'Settlers', army, stop Hebron shops opening

e 2015 | International Solidarity Movement, Al Khalil Team | Al Khalil, Occupied Palestine

Around 8:30 this morning on Shuhada street in Hebron, Israeli settlers, soldiers, and border police arrived and put up a breakfast tent right outside of two shops owned by a Palestinian man. The settlers remained in front of his shops for around three and a half hours under Israeli police and army protection.

The owner of the shops, which will be used to grind wheat into flour, is Ghassan Azzedine Abu Hadid. HRC has been working with him to facilitate the restoration of his two shops. Because of the presence of the settlers, he has been prevented from working on his shops in order to make them ready for opening.

International Solidarity Movement activists were present and asked Ghassan for a statement on what was happening to which he replied “I cannot say anything, I just want to open my shops and continue my work.”

ISM report

Israeli soldiers caught by camera

Following reports of the shooting of two Israelis, by a Palestinian citizen and by the Hamas military wing <http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=766055>, this report comes from Haaretz:
< http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/1.661513>
Haaretz 17 June by Amira Hass -- *Had it not been for the cameras, the
eyewitness reports about the armed soldiers who beat a Palestinian
protester would have been dubbed as dubious 'allegations.' -- *The mistake
made by the armed soldiers< http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.660994> from the Netzah Yehuda battalion was that they allowed cameras to document their
bestiality and cowardice while attacking a brave Palestinian civilian,armed with a visor cap and T-shirt, last Friday. For this error, their commanders punished them.
< http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.661146> this week by meting out negligible disciplinary punishments. Their commanders couldn’t punish them for their crude assault, their loss of control, their arrogance or their abuse; you don’t punish a person for something that is the social norm, as well as a metaphor for the balance of power between Israel and the Palestinians ... Journalists’ reports, based on a clip from Palestinian television, stressed that the soldiers were filmed beating a Palestinian after they had already “gotten him under control.” The reports also emphasized the curses they showered him with. If there were a hidden camera at every arrest, we would have to admit that soldiers beating
Palestinians whom they have already “gotten under control” is not unusual. And curses? There are Palestinians who conclude, from their run-ins with soldiers, that Hebrew consists of only eight words. Five of them are curses, and the other three are “halt,” “scram” and “forbidden.” All eight are barked out, like the videotaped barks and growls of the Netzah Yehuda soldiers ... The Hebrew-language reports about the soldiers who beat a Palestinian in front of the cameras missed one obvious fact that arises from the video clip: Ghabashi’s courage. He went out to the soldiers to protest against the tear gas grenades they threw into his house in the Jalazun refugee camp while they were facing off with the young people from th camp, who demonstrate there every week against the occupation, the army,
the settlement of Beit El. Ghabashi knows very well what armed, nervous soldiers can do to a Palestinian who dares to argue with them and disobey them when they order him to get lost; curses, punches and arrest are the least of it. They could also have shot him, and then invented some excuse.The valiant Ghabashi represents a Palestinian norm.
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/1.661513

Hunger strikers face torture

Khader Adnan: 'The more they torture me, the more determined I become'
 http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=765991
RAMALLAH (Ma‘an) 16 June -- Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan, who is now
on his 42nd day on hunger strike against the Israeli practice of
administrative detention, said Tuesday that "the more [the Israelis torture me, the stronger and more determined I become." Adnan, 37, made the comments to the chief lawyer of the Palestinian prisoner’s society Jawad Bulous, who was visiting him at Israel’s Assaf Harofeh medical center. Bulous said that "new dangerous symptoms" had appeared indicating that Adnan's health has seriously deteriorated. "He suffers severe pains all over his body with blue spots on his shoulder and clear speaking problems."
Bulous said that despite Adnan’s sufferings, there has so far been no discussion about his case, although he said officers from the Israeli prison service visited Adnan on Monday to see how dangerous his condition was. "Despite his complaints about detention conditions in hospital, wardens made these conditions worse by fixing a curtain at the outer door of his room and three wardens were sent to his room while his hand and his leg were tied to his bed," said Bulous. Adnan also told the lawyer that a delegation representing the International Committee of the Red Cross had attempted to visit him several days ago, but that they canceled the visit after Israeli officers insisted on attending and keeping Adnan tied to the bed. On Friday, the director of the prisoner's society, Rafat Hamduna, said that Adnan's weight was dropping to dangerous levels and he was no longer
able to stand up or move.
http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=765991

