- 25 Sept 2009
Kamel Khaled Sha'ban a-Dahduh, 19
Muhammad Salem Birawi Marshud, 21
Mahmoud Musa Ramadan al-Bana, 24
an Israeli aircraft fired a missile that killed 3 activists of the Palestinian resistance in the east of Gaza City.
28 apr 2012, 22:38 , Respect -
Maria 30 sept 2009
Fuad Mahmoud Nayif Turkman, 17
of Yabad, near Jenin, killed by an Israeli military jeep while running from the IDF near Izaldeen al-Qassam school in Yabad village, near Jenin.
28 apr 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 30 sept 2009
Rizeq Muhammad Ibrahim al-Masri, 35
Naser Yusef Muhammad al-Ja'ran (Abu Seif), 43
residents of Khan Yunis, killed in Khan Yunis, by a missile. Killed while working in a tunnel next to the Egyptian border.
28 apr 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 1 oct 2009
Mohammad Al Masry, 28
Naser Yusef Muhammad al-Ja'ran (Abu Seif) 43
Two Palestinians Killed Rafah Shelling, Five Missing
Palestinian medial sources reported on Wednesday morning that two Palestinians were killed and five others were wounded after the Israeli air force shelled the ‘Tunnel areas’, south of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
One of the slain men was identified as Mohammad Al Masry, 28, while the other remained unidentified until the time of this report.
Medics and rescue teams are trying to locate and evacuate the missing men buried under the rubble.
http://www.imemc.org/article/56763
28 apr 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 5 oct 2009
15 Palestinians, including two children, killed by the army in September
Ghazi Al zaanen, 13
Nayef, 16
Mahmoud Turkman, 17
Sameh Al Beetar, 20
Abdul-Hafith Al Seelawi, 21
Mohammad Naseer, 21
Kamel Al Dahdouh
Mahmoud Al Banna
Mohammad Mashoud
Rabee' Al Taweel, 23
Obaida Al Dweik, 25
Faraj Al Najjar
Ismat Mohra
Mohammad Jamal Abu Sief, 45
Riziq Al Masry, 28
28 apr 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 12 oct 2009
Thaer Said Muhammad abu-Ayash, 17
Naser 'Abd al-Hai Amin a-Nadim, 45
Thaer of Beit Omar, near Hebron, died, in al-Ahli Hospital, Hebron, of head wounds sustained March 4 from IDF gunfire during an incursion.
Hebron: “Youth Dies Of Earlier Wounds, Nine Residents Wounded, Two Detained”
Palestinian medical sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, reported that nine residents were wounded and two were detained during clashes that took place after a youth died of wounds suffered April, 3, 2009.
The youth was shot by the army last April and remained in a critical condition until he died on Monday. He was identified as Mahdi Abu Ayyash, 17. He was wounded during an invasion carried out by the Israeli army against Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron.
Medical sources said that six Palestinians were wounded by rubber-coated bullets on Monday, and that dozens of residents were treated by field medics after inhaling gas fired by the army.
Israeli soldiers declared the town a closed military zone, and sealed its entrances with sand barriers and concrete blocks.
Soldiers also occupied a house and used it as a military post after forcing the family in one room.
On Sunday at night, soldiers invaded an area in Hebron and kidnapped a man who works at a local gas station.
Troops also kidnapped another resident in Al Shiokh town in Hebron after invading it and breaking into several homes.
In related news, two Palestinians from Hebron were wounded on Monday morning after their vehicle flipped over while the army was chasing them. The two suffered moderate wounds.
http://www.imemc.org/article/56770
Naser: died of wounds
Mahdi Sa'id Muhammad Abu 'Ayash 28 apr 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 14 oct 2009
Al-Walajah, a symbol of Israeli ethnic cleansing
While American officials continue to claim that the mission of US Middle East Envoy George Mitchell is by no means over, and that he will still pursue his efforts to convince the Israeli government to agree to some sort of settlement freeze, Israeli plans for further colonization of Palestinian land continue undisturbed. The latest Israeli plans call for the destruction of the West Bank village of al-Walajah for the second time in six decades.
According to Israeli press reports, Israel is planning a massive new settlement in the vicinity of Jerusalem, on land owned by Palestinians of al-Walajah. The project, expected to be approved by the Israeli ministry of the Interior, could become the single most populous settlement built in the occupied Palestinian territories since 1967 according to the Israeli daily Maariv. The project plans prepared by the ministry of the Interior and the Jerusalem municipality call for 14,000 housing units for 40,000 settlers on 3,000 dunums of land which would require the demolition of al-Walajah residents' homes, according to the paper.
