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.

Egyptian Government Denies Entry of International Women Solidarity Delegation to Gaza, Deports them from Cairo Airport

March 8, 2014


The delegation protesting Egyptian government decision not to allow them to go to Gaza, March 6, 2014

I Was Brutally Attacked at Cairo Airport, Says Medea Benjamin

Medea Benjamin welcomed home by loved ones at the airport in DC

Code Pink, March 6, 2014

Just the other day I hopped on a plane to Egypt, eager to join the international delegation of 100 women headed to Gaza for International Women’s Day. Little did I know I would be stopped at the Cairo airport, detained, held overnight in a cell, then in the morning brutally assaulted by Egyptian authorities. They threw me to the ground, stomped on my back, handcuffed me so tightly they dislocated my shoulder, and then deported me to Turkey.

Now the Egyptian authorities are blocking most of the remaining delegates from entering Egypt and traveling to Gaza. It has been frustrating and disappointing for us, but we cannot forget that almost two million Palestinians remained trapped in Gaza while the Egyptian Rafah border remains closed or tightly controlled.

What happened to me was traumatizing, but is minor compared to what Egyptian activists are going through, including women. Thousands of peaceful Egyptian demonstrators have been killed or jailed by the Military Junta since the July 2013 military coup.

Here’s how you can take action:

Call the Egyptian Embassy now (202-895-5400), demand an apology, ask them to allow the remaining delegates to go to Gaza, open of the Rafah border, and end the brutal crackdown on journalists and Egyptian activists. Send this letter to the Egyptian government with our demands.

Despite frantic calls to the US Embassy during my 17-hour ordeal, they NEVER even got in touch with me. It is appalling that not only did the US government fail to intervene when an American citizen was being beaten, but that our government continues to send billions of US taxpayer dollars in military aid to the illegitimate and abusive Egyptian government.

Sign this petition to Egypt Desk at the State Department, then call them (202-647-4680). Demand to know why they did not assist a peaceful US citizen who was being abused by the Egyptian authorities, and let them know you want an immediate end to US military aid to Egypt.

Thanks for all you do for peace and justice,

Medea Benjamin, Co-founder, CODEPINK

Friends of humanity int'l asks Egypt to end its siege on Gaza

[ 10/03/2014 - 05:05 PM ]

VIENNA, (PIC)--

Friends of humanity international appealed to the Egyptian authority to end its blockade on the population in the Gaza Strip and facilitate the movement of individuals and goods at Rafah border crossing.

In a press release, the Vienna-based organization stated that the Palestinian population in Gaza has been under tight blockade long months since the military coup in Egypt and thus the current Egyptian authority has an obligation to take the humanitarian needs of the Gazans into account.

Friends of humanity said it had sent a letter to the Egyptian leadership to denounce the blockade and urge it to open the Rafah border crossing normally before passengers and goods.

The organization also expressed its dismay at the Egyptian deportation of multinational activists and its refusal to allow them to leave Cairo airport for the Gaza Strip.

Jordan's Lifeline: Egypt deported Gaza-bound activists as a favor to Israel

[ 10/03/2014 - 09:58 AM ]

AMMAN, (PIC)--

The Jordanian Lifeline for Gaza campaign said that Egypt's deportation of 58 multinational female activists from Cairo airport and its refusal to allow them to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip was a measure serving the Israeli occupation.

The Jordanian campaign affirmed that among the activists were noted international female figures such as Jamila Bouhired, an Algerian nationalist who opposed the French colonial rule of her country, Mairead Maguire, an Irish Nobel peace laureate, and Medea Benjamin, an American political activist.

The campaign strongly denounced the Egyptian authorities at the airport for maltreating and disrespecting female activists known for advocating Arab issues, especially the Palestinian cause.

It noted that the activists had received prior approval to visit Gaza and were supposed to deliver medical supplies to the besieged Gaza Strip.

