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. Share this article with your facebook friends

 

One Day Under the Israeli Occupation:

Palestinians Attacked, Injured, Kidnapped, their  Homes Destroyed, Al-Aqsa Mosque Raided

March 5, 2015 

 

Israeli Forces Destroy Tin Homes and Tents in Jordan Valley

Israeli forces, on Wednesday, wrecked a number of tent homes and tin shacks in the northern Jordan Valley locality of Khirbet ‘Ein Karzaliyah, according to WAFA correspondence.

Stepping up the pace of demolitions in the Jordan Valley, Israeli forces escorting a bulldozer broke into Khirbet ‘Ein Karzaliyah, where they proceeded to bring down three tent homes and three tin shacks belonging to ‘Atiyya, Zahi and Zuhair Bani Minna, making all families’ members homeless.

This is the fifth time that the community’s structures were demolished since January 2014.

On 22 January 2015, bulldozers demolished all the community’s structures, including the tent homes in which the families were living. Previous demolitions took place in January, February and April 2014, when only some of the residential tents were demolished.

The community of Khirbet Ein Karzaliyah mainly depends on raising livestock and farming for living.

According to Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, Israeli forces have repeatedly attempted to expel the community from their place of residence and have repeatedly demolished their homes as part of a decades-long policy to expel thousands of Palestinians living in dozens of shepherding communities scattered throughout Area C.

Gaza Power Plant Closes Due to Lack of Fuel

The Gaza Strip's sole power plant was shut down, Wednesday evening, as Qatari-donated fuel supplies finally ran out, a Gaza power authority said.

Gaza suffers 12 hours of power outages each day, expected to increase to 18 hours after its sole power plant shut down (AFP/File Mahmud Hams)

"The power plant stopped producing electricity during the night, after funds from Qatari donations to cover fuel costs ran out," the Gaza authority said.

"We are unable to pay for the fuel because of the taxes on purchasing it."

According to Ma'an News Agency, Hamas pays the PA for fuel imported to besieged Gaza, but is short of cash and had been unable to cover the additional cost in taxes.

In December, Qatar stepped in and donated $10 million to the PA to cover the tax, effectively exempting Hamas from paying it.

But, that money has dried up, and the PA now is insisting that Hamas begin paying the tax again, the group says.

The plant requires 550,000 liters of fuel per day to produce at capacity, according to the energy authority. Even with the plant running, Gaza suffers 12 hours of power outages each day, and that is expected to increase to 18 hours after the plant's shutdown.

Many individual homes have their own generators, and households can purchase, expensively, fuel that comes into Gaza for private consumption.

The power plant was targeted during the Israeli offensive on Gaza by shelling on July 28, completely knocking it out of commission. The Gaza power authority said, at the time, that the damages from the attack could take up to a year to entirely fix.

Gaza is blockaded and controlled by Israel on two of its crossings, and isolated by Egyptian closure of a third.

VIDEO: Israeli Forces Invade ISM Apartment in Hebron

To date, ISM volunteers in Al-Khalil (Hebron) have faced two attempted night raids, two invasions, and continual daily harassment from Israeli occupation forces.

5th March 2015 | International Solidarity Movement | Khalil Team

Other organizations in Hebron, including Youth Against Settlements and Christian Peacemaker Teams, have also faced harassment including raids, detentions, and arrests.

Over the night of 18 to 19 February, the Israeli military tried to raid the ISM apartment in Hebron.

Four volunteers woke up to a loud banging on the front door at one a clock in the morning. Soldiers constantly banged on the front door, threatening to break it open, if the volunteers refused to open it. Repeated questions for whether they had a warrant to legally enter the apartment were negated and replied with comments such as “we don’t need a warrant” and “I am the law”.

The soldiers also threatened the volunteers that if they don’t open the door “bad things will happen.” In order to stop internationals from documenting and getting an overview of the situation, the soldiers aimed green lasers mounted on their rifles through the apartment windows.

A few days before this incident the internationals were prevented from standing near a school were schoolchildren had to pass a group of soldiers. Israeli forces called the police, who detained ISM volunteers and took pictures of their passports. During the night raid volunteers recognized the voices of the soldiers who had detained them earlier. Soldiers also told them “we don’t need to see your passports, we already saw it.”

The following day ISMers were stopped in the street at every possibility and ID-checked. In the afternoon, on their way back to the apartment, Palestinians warned the ISMers that fifteen soldiers have been asking for them and were trying to arrest them. After about an hour the volunteers were able to come back to the apartment, as the soldiers went back to the military base.

