organization:israeli army

UN sees spike in meetings between Israeli army, Syrian rebels, warns of escalation -

Israel says the meetings are held for humanitarian purposes, but the UN warns they could trigger clashes between rebels and the Syrian army

Barak Ravid Jun 19, 2017
read more: ▻http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.796536

During the last seven months, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force has noted a significant escalation in contact and interactions between Israeli armed forces and rebel organizations along Israel’s border with Syria, chiefly in the area of Mt. Hermon, says a report released in recent days by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to the members of the UN Security Council.
The report expressed Guterres’ concern, for the first time, that the interactions between the Israelis and the rebel organizations could lead to escalation, causing harm to UN observers.
Published on June 8, the United Nations report describes the activity of the UN observers from March 2 to May 16. Every few days during that time, they observed meetings and contacts between the Israel Defense Forces and the rebels in the area of the border, including by the Hermon. Altogether they listed at least 16 such meetings in that time.
The meetings took place in proximity to UN outposts in the Mt. Hermon area, in the area of Quneitra and in the central Golan Heights, near moshav Yonatan.
“Relative to the previous reporting period, there has been a significant increase in interaction between Israel Defense Forces soldiers and individuals from the Bravo side, occurring on four occasions in February, three in March, eight in April and on one occasion in May,” the report stated, referring to the Syrian side of the border.

Members of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) ride armored personnel carriers (APCs) in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights before crossing into Syria, August 31, 2014.Reuters
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That increase in the number of interactions between Israeli soldiers and representatives of the rebels continues a trend evident in the previous report, which had been published on March 17. That report covered the period between November 18, 2016, and March 1, 2017, and listed at least 17 interactions along the Golan border, including in the vicinity of the Hermon.

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According to both reports, UN observers saw 33 interactions between Israeli and rebel representatives over the last seven months.
In comparison, only two such meetings took place from August 30 to November 16 of last year according to UN reports, and they were only by the border, not by the Hermon.
One topic addressed in the latest report was meetings that took place in the area of the Hermon in the last three months. It stated that all such meetings happened in the vicinity of one of the IDF outposts there and all followed the same pattern: Unidentified people apparently affiliated with the rebel organizations, some of them armed, arrived at the IDF outpost accompanied by mules, and were greeted by the soldiers.
“In some instances, personnel and supplies were observed to have been transferred in both directions. On all occasions, the unknown individuals and mules returned to the Bravo side,” the report stated.
The UN secretary general clarified in the report that the nature of the interactions could not be observed.
“The Israel Defense Forces have stated that the interactions were of a humanitarian and medical nature,” the report said.
Israel contends that all the interactions with rebel representatives on the Syrian side were for humanitarian reasons, but in recent months the UN has started to view these interactions askance and began to warn they could lead to escalation. The report especially noted concern about the meetings around the Hermon, which the UN secretary-general defined as an area of strategic importance.
“Interaction between the Israel Defense Forces and unidentified individuals from the Bravo side, including in the area of Mount Hermon, has the potential to lead to clashes between armed elements and the Syrian Arab Armed Forces. I reiterate my call to both parties to the Disengagement of Forces Agreement regarding the requirement to maintain stability in the area. All military activities in the area of separation conducted by any actor pose a risk to the ceasefire and to the local civilian population, in addition to the United Nations personnel on the ground,” the secretary-general wrote in the report.
The UN secretary-general’s latest report on the activities of the UN observers on the Golan Heights, as well as the three preceding reports, criticized the Syrian army for bringing heavy weapons to the area of the border, violating the disengagement agreement. The UN also criticized Israel for the same thing.
According to the last four reports, in the last year the IDF has kept one or two batteries of the Iron Dome system in the Golan, and also holds heavy 155mm cannons and rocket launchers in the area, in violation of the disengagement agreement with Syria. UNDOF has protested the violations to both sides.
On Sunday, The Wall Street Journal reported Israel has been secretly providing aid to Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights for years, with the goal of maintaining a buffer zone of friendly forces to keep ISIS and forces aligned with Iran at bay.

Israeli forces level lands on the Palestinian side of Gaza border
June 19, 2017 12:00 P.M. (Updated: June 19, 2017 1:13 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=777717

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GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Israeli military bulldozers stormed the Palestinian side of the border between the besieged Gaza Strip and Israel on two separate occasions Monday morning, eyewitnesses told Ma’an.

Witnesses said they saw four bulldozers leveling lands under Israeli military protection near the border fence, near what was once the Sofa crossing northeast of Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip. No gunfire was reported.

Separately, Israeli bulldozers and military vehicles leveled lands near the Erez crossing in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that they were looking into the reports.

Israeli military incursions inside the besieged Gaza Strip and near the “buffer zone," which lies on both land and sea sides of Gaza, have long been a near-daily occurrence.

#Gaza

Palestinian shot dead, 7 others injured by Israeli forces in Gaza
June 7, 2017 10:23 A.M. (Updated : June 7, 2017 11:22 A.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=777530

GAZA (Ma’an) — Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian protester and injured at least seven others with live fire Tuesday evening in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Clashes erupted east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, with Palestinians throwing stones toward the border area with Israel, when Israeli soldiers opened live fire at the demonstrators.

Spokesperson for Gaza’s Ministry of Health Ashraf al-Qudra said that 25-year-old Fadi Ibrahim al-Najar was shot dead with a live bullet.

Local sources told Ma’an that two other Palestinian demonstrators were injured with live bullets, though Reuters news agency cited residents and hospital officials as saying that seven others were shot and wounded.

An Israeli army spokesperson said that “dozens of Palestinians who attempted to damage the security fence along the border” were hurling rocks and rolling burning tires toward Israeli forces who “called out to the rioters to halt," and then "fired warning shots into the air.”

