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 the link of this article with your facebook friends

 

64 Palestinian Peaceful Protesters Injured Inside Gaza by Israeli Occupation Soldiers from Across the Border

December 8, 2019 

Editor's Note:

The US House of Represntatives resolution on opposition on support for the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict:

For a resolution to become a binding law, it has to be passed by the two chambers of Congress (the Houseof Representatives and the Senate), then to be signed by the President. If two-thirds of members of Congress votes for it, it becomes a binding law, without the President's signature.

In this case, only the House of Represntatives passed the resolution. The pre-dominantly Republican Senat is less likely even to allow a resolution to be presented for voting.

As a result, the House of Representatives resolutin is just a symbolic gesture of the Democratic opposition to the Trump administration capitulation to the Netanyahu's expansionist policies.

Editor's Note:

While brutal force has been used to create Zionist Israel and sustain it thus far, Zionist claims to Palestine are false. Actually, from the five thousand years of known written history, there has been a continuous Palestinian-Canaanite presence in the Holy Land. Despite the Zionist false claims, the ancient Israelites ruled part of the land for only 85 years (during the reign of David, Solomon, and Solomon's son).

 After that, the Egyptians conquered Palestine-Canaan in 925 BC, followed by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans, before the Arab Muslim rule, starting from 636 AD.

By the Time Jesus started his mission, the three population groups of Canaanites, Palestinians, and Israelites were melted together in religion and language. Most of them became Christians when Constantine converted in 313 AD. Then, most of them became Muslims in the 7th and 8th centuries AD.

So, Palestinian Muslims, Christians, and Jews are the ones who have the right to claim descent from ancient Israelites, Palestinians, and Canaanites, not Zionists from other continents.

The following news stories are just examples of the Israeli occupation government violations of Palestinian human rights, on daily basis.

More detailed news stories can be found at the following sources:

http://english.wafa.ps/, https://english.palinfo.com/, https://imemc.org/, https://paltoday.ps/ar/

 

Israeli Attacks Gaza After Alleged Rocket Fire, December 8, 2019	Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was attacked by Israeli occupation soliders in 2010 off Gaza shore

Palestinian protesters inside Gaza Strip attacked with bullets and tear gas bomb by Israeli occupation soldiers from across the border, December 6, 2019 imemc

 

Israeli Occupation Regime Attacks Gaza After Alleged Rocket Fire

December 8, 2019 7:05 AM IMEMC & Agencies

Edited for IMEMC: Ali Salam

The Middle East Eye reported that Israeli occupation regime aircraft carried out attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip, early Sunday, Palestinian security officials said, hours after three rockets were said to have been fired from the enclave.

Israel claims three rockets were launched from the besieged Gaza Strip towards southern Israel and intercepted by its Iron Dome defence system.

The strikes targeted two sites belonging to Al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas military wing, in northern Gaza, with another series of attacks at a Qassam site west of Gaza City, there were no immediate reports of injuries.

All three projectiles were reportedly intercepted by the Iron Dome defence system, the Israeli army said, amending an earlier statement according to which two of the three rockets were shot down.

Medics had treated three people in the southern Israeli town of Sderot who suffered minor injuries while seeking shelter as air raid sirens went off, according to the Magen David Adom emergency medical service. Note the fact that it was not a ‘rocket’ that injured people in Israel, but the air raid siren.

A forum for the local councils of the Gaza border communities and the city of Sderot released a statement decrying “the substandard deterrence and failing policy of managing the security situation in the Gaza border communities”, Haaretz reported.

There were no immediate reports of material damage.

According to KAN Radio, Israeli aircraft were scrambled to the northern Strip three times on Saturday, following reports of suspicious activity near the border, but returned to base after checking that there had been no infiltration into Israel, the Jerusalem Post said.

The Israeli apartheid regime states that it holds the Hamas movement responsible for all rocket fire coming from the territory, although it has targeted other militant groups there.

The Israeli occupation apartheid regime has imposed a land, air and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, and inflicted three military offensives against the besieged enclave; 2008 – Operation Cast Lead, 2012 – Returning Echo, and 2014 – Operation Protective Edge.

