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Palestinian Factions Condemn Trump's Statement Against Hamas in his Riyadh Speech, While Ignoring Israeli Daily Terrorism

May 22, 2017 

Editor's Note:

The following news stories are just examples of the Israeli occupation government violations of Palestinian human rights, on daily basis. This cannot continue without the full financial and media support from Zionists as well as financial and military support from the US-EU governments, which have been active participant in the persecution and subjugation of the Palestinian people.

The Israeli occupation government has received more than $3.8 billion annually from the US successive administrations, Democrat and Republican alike, to enable it to continue the subjugation and persecution of the Palestinian people. The Obama administration made sure that the US support for the Israeli occupation government will continue by obligating its successors to give the racist, apartheid, Zionist state $38 billion in the next ten years.

 

Several Palestinians were injured by bullets from Israeli occupation soldiers, in Jericho, May 22, 2017	A Palestinian child wounded in the foot by Israeli occupation soldiers'fire, May 20, 2017

One Phone Camera Saves Life Of A Palestinian Child At an Israeli Occupation Military Roadblock	Fatima Jibril ‘Ayed Taqatqa, 15, died of wound resulting from Israeli occupation soldiers' fire two months earlier, May 22, 2017

 

Palestinian factions condemn Trump's statement against Hamas in his Riyadh's speech

Monday, May 22, 2017

GAZA, (PIC) + -

A number of Palestinian factions condemned on Sunday the latest statements by the US President Donald Trump which linked Hamas to terrorism and denounced his bias to Israel.

The factions said in separate statements that Trump's comments, in his speech on Sunday to the Arab-Islamic-American summit held with the participation of 55 Arab and Islamic leaders in Saudi Arabia, serve Israel and attempt to integrate it into the region.

The Islamic Jihad leader Khader Adnan said in a statement that accusing Hamas of terrorism in the presence of Arab leaders is a declaration of war against the Palestinian people and a criminalization of its legitimate resistance.

For its part, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine condemned in a press release Trump's statements and added that the continued and unlimited US support for the Israel in its occupation of Palestine and non-compliance with the international legitimacy resolutions is what perpetuates terrorism.

The Palestinian al-Ahrar Movement considered Trump's description of Hamas as a form of terrorism a blatant attack on the Palestinian people and its legitimate resistance, stressing that the main enemy of the Arab and Islamic nation is Israel which represents the worst forms of terrorism.

The Movement said in a statement that there is an attempt to create new alliances based on escalating the sectarian conflicts in the Arab and Islamic countries to serve Israel and legitimize its presence in the region.

It warned against attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause and portray it as an obstacle to co-existence with Israel rather than as a central issue that requires mobilizing all the nation's energies.

During his speech to the Arab-Islamic-American summit held in Saudi Arabia, Trump accused Hamas of being a terrorist movement saying, "ISIS, Hezbollah, al-Qaeda and Hamas represent different forms of terrorism."

Hamas regrets Trump's accusing it of terrorism in the presence of Arab leaders in Riyadh

Monday, May 22, 2017

DOHA, (PIC) + -

Member of the Hamas political bureau, Mousa Abu Marzouk, expressed on Monday his Movement's regret over the Arab and Islamic leaders' silence vis-à-vis the latest statements of the US President Donald Trump in which he linked Hamas to terrorism.

Abu Marzouk said on Twitter that Hamas regrets accusing the Palestinian resistance of terrorism in the presence of the Arab leaders especially the Palestinian president.

"Hamas is a national liberation movement that resists the occupation and defends its people," Abu Marzouk affirmed, adding that the US is a partner to Israel and provides it with money and weapons to practice terrorism against the oppressed Palestinian people.

A number of Palestinian factions condemned in separate statements Trump's description of Hamas as terrorist and denounced his bias to Israel.

The factions affirmed that Trump's statements during his speech on Sunday evening to the Arab-Islamic-American summit, which was held in the presence of 55 Arab and Islamic leaders in Saudi Arabia, serve Israel and attempt to legitimize its presence in the region.

