13 oct 2018
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Saturday blocked several roads in Kafr Qaddum village, east of Qalqilya, with sand barriers.
Popular resistance coordinator Murad Shtewi said that the IOF, accompanied by a military bulldozer, stormed the village and closed different roads.
Shtewi said that Palestinian youths clashed with the IOF soldiers who heavily fired teargas canisters, noting that an elderly woman fainted after a gas canister fell in her house yard.
The Palestinian activist added that the Israeli bulldozer destroyed a main water line in the village, and, further, the IOF prevented the village council staff from repairing it.
Army Destroys Waterline in Kufr Qaddoum
Israeli forces, on Saturday, destroyed a water pipeline and sealed several roads in the village of Kafr Qaddoum, near Qalqilia city, in the occupied West Bank, local sources said.
Morad Shtewi, coordinator of the popular resistance in the village, told WAFA that Israeli army accompanied by a bulldozer broke into the village, destroyed a main water pipeline and sealed several roads.
Israeli measures in the village sparked confrontations with local residents, upon which an old woman was reportedly hit by a teargas canister, in her mouth, by the soldiers.
Popular resistance coordinator Murad Shtewi said that the IOF, accompanied by a military bulldozer, stormed the village and closed different roads.
Shtewi said that Palestinian youths clashed with the IOF soldiers who heavily fired teargas canisters, noting that an elderly woman fainted after a gas canister fell in her house yard.
The Palestinian activist added that the Israeli bulldozer destroyed a main water line in the village, and, further, the IOF prevented the village council staff from repairing it.
Army Destroys Waterline in Kufr Qaddoum
Israeli forces, on Saturday, destroyed a water pipeline and sealed several roads in the village of Kafr Qaddoum, near Qalqilia city, in the occupied West Bank, local sources said.
Morad Shtewi, coordinator of the popular resistance in the village, told WAFA that Israeli army accompanied by a bulldozer broke into the village, destroyed a main water pipeline and sealed several roads.
Israeli measures in the village sparked confrontations with local residents, upon which an old woman was reportedly hit by a teargas canister, in her mouth, by the soldiers.
8 oct 2018
The Israeli Ministry of Finance announced that it had received bids from seven various groups to build the world's largest desalination plant, which will be able to produce about 200 million cubic meters of water per year.
The ministry said, in a statement to the Reuters news agency, that the tender is for a new desalination plant in the area of Sorek, in central Israel.
Sources added that there is another desalination facility that already operates at the same site.
The ministry mentioned that the bids came from Israel's IDE Technologies, Hutchinson, Israel's GES, China's PMEC, France's SUEZ, a partnership of Spain's Acciona and Israel's Allied, and a partnership between Spain's Aqualia and Israel's WPI.
It is expected that when the new facility comes online, Israel's array of desalination plants will be able to supply 85% of total household and municipal water use in the country and would produce about 200 million cubic meters of water per year.
Israelis, including settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory, have access to 300 liters of water per day, according to water rights NGO coalition EWASH, while the West Bank average is around 70 liters, below the World Health Organization's recommended minimum of 100 liters per day for basic sanitation, hygiene and drinking.
According to Amnesty International, nearly 200,000 Palestinians in the West Bank do not have access to running water.
Meanwhile, just half of Palestinian proposals for wells and improvement projects to the water network were approved by Israel between 1995 and 2008, compared to a 100 percent approval rate for Israeli projects, according to a 2013 report by Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) affirmed in a statement earlier this month that "since 1967, not a single new well has been approved by Israel in the Western Aquifer," adding that wells built by Palestinians without Israeli-issued permits were extremely vulnerable to demolition at the hands of Israeli forces.
"As the occupying power, Israel has very specific obligations toward the land and population it occupies. Unfortunately, Israel not only fails to fulfill these responsibilities, which are obligations under customary international law, but in fact continues to exploit Palestinian natural resources in the territory it occupies," the PLO statement read.
The ministry said, in a statement to the Reuters news agency, that the tender is for a new desalination plant in the area of Sorek, in central Israel.
Sources added that there is another desalination facility that already operates at the same site.
The ministry mentioned that the bids came from Israel's IDE Technologies, Hutchinson, Israel's GES, China's PMEC, France's SUEZ, a partnership of Spain's Acciona and Israel's Allied, and a partnership between Spain's Aqualia and Israel's WPI.
It is expected that when the new facility comes online, Israel's array of desalination plants will be able to supply 85% of total household and municipal water use in the country and would produce about 200 million cubic meters of water per year.