It is important to remember the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3246; the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination and of the speedy granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights.

This resolution reaffirmed the legitimacy of the peoples’ struggle for liberation from colonial and foreign domination and alien subjugation by all available means, including armed struggle.

PCHR: 83rd Great March of Return, 64 Palestinians Injured, Including 19 Children

December 8, 2019 12:39 AM PCHR Gaza Strip

Photos: PCHR Edited for IMEMC: Ali Salam

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza reported that 64 Palestinian civilians, including 19 children, a paramedic, and 4 women, were shot and injured by Israeli occupation forces’ (IOF) fire against peaceful protestors at the 83rd Great March of Return (GMR), on Friday, December 6, 2019.

Israeli forces preceded the protests by describing them as “chaotic and violent”, threatening to target the protesters. In a video, Colonel Iyad Sarhan, Head of the Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA) for Gaza, called upon the Gaza civilian residents “not to go back to the violent way and not to take part again in the riot and protests along the border fence.”

He also attempted to intimidate demonstrators, “if any of you approach the fence, you will be targeted and pay a heavy price for your wrong choices,” adding that, “Being in the border area will endanger your lives.”

This week, Israeli forces resumed the use of excessive force against peaceful protestors, shooting 4 civilians with live bullets as well as rubber bullets, mainly in protesters’ upper bodies.

One injured Palestinian, in eastern Rafah, was deemed in serious condition after being shot with a rubber bullet in the head, suffering from a skull fracture.

At 14:00 Palestinian civilians began heading to the five GMR encampments in the eastern Gaza Strip to join protest titled: “GMR Will Continue” and lasted until 16:30.

Since the outbreak of GMR on 30 March 2018, PCHR documented 215 civilian killings by IOF, including 47 children, 2 women, 9 persons with disabilities, 4 paramedics and 2 journalists. Additionally, IOF shot and injured 14,759 civilians, including 3,715 children, 391 women, 255 paramedics and 218 journalists, noting that many sustained multiple injuries on separate occasions.

The following is a summary of today’s events along the Gaza Strip border:

Northern Gaza Strip:

Demonstrations took part in eastern Jabalia. Protesters threw stones at IOF stationed along the border fence. IOF shot and injured 14 civilians, including 5 children and 2 women: 2 with live bullets and shrapnel, 8 with rubber bullets and 4 were hit with tear gas canisters.

Gaza City:

Hundreds took part in Malaka area in eastern Gaza City. IOF targeted them with teargas canisters and live and rubber bullets. As a result, 5 civilians were injured; 4 of them were hit with tear gas canisters.

Central Gaza Strip:

Protests took part in eastern al-Buriej Camp. Hundreds gathered near the border fence and attempted to throw stones at IOF, who fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 4 civilians, including a woman, were injured: 1 with a live bullet and the others with teargas canisters.

Khan Younis:

Hundreds civilians joined today’s protests in Khuza’ah area in eastern Khan Yunis. Most of the protesters stayed in the encampment for the activities while dozens gathered near the border fence and attempted to throw stones and firecrackers. IOF fired live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them in addition to firing waste water at them from water cannons.

As a result, 6 civilians, including 3 children and 2 paramedics, were injured with rubber bullets and taken to hospitals. Moreover, many civilians sustained superficial rubber bullets wounds and suffocated due to tear gas inhalation. They received treatment on the spot. The wounded paramedic, Dalia Bassam Ahmed Abu Reidah, 21, working within Watan Medical Team, was shot with a rubber bullet in her left hand. Paramedic Mohammed Ziyad Zoghbor, 35, a PRCS volunteer paramedic, was shot with a rubber bullet in the right shoulder.

It should be noted that some Palestinian young men flocked to the protests at 13:00 and were shot with live bullets and hit with tear gas canisters before the crowds headed to the area. As a result, a child was wounded with a rubber bullet.

Rafah:

Hhundreds of protestors gathered in eastern al-Shawka neighborhood while others remained at the protest encampment, where speeches and theatrical performances were performed. Dozens attempted to approach the fence and throw stones and burned tires.

