Skip to main content

Posts

Egypt's military rulers warn Israel against attempts to block opening of Rafah crossing

Egypt's military rulers are warning Israel against trying to undermine the opening of the Rafah border crossing, reports Haaretz . The Egyptian leadership is under intense pressure from its population to end collaboration with Israel. Someone should tell the political echelon in Tel Aviv that this is what democracy looks like - or at least the military's version of it. The Arab Spring is turning into a nightmare for Israel. Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces General Sami Anan warned Israel against interfering with Egypt's plan to open the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on a permanent basis, saying it was not a matter of Israel's concern, Army Radio reported on Saturday. more

Israeli drones see everything - so why do they target innocent civilians?

The drones that do the 'targeting' for Israeli airstrikes are a constant feature of life for Gazans and their constant aerial surveillance creates a maddening and unescapable soundscape - it also leads to the death of entirely innocent people, as in the case of the Kudeih family below reported by Bonnie King (article) and Ken O'Keefe (video and photos) at the Oregon-based Salem News . "Just another Israeli war crime in Gaza. A mother and her four daughters preparing for the daughters wedding in a couple of weeks... and then a Israeli rocket explodes between them as they sit in their yard," said Ken O'Keefe. "A family is destroyed. This is Israel." It began with air strikes on April 7, when five Palestinians were killed in raids hitting targets that the Israeli military described as positions where projectiles had been fired from. Two women and an elderly man were killed in separate strikes near Khan Younis, and two unidentified men were killed near

Youths clash with Israeli occupation forces in Jerusalem as special forces storm Bustan

Thanks to the Palestinian Information Center Jerusalemite youths in Silwan town, south of the Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, clashed with Israeli occupation forces who stormed the Bustan suburb after the Friday congregation. Eyewitnesses said that as soon as the Jerusalemites finished their weekly congregation at the sit-in tent in the Bustan suburb, the IOF soldiers along with special forces stormed the suburb. They added that young men threw stones at the invading forces and they responded by firing teargas leading to breathing difficulty among many worshippers.

Left-wing Norwegian parliamentarians to join 'Freedom Flotilla 2 - Stay Human' Gaza voyage

Norwegian parliamentarians to join Freedom Flotilla 2 - Stay Human. ShiptoNorway website is here (Norwegian) A convey of ships, known as the “Freedom Flotilla 2 – Stay Human,” will attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza with as many as 20 Norwegian participants, including parliamentarians, either at the end of May or June. The Norwegian activists, calling themselves “Ship to Gaza Norway,” aim to break the blockade along with representatives from 10 other countries and deliver aid to local and international relief organizations, and have rejected claims that the aid will end up with Hamas... ... A number of politicians have expressed an interest in joining the convoy, something which participant Gerd von der Lippe told Aftenposten would make the Israeli soldiers “become less crazy” and give the flotilla “a large degree of legitimacy.” Jette F Christensen and Stine Renate HÃ¥heim of the Labour Party, and Akhtar Chaudhry of the Socialist Left Party, have all promised to attend if t

Turkey calls on Israel to look positively on Palestinian reconciliation

The Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄŸlu, who spoke with Sec State Hillary Clinton on Thursday about developments in Palestine, has called on Israel to take the opportunity of Palestinian reconciliation to renew the peace process, as they now no longer have the excuse of not having a counterpart to negotiate with on the Palestinian side. The signs are not good from Israel though with Lieberman continuing with the 'Hamas are terrorists' mantra. The international community should not repeat yet another mistake by not lending sufficient support to an agreement reached on Wednesday by rival Palestinian groups on reuniting their governments in the West Bank and Gaza after years of bitter infighting, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄŸlu warned on Friday, while calling the agreement “a key window of opportunity” for the entire region, which has been experiencing “an earthquake.” “I contacted both sides yesterday [Thursday],” DavutoÄŸlu noted, referring to his talks with leade

Egypt ready to permanently open Rafah crossing within 10 days says Ynet report

Israeli news outlet Ynetnews is reporting that Egypt intends to permanently reopen the Rafah crossing for the first time since 2007. This is excellent news. Will post confirmation from other sources as soon as we get them. The Arab Spring is spreading to Palestine! [update 08.22 GMT 29/4//11] Egyptian foreign minister Elaraby confirms in interview with Al Jazzera that the crossing will indeed be permanently opened 'within seven to 10 days'. Egypt is preparing to open the Rafah crossing with Gaza for the first time since Hamas seized control of the Strip in 2007, Cairo said Thursday, in order to "put an end to Palestinian suffering". more

Pro-Palestinian billboard ads removed in Seattle after Clear Channel receives 'complaints'