US initiative to re-launch direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations

Monday, May 22, 2017

RAMALLAH, (PIC) + -

 Western diplomatic sources revealed on Saturday that the US president Donald Trump will soon announce a political initiative to re-launch direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations for a limited period ranging from 12 to 16 months at the latest without halting the settlement activity.

According to al-Hayat newspaper based in London, the sources said that the Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas agreed in his meeting with Trump in the White House on the initiative to launch negotiations on new grounds and for a limited period of time. Issues related to the final solution will be discussed in the presence of the US.

The paper added that Trump's initiative is based on canceling the old negotiating school of bringing the two parties to one negotiating table and rather establishing a new approach that depends on a direct US intervention between the decision-makers.

It noted that Trump did not provide guarantees to the Palestinians to stop the settlement activity but promised that there will be no large settlement projects.

Trump is scheduled to arrive in the occupied Palestinian territories next Monday and visit Bethlehem city on Tuesday where he will meet with Abbas and visit the Church of the Nativity.

70 percent of illegal Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank took place outside the major settlement blocs

Monday, May 22, 2017

NAZARETH, (PIC) + -

Some 70 percent of settlement construction in the West Bank last year took place outside the major settlement blocs, a Peace Now’s Settlement Watch annual construction report for 2016 revealed.

“Construction was largely focused in isolated settlements and in areas that are highly problematic in terms of a two state solution. Nearly 70 percent (1,263 housing units) of the new housing starts were in areas that are east of the proposed Geneva Initiative border, and 71 percent were in areas that are east of the built separation barrier (26 percent were east of the planned route of the barrier, and 45 percent in areas where the barrier is planned but not built),” Peace Now stated.

According to its report, there has been a 34 percent increase in construction starts in the West Bank in 2016 compared to the previous year, 2015.

During the reporting period, Israel’s settlement activities did not only include housing units but also public buildings such as schools and synagogues, bypass roads, new settlements, outposts, land grabs and expansion of settlement councils.

Peace Now said that Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to show restraint in order to save face among the international community, but on the ground construction is not only ongoing but also increasing, mainly in the most problematic areas for a future peace agreement.

“If the Israeli government is interested in a two-state solution, it must seize acting unilaterally in a way that makes this solution much more difficult to achieve,” Peace Now added.

Israeli occupation soldiers kidnap more Palestinians, raid a solidarity tent in the West Bank

Monday, May 22, 2017

WEST BANK, (PIC) + -

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnapped last night and at dawn Sunday several Palestinian citizens in different areas of the West Bank and raided a tent belonging to Palestinian and foreign activists near al-Khalil city.

Media and local sources reported that Israeli soldiers kidnapped director of Bisan Center for Research and Development Itiraf al-Rimawi from his home in Ramallah city and a young man called Naser Atta from Deir Abu Mash'al village, west of Ramallah.

In Jerusalem, the IOF also kidnapped three young men from the family of Abu Khudair in Shuafat refugee camp and two teenagers from the family of Rabie in Abu Dis town.

Another young man was taken prisoner during a raid on his home in al-Khader town, west of Bethlehem province. He was identified as Mohamed al-Fawaghra.

In al-Khalil, an Israeli military force stormed at dawn Sunday Sarora village in Masafer Yatta area, removed and confiscated a solidarity tent, and assaulted the activists who were inside it.

Director of Youth against Settlement Issa Amr said that a number of Palestinian and foreign activists came to Sarora as volunteers and lived in a tent to help its natives to renovate their homes and water wells after they were expelled from their village by the Israeli army in 1998.

Amr affirmed that the activists would continue their efforts to help the local residents to live in the village again.

Israeli Army And Navy Attack Farmers And Fishermen in Gaza

May 22, 2017 9:52 AM IMEMC News

Israeli soldiers opened fire, earlier Monday, at Palestinian farmers, working on their lands, and several fishing boats, in different part of the besieged Gaza Strip,

Media sources in Gaza said the soldiers, stationed on military towers in Kissufim military base, across the border fence, northeast of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, fired many live rounds into agricultural lands, forcing Palestinians out.