On the morning of the 25th of February, about twenty minutes after two out of the three volunteers left the apartment, soldiers were banging on the door of the apartment another time, demanding that it be opened. The soldiers claimed they were searching for Issa, a prominent member of the Palestinian activist group Youth Against Settlements, whose house was raided the same on the night of that same day. Issa was not present in the apartment at the time.

Soldiers threatened the volunteer inside the house, saying that if they were not allowed to come inside, they would “come back at night, break the door and throw grenades into the house.” They threatened that the ISM volunteers “won’t be able to close an eye during night-time.” After more than an hour the dozen soldiers, who had been threatening to enter the house while stopping the other volunteers from going inside finally left.

A small number of soldiers came to the apartment three times that evening, knocking on the door but leaving after only a few minutes.

The following night around 1:00 AM, the volunteers woke up to loud noises at the door, as soldiers started to force it open. The soldiers did not answer when ISM activists asked whether they had a warrant. After about 30 minutes the soldiers broke the door open and came into the apartment, aiming their guns at volunteers.



ISM volunteers tried to document the break-in as soldiers searched the house; they were gathered into the kitchen and at one point prohibited from making phone calls.

Soldiers forced ISM volunteers to stay in the kitchen of the apartment while they searched The soldiers took a map from the wall of the apartment, claiming it was sufficient evidence for having the volunteers deported. They left after 30 minutes, threatening that within 24 hours the volunteers will be arrested by the immigration police. As the activists had expected, the threats were groundless; over a week later they continue to work in Al-Khalil.

The following night, when volunteers came back late at night around quarter to one, seven soldiers were just collecting the tools they used to break down the newly repaired door. Another three soldiers stopped the ISM volunteers from going back inside the apartment. After a few minutes, ISMers managed to reach the apartment and found the door destroyed and their personal belongings ransacked.

On the same night, Israeli forces also raided the house of Youth Against Settlements (YAS), also searching the house and taking only one poster off the wall. Soldiers raided the house on the eve of the Open Shuhada Street demonstration; they also arrested Issa Amro, the coordinator of YAS, about a week before.

The harassment did not stop after the Open Shuhada Street demonstration – where around 20 were injured, several activists including an17-year-old and a female German activist were shot with live ammunition, and three were arrested.

A couple of days later Israeli border police detained and arrested two volunteers from Christian Peacemaker Teams, stopping them after they had been walking Palestinian kindergarteners home from school.

Soldiers continue to harass, threaten, and detain international solidarity volunteers. Just this morning two ISM and two CPT volunteers were detained for over an hour at a checkpoint, after monitoring the border police aggression toward schoolchildren that morning.

Extremists Raid Al Aqsa in Celebration of Purim

Extremist Israeli settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque from the Mughrabi Gate, under heavy protection by police, Thursday morning.

Al Ray archive image

Media coordinator for Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, Firas Debs, told Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency that around 16 Israeli settlers stormed Al Aqsa Mosque, and organized a provocative tour aorund different parts of its courtyards, divided into three groups.

He said that the Israeli forces stationed themselves at the gates and confiscated IDs from women during the invasion of the holy site.

Al-Debs further noted that 654 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque in the month of February alone.

Temple organizations called, last Monday, to storm al-Aqsa Mosque to perform Talmudic rituals on Wednesday and Thursday, to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim.

Settlers Vandalize Cars, Property in Ramallah

Residents of Al-Mugheer village, east of Ramallah city, today, said that Israeli settlers torched two cars and sprayed hate slogans on walls, calling for the death of Palestinians.

According to PNN sources, Israeli settlers broke into the village by dawn, burned the cars of Jamal abu Alia and Akram Na'asan, as part of a campaign called "Pay the Price".

Israeli sources claimed that civil administration officers arrived in the village to open an investigation into the matter.

Na'asan said that he filed more than 70 complaints against the settlers last year, but the complaints were closed after the perpetrators coiuld not be found.

"They want to take over our land, so they attack us all the time. They killed our horses, torched tractors and plow," Na'asan said.

Settlers from the same group have attacked the village several times. Back in November, they burned Al-Mugheer mosque overnight, including furniture and copies of the Qur'an, and other property.

Several Palestinians Injured In Hebron And Bethlehem

Israeli soldiers invaded, on Thursday evening, Beit Ummar town north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and the al-Khader town south of Bethlehem, and clashed with local youths, causing several injuries.

File Image - Radio Bethlehem 2000

Media sources in Beit Ummar said one child was shot by a rubber-coated metal bullet, while scores of residents suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation. All wounded Palestinians received treatment by local medics.

The sources added that the soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs, and concussion grenades at local protesters, and a number of homes.