Clear Channel is well known for its own peculiar take on democracy - if you don't agree with them you don't get a voice. They are now picking on the growing pro-Palestine movement in the US. The campaign by Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign aims to highlight the amount of US tax dollars that go to the Israeli military. And who are these 'unnamed groups and individuals' that Clear Channel was so eager to appease? A controversial pro-Palestinian advertisement has been pulled from Seattle billboards this week. The ad, which was sponsored by the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign (SeaMAC), was canceled and pulled from Seattle area Clear Channel Outdoor billboards just days after it was posted. The billboards featured an image of a child behind a fence and the words, “Equal rights for Palestinians. Stop funding the Israeli military.” The ads also referenced a webpage – www.Stop30Billion-Seattle.org . Olivia Lippens, president of Clear Channel Outdoor Seattle, told the gro

Four injured after Gazan home comes under attack from tank fire

Reuters reports 4 injured after IDF tank opens fire on house in Gaza - first attack since the recent flare up that saw at least 35 Palestinians killed and dozens of mortars and rockets fired into Israel, most of which, it should be said, landed harmlessly in the Negev desert. [update 22:23 GMT] A woman and two children among the injured. IDF say they foiled what it describes as an 'attempted terror attack', according to Israel National News . Israeli tank fire wounded four members of a Gaza family on Thursday, medics said, in an incident that ruptured the calm of a shaky truce achieved after a spasm of cross-border violence earlier this month. Officials in the Hamas Islamist ruled coastal territory said Israeli forces had fired in the direction of a home in central Gaza after darkness fell. more

Israel relents after international pressure and allows some building materials into Gaza

60,000 tons of aggregates is not a lot but means that at least a start can be made to reconstruction efforts following Israel's war on the people of Gaza. Over the past month and a half, at least 60,000 tons of construction aggregates have been imported into Gaza, following a four-year-long wait that dated back to the start of Israel's siege on the coastal enclave. Speaking with Ma'an , UNRWA's spokesman in Gaza Adnan Abu Hasna said the imports had come unexpectedly, but followed years of pressure on Israel from UN and other international bodies.

Egyptian student march demands closure of Israeli embassy and end to gas supplies

Thousands marched on the Israeli embassy in Cairo yesterday in the beginning of a concerted campaign to end collaboration with Israel and cut off all gas supplies. Massed on a bridge next to the high-rise building where the embassy is located, they chanted: "the people demand the cancellation of normalization." They also chanted: "the gas must stop," in reference to natural gas exports through a Sinai pipeline that unidentified saboteurs blew up earlier in the day. One of the protesters, left-wing blogger Hossam Al-Hamalawy, said the demonstration came in response to recent remarks by Israeli President Shimon Peres, who praised the Egyptian revolt that toppled the government in February. "Peres issued a statement recently calling on Egyptian youth to normalize [with Israel], and this is the Egyptian youth's response," he said. more Egypt release nine Palestinian political prisoners yesterday. Another 20 remain incarcerated. Nine Palestinians released f

Israel determined to stop flotilla 2 reaching Gaza 'at all costs'

Looks like Israel is planning another massacres on the high seas. Why is the world allowing Israel to kill (or threaten to) with impunity? So Israel won't talk to peace activists and they won't talk to the new unity caretaker government because it contains 'terrorists'. The Israeli Defence Forces’ broadcast reported Wednesday noon an official's comments that the country would prevent the second freedom flotilla from reaching Gaza “at all costs". Apparently the IDF plans to use 'new methods' to stop the flotilla that avoids killing those on board. The source said that a consensus emerged during the meeting of the Ministers Committee on Security Affairs Wednesday on the necessity of maintaining a strict and complete blockade on Gaza, even if this entails using armed force in preventing the flotilla from entering the strip. more

Palestinian national unity talks successful as Hamas and Fatah bury differences

News is emerging from Egypt that Hamas and Fatah have managed to reconcile their differences at the national unity talks being held in Cairo. If this is confirmed it is another blow to Israel's strategy of divide and rule. Guardian now reporting that the two sides are to form a caretaker government. Unclear what, deal, if any has been made about who controls the rival security apparatuses. [update 16:34 GMT ] The New York Timse says the news has been confirmed by Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency. Guard CAIRO (AFP) -- Delegations from rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to hold Egyptian-mediated reconciliation talks, Palestinian sources said. The teams were to meet Egypt's new spy chief Murad Muwafi, whose predecessor Omar Suleiman tried unsuccessfully to bridge a split between the two groups that has left Gaza and the West Bank ruled by rival administrations. The delegation of the Islamist movement Hamas which rules the Gaza Strip