The original village of al-Walajah was located on the opposite side of its current location, on a mountain slope facing east, just about six kilometers south of Jerusalem. It was very close to Battir, the village in which I was born and brought up. The two villages were separated by a valley, with Battir on the opposite slope from al-Walajah, though a little further south and were very closely linked.
The railway from Jerusalem to the Palestinian coastal city of Jaffa ran right through that valley, which also marks the 1949 armistice line following the end of the 1948 war (also known as the "Green Line.")
During October 1948, Zionist forces attacked and occupied al-Walajah. Its roughly 1,800 inhabitants were scattered in every direction, sharing the fate of Palestinians from hundreds of other towns and villages ethnically cleansed in the same period.
I have strong memories of visiting al-Walajah as a young child, which was walking distance from my village. Often when I was dispatched by one of my parents to purchase something for the house from the only shop in our village, I was advised to try the shop in al-Walajah if the item was not to be found in Battir.
There was active social interaction and intermarriage between the small, tight-knit populations of al-Walajah and Battir. There were daily exchanges of visits and sharing of most kinds of public events. That also applied to many other villages which were within walking distance from Battir such as Beit Safafa, al-Malhah, al-Jawrah, Ain Karem, al-Qabou and Sataf; all were occupied and ethnically cleansed in that first war.
That kind of cozy relationship amongst the small populations of Palestinian villages was all but destroyed by the 1948 war. When the inhabitants of Battir returned home after several months of forced refuge elsewhere when the village during the war came under direct fire, al-Walajah, which used to bustle with life was now silent and deserted. The demarcation line delineated following the 1949 armistice had left al-Walajah just west of the line, on the Israeli side. Battir was barely saved with the barbed wire running through the village cutting most of the village agricultural land, some houses and the boys school. Later, we watched as the Israeli army started to demolish al-Walajah, house by house. We would see a cloud of smoke and dust shoot up into the air over a house, followed by the sound of an explosion, leaving nothing but a heap of rubble. Al-Walajah was completely destroyed before Israel built the settlement of Aminadav and a park where Israelis picnic on its lands.
Apparently the people of al-Walajah owned land across the hills to the east, well within the West Bank, and that is where they decided to settle temporarily for the awaited hope of justice and redemption from the United Nations, which like many Palestinians, they still thought would come.
But time passed and justice never visited them, so they started to build homes and created a new al-Walajah. This new town is the one now threatened with ethnic cleansing. Of course the standard Israeli excuse for destroying Palestinians homes is that they were built "without permission."
The irony is that the Israelis have all along permitted themselves to massacre, ethnically cleanse, occupy, confiscate, destroy and commit every sort of crime against their Palestinian victims while Palestinians are severely punished for building on their land in their country. Al-Walajah in 1948 and now, bears witness to Israel's insatiable appetite for Palestinian land.
Israel's brazen acceleration of settlement construction on occupied Palestinian land is unquestionably a result of international, and particularly American, policy failures and the refusal to hold Israel accountable under international law.
While we have constantly witnessed the so-called "international community" relentlessly tracking down alleged violations and violators in Iran, Syria, Sudan, Lebanon, Kenya, Burma and among Palestinians not affiliated with US-backed Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, Israel is offered unconditional impunity.
It doesn't stop there; Israel is not only exempt from punishment but routinely rewarded for its crimes. After six months of defiant rejection of American requests to stop settlement construction, the Americans were the ones who finally dropped the demand and put pressure instead on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to drop its conditions to restart "negotiations."
Last month's New York summit of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and PA leader Mahmoud Abbas, hosted by US President Barack Obama, was Netanyahu's first great diplomatic victory. Following the growing public outrage at the PA's shelving of the Goldstone report into Israel's war crimes in Gaza, it emerged (according to the BBC Arabic Service on 3 October) that Abbas agreed in New York to drop the Palestinian effort to have the report forwarded to the Security Council for further action. This is a second major Israeli victory. Netanyahu, it should be recalled, had dwelled heavily on the Goldstone report in his address to the UN General Assembly rejecting the report as a serious obstacle to peace. Abbas on his part ignored any mere mention of the report in his own UN speech. This indicates that Abbas had already acquiesced to public and private American and Israeli demands to shelve the Goldstone report.
Israel's third victory is the revelation that the Obama administration, like all its predecessors, has agreed to help Israel continue to hide its nuclear weapons arsenal that threatens the region and all of humanity, while the US and its allies escalate their pressure on Iran in response to Israeli incitement.
All of these events are directly linked to what happens to people in al-Walajah -- and indeed all over Palestine from Galilee to Gaza -- who from 1948 until now, continue steadfastly and stubbornly to defend their rights and existence even as they still hope for international justice that has yet to come.