She said the Israeli army “was aware” of reports of one casualty, but would not confirm that al-Najar had been killed or acknowledge the seven other casualties.

Separately, local sources said that clashes also erupted with Israeli forces Tuesday night east of Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, when at least four Palestinians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

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Israeli Soldiers Kill A Palestinian Police Officer In Gaza
June 7, 2017 1:59 AM IMEMC News
▻http://imemc.org/article/israeli-soldiers-kill-a-palestinian-police-officer-in-gaza

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Israeli soldiers shot and killed, on Tuesday evening, a Palestinian staff sergeant with the traffic police, after shooting him in the abdomen, and injured at least seven other Palestinians.

The Health Ministry in Gaza said the Palestinian, Fadi Ibrahim Najjar, 25, was shot with a live round in the abdomen, and died from his serious wounds.

#Palestine_assassinée #GAZA

PA raid sparks armed clashes in Balata refugee camp, 2 injured
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=777478
June 4, 2017 12:53 P.M. (Updated: June 4, 2017 12:53 P.M.)

NABLUS (Ma’an) — Palestinian security forces conducted a raid into Balata refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank district of Nablus before dawn on Sunday, sparking armed clashes with locals that left two “wanted criminals” injured.

Nablus Mayor Akram Rujoub told Ma’an that a group of armed men in the camp opened fire at Palestinian security forces who were “conducting a security operation” in Balata, causing clashes to erupt.

Palestinian forces shot and injured one man in the foot, while another sustained an unspecified injury and was treated by an ambulance crew that entered the refugee camp, according to Rujoub.

Rujoub confirmed that no injuries were sustained among Palestinian security forces.

Rujoub did not mention the purpose of the raid, and it remained unclear if the two injured men or any others were arrested.

Balata refugee camp is often the site of violent clashes between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and armed locals, as the PA has launched a massive security crackdown to seize weapons and detain “wanted criminals” across the West Bank, as a part of the PA’s widely criticized security coordination with Israel established under the Oslo Accords.

Under the practice, PA security forces’ regularly arrest Palestinian suspects wanted by Israel, suppress Palestinian protests, and share intelligence with the Israeli army and the PA, which has been denounced as a revolving door policy of funneling Palestinian activists between Israeli and PA jails for the same offenses.(...)

#AP

Israel tears down anti-occupation encampment set up by North American Jews in West Bank
▻http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.791812

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Activists erected the tents in the South Hebron Hills a week ago to mark the 50th anniversary of the Israeli occupation
Judy Maltz May 25, 2017 10:39 AM

Israeli soldiers on Thursday morning tore down the last remains of an encampment set up by American and Canadian Jewish anti-occupation activists on the site of a former Palestinian village in the West Bank.

The encampment, which originally included four tents, was established in Sarura on the South Hebron Hills a week ago to mark the 50th anniversary of the occupation.

The activists set up the tents on the site of the hamlet of Sarura, which was evacuated 20 years ago because of settler violence and a crackdown by the Israeli army. The activists called their encampment the Sumud Freedom Camp.

On Saturday, the army tore down three of the tents and confiscated the generator the activists had brought to the site. On Thursday morning, they tore down the last remaining tent.

The initiative was organized by a collaboration of Jewish, Israeli and Palestinian anti-occupation groups. Spearheading the effort were two overseas organizations: the Center for Jewish Nonviolence and All That’s Left: Anti-Occupation Collective.

Activists said the soldiers did not present them with any written teardown orders.

Abbas’ meeting with Trump proves the PA is strong - even when it’s weak - Palestinians - Haaretz

The Palestinian leadership knows Trump won’t reach a peace agreement, but it allows itself to hope he will end the economic despair

Amira Hass May 05, 2017
read more: ▻http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-1.787477

The most important thing about U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is the meeting itself. It shows that Trump’s White House considers the Palestinian Authority as an important international factor and a stabilizing regional element. That justifies the smiles on the faces of the Palestinian entourage at the luncheon with the two leaders. As Nasser Laham, editor-in-chief of the news website Ma’an, wrote, criticizing the PA leader’s opponents: “Mahmoud Abbas is among the first 10 leaders received at the White House (since Trump took office) – and this is after he restored ties with Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia and might be on the way to restoring ties with the Gulf states.”
Officially, the Palestinian Authority is perceived as an essential corridor to the establishment of the Palestinian state. In fact, it is a project that the world supports for the sake of regional stability. And “stability” has become a synonym for the continuation of Israel’s settlements in the West Bank without any serious diplomatic or military implications for Israel, and without major shocks to the positions of Western countries. This is the source of the PA’s strength, even if it is very weak, and Trump apparently understands this.
Trump found it proper to devote many words to the PA security apparatus and security coordination with Israel. At Wednesday’s press conference, Trump said:
We must continue to build our partnership with the Palestinian security forces to counter and defeat terrorism. I also applaud the Palestinian Authority’s continued security coordination with Israel. They get along unbelievably well. I had meetings, and at these meetings I was actually very impressed and somewhat surprised at how well they get along. They work together beautifully.
The pro-Israel lobby repeatedly urged Trump to talk about payments to Palestinian prisoners and incitement, which he did, according to the White House spokesman. But the lobby forgot to tell him that public praise for security coordination spoils things for Abbas and embarrasses his associates in Fatah. The security coordination – or as some call it, the security services that the PA provides to Israel – is something that is done, not talked about. And indeed, a Hamas leader, Sami Abu Zuhri, already tweeted that such talk proves that the PA is getting economic aid in exchange for fighting the Palestinian opposition.
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The new Palestinian ambassador in Washington, Husam Zomlat, a brilliant and well-spoken man who was recently chosen as a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council, will have to add one more task to his heavy list – to explain to the White House that security cooperation is part of a package deal full of internal contradictions. The PLO Central Committee decided two years ago to cancel security cooperation with Israel, and if the decision has not been implemented it is because the real decider is man who pays the salaries and is responsible for funding – Abbas. There is a price to pay for the widely unpopular security cooperation. That price is to not stretch things too much with the Fatah rank-and-file, in prison and out, and perhaps Trump’s people have already been told this. Palestinian intelligence chief Majid Faraj, who accompanied Abbas’ entourage, is also a former prisoner, like many of the heads of the Palestinian security forces and district governors who are loyal to Abbas. It will be very hard for them to explain shirking responsibility for the comrades and their families. For the sake of the PA’s stability they can’t allow themselves to cross the line in terms of image that separates “cooperation” from treason.

