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UNited Nations welcomes State of Palestine

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution on Thursday to upgrade Palestine to a "non-member state" at the United Nations, implicitly recognizing a Palestinian state. There were 138 votes in favor, nine against and 41 abstentions. Addressing the assembly in New York ahead of the vote, President Mahmoud Abbas said the UN bid was the last chance to save the two-state solution. "Sixty-five years ago on this day, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 181, which partitioned the land of historic Palestine into two states and became the birth certificate for Israel," Abbas told the 193-nation assembly after receiving a standing ovation. "The General Assembly is called upon today to issue a birth certificate of the reality of the State of Palestine," he said. The president told the UN that Israel's war on Gaza highlighted the urgency of ending the Israeli occupation. "It also

Hamas fighter dies of Gaza war wounds

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- A member of Hamas' military wing died Thursday from wounds sustained during Israel's latest assault on the Gaza Strip, the group said. The al-Qassam Brigades announced the death of Hosam al-Hums, from Rafah, and said he was being treated in Egypt for serious injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike. Several people have died from their injuries since a ceasefire agreement was signed last Wednesday to end the bombardment of Gaza. more

Medics: 1 hurt by Israeli fire near Jabaliya

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces opened fire and injured a Palestinian man east of Jabaliya on Thursday, medics said. Wahid al-Fasis, 20, was shot in the Tal Abu Safayeh area and transferred to Awdeh hospital, medics said. An Israeli army spokesman did not immediately return calls. Earlier Israeli military vehicles crossed near the al-Qarara town northeast of Khan Younis on Thursday in a new breach of the Gaza ceasefire, a Ma’an reporter said. Two military bulldozers crossed 200 meters inside agriculture lands but did not open fire. An army spokesman confirmed "routine IDF activity" in the area. On Wednesday Israeli forces shot and injured seven Palestinians near the border in the central Gaza Strip, medics said. more

Palestinians set to win statehood recognition in UN vote

The UN general assembly is set to implicitly recognise a sovereign state of Palestine on Thursday despite threats by the United States and Israel to punish the Palestinian Authority by withholding much-needed funds for the West Bank government. A resolution to change the Palestinian Authority's UN observer status from "entity" to "non-member state," like the Vatican, is expected to pass easily in the 193-nation general assembly. Israel, the US and a handful of other members plan to vote against what they see as a largely symbolic and counterproductive move by the Palestinians. The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has led the campaign to win support for the resolution, and more than a dozen European governments have offered him their support. The US state department said on Wednesday that the deputy secretary of state, Bill Burns, made a last-ditch effort to get Abbas to reconsider. The Palestinians gave no sign they were turning back. more

Israel's navy arrests 9 fishermen off Gaza coast

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained nine fishermen off Gaza's north coast on Wednesday, a local official said. The head of Gaza's fishing association, Mahfouth al-Kabriti, told Ma'an that Israel's navy opened fire at two Palestinian fishing boats six miles off the coast. The navy then seized both boats and detained nine fishermen, al-Kabriti added. The boats belong to Murad al-Hassi and the Baker family. An Israeli army spokesman said that two fishing boats deviated from the designated fishing area and after failing to respond to calls to stop, were apprehended by Israel's navy. The passengers were taken for questioning in the Israeli city of Ashdod, he added. As part of a ceasefire to end Israel's recent eight-day war on Gaza, Israel agreed to allow fishermen to sail six nautical miles off the coast of Gaza instead of three, which had been the limit under Israel's siege. more

7 hurt in new Israeli breach of Gaza ceasefire

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) – Israeli forces on Wednesday shot and injured seven Palestinians near the border in the central Gaza Strip, medics said. Seven people were shot at east of al-Maghazi and al-Bureij refugee camps and transferred to the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. One man sustained serious injuries, medical officials told Ma'an. An Israeli military spokeswoman said "rioters" damaged the border fence and tried to enter Israel. She said soldiers acted to distance them "according to the rules of engagement" which can include opening fire. more

Palestine wins European boost for UN vote

RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- More European states joined France on Wednesday in backing a Palestinian bid for limited statehood, but Britain held back, saying it wanted an assurance that Palestine would not pursue Israel through the International Criminal Court. Germany said it was opposing the diplomatic upgrade for the PLO at the United Nations, joining Israel and the United States which say the only genuine route to statehood is via a peace agreement made in direct talks with Israel. President Mahmoud Abbas is leading the campaign and several European governments are eager to give him their support after an eight-day war this month by Israel on the Gaza Strip. With overwhelming support from the developing world, Palestine appears certain to earn approval in the 193-member UN General Assembly for a status upgrade to "observer state" on Thursday. Switzerland, Denmark and Austria said they would vote for the upgrade. France gave its approval on Tuesday. Britain said it wo

