Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 

Israeli Occupation Forces Desecrate Al-Aqsa Mosque, Kill a Palestinian Protester, Injure Dozens

February 24, 2012

Clashes Took Place At The Al-Aqsa Mosque

Friday February 24, 2012 15:06 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian sources reported Friday that clashes took place between dozens of youths at the Al-Aqsa mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, and Israeli occupation soldiers who fired gas bombs at them leading to several injuries. The clashes took place following the Friday noon prayers at the mosque.

Eyewitnesses reported that the youth hurled stones at the soldiers who were extensively deployed in the area preventing hundreds from entering the mosque. The soldiers fired gas bombs and concussion grenades; several residents suffocated after inhaling gas fired by the army.

The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage reported that dozens of soldiers broke into the area of the main mosque, Al-Masjid Al-Qibli, and attacked dozens of protestors causing several injuries and leading to clashes.

The Foundation added that undercover forces of the Israeli army were also deployed on the rooftop of the Al-Qibli mosque and chased dozens of protestors.

It is worth mentioning that thousands of Palestinians headed to the Al-Aqsa mosque for Friday prayers amidst threats by Israeli extremists to break into the mosque “to prove ownership” according to the extremists.

Israel also intensified its military and security arrangement in occupied East Jerusalem and around the Al-Aqsa mosque, and prevented hundreds from reaching it.

Palestinian Killed, 6 Injured in Clashes Near Ramallah

Friday February 24, 2012 23:49 by Alaa Ashkar - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources reported, on Friday evening, that one resident was killed and four were residents were wounded, two seriously, during clashes that took place on Friday evening between dozens of youths and Israeli troops near the Qalandia terminal, between the central West Bank city of Ramallah and occupied East Jerusalem.

The slain resident, Tal’at Ramya, 25, was shot by a live round in the heart; he is a resident of Al-Ram town, northeast of Jerusalem.

Local sources reported that soldiers also fired gas bombs and rubber –coated metal bullets at the protestors.

The residents were protesting the settlers’ attempts to break into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, and the prevention of Palestinians from reaching the mosque to pray.

Israeli Occupation Soldiers Invade Al-Buraij Refugee Camp In Central Gaza

Saturday February 25, 2012 02:13 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli occupation soldiers invaded, on Friday evening, an area east of the Al-Buraij Refugee Camp, in central Gaza, firing dozens of rounds of live ammunition, while military choppers flew overhead firing flares.

The motives of the invasion remain unknown as the soldiers just searched the area and withdrew later on; no arrests or injuries were reported.

On Friday at dawn, two Palestinians were wounded after the Israeli Air Force fired missiles in the Car Market area in Gaza; one of them was treated by field medics while the other was moved to a local hospital.

Also on Friday, Israeli troops shot and killed one Palestinian near the central West Bank city of Ramallah during clashes that took place after the Palestinians held a protest against the ongoing settler attacks, and the Friday attack carried out by the soldiers against worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.

In its weekly reported for the week of 16 – 22 Feb. 2012, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights found that 25 civilians were wounded, and 21 were abducted in 74 invasions carried out by the Israeli military into the Palestinian territories.

Israeli Jets Target Gaza, Two Palestinian Fighters Injured

Friday February 24, 2012 08:31 by Alaa Ashkar - IMEMC & Agencies

On Friday morning, two Palestinian fighters were slightly injured as an Israeli occupation forces air strike targeted a group of Palestinian fighters east of Zeitoun Neighborhood in the city of Gaza, local Palestinian sources reported Friday morning.

Palestinian medics’ spokesman in Gaza, Adham Abu-Selmyya, told the Maan News Agency that the Israeli air strike caused two Palestinian fighters with slight injuries who were transferred into a local hospital in Gaza.

An Israeli spokesperson stated that Israeli air forces jets fired missiles, targeting a group of Palestinian fighters Friday at dawn, claiming that the group was trying to fire projectiles into Israel.

This air strike comes after Israeli sources claimed that a rocket was fired from Gaza into an open area near “Sha’er Negev Kibbutz” south of Israel.

Dozens injured in IOF quelling of anti-settlement march

[ 25/02/2012 - 06:40 PM ]

AL-KHALIL, (PIC)--

Dozens of locals and foreign activists were injured on Saturday when Israeli occupation forces (IOF) brutally quelled a peaceful anti-settlement march in Beit Ummar village, north of Al-Khalil.

The IOF soldiers used rubber bullets, teargas, and batons to disperse the march leading to injuries and breathing difficulty among many of the participants who were treated on the field.

Security sources told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers fired teargas canisters in the vicinity of local houses and chased participants and beat them.

Marchers urged the PA in Ramallah to take part in the peaceful anti-settlement demonstrations especially in Beit Ummar.

IOF soldiers storm homes of detainee’s sisters

[ 25/02/2012 - 02:54 PM ]

AL-KHALIL, (PIC)--

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed the homes of two Palestinian women, the sisters of a prisoner, in Al-Khalil in a pre-dawn raid on Saturday, relatives said.

They said that IOF soldiers broke into the homes of Khitam Abu Snene in the Old City of Al-Khalil and Rima Abu Snene in Abu Ruman suburb in the city and searched both.

They said that the soldiers had Mona Abu Snene, who was captured five days ago, with them, adding that all three are the sisters of detainee Atef Hamdan Abu Snene.

The IOF soldiers had arrested the 70-year-old Hamdan Abu Snene and his wife Mona and his son Atef.

The IOF soldiers had razed the family home of Hamdan Abu Snene in 2003 and arrested his eldest son Omar, who was sentenced to life in Jail. Omar was released in the exchange deal between Hamas and Israel and deported to Gaza. Hamdan’s first wife died in a brain stroke when she saw the soldiers beat up her son Omar during his trial hearing.

Violent clashes in Ram after murder of youth

[ 25/02/2012 - 11:55 AM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

An all-out strike was observed in Ram town to the north of occupied Jerusalem on Saturday after one of its young men was shot to death by the Israeli occupation police.

Local sources said that the strike as observed in mourning over the death of Tala’at Ramiya, 25, who was hit with bullets in his chest and abdomen during protests on Friday and left to bleed for a while before the policemen allowed an ambulance car to evacuate him.

The sources said that police forces fired live and rubber bullets in addition to teargas and sonic bombs at young men at the northern entrance to the town while the youths threw stones, empty bottles, and crude firebombs at the policemen in addition to placing burning tires and large stones on the roads to impede entry of police vehicles.