8 Israeli violations against journalists in September

Israeli authorities committed eight violations against Palestinian journalists in September, a report compiled by the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA) said today.

It said in its monthly report on Israeli treatment of Palestinian journalists and media that six journalists were injured from rubber bullets, tear gas inhalation or beating by Israeli soldiers while covering events in the occupied Palestinian territories.

In addition, Wedad Barghouthi, a lecturer of media at Birzeit University, was arrested by Israeli forces who raided her home in the village of Kobar, near Ramallah, on September 1.

On September 13, Israeli authorities banned journalist Majdoulin Hassouna, who works with the Turkish TRT channel, from travelling at Allenby Border Crossing on Palestine-Jordan border, while she was on her way back to Turkey following a visit to her family in the West Bank, the report said.

Israel killed 102 Palestinian journalists since 1972

Ramallah, 

In a statement on Tuesday, The Palestinian Journalists Union in the West Bank said that the Israeli Occupation forces (IOF) have killed 102 Palestinian journalists since 1972.

The head of the union, Naser Abu Baker, said during his speech in a press conference freedom in Ramallah that 19 journalists have been killed since 2014.

During the past months, the Palestinian Journalsits Union documented 136 Israeli attacks on Palestinian journalists, and 838 in 2018, including the killing of Yasser Murtaja and Ahmad Abu Hussein in Gaza.

In 2018, 52 Palestinian journalists were arrested, and 47 were injured by live ammunition, 189 by tear gas canisters, and 17 by rubber-coated metal bullets.

Baker said that 2018 witnessed an unprecedented increase in the violations and crimes committed against Palestinian journalists, including attacks carried out by settlers.

Palestinian Resistance: All Israeli targets will be strafed by resistance forces

The Joint Operation Room of Palestinian Resistance Factions confirmed on Monday that any possible Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip would be met by an immediate response from the Palestinian Resistance forces. 

"We warn the Israeli occupation to test the resistance, because it will be surprised with a severe response, unprecedented, and this response will be collective; one that the occupation can not bear," local agencies said. 

The sources added that there is intensive coordination currently taking place between all the Resistance forces, and there is a state of caution and anticipation among the resistance fighters. 

In case of an Israeli attack on Gaza Strip, and intensifying of air strikes, the resistance will retaliate and all Israeli targets will be within reach of the resistance.


The sources pointed out that in the coming hours, communication will be held with the Egyptian side, to send through Egypt strong messages that the wider in scope the Israeli occupation bombs, the more resistance will also expand the response.

"Stop Arming Colonialism", the 15th Annual Israeli Apartheid Week

Under the theme "Stop Arming Colonialism", the 15th Annual Israeli Apartheid Week of actions will take place all around the world between March 18th and April 8th, 2019.

Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is an international series of events that seeks to raise awareness about Israel’s apartheid regime over the Palestinian people and build support for the growing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

It now takes place in over 200 cities across the world, where events such as film, lectures, direct action, screenings, cultural performances, postering, among more help in grassroots organizing for effective solidarity with the Palestinian liberation struggle.

Due to its arms sales and the military support it receives from governments across the world, Israel is able to maintain its illegal occupation and apartheid regime over Palestinians partly.

The United States alone is the single largest supplier of arms and military aid to Israel, followed by European states. These directly sustain Israel's oppression and human rights violations.

Israel is the supplier of weapons to genocidal regimes in Rwanda, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. Presently, Israel is a major arms exporter to right-wing, authoritarian regimes from Brazil to India, the Philippines and beyond. These weapons are promoted as ‘field-tested’, which means they have been used to kill or injure Palestinians. In fact, Israel is already promoting the technology it has used to repress the Great March of Return in Gaza calling for the right of refugees to return home and an end to the siege. These arms deals finance Israel’s apartheid regime and its illegal occupation while simultaneously deepening militarization and persecution of people’s movements and oppressed communities in countries where they are bought.

The Palestinian-led BDS movement has reiterated the demand for a military embargo on Israel in the light of Israel’s violent repression of the Great March of Return. International human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have also responded to the Israeli massacre in Gaza with this demand. The UK Labour Party, in its conference in September 2018, passed a motion condemning Israel’s killing of Palestinian protesters in Gaza and called for a freeze of arms sales to Israel.