While Trump and Abbas were meeting, a large rally was taking place for the hunger-striking prisoners in Ramallah’s Nelson Mandela Square. The yellow Fatah flag was prominent, and Fadwa Barghouti read out a letter from her husband, Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian leader and a prisoner serving five life sentences in Israel. “The Palestinian prisoners have faith that their people will not let them down and will meet loyalty with loyalty and will support the prisoners and their families who have endured sacrifice and hardship and suffering,” the letter read. 
Even if at the beginning there were some who interpreted the hunger strike as solely a Fatah enterprise or as a tool of Barghouti against Abbas, and even if the Israel Prison Service tries to downplay its importance in reports in the Israeli media, on its 18th day, the strike continues to rule headlines. It spurs young Palestinian men to clash with the Israeli army and enables pro-Palestinian activists abroad to hold activities in its support. On Thursday, it was reported that 50 leaders of various Palestinian factions joined the strike. They did not do so before for their own reasons and now they can no longer stand idly by.
In Gaza, Fatah activists sought to link support for the prisoners to support for Abbas on the day of the latter’s meeting with Trump, and as a counterweight to the Hamas-run campaign, “Abbas doesn’t support me.” One day after the publication of a document of principles in which Hamas commits itself to democracy and pluralism, its internal security apparatus quickly arrested the Fatah activists and held up a bus that was taking people to the demonstration. From prison, Barghouti was indeed able to make it clear that Fatah is relevant and even led activists from Gaza, who was usually paralyzed by fear, to dare to act – even for Abbas. 
In the end, Fatah is the backbone of the PA. Abbas maneuvers it well, but is also dependent on it. Zomlat will have that too in Washington, if Israel’s repetitive claims with regard to money to prisoners moves ahead to the stage of demanding the blocking of these payments.

Anti-BDS intelligence chief revealed as Shai Har-Zvi | The Electronic Intifada
▻https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/anti-bds-intelligence-chief-revealed-shai-har-zvi

A leaked report, endorsed by the Israeli government, has revealed the name of a top official crucial to the fight against the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.

Obtained by The Electronic Intifada, the report lists Shai Har-Zvi as “Director of Intelligence” at the Ministry of Strategic affairs – Israel’s anti-BDS ministry.

Har-Zvi is one of dozens of contributors to the document, which outlines the Israel lobby’s failures in combating the Palestine solidarity movement – what it smears as a “delegitimization” network.

Har-Zvi held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Israeli army, working in the foreign relations and strategy section more than a decade ago. He was also briefly a researcher for the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies.

Har-Zvi may well be connected to Mossad, or one of Israel’s other spy agencies.

Israeli journalist Yossi Melman revealed in September that the intelligence section of the ministry is run by a former security services operative and receives assistance from “a special unit” within Israeli military intelligence and from the Shin Bet secret police.

Melman also reported that the ministry is involved in “black-ops” against the Palestine solidarity movement.

The veteran intelligence analyst wrote that the ministry had hired 25 workers whose names are classified.

2 Palestinian children killed after Israeli ordnance explodes in Negev
April 25, 2017 10:49 P.M. (Updated: April 26, 2017 10:17 A.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=776662

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NEGEV (Ma’an) — Two Palestinian children were killed on Tuesday evening when an Israeli ordnance exploded in the Abu Qeidar area of the unrecognized Bedouin village of al-Zarnouq in the Negev of southern Israel.

Locals told Ma’an that the device was left over from the Israeli army. The children were identified as 8-year-old Omar Ismail Abu Qweidar , and his 10-year-old cousin Muhammad Mahmoud Abu Qeidar .

The children were declared dead at the scene of the explosion.

Israeli police spokesperson Luba al-Samri confirmed the incident in a written statement, revealing that Omar was in fact just 6-and-a-half years old, and said that the two boys were playing with the ordnance when it exploded.

Palestinian killed by Israeli forces after hitting 1 with his car at settlement bus stop
April 19, 2017 4:53 P.M. (Updated: April 20, 2017 12:54 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=776518

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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — A Palestinian was shot and killed by Israeli forces at a junction near the illegal Israeli settlement of Gush Etzion in the southern occupied West Bank on Wednesday afternoon.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that a Palestinian vehicle hit a bus stop at the junction, injuring an Israeli civilian, adding that Israeli forces in the area shot at the driver, who they described as an “assailant.”

However, photographs of the scene published by Israeli media showed that the Palestinian vehicle had seemingly collided with the back of a bus.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed later in the afternoon that the Palestinian succumbed to wounds sustained when he was shot by soldiers at the scene, identifying him as Suhaib Moussa Mashour Mashahra, 21, from the Jerusalem-district village of al-Sawahira.

Official Palestinian news agency Wafa quoted Palestinian Red Crescent emergency services head Muhammad Awwad as saying that Israeli forces prevented Palestinian medics from reaching Mashahra and treating him, while the army spokesperson told Ma’an that the Palestinian had been treated by army medics on the scene and evacuated to an unspecified hospital. (...)

