Qassam Fighter Killed in Northern Gaza

Tuesday January 12, 2010 07:50 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas movement, reported on Monday at night that one of its fighters was killed “in a mission” in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

The brigades identified the fighter as Thaer Khader, and added that Khader was a member of the Hamas movement and the Al-Qassam brigades.

On Monday evening, Israeli occupation forces tanks stationed at the eastern borders of the Gaza Strip opened fire at several homes in the Bedouin Village; damage was reported, no injuries.

Furthermore, Israeli armored vehicles invaded an area East of Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza, and opened fire at homes and farmlands.

It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army killed five Palestinians in two air strikes targeting the Gaza Strip in recent days. Three of them were assassinated on Sunday evening in Central Gaza.

They were identified as Awad Naseer, 29, from Dair Al-Balah, Hassan Al Qatrawi, 22, from Al-Buraij refugee camp, and Hudhaifa Al-Hams, from Al-Nussairat refugee camp. Their bodies were moved to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza.

IOF troops block planting olive trees, shoot at Palestinian driver

[ 12/01/2010 - 11:47 AM ]

AL-KHALIL, (PIC)--

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday blocked Palestinian farmers and foreign solidarity activists from planting olive trees in Safa area to the north of Beit Ummar village, Al-Khalil district.

Local sources said that large numbers of IOF soldiers arrived to the scene, where the land is threatened with confiscation, and prevented the farmers and the foreign activists from planting more than a thousand olive trees.

The sources noted that Jewish settlers had burnt and uprooted many olive trees in the area almost a year ago.

The IOF command declared the area a closed military zone and expelled the farmers after firing at them gas and sonic bombs.

Meanwhile, IOF soldiers manning the Barta'a roadblock, south of Jenin, on Tuesday fired at and wounded a Palestinian citizen when he approached the barrier in his car.

Local sources said that Ahmed Amarne, 35, was driving his taxicab when the soldiers fired at him then took him away.

IOF troops also on Tuesday stormed the village of Nilin, west of Ramallah, and arrested two civilians, one of them is the coordinator of the popular committee against the separation wall.

Israeli occupation soldiers Invade Ramallah, Kidnap a Czech Peace Activist

Monday January 11, 2010 22:34 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The Israeli occupation army invaded on Monday at night the center of the West Bank city of Ramallah, and kidnapped a Czech citizen, identified as Eva Nováková, who started her activities as the media coordinator of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) three weeks ago.

The ISM reported that Israeli forces broke into the home of Nováková in Al-Manara Square and kidnapped her. The raid was carried out by the Israeli army and members of the OZ Immigration Police.

Soldiers occupied rooftops of nearby buildings and kidnapped Nováková before taking her to the Givon detention center in preparation to deport her to the Czech Republic.

Her attorney, Omar Shatz, said that the Israeli attack was carried out in a city that is under Palestinian control, and added that Israel and its army have no jurisdiction in Ramallah.

He said that the Israeli immigration police is being illegally used to arrest activists for political purposes.

The ISM reported that this invasion follows an extensive arrest wave targeting grassroots activists and oragnizers throughout the West Bank.

Such raids have been conducted in the villages of Bil’in – where 32 residents have been arrested in the past six month, Ni’ilin – where 94 residents have been arrested in the past 18 months, the cities of Nablus and Ramallah and East Jerusalem. The past three weeks have seen raids on ex-ISM bases in both Bil’in and Ni’lin, near Ramallah.

Among those arrested in this recent campaign are five members of the Bil’in Popular Committee have been arrested in suspicion of incitement, including Adeeb Abu Rahmah, who has already been held in detention for almost six months and Bil’in’s Popular Committee coordinator, Abdallah Abu Rahmah, the ISM added.

Israel continues to hold captive dozens of grassroots activists from several Palestinian areas, especially in Ramallah, Nablus and Jayyous.
Some of the prominent activists held by Israel are Wael Al -aqeeh from Nablus, Jamal Juma' from East Jerusalem, Mohammad Othman from Jayyous and member of the Stop The Wall NGO which is involved in nonviolent resistance against the Wall and divestment from Israel.

No charges were brought against the detained activists as they are being held captive under a so-called ‘secret file’. Israel does not show this ‘secret file’ even to the lawyers of the detainees.