Ending arms trade, military aid and cooperation with Israel will undercut financial and military support for its regime of apartheid, settler-colonialism and illegal occupation. It will also end the flow of Israeli weapons and security technology and techniques to governments that suppress the resistance of their own citizens, people’s movements and communities against policies that deprive them of fundamental rights, including the right to the natural resources of their country.

A military embargo on Israel is a measure for freedom and justice of Palestinians and oppressed peoples in many parts of the world. It can successfully be achieved with massive grassroots efforts, similar to the sustained global mobilization that eventually compelled the United Nations to impose a binding international military embargo against South Africa’s apartheid regime.

Israeli Apartheid Week 2019 will be an important platform for building the campaign for a military embargo on Israel. We invite progressive groups to organize events on their campuses and in their cities to popularize and build momentum in this direction.

19 Palestinians killed over terror attack, New Zealand

Youth From Palestine, [New Zealand]
White gunmen stormed two mosques in Christchurch in New Zealand and opened fire, leaving at least 50 Muslims killed, on Friday.

Two central mosques in the city, identified as Al-Nour and Linwood Mosques, were stormed by a terrorist group carried out their crime during Friday prayer.

One gunman, identified as Brenton Tarrant, live streamed the horrifying attack with music in the background. Tarrant stepped out of his vehicle, carrying a machine gun, entered the mosque calmly and opened fire hysterically at the worshippers. The distressing footage showed some worshippers trying to escape, but they were immediately shot dead. The process took 17 minutes. The gunman could flee before emergency services arrived.

Newzeland mosque attack😭 pic.twitter.com/hpF9Svf09c

— Arslan (@Arslan76870850) March 15, 2019

The Palestinian Authority ambassador to Australia and New Zealand Izzat Abdul-Hadi said that a number of Palestinians were killed and injured in the terror attack, he added, the Palestinian community in New Zealand informed him that at least Palestinian were killed and others injured in the attacks.

Local sources told that 19 Palestinians were killed in the terror attack.

According to Wafa local agency, the New Zealand government has suspended all flights to Christchurch and those investigations into the attack are ongoing, and the government will speak in details about the victims on Saturday morning.

#Christchurch #BrentonTarrant captured by police video pic.twitter.com/qCwsLHYkVj

— Abdullah Butt (@_abdullahbutt) March 15, 2019

Meanwhile, Palestinian factions, specifically Hamas movement vehemently condemn the terror attack, said on its official website that "This extraordinary act of violence highlights once again that terrorism has no religion nor origin. Rather, terror is a faith fueled by hate speech that is promoted by some parties, such as the current US administration".

On the other hand, the Palestinians are the most people to endure the horrific outcomes of terrorism, owing to the Israeli occupation's terror acts perpetrated against them on a daily basis. Just days ago, the Palestinians lamented the anniversary of Haram al-Ibrahimi Massacre committed in 1994 by an Israeli extremist who killed 15 Palestinian prayers and injured dozens.

People expressed their outrage and shock on social media, demanding the authorities to take serious steps and procedures to stop such Islamophobic crimes.

After the horrific #NewZealandMosqueShooting march against #Islamophobia #racism and #AntiSemitism show #solidarity with the Muslim community and say #NoRacismNoFascism #WorldsAgainstRacism this Saturday 16 March https://t.co/lVD54jmeRa pic.twitter.com/JstuMYWlZU

— Stand Up To Racism (@AntiRacismDay) March 15, 2019

Islamophobia has skyrocketed due to a sharp rise in white supremacy and anti-refugees sentiment. This bigotry will never triumph, even if supported by heads of states & major politics like in America & Apartheid Israel.
May the victims on #Christchurch terror rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/xWGrlZDuxA

— Bahaa Shammala (@palbahaa) March 15, 2019

The War's Ice Cream: Art from Gaza

The Story

In the Gaza's War of 2014, Abu Youssef Al-Najar Hospital was bombed by the Israeli occupation warplanes. Injured and killed people were transferred to another hospital in the same city.

That hospital, which is Al-Kuwttiee private hospital, had no morgues, so they had to use ice cream freezers to save the dead bodies.

Dua' is a Palestinian artist from Gaza Strip creates ice-cream like was sculptures of children, illustrating those killed by IOF and kept in ice-cream freezers during the 2014 aggression.