Second explosion at Egypt's El-Arish gas terminal shuts all oil exports to Israel

An explosion shortly after the start of the Egyptian revolution was blamed by the government on a technical fault which at the time wasn't particularly believable, and the news today of an explosion totally cutting all gas exports confirms Israel's worst fears: if the government doesn't stop selling discounted gas to Israel - providing 40% of the country's needs - then someone else will and is. Egyptian courts recently ruled that the exports of gas at below market prices should cease, but the judges have been overruled by the military. An explosion has rocked a natural gas terminal near Egypt's border with Israel, forcing the shutdown of the country's export pipeline, according to security officials. It was the second incident in the past month on the al-Sabil terminal near the town of El-Arish, 30 miles (50km) from the border. On 27 March gunmen planted explosives at the terminal, which failed to detonate. more

US activists face down veiled death threats from Israel that label siege-busters as 'terrorists'

Israel's threats against Freedom Flotilla 2 aka Stay Human (renamed in honour of slain Italian pro-Palestine activist Vittorio Arrigoni) are unfortunately not idle ones given the murder of nine people on the Mavi Marmara. US human rights advocates who are planning to sail their boat - The Audacity of Hope - this spring as part of an international flotilla in solidarity with the people of Gaza will not be deterred by implied threats of violence by the Israeli government, say the boat's organizers. The Israeli media recently reported that that country's UN ambassador, Meron Reuben, asked the international organization to stop the flotilla, which is expected to include some 12 boats carrying a thousand nonviolent civilians from dozens of countries. Reuben characterized the activists as "terrorists" with ties to Hamas, the Islamist party that rules Gaza, who are "willing to become martyrs." Jane Hirschmann of the US Boat to Gaza, which is organizing the US p

Turkey refuses to help Israel block flotilla 2 from reaching Gaza

Israel asked Turkey last week to stop the flotilla from heading to Gaza. Quite why they thought the Turkish state rush to their assistance on this one after seeing eight Turkish citizens gunned down by Israel (one was Furkan Dogan, a 19-year-old Turkish-American citizen, although the US was notably unconcerned by the death). Israel mustn't attempt to stop a planned aid flotilla bound for the blockaded Gaza Strip, Turkey's Foreign Minister told in an interview on Monday, adding that Turkey could do nothing to stop organizers from launching the flotilla. Turkey said on Thursday it had received a request from Israel to help stop activists sailing to Gaza on the first anniversary of an Israeli raid on a Turkish ship, but it said the flotilla plan was not Ankara's concern... ...Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu urged Israel not to "repeat the same mistake," adding that it was "Israel's responsibility not

International activists join battle to bring in harvest under the barrel of Israeli guns

In other parts of the world bringing in the harvest won't get you killed, but if you are a farmer in Gaza it is a different story. International activists have volunteered to help Palestinians bring in the harvest against the background of Israel having fired at and killed several people over the past month for venturing to close to it's self-declared buffer zone along the border. GAZA CITY ( Ma'an ) -- Just a kilometer from the 'security fence' separating Israel and Gaza, international solidarity activists and Palestinian volunteers on Monday began a wheat and barley harvest on behalf of landowners who fear Israeli artillery and gunfire in the no-go zone. Several Palestinian farmers have been killed and injured in the area as they tended their land or collected crops. The Israeli army imposes a no-go zone inside the Gaza Strip border areas, citing security concerns. more

Fatah to give full support to Freedom Flotilla 2 says senior official

Senior Fatah officials will be allowed to take part in the aid flotilla, Shaath told Radio A-Shams, because it is a humanitarian effort meant to lift the blockade on Gaza. When asked if the officials would require permission from Hamas or the IDF, Shaath said "we don't need authorization to reach our homeland - not from Hamas and not from Israeli security forces." The flotilla is planning to set sail at the end of May, marking the one-year anniversary to the Mavi Marmara incident – the first Gaza flotilla where nine Turks were killed when they attacked IDF commandos trying to keep their ship from reaching Gaza’s shores. more For more on the flotilla's preparations go to: Freedom Flotilla WitnessGaza European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza

'Check the Label' boycott Israeli dates campaign swings into gear

On 10th May, FOA and Zaytoun will be launching the Check the Label – Boycott Israeli dates campaign. Every year, Israel exports millions of pounds worth of dates to the world, which many people unknowingly buy and use to break their fasts. These dates are grown in illegal settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, on land that has been stolen from Palestinians. By buying these dates, we are in fact helping Israel to continue its occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people. For this reason, Friends of Al Aqsa will again be launching the ‘Check the Label’ Campaign. We would like activists to attend to ask any questions, share experiences and collect campaign literature. What: Media and Public Launch of ‘Check the Label’ Boycott Israeli Dates Campaign When: Tuesday, 10th May, 2011 - 6.30pm Where: 10 Greycoat Place, Victoria, London, SW1P 1SB To register your place, please email your name to arif@aqsa.org.uk with the title: ‘Check the Label Launch’.

