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3 Palestinian Children Killed, 2 Seriously Injured by Israeli Occupation Soldiers and Settlers in the West Bank, One Killed by Israeli Blockade of Gaza

February 19, 2016 

 

10-year-old Gazan Palestinian girl, Marah Diab, died due to Israeli blockade, February 18, 2016	17-year-old Palestinian young woman, Kalzar al-Aweiwi, was shot dead by Israeli occupation soldiers in Al-Khalil, February 13, 2016

Funeral of 17-year-old martyr Na'eem Yusuf Saf, who was killed by Israeli occupation soldiers in Bethlehem, February 16, 2016	Clashes erupt between Palestinian civilians and Israeli occupation soldiers in 13 different areas across West Bank, February 18, 2016

Palestinian women protesting the brutal Israeli blockade of Gaza, February 15, 2016	Dozens of illegal Israeli Jewish settlers violated the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, February 17, 2016

14-year-olds Ayham Bassam Sabah and Salim Mahmoud Taha were shot by an Israeli settler in eastern Ramallah today, February 19, 2016	20-year-old Palestinian Muhammad Khalaf was killed today by Israeli occupation soldiers, February 19, 2015

Palestinian youth killed by Israeli troops after stabbing attack

February 19, 2016, OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--  

A Palestinian youth was fatally shot by the Israeli occupation troops on Friday morning in Bab al-Amoud, in Occupied Jerusalem, after he carried out an anti-occupation stabbing.

Israeli news sources said the casualty stabbed two Israeli border cops near Jerusalem’s Bab al-Amoud, before he was shot and killed by the occupation troops. 

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the Palestinian casualty as 20-year-old Muhammad Khalaf, a native of Kafr Akb town, in northern Occupied Jerusalem.

Tension has been running high across Bab al-Amoud area and barrages of heavy gunfire have been showering the area since the early morning hours. 

Two 14-year-old Palestinians critically wounded after anti-occupation stabbing

February 19, 2016, RAMALLAH, (PIC)--

Two Palestinian minors were shot and critically wounded by an Israeli settler on Thursday after they carried out an anti-occupation stabbing attack in the central occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said 14-year-olds Ayham Bassam Sabah and Salim Mahmoud Taha were shot by an Israeli settler in eastern Ramallah.   

The Palestinians were shot at the Rami Levi supermarket in the Shaare Benjamin industrial complex.

The Palestinian casualties were transferred to the Hadassah Hospital, in Occupied Jerusalem, in critical conditions.

An Israeli was killed and a second wounded on Thursday afternoon after the two Palestinians stabbed them in a West Bank supermarket, according to Israeli reports.

Medics said the Israelis had suffered stab wounds to their torsos and necks and were taken to a hospital, where one succumbed to his wounds late on Thursday. 

Israeli news outlets identified the dead Israeli as a senior occupation army officer in the Nahal brigades. He is said to be in his 20’s of age.

The Israeli TV Channel Ten said that the two youths entered the supermarket and stabbed the settlers with knives before they were shot by an Israeli guard from a close range.

Israeli occupation troops sealed off all roads leading to the scene, causing traffic jams in all directions.

Shortly after the anti-occupation attack, the Israeli intelligence apparatuses locked up over 50 Palestinians working in the Rami Levi complex into a stockroom and subjected them to exhaustive questioning.

The occupation army further ruled for shutting down the Rami Levi chain stores and banning the Palestinians from getting into the complex until Sunday.

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Palestinians in Bethlehem bid farewell to martyr Safi

February 17, 2016, BETHLEHEM, (PIC)--

Palestinian crowds in al-Ubaidiyah village to the east of Bethlehem at noon on Monday bade farewell to the 17-year-old martyr Na'eem Yusuf Safi. 

The PIC reporter revealed that thousands of citizens participated in the funeral including leaders and MPs in the Palestinian Legislative Council. The participants chanted for the martyr and called for avenging him as well as achieving national unity. 