#Palestine_assassinée

Muslim baroness decries ’loophole’ that allows UK Jews to join IDF | The Times of Israel
By Jenni Frazer March 30, 2017
▻http://www.timesofisrael.com/muslim-baroness-decries-loophole-that-allows-uk-jews-to-join-idf

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LONDON — A once-prominent British politician has come under fire by Jewish and Conservative leaders for likening British citizens in the Israel Defense Forces to Muslims who join paramilitary and terrorist groups.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, who resigned from the government in 2014 after calling its policy towards Israel “morally indefensible,” made the new inflammatory statement in a March 29 interview with Middle East Eye (MEE) ahead of the launch of her new book, “The Enemy Within.”

Before she stepped down, Warsi was chairman of the Conservative Party and Foreign Office minister, which made her the highest-achieving Muslim politician in the country.

In the interview this week with MEE, Warsi complained of a “loophole designed to protect Israel” and said that “the only reason we allow the loophole to exist is because of the IDF, because we are not brave enough to say if you hold British citizenship, you make a choice. You fight for our state only.”

In the interview with MEE, Warsi said that she asked the Foreign Office about distinctions between state and non-state militaries. Those who joined paramilitary groups, Warsi claimed, were prosecuted upon their return to Britain. She felt the same laws should apply to those who fought for state armies such as Israel’s.

“If you go out there and fight for any group, you will be subject to prosecution when you get back. If you go out and fight for Assad, I presume, under our law, that is okay. That can’t be right,” said Warsi.

Public debate, she believed, focused “exclusively on demanding loyalty from British Muslims.”

“The same rule should apply to all,” she said. “Let’s shut down this loophole. If you don’t fight for Britain, you do not fight.”(...)

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UK citizens who fight in Israeli army should be prosecuted, Baroness Warsi says

Britons can currently join the IDF through the ’Mahal’ program

Shehab Khan | 9 hours ago
▻http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-citizens-fight-israeli-army-idf-mahal-prosecuted-baroness-sayeeda-

1 Palestinian teen killed, 3 critically injured after Israeli forces open fire on vehicle
March 23, 2017 9:15 P.M. (Updated: March 25, 2017 3:37 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=776087

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RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — A Palestinian youth was killed and three others were critically injured Thursday evening after Israeli forces opened fire on a Palestinian vehicle near the al-Jalazun refugee camp north of Ramallah city in the central occupied West Bank.

Ambulances of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society transferred the four youths, all residents of al-Jalazun camp, to the Ramallah Government Hospital, where one was pronounced dead.

Ma’an previously reported based on reports from medical officials at the hospital that a second teen succumbed to his wounds, though the ministry later clarified that while three were still undergoing surgery, only one teen had been pronounced dead. .

The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified one of the slain Palestinians as 17-year-old Muhammad Mahmoud Ibrahim al-Hattab , who was shot in the chest and shoulder.

The ministry identified the three injured as 18-year-old Jassem Muhammed Nakhla, who was shot in the head and foot, 18-year-old Muhammad Hattab, who was shot in the abdomen, and 18-year-old Muhammed Musa Nakhla, who was shot in the foot and shoulder. The three remained in critical condition.

Local sources told Ma’an that Israeli soldiers fired heavily at the the vehicle while the teens were inside, from military tower near the entrance of the camp.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that “three suspects exited a vehicle adjacent to the community of Beit El,” referring to the illegal Israeli settlement adjacent to al-Jalazun, “where the suspects threw firebombs at the community. In response to the threat Israeli forces in the area fired towards the suspects, and several hits were confirmed. The suspects then fled the scene.”

#Palestine_assassinée

15-year-old Palestinian killed, 2 injured by Israeli shelling in Rafah
March 22, 2017 9:50 A.M. (Updated: March 22, 2017 11:21 A.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=776051

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GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — An 15-year-old Palestinian was killed and two other Palestinians were injured by Israeli shelling in eastern Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip before dawn on Wednesday.

Locals told Ma’an that Israeli drones were also flying overhead as the sound of gunshots and explosions were heard.

Spokesperson for Gaza’s Ministry of Health Ashraf al-Qidra said in a statement that Youssef Shaaban Abu Athra , 15, was killed while two others sustained multiple injuries from shrapnel as a result of the artillery fire. He was initially reported to be 18-years-old.

The two injured were taken to the Abu Youssef Najjar Hospital in Rafah for treatment. Their identities and their medical conditions remained unknown.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that Israel forces had “detected three suspects” near Israel’s military border fence in southern Gaza, and that Israeli forces responded by “firing with a tank toward the suspect,” adding that “one hit was confirmed.”

However the spokesperson did not explicitly acknowledge that someone had been killed or elaborate on what had been suspicious about their behavior.

According to Israel news site Ynet, the Israeli army was investigating whether the three Palestinians “were trying to plant an explosive device.”

In a separate incident in southern Gaza on Wednesday morning, witnesses told Ma’an that four Israeli bulldozers raided the town of al-Qarrara in northern part of Khan Yunis, escorted by several Israeli military vehicles deployed inside the Gaza’s borders.

Witnesses said that Israeli soldiers indiscriminately opened fire at Palestinian farmers tending to their lands there, however no injuries were reported.

#Palestine_assassinée

Israeli army denies soldiers intended to plant knife on Palestinian boy in Hebron
March 14, 2017 8:07 P.M. (Updated: March 14, 2017 10:05 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=775947

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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — After footage emerged of a 15-year-old Palestinian being detained at gunpoint in Hebron in the occupied West Bank — which local activists said depicted an attempt by Israeli forces to plant a knife on the teen before killing him — the Israeli army denied the activists’ claim, calling the reports “false manipulations and an attempt to distort the truth.”

The footage showed an Israeli soldiers approaching the checkpoint with a knife in his hand, before another soldier leads 15-year-old Muhammad Qazzaz away.
▻https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVvFd6VSQ6s

In response to a request for comment, an Israeli army spokesperson wrote to Ma’an on Tuesday saying that the knife was found in the “terrorist’s” possession after he arrived at the checkpoint.