Join the lobby of UK parliament by Palestine solidarity groups set for 11 May

On 11th May 2011 FOA and other solidarity groups will hold a national lobby for Palestine. Lobbying is an attempt to influence politicians on specific issues by providing them with information and facts. FOA want you to contact your MP and arrange to meet them between 12pm and 6pm on 11th May 2011 to encourage them to support Palestine. Please book a day off if you need to as it is important we lobby as many MPs as possible so that they are aware that Palestine is a key issue. We are encouraging anyone who has a Palestine badge, t-shirt or wrist band to wear it into Parliament to draw attention to the lobby for Palestine. If you do not have a badge or t-shirt but would like to order one you can visit FOA’s online shop . There will be a briefing paper online soon and there will be briefing sessions available on the day with members of FoA so you will have plenty of help planning for your meeting with your MP. FIND YOUR MP and his/her contact details by entering your postcode here . If

Rafah crossing opens briefly but Egypt makes no commitment to lift siege

Despite talk of 'solidarity' trips emanating from Egypt's ruling military council, Egypt is still dragging its feet on opening the Rafah crossing. It opened briefly today. GAZA CITY ( Ma’an ) -- The Rafah crossing will operate Sunday for those who registered last week, a crossings official said. Egyptian authorities will open the crossing after it was shut down for two consecutive days over the weekend for Egyptian holidays. Officials said Thursday that the Egyptian government would apply new procedures at the Rafah crossing on the Egypt-Gaza border to ease travel for residents of the besieged coastal enclave. During a meeting in Cairo, Baha Ad-Dusuqi, head of Palestinian affairs in the Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed Gaza government spokesman Taher An-Nunu that new measures would be in place at the terminal soon. more

Farmer shot on northern border as Israel moves to expand illegal buffer zone

Another farmer shot as IDF enforces its illegal 'buffer zone' on the northern border. Indeed, Israel is now taking measures to expand the zone with moves to reopen the tallest observation tower in Gaza at Nahal Oz. It is sited in the same disused industrial zone east of Gaza City that saw warehouses destroyed by the IDF earlier this week. A Palestinian farmer was shot yesterday by Israeli gunfire during his work in the north of Beit Lahya, northern Gaza Strip. more

US weapons give-a-way to Israel used to kill 735 Palestinian children in past decade

From Mondoweiss It is well-known that Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. military aid and that U.S. weapons provided to Israel make the United States intricately, deeply, and comprehensively complicit in Israel’s human rights abuses of Palestinians. However, until now, the extent of U.S. weapons transferred to Israel and the direct relationship between these weapons and Israel’s killing of Palestinian civilians has been difficult to detail. Not any longer. To coincide with Tax Day, the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation launched a new website: How Many Weapons to Israel? to catalogue and quantify the types, values, and quantities of U.S. weapons transferred to Israel between 2000-2009. Even for someone like myself who works everyday to challenge U.S. military aid to Israel and follows the issue closely, the results of our research are eye-popping. The sheer magnitude of weapons given to Israel is staggering; the devastation caused to Palestinians by these weapons is heart

Boat launch by monitoring group aims to highlight plight of Gaza's fishermen

On Wednesday April 20th, the "Oliva", a human rights monitoring boat with an international crew, will launch from the port of Gaza City. This initiative has the support of dozens of international organizations and numerous local Palestinian organizations. The crew of the Civil Peace Service, which currently consists of citizens from Spain, the United States, Italy and Belgium, will accompany Gazan fishermen within Palestinian waters. Violations of international law will be monitored and documented. Data and video materials will be collected and disseminated. Vittorio Arrigoni, the murdered human rights activist, strongly supported this project and therefore a commemoration of his life and work will be held at the end of the press conference. The launch of Oliva, an 8-meter long white motor boat, will inaugurate the Civil Peace Services mission in Palestinian waters. Since Operation Cast Lead, access to fishing grounds has been unilaterally restricted by Israel to 3 nautical