Israeli occupation soldiers opened their gunfire at martyr Safi near Mezmouriya checkpoint east of Bethlehem. He was hit by five bullets in the chest. The Israeli occupation forces prevented medics from providing him with treatment. 

17-year-old slain girl, Kalzar al-Aweiwi, killed by Israeli occupation soldiers in Al-Khalil

February 17, 2016, GAZA, (PIC)--  

Deputy political bureau head of Hamas, Ismail Haniya, offered on Tuesday evening his heartfelt condolences to the family of the slain Palestinian girl Kalzar al-Aweiwi.

Reaching al-Aweiwi’s family by phone, Haneyya expressed his sympathy with the casualty’s parents and relatives, saying Palestinian anti-occupation youths have been sacrificing their lives for the freedom of their people and land.

17-year-old Kalzar al-Aweiwi breathed her last on Saturday (February 13, 2016) morning after she was shot by the Israeli occupation soldiers at a military checkpoint near the Ibrahimi Mosque, in the Old City of Al-Khalil, on allegations of attempting to stab an occupation soldier.

Medics said following a post-mortem examination that the girl could have been saved but the occupation officers kept her bleeding to death.

10-year-old Gazan girl dies due to Israeli blockade

February 18, 2016, GAZA, (PIC)--

A 10-year-old Palestinian girl breathed her last on Wednesday morning after she could not gain access out of the blockaded Gaza Strip to receive treatment in 1948 Occupied Palestine.

Mourning his little kid, the father Abdul Halim Diab told the PIC that his child, Marah Diab, had been suffering from a renal failure for more than six years, during which she had undergone kidney flush in Gaza hospitals.

He said Marah succumbed to her illness because she was prevented from receiving treatment outside of blockaded Gaza.

The father held the Health Minister, Jawad Awad, and the head of the External Medical Treatment Department, Amira al-Hindi, responsible for the death of his daughter.

“We’d got a permission to transfer Marah to 1948 Occupied Palestine for treatment and for urgent kidney transplantation but the two officials turned blind eyes to Marah’s case, in a flagrant violation of all ethics, social norms, and humanitarian laws,” the father said.

“Had Marah not been from blockaded Gaza, things would have been quite different,” he added.

The father urged the Palestinian Authority (PA) President, Mahmoud Abbas, to take up his responsibility vis-à-vis 25 Palestinian children diagnosed with the same disease that took away Marah’s life and are hospitalized in the same medical center where she died.

Clashes erupt in 13 different areas across West Bank

February 18, 2016, RAMALLAH, (PIC)--

 Violent clashes broke out Wednesday throughout occupied Jerusalem and West Bank. Several injuries and arrests were reported during the clashes.

The clashes were mainly reported in occupied Jerusalem, al-Khalil, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Ramallah.

Limited confrontations erupted in Issawiya town, east of occupied Jerusalem, amid heavy firing of tear gas bombs. No casualties were reported.

At least one young man was arrested in Azayzia town under the pretext of being “wanted” for Israeli Intelligence.

Along the same line, Palestinian youths threw Molotov cocktails at Beit Orot settlement, illegally built on Palestinian-owned land east of the occupied city, which led to the outbreak of violent clashes with Israeli police forces.

Similar clashes were reported at the entrance to Shufat refugee camp amid intensive use of tear gas bombs.

In al-Khalil, a young man suffered rubber bullet injuries while a child was arrested as clashes erupted in Aroub refugee camp.

Confrontations were also reported in different areas in Bethlehem as IOF soldiers randomly fired tear gas bombs at local houses.

Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinians suffered effects of tear gas inhalation after Israeli forces suppressed a popular march organized in Bil’in village in Ramallah in solidarity with Mohamed al-Qeiq who enters his 86th day of hunger strike on Thursday.

Israeli forces have earlier intensified military restrictions at the entrances to Palestinian towns and villages across West Bank and occupied Jerusalem in anticipation of the outbreak of violent clashes in support of hunger striker Mohamed al-Qeiq.

