Palestinian fisherman killed by Israeli occupation navy

[ 28/08/2009 - 01:20 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

A Palestinian fisherman was killed on Thursday afternoon when Israeli occupation naval boats fired a missile towards him while he was fishing off the coast of northern Gaza.

Dr. Muaweyah Hasaneen, head of emergency services told PIC that Muhammad Nadi al-Attar was killed instantly when he was hit by a missile that mutilated his body.

Attar's body was taken to Kamal Odwan's hospital in Beit Lahya in the northern Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the ministry of agriculture of the Gaza government has condemned on Thursday the Israeli occupation practices against Palestinian fishermen, the latest of which was the killing of 25-year-old Muhammad al-Attar by firing a missile at him which caused his head to be severed from his body.

The ministry called on the international community and human rights organisations to act in order to put an end to the continued Israeli occupation aggressions against Palestinian fishermen.

Palestinian fishermen have been blockaded by the Israeli occupation navy and not allowed to fish more than a few miles off shore for a number of years. They are often stopped and kidnapped by the Israeli occupation navy and pressured to work as informers and collaborators with the Israeli occupation.

Three dead, another injured in Rafah tunnel collapse

Published today (updated) 28/08/2009 18:31

Gaza – Ma'an –

Three Palestinians were killed and another injured after a tunnel collapsed in southern Gaza on Friday morning.

Medics at Abu Yousuff Al-Najjar Hospital told Ma'an three bodies were brought in after the Rafah tunnel collapsed. Another injured Palestinian was taken to the European Hospital, they said.

All four men were thought to be from the same family, the Al-Lahhams of Khan Younis.

Dr Mu'awiya Hassanain, the head of emergency and ambulance services at Gaza's Health Ministry, confirmed the three deaths later on Friday morning.

Since Israel and Egypt imposed a devastating blockade on Gaza in 2007, a vast network of smuggling tunnels has become the only reliable means of moving goods into Gaza.

These tunnels, originally built to smuggle weapons into Gaza, have become a life source for Gazans providing them with a variety of commercial goods that are banned by Israel.

It is believed that over 200 tunnels flow under the Philadelphi Corridor (the Gaza-Egypt border).

The dangers of working in the tunnels are immense and dozens of Gazans and Egyptians die each year in tunnel-related incidents.

PA: Israeli occupation forces kidnapped Palestinian, assaulted four others

Published today (updated) 28/08/2009 20:19

 Hebron – Ma'an –

Israeli occupation forces kidnapped a student and injured four Palestinians within a 12-hour span, according to a Palestinian Authority police report filed on Friday.

The detained Palestinian was identified as 21-year-old Jihad Nafez Ali Mansour, a student enrolled at a Syrian university, from the Yasuf village near Salfit. Troops stormed his house and detained him, according to the report.

In Bethlehem, Israeli troops "assaulted and humiliated" Palestinian youth, the police report said. They were identified as Musa Awwad Rashaydeh, 27, Fayez Sulaiman Rashaydeh, 31, Raya Ali Rashaydah, 24 and Ra’fat Sulaiman Rashaydah, 23.

The report added that soldiers erected a new iron gate at the entrance of Al-Naqura village near Nablus.

The Israeli occupation forces attack the weekly protest ion Nil'in

Friday August 28, 2009 16:56 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

One young man was injured and dozens of Palestinians and internationals suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation on Friday as Israeli occupation soldiers attacked the weekly nonviolent protest against the wall in N'ilin village near the central West Bank city of Ramallah.

The Israeli occupation army attacks nonviolent protesters in the West Bank - photo by Haytham Al-Khateeb 2009

After the midday prayers at the local mosque, villagers and their supporters marched toward the location of the Israeli Wall.

According to farmers Israeli occupation soldiers attacked them and their international supporters as soon as they left the village by firing tear gas at them.

One young man was taken to hospital with an injury to his shoulder while dozens suffered effects of tear gas.

The village youth hurled paint bombs at the soldiers. The military reported no injures but the villagers said that they "changed the colors of some jeeps" with the paint-filled balloons.

Several injuries reported in Bil'in weekly noneviolent protest

Friday August 28, 2009 16:30 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

Three nonviolent protestors were injured and dozens were suffocated after inhaling teargas fired by the Israeli occupation army during the weekly protest against the Annexation Wall in Bil'in village, near the central West Bank.

Nonviolent weekly protests against the Wall have been conducted every Friday for the past five years.

Today, local villagers along with international and Israeli supporters marched from the village to the Israeli Wall after midday prayers.

 As part of the demonstration, activists dressed like construction workers and created a mock construction site near the Wall with signs declaring "Wall Removal in Progress" and "Illegal Wall Ahead."

 As soon as they got to the gate of the Wall that separates the village from its agricultural lands, Israeli troops fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at them.

 In addition to these measures, an Israeli military vehicle spouted a foul-smelling liquid from a pipe mounted on the top of the truck.

 Demonstrators reported that the smell of the chemical being expelled from this pipe was nauseating and intolerable.

Protestors also reported hearing live ammunition fired by Israeli soldiers. Three protesters: Rani Burnat, Omar Attamemi, and Zuhdya Al Khatib suffered mild injuries. Dozens suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.