/2021

Shrinking Palestinian Civic Space: IOF Raid and Close UHWC in al-Bireh
Date: 09 June 2021 – Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
▻https://www.pchrgaza.org/en/shrinking-palestinian-civic-space-iof-raid-and-close-uhwc-in-al-bireh

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On Wednesday, 09 June 2021, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) raided and ransacked the Headquarter of the of the Union of Health Work Committees (UHWC) in Sateh Marhaba neighborhood al-Bireh. They confiscated some its contents and then closed it. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns IOF’s closure of a healthcare organization, stressing it is part of IOF’s systematic policy to polish off the Palestinian civil society and undermine its role in supporting the Palestinian resilience under the occupation.

According to PCHR’s follow-up, at approximately 05:00, IOF backed by military vehicles moved into al-Bireh and stationed in Sateh Marhaba neighborhood. IOF raided UHWC’s headquarter (2 floors in al-Sartawi building). They removed the outside doors and raided and ransacked the headquarter. They confiscated the hard disks from the computers and removed the cupboard doors to confiscate the files. IOF then closed the main door of the UHWC’s office with metal bars and fixed an order issued by the “Israel Defense Forces Commander in Judea and Samaria” to close immediately the office for 6 months. The order also warned the employees from entering their offices otherwise they will be arrested or prosecuted for disobeying the military orders.

Shatha ‘Odeh, UHWC’s Director, commented on the order to close the office and said, “this military order will negatively affect the organization’s work and continuity to provide healthcare services to citizens as the closure of the headquarter will hinder work in the branch offices in terms of administrative and financial matters. Moreover, the closure will restrict our relation with the donors when they know that the headquarter is closed in addition to shaking the confidence of medicine and medical devices’ suppliers in the organization.”

Previously on 08 March 2021, IOF raided and ransacked the same headquarter in addition to confiscating the computers. At the same time, they arrested one of the organization’s employees from his house in Ramallah. At the time, PCHR condemned this incident and called upon the international community to take action in order to protect the Palestinian civil society.

It should be noted that UHWC is a well-respected Palestinian non-governmental organization that was founded in 1985. UHWC is active in the field of health and community development in the Palestinian territory from a human rights perspective; it has branches in most Palestinian cities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. (...)

#Colonialisme_de_peuplement

Army Shoots, Kills Palestinian Young Man, Injures Others near Nablus
May 28, 2021 – – IMEMC News
▻https://imemc.org/article/army-shoots-kills-palestinian-young-man-injures-others-near-nablus

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The Israeli forces shot and killed, on Friday, a Palestinian young man and injured several others during a peaceful demonstration in Beita village, south of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health has confirmed.

Hundreds of unarmed Palestinians assembled on the Jabal Sbeih mountain near the village, and were confronted with excessive use of force by the army, who fired live rounds, rubber-coated steel rounds, tear gas and stun grenades against the unarmed civilians.

The slain young man identified as, Zakaria Hamayel, 28 , was shot in the chest, succumbing to his wounds shortly afterwards. At least ten other participants were shot and injured during the non-violent procession rejecting the continued illegal Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian WAFA News Agency reported.

WAFA correspondent stated that 2 Palestinians were shot with live rounds, 3 with rubber-coated steel rounds, and 2 more young men were injured after being chased by the army, while 15 suffered the effects of teargas inhalation.

Similar protests rejecting the illegal colonial settlements in the occupied West Bank were held in Beit Dajan, and Kufur Qaddoum, in the northern occupied West Bank.

#Palestine_assassinée

PNGO and PHROC Condemn Statements of the UNRWA Gaza Director on Israel’s Aggression on the Gaza Strip – Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
25 05. 2021
▻https://www.pchrgaza.org/en/phroc-and-pngo-condemn-statements-of-the-unrwa-gaza-director-on-israels-ag

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The Palestinian Network of Non-Governmental Organisations (PNGO) and the Palestinian Human Rights Organisations’ Council (PHROC)) condemn the recent media statements made by Mr. Matthias Schmale, Gaza Director of the United Nations Reliefs and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), regarding the latest Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

In an interview with Channel 12, an Israeli channel, on 23 May 2021, Mr. Schmale stated that he “would not dispute” the precision of the IDF’s bombardments of the Gaza Strip and that he believes that there was “huge sophistication in the way the Israeli military struck over the last 11 days.” He added that the Israeli military “did not hit, with some exceptions, civilian targets”, and that his concern was that the strikes were more vicious in terms of their impact.[1]

In providing this kind of testimony, Mr. Schmale completely ignored the crimes committed during the latest Israeli offensive against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, including Palestinian refugees, who make up around 70% of the population.

In al-Shati refugee camp, which receives services from UNRWA, 9 civilians, including 7 children and 2 women were killed after Israeli warplanes launched six missiles at a three-storey house without a warning. The house belonged to Alaa Abu Hatab, who survived the attack along with his 5-month-old baby, but the rest of their family was killed. Another incident that Mr. Schmale should be reminded of is the massacre that took place on Al-Wehda Street on 16 May 2021, when Israeli warplanes targeted a residential building killing 43 innocent civilians, some of them constitute entire families. Both incidents are enough evidence to demonstrate Israel’s disregard for the lives of innocent Palestinian and its lack of precision and sophistication when conducting its military operations. (...)