Palestinian prisoners' day appeal from campaign to free PFLP's Ahmad Saadat

On Palestinian Prisoners' Day, April 17, 2011, the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa'adat salutes all of the over 5,700 Palestinian prisoners inside the Israeli occupation's jails, and calls upon all those concerned for justice and freedom to join and build the largest possible international movement to secure the freedom of all Palestinian prisoners, and of the entire Palestinian people. Palestinian prisoners have always stood as the backbone of the Palestinian national movement. Their continued steadfastness in the face of torture, isolation, denial of medical care and family visits, and their continual willingness to confront the occupation, engaging in hunger strikes and protests and demanding their rights, is an inspiration to all. In moments of Palestinian national division or despair, the voice of prisoners has remained a clarion call and a beacon: an example of national unity, forged in struggle, and full commitment not only to the liberation of all Palestinian prisoners, b

Egyptian foreign minister to make Gaza solidarity visit, says QudsNet

This is great news if it turns out to be true. Egypt has stopped building the steel wall but is yet to fully open the border with besieged Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil El-Arabi intends to visit Gaza soon, according to the independent Palestinian news website Quds Net (English). The website reported that "reliable sources" in Egypt said El-Arabi asked his deputies to begin preparations and set a schedule for an upcoming visit to Gaza. The sources confirmed that El-Arabi took this step to express the Egyptian people’s solidarity with Gaza which is and has been under Israeli blockade for over four consecutive years. The delegation accompanying El-Arabi will include prominent figures from the Egyptian government, the sources explained. more

Vittorio Arrigoni's body found - killing won't weaken Palestine solidarity movement

The death of activist Vittorio Arrigoni is a crime against the Palestinian people and all those who support their struggle in any way they can. Vittorio chose to be with the people of Gaza and was welcomed by them. Far from letting Israel profit from this tragedy, the international movement to boycott Israel and actively support the Palestinian liberation struggle should be galvanised, a living tribute to the memory of Vittorio and the 35 other people in Gaza who have died these past two weeks, of course all at the hands of the Israelis except in the latest death. To kill a person who is actively showing solidarity is so incredibly counterproductive as to be almost beyond comprehension. The 'salafists' that beat and hung Arrigoni are now retracting earlier claims of responsibility - a testament to the bankruptcy of both their theory and practice. The body of Vittorio Arrigoni, a pro-Palestinian activist from Italy, is found just hours after a small Islamist group, the Tawhid an

Netanyahu hints at backing down over flotilla as pressure mounts on Israel

Has the Israeli state come to the realisation that killing aid and human rights workers doesn't play very well around the world? There is news today that Netanyahu may allow Freedom Flotilla 2 to reach Gaza, under certain circumstances. We all need to keep up the pressure on both Israel and the governments of the activists who are joining the flotilla. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu studies the possibility of allowing international flotilla to reach Gaza if flotilla organizers agreed their vessels be checked by international forces beside Israeli, Israeli media reported. In further development on the Goldstone report, three UN investigators have distanced themselves from Goldstone's 'retraction' , declaring that they stand by their report in its entirety: in other words Israeli did, and continues to, deliberately target civilians employing the excuse that 'terrorists' use them as human shields. Political sources told Israeli Channel 2 TV station that

Gaza border re-opened after week of closure as four die in tunnel collapse

Israel re-opened the sole available crossing into Gaza today, after it's been shut for a week. Also, and probably as a direct consequence of Israeli bombing, four workers died when the tunnels they were working in collapsed. On what could only be described as a lighter note, Justin Bieber is on tour in Israel - presumably no one told him about the artists' boycott movement. It seems that Israel had in mind some PR stunt while he was in the country by getting him to meet young residents of Sederot, near the Gaza border. It appears Justin didn't show up and now the pro-Israel gang is jumping up and down claiming he's insulted Israel . He shouldn't be in Israel in the first place if he has any sense of righting injustices in the world and making a good example for his fans.

Freedom Flotilla 2 on schedule as Netanyahu pleads with Europe to stop the aid convoy

Flotilla organisers are not disclosing how many ships will be sailing or their points of departure because of security concerns. Netanyahu on Monday called on European governments to try and prevent their nationals joining the mission - now that's not very democratic is it Mr Netanyahu? The Jerusalem Post claims that IHH - the Turkish charity that chartered the Mavi Marmara - may delay sailing until after the Turkish elections which take place in June. A flotilla of ships is preparing to sail to Gaza to mark the first anniversary on May 31 of a deadly Israeli raid against a similar convoy, organisers said Monday. "Preparations are on track, adequate conditions for the departure of the ships will be met by the end of May," Vaggelis Pissias, an organiser of the Ship to Gaza mission, told a news conference in Athens. Dubbed "Freedom Flotilla II", the mission will bring together participants from 50 countries in a bid to break Israel's blockade of Gaza. Israel

Lieberman wants Gaza killing to continue, says ceasefire not in Israel's interest