Israelis, including settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory, have access to 300 liters of water per day, according to water rights NGO coalition EWASH, while the West Bank average is around 70 liters, below the World Health Organization's recommended minimum of 100 liters per day for basic sanitation, hygiene and drinking.
According to Amnesty International, nearly 200,000 Palestinians in the West Bank do not have access to running water.
Meanwhile, just half of Palestinian proposals for wells and improvement projects to the water network were approved by Israel between 1995 and 2008, compared to a 100 percent approval rate for Israeli projects, according to a 2013 report by Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) affirmed in a statement earlier this month that "since 1967, not a single new well has been approved by Israel in the Western Aquifer," adding that wells built by Palestinians without Israeli-issued permits were extremely vulnerable to demolition at the hands of Israeli forces.
"As the occupying power, Israel has very specific obligations toward the land and population it occupies. Unfortunately, Israel not only fails to fulfill these responsibilities, which are obligations under customary international law, but in fact continues to exploit Palestinian natural resources in the territory it occupies," the PLO statement read.
2 oct 2018
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) announced on Tuesday that the percentage of families with a safe source of potable water in the Gaza Strip is 11% compared to 95% in the West Bank.
According to data released by PCBS, 62% of Palestinian families live in houses that receive drinking water from safe sources, including public water networks connected to the house, public taps, protected water-well, rain water collection pools, and mineral water. This figure is 58% in urban areas, 94% in rural areas, and 44% in refugee camps.
PCBS pointed out that 7% of the residents of the Gaza Strip rent houses, while the percentage is 10% in the Occupied West Bank. The percentage of citizens living in rented houses is 8% (10% in urban areas, 3% in rural areas and 7% in refugee camps).
Housing indicators include: Adequate housing according to Residence III Document for the implementation of the new urban plan, which provides a number of appropriate characteristics and conditions in the housing units, such as housing tenure, housing type, housing density, and access to public networks and infrastructure services.
The population of Palestine hit 4.781 million in 2017, with the urban population making 77%, and the rural population making 15%, and the refugee population making 8%. The population density hit 794 people per one square km in Palestine.
Compared to previous censuses from 1997-2017, the data indicated that the percentage of households in which one of its owners live increased significantly, from 78% in the 1997 census to 81% in the 2007 census, and 86% in the 2017 census.
As for the type of community, in 2017, 84% lived in urban areas, and 93% lived in rural areas, while 89% lived in camps. As for houses owned in the West Bank, it hit 87% of the population, compared to 83% in the Gaza Strip. According to the 2017 census, the percentage of families in Palestine living in an apartment constitutes 62% of the total number of families (66% in urban areas, 38% in rural areas and 68% in refugee camps). On the level of the region, data showed that 54% of people in the West Bank live in an apartment compared to 77% in the Gaza Strip.
The statistics revealed that 36% of families in Palestine live in a house (32% in urban areas, 58% in rural areas and 31% in refugee camps). The percentage of families in Palestine who live in villas is 1.1% (1.4% in the West Bank and 0.5% in the Gaza Strip).
The data also indicate that 7% of families in Palestine live in residential units with a high density of 3 persons or more per room, with 5% in the West Bank and 12% in the Gaza Strip. On the level of the type of the community, it is 7% in urban and rural areas, and 13% in the refugee camps. The average housing density is 1.3 persons per room in the West Bank and 1.6 persons per room in the Gaza Strip.
According to data released by PCBS, 62% of Palestinian families live in houses that receive drinking water from safe sources, including public water networks connected to the house, public taps, protected water-well, rain water collection pools, and mineral water. This figure is 58% in urban areas, 94% in rural areas, and 44% in refugee camps.
PCBS pointed out that 7% of the residents of the Gaza Strip rent houses, while the percentage is 10% in the Occupied West Bank. The percentage of citizens living in rented houses is 8% (10% in urban areas, 3% in rural areas and 7% in refugee camps).
Housing indicators include: Adequate housing according to Residence III Document for the implementation of the new urban plan, which provides a number of appropriate characteristics and conditions in the housing units, such as housing tenure, housing type, housing density, and access to public networks and infrastructure services.
The population of Palestine hit 4.781 million in 2017, with the urban population making 77%, and the rural population making 15%, and the refugee population making 8%. The population density hit 794 people per one square km in Palestine.
Compared to previous censuses from 1997-2017, the data indicated that the percentage of households in which one of its owners live increased significantly, from 78% in the 1997 census to 81% in the 2007 census, and 86% in the 2017 census.