The Artist

Dua' Qishta, conceptual artist, 28-year-old, live in Rafah City south of the besieged Gaza Strip.

Dua' said that as an artist, I thought it is extremely important to illustrate the children was sculptures. She added that I was guided by their views in the ice cream freezers to express the emotional ambivalent between something makes us cheerful and that makes us feel the pain and cruelty.

I wanted to uncover the Israeli crimes and practices against us, Dua's said. 

Dua' bought a freezer, which was used in the war where the killed children were kept.

To Trigger the memory of the audience, she said that I aimed to illustrate the suffering of the people of Gaza through this exhibition to show the world our insistence and strength facing such crisis and creating alternative solutions. 

To deliver a message to the people of the world. So, she paid the world's attention, Rafah City needs a hospital it is Rafah's right to have a hospital.

Pictures of her Art

A video for her by QNN

Palestinan FM: US aid cut doesn't affect UN agency

Last year, U.S. President Donald Trump cut Washington’s annual funding for UNRWA. The U.S. had been the agency’s largest contributor by far, providing it with $350 million each year -- roughly a quarter of its overall budget.

The U.S. decision to stop financial aids to a UN agency that support Palestinian refugees has not affected it works, the Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said.

According to the Anadolu Agency, al-Maliki thanked many countries led by Turkey for their contributions to UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency] to continue its services for Palestinian refugees.

Nearly one-third of the registered Palestinian refugees, more than 1.5 million individuals, live in 58 camps for refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, UNRWA said.

Denying the reports that Arab countries are in the process of normalizing ties with Israel, al-Maliki said: “The main requirement for normalization is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem [al-Quds] as its capital on the 1967 borders.” 

“We will not bow to any pressure on the Palestine cause. It is our duty to defend the Islamic values in Jerusalem in the name of the Muslim Ummah and Arabs,” he said.

The Palestinian Authority has made great efforts to punish Israel's crimes against humanity in Gaza, al-Maliki added.

Some Arab states appear to be taking tentative steps toward normalizing relations with Israel.

These steps have reportedly included visits to Tel Aviv by Iraqi officials and Egypt's recent admission that it was coordinating security efforts with Israel in the volatile Sinai Peninsula.

Israeli officials in recent months have also reportedly visited a number of Arab countries, including one such visit to Oman in October by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Nearly 50 countries, including Israel and several Arab states, reportedly confirmed their participation in the “Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East,” held jointly by the U.S. and Poland, took place in Warsaw, Poland on Feb. 13-14.

On several occasions, Israeli officials have spoken of “positive change” vis-à-vis diplomatic normalization with the Arab world -- despite a continued lack of progress in the Israel-Palestine peace process.  

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/un-agency-not-affected-by-us-aid-cut-palestinian-fm/1413530

Protesters take direct action against JCB over home demolitions in Palestine

Campaigners from across the UK have converged at JCB's Global Longistics Headquarters in Staffordshire to protest the use of the company's bulldozers in the demolition of Palestinian homes by the Israeli military, on Thursday.

Currently blockading JCB to protest its complicity in israel’s crimes of ethnic cleansing across Palestine #StopTheDemolitions pic.twitter.com/wtLnNaBJQ9

— MANPalestine Action (@ManPalestine) March 7, 2019

Activists arrived at 6:30 in the morning and locked themselves in place using reinforced arm-tubes in order to prevent the company's deliveries in and out of the depot.

"Resisting Demolitions in Palestine," a new book published by the activist researchers Shoal Collective said that Israel carried out at least 461 demolitions of Palestinian homes and property during 2018. JCB machinery was used in at least 130 of these instances, including in the demolition of two Palestinian schools.

Tom Anderson, a researcher from Shoal Collective, and one of the activists present said: “Demolitions carried out with JCB machinery resulted in at least 130 Palestinians being made homeless, including 31 children. JCB should take steps to ensure that its equipment cannot be used in Israel’s home demolitions. If the company does nothing, then they are complicit in Israel’s war crimes.” 

Last year, JCB’s machinery was used in the preparations for the demolition of the entire Palestinian Bedouin village of Khan Al Ahmar.

The planned demolitions were condemned by Amnesty International and the International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor as a war crime. The demolitions have so far been averted as a result of popular outcry.

The protesters pointed out that the use of JCB equipment to destroy schools in Palestine seems to run counter to the company’s support for the NSPCC children's’ charity in the UK. 