For his part, Hamdi Sha'ath, the government representative to the higher national committee for breaking Gaza siege, urged all pro-Palestinian activists around the world to activate their anti-blockade campaigns by land and sea to expose the violations committed by the besieging parties.

"We call upon the world's free people to organize land and sea convoys to break the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip," Sha'ath stated in a press release on Sunday.

He affirmed that the resumption of anti-siege aid convoys would contribute to exposing the besieging parties, especially the Israeli occupation, and prompt the Arab regimes to assume their responsibilities towards the population in Gaza.

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Palestinian Killed, Several Mistreated, Kidnapped by Israeli Occupation Forces, Illegal Israeli Settlers Seize More Palestinian Lands

March 10, 2014

Jordanian judge shot dead by Israeli gunfire

[ 10/03/2014 - 04:52 PM ]

AMMAN, (PIC)--

A Jordanian judge was shot and killed on Monday morning by Israeli gunfire at the Karama border crossing between the West Bank and Jordan.

The martyr was identified as Raed Zu'aytir, 40, who works as a judge at Amman's Magistrate Court.

Israeli media sources have claimed that Israeli troops at the border with Jordan on Monday shot dead a man who allegedly tried to snatch a soldier’s weapon, prompting Israeli forces to close the crossing till further notice.

The Jordanian government strongly condemned the incident and summoned the Israeli chargé d'affaires to protest the killing and demanded an immediate investigation.

Jordanian Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Judah asked the Israeli chargé d'affaires to provide his government with a detailed report concerning the incident circumstances.

"The Jordanian government is expecting a comprehensive report on the incident from the Israeli government. Jordan wants an immediate investigation without any delay," Judeh said.

According to security sources, Jordanian authorities were informed that the Jordanian citizen Raed Zu'aytir was on his way to the West Bank when Israeli soldiers stopped the bus at the border crossing, which led to a scuffle between him and border guards who opened fire at the judge.

In response, Jordanian citizens have called for mass participation in a vigil outside the Israeli embassy in Amman on Monday evening.

The vigil is in protest at the killing of the Jordanian judge by Israeli forces and at their government's silence over the crime.

Palestinian man killed at the hands of IOF soldiers at Karama crossing

[ 10/03/2014 - 10:09 AM ]

JERICHO, (PIC)--

A Palestinian man was gunned down by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) manning the Karama crossing between the West Bank and Jordan on Monday morning.

Palestinian sources identified the victim as Raed Zuaiter, 38, from Nablus city.

The IOF claimed that Zuaiter tried to snatch a rifle from one of the soldiers at the crossing, which prompted them to fire at him killing him instantly.

The sources said that the IOF closed the crossing following the incident, adding that the victim’s body would be transferred to his hometown for burial.

Israeli raids and arrests in Nablus, Jenin

[ 10/03/2014 - 03:47 PM ]

WEST BANK, (PIC)--

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) stormed at dawn Monday Yabad town, south of Jenin, and carried out combing operations in provocation to the village's residents.

The sources pointed out that the occupation forces raided a cafe in the town and investigated those who were in it, in addition to erecting checkpoints in the vicinity of the town.

In another incident, IOF soldiers arrested a Palestinian young man at Hamra military checkpoint northern Jordan Valley while on his home way and taken to an unknown destination.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued their provocative measures against Palestinians in Madma village, south of Nablus, for the fifth day in a row.

Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli forces stationed at the western entrance to the village stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles including the village council vice president Talaat Ziyadah's car. He was detained for more than an hour.

Israeli forces also detained Al-Aqsa Channel reporter Tariq Abu Zaid and prevented his access to the village to conduct a news report about the recent violations witnessed in the town. A 24-year-old young man was also arrested in Nablus.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces broke into a Palestinian home near Jalazoun refugee camp north of Ramallah and turned it into a military barracks.

Palestinian sources confirmed that the occupation forces raided late on Sunday a house belonging to Fayez Jaber near Jalazoun camp and turned it into a military barracks.