Israeli occupation forces fired live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at protestors and pumped wastewater at them. As a result, 17 civilians, including 11 children, were injured: 2 shot with live bullets and shrapnel, 8 with rubber bullets and 7 with tear gas canisters. Rajeh Mohammed al-Qadi, 24, who was shot with a rubber bullet in the head, causing a fractured skull, was admitted to the Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis for his serious condition.

Palestinian President Commends US Congress for Support

December 7, 2019 7:47 PM IMEMC & Agencies

PNN Edited for IMEMC: Ali Salam

The Palestinian Presidency applauded the US House of Representatives, on Friday, for supporting the two-state solution and rejecting the annexation of occupied Palestinian land, the Palestinian News and Info Agency reported.

President Abbas praised member of the US Congress for their solidarity against Israel’s settlement policy, the fait accompli, and for recognizing the aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish their own state.

The Presidency considered the the US House of Representatives resolution, passed by a majority of 226 votes in favor to 188 against as “a response to the current wrong policy of the American administration,” the most recent of which was a statement by the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, in which he said that settlements are not inconsistent with international law.

Abbas said in a statement that “this resolution is a clear message to the US administration and Israel that peace will be achieved only through the establishment of the independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the fulfillment of the aspirations of the Palestinian people.”

It reiterated that “true peace will not be achieved without a return to international law, international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.” It demanded the US administration to annul previous wrong policies starting with the one on Jerusalem and ending with support for settlements and rejecting the two-state solution.

The resolution, proposed by Democratic member of Congress, Alan Lowenthal and endorsed by members of both Democratic and Republican parties, is in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions, the latest of which was resolution 2334 of 2016, the President stated.

Representative Lowenthal tweeted after the passage of the resolution stating, “Proud to see the House pass my bipartisan resolution to affirm our support for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. We took a stand for a just peace which safeguards human rights and security, and stands against unilateral annexation and settlement expansion.”

Editor's Note:

For a resolution to become a binding law, it has to be passed by the two chambers of Congress (the Houseof Representatives and the Senate), then to be signed by the President. If two-thirds of members of Congress votes for it, it becomes a binding law, without the President's signature.

In this case, only the House of Represntatives passed the resolution. The pre-dominantly Republican Senat is less likely even to allow a resolution to be presented for voting.

As a result, the House of Representatives resolutin is just a symbolic gesture of the Democratic opposition to the Trump administration capitulation to the Netanyahu's expansionist policies.

Israeli soldiers abduct four Palestinians from their homes in Bethlehem and Tulkarem

December 6, 2019 10:40 PM IMEMC News

The Israeli occupation, apartheid regimes oldiers abducted, on Friday at dawn, four Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank governorates on Bethlehem and Tulkarem, and summoned a young man for interrogation, after the soldiers stormed and ransacked many homes.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported that several army jeeps invaded ‘Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, and searched homes, before abducting Malek Nayef Zboun, 27, and Saddam ‘Aqel Dar al-Haj, 29.

It added that the soldiers also summoned Ibrahim Yassin Srour for interrogation in Etzion military base and security center, south of Bethlehem.

The apartheid regime soldiers also invaded and searched the home of Mo’tasem Ayyoub Jabr, in Beit Jala city, west of Bethlehem, and stole cash and gold from the property.

Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Bal’a town, east of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, searched homes and abducted Stephan Shahrour and Tareq Ziad Shahrour.

Palestine TV crew detained in Jerusalem by the Israeli occupation, apartheid regime soldiers

December 6, 2019 4:31 PM IMEMC News & Agencies

The Palestinian Authority, today, condemned the detention of Palestine TV crew members in Jerusalem.

The Presidency slammed the detention of the crew as a part of the Israeli government’s scheme to entrench the Israeli occupation, apartheid regime control over the occupied city of Jerusalem and its holy sites.

It called out Israeli violations that have gone unchecked, including the US administration’s encouragement to Israel, and particularly the decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

It called on the international community to take action and put pressure on the Israeli government to halt its attacks against the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation joined in condemning the detention, slamming it as a “crime added to the list of crimes committed against Palestinian media outlets and journalists.”