According to the spokesperson, who asked Ma’an to change the headline in the initial report of the incident, Qazzaz later admitted during interrogation that “he planned to carry out a terror attack in the Jewish Quarter in Hebron.”

The spokesperson confirmed that Qazzaz had not yet been charged and investigations were still underway.

However, local activists with the group Human Rights Defenders — Zeidan al-Sharabati, who filmed the incident, and eyewitness Badi al-Dweik — claimed that the detention could have taken a deadly turn if the encounter had not been filmed, and alleged soldiers were planning on planting the knife on the scene.

When al-Sharabati arrived near the checkpoint, he said he saw Qazzaz flat on the ground with a soldier, pointing a machine gun the boy’s head, placing his boot on Qazzaz’s neck.

A second soldier was seen carrying a knife and then throwing it near the checkpoint. Sometime later, another soldier was seen picking up the same knife and then moving with the young Palestinian towards the Israeli police station, when the footage was taken.

According to al-Sharabati and al-Dweik, many local Palestinians had gathered around the checkpoint to witnesses the violent detention, one of which, who understood Hebrew, heard a soldier telling another soldier to shoot and kill Qazzaz.

The Palestinian bystander repeatedly shouted out to the soldiers “I understand Hebrew! Don’t kill him!”

Later, Israeli soldiers tried to force those who were filming to go away, the activists said, who insisted if that if witnesses hadn’t been there to document the event, Qazzaz would have been killed and the knife would have been planted beside his body.

Israeli forces have detained scores of Palestinians for allegedly being in possession of knives in recent months following a spate of alleged and actual small-scale knife attacks by Palestinians that surged in the fall of 2015.

Rights groups have disputed Israel’s version of events in a number of cases, denouncing what they have termed as a “shoot-to-kill” policy against Palestinians who did not constitute a threat at the time of their death, or who could have been subdued in a non-lethal manner — amid a backdrop of impunity for Israeli forces who have committed the killings.

Eyewitnesses have also said in a number of cases that Israeli security forces planted knives on slain Palestinians to claim that they were acting in self-defense during a stabbing attack.

Meanwhile, rights groups have widely documented the abuse and mistreatment of Palestinian children by Israeli forces and the harsh interrogation practices used to force their confessions.

Hebron in particular grew as the epicenter of upheaval, with a number of Palestinians having been shot while being detained at military checkpoints in the area.

Al-Dweik said that after the killing of Palestinian Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif was caught on camera by Human Rights Defenders member Imad Abu Shamsiya in March 2016, the group had increased its efforts to capture Israeli violations of human rights on camera.

Israel extends closure on West Bank and Gaza for Jewish holiday
March 11, 2017 10:42 P.M. (Updated: March 11, 2017 10:42 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=775900

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an ) — An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an on Saturday evening that Israeli authorities decided to extend a lock down on travel in and out of the occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza Strip for the Jewish holiday of Purim for another day.

The closure, which was initially announced to begin midnight on Friday and end midnight on Sunday, would last until midnight on March 13 between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

During the closure, only humanitarian, medical, and exceptional cases will be allowed to pass between the West Bank and Gaza, pending approval from COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for implementing Israeli policies in Palestinian territory.

When asked to comment on the justification behind the extension, an Israeli army spokesperson said that the decision was made “in accordance with government directives ad security assessments,” without providing further explanation.

Purim is celebrated in most of Israel on Sunday this year, while in Jerusalem it is observed on Monday.

Israeli Army Vet’s Exposé - “I Was the Terrorist”
▻http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/israeli-army-vets-expose-i-was-the-terrorist

In a rare, candid conversation, Abby Martin interviews a former Israeli Army combat soldier who served as an occupier in Palestine’s Hebron City.

Eran Efrati spent years as a sergeant and combat...

Palestinian activist ’executed’ by Israeli forces after 2-hour shoot-out
March 6, 2017 10:51 A.M. (Updated: March 6, 2017 5:20 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=775810

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RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian activist early Monday morning, culminating a two-hour-long gun battle in the Ramallah area of the central occupied West Bank, after Israeli forces had been pursuing the man since he was released from Palestinian prison last September.

The raid sparked clashes, which left two Palestinians shot and injured by Israeli forces. No Israelis were injured in the incident.

Israeli police identified the slain man as Basel al-Araj , who was wanted for “planning terror attacks against Israelis.”

Al-Araj was detained without charges or explanation by Palestinian security forces in April last year along with Haitham Siyaj and Muhammad Harb. The controversial case made headlines when the three men joined three other detainees in a hunger strike in Palestinian prison, amid reports of torture and mistreatment.

After being released in September, Palestinian activists had feared that Israeli forces would immediately detain the six men, as the Palestinian Authority (PA) has been widely criticized for its security coordination with Israel through what critics have called a “revolving door policy" of funneling Palestinians from PA jails into Israeli prisons.

Muhammad Harb and Haitham Siyaj, along with two of the other hunger striking detainees Muhammad al-Salamin and Seif al-Idrissi, were eventually detained by Israeli forces and ordered to administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial, while a video was released by Israeli media showing Israeli forces beating Siyaj in custody.

However, Israeli forces were unable to immediately apprehend al-Araj, and the months-long manhunt continued until the Monday morning raid, when forces from the Israeli army, Israeli border police, Israeli intelligence, and Israel’s counter-terrorism unit surrounded a house in the outskirts of the refugee camp of Qaddura, where al-Araj was allegedly staying.

Israeli police spokesperson Luba al-Samri said that “once Israeli forces arrived at the place, the Palestinian terrorist opened fire at Israeli forces, causing an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Palestinian terrorist, leading to his death.”

Al-Samri noted that no Israeli soldiers were injured in the shootout.