The lands are located close to the border fence, in areas where such attacks are frequent, an issue that prevents the locals from working on their lands, and subject them to life-threatening violations.

In addition, Israeli navy ships fired many live rounds at Palestinian fishing boats, in Gaza territorial waters, in Rafah, in the southern part of the coastal region.

The attack did not lead to casualties, but forced the fishermen back to the shore, without being able to fish and provide for their families.

Israeli Army And Navy Attack Farmers And Fishermen in Gaza

May 22, 2017 9:52 AM IMEMC News

Israeli soldiers opened fire, earlier Monday, at Palestinian farmers, working on their lands, and several fishing boats, in different part of the besieged Gaza Strip,

Media sources in Gaza said the soldiers, stationed on military towers in Kissufim military base, across the border fence, northeast of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, fired many live rounds into agricultural lands, forcing Palestinians out.

The lands are located close to the border fence, in areas where such attacks are frequent, an issue that prevents the locals from working on their lands, and subject them to life-threatening violations.

In addition, Israeli navy ships fired many live rounds at Palestinian fishing boats, in Gaza territorial waters, in Rafah, in the southern part of the coastal region.

The attack did not lead to casualties, but forced the fishermen back to the shore, without being able to fish and provide for their families.

Illegal Israeli settlers Uproot Grapevines, Spray Toxins

May 21, 2017 10:58 PM IMEMC News

Illegal Israeli settlers invaded, Sunday, Palestinian lands in the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, uprooted dozens of recently planted grapevines and sprayed at least 300 vines with toxins.

Ahmad Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in al-Khader, said the attack targeted agricultural lands, owned by Mohammad Abdul-Salam Salah, and his family.

Salah added that the attacked vineyard is located in Ein al-Qassis area, in the western part of al-Khader.

He also stated that a similar attack was carried out against the same vineyard just three months ago, when the colonists uprooted and stole 500 vines, in addition to stealing fences and iron bars.

Illegal Israeli settlers Injure A Palestinian, Smash Windows Of Car, Near Nablus

May 21, 2017 10:34 PM IMEMC News

A number of illegal extremist Israeli settlers attacked, on Sunday evening, many Palestinian homes in Burin village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, wounding one Palestinians, and smashed the side windows of a car belonging to a local human rights defender.

Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official who monitors Israeli colonies’ activities in the northern part of the West Bank, said the assailants came from the illegal Bracha Israeli colony, built on Palestinian lands, and attacked many homes in the eastern part of the village.

The colonists also attacked many Palestinians, wounding Monir Qadous, and smashed the side windows of a local nonviolent activist, identified as Zakariyya Sidda.

Daghlas added that several Israeli military jeeps invaded the village, before the soldiers clashed with local youngsters, and fired concussion grenades and gas bombs, causing many residents to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.

Child Shot In The Head With Israeli Gas Bomb In Bethlehem

May 21, 2017 10:13 PM IMEMC News

Palestinian medical sources have reported, Sunday, that a child, only seven years of age, was shot with an Israeli gas bomb in the head, after the army invaded the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.

The sources said that the child, identified as Hasan Issa, 7, was shot in the back of his head, and was first moved to Beit Jala governmental hospital, before he was moved to the Arab Society Hospital, in Beit Jala.

The child’s father said he was informed that his son, who was first unconscious, suffered a minor Brain Hemorrhage but does not require surgery.

The doctors plan to conduct a variety of tests, CT-Scan and other checkups, in addition to keeping him under observation for 24 hours, to ensure his well-being.

The child’s father said that Hasan was returning home from school, when the Israeli gas bomb struck him in the back of his head.

Child Dies From Wounds Suffered When Israeli Soldiers Shot Her Two Months Ago

May 20, 2017 11:06 PM IMEMC News

The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed that a Palestinian child died, on Saturday evening, from serious wounds she suffered two months ago, after an Israeli soldier shot her at the Etzion junction, south of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank.