In addition, several military jeeps invaded the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, and clashed with local youth, leading to several injuries.

The clashes took place in Um Rokba area, south of al-Khader, while the soldiers fired rounds of live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades.

Also on Thursday evening, soldiers invaded Deir Netham village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and kidnapped five teens, between the ages of 14 and 18. http://www.imemc.org/article/70806

Soldiers Kidnap Five Minors Near Ramallah

Israeli soldiers invaded, on Thursday evening, Deir Netham village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and kidnapped five teens, between the ages of 14 and 18.

File - ARN News

Safi Tamimi, head of the Land Defense Committee in Deir Netham, stated that several armored military vehicles invaded the village from its southern part, detained many children and youths while driving through their village, and kidnapped five.

The kidnapped have been identified as Meqdar Fadel Abdul-Haq, 14, Amin Mohammad Tamimi, 15, Shehab Ahmad Tamimi, 16, Eyas Mahmoud Yahia, 16, and Ibrahim Fathi al-Khatib, 18 years of age.

The soldiers came from the military base in the Halamesh nearby illegal colony, built on privately owned Palestinian lands.

Tamimi said the kidnapped teens were not taken prisoner during clashes or confrontation with the military, but while playing, and running around in their families’ farmlands.

Israeli Fanatics Burn Two Palestinian Cars Near Ramallah

A number of extremist Israeli colonialists infiltrated, on Thursday at dawn, the al-Mogheer village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, burnt two Palestinian cars, and wrote racist graffiti.

Image - Maan News

Local villagers said the extremists wrote slogans, such as “Death To Arabs,” “Price Tag," and other slogans on a number of walls, and burnt two cars.

The two cars belong to residents Jamal Abu ‘Alia and Akram Na’san; the Israeli police arrived at the scene, and said it will be investigated the attack.

Resident Na’san said he and his family were awakened by the alarm system on his car, approximately at 3:50 at dawn, and rushed to extinguish the fire.

He added that the residents have already filed more than 70 complaints against Israeli extremists, living in nearby colonies, for repeated attacks on them, their property and their lands, and that the previous attacks included burning their crops, burning agricultural tractors and even killing horses.

“Each time, the police would come, take statements, and question the residents in Benjamin Police Station,” Na’san stated, “Yet; the incidents are always filed against unknown assailants.”

“We are living in an isolated area; the Israeli Police does not provide security, and the Palestinian police in not allowed here,” he said, “In my statement to the Police, I asked that we should be allowed to have weapons to defend ourselves… but of course they ignored that.”

On his part, Rabbi Zakaria al-Sidda of “Rabbis for Human Rights," said the Israeli police and the army “must act decisively against those vandals, who carry frequent hatred-filled terrorist attacks,” the WAFA News Agency said.

Image - Maan News

Soldiers Kidnap A Lawyer Near Hebron

Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, on Thursday at dawn, the Safa area north of Beit Ummar town, in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, broke into and searched several homes, and kidnapped a lawyer.

File - Maan News

Mohammad ‘Ayyad ‘Awad, spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Ummar, said the soldiers kidnapped lawyer Yasser Mohammad Ekhlayyel, 43, a former political prisoner who spent ten years in Israeli prisons.

‘Awad added that the soldiers searched and ransacked Ekhlayyel’s home, causing excessive damage.

They also invaded the home of former political prisoner, lawyer Khaled Khalil Ekhlayyel, who also spent ten years in Israeli prisons.

In addition, soldiers stormed the home of detainee Mos’ab Qawqas Ekhlayyel, who was kidnapped by the army a few months ago, and ransacked his property.

The army installed roadblocks on the main entrances of Halhoul town, north of Hebron, and Sa’ir town, south of the city, stopped and searched dozens of cars and interrogated the residents while inspecting their ID cards.

Soldiers Fire Smoke Bombs, Live Rounds, On Homes, Lands, In Gaza

Israeli soldiers, stationed across the border fence east of Gaza city, fired several smoke bombs and rounds of live ammunition, targeting Palestinian homes and agricultural lands.

Israeli Tanks, Gaza - File qudsradio.ps

The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said the soldiers, stationed on military towers behind the fence, fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition, and smoke bombs, causing property damage but no injuries.

WAFA added that several armored Israeli military vehicles and tanks have been seen driving close to the border fence, and fired smoke bombs, while army helicopters hovered overhead.

Earlier on Thursday, Israeli navy ships opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats in Gaza territorial waters, northwest of Gaza city, shot and injured two fishers, and kidnapped four others. http://www.imemc.org/article/70802

 

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