Eyewitnesses told Ma’an that gunfire was exchanged between Israeli forces and a Palestinian man for around two hours until he ran out of ammunition, after which Israeli forces raided the house and “executed” him by shooting him at close range with several bullets.

Israeli forces also fired an Energa anti-tank rifle grenade into the building, causing the destruction of parts of the house, witnesses said.

Witnesses said they saw Israeli forces dragging a man’s body by his feet outside of the house.

Meanwhile the Palestinian Ministry of Health has reportedly confirmed al-Araj’s death, according to online media reports, while his body was taken by Israeli forces to an unknown destination.(...)

#Palestine_assassinée

Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (23 Febreuay – 01 March 2017) | Palestinian Center for Human Rights
▻http://pchrgaza.org/en/?p=8866

Wednesday, 01 March 2017

A Palestinian Civilian was killed by Israeli settlers

At approximately 16:00 on Wednesday, 01 February 2017, Sa’di Mahmoud Ali Qaisiyah (25) from al-Deir neighborhood in the center of al-Thaheriyah village, south of Hebron, was killed after an Israeli settler from “Havat Moore” settlement outpost near “Tina” settlement; both established on Palestinian confiscated lands, west of the abovementioned village, opened fire at him. The Israeli media claimed that Sa’di attempted to stab a settler, who said that “he heard noise in the back of his house. When he went out to see where the noise is coming from, Sa’di who had a knife chased him. The settler then returned inside his house to bring his gun, but Sa’di chased him inside and stabbed him before the settler could shoot him.” There were no local eyewitnesses to confirm or deny the Israeli claim because the crime happened in the abovementioned settlement outpost. Moreover, the Israeli forces took Sa’di’s corpse to an unknown destination.

Shortly after the death of Qaisiyah, Israeli forces closed the southern and western side of al-Thaheriyah village and established checkpoints on all the roads leading and linking this village with other villages. They also carried out a wide-scale search campaign under the pretext of searching for a person, who was with Sa’di. An infantry unit surrounded Kherbet Zanouta and al-Khalil Valley area as they prevented the residents from leaving their residential tents. At approximately 19:00, an Israeli force accompanied with 14 military jeeps moved into al-Deir area. They raided and searched the house of Sa’di’s family, detained them and destroyed the house contents. In the meantime, dozens of young men gathered and threw stones at the soldiers, who immediately fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them and the houses in response. Half an hour later, the Israeli forces withdrew from the vicinity of Sa’di’s house after they arrested his cousin Amjad Qaisiyah (24). When the infantry unit arrived at the center of the village near the central market, the unit stopped and its soldiers deployed between streets amidst firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters between the shops. They also detained and kicked a number of workers in some restaurants. According to PCHR’s follow-up, a large number of the infantry units deployed in the center of the village after closing the main road with the military vehciles amidst firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the civilians and shops. Furthermore, they forced the shops’ owners to close under threat.

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Palestinian killed by Israeli settler in illegal Hebron outpost after alleged stab attack
March 1, 2017 4:35 P.M. (Updated: March 2, 2017 1:05 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=775743

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — A young Palestinian man was shot and killed by an Israeli settler in the southern occupied West Bank district of Hebron after allegedly carrying out a stabbing attack on Wednesday afternoon, the Israeli army reported.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that an “attacker armed with a knife entered a house” in the illegal settlement outpost of Havat More in the Masafer Yatta area — also known as the South Hebron Hills — and stabbed a settler, injuring him lightly.

The settler then shot towards the Palestinian, the spokesperson added, killing him.

The spokesperson said that they were not aware of whether the Israeli army was investigating the case.

A relative told Ma’an that the slain Palestinian was 25-year-old Saadi Mahmoud Ali Qaisiya , from the village of al-Dhahiriya west of Masafer Yatta.

According to Ma’an documentation, Qaisiya is the tenth Palestinian to have been killed by an Israeli since the beginning of the year. Six Israelis have been killed by Palestinians during the same time period.

#Palestine_assassinée

En direct de Gaza par Ziad Medoukh
▻https://www.facebook.com/ziad.medoukh/posts/10154068267012396

Dix raids israéliens sur Gaza ce lundi 27 février 2017.
L’armée de l’occupation israélienne a blessé trois palestiniens partout dans la bande de Gaza ce lundi 27 février 2017 lors des bombardements qui ont visé plusieurs régions dans cette prison à ciel ouvert.
Les avions militaires israéliens ont mené dix raids sur différents lieux dans la bande de Gaza.
C’était dans les villes de Beit Lahya au nord de la bande de Gaza, et de Nussirat au Centre de la bande de Gaza.et de Rafah au Sud de la bande de Gaza.
Et ça continue !
Les agressions israéliennes contre les civils palestiniens se poursuivent dans tous les territoires palestiniens .
Rien ne semble changer pour les Palestiniens de Gaza au début de cette nouvelle année 2017 : blocus, agressions, incursions, bombardements , morts, blessés et souffrance.
Le gouvernement israélien d’extrême droit veut provoquer les factions de Gaza.

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Israeli army hits Gaza with multiple airstrikes, injuring 4 Palestinians
Feb. 27, 2017 10:03 A.M. (Updated : Feb. 27, 2017 7:33 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=775679

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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The Israeli army targeted multiple sites across the besieged Gaza Strip with airstrikes and artillery fire midday Monday leaving at least four Palestinians injured, hours after an Israeli army spokesperson said that a rocket fired from Gaza landed in an open area in southern Israel that caused no injuries or damages.

Witnesses said Israeli fighter jets launched two missiles at a Hamas military site known as the Shuhada ("martyrs" in Arabic) post just after 1 p.m. in the central Gaza Strip, near the coast and west of Nuseirat refugee camp. Other local Palestinian news sites said five missiles were fired in the area.