Hasan Abu Nimah is the former permanent representative of Jordan at the United Nations. This essay first appeared in The Jordan Times and is republished with the author's permission.
http://www.imemc.org/article/56796 28 apr 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 14 oct 2009
Yousif Abu Mer’y, 23
One dead, five injured by Israeli air raids on southern Gaza Strip
A Palestinian man was killed and five others were injured by two separate air raids targeting the borders are between Egypt and Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
Medical sources said that Yousif Abu Mer’y, 23 years old, arrived dead to the hospital while the five other sustained moderate wounds.
Witnesses said that Israeli jetfighters attacked the border area twice. The military said they bombed tunnels that are used by local fighters to get weapons into the Gaza Strip.
Israel started its siege on Gaza in June of 2006, rendering the 1.5 million Palestinians living there lacking basic food, medical and fuel supplies. The under ground tunnels are used in most cases to get the needed supplies into Gaza.
http://www.imemc.org/article/56802 28 apr 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 21 oct 2009
Tamer Al Sakanni, 13
Child died in Gaza due to the siege, death toll reaches 360
A Palestinian child was announced dead on Tuesday as he was prevented from leaving the Gaza Strip to get life saving medical care he needed.
Doctors reported that Tamer Al Sakanni, 13 years old, was suffering from cancer and needed urgent care outside Gaza but the Israeli military refused to grant the boy permission.
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza announced that with Tamer death the total number of patients who died because of the Israeli siege on Gaza since June of 2006 have reached 360.
http://www.imemc.org/article/56857 28 apr 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 22 oct 2009
Fareed Abu Odeh, 41
Gaza man dies due to the continued Israeli siege, death toll reaches 361
A Palestinian man died on Wednesday after he was not allowed to leave the Gaza Strip to get the life saving medical care he needed.
Doctors said that Fareed Abu Odeh, 41 years old, had cancer, they added that his family made all needed documents to leave Gaza to get medical care but the Israeli military delayed the approval until he was pronounced dead today.
Israeli started its siege on the Gaza Strip in June 2007, rendering the 1.5 million Palestinians living there lacking food, medical and fuel supplies.
The Palestinian health Ministry announced on Wednesday that with the death of Odeh today the number of patients that died because of the siege have now reached 361. On Tuesday a 13 year old boy died because of the siege, he also had cancer.
http://www.imemc.org/article/56868 28 apr 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 23 oct 2009
Mohamed Qawarik, 28
A Palestinian man killed by the Israeli military near Nablus
A Palestinian man was killed on Thursday after Israeli soldiers opened fire at his car near the southern West Bank city of Nablus.
Eyewitnesses said that Mohamed Qawarik, 28 years old, was driving his car near city when Israeli soldiers surprised him and ordered him to stop the car.
The man was unable to stop upon the order of the troops, and then they opened fire at him which caused the car to flip over killing Qawarik, the witnesses added.
Palestinian medics arrived at the scene but the soldiers tried to stop them from taking the body to a local hospital at first then later allowed them to do it, media sources reported.
http://www.imemc.org/article/56886 28 apr 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 30 oct 2009
Kafr Qasem Commemorates The 53rd Anniversary Of Massacre
Thousands of Palestinians marched on Thursday commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the Kafr Qasem Massacre, which was carried out by the Israeli forces in 1956.
On October 29, 1956, The Israeli Armed Forces, known as MAGAV, rounded up 49 Arab workers who were on their way to their town, and shot them dead under the claim that they broke the curfew.
Israeli sources reported Thursday that the attack was part of a plan targeting several Palestinian and Arab towns and villages in an attempt to forcibly evacuate the Arabs from the area.
On Thursday, thousands marched in Kafr Qasem and headed towards the monument commemorating the slain residents.
Head of the Kafr Qasem local council, the granddaughter of one of the victims and several other bereaved residents delivered speeches commemorating the massacre.
Several Arab leaders, Arab members of Knesset, Archbishop Attalla Hanna of the Greek Orthodox Church and several political and social figures, also delivered speeches commemorating the slain residents
http://www.imemc.org/article/56958 28 apr 2012, 22:40 , Respect -
Maria 1 nov 2009
Samir Nadeem, 25
Gaza patient dies due to the siege, death toll reaches 363
3 nov 2009
Ass'ad Asfour, aged 51
Gaza patient dies due to the siege, death toll reaches 364
A Palestinian patient was reported dead on Tuesday after he was unable to leave the Gaza Strip for life saving medical care he needed.
Doctors announced that Ass'ad Asfour, aged 51, died of a lung cancer after Israel prevented him from leaving the besieged Gaza Strip for medical care.
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported today that the number of patients who died because of the Israeli siege have reached 364.