 Israel seeks force-feeding powers as hunger striker enters danger zone
< http://972mag.com/israel-seeks-force-feeding-powers-as-hunger-striker-enters-danger-zone/107901/>
+972 mag 16 June by Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man -- The head of the Israeli
Medical Association says he will instruct physicians to ignore the new law
if it is passed, saying it contradicts medical ethics -- *The Israeli
parliament is expected to soon vote on a bill that would permit authorities
to force feed Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike; the cabinet gave the
measure its seal of approval on Sunday. Although no direct correlation has
been shown, the move comes as Israel/Palestine’s most famous repeat hunger
striker, Khader Adnan, has gone more than 40 days without food or
nutrients. Adnan is protesting being held under administrative detention,
which means he has no access to due process, has not formally been accused
of any crime, and has no way of defending himself. He is currently being
held in a hospital in central Israel where he is reportedly shackled to his
bed and is refusing to be treated by hospital medical staff. Adnan has said
he will only agree to be treated by a doctor from Physicians for Human
Rights Israel (PHR), who is expected to see him on Wednesday 17th. Force feeding hunger strikers is extremely inhumane and painful for the "patient", described by the ACLU
< http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security-prisoners-rights-human-rights/video-yasiin-bey-mos-def-undergoes-force>
as “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.” In the *video above Yasiin
Bey (aka Mos Def) volunteers to undergo the “treatment”   ... By force feeding hunger striking Palestinian prisoners,Israel hopes to undercut the only non-violent path prisoners have to protest against their treatment and denial of due process. Hunger strikers have
gained significant support on the Palestinian street, and Israeli authorities have long warned that letting high-profile hunger strikers die could spark unrest. Israeli politicians also believe that Israel would face international pressure over its practice of administrative detention if
hunger strikes go on for too long. Opposition to the bill came from an unexpected corner this week when former foreign minister MK Avigdor Lieberman said his party, which is in the opposition, would oppose the bill.  “[Israel] should learn from what happened to the Irish underground during the time of Margaret Thatcher,” Haaretz quoted
< http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/.premium-1.661301> 
well.”

Gaza farmland destroyed

Israeli firebombs have burned crops in northern Gaza.
http://www.imemc.org/article/71670
IMEMC/Agencies 22 May: Israeli soldiers fired, on May 21st, evening, a
number of firebombs into Palestinian farmlands planted with wheat, east of
Jabalia in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The Civil Defence office in
Jabalia said the fire consumed around a dunam (0.247 acre) before
firefighters managed to contain it. It added that this Israeli violation
was the fourth in 24 hours, targeting the eastern area of northern Gaza,
especially around the Shuhada Graveyard, east of Jabalia.
On Wednesday evening, Israeli navy ships opened fire on Palestinian fishing
boats in the al-Waha and as-Sudaniyya areas, in Gaza, causing excessive
damage but no injuries. On Wednesday morning, several Israeli military
vehicles, and four armored bulldozers, carried out on a limited invasion
into an area, east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza:
http://www.imemc.org/article/71670

Israeli army shoots at demo, attacks homes

UN affects Kafr Qaddum's demonstration
http://palsolidarity.org/2015/05/un-affects-kafr-qaddums-demonstration/
 KAFR QADDUM, Occupied Palestine 1 May by ISM, Huwwara Team --
Today’s demonstration in Kafr Qaddum was met with live ammunition, rubber coated steal bullets, teargas and stun grenades. There was a large presence of Palestinian and international protesters. The Israeli forces shot two young men in the leg. UN observers were present. Before prayer ended, usually marking the start of the demonstration, Israeli forces fired  bullets from .22 rifles at the people who had started to gather in Kafr Qaddum. As the march started advancing up through the village, a group of Italian women joined in and were chanting songs of liberation with the crowd. Coordinated with the locals, they went to the front of the march with their fingers in the air, symbolically signing peace. Together, they stopped only metres away from the border police and military asking for the opening of the road and the freedom of the Palestinians. The Israeli forces responded with stun grenades and teargas, forcing the crowd to retreat further into the village. The army went on by shooting two young men with live ammunition. One, named as Eanad, was hit by a bullet which passed through his leg, while the second shot stayed put inside his friend Issam’s leg. They were both rushed to Rafidia hospital in Nablus. An ISMer on the spot describes, “While Issam was being rushed to a car, teargas was fired over them. Ceasefire during injuries doesn’t seem to be a concern for the Israeli forces. ” Recently, demonstrators and ISMers have witnessed an escalation of violence in Kafr Qaddum. The amount of live ammunitions shot by the Israeli forces has heavily been on the rise. Today, however, protesters were mostly met with stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets. Local activist Murad Shtaiwi explained, “the UN’s rare presence today meant that the Israeli soldiers were acting quite politely”. When members of the United Nations arrive at demonstrations, they inform the Israelis in advance of their coming. This inevitably leads to a calmer day, relatively speaking. After the military retreated, a pile of tires was burnt, sending black smoke into the direction of Kedumin, a neighbouring settlement built in 1975. Due to this settlement, the road leading to Nablus has been closed off to the Palestinians since 2003. This has largely increased traveling time and costs for the locals.
http://palsolidarity.org/2015/05/un-affects-kafr-qaddums-demonstration/