As for the type of community, in 2017, 84% lived in urban areas, and 93% lived in rural areas, while 89% lived in camps. As for houses owned in the West Bank, it hit 87% of the population, compared to 83% in the Gaza Strip. According to the 2017 census, the percentage of families in Palestine living in an apartment constitutes 62% of the total number of families (66% in urban areas, 38% in rural areas and 68% in refugee camps). On the level of the region, data showed that 54% of people in the West Bank live in an apartment compared to 77% in the Gaza Strip.
The statistics revealed that 36% of families in Palestine live in a house (32% in urban areas, 58% in rural areas and 31% in refugee camps). The percentage of families in Palestine who live in villas is 1.1% (1.4% in the West Bank and 0.5% in the Gaza Strip).
The data also indicate that 7% of families in Palestine live in residential units with a high density of 3 persons or more per room, with 5% in the West Bank and 12% in the Gaza Strip. On the level of the type of the community, it is 7% in urban and rural areas, and 13% in the refugee camps. The average housing density is 1.3 persons per room in the West Bank and 1.6 persons per room in the Gaza Strip.
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.
9 sept 2018
Officials from Israel’s security establishment have concurred that the Israeli government must work to establish an alternative to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip to avoid a humanitarian disaster in the impoverished Palestinian enclave.
Israel’s Haaretz daily reported Sunday that Israeli officials concluded in a meeting last week that a substitute must be developed to channel much-needed aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip in order to avoid further deterioration.
The officials noted during the meeting that only three percent of Gaza’s water supply is drinkable and desalination projects are not being advanced rapidly enough to stave off a water crisis. As a result, many Gazan families are storing seawater for household use, Haaretz added.
According to the report, an Israeli delegation will attend a UN donor conference in New York later this month and encourage countries to supply the necessary funding to guarantee the continued delivery of food, education services and the salaries of some 30,000 UNRWA employees in the Strip.
But, in light of the US decision to de-fund the Palestinian aid agency, the Israeli delegation will instead focus on securing funding for the provision of basic needs, Haaretz further stated.
Humanitarian conditions in the blockaded Gaza Strip have steadily declined over the years, exacerbated by a limited power supply and lack of drinkable water.
US President Donald Trump announced at the beginning of this month that Washington would cut almost $300 million in planned funding for the organization which it claimed had become an “irredeemably flawed operation.”
Washington had long been the largest single donor to the agency, supplying nearly 30 percent of the total budget to UNRWA which provides healthcare, education and social service to almost five million Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
Israel’s Haaretz daily reported Sunday that Israeli officials concluded in a meeting last week that a substitute must be developed to channel much-needed aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip in order to avoid further deterioration.
The officials noted during the meeting that only three percent of Gaza’s water supply is drinkable and desalination projects are not being advanced rapidly enough to stave off a water crisis. As a result, many Gazan families are storing seawater for household use, Haaretz added.
According to the report, an Israeli delegation will attend a UN donor conference in New York later this month and encourage countries to supply the necessary funding to guarantee the continued delivery of food, education services and the salaries of some 30,000 UNRWA employees in the Strip.
But, in light of the US decision to de-fund the Palestinian aid agency, the Israeli delegation will instead focus on securing funding for the provision of basic needs, Haaretz further stated.
Humanitarian conditions in the blockaded Gaza Strip have steadily declined over the years, exacerbated by a limited power supply and lack of drinkable water.
US President Donald Trump announced at the beginning of this month that Washington would cut almost $300 million in planned funding for the organization which it claimed had become an “irredeemably flawed operation.”
Washington had long been the largest single donor to the agency, supplying nearly 30 percent of the total budget to UNRWA which provides healthcare, education and social service to almost five million Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
5 sept 2018
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Wednesday morning, Furush Beit Dajan village, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and shut down water pipelines providing the community, and its local school, with the needed water.
Tawfiq Hajj Mohammad, the head of Furush Beit Dajan Local Council, said the pipelines are vital for the village, inhabited by around 12000 Palestinians, and for their agricultural lands, especially since most of the villagers depend in agriculture, and livestock, as the only sources in livelihood.
Dozens of locals, including schoolchildren, nonviolently marched while chanting against the escalating Israeli violations, and demanding their basic right to have running water in their community.
Several months ago, the soldiers closed water pipelines leading to the village, and alleged that the water supplies were not approved and licensed by Mekorot Israeli water company.