Nobel peace laureates call for Israel military boycott over Gaza assault

A group of Nobel peace prize-winners, prominent artists and activists have issued a call for an international military boycott of Israel following its assault on the Gaza Strip this month. The letter also denounces the US, EU and several developing countries for what it describes as their "complicity" through weapons sales and other military support in the attack that killed 160 Palestinians, many of them civilians, including about 35 children. The 52 signatories include the Nobel peace laureates Mairead Maguire and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel; the film directors Mike Leigh and Ken Loach; the author Alice Walker; the US academic Noam Chomsky; Roger Waters of Pink Floyd; and Stéphane Hessel, a former French diplomat and Holocaust survivor who was co-author of the universal declaration of human rights. more

Another person dies of injuries from Gaza assault

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A man died on Wednesday from injuries sustained in Israel's eight day assault on the Gaza Strip, Egyptian medics said. Mahmoud Sami Shaat, 21, was seriously wounded by shrapnel in an Israeli airstrike targeting a car in Rafah during last week's war on the coastal enclave. Shaat was transferred to an Egyptian hospital for treatment but passed away Wednesday. His body will be transferred to Gaza for the funeral. Several people have died from their injuries since a ceasefire agreement was signed last Wednesday to end violence in Gaza. On Monday, Sabah al-Sakafi, in her 30s, died from wounds sustained in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City. Ahmad Ali Masharawi also died on Monday after sustaining severe burns when an Israeli missile hit his garden in Gaza City on Nov. 14, killing relatives 11-month-old Omar and 19-year-old Hiba, who was pregnant with twins. more

PA says will take Israel to ICC if tests prove Arafat assassinated

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority will start legal proceedings against Israel at the International Criminal Court if forensic tests prove that President Yasser Arafat was murdered, chief investigator Tawfiq Tirawi said Tuesday. "We have evidence and indications that (Arafat) was killed, including remarks by Israeli leaders that they must get rid of Arafat, but we need evidence to submit to the International Criminal Court," Tirawi told reporters at a news conference in Ramallah. Forensic experts took samples from Arafat's uncovered corpse in Ramallah on Tuesday, trying to determine if he was murdered by Israeli agents using the hard-to-trace radioactive poison Polonium. Tirawi, who heads the committee investigating Arafat's death, told reporters that samples taken by Russian, Swiss and French experts would leave Ramallah on Tuesday. He added that the Palestinian general prosecution supervised all the legal and medical procedures which took

Ceasefire re-awakens dreams of Gaza fishermen

Fishermen in Gaza are able to fish six miles from the shore for the first time since 2006 after the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza. Fishermen hope the fishing industry will recover after its almost complete destruction by the siege but say that 6 miles is not deep enough. Abu Alaa El Amoudi, (A fisherman in the Gaza strip): “Since October 2000 when the Second Intifada began until now the Israeli military do not allow us to enter the sea 3 miles past Gaza beach. Our work was at 3% of our usual capacity and even that was very dangerous. Thank god, the situation now is better than before the war, now we can move to 6 miles but if we go deeper the Israeli military shoots at us. We wish as fishermen in Gaza Strip to work freely.” Raed Abu Odai (A fisherman in the Gaza strip) : "Six miles is a big improvement but there are still not enough fish. To catch more fish we need to go deeper. Yesterday I went in seven miles and was shot at by the occupation’s navy with live ammuniti

Gazans return to the “buffer zone”

After years of being barred from their land, Gazan farmers celebrate their ability to return. Once the terms of ceasefire were announced thousands flocked back to their property that has been vacant for eleven years, though many are still understandably wary. Jaber Abu Regaleh, who is a farmer from Farahin (which is near the border of Gaza and close to the former buffer zone) said: “We are celebrating. Everyone, young men, young women, old people, we are all outside walking on our land along the border. I am near the fence now. There is ten meters between me and the Israeli jeep. We have a lot of work to do to repair the destruction caused by the occupation, but we will till the land and plant it. We will renew the agricultural land so it is as it used to be. This is better than a holiday for us.” The killing of twenty one year old Abdelhadi Qdeih and wounding of nineteen others by the Israeli military a day after the ceasefire has left other residents scared of returning.

