Hamas: UN Human Rights Council "encourages" Israel

Date: 13 / 01 / 2009  Time:  18:13
Gaza – Ma’an –

A Hamas spokesperson told Ma’an on Tuesday that the movement is disappointed in a recent decision by the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate Israel for war crimes.

“It encourages Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip,” Hamas spokesperson Dr Ismail Rudwan insisted on Tuesday, adding that the agreement “disregards Palestinian bloodshed and Israel’s war crimes.”

“The statement (by the rights council) refuses to charge Israel over its war crimes and holocausts,” Radwan noted, going on to say that “it fails to form an international investigation committee.”

“It calls for a worthless fact-finding mission to be sent to Gaza,” he said.

“This encourages Israeli aggression and its crimes and reflects the extent to which the council is affected by the fact that the United States of America, controlling European decisions, refuses to allow charges on this aggression,” Radwan added.

The Hamas leader called on the council to shake off pressure, “keeping to its fundamental basis, which is that it determines human rights’ violations and exposes the world to Israel’s crimes, as well as charges Israel for those crimes,” he said.

Hamas expresses disappointment over PA failure to charge Israel with war crimes

Date: 13 / 01 / 2009  Time:  17:35
Gaza – Ma’an –

The fact that Acting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has not filed any lawsuits charging Israel with war crimes is a condemnable act, said a Hamas official Tuesday.

Hamas, in a statement to Ma’an, said the actions raised questions about the true nature of the perspective of the Palestinian Authority on Israeli war crimes in Gaza saying.

“It’s unfortunate that Abbas’ advisers are denying communication or requests by rights’ organizations” on the issue of charging Israel with war crimes, said the statement.

The statement called on rights organizations to continue in their efforts to expose the Israeli war crimes in Gaza, and wait for the PA to stand by its promise to take Israel to the international courts.

Israeli warplanes level sports club in central Gaza, killing two

Date: 13 / 01 / 2009  Time:  16:37
Gaza – Ma’an –

American-made Israeli F16 jets bombed a sports club in the central Gaza Strip on Monday night, killing two people and destroying houses that surrounded the club, Palestinian residents told Ma’an on Tuesday.

Witnesses said the warplanes leveled the Nuseirat Ahly club in Nuseirat Refugee Camp.

A number of others were also injured in the attack.

Last week Israeli forces destroyed the International Stadium in the city of Rafah, in southern Gaza.

Report: Israel turns back Iranian aid ship before it reaches Gaza

Date: 13 / 01 / 2009  Time:  16:31
Bethlehem – Ma’an –

An Iranian ship carrying aid to Gaza was turned back by the Israeli navy on Tuesday, Iranian radio reported.

"An Iranian ship that was carrying foodstuff and medicine was stopped by the Zionist regime's navy 20 miles off the coast of Gaza," radio reported, adding that the ship had left the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas 13 days earlier, according to Reuters.

On Monday night Iran’s foreign minster said the ship had passed through the Egypt’s Port Said and was en route to the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip.

In a statement on Tuesday morning the Israel said its Navy “assisted in enforcing the marine closure on the Gaza Strip in preventing the entering of boats that might arrive in the area.”

Qatari Red Crescent to send mental health specialists for Gaza's injured

Date: 13 / 01 / 2009  Time:  16:16
Bethlehem – Ma’an –

The Qatari Red Crescent began a program designed to give psychological and social support for Palestinians and their families injured during Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The program, which began Sunday, includes training courses for youth volunteers on how to treat the kids, youth, and the elderly who have been affected by war. The program is being run in cooperation with the Tawasul Center for social and press training in Cairo.

The course will take two parts, first a theoretical training for volunteers based on lectures and workshops on support during crisis and the second a field work component where the volunteers will go to hospitals in Cairo treating Gaza’s victims to give psychological support to them.

Dr Mohamad Al-Banna, a psychological support program coordinator, will assist in the training sessions. He warned of post-traumatic stress disorder and its long term effects in a devastated population.

The Qatari Red Crescent will provide for the affected Palestinians in Cairo, to a total value of 167,000 US dollars. The treatment is expected to last three months.

Six bodies pulled out of northern Gaza rubble

Date: 13 / 01 / 2009  Time:  15:44
Gaza - Ma’an -

Medical crews continue to pull bodies out of the remains of buildings, said Director of Ambulance and Emergency Services Muaweyah Hassanein.

Six were recovered Tuesday afternoon from the Al-Shanti area in the As-Sudaniyeh area north of Gaza City, which is currently under Israeli control.

Two of the dead were identified as Hassan Al-Saqa and Ahmad Ad-Dalu. Medical crews said they could see several more bodies on the ground but were barred from reaching the area.