The death toll in Gaza since a bus was hit in Israel has now risen to 19 with the third day of attacks claiming five more lives. Talk of a ceasefire has receded this morning with news that Israel's foreign minister, the ultra right-wing fruitcake Lieberman, is calling for no ceasefire "on Hamas's terms", claiming any such move would not be in Israel's interest. But somehow killing more innocent men women and children is? Surely they must know that a new war against the civilian population of Gaza will create a firestorm of protest around the world, and most importantly in Egypt. At minimum we can expet to see the Israeli embassy in Cairo burnt to the ground and the generals forced to rip up the 'peace' treaty with the settler state. Others in the cabinet also make no secret of their desire for another war: National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau, also of Israel Beiteinu, echoed Lieberman's calls to use force in order to deter Hamas, saying that

13 killed by Israel in past 24 hours as convoys get ready to break Gaza siege

13 killed in the past 24 hours but that won't stop the aid convoy heading to Gaza. ANTALYA, (PIC)-- President of the Turkish IHH relief society Bulent Yildirim has confirmed that Gaza aid convoys will continue by land, air and sea as the Turkish Mavi Marmara gears for its next journey from Europe. He said so during a ceremony in Antalya in memory of the nine Turks who were shot dead when Israeli occupation forces raided the Mavi Marmara ship while on its route to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip last May. Yildirim announced that the Mavi Marmara will set sail once again but this time from Europe in a Gaza flotilla running under the same name as the first. 15-20 ships are slated to be launched from everywhere in the world, he said. ”Israel must know that the Mediterranean doesn't belong to it,” Yildirim said. "This sea and land convoys will continue.” more

Israel kills more Gazans while west fails to condemn mounting Palestinian death toll of past weeks

At least five killed [update 6:57 GMT]: 6 dead 40 injured] in Israeli attacks on Thursday in Israeli air and artillery assaults. Not a word of condemnation from the West as Netanyahu tests how far he can push it. Will this be the start of something bigger, which is what those on the right have been lobbying for and government ministers hinting at, with the bus hit a convenient 'justification' for more massacres? In the pastbtwo weeks at least 21 Palestinians have been killed. Gaza, (Pal Telegraph) - Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Thursday that five Palestinians were killed and at least 40 residents, including children, were wounded in several Israeli air strikes and a ground attacks that were initiated on Thursday at noon. A fighter of the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas movement, was killed when the army bombarded Al Shouka area, in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The fighter was identified as Saleh Al Tarabeen. Three r

Sudan air strike fails to assassinate senior al-Qassam brigades fighter, kills two others

Contrary to earlier reports , an Israeli air strike in Sudan (at Port Sudan on the Red Sea) yesterday that targeted a member of Hamas's military wing, Abdul Latif, did not ksucceed in killing him, although two other people died. Member of the Palestinian legislative council from Hamas Ismail Ashkar announced Thursday that his nephew Abdul Latif Ashkar survived the Port Sudan strike on Tuesday. Al-Arabiya reported earlier that Abdul Latif, who is considered Mahmoud al-Mabhouh's heir, was one of the victims. Two people were killed in the aerial attack on a car in Port Sudan on Tuesday, one of whom was reportedly a Hamas man. The legislator stressed that his nephew is doing well. "God saved him," he said. Ashkar described Abdul Latif as a prominent leader in Hamas's military wing who had escaped several attempts on his life. more

Israel prevents import of 700 types of goods into Gaza - mostly construction material

Israel closed the Kerem Shalom crossing today. It is stopping the transfer of 700 classes of goods, much of it related to the building sector. Israel's deliberate moves to hinder reconstruction are a form of collective punishment of Gaza's population. Palestinian crossings official Raed Fattouh, who coordinates entry of goods between Israel and Gaza, said that Israeli authorities are prohibiting the passage of at least 700 goods into Gaza. In a press statement Wednesday morning, Fattouh made clear that the Israeli Occupation Forces are preventing 50 per cent of Gaza imports to pass due to excuses that are unsubstantiated and unconvincing. Fattouh pointed out that most of the prohibited material belongs to the building and construction sector, which increased the housing problem in the strip that had been piling up for four years. more

Goldstone denies he intends to call for retraction of Gaza war crimes report

Goldstone is not retracting after all, although this won't stop Israel from seeking to get it thrown out by the UN. South African jurist Richard Goldstone said Tuesday that he did not plan to seek nullification of his highly critical UN report on Israel's 2008-2009 offensive in the Gaza Strip and asserted that claims to the contrary by Interior Minister Eli Yishai were false... ...In an interview with The Associated Press, Goldstone said that Yishai had called him on Monday to thank him for an op-ed piece published Friday in The Washington Post in which the judge wrote that new information had come to light that made him rethink his central conclusions. Goldstone said, however, that he never discussed the report with Yishai in the telephone conversation. Israeli leaders have called for the report to be retracted since it was issued in 2009. "There was absolutely no discussion about the Goldstone report on the call," the jurist said in a telephone interview from Stanfo