Earlier, Israel's high court ruled to temporarily "suspend" al-Qeiq's administrative detention, but said it would be reinstated if his health improved.

Amnesty International criticized the ruling, saying it appeared to be "a mere gesture, designed to offer the illusion of freedom to prompt al-Qeiq to end his hunger strike."

Israeli warships shower Gaza beaches with machinegun fire

February 18, 2016, GAZA, (PIC)--

The Israeli occupation navy on early Thursday morning opened heavy machinegun fire on Gaza’s shores, at the same time as an army patrol rolled into the Strip’s eastern borders.

An on-the-spot observer said Israeli occupation gunboats unleashed eight mortar shells on al-Zahraa shores, in central Gaza Strip.

The shells exploded on the beach. No fatalities have been reported.

The attack came at a time when several army jeeps launched a limited incursion into eastern Wadi Gaza area, in central Gaza Strip.

A flock of Israeli warplanes also carried out a series of mock-raids across Gaza sky while Israeli drones kept incessantly hovering over the territory.

Palestinian fishermen have been the permanent targets of Israeli gunboats despite the fact that they have been setting sail within the six-nautical-mile zone agreed upon in the latest truce deal. Several Palestinians were killed or injured and others have had their boats damaged in similar attacks.

The assault is another chain in the series of Israeli violations of the Cairo-brokered ceasefire accord struck in the wake of the 2014 Israeli offensive on the besieged coastal enclave.  

Dozens of illegal Israeli settlers violate the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem

February 17, 2016, OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

Dozens of illegal Israeli Jewish settlers violated the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday morning under heavy police protection.

One of the Aqsa guards said that 122 Jewish settlers and students broke into the holy Islamic site from the Maghareba Gate and listened to “Torah” lessons under the protection of special police forces.

He added that one of the groups of settlers, consisting of 40 settlers, behaved in an unbecoming way and tried to break olive branches, which raised the ire of the guards and Muslim worshipers.

He said that one of the guards informed the police force of the settlers’ provocative behavior but was beaten by the policemen.

IOF suppresses solidarity march in Ramallah

February 17, 2016, RAMALLAH, (PIC)--

Dozens of Palestinians suffered effects of tear gas inhalation after Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) suppressed a popular march organized in Bil’in village in Ramallah.

Large numbers of local residents have participated in the march that was organized in solidarity with Mohamed al-Qeiq who has been on hunger strike for 85 days in protest against his administrative detention.

Israeli Occupation Soldiers Kidnap 3 Palestinians on Gaza borders

February 17, 2016, GAZA, (PIC)--

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnapped Wednesday afternoon three Palestinian young men for allegedly trying to infiltrate into the security border fence in the central Gaza Strip.

According to local sources, Israeli forces opened fire at the three unidentified citizens before their arrest. No casualties were reported.  

They said that the soldiers took the youths to an unknown place after arresting them.

Infiltration from Gaza into 1948 occupied Palestine has decreased since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada, after being on the rise over the past year due to the high unemployment and poverty rates rocking the blockaded coastal enclave. 

Israeli army launches limited incursion into blockaded Gaza

February 17, 2016, GAZA, (PIC)--

The Israeli occupation army launched on Wednesday morning a limited incursion into Palestinian lands in eastern al-Bureij refugee camp, in central Gaza Strip and built sand barriers along the border area.

Local sources said an Israeli army bulldozer and a tank moved dozens of meters across the border fence in eastern al-Bureij refugee camp. 

The bulldozers raked through the area, leveled Palestinian lands, and pitched a series of sand barriers along the borders between Gaza and 1948 Occupied Palestine.

The incursion is the latest in a series of Israeli violations of the Cairo-brokered ceasefire accord signed in the wake of the 2014 offensive on the besieged coastal enclave.

