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Scottish Friends of Palestine
Briefing Paper
October 2020
Lancet censors Gaza health letter after pressure Omar Karmi E I 1/10/2020 https://electronicintifada.net/content/lancet-censors-gaza-health-letter-after-pro-israel-pressure/31371?utm_source=EI+readers&utm_campaign=758cda532e-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e802a7602d-758cda532e-299228964
. . . “A COVID-19 pandemic that further cripples the Gaza Strip’s healthcare system should not be viewed as an inevitable biomedical phenomenon experienced equally by the world’s population, but as a preventable biosocial injustice rooted in decades of Israeli oppression and international complicity,” they concluded. The letter – “Structural violence in the era of a new pandemic: the case of the Gaza Strip” – was duly published online on 27 March. Just three days later, however, in a move unusual if not unprecedented for The Lancet, the letter was taken down without comment. (It can still be read, on an academic publishing search engine site, here ) . . .
TUC calls for Israel sanctions to “end apartheid” EI Asa Winstanley 15/09/20
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/tuc-calls-israel-sanctions-end-apartheid
The British Trades Union Congress has condemned Israel’s annexation plan, calling it “another significant step in the creation of a system of apartheid” in the West Bank.
Passed on Tuesday, the motion is thought to be the first time the British trade union umbrella body has described Israeli policies as apartheid. The TUC motion calls for the UK to “take firm and decisive measures, including sanctions” against Israel to stop annexation, end the occupation and respect the right of Palestinian refugees to return.
pro-Israel lobby welcomes racist ambassador EI Asa Winstanley 7/10/2020
Israel’s incoming ambassador to the UK arrived last week and was welcomed by the pro-Israel lobby. A former senior government minister with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling hard-right Likud Party, Tzipi Hotovely is a religious extremist and open anti-Palestinian racist. The Board of Deputies, Conservative and Labour Friends of Israel as well as one government minister took to social media . . .
Israeli soldiers shoot Palestinian with special needs IMEMC 17/08/.2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-soldiers-shoot-a-palestinian-with-special-needs-near-jerusalem/
Israeli soldiers shot, Monday, a Palestinian man with special needs at the Qalandia Terminal, north of occupied Jerusalem. Eyewitnesses said the soldiers fired live rounds at the man, 60 years of age. The army later said the Palestinian was not carrying any weapon, and that he was moved by an Israeli ambulance to a hospital in Jerusalem. The wounded Palestinian had a hearing and speech impairment; he approached the terminal on foot in a lane that is only meant for vehicles and was shot in the lower limbs after he did not heed to the soldiers’ demands to stop. Only after shooting him, the soldiers realized he couldn’t hear of speak
Palestinian child held by Israel tests positive for Covid 19 Tamara Nassar E I 2/10/2020 https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/tamara-nassar/second-palestinian-child-held-israel-tests-positive-coronavirus?utm_source=EI+readers&utm_campaign=9850f1390f-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e802a7602d-9850f1390f-299228964 Israeli occupation forces detained the 14-year-old boy on 15 September in the Bab al-Zawiya neighborhood of the West Bank city of Hebron. The boy was transferred to an Israeli police station in the Kiryat Arba settlement in southern Hebron, where occupation authorities interrogated him and accused him of throwing stones. Israeli forces transferred the child to a detention facility in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc and then placed him with two other Palestinian child detainees at Megiddo prison in northern Israel on 17 September. . . .
Revenge against Palestinians is understandable - Israeli judge Jonathan Ofir Mondoweiss 21/07/2020 https://mondoweiss.net/2020/07/revenge-against-palestinians-is-understandable-israeli-judge-says-in-acquitting-two-security-officers-who-attacked-innocent-man/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet
Yesterday, an unbelievable verdict came down at the Beersheba District Court in Israel:
Two Israeli security officers were acquitted in a case involving the lynching of Haftom Zarhum, an Eritrean refugee, although they were filmed beating him and repeatedly dropping a bench on his head. The judge cited “reasonable doubt”. . .
National Conservatory of Music raided by occupation forces IMEMC 24/07/2020 https://imemc.org/article/pchr-iof-raid-yabous-cultural-centre-and-edward-said-national-conservatory-of-music-in-occupied-east-jerusalem/ On Wednesday, 22 July 2020, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided Yabous Cultural Centre and Edward Said National Conservatory of Music (ESNCM) in the center of occupied East Jerusalem and confiscated thousands of documents, files, PCs, tablets, and surveillance cameras. At the same time, IOF raided a house owned by the couple: Rania Elias and Suhail Khouri, Directors of the abovementioned centers, in Beit Hanina village, north of occupied East Jerusalem. IOF searched the house and confiscated several devices and private files and arrested both Khouri and Elias.