Thousands turn out for funeral of Jewish-Palestinian director and activist Juliano Mer-Khamis

Mondoweiss has posted round-up of coverage of the funeral of popular Jewish-Arab theatre director Juliano Mer-Khamis, including the following from the Palestinian Popular Committees Against the Wall: In memory of our beloved friend Juliano Mer-Khamis Juliano Mer-Khamis embodied the uncompromising struggle for freedom and for dignity. With his brutal murder the Palestinian struggle has lost a brilliant charismatic and courageous fighter for justice and freedom. Both parts of his life's work were seamlessly joined. His art was inseparable from his political commitment. The dignity and humanity which his art sustained were just as important to Palestinian resilience -sumud as his explicitly political work. His life was tragically cut short but he nevertheless managed to live a life full with purpose and meaning. In his typical way he fully dedicated himself to realizing his principles and gave up the comfort of life in Haifa to move to Jenin. The Freedom theater which Mer-Kham

Gaza's only working crossing, Kerem Shalom, closed by Israel

The only crossing into Gaza was closed by Israel today. GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli authorities closed Wednesday the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, Palestinian officials said. Israeli officials said the crossing will be closed for the day due to "security reasons", Palestinian crossings liaison official Raed Fattouh noted. more

Israeli airstrike on civilian targets injures four including pregnant woman

Air strikes on civilians in Gaza every day and not a word of condemnation from the UN security council, let alone a no-fly zone. Four injured today, including a pregnant woman, as war planes hit a factory. Gaza Strip, (Pal Telegraph)- Four Palestinians including a pregnant woman were injured Wednesday morning as Israeli warplanes targeted the east part of Gaza Strip. According to local sources, Israeli air strikes hit a plastic factory and agricultural land in Al-Tufaah suburb leaving great damage and wounding four citizens. more

Tank shelling kills Palestinian at Gaza's northern border fence

Another Palestinian was killed today, at the northern border fence near the closed Erez crossing. Haaretz reports one dead while the Palestine Telegraph says two gravel workers were attacked but reports no deaths as yet - not clear if this is the same incident. At least two Palestinians were shot by Israeli gunfire during their work in Beit lahia, northern Gaza Strip. According to SAFA News Agency, Israeli tanks stationed at the northern borders opened massive fire at Palestinian workers who were collecting gravels in that area causing two people injured.

Gaza power plant engineer charged with attempted murder and weapon design

Ukraine still hasn't complained about Israel kidnapping a Palestinian engineer on its territory. Now Israel's courts have published their trumped up charges - he designed rockets. Basically, anyone with a scientific and engineering background could be part of the rocket-designing and manufacturing infrastructure. Only if Gaza is thrown back to some pre-industrial stone age will Israel be satisfied. Dirar Abu Sisi is being charged with attempted murder, being a member of a terrorist organisation and developing weaponry. A Palestinian engineer has been charged with hundreds of counts of attempted murder and accused of developing missiles that the Islamist group Hamas fired from Gaza against Israelis. Dirar Abu Sisi, a director of the Gaza Strip's sole power station, said he was kidnapped during a visit to Ukraine in February and transferred secretly to Israel. A court in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba handed down a 15-page indictment, revealing the allegations at the

Egypt's ElBaradei says he would declare war and open Rafah crossing if Gaza attacked

Further evidence as to why Israel opposed the democratic revolution in Egypt as the real will of the Egyptian people will now likely be expressed, and it's all bad for Israel. not clear if he means that the Rafah crossing would only be opened if Israel attacked and not before. Of course, he needs to be elected first before any of his words can be turned into action. Former International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei, who had previously announced his intetions to run for the presidency of Egypt, said Monday that “if Israel attacked Gaza we would declare war against the Zionist regime." In an interview with the Al-Watan newspaper he said: "In case of any future Israeli attack on Gaza - as the next president of Egypt – I will open the Rafah border crossing and will consider different ways to implement the joint Arab defense agreement." more