The sources reported similar attacks recently against Palestinian people and properties in the area.

On the other hand, Israeli forces erected an iron gate at the entrance to Beit Ainun village in al-Khalil, southern West Bank.

Israeli forces re-erected an iron gate at the entrance to Beit Ainun, north of al-Khalil, after being removed two years ago. It was closed for several years since the outbreak of the second intifada, local sources said.

The sources stressed that the road is still available before Palestinian movement, warning of Israeli intention to close it at any moment.

The mentioned road links between Beit Ainun village and al-Khalil city, where the residents were forced to use long alternative roads for several years in order to cross the barrier.

Suffocation cases reported in IOF raid on Jenin village

[ 10/03/2014 - 04:09 PM ]

JENIN, (PIC)--

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided the village of Sanur, south of Jenin, on Monday for the third time in less than 24 hours triggering confrontations with inhabitants.

Local sources said that the soldiers fired sound bombs and teargas canisters during the raid causing breathing difficulty among citizens.

They said that the soldiers broke into a number of shops in downtown, searched them and interrogated their owners. They added that the soldiers provocatively patrolled the village streets before leaving it and erecting a roadblock near its entrance.

The sources pointed out that the soldiers at an earlier incursion today served summonses to four men in the village including two brothers. The soldiers served 20 similar summonses in the village over the past two months other than field interrogation of many inhabitants inside their homes in the same period.

Illegal Jewish Israeli settlers seize 100 dunums of Palestinian agricultural land

[ 10/03/2014 - 05:04 PM ]

JORDAN VALLEY, (PIC)--

Illegal Jewish Israeli settlers seized control over 100 dunums of Palestinian agricultural land in Malih area in the Jordan Valley on Monday.

Aref Daraghme, the chairman of the Malih and Bedouin tribes municipality, told the PIC reporter that the settlers bulldozed 100 dunums of land in Khirbat Samra hamlet and prevented Bedouins from approaching it.

He said that two bulldozers were working since the early morning hours in leveling the land.

Daraghme said that inhabitants in that hamlet were depending on cattle raising and farming for their living and are constantly harassed by Israeli occupation forces.

He recalled that the settlers confiscated another land lot three years ago adjacent to the one seized today and planted it with grapes despite objections by its Palestinian owners.

Illegal Israeli settlers attack Palestinian lands in West Bank

[ 10/03/2014 - 09:56 AM ]

WEST BANK, (PIC)--

Illegal Israeli settlers razed on Sunday Palestinian agricultural lands in al-Khader village southern Bethlehem, while others roamed al-Khalil and Nablus streets.

The coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in al-Khader village in Bethlehem, Ahmed Salah, confirmed that Israeli settlers have bulldozed Palestinian agricultural land near Eliezer settlement built on the village lands.

The sources added that the settlers' bulldozing aims to confiscate the village lands in favor of settlement expansion.

Israeli settlers are used to razing Palestinian lands on a daily basis in favor of settlement expansion in different areas of the West Bank.

On the other hand, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian workers while working in an agricultural road near Burin town south of Nablus, and prevented them from continuing their work.

Local sources told PIC reporter that settlers from Bracha and Yitzhar settlements, built on lands south of Nablus, attacked a Palestinian bulldozer working on agricultural road to facilitate farmers' access to their lands. They stoned the workers and forced them to leave the land.

The sources added that clashes erupted between farmers and settlers before Israeli occupation forces reached the scene and forced workers to stop working.

Meanwhile, groups of settlers carried out at dawn Monday provocative practices in the old town and Shuhada Street in al-Khalil.

Local sources confirmed that the settlers attacked Palestinian homes at dawn in an attempt to break into the houses under IOF protection, causing a state of panic among the citizens.

IOF soldiers and settlers usually carry out such attacks in the Old City in al-Khalil aiming to force the citizens to abandon their homes and pave the way for settlement projects.