Michelle Noor, who was also present at the protest said: “If JCB were serious about preventing cruelty to children, they would stop their machinery from being used to demolish schools in Palestine.”

Michelle continued, “we won’t stop taking direct action against JCB until they stop their bulldozers being used in war crimes”. 

Last September, Palestine Solidarity activists held a similar blockade of JCB’s Power Systems HQ near Derby. 

JCB has been targeted in response to the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) National Committee’s (BNC) call last year. 

The Palestinian BNC gave the following statement: “Popular struggle and international solidarity have defended Khan al-Ahmar until today from expulsion, and have stopped the bulldozers manufactured by international corporations from inflicting destruction … It is the role of the BDS movement to mobilize global pressure against Israel’s impunity in perpetrating war crimes and crimes against humanity and against corporate complicity in these crimes.” 

They called on ordinary people around the world to take the following actions in solidarity with the people of Khan al-Ahmar, and all other Palestinian communities facing demolition by the Israeli state: “Organize protests at the offices of the JCB, Caterpillar, Volvo, Hyundai, Hitachi, and Liu Gong. Ask them to terminate their contracts with Israel’s occupation forces, and to commit to halting the delivery of all further equipment or services that may be used by Israel in activities that violate fundamental human rights of the Palestinian people.”

The Palestinian activist, youth from Palestine, Bahaa Shammala sent a message to the UK activists in a tweet.

To #UK activists who protested Today in front of JCB company that manufactured the bulldozers used by #IOF to demolish the Palestinian homes and property in the occupied West Bank, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. #BDS #StopTheDemolitions pic.twitter.com/vASrXvCv9e

— Bahaa Shammala (@palbahaa) March 7, 2019

HRC to begin ahead of key Gaza accountability vote

The UN Human Rights Council initiates accountability vote for violations of International law in occupied Palestine again this week.

According to the Medical Aid For Palestinians "MAP", the UN Human Rights Council starts again this week ahead of key accountability vote for suspected violations of the International laws in occupied Palestine, including the context of the "Great March of Return" demonstrations in Gaza.

The President of the General Assembly of the United Nations Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, in her opening speech said: We need a Council that is strong, efficient, that provides solutions and guarantees the promotion and protection of all rights, of all people without exception.

"No double standards and avoiding politicization. We need a council that deals with all violations and abuses, irrespective of where they have been committed or who is responsible.", she added.

In the fourth week of this 40th session of the HRC, the UN Commission of Inquiry will report on its investigation into suspected violations of international law in the context of the "Great March of Return" protests.

Since the demonstrations began in March 2018, more than 260 Palestinians have been killed and 28,000 injured, many with devastating gunshot wounds.

The Council will also discuss the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory in a session named Agenda Item 7. There a key accountability vote will take place, including for attacks on health workers in Gaza.

  

Inauguration of Cancer Ward in Gaza Funded by US Charity

SPONSORED BY THE PALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND (PCRF), a chidlren’s cancer ward opens at the Rantisi Hospital

The first children’s cancer department was inaugurated in Gaza today. The US charity PCRF donated this much needed department to prevent the need for children to travel to Israel or the West Bank for treatment. Children often have to go alone without their parents due to Israeli restrictions.  

According to the World Health Organization, thousands of Gazans apply for permits to travel for medical care every year. However, they are either blocked on security grounds or have to wait for a long time to get permits.

The $3 million dollar ward is equipped to treat children with leukemia and thalassemia.

Steven Sosebee PCRF’s president stated: "We are proud of that because now these children do not have to be separated from their families and don't have to have fragmented care which can be broken any time due to regulations of travel.”

In the inauguration held Tuesday at the Rantisi Hospital, Steven Sosebee expressed his gratitude to the founders of PCRF; Dr. Musa and Suhaila Nasir as well as hundreds of volunteers who contributed to establishment of the cancer ward in Gaza. PCRF was established in Palestine 25 years ago and is considers this project to be one of its greatest achievements.

Israeli New Weapons Testing On Palestinian Children

The Israeli occupation military tested various new weapons against Palestinians, even kids, to learn which are more effective, an Arab professor of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem "Al-Quds" said, sources reported on Sunday.

Professor Nadera Shalhoud-Kevorkian, an Arab professor of social work from the Hebrew University.