Goldstone U-turn on war crimes as Israel requests dropping of UN Gaza report

On the basis of Goldstone's about turn on the Gaza war in which he now claims in a Washington Post article that 'civilians were not deliberately targeted as a matter of policy', the Israelis are asking for the Goldstone Report to be withdrawn. What has led Goldstone to change his mind on the matter? He draws attention to the case of the al-Simouni family. Twenty nine members of the family were wiped out by IDF shelling. An investigation is underway by the IDF but no report has so far emerged. Goldstone describes this delay as 'frustrating' but then goes on to say, with no evidence to support his position, that" While the length of this investigation is frustrating, it appears that an appropriate process is underway, and I am confident that if the officer is found to have been negligent, Israel will respond accordingly. This is an incredible leap of faith given the extremely poor record of the Israeli military in disciplining or prosecuting its soldiers. It wou

Palestinian fighters vow revenge for weekend killings by Israeli forces

The killing of three Palestinian fighters on Saturday follows hard on the heels of the 15 people killed by Israel in the previous week. Representatives of all military groups in Gaza have vowed to avenge the killings . Meanwhile, medics are preparing their emergency plans to deal with an Israeli offensive as tension continues to rise. GAZA — Thousands of Palestinians attended the funerals on Saturday of three senior Hamas militants killed by Israel in an overnight airstrike in southern Gaza, and Hamas leaders warned that Israel would bear the consequences. But the area remained calm on Saturday, and Hamas, the Islamic group that controls Gaza, seemed wary of fueling a new round of hostilities. The Israeli strike early Saturday came a week after the armed Palestinian groups in Gaza reaffirmed their commitment to an unofficial cease-fire with Israel. The agreement ended 10 days of heavy rocket and mortar fire from Gaza against southern Israel, repeated Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and fear

Islamic Jihad fighter dies in Gaza tunnel collapse as infiltration mission fails

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — An Islamic Jihad militant was killed Thursday when a tunnel he was digging to attack Israeli troops collapsed in the northern Gaza Strip, the group said. "An Al-Quds Brigade member was martyred when a resistance tunnel collapsed," Islamic Jihad said in a statement, referring to its military wing. It said the collapse was accidental and occurred near Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip. more

Popular posts from this blog

'Coronavirus-free' Gaza prepares for the worst

Until now, the besieged Gaza Strip has stayed free of  the novel coronavirus  spreading across the world. As the Gaza Strip has been under a stringent Israeli-led blockade for nearly 13 years, the spread of the coronavirus - officially known as COVID-19 - has become the topic of discussion for many Palestinians, with  some joking  that the blockade was preventing them from being exposed.But as authorities in the coastal Palestinian enclave gear up to contain any potential outbreak, serious questions have arisen about the risks and implications of such a scenario.  But given its already difficult humanitarian situation and high population density, an outbreak in the Gaza Strip could prove to be catastrophic, health officials have warned.  "If the virus enters Gaza and spreads, it will get out of hand," Gaza Ministry of Health spokesperson Majdi Thuhair told Middle East Eye, as he explained that a severe shortage of resources and personnel would make it near impossible

Boycott of New York diamond dealer launched to protest settlement construction

Members of Adalah NY call for boycott of Leviev for its crimes against Palestinians and South Africans New York, NY, May 9 – On the day before Mother’s Day, 40 New York human rights advocates gathered at the Leviev jewelry store on Madison Avenue and called on throngs of weekend Madison Avenue shoppers to boycott Israeli diamond mogul Lev Leviev over his companies’ construction of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land in West Bank villages including Bil’in and Jayyous. Mother’s Day is one of the biggest jewelry shopping periods in the US annually. The New York protest came as controversy is growing in Norway over Norwegian government investments in Leviev’s company Africa-Israel . The New York protesters also commemorated Bassem Abu Rahma from Bil’in who was shot to death by Israeli soldiers last month during a peaceful protest against the construction on Bil’in’s land of Israel’s wall and of the Mattityahu East settlement by a Leviev company. Thanks to vivapalestina.us (not co

Support striking Palestinian quarry workers demanding their rights from Israeli employer

On 16 June, 35 Palestinian workers at Salit Quarries in Mishor Adumim (in area C, east of Jerusalem, in the Occupied West Bank) began a strike. The workers, organized with the independent union WAC-Ma'an, are demanding an end to exploitation and humiliation, and insist on signing a first collective agreement. Salit Quarries’ main customer is Readymix Industries (Israel). The total reliance of Salit Quarry on Readymix as their biggest and by far the most important customer puts responsibility on Readymix to make sure that their clients abides by labour laws and safeguards elementary rights for the workers of Salit. We call upon Readymix to urge the Salit management to terminate this unnecessary strike by signing the collective agreement with the workers and WAC-Ma’an. Click this protest link to send your message. The text of the message is as follows: I write to you to express my grave concern about the failure of Salit management to sign a collective agreement with the workers of