Gaza woman dies of wounds from Israeli airstrike

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian woman died on Monday from wounds sustained in Israel's war on the Gaza Strip, medics said. Sabah al-Sakafi, in her 30s, was wounded in an Israeli airstrike on the Shujaiya neighborhood of Gaza City during the eight-day war that ended Wednesday with a ceasefire. She was transferred to an Egyptian hospital where she died on Monday, medics told Ma'an. Also Monday, Ahmad Ali Masharawi died of wounds sustained in an Israeli strike that killed two of his relatives on the first day of Israel's military offensive on the Gaza Strip. more

Prisoners in Israeli jails launch solidarity hunger strike

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails launched a one-day hunger strike on Tuesday in solidarity with two long-term hunger strikers at risk of death, a prisoners center said. The Gaza-based Prisoners Center for Studies announced that prisoners from all political factions are participating in the solidarity strike action and called on the Palestinian community to support long-term hunger strikers Ayman Sharawna and Samer Issawi. The center called on Egyptian authorities to intervene to protect prisoners' rights. Sharawna, 37, has been on hunger strike for 150 days since first launching protest action on July 1. Samer Issawi, who has been on hunger strike for 119 days, started refusing water on Nov. 21, prisoner rights group Addameer said. more

Experts exhume Arafat, seek evidence of poison

RAMALLAH (Reuters) -- Forensic experts took samples from Yasser Arafat's buried corpse in the West Bank on Tuesday, trying to determine if he was murdered by Israeli agents using the hard-to-trace radioactive poison, Polonium. Palestinians witnessed the funeral of their hero and longtime leader eight years ago, but conspiracy theories surrounding his death have never been laid to rest. Many are convinced their icon was the victim of a cowardly assassination, and may stay convinced whatever the outcome of this autopsy. But some in the city of Ramallah where he lies deplored the exhumation. "This is wrong. After all this time, today they suddenly want to find out the truth?" said construction worker Ahmad Yousef, 31, who stopped to watch the disinterment, carried out behind a wall of blue plastic near the Palestinian presidency headquarters. "They should have done it eight years ago," he said. more

Two Palestinians wounded in Israeli occupation forces shooting at buffer zone

RAFAH, (PIC)-- Two Palestinian citizens were wounded on Monday evening while inspecting areas near the separation fence to the east of Rafah, south of Gaza Strip, at the hands of Israeli occupation forces. Medical sources told the PIC reporter that a young man in his twenties and a teenager were injured in the lower parts of their bodies with the shrapnel of bullets fired by the IOF soldiers. more

After destroying Paralympic HQ and stadium in Gaza, Israel must not host UEFA tournaments

Amid the widespread destruction and horror of Israel’s slaughter of 162 persons – the vast majority unarmed civilians – in Gaza between 14-22 November, the news that it also destroyed the headquarters of Palestine’s National Paralympic Committee and other sports infrastructure in Gaza has almost gone unnoticed. On 21 November, the official website of the International Paralympic Committee reported this news: On Monday morning (19 November), the office of the Palestinian Paralympic Committee in Gaza was exposed to heavy shelling that destroyed the building and infrastructure of the nation’s Paralympic headquarters. The Palestine Stadium and accessible Palestine Sports building were fully destructed. The sports facilities were both used by athletes who trained for the London 2012 Paralympic Games and athletes with an impairment who live close to the Gaza strip. An Israeli army spokeswoman claimed via Twitter, without providing any evidence to substantiate her statement, that

Hamas: Barak retirement shows Israel assault failed

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The surprise retirement of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is further evidence of Israel's failure during its recent assault on Gaza, Palestinian officials said Monday. "Barak's retirement reaffirms that the Israeli government failed to achieve any of the goals of Operation Pillar of Cloud," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told Ma'an. Palestinian National Initiative chief Mustafa Barghouti described Barak's decision as "the first result of the victory Palestinian resistance achieved in Gaza." "Retirement will not exempt Barak from being tried before the International Criminal Court," Barghouti added. more

