Hebron man beaten by Israeli occupation troops as they raid West Bank, take 7

Published today (updated) 13/08/2009 16:42

 Hebron – Ma’an –

Israeli occupation troops abducted a Hebron man from his home and beat his brother so badly the man was taken to hospital for treatment for a severe concussion, witnesses said.

Speaking from the hospital Khalil Ghaith, a third brother who witnessed the events, described Israeli forces surrounding his family home in the Nemra neighborhood in the north of Hebron. He said they detained his elder brother, 27-year-old Rafe and pulled his 22-year-old brother Mustapha from the home. Four soldiers surrounded Mustapha and beat him with blunt objects on the head repeatedly, he said.

Israeli occupation forces reported detaining seven Palestinians from across the West Bank overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning.

Israeli media sources said troops seized weapons during their home raids, but Palestinian sources said the allegations were unconfirmed.

Gazan fishermen protest Israeli naval presence

Published today (updated) 13/08/2009 16:51

 Gaza – Ma’an –

Dozens of Gazan fishermen called for an end to Israeli attacks on fishing boats and an end to the siege on the Strip in a protest outside of the UN headquarters in Gaza City Thursday.

The At-Tawfiq Institute, a fishers' rights group, organized the protest and called for an end to Israeli policing of Gaza’s coastal waters. Demonstrators held a large photo of fisherman Muhammad Jarbou, who was killed by Israeli forces while fishing.

Head of the Popular Committee Against the Siege Jamal Al-Khudari attended the event, and noted the loss of the fishing sector to the Gaza economy meant a loss of 3 million dollars a year. The Popular Committee was joined at the protest by members of the political bureau for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, including Jamil Al-Majdalawi, who called on the Palestinian government to protect the fishermen.

Israeli occupation forces raid Al-Walaja, confiscating construction materials

Published yesterday (updated) 12/08/2009 22:09

Bethlehem – Ma’an –

Israeli occupation forces raided the southern West Bank village of Al-Walaja near Bethlehem on Wednesday, confiscating construction material and equipment, according to witnesses.

Israeli occupation government border police, regular army soldiers, and teams from the Jerusalem Municipality raided the village and surrounded an under-construction building owned by Khalid Halahla.

The Israeli personnel confiscated bricks and iron rebar meant used for building the roof of the third floor of the planned 600-meter square building.

Halahla’s nephew Sulaiman claimed that Israeli authorities stopped the construction because a settler living in the nearby Har Gilo settlement petitioned against the building claiming it "ruins the view from his house." He explained that his uncle filed a petition in an Israeli court to allow construction to continue. A hearing was supposed to take place on Thursday, but it was postponed until September, he said.

While most of Al-Walaja’s residents are Palestinian holders of green West Bank ID cards, Israel claims to have annexed the area into the expanded municipal boundary of Jerusalem. The international community rejected the expanded boundaries, which include large chunks of the West Bank which Israel occupied in 1967.

Israel also plans to isolate Al-Walaja behind its concrete separation wall, which it is building in the area.

Israeli occupation forces raid northern West Bank villages, kidnap a Palestinian man

Published yesterday (updated) 12/08/2009 18:24

 – Ma’an –

Israeli occupation forces stormed the northern West Bank town of Beit Dajan, near Nablus, on Tuesday evening and ransacked home of Ma’rouf Hanani, using his roof as military tower, according to Palestinian police.

Separately, Israeli occupation forces raided the village of Iraq Burin, south of Nablus, and confiscated a vehicle owned by resident Walid Mousa.

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces raided Barta’a near Jenin in the northern West Bank and kidnapped 19-year-old Mu’tasim Abu Ubeid, who is from the nearby village of Arraba.