It is worth mentioning that Israel has been denying the Palestinians in the village from their right to build homes and structures on their lands.
Israel controls all natural resources in the occupied West Bank, including water springs and reservoirs, and provides its illegal colonies with uninterrupted water flow, while the Palestinians face frequent cut to their water service, and a lack of water resources due to Israel’s military occupation.
In related news, the soldiers confiscated, Tuesday, a mobile home owned by Ahmad Bisharat, on his land.
Tawfiq Hajj Mohammad, the head of Furush Beit Dajan Local Council, said the pipelines are vital for the village, inhabited by around 12000 Palestinians, and for their agricultural lands, especially since most of the villagers depend in agriculture, and livestock, as the only sources in livelihood.
Dozens of locals, including schoolchildren, nonviolently marched while chanting against the escalating Israeli violations, and demanding their basic right to have running water in their community.
Several months ago, the soldiers closed water pipelines leading to the village, and alleged that the water supplies were not approved and licensed by Mekorot Israeli water company.
It is worth mentioning that Israel has been denying the Palestinians in the village from their right to build homes and structures on their lands.
Israel controls all natural resources in the occupied West Bank, including water springs and reservoirs, and provides its illegal colonies with uninterrupted water flow, while the Palestinians face frequent cut to their water service, and a lack of water resources due to Israel’s military occupation.
In related news, the soldiers confiscated, Tuesday, a mobile home owned by Ahmad Bisharat, on his land.
20 aug 2018
UN funding crisis for Gaza could force 250 health, water and sanitation facilities to shut down for lack of fuel, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Jamie McGoldrick warned on Monday.
“Life-saving services in the Gaza Strip rely heavily on donor-funded emergency fuel,” McGoldrick said. “We have now run out of funds and are delivering the final supplies in the next few days. Without funds to enable ongoing deliveries, service providers will be forced to suspend, or heavily reduce, operations from early September, with potentially grave consequences.”
Those facilities had been on the verge of shutting down as Israel had halted the flow of gas and fuel into Gaza through the Kerem Abu Salem crossing from August 1 to August 14.
Among those in danger are 4,800 Palestinians in intensive care units. Medical services for the rest of the population will be reduced or stopped altogether.
“If donors intervene quickly, we can prevent a serious deterioration, such as a disease outbreak or other public health concern,” said McGoldrick. “But we need funding immediately to avoid the collapse of critical life-saving services.”
Gaza subsists on only four or five hours of electricity a day, so essential services rely heavily on back-up generators which run on fuel.
Lack of water and sanitation facilities could also contribute to the outbreak of disease in the densely-populated enclave.
McGoldrick’s warning followed a number of other pleas the UN has made this summer for funding, particularly in light of the US decision to drastically reduce its funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
“Life-saving services in the Gaza Strip rely heavily on donor-funded emergency fuel,” McGoldrick said. “We have now run out of funds and are delivering the final supplies in the next few days. Without funds to enable ongoing deliveries, service providers will be forced to suspend, or heavily reduce, operations from early September, with potentially grave consequences.”
Those facilities had been on the verge of shutting down as Israel had halted the flow of gas and fuel into Gaza through the Kerem Abu Salem crossing from August 1 to August 14.
Among those in danger are 4,800 Palestinians in intensive care units. Medical services for the rest of the population will be reduced or stopped altogether.
“If donors intervene quickly, we can prevent a serious deterioration, such as a disease outbreak or other public health concern,” said McGoldrick. “But we need funding immediately to avoid the collapse of critical life-saving services.”
Gaza subsists on only four or five hours of electricity a day, so essential services rely heavily on back-up generators which run on fuel.
Lack of water and sanitation facilities could also contribute to the outbreak of disease in the densely-populated enclave.
McGoldrick’s warning followed a number of other pleas the UN has made this summer for funding, particularly in light of the US decision to drastically reduce its funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
9 aug 2018
Media sources in Gaza have reported that, among various sites and areas targeted by Israeli missiles in the coastal region, are water wells, and tourist areas.
Yousef Abu Kamil, from the Public Relations department of al-Mughraqa Local Council, said the Israeli missiles destroyed a well owned by the city, and provides water for approximately 11.000 Palestinians.
He added that the Israeli missiles also destroyed two cars of the local council, in addition to other property damage.
Abu Kamil also said that the new building of the local council sustained property damage, in addition a radio transmission tower and a fuel pumping machine.