Third family member dies of Gaza airstrike wounds

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- A Palestinian man on Monday died of wounds sustained in an Israeli strike that killed two of his relatives on the first day of Israel's military offensive on the Gaza Strip. Ahmad Ali Masharawi sustained major burns when an Israeli missile hit his garden in Gaza City on Nov. 14. His infant nephew, 11-month-old, Omar Masharawi, was killed immediately, as was his pregnant sister-in-law Hiba Mashharawi Turk. BBC correspondent Paul Danahar wrote on Twitter that Ahmad Masharawi had been trying to carry Omar to safety when the house was hit engulfing them both in flames. more

Palestinian Authority to 'release Hamas detainees'

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority will release Hamas-affiliated detainees as a goodwill gesture to boost reconciliation efforts, a PLO official said Sunday, after Hamas announced similar measures earlier. Nabil Shaath told Ma'an that preparations will begin in the coming days to release dozens of Hamas prisoners held for political reasons, adding that the PA has already recently released a large number of Hamas-affiliated detainees. Hamas representatives will also begin to participate in leadership meetings in the West Bank, including sessions of the executive committee of the PLO, Shaath added. "They are part of the Palestinian people, and they will be consulted in political issues," he said. Further reconciliation talks are expected in Cairo after the Nov. 29 UN bid to build a unity government and prepare for elections. All unresolved issues related to public sector employees will also be discussed, and factions will try to build a &qu

Ceasefire violations: 3 injured by Israeli fire on border near Khan Younis

Palestinian medical sources reported that three Palestinians have been injured, on Sunday evening, after Israeli soldiers, stationed across the border, opened fire at them in Al-Faraheen area, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The sources added that the army opened fire at several Palestinian farmers working in their land an issue that led to three injuries, and forced the farmers to leave their lands. Two days ago Israeli soldiers killed one Palestinian and wounded more than 19 others near the border in Khan Younis. Furthermore, medical sources reported Friday that two Palestinians died of serious injuries suffered during the latest Israeli war on Gaza that led to the death of more than 167 Palestinians, most of them children, women, youth and elderly, including several members of the same family. More than 1,225 residents have been injured, dozens seriously. more

Hamas grants amnesty in reconciliation gesture to Fatah

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- The Hamas government in the Gaza Strip on Sunday indicated they would free prisoners affiliated to their West Bank rivals Fatah, giving further momentum to reconciliation efforts since the Israeli war on the coastal enclave. Government spokesman Taher al-Nunu said the government would grant an amnesty to all suspects and prisoners related to its conflict with Fatah in 2006. The government will set up a committee to implement this measure, he said. Al-Nunu said the government decided to leave the period of the division behind them out of respect for national unity. The parties fought bitterly after Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006, splitting into separate governments in Gaza and the West Bank a year later. Reconciliation talks have repeatedly stumbled, but Israel's eight-day war on the Gaza Strip which ended Wednesday gave political impetus to ending the division. more

How we made the world hear Gaza, as citizen journalists

By Rana Baker Since a ceasefire agreement brought a measure of calm back to our lives in Gaza, I have been trying to collect and recollect my thoughts and emotions. Throughout the latest eight-day long Israeli offensive on Gaza, now known as “Operation Pillar of Cloud,” I had been unable to sit down and calmly tap my commentary or even intuitive thoughts on the attacks. Instead, I had been involved in social-media-based reporting or citizen journalism. I’m not a doctor nor a resistance fighter, just an undergraduate student of business administration at a local university. In fact, I can hardly remember the number of times I cursed and mocked myself for not having enrolled in some first-aid course. What on earth was I thinking? Gaza is “bliss” But I was born in Gaza and have lived here my entire life. Although I managed to travel a number of times, I have never stayed out of this tiny, densely-populated enclave for longer than a month. For many, this may sound like something

Hamas says fishing limit to extend under ceasefire deal

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) – Egyptian, Israeli and Palestinian officials representing the Hamas-run government in Gaza will meet next Monday in Cairo to discuss the aftermath of the ceasefire agreement. The Office of Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said he was informed by the director of Egyptian intelligence that Israel agreed to allow Gaza fishermen to go six nautical miles off the coast of Gaza instead of three, which has been the limit under Israel's siege. "Israel has allowed Palestinian fishermen to fish in Gaza's waters at a distance of six miles, up from three miles," Haniyeh's office said. Israel had no immediate comment. more