Israeli Forces Demolish Palestinian Home WAFA 31/07/2020 I https://imemc.org/article/israeli-forces-demolish-palestinian-owned-home-confiscate-farm-equipment/sraeli forces, on Wednesday morning, demolished the foundation of a Palestinian-owned house in Beit Awwa town, south of Hebron city in the southern occupied West Bank, Palestinian WAFA News Agency correspondent reported.
He confirmed that Israeli soldiers invaded the town, and demolished the foundation of the 150 square meter house belonging to Mu‘ath Swaiti, allegedly for building without an Israeli issued permit. Swaiti told WAFA that once he received the military order to stop-construction, he and his family appealed to overturn the demolition order. The family was stunned to see the occupation forces destroying the foundation, given the fact that there had been no court ruling.
Israeli Human Rights Violations in the OPT PCHR 23-28 July 2020 https://imemc.org/article/pchr-weekly-report-on-israeli-human-rights-violations-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-23-28-july-2020/ Israeli forces continued to commit crimes and multi-faceted violations against Palestinian civilians and their properties, including raids into Palestinian cities that are characterized by the excessive use of force, assault, abuse and attacks on civilians. This week, the Israeli’s excessive use of force rendered 3 injuries among Palestinian civilians, including a child, during raids and attacks on peaceful protests in the occupied West Bank.
Occupation forces arrest BDS coordinator during night raid BNC 31/07/2020
https://imemc.org/article/freemahmoud-israeli-occupation-forces-arrest-bds-coordinator-mahmoud-nawajaa-during-night-raid/ Occupied Ramallah, 30 July 2020 – At around 3:30 am, tens of Israeli occupation soldiers, accompanied by at least one dog, stormed the home of Mahmoud Nawajaa, the General Coordinator of the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), near Ramallah, handcuffing, blindfolding and taking him away from his wife and three young children.
Mahmoud Nawajaa, 34 years old, was born in Yatta, south Hebron, and holds a master’s degree in International Relations. Before being led away, Nawajaa told his wife, “Take care of the kids.” Mahmoud’s two older children, 9 and 7, shouted defiantly at the soldiers who invaded their home to arrest their father. The older son said, “Leave dad alone. Get out. Your dog doesn’t scare me.” Under the UN’s International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, the “Persecution of organizations and persons, by depriving them of fundamental rights and freedoms, because they oppose apartheid,” is one of the inhumane acts committed to maintain an apartheid system.
4500 Palestinians, including 39 women,160 Children, imprisoned by Israel 30/07/2020 https://imemc.org/article/on-eve-of-al-adha-4500-palestinians-including-39-women-and-160-children-imprisoned-by-israel/ On the eve of al-Adha Muslim feast, Palestinian researcher specialized in detainee’s affairs, former political prisoner, Abdul-Nasser Ferwana, has reported that Israel is holding captive around 4500 Palestinians, including 39 women, 160 children, 6 legislators and 360 who are held under the arbitrary Administrative Detention orders without charges or trial. Ferwana stated that, among the imprisoned Palestinians, are dozens with special needs, or have cancer along with other serious health issues, and many who are elderly, including Fuad Shobaki, who is more than 80 years of age. He added that 86% of the Palestinian detainees are from various parts of the occupied West Bank, including the occupied capital Jerusalem, and that the detainees are held in 22 prisoners, detention and interrogation facilities, including the Negev desert detention camp, Ramon, Nafha, Hadarim, Be’er as-Sabe’, Galboa’, Asqalan, Damoun, Shatta, Ofar, Ramla and al-Maskobiyya.
Israel kills 27 Palestinians, Injures1070, in first half of 2020 27/07/2020
https://imemc.org/article/report-israeli-soldiers-killed-27-palestinians-injured-1070-in-first-half-of-2020/ The Abdullah al-Hourani Center for Studies and Documentation” which is run by Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has reported, Sunday, that Israeli soldiers killed 27 Palestinians, including seven children and two women, in addition to wounding 1070 other, and abducted around 2330 Palestinians in the first half of this year, 2020. The Center stated that the soldiers killed 17 Palestinians in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and ten in the Gaza Strip.
Two female detainees remain in solitary confinement 27/07/2020
https://imemc.org/article/two-female-detainees-remain-in-solitary-confinement-face-harsh-conditions/ The Palestinian Commission for Detainees’ Affairs has reported, Sunday, that the Israeli authorities are still forcing two female detainees Fadwa Hamada and Jihan Hasheema, in solidarity confinement under inhumane and harsh conditions.
“We have been wearing the same clothes since we were moved here, they gave us one blouse each, in addition to toothpaste and broken toothbrushes,” they said, “When we are allowed to visit with our lawyer, the soldiers place chains on our legs, and do not provide us with masks. We also have not been allowed any visits with our families for many months.”
List of Israeli targets leaked Ramzy Baroud Palestine Chