Israeli Occupation Forces Attack Women’s Protest, Dozens Wounded

Sunday March 06, 2011 11:20 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Dozens of Palestinian women were wounded on Saturday after the Israeli occupation forces violently attacked a peaceful protest at the Qalandia Terminal north of Jerusalem, and fired gas bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets at them.

The women were holding a protest marking the Palestinian Women Day, and the International Women Day.

Eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli military attack was unprovoked, especially since the protesters were marching peacefully.

One of the wounded women is a member of a Swedish foundation; she suffered serious injuries as she was struck in the face with a gas bomb fired by the army, medical sources reported.

She received medical treatment on the spot and was moved to the Ramallah Governmental Hospital.

Also among the wounded were Targhrid Shalalda, representative of the Palestinian Women Workers Union in Hebron, and Mariam Maali, representative of the union in Ramallah.

Hundreds of women participated in the protest, including Palestinian Social Affair Minister, Majida Al Masry, along with Secretary-General of the Women Workers Union in the West Bank, Nada Tweir, and several international women and representatives of a number of women’s organizations and legal institutions.

The protest started in front of the entrance of the Qalandia refugee camp; the protestors chanted for Palestinian unity, for ending the occupation and for Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state.

They also affirmed the leading role of women in the national struggle, and in building the Palestinian society and its institutions.

The army attacked them by firing gas bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets before they approached the main gate of the Qalandia terminal.

Israeli Air Force Carries A Series Of Air Strikes In Gaza

Sunday March 06, 2011 10:28 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Israeli Air Force carried out on Sunday at dawn a series of air strikes targeting a number of areas in Gaza city, and areas in central Gaza; damage was reported, no injuries.

Local sources reported that F16 Fighter Jets bombarded an open area near Mosab Bin ‘Amir Mosque in Gaza’s Al Zeitoun neighborhood leading to excessive damage in a number of homes, and warehouses surrounding the mosque.

The Air Force also carried a number of strikes targeting an under construction building that belongs to the Islamic University, south of Gaza City. The building was being constructed in the place of the former Netzarim settlement.

Furthermore, the Air Force fired one missile at a land that belongs to a local family near Al Zawaida Club, in Central Gaza.

The Israeli Radio reported that the air strikes were carried out in retaliation to two shells that were fired on Saturday from Gaza into the Western Negev.

According to the Radio, one of the targeted areas is a tunnel that was dug north of the Gaza Strip in preparation to attack Israeli targets, and that a series of explosions took place in the tunnel, an issue, according to the radio, that indicates the tunnel contained explosive materials.

Last week, the Israeli army conducted several attacks against the Gaza Strip leading to several casualties.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that seven Palestinians were killed and 46 were wounded in a series of Israeli military attacks carried out against the Gaza Strip in February.

Israeli military invades village near Jenin

Saturday March 05, 2011 15:28 by Sandy Khair - IMEMC & Agencies

The Israeli military invaded, the village of Ceres, south of Jenin in the northern part of the West Bank on Saturday morning. Troops erected a military checkpoint between Ceres and al-Far’a Refugee Camp; and spread out infantry between Krom al-Zaytoun and Ya’bod village.

Security sources reported to the Palestinian Wafa News Agency that the Israeli army invaded the village, stationed tanks on streets and alleys; no injuries were reported.

In addition, local sources reported that the Israeli soldiers erected a military checkpoint on the street connecting al-Far’a Refugee camp and the village of Ceres and stopped all Palestinians traveling that route, checking their Israeli-issued identity cards and going through their belongings.

The sources added that the Israeli army spread out infantry forces between Krom al-Zaytoun and the southwest area of the village of Ya’bod, but did not hit any Palestinian civilians with their gunfire.

The Israeli military gave no comment on the reason for the early morning invasion.

Non-violent anti-Wall protests held in four West Bank villages on Friday

Saturday March 05, 2011 04:22 by IMEMC & PNN

On Friday afternoon, anti-Wall protests were organized in the villages of Bil’in, Nil’in and an-Nabi Saleh, in the central West Bank, as well as al-Ma’sara in the south. Three were injured and dozens were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.

In an-Nabi Saleh, three protesters were injured when troops attacked the weekly protest. Villagers were joined by international and Israeli supporters in a march toward land confiscated by Israel for settlement construction.

The Israeli army sealed off the village and stopped the protesters from reaching the land, and when protestors reached the soldiers stationed at the entrance, the soldiers fired tear gas directly at them.

Hilmi at-Tamimi was hit in the leg with a tear gas canister, Mustafa at-Tamimi was hit in the leg with a rubber-coated steel bullet and moved to an injury, and Bassem at-Tamimi was lightly injured when he fell as he was chased back to the village. Many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation and the protests ended with clashes between local youth and Israeli troops.

In the nearby village of Bil’in, international and Israeli supporters joined the villagers after the midday prayers and marched up to the gate of the wall separating villagers from their land.

Soldiers stationed at the gate attacked people with tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets. Many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation. In the village of Nil’in, Israeli and international supporters also marched with villagers after midday prayers to the wall. A number of protesters suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.

In al-Ma’sara village, in the southern West Bank, the weekly protest march ended with no injuries as Israeli troops suppressed the non-violent demonstration within an hour. No injuries other than tear gas inhalation were reported in the central West Bank villages of Ni’lin and Bil’in.

At the Bil'in protest, organizers announced the upcoming 6th Annual Bil’in Conference on the Palestinian Popular Struggle on April 21 - 23 in Bil'in, and encouraged international and Israeli supporters to join their Palestinian counterparts in Bil'in to discuss strategy and plan next steps by the non-violent anti-Wall movement.

Clashes Reported In Silwan

Saturday March 05, 2011 03:49 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Local sources reported that clashes took place on Friday following noon prayers at the protest tent in Silwan town, in occupied East Jerusalem, as the local residents continued their protests against the ongoing violations and home demolitions.

The protestors were attacked by the army and under-cover units of the army prompting clashes in the area.

Local youths blocked roads leading to the protest tent and hurled stones at the soldiers who fired dozens of gas bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets.

Under-cover units infiltrated the area and surrounded the protest tent before firing gas bombs at it, and withdrew from the area later on without being able to kidnap any resident due to the massive number of protesters.

On Friday evening, clashes erupted in Ras Al Ein and Al Bustan neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.

Protesters then blocked Al Thoury Road with burning tires and trash containers, and hurled stones at members of the Israeli Border Guard Units.

On Thursday, soldiers kidnapped four children (ages 13 – 15) in Silwan, and transferred them to interrogation centers. The four children were identified as Fadi Al Rajabi, Majdi Qa’qour, Mohammad Dweik and Firas Totanjy.

They four children are scheduled to appear, in coming days, at the Israeli Magistrates Court in the city on charges of throwing stones at the army.

Also on Thursday, soldiers kidnapped a 12-year-old Palestinian child from Silwan following clashes that took place between local residents and soldiers.
Clashes took place in different Jerusalem neighborhoods in Thursday, and were largely concentrated in Ras Al Amoud.

Furthermore, the Wadi Hilwa Information Center reported that soldiers hurled a gas bomb at a local shop in Silwan, and that seven children who were in the shop suffocated after inhaling gas, and were moved to local clinics.

Ten minutes later, the army returned to the scene and one of the soldiers hurled another gas bomb into the same shop.

IOF kidnap two Palestinians in W. Bank

[ 06/03/2011 - 02:41 PM ]

WEST BANK, (PIC)--

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnapped at dawn Sunday two Palestinian citizens during raids on homes in different West Bank areas, especially in the cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem.

Local sources said that the IOF kidnapped a Palestinian citizen from Nabi Saleh village in Ramallah city on allegation of his incitement to violence against the Israeli army during anti-wall marches.

Other sources reported that another Palestinian was taken from his home east of Bethlehem city after allegedly finding a hunting rifle and ammunition in his possession.

In another incident, the IOF intensified its strict measures at military checkpoints, especially in northern West Bank.

Eyewitnesses said that Innab checkpoint saw heavy traffic jams at the eastern entrance of Tulkarem city because of tight inspection procedures.

The IOF also erected an abrupt barrier last night in Al-Kafriyat area near Tulkarem and checked Palestinian cars and passengers' IDs.