Hamas: Ceasefire deal does not include end to arms smuggling

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) – The ceasefire agreement signed Wednesday with Israel did not include a commitment by Egypt to prevent smuggling of arms into the Gaza Strip, a senior Hamas leader said. Izzat al-Rishiq wrote on his Facebook page Saturday that “it is not true, as some claim, that the agreement included that Egypt will work with special US units to prevent smuggling of weapons into Gaza.” He added: “These are Israeli rumors aimed to ease the impact of defeat.” more

Palestine complains to UN after Israel violates Gaza ceasefire

JERUSALEM (Ma’an) – Palestine's UN observer has submitted a complaint to the UN Security Council after Israeli forces violated the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip on Friday. Ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters he filed a complaint after Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian man and injured 19 others Friday morning east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip near the borders between Israel and the coastal enclave. Medical officials on Friday confirmed that 20-year-old Anwar Abdul Hadi Qudaih, was shot dead east of Khan Younis, and 19 others sustained wounds. Witnesses said a group of Palestinian farmers were preparing to perform prayers in their fields near the border in the southern Gaza Strip before Israeli soldiers opened fire at them. The Palestinian Authority’s minister of foreign affairs Riyad al-Maliki described the shooting Friday during a meeting with his Italian counterpart as violation of the ceasefire. On Thursday medics said four Palestini

France indicates support for Palestinian UN vote

PARIS (Reuters) -- France on Thursday indicated it would support Palestinian efforts to secure a diplomatic upgrade at the United Nations, a decision likely to boost the PLO as it seeks greater international recognition. Frustrated that a bid for full UN membership last year failed amid US opposition in the UN Security Council, the PLO has launched a watered-down bid for recognition as a non-member state, similar to the Vatican's UN status. Without specifically saying which way France would vote at the UN General Assembly, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius hinted that Paris would support the bid. "I can indicate which direction we may take and one that has been taken by previous French political parties (and) under previous governments," Fabius told members of the French Senate. "As far as this current government goes, I would like to remind you of the campaign pledge number 59 of the (presidential) candidate, now President Francois Hollande, which sai

Settlers uproot 400 olive trees in Yatta village, Hebron

On Friday 23rd November, Settlers uprooted 400 olive trees east of Yatta village, south of Hebron, which belonged to Palestinian Abu Iyad Hoshiya. Hoshiya said that he went to his land in the morning and saw that 400 olive trees were uprooted by settlers from Karma'il settlement, constructed on the lands of Yatta village. Hoshiya confirmed that settlers spray-painted racist slogans on the ground and the uprooted trees and one of the slogans was: "This is a revenge for Tel Aviv and Be'er Sheva that were hit by rocket attack." more

Medics: Man killed by Israeli fire near Gaza border

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces killed a 20-year-old Palestinian man near the Israeli border in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday morning, medical officials said. Medics said Anwar Abdul Hadi Qudaih, 20, was hit in the head with a live bullet east of Khan Younis. Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said 19 others were wounded by Israeli fire in the border area. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri accused Israel of violating the Egypt-mediated truce and said the group would complain to Cairo. "We will contact the Egyptian mediator to discuss the incident," he said. An Israeli military spokeswoman said the army was checking reports of the incident. Witnesses told Ma'an a group of citizens were gathering to perform Friday prayer on their land near the border. A relative of the dead man, who was at the scene, told Reuters that Qudaih had been trying to place a Hamas flag on the fence. He added that an Israeli soldier had fired into the air three times be

Activists occupy roof of Scottish Parliament to condemn weak stance on Gaza, demand sanctions

Activists from the We Are All Hana Shalabi network today scaled and occupied the roof of the Scottish Parliament to protest the Scottish government’s failure to condemn Israel’s attack on Gaza and to demand sanctions be imposed on Israel. The campaigners scaled the parliament roof at about 11:30am this morning and were on top of the £414 million ($660 million) building for more than two hours before being removed by police. All of the participants were arrested and are still in police custody at the time of writing. Before taking office, Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond described Israel’s attack on the Mavi Marmara as an “atrocity on the high seas” and argued that “you can’t have normal relationships if you believe another country has been involved in what Israel has been involved in.” The action was timed to coincide with Salmond’s weekly question and answer appearance before the parliament. Although most foreign policy issues are still controlled by the UK government i