Shortly after, an Israeli reconnaissance plane fired a missile at a monitoring post east of Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip, as Israeli fighter jets fired three missiles at the Hitteen post in Beit Lahiya in the northern region of the small Palestinian territory.

A separate strike in the Nahda neighborhood of Rafah left three Palestinians moderately injured, according to local sources. Gaza’s Ministry of Health later reported that a total of four people were injured in the strikes.

Before 2 p.m., two artillery shells fired by the Israeli army hit an agricultural area east of Gaza City, locals said.

#GAZA

Gazan fisherman in critical condition after being shot in back by Israeli forces
Feb. 21, 2017 10:02 P.M. (Updated: Feb. 22, 2017 1:51 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=775590

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GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — A Palestinian fisherman who was detained earlier on Tuesday off the coast of the northern Gaza Strip was reported to be in critical condition after being shot in the back by Israeli forces during his detention.

Zakariya Bakr, head of Gaza’s fishermen union, told Ma’an that the family of Muhammad Imran Sabri Bakr informed the union that he was injured with a bullet wound in his back.

According to the family, he was taken to the al-Majdal Hospital in Gaza where doctors reported his injuries as critical.

Israeli forces had detained Bakr earlier in the day off the coast of al-Sudaniya, along with four other Palestinian fishermen, identified as Abdullah Sabri Bakr, Mahmoud Sabri Bakr, Thabet Muhammad Bakr, and Omar Muhammad Bakr. All of the detained are in their twenties.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an she would look into reports.

#Gaza

2 Palestinians killed, 5 injured in reported airstrike on southern Gaza tunnel
Feb. 9, 2017 9:41 A.M. (Updated: Feb. 9, 2017 11:01 A.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=775384

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GAZA (Ma’an) — Two Palestinians were killed and five were injured during a reported airstrike on a smuggling tunnel between Egypt and Gaza on Wednesday night, official Palestinian sources said.

Gaza Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said on Thursday that Hussam Hamid al-Sufi , 24, from the town of Rafah, and Muhammad Anwar al-Aqraa , a 38-year-old resident of Gaza City, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, while five other Palestinians were injured.

An Israeli army spokesperson however denied to Ma’an that the army was involved in the reported strike.

However, Israeli media stated that the alleged tunnel attack came in the wake of four rockets being fired from the blockaded Palestinian territory towards the southern Israeli city of Eilat. No casualties were reported in the incident.

The casualties came in the wake of multiple airstrikes launched by the Israeli army inside the Gaza Strip on Monday which injured two Palestinians, after a rocket that landed in an open area in the Ashkelon region of southern Israel.

The Gaza-based al-Mezan Center for Human Rights expressed concern on Tuesday that Israel could be leading up to a wide-scale military offensive.

The rights group called on the international community to “act promptly against Israel’s military escalation, to fulfill their obligations to protect civilians, and ensure respect for the rules of international law,” stressing that “acting before a full-scale military bombardment is launched is crucial to ensuring the protection of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.” (...)

#Palestine_assassinée
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Deux Palestiniens tués près de la frontière Egypte-Gaza (Hamas)
AFP / 09 février 2017 06h35
▻http://www.romandie.com/news/Deux-Palestiniens-tues-pres-de-la-frontiere-EgypteGaza-Hamas/773228.rom

Gaza (Territoires palestiniens) - Deux Palestiniens ont été tués et cinq blessés dans la nuit de mercredi à jeudi près de la frontière entre l’Egypte et la bande de Gaza, a indiqué le ministère de la Santé du territoire palestinien gouverné par le Hamas islamiste.

Le ministère a incriminé une frappe israélienne. Interrogée par l’AFP, l’armée israélienne a dit ne « pas avoir connaissance » d’une telle frappe.

Hossam al-Soufi, 24 ans, et Mohammed al-Aqra, 38 ans, ont été tués, et cinq autres personnes blessées par une frappe israélienne du côté égyptien de la frontière, dans le Sinaï, a dit le porte-parole du ministère Achraf al-Qoudra.

Les circonstances de la mort des deux hommes étaient cependant très peu claires.

Les faits sont survenus quelques heures après le tir de plusieurs roquettes mercredi soir à partir du Sinaï, en Egypte, vers la station balnéaire israélienne d’Eilat, sur la mer Rouge.

Le Sinaï est frontalier d’Israël à l’est et de la bande de Gaza sur quelques kilomètres dans l’extrémité nord de la péninsule. Les deux morts palestiniennes sont survenues bien plus au nord que les tirs de roquettes de mercredi soir. Ces roquettes n’ont pas fait de blessé, a dit l’armée israélienne.

Le Sinaï est le théâtre d’affrontements sanglants entre soldats et policiers égyptiens contre des membres de l’organisation appelée Province du Sinaï, la branche égyptienne du groupe jihadiste Etat Islamique (EI).(...)

Israeli forces continue airstrikes in Gaza, 2 Palestinians injured
Feb. 6, 2017 9:33 P.M. (Updated : Feb. 6, 2017 9:33 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=775335

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GAZA CITY (Ma’an) —Israeli forces resumed attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip Monday evening, injuring two Palestinians, after injuring two Palestinians earlier Monday in a series of Israeli army airstrikes in northern Gaza, in response to a rocket that landed in an open area in the Ashkelon region of southern Israel Monday morning.

Witnesses told Ma’an that at least eight Israeli missiles were fired at several locations across the besieged coastal enclave.

One airstrike hit agricultural land in the center of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip. A spokesman of the Gaza ministry of health Ashraf al-Qidra confirmed that two people were injured in Khan Younis.

According to locals, the airstrikes hit a “resistance” military post as well as an agricultural area east of Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip, in addition to the al-Shujaiyya neighborhood in Gaza City, causing damages to several residential buildings.

The air strikes also hit agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi and al-Bureij refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip.