Several Palestinians injured in Silwad
http://www.imemc.org/article/71438
IMEMC 2 May -- Army Fires Gas Bombs Into Homes -- Israeli soldiers invaded,
Friday, Silwad town, east of the central West Bank city of Ramallah,
clashed with local youths, and deliberately fired gas bombs into several
homes; many injured, including three Palestinians who were shot with live
rounds. The soldiers invaded the town, and assaulted several children and
women, beating them on various parts of their bodies, mainly on their
heads, backs and shoulders, causing cuts and bruises. A Palestinian child
told Palestine TV reporter Ali Dar Ali that the soldiers fired a gas bomb
into his family’s home, forcing the family to run out of its property to
avoid suffocation. Minutes later, the soldiers surrounded the home, but
were forced to run away after dozens of local youths hurled stones on them;
the soldiers fired several gas bombs, but local protesters threw the bombs
back, forcing the soldiers to retreat. Clashes took place in various parts
of the town, and the soldiers fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition,
rubber-coated metal bullets, concussion grenades and gas bombs. During the
clashes, Israeli soldiers shot and injured three Palestinians with live
rounds, and many others with rubber-coated metal bullets, while many
suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation. One soldier was mildly injured
in his face after being struck by a stone thrown by a local protester.
http://www.imemc.org/article/71438

BBC responds over new complaints

PSC head office, London, has released a positive statement about media relations - which is here in full:

 

Some good news today.

On 1^st April, BBC Online ran an article headlined ‘Palestinians formally join International Criminal Court’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-32144186

The article included this information:

‘On Wednesday, the Palestinians became the 123rd member of the ICC, 90 days after they lodged a declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the court over alleged crimes committed in the occupied territories of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza from 13 June 2014.

This covers events prior to and during last summer's 50-day conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza, which left more than 2,200 people dead.’

There was no breakdown of those killed ie that the vast majority were Palestinian, and it’s not the first time that the BBC has done this.

A FN volunteer complained, via the complaints form on the website, and received the standard brush off. This was the reply from BBC Complaints:

We understand you feel the report lacks accuracy. In particular you feel the figures cited did not take into account that the majority of those killed were Palestinians.

‘We reviewed the article in light of your concern and we point out the main focus for the report was that Palestine has formally joined the International Criminal Court (ICC). The figure of 2,200 was only quoted in reference to the fact that Palestine is seeking justice for alleged war crimes, therefore details of the figure was not relevant in this context of the report.

‘We are grateful to you for taking the time to let us know of occasions when you believe we fall short of our own standards and we hope this allays any concerns you might have regarding our coverage.’

The FN volunteer responded to say that the ICC could be investigating events that took place during the 50 day period of Israel’s assault. Therefore, the number of Palestinians killed during that period - a massive number - is entirely relevant in the context of this report. In fact, in the context of this report, more could be made of that figure – the number of children killed, the number of civilians killed, the disproportionate number of Palestinians killed, how great that number was in comparison to the Israelis killed etc – in order to give examples of what crimes the Israelis could be charged with.

This reply was received yesterday from the BBC: ‘Thank you for your further e-mail regarding our article reporting that the Palestinians had formally joined the International Criminal Court.

‘I disagree with our initial response and believe you have a point regarding the breakdown of casualty figures. Although these statistics have featured regularly throughout our coverage of the Middle East, in recognition of your concerns we’ve since added a paragraph stating:

‘At least 2,189 were Palestinians, including more than 1,486 civilians, according to the UN. On the Israeli side, 67 soldiers were killed along with six civilians.’

An important victory. And the BBC has used the new phrasing again in an online story about Israel hitting UN shelters in Gaza: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-32479271

Hopefully, it will continue to use the breakdown of casualty figures in all future reporting where it mentions how many were killed.

With many thanks to the volunteer who made and followed through the complaint.

 

 

Soldiers use wind-up as shoot-to-kill excuse

Israeli soldiers shot and killed, on Friday 24th April at night, a young Palestinian named Ali Sa‘id Abu Ghannam, 16 years of age, near the Zaim military roadblock, east of occupied Jerusalem. The Palestinian News & Info Agency WAFA has reported that the soldiers stopped the Palestinian, who was walking with a young woman from his family, and started provoking the two, before the soldiers uttered vulgar words towards the young woman. The incident caused the young man to engage in a scuffle with the soldiers before one of them shot him dead. The army is alleging the Palestinian “attempted to stab a soldier," and was shot  dead while trying to flee the scene. The Israeli army refused to hand the body of the slain Palestinian to the Red Crescent ambulance that arrived on the scene, and took it to an unknown destination. 
A straightforward case, perhaps: Israeli soldiers insult a Palestinian woman; her male companion springs to her defence and the soldiers kill him. But the Israeli police alleged the young Palestinian arrived at the roadblock “and started running towards the soldiers while carrying a butcher knife.” Ynet News quoted a police statement alleging that one of the soldiers managed to hold the Palestinian, “but he continued to run towards the soldiers,” and they shot him dead. The Israeli story is the one the BBC carried.
http://www.imemc.org/article/71348