From under the bombs: our catastrophe and our hope in Gaza

Since the beginning of Israel’s “Operation Pillar of Defence,” the number of Palestinians killed or injured has risen dramatically. How harsh, I feel, to use the word “number” since we are not actually mere numbers, but very tragic, heartbreaking and harrowing stories. My aunt lives in al-Bureij refugee camp in the center of the Gaza Strip, not far away from where I live in Deir al-Balah. Her house was bombed many times during Israel’s 2008-09 attacks on Gaza and is still a very possible target for the Israeli air strikes. The actual target is her brother-in-law who now has taken Ahmad Jabari’s place as a new commander in Hamas’s military wing. For the sake of their target, Israeli F-16s couldn’t care less when they kill children, women or the elderly or to destroy a five-story building even if they know that “the wanted man” doesn’t stay with his wife and children in this home. We heard a very loud explosion in al-Bureij and swiftly we called my aunt who was barely able to

Fatah, Hamas urge unity at Gaza rallies

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- In a rare display of unity, leaders of Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian factions on Thursday celebrated the end of the war on Gaza and called for parties to end the split with the West Bank. Thousands took to the streets of Gaza in joint political rallies marking an end to eight days of deadly fighting, and Fatah supporters marched calling for their faction to end its rivalry with Gaza rulers Hamas. Fatah leader Nabil Shaath, who came to Gaza on Sunday during the Israeli shelling, told crowds in Gaza City that Israel had failed to isolate them from the West Bank. “How glad I feel when yellow, green, red and black flags fly together, united by the Palestinian flag. We must all unite and work together,” he said, referring to the motifs of Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and leftist factions. "Today our unity materialised, Hamas and Fatah are one hand, one rifle and one rocket," senior Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya told several thousand people in th

Israeli soldiers shoot and injure Palestinian youth on border

In what seems to be the first Israeli violation of the truce that came into effect Thursday, Israeli soldiers shot and injured a young Palestinian man near the border fence, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Local sources reported that Haitham Abu Doqqa, 23, was shot and injured as he, and two other residents, approached the security fence, east of Al-Faraheen area, in Abasan Al-Kabeera town, in Khan Younis. Several youths approached the border area to collect the parts of an Israeli military vehicle that was targeted by the resistance in Gaza more than a week ago. Some youths managed to raise Palestinian flags on the border fence before t he army opened fire on them. more

Fatah, Hamas urge unity at Gaza rallies

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- In a rare display of unity, leaders of Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian factions on Thursday celebrated the end of the war on Gaza and called for parties to end the split with the West Bank. Thousands took to the streets of Gaza in joint political rallies marking an end to eight days of deadly fighting, and Fatah supporters marched calling for their faction to end its rivalry with Gaza rulers Hamas. Fatah leader Nabil Shaath, who came to Gaza on Sunday during the Israeli shelling, told crowds in Gaza City that Israel had failed to isolate them from the West Bank. “How glad I feel when yellow, green, red and black flags fly together, united by the Palestinian flag. We must all unite and work together,” he said, referring to the motifs of Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and leftist factions. "Today our unity materialised, Hamas and Fatah are one hand, one rifle and one rocket," senior Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya told several thousand people in th

Israel, Gaza leaders claim military victory

GAZA CITY (M'’an) -- Leaders in Gaza and Israel on Thursday both claimed victory after an eight-day war which left 170 Palestinians and five Israelis dead. Hamas and Islamic Jihad agreed an Egyptian-mediated truce to halt hostilities on Wednesday night. In Cairo, Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal said his movement would respect the truce if Israel did, but would respond to any violations. "If Israel complies, we are compliant. If it does not comply, our hands are on the trigger," he told a news conference. Mashaal thanked Egypt for mediating and praised Iran for providing Gazans with financing and arms. "We have come out of this battle with our heads up high," he said, adding that Israel had been defeated and failed in its "adventure". Islamic Jihad chief Ramadan Shallah also addressed the conference, claiming the war was Israel's "greatest defeat in history." "We fought with honor, and we accept these understandings (ceasef

Israeli army detains over 50 in West Bank

JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- The Israeli army launched an arrest sweep throughout the West Bank overnight Wednesday, citing "recent violent and terrorist activity." A military statement said 55 Palestinians were seized overnight in order to "restore calm." The arrests were made as Israel agreed a truce Wednesday evening ending eight days of fighting in the Gaza Strip. The deadly bombardment, which killed some 170 Palestinians in Gaza, prompted an outpouring of grief and anger across the West Bank. Protesters held vigils for the dead, while other rallies in villages and cities ended in violent confrontation with Israeli forces. During the clashes, two Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli forces. Hamdi Mohammad Jawwad al-Falah, 22, was shot four times by Israeli soldiers at a demonstration in Hebron's Bir al-Mahjar neighborhood on Tuesday. Near Ramallah, 31-year-old police officer Rushdi Tamimi died Monday two days after he was shot in the stomach by I