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Netanyahu, the hopeless liar, to prolong the occupation and subjugation of the Palestinian people

By Khalid Amayreh

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is quite addicted to lying. However, what makes this conduct on his part especially malicious is that he lies quite knowingly, without a twinge of conscience or feeling of regret.
 
During his visit to a small settlement in the southern Hebron hills Monday, the Israeli premier claimed that Palestinians were revolting against Israel because they wanted to kill Jews.
 
As usual, Netanyahu completely ignored the decades-old military occupation by Israel of Palestine and the conspicuously criminal treatment meted out  to millions of Palestinians whose only "guilt" is their being born non-Jewish.
 
Netanyahu, who arrived at the settlement to show solidarity with the family of a settler woman who was killed a few days ago, allegedly by a Palestinian youngster, took advantage of the tragedy to hurl lies right and left in order to justify his intransigence and anti-peace discourse.
 
He overlooked the fact that since the beginning of October, trigger-happy Israeli soldiers and settlers killed more than 160 Palestinians, many in an execution style and without the slightest provocation.
 
According to eye-witness testimonies, Israeli soldiers and settlers on several occasions placed a knife or sharp object next to the Palestinian victim to give the impression that he was trying to stab Israelis.
 
More to the point, Israeli security forces made sure that Palestinians shot were left to bleed to death.
 
The murderous executions prompted the Foreign Minister of Sweden Krister Wickman to demand an inquiry into these crimes.
 
Israel, which always adopts a holier-than-thou attitude toward international criticisms, rejected the Swedish call, arguing that Israel has the right to self-defense.
 
Killing the two-state solution 
 
The truth of the matter is that Israel has effectively killed any remaining prospects for a viable peace with the Palestinians by decapitating -once and for all- any remaining chances for the establishment of a viable Palestinian state, thanks to the ubiquitous metastasizing of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, especially East Jerusalem.
 
I think all honest observers, Palestinian, Israeli and international, agree on this prognosis. Hence, it would be an expression of dishonesty or utter ignorance and naïveté to deny the obvious.
 
This is unless what Israel, its guardian ally, the US, and the rest of the international community have in mind for the Palestinians is an insignificant state not worthy of the name, e.g.  a state without Jerusalem, without demographic and territorial contiguity, without the right of return for the refugees, and without an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders.
 
Needless to say, the vast majority of Palestinians would utterly reject such a deformed entity even if the entire world sang the hymns of praise for such misshapen creature.
 
Now Israel is facing a real dilemma, which makes Netanyahu and his ministers make nervous and totally mendacious statements almost on a daily basis.
 
Indeed, with the two-state solution now effectively in the belly of earth, Israel has only two alternatives left: Either one state for all- from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean-or an open-ended conflict.
 
But one state is impossible since it constitutes the antithesis of Zionism, and an open-ended conflict is a nightmarish scenario with unpredictable consequences. 
 
Facing this increasingly stark dilemma (stark because there are today in mandatory Palestine as many Palestinians as there are Jews and the Palestinian population is forecast to exceed the Jewish population in a few years), Israel is now trying to effect more ghoulish tactics in the hope that more pressure on Palestinians would force them or many of them to leave their ancestral homeland.
 
One Israeli commentator remarked last week that if Bashar Assad could banish millions of Syrians around the world with total impunity and without incurring the wrath of the world, Israel should be able to oust some Palestinians without creating a huge international crisis.
 
In fact, Israel is already trying this ghoulish scenario.
 
Last week, it was reported that poverty in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has reached unprecedented levels, with many Palestinians selling their assets to remain afloat.
 
One Palestinian economist was quoted as saying that "I wouldn't be surprised to see starvation in some parts of the West Bank."
 
Hence the alarming question: Would the loaf of bread be used as Israel's ultimate weapon to force the Palestinians to leave their homeland, thus enabling Israel to succeed  in liquidating the Palestinian cause once and for all?
 

Khalid Amayreh is a veteran Palestinian journalist based in Dura in Occupied Palestine

 

 

 

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