Activists enter Gaza buffer zone created by Israeli occupation forces

Published yesterday (updated) 11/01/2010 17:04

Gaza – Ma’an –

 Dozens of Palestinian and foreign activists began on Monday the first of weekly demonstrations against Israel’s creation of a buffer zone between the Green Line and the northern and eastern borders of the Gaza Strip.

Saber Az-Za’aneen, coordinator of the local committee that organized the protests, said they were joined by foreign participants in the intended "security zone," reaching approximately 100 meters of the separation wall in Beit Hanoun.

Al-Za’aneen told Ma’an that the committee hopes to see participation grow, in order to protect farmers, who are most affected by the decision, and to assist them in gaining entry to their agricultural land.

The Israeli occupation army dropped leaflets across Gaza, informing its residents of the new areas that are no longer accessible to the population.

Activists: Israeli occupation army prevents tree-planting near Hebron

Published yesterday (updated) 11/01/2010 21:44

Hebron – Ma'an –

Israeli occupation forces reportedly prohibited Palestinian farmers from planting 1,500 olive trees in the Abu Ar-Rish area of the Beit Ummar village near Hebron on Monday.

"Despite the decision by an Israeli court allowing Palestinian farmers to work on their lands, Israeli troops banned farmers today from planting [olive trees]," said Muhammad Awad, media spokesman for the Palestine Solidarity Project. "The troops said that it is a closed military area," Awad said.

The spokesman added that four journalists and three American activists were detained, as Israeli forces used stun grenades and closed off the area leading to the agricultural land in question.

An Israeli occupation forces spokesman said he had no knowledge of the incident.

Non-violent protest at the northern Gaza borders with Israel

Monday January 11, 2010 16:56 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

Palestinians organized a nonviolent protest this Monday at the northern Gaza borders Israel.

The protesters were joined by international supporters. Waving Palestinian flags they marched towered the Israeli wall at the boarder line near Beit Hannon town.

The organizers told media that their action was to prevent the military from shooting at local farmers while working their lands.

The Israeli military frequently invade the area near the wall and shoot at farmers and their homes in order to create a buffer zone near the wall.

Saber Al-Za'anen, one of the organizers of today's event, told reporters that this action well be held every Monday of the week.

One injured three kidnapped during military invasions targeting West Bank areas

Monday January 11, 2010 15:28 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

One man was injured and three other civilians were kidnapped, among them two children, on Monday during separate military attacks targeting a number of West Bank communities.

Issa Al-Showaheen sustained moderate wounds when Israeli troops opened fire at his car near Hebron city southern West Bank, local sources reported.

The Israeli occupation forces spokesperson claimed that Showaheen tried to run them over with his car before they opened fire at him. Showaheen sustained wounds to his abdomen and the military moved him to an Israeli hospital in Jerusalem city.

Also near Hebron, Israeli troops searched and ransacked a number of homes at Al Arop refugee camp.

Troops kidnapped two children, Haytham Abu Aidee and Salah Al Titti, both 14 years olds, before leaving the camp, witnesses told local media.

In another invasion targeting the central West Bank city of Ramallah, Israeli troops kidnapped a Palestinian man after searching his house.

The Israeli army radio announced that all those kidnapped on Monday were moved to military detention camps for questioning

Israel's Siege Kills Another Child. Man Reported Dead At A Tunnel Site

Monday January 11, 2010 15:08 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

A Palestinian child was reported dead on Monday after he was unable to leave the Gaza Strip for the medical care he urgently needed.

Three year old Mayisarah Mousa had a heart condition, but doctors were unable to treat him in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli siege. Doctors said that he needed an operation to save his life but the Israeli military did not give his family the much needed permit to leave Gaza for medical treatement abroad.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, with Mousa's death the number of patients who died because of the Israeli siege has now reached 368. The Israeli military started its siege on the Gaza Strip in June of 2006.

Also on Monday a young man was reported dead after he fell into a tunnel at the southern Gaza Strip borders with Egypt.

Local sources identified the man as Fadi Azzam, 20 years old, from Rafah city. Witnesses told local media that Azzam fell inside a tunnel that he works in and died of his wounds.