Full text of ceasefire terms between Hamas and Israel

1: (no title given for this section) A. Israel should stop all hostilities in the Gaza Strip land, sea and air including incursions and targeting of individuals. B. All Palestinian factions shall stop all hostilities from the Gaza Strip against Israel including rocket attacks and all attacks along the border. C. Opening the crossings and facilitating the movements of people and transfer of goods and refraining from restricting residents’ free movements and targeting residents in border areas and procedures of implementation shall be dealt with after 24 hours from the start of the ceasefire. D. Other matters as may be requested shall be addressed. 2: Implementation mechanisms: A. Setting up the zero hour for the ceasefire understanding to enter into effect. B. Egypt shall receive assurances from each party that the party commits to what was agreed upon. C. Each party shall commit itself not to perform any acts that would breach this understanding. In case of any obser

Israel ends deadly Gaza assault after Egypt brokers ceasefire - Palestinian death toll 162, 1,222 injured

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Israeli military stopped firing on the Gaza Strip after 9 p.m. Wednesday in line with an agreement with Hamas and announced by Egypt hours earlier. Both sides said they were sticking to the terms of the deal although 12 rockets were fired at Israel after 9 p.m. and Israeli airstrikes killed two Palestinians after the deal was announced. Eight days of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza killed at least 170 Palestinians since the army assassinated a senior Hamas military official last Wednesday. Palestinian armed groups responded with rockets that killed five Israelis and reached further than ever before outside of Gaza. Egypt’s foreign minister announced the ceasefire during a news conference in Cairo with the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, who praised Egypt's role. Mohamed Kamel Amr said the ceasefire would come into effect at 9 p.m. more

Egypt and Israel announce Gaza ceasefire starting at 19:00 GMT

CAIRO (Reuters) -- Egypt announced on Wednesday that a ceasefire had been reached to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, starting later in the day. Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr made the announcement in a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The ceasefire would come into effect at 9 p.m., Amr said. "These efforts ... have resulted in understandings to cease fire and restore calm and halt the bloodshed that the last period has seen," Amr said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Barack Obama on Wednesday he was ready to give a ceasefire with Hamas a chance, his office said in a statement. more

Egyptian solidarity convoy puts Palestine back on map

(Photo: Nada El-Kouny) Flooding into the main courtyard of the Dar Al-Shifaa hospital in Gaza, over 550 Egyptians on a solidarity convoy chanted, "Gaza, Gaza, Egyptians are with you." In the press conference held in the main courtyard, the Gazan Minister of Health Hani Abdeen, together with the organisers of the convoy, spoke to the crowd. Despite regular shelling being heard as the convoy entered Gaza, the Palestinians said this was the first time since the start of the latest offensive that the shelling had halted for at least an hour. The grim reality of the situation quickly sunk in. A woman’s screams could be heard from inside the hospital. Shortly afterwards she was ushered out by her family members: her relative had just passed away. The ambulances started to come thick and fast, dropping off bodies at the main doors. Paramedics routinely cleaned off stretchers, pushed them back into the vehicles and rushed off to another scene. Distraught familie

Tel Aviv bus bombing followed by massive airstrikes on Gaza City

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - An explosion hit a bus in the heart of Tel Aviv on Wednesday, wounding at least 10 people in what officials said was a terrorist attack. The blast shattered windows on the bus, which was driving on a street that runs alongside Israel's defense headquarters. Israel's ambulance service said three of the wounded were in a moderate-to-serious condition. "A bomb exploded on a bus in central Tel Aviv. This was a terrorist attack. Most of the injured suffered only mild injuries," said Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a message on Twitter, he said police were combing the area for the person who planted the device, apparently confirming reports that it was not a suicide attack. The bombing happened on the eighth day of an Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip and threatened to complicate Egyptian-led efforts to secure a ceasefire. Celebratory gunfire rang out in Gaza City when local radio stations repor