#UNRWA

Cease-fire Reached After 11 Days of IOF Aggression on Gaza – Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Date: 21 May 2021 | Time: 15:00 GMT
▻https://www.pchrgaza.org/en/cease-fire-reached-after-11-days-of-iof-aggression-on-gaza

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On the 11th day of the Israeli occupation forces’ (IOF) aggression on the Gaza Strip, dozens of intense airstrikes, shelling and bombing attacks were executed by the Israeli warplanes, arterially and gunboats, against dozens of Palestinian civilian houses and facilities. IOF attacks continued until the cease-fire agreement, brokered by Egypt, went into effect at 02:00 on Friday, 21 May 2021.

The initial field examination missions PCHR team conducted showed the devastating destruction caused by IOF attacks this month. PCHR teams will commence immediately in establishing a comprehensive legal documentation of the aggression and its implications on the victims and the Gaza Strip infrastructure.

In follow-up to PCHR’s daily press releases and dissemination of information on IOF attacks on the Gaza Strip, 3 Palestinians were killed, and the bodies of 14 others were retrieved from under the rubble, including the bodies of two children. Additionally, 33 others, including 8 women and 17 children, were wounded. IOF airstrikes targeted 7 houses and several establishments, raising the number of houses attacked by IOF to 169, including multi-floor buildings.

The death toll of IOF aggression on the Gaza Strip since its onset reached: 247 killed, including 66 children and 39 women; 1416 wounded, including 277 women and 412 children.

Herein follows the details of IOF attacks documented on Thursday 20 May 2021, before the cease-fire agreement.

Northern Gaza governorate:

3 Palestinians were killed, 32 others wounded, including 17 children and 7 women. Two houses destroyed; dozens of other houses damaged as well as a company. Infrastructure sustained dramatic destruction.

12:00: Israeli warplanes targeted a group of civilians in Beit Lahia, killing Hesham Shaher Mohammed al-Shurafa (26) and wounding another Palestinians (moderate wounds).

12:30: Israeli warplanes launched two missiles at al-Areiny family home in Tal al-Za’tar, completely destroying the two-floor house.

15:55: Israeli warplanes launched one missile at WAEL Hassan Salim Rajab’s house in Beit Lahia, completely destroying the two-story house.

16:40: Israeli warplanes launched a missile at a white Skoda Citgo car while driving down a sub-street of al-Saftawy neighborhood, western Jabalia. The airstrike killed Maisra Abdul-Shakour Mosbah al-Ar’eer (22) and Omar Ahmed Mohammed Jendya (24) and destroyed the car.

17:00: an artillery munition on Ali Khalil Ali Abu-Jarad’s (69) house in Izbat Beit Hanoun, wounding 6 Palestinians, including the houseowner who was classified in critical state. (...)

#Palestine_assassinée

Day 11 of Israeli Offensive on Gaza: Violent Artillery Shelling and Systematic Destruction of Houses – Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
▻https://www.pchrgaza.org/en/day-11-of-israeli-offensive-on-gaza-violent-artillery-shelling-and-systema

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9 Palestinians, Including 3 Women and 2 Children, Killed and 120 Others, Including 37 Women and 32 Children, Injured

Death Toll Mounts to 230, Including 64 Children and 39 Women, and Total Number of Injuries Rises to 1383, Including 315 Children and 219 Women

For the 11th consecutive day, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continued their offensive on the Gaza Strip and carried out dozens of intense air, land and sea strikes, targeting more houses and civilian facilities.

Further to PCHR’s press release published yesterday, 9 Palestinians, including 3 women and 2 children, were killed, and 120 others were wounded, including 37 women and 32 children. The Israeli airstrikes targeted 16 houses and several facilities. Thus, the number of targeted houses has risen to 162, including multi-story buildings.

Thus, the death toll since the beginning of the Israeli offensive has risen to 230, including 64 children and 39 women, and the number of those wounded has risen to 1,383, including 315 children and 219 women.

It should be noted that according to the daily update by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the total number of injuries has risen to 1630, including 470 children and 310 women. Among those injuries: 55 were critical and 400 injuries were in the upper body parts, including 153 in the head and neck. (...)

#Palestine_assassinée

Israel Deprives Gaza Population of Covid-19 Vaccine
Date: 16 February 2021 – Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
▻https://www.pchrgaza.org/en/israel-deprives-gaza-population-of-covid-19-vaccine

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On Monday, 15 February 2021, Israeli authorities denied the entry of 2000 doses of Coronavirus vaccine into the Gaza Strip. These doses were sent from the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH) in Ramallah, but Israeli authorities refused their entry as the political leadership in Israel had not yet approved the Palestinian Authority’s request to transfer the vaccine to Gaza.

The Palestinian Minister of Health, Dr. May Al-Kailah emphasized in a press statement that the Israeli authorities prevented the entry of 2000 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine into the Gaza Strip. She added that Israeli authorities bear full responsibility for this arbitrary action contrary to all customs, laws and international conventions. Al-Kailah also said that these doses were designated for medical personnel caring of Covid-19 patients in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) as well as for medical staff in the emergency departments. Al-Kailah affirmed that the Palestinian government and the MOH are in contact with international organizations to supply the Gaza Strip with Covid-19 vaccine as quickly as possible. (...)