapnel from an explosive device thrown by Palestinians. |
Three Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire during the Great March of Return protests on Friday, according to Gaza Ministry of Health.
The martyrs were identified as Mohammed Shaqoura, 21, Shadi Abdulal, 12, and Hani Afana, 21.
The Ministry said that 80 Palestinians were injured by live ammunition, including 18 children.
The martyrs were identified as Mohammed Shaqoura, 21, Shadi Abdulal, 12, and Hani Afana, 21.
The Ministry said that 80 Palestinians were injured by live ammunition, including 18 children.
13 sept 2018
Scientists and scholars from around the world published a letter of support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in the Lancet, one of the foremost medical journals in the world, urging support for the Agency, after the United States has decided to end its contribution to it.
In the letter published on Tuesday, 159 scientist and scholars described the crisis facing UNRWA as “unprecedented,” warning of “a ruinous multifaceted emergency,” if no action is taken to the help the humanitarian agency.
“The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides life-saving humanitarian aid for 5·4 million Palestine refugees now entering their eighth decade of statelessness and conflict. About a third of Palestine refugees still live in 58 recognized camps.
UNRWA operates 702 schools and 144 health centers, some of which are affected by the ongoing humanitarian disasters in Syria and the Gaza Strip.
It has dramatically reduced the prevalence of infectious diseases, mortality, and illiteracy. Its social services include rebuilding infrastructure and homes that have been destroyed by conflict and providing cash assistance and micro-finance loans for Palestinians whose rights are curtailed and who are denied the right of return to their homeland,” said the letter.
“Yet UNRWA is now fighting for survival. On Aug 31, 2018, the Trump Administration confirmed that the USA, previously UNRWA’s largest donor, will no longer fund UNRWA. Funding crises are not new to UNRWA. This crisis, however, is unprecedented.
“An abrupt cessation of UNRWA services will create humanitarian emergencies that will burden host countries that are already overburdened. It will exacerbate existing conflicts, disrupt fragile peace, create new displacement, and generate disaffection and anger,” said the scholar and scientists from Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and many other countries.
“If action is not taken, governments will be giving the green light to a ruinous multifaceted emergency, one the region simply cannot bear. We, scientists and scholars, urge our governments to support UNRWA now, sustaining UNRWA services and thereby averting further loss of life, dignity, and hope,” concluded the scientists and scholars, according to WAFA.
In the letter published on Tuesday, 159 scientist and scholars described the crisis facing UNRWA as “unprecedented,” warning of “a ruinous multifaceted emergency,” if no action is taken to the help the humanitarian agency.
“The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides life-saving humanitarian aid for 5·4 million Palestine refugees now entering their eighth decade of statelessness and conflict. About a third of Palestine refugees still live in 58 recognized camps.
UNRWA operates 702 schools and 144 health centers, some of which are affected by the ongoing humanitarian disasters in Syria and the Gaza Strip.
It has dramatically reduced the prevalence of infectious diseases, mortality, and illiteracy. Its social services include rebuilding infrastructure and homes that have been destroyed by conflict and providing cash assistance and micro-finance loans for Palestinians whose rights are curtailed and who are denied the right of return to their homeland,” said the letter.
“Yet UNRWA is now fighting for survival. On Aug 31, 2018, the Trump Administration confirmed that the USA, previously UNRWA’s largest donor, will no longer fund UNRWA. Funding crises are not new to UNRWA. This crisis, however, is unprecedented.
“An abrupt cessation of UNRWA services will create humanitarian emergencies that will burden host countries that are already overburdened. It will exacerbate existing conflicts, disrupt fragile peace, create new displacement, and generate disaffection and anger,” said the scholar and scientists from Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and many other countries.
“If action is not taken, governments will be giving the green light to a ruinous multifaceted emergency, one the region simply cannot bear. We, scientists and scholars, urge our governments to support UNRWA now, sustaining UNRWA services and thereby averting further loss of life, dignity, and hope,” concluded the scientists and scholars, according to WAFA.