Video: Hamas' Al Qassam Brigades hijack Israeli TV channel broadcasts

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an): Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades hijacked Israeli TV channels on Tuesday evening and broadcast messages warning against a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, the group said. The Israeli news site Ynet said viewers reported that broadcasts were interrupted by short films with Hamas insignia showing an Israeli army tank being hit by a missile. "This is a message to the armored corps," the text read. A video uploaded to YouTube claims to show the interruption on Channel 10. The text reads in Hebrew and Arabic: "A message for the Zionist tanks forces," then "Do you remember?" more

Israeli deputy PM's Facebook, Twitter accounts hacked, filled with pro-Palestine messages

The Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts of Israeli Deputy Premier Silvan Shalom have been hacked and filled with pro-Palestine status updates. ZCompanyHackingCrew claimed responsibility for this latest act of cyber war against Israel. The group also claims to have hacked Shalom’s email and extracted personal mail, contacts and documents. The hackers announced plans to release the documents shortly. In Shalom's hijacked Twitter feed, the hacker group posted calls for protest against "unjust war and occupation," and asked, "Who can bare to see the horror, the deaths of children and innocent people trying to protect their occupied land?" The full-scale cyber attack on the top Israeli official comes just days after prominent hacker group Anonymous leaked the personal information of 5,000 Israeli officials. Anonymous also hacked over 700 Israeli websites, including the Bank of Jerusalem, the Israeli Defense Ministry, the IDF blog, the president&#

Israel strikes government buildings across Gaza Strip

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli warplanes and naval forces heavily shelled the Gaza Strip early Wednesday morning, destroying several government buildings. The Israeli army said it hit "dozens of terror infrastructure sites throughout the Gaza Strip" including the Ministry of Internal Security, a police compound and tunnels used to transport fuel. "Israeli Navy soldiers targeted a rocket launching site, a Hamas post and a structure used for Hamas' terror activity," the army said in a statement. In southern Gaza, Israel bombed the al-Karama security compound, west of Rafah, and flattened the police station in Khan Younis, also damaging several buildings in its vicinity. The Abu Khadra government building in central Gaza City was hit multiple times. The attack also damaged the offices of Al Jazeera and The Associated Press. Shortly before midnight, an Israeli attack targeted a building housing the Gaza City office of Agence France-Presse, an AFP phot

4 more killed in Gaza as truce delayed

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- While political leaders struggled to conclude a truce deal in Cairo, medics said four Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday night, bringing the day's death toll to 27. Two brothers -- Abed Abu Mour, 24, and Khalid Abu Mour, 19, -- were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the al-Juneina district of Rafah. An earlier airstrike killed another two brothers in Deir al-Balah, medics said. They were identified as Salim Ayish Abu Sitta and his brother Muhammad. Meanwhile, witnesses reported heavy artillery shelling in the northern Gaza Strip. The violence continued unabated as Hams officials said a ceasefire had been reached and would go into effect within hours. Three Palestinian journalists were killed when Israel bombed their cars in Gaza City and Deir al-Balah, and another man died in Deir al-Balah. more

#GazaUnderAttack | Names and ages of people killed (132) in the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza

1- Ahmad Al-Ja’bary, 52 years old. 2-Mohammed Al-hams, 28 years old. 3- Rinan Arafat, 7 years old. 4- Omar Al-Mashharawi, 11 months old. 5-Essam Abu-Alma’za, 20 years old. 6-Mohammed Al-qaseer, 20 years old. 7- Heba Al-Mashharawi, six-month pregnant, 19 years old. 8- Mahmoud Abu Sawawin, 65 years old. 9- Habis Hassan Mismih, 29 years old. 10- Wael Haidar Al-Ghalban, 31 years old. 11- Hehsam Mohammed Al-Ghalban, 31 years old. 12- Rani Hammad, 29 years old. 13- Khaled Abi Nasser, 27 year old. 14- Marwan Abu Al-Qumsan, 52 years old. 15- Walid Al-Abalda, 2 years old. 16- Hanin Tafesh, 10 months old. 17- Oday Jammal Nasser, 16 years old. 18- Fares Al-Basyouni, 11 years old. 19- Mohammed Sa’d Allah, 4 years old. 20- Ayman Abu Warda, 22 years old. 21- Tahrir Suliman, 20 years old. 22- Ismael Qandil, 24 years old. 23- younis Kamal Tafesh, 55 years old. 24- Mohammed Talal Suliman, 28 years old. 25- Amjad Mohammed Abu-Jalal, 32 years old. 26- Ziyad Farhan Abu-Jalal,

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