Palestinian factions released statements warning of the consequences of the ongoing Israeli attacks on the coastal enclave.

A spokesman of Hamas movement Hazim Qasim said the current escalation represented “a new chain in the series of ongoing Israeli occupation’s assaults against the Palestinian people and the Gaza Strip.”

The Islamic Jihad movement said in a statement that “Palestinian resistance holds the Israeli occupation responsible for the ongoing and future attacks on the Gaza Strip.”

#GAZA

19-year-old Palestinian shot and killed by Israeli forces in Jenin refugee camp
Jan. 29, 2017 10:34 A.M. (Updated: Jan. 29, 2017 7:43 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=775164

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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli forces shot and killed a 19-year-old Palestinian and injured several others early Sunday morning in Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank, after clashes erupted following an Israeli army raid into the camp.

Locals identified the slain young man as 19-year-old Muhammad Mahmoud Abu Khalifa, with sources saying he was shot with a live bullet in the lower back that went through his body, emerging from his abdomen.

Medical sources could not immediately be reached to confirm the nature of his injuries.

State-run Palestinian news agency Wafa said that Abu Khalifa was left on the ground for hours before paramedics were able to evacuate his body.

At least five other Palestinian youth were injured, including one seriously, and were evacuated to Jenin hospital for treatment.

After undercover Israeli forces in a civilian vehicle infiltrated the camp, dozens of military vehicles stormed the area, sparking violent clashes that continued for several hours, according to reports.

Israeli forces heavily fired live ammunition, stun grenades, and tear gas into the camp as youth threw stones and Molotov cocktails.

Shortly after, a funeral procession was held for Abu Khalifa, with hundreds of mourners carrying his body through the streets of the camp.

An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed the clashes to Ma’an via telephone, saying that “violent rioters attacked and hurled pipe bombs” at Israeli forces, with no injuries reported among Israeli forces.

“Responding to the threat, forces fired toward main instigators,” the spokesperson added. She said that “hits were confirmed,” but did not directly confirm Abu Khalifa’s killing or the number of Palestinians to be injured.

The purpose of the hours-long raid remained unclear, as the Israeli army spokesperson said that no detentions were made in the camp. However, Muhammad’s cousins were detained in a raid into Jenin refugee camp on Thursday, with the Israeli army claiming brothers Muhammad and Ahmad Abu Khalifa were “Hamas operatives.”(...)

#Palestine_assassinée

Palestinian killed near Ramallah-area settlement after alleged vehicular attack
Jan. 25, 2017 7:58 P.M. (Updated: Jan. 26, 2017 11:02 A.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=775111

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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian on Wednesday evening after he allegedly carried out a car-ramming attack near an illegal Israeli settlement in the central occupied West Bank.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that at around 7 p.m., the Palestinian “rammed his vehicle into a bus stop at the entrance of Kochav Yaakov,” a settlement directly southeast of the city of Ramallah.

“In response to the immediate threat, Israeli forces fired at the assailant, resulting in his death,” the spokesperson added, further claiming that Israeli soldiers found a knife in the Palestinian’s vehicle.

She added that no Israelis were injured in the incident.

Locals identified the slain Palestinian as 24-year-old Hussein Salem Abu Ghush from the Qalandiya refugee camp, located south of Kochav Yaakov.

Witnesses told Ma’an that Israeli soldiers left the Palestinian bleeding on the ground until he died, before putting him in a black body bag and putting him into a military vehicle headed towards Jerusalem.

According to Ma’an documentation, this is the seventh Palestinian to have been killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of the year.

#Palestine_assassinée

Israeli forces kill Palestinian near Tulkarem after alleged stabbing attempt
Jan. 17, 2017 6:01 P.M. (Updated: Jan. 17, 2017 6:46 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=774984

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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli forces killed a Palestinian near the northern occupied West Bank city of Tulkarem early on Tuesday evening after he allegedly attempted to carry out a stabbing attack.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that “an assailant armed with a knife approached Israeli forces at a crossing adjacent to Tulkarem,” adding that Israeli forces “fired at the attacker, resulting in his death.”

The spokesperson added that no Israelis were injured in the incident.

Locals later identified the slain Palestinian as Nidal Daoud Mahdawi, 44, who was a holder of Israeli residency, married, and a father of five.

Witnesses told Ma’an that Mahdawi approached the checkpoint when gunshots were heard and Mahdawi was seen falling to the ground after being injured by several bullets fired by the Israeli soldiers. Israeli forces then closed the checkpoint and prevented anyone from entering Tulkarem.

According to Hebrew media, Israeli authorities said that the Palestinian youth was throwing rocks at the Beit Lid checkpoint, also known as Checkpoint 104, adding that “at some point he pulled out a knife and attempted to stab a soldier,” and was subsequently shot dead by Israeli forces.

#Palestine_assassinée

Red Crescent: Israeli forces shoot, kill Palestinian teen during clashes in Tuqu
Jan. 16, 2017 5:27 P.M. (Updated: Jan. 16, 2017 5:33 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=774960

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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian teenager during clashes in the Bethlehem-area village of Tuqu in the southern occupied West Bank on Monday evening, the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRC) ambulance service said.

A PRC spokesperson told Ma’an that 17-year-old Qusay Hasna al-Umour was shot with live ammunition in the chest at least three times, and that Israeli forces had detained him for an unspecified period of time before handing over his body to the health organization.

It remained unclear whether al-Umour was already dead when Israeli forces got a hold of him, or if he succumbed to his injuries while in custody.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that they were looking into the reports.

Four other Palestinians, including a woman, were also shot and injured during the clashes.

Locals told Ma’an that clashes broke out near the western entrance of the village on Monday afternoon, with Israeli forces firing live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, and tear gas at Palestinian youth.

#Palestine_assassinée