In addition, Beit Lahia municipality said the army also bombarded its well, providing the residents with water, in addition to causing serious property damage to buildings and property owned by the city.
The Israeli army claims its attacks targeted centers run by the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, yet, its missiles have led to civilian casualties, and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure in the besieged coastal region.
Yousef Abu Kamil, from the Public Relations department of al-Mughraqa Local Council, said the Israeli missiles destroyed a well owned by the city, and provides water for approximately 11.000 Palestinians.
He added that the Israeli missiles also destroyed two cars of the local council, in addition to other property damage.
Abu Kamil also said that the new building of the local council sustained property damage, in addition a radio transmission tower and a fuel pumping machine.
In addition, Beit Lahia municipality said the army also bombarded its well, providing the residents with water, in addition to causing serious property damage to buildings and property owned by the city.
The Israeli army claims its attacks targeted centers run by the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, yet, its missiles have led to civilian casualties, and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure in the besieged coastal region.
6 aug 2018
The Israeli authorities forces four Palestinian families in the Khirbet Yirza area of the Jordan Valley, in the northern occupied West Bank, to evacuate their homes on Monday for alleged military training in the area.
Activist Aref Daraghmeh said that Israeli military forces were heavily deployed in Khirbet Yirza.
Israeli forces evacuated the four families of their lands and farms claiming that military training would be conducted in the area.
Daraghmeh said that Israeli forces had demolished the families' properties several days ago, including water pipelines.
The Israeli authorities had delivered evacuation notices to the families last week.
Activist Aref Daraghmeh said that Israeli military forces were heavily deployed in Khirbet Yirza.
Israeli forces evacuated the four families of their lands and farms claiming that military training would be conducted in the area.
Daraghmeh said that Israeli forces had demolished the families' properties several days ago, including water pipelines.
The Israeli authorities had delivered evacuation notices to the families last week.
A Palestinian youth was injured Monday when the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) attacked a peaceful march near Bardala village in the northern Jordan Valley.
Medical sources reported that the youth was directly hit with a teargas canister by the IOF soldiers, adding that he was later transferred to a local medical center for treatment.
Organized by the National Committee Against the Wall and Settlement, the march was attended by dozens of Bardala residents who slammed Israel for destroying their water networks and stealing Palestinian water resources.
The marchers gathered on Road 90 in the Jordan Valley and raised banners condemning the Israeli violations.
Activist Mu'taz Bisharat said that Israeli settlers on a regular basis attack Bardala's farmlands and destroy the water pipes used for the crops, adversely affecting the village's agriculture. video
Medical sources reported that the youth was directly hit with a teargas canister by the IOF soldiers, adding that he was later transferred to a local medical center for treatment.
Organized by the National Committee Against the Wall and Settlement, the march was attended by dozens of Bardala residents who slammed Israel for destroying their water networks and stealing Palestinian water resources.
The marchers gathered on Road 90 in the Jordan Valley and raised banners condemning the Israeli violations.
Activist Mu'taz Bisharat said that Israeli settlers on a regular basis attack Bardala's farmlands and destroy the water pipes used for the crops, adversely affecting the village's agriculture. video
3 aug 2018
The European Union declared completing the biggest photovoltaic solar field in the besieged Gaza Strip providing 0.5 Megawatts of electricity per day to fuel the Southern Gaza Desalination Plant.
The EU said in a press release that the "EU-funded Southern Gaza Desalination Plant currently provides drinking water to 75,000 inhabitants in the Khan Younis and Rafah districts."
"With the new energy field and new investments foreseen it will eventually reach 250,000 people in Southern Gaza by 2020," the statement added.
The EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said that "limited energy supplies in Gaza are one of the main challenges when improving access to safe and drinkable water to the local population."
Hahn added that "the photovoltaic solar field is essential to respond to the urgent water needs in the Gaza Strip and create dignified living conditions for its people, thus mitigating tensions in a highly conflict sensitive area."
The EU said in a press release that the "EU-funded Southern Gaza Desalination Plant currently provides drinking water to 75,000 inhabitants in the Khan Younis and Rafah districts."
"With the new energy field and new investments foreseen it will eventually reach 250,000 people in Southern Gaza by 2020," the statement added.
The EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said that "limited energy supplies in Gaza are one of the main challenges when improving access to safe and drinkable water to the local population."
Hahn added that "the photovoltaic solar field is essential to respond to the urgent water needs in the Gaza Strip and create dignified living conditions for its people, thus mitigating tensions in a highly conflict sensitive area."