The Health Ministry said Fatima Jibril ‘Ayed Taqatqa, 15, died at Sha’are Zedek Israeli Medical Center, from serious wounds she suffered after an Israeli soldier shot her with a live round in the head, and she remained on life support machines until her death.

Fatima was shot on March 15, 2017, after Israeli soldiers claimed she “tried to ram them with her car,” near Etzion colony block, south of Bethlehem.

The child, from Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem, had no driver’s license and was not experienced in driving a car. She was shot after her car came to the complete halt.

Eyewitnesses said the child panicked after seeing the soldiers at the intersection, and lost control of her car, causing her to cross the median before striking metal bars protecting a bus stop in the opposite direction before the soldiers started firing at her. The army claimed that the incident was not an accident, but “a deliberate attack.”

Tareq Rishmawi, a spokesperson for the Palestinian government in the West Bank, described the fatal shooting of the child as a direct outcome of Israel’s illegal policies and ongoing violations.

Rishmawi called on the International Community, and human rights groups around the world, to intervene and stop the ongoing Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people, and added that the silence, and idleness, of the world, encourages Israel to commit more crimes.

164 Palestinians Wounded by Israeli Forces in One Day during Solidarity Protests

May 20, 2017 6:24 PM IMEMC News & Agencies

Israeli occupation forces wounded, on Friday, 164 Palestinian protesters in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, with several suffering moderate to critical injuries.

Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets, in both the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in solidarity with about 1,600 Palestinian hunger strikers inside Israeli jails. (Some sources report 1,800; it is difficult to obtain a precise count, due to the isolation of detainees by the Israeli Prison Service, the absence of lawyers, transfers to other units, etc.)

Eyewitnesses, along with medical sources, said that forces dealt violently with the protesters, beating them and opening fire on them with both live ammo and rubber-coated metal bullets.

The Palestinian Red Crescent (PRC) announced, at the end of the day, that the total number of the Palestinians wounded during the crackdown on the protesters was 164.

According to the PRC, seven Palestinians suffered moderate to critical injuries, including five in the occupied West Bank and two in the Gaza Strip.

It also said, according to Days of Palestine, that dozens were wounded with rubber-coated metal bullets, in different parts of their bodies, but most sustained “light” injuries.

Regarding the rest of the wounded, the PRC said that they suffered breathing problems due to the heavy amounts of Israeli tear gas thrown at them.

Video: One Phone Camera Saves Life Of A Child At Roadblock

May 20, 2017 7:12 PM IMEMC News

In what seems just second before a child was potentially shot dead, a Palestinian using his phone to film the unfolding events, can be heard shouting “hey you don’t shoot,” at a soldier pointing his automatic gun at a female child, who reportedly carried a knife.

The Israeli soldiers claimed that the child carried a knife, and was trying to cross the military roadblock, close to the entrance of Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem.

A video, captured by a bystander showed the child, 14, on her knees, motionless, and the voice of the person behind the camera can be heard shouting:

“Hey, you, don’t shoot, don’t shoot her, don’t shoot, she is young, just subdue her…” the soldier remains aiming his gun right on the girl, then the man behind the camera shouts again “Don’t shoot her; man, don’t shoot her… she is young, just cuff her, man… just control her, subdue her…”

The child remains motionless, and the man is heard once again saying, “just don’t shoot her, cuff her…,” then he started shooting at the child, “just don’t move, remain as are, stay still.” Then the officers are seen cuffing the child, and a voice is heard saying “she has a knife in her bag.”

Many Palestinians have been recently killed just because the soldiers suspected they “intended to carry out a stabbing attack,” without even attempting to attack anybody. Her name remained unknown until the time of this report.

People witnessing the unfolding events said they were so concerned that the child was about to be killed although she was motionless, because the soldier kept aiming his rifle at her, while standing in a shooting position, ready to pull the trigger at any second.

In related news, the soldiers abducted a young man, identified as Mohammad Awad, from Aqbat as-Saraya, in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, and moved him to an unknown destination.

 

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