Earlier today, the Israeli occupation, apartheid regime intelligence officers detained Palestine TV crew members and seized their equipment, in the latest attack against Palestinian media outlets in the occupied city of Jerusalem.

Nader Bibars, a producer with Palestine TV, said that Israeli intelligence officers broke into the filming scene during the broadcast of “Good Morning Jerusalem” on the Mount of Olives, and detained the show’s producer, Dana Abu Shamsiya, cameraman Ameer Abed-Rabbu, and former prisoner Mohammad al-Abbasi, who was hosted on the show.

The intelligence officers seized the filming and broadcasting equipment, WAFA reports.

Meanwhile, Bibars added, Israeli police detained Palestine TV reporter Christine Rinawi and cameraman Ali Yassin, in the vicinity of Bab al-Amoud (Damascus Gate).

On November 20, Israeli police raided the offices of Palestine TV, among other institutions, and posted a notice issued by Israel’s Public Security Minister, Gilad Erdan, closing the office for six months, purportedly for planning to hold activities under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority.

Lawyers for Victims of Mavi Marmara Raid Appeal Recent ICC Decision

December 6, 2019 4:19 PM IMEMC News & Agencies

Families of those killed by the Israeli occupation, apartheid regime forces, aboard an aid flotilla heading for the besieged Gaza Strip, in 2010, will appeal the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s recent decision not to press charges against Tel Aviv.

Their lawyers announced the news on Thursday, three days after the ICC’s Chief Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said there was “no reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation.”

In a statement, lawyers said that the decision showed that the “intent is to safeguard Israel — so blatantly and flagrantly right under the international community’s nose — against any indictments of war crimes.”

Bensouda’s decision was made three months after the tribunal’s judges in The Hague ordered her, for a second time, to reconsider her earlier refusals and to launch an investigation into the case.

On May 31, 2010, Israeli naval commandos, from speedboats and helicopters, attacked the Gaza Freedom Flotilla comprising six civilian ships in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, killing nine Turkish citizens, including a teenager with dual Turkish-US citizenship, on board the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara.

A 10th Turkish national later succumbed to his injuries in a hospital, in 2014. The Israeli attack also wounded some 50 other people on board the ship.

The flotilla was trying to reach the Gaza Strip and deliver desperately-needed humanitarian aid to the inhabitants of the blockaded sliver.

The Israeli occupation, apartheid regime forces raid against the civilian flotilla was met with global condemnation. The United Nations Security Council at the time called for a prompt investigation into the incident and the UN Human Rights Council described the attack as “outrageous.”

A large number of human rights groups also slammed the raid, while dozens of protests were held in support of the victims’ cause, in several countries, including Turkey, Indonesia, Lebanon, and Sweden.

“We expect the High Court to accept our appeal and initiate the investigation by overturning the prosecutor’s decision,” the lawyers further said in their joint statement, on Thursday.

In 2014, Bensouda said that she would not prosecute Israel over the incident, claiming that the case was “not of sufficient gravity” to come before the ICC.

Lawyers of the families also said in the statement that the tragic incident was not an isolated problem and that the Bensouda “willfully refuses” to open investigations involving Palestinian causes.

Some four months after the incident, Ankara suspended its military ties with Tel Aviv and expelled the Israeli envoy from Turkey over Israel’s refusal to apologize for the killing.

Furthermore, a criminal court in Turkey, in 2014, issued arrest warrants for four Israeli military officers, deemed by the Turkish government as the main culprits in the case, and turned over the warrants to Interpol to arrest the suspects, but to no avail.

Turkey and Israel, however, normalized relations in June 2016 after a series of not very public negotiations. An agreement to normalize the ties entailed the payment of $20 million in compensation for the families of the victims

Gaza has been under Israeli siege since June of 2007, which has caused a severe decline in living standards, PNN further reports.

The occupying regime has also launched three major wars against the enclave since 2008, killing thousands of Gazans, each time, and shattering the impoverished territory’s already poor infrastructure.

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