Israel started its siege on the Gaza Strip in June of 2006, rendering the hospitals there unable to treat most medical cases. While the 1.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza ended up lacking much needed supplies due to the siege.
http://www.imemc.org/article/56996 28 apr 2012, 22:40 , Respect -
Maria 11 nov 2009
Young girl dies in Gaza after waiting two months for a permit to enter Israel for treatment
Fidaa Talal Salim Heji 17
My brother's daughter, Fidaa Talal Salim Heji, began to suffer from health problems around March 2007, when she was fifteen. Among other things, she lost a lot of weight, about twenty kilos in a month and a half. She was hospitalized in a-Shifaa Hospital, in Gaza City, where they found that her hemoglobin level was very low. She was referred to Nasser Hospital in Egypt, and her mother and I went with her. The physicians there found that she had cancer in her lymph nodes. She received chemotherapy there from 18 April to 28 May 2007. Her condition improved and we returned to Gaza, but a month later, it deteriorated again. She was pale, had trouble walking, and suffered dizzy spells. She couldn't go to high school. Every time these symptoms worsened, we took her to the hospital, where she'd remain for a week or ten days.
A year after we returned from Egypt, Fidaa began to receive chemotherapy treatments at a-Shifaa Hospital. Each time, they hospitalized her for twenty days. She was kept in isolation because her immune system was weak and it was important that she not catch other diseases or inhale germs. After each hospitalization, she went home. This continued until August 2009, when her condition deteriorated drastically. She was hospitalized in isolation and was given painkillers and antibiotics. Her weight dropped from one day to the next. The doctors referred her to Tel Hashomer Hospital (in Israel), where she could get better treatment and undergo a bone-marrow transplant. She was given an appointment there for 23 September 2009. On 10 September, I asked the Liaison Office to issue a permit for Fidaa and her mother to enter Israel, and I gave the officials all the necessary documents: the referral, confirmation of the appointment from Tel Hashomer, medical reports, and copies of their identity cards. More than a week afterwards, a Shabak [Israeli Security Agency] agent from Erez Crossing called to verify the details on the forms. After that conversation, I called the Liaison Office and I also went there. Rif'at Muheisen, the head, told me that the Israelis had not responded. We didn't think it would be a problem to get an entry permit because my niece was a young girl in a dangerous medical condition that required urgent attention. We waited, but the permit didn't come until the day of the appointment.
After that, I asked the Liaison Office to renew the request and make a new appointment with the hospital. Fidaa was given an appointment for 20 October, and on 29 September, I again submitted all the document s to the Liaison Office. Each time I spoke with Rif'at Muheisen, he said that the Israelis had not replied and had not completed the security check. Fidaa's mother cried day and night. Fidaa looked terrible. Seeing her made us very sad. We continued to wait. The new time for the appointment passed too. We made another appointment, this time for 9 November. I submitted another request for an entry permit. We were tense and fearful and kept waiting. Each day, my niece's condition got worse. Her weight dropped to about thirty kilos. She was connected to an inhalator and was hospitalized in isolation. She lived on antibiotics and painkillers.
On 11 November 2009, Fidaa died.
Amal Heji, 38
Four days later, on 15 November, an official from the Liaison Office called to tell me that the Israelis had approved Fidaa's entry. We had hoped that Fidaa would be treated and get better. Maybe, if they had given her the permit in time, she would still be with us.
Amal Salim Muhammad Heji, 37, a resident of Gaza, is Fidaa Heji's aunt. She was an officer in the President's Guard in the Gaza Strip until the Hamas takeover. She gave her testimony to Muhammad Sabah at her home on 6 January 2010.
Fidah Talal Salim Heji
http://fwd4.me/0ksJ 28 apr 2012, 22:40 , Respect -
Maria 11 nov 2009
Israeli Army Chief Of Staff Asks Palestinians To Testify On War Crimes in Gaza
Israeli Army Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, said Tuesday that the military is conducting investigations into possible war crimes during the January 2009 war on Gaza.
Ashkenazi was qouted by the Israeli online daily Haartez as saying "Our criminal investigation division is in the midst of checking 45 complaints."
He added. "I invite all Palestinians to testify if they have complaints. As of now, 60 Palestinians have delivered their testimonies."
The Israeli offensive, dubbed Operation Cast Lead, started on December 27th 2008 and ended on January 18th.
The Israeli army Commander defended his troops against the UN commissioned report last month that accused Israel as well as the Hamas movement which controls Gaza of committing war crimes. He said " I am not leading an army of criminals".
Ashkenazi admitted that during the 23 days long offensive troops may have hurt civilians. "Because of the nature of the battlefield... we innocently hurt civilians as well, just like we hurt our very own soldiers and officers," Ashkenazi told Israeli media".
Cast Lead offensive claimed the lives of at least 1,500 Palestinians and left 6,000 others injured.16 Israelis, 14 soldiers, and two civilians were killed during the operation.
http://www.imemc.org/article/57078