Professor Shalhoub said in a lecture at Columbia University last Tuesday that:

"Israel does weapons tests on Palestinian children" and that "Palestinian spaces are laboratories for the Israeli security industry."

Israel's Army Radio reported that Shalhoub-Kevorkian, an Arab professor of social work form the Hebrew University quoted from the testimony of a few Palestinian children to assert that the Israeli military specifically targets the younger generation for these alleged tests.


According to the report, a Palestinian child named Mohammad Said said that:

"The army checks what bombs to use - gas bombs or stink bombs, whether to put over us plastic bags or cloth bags, wether to hit us with their rifles or kick us with their boots."

Israel soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian demonstrators in the West Bank city of Hebron on 16 November 2012

"Violent Technologies in Palestinian Jerusalem", the title of the professor's shalhoud speech was based on the research she did in Israel during her tenure at Hebron University, Dabush reported.


New investigations, come as several media reports, revealed that the Israeli occupation troops harvest organs from the Palestinian children after kill them.

Israeli Crimes: Over 500 arrested by IOF in January

More than 500 Palestinians were arrested over the past month by the Israeli occupation forces "IOF" from occupied Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian prisoners' rights group said that 89 children and eight women out of 500 Palestinians were arrested the past month.

In a joint statement, the Palestinian Prisoner Society, the PA Prisoners Commission and Addameer organization said that the Israeli forces detained 102 Palestinians from occupied Jerusalem, 88 from Ramallah, 80 from al-Khalil, 55 from Jenin, 62 from Bethlehem, 30 from Nablus, 30 from Tulkarm, 25 from Qalqilya, 8 from Toubas, 6 from Salfit, 10 from Jericho, and 10 from the Gaza Strip.

The reported arrests bring the Palestinian prisoners’ total number in Israeli jails to 5,700 by January 31, 2019, including 48 women and 230 children.

During the same reported period, Israeli authorities held 95 Palestinians in administrative detention without charge or trial for various periods of time, 50 of them were newly detained, to bring the total number of administrative detainees to 500.

The statement also pointed out that 18 journalists are currently held in Israeli jails, including three women, three administrative detainees, and two serving life sentences and two long prison terms.

What happens in the Palestinian "Khan al-Ahmar"

"Khan al-Ahmar"

  By: Bahaa N. Abu Shammala

This photo is from the archive

Khan al-Ahmar: is a Palestinian village in the occupied Jerusalem of the West Bank. In 2018, there were 173 Bedouin. including 92 children, living there in tents and huts, upwards of 100 in 2010, with its local school serving the needs of 150 children in the area. Khan al-Ahmar is located between the Israeli occupation settlements of Ma'ale Adumim and Kfar Adumim. 

This photo is from the archive

In May 2018, the “Israeli High Court” determined that its residents could be evicted. That's because the Israeli occupation claims that "the structures were built without the relevant building permits and pose a threat to residents because of their proximity to a highway.", so for that, the “Israeli High Court” approved the demolition in the ongoing month.

I don't know, how could this village become posing threats to residents of Israel. Despite Khan Al-Ahmar was there throughout history, suddenly became a danger to Israel.

Watch this report via TRT World to know more about Khan Al-Ahmar village.

What did happen in "Khan al-Ahmar" today on 4th of July 2018?

July 4, 2018 – Israeli army bulldozers were seen early Wednesday opening roads that lead from the main Jerusalem-Jericho highway to Khan al-Ahmar Bedouin community, east of Jerusalem, to facilitate access of bulldozers to the area to demolish the Palestinian community, according to Walid Assaf, head of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission.

Palestinian refused that oppression resolution was posted by the "Israeli High Court", so the people of Khan Al-Ahmar went out to protest and defend their homes, shelters, school, and mosque from Israeli aggression demolishing. As usual, the Palestinian unarmed civilians face the heavy-armed Israeli occupation forces.

The Palestinian women assert her right of resisting and defending her legitimate rights, so they also protested and tried to prevent that Israeli heavy-armed soldiers from demolishing and stealing their shelters. As well the Israeli soldiers treated them with brutality aggression.

Resisting and defending our rights become a crime. This photo shows how the Israeli soldiers arresting and dealing with this Palestinian unarmed woman, taking her hijab off and laying her on a hard land without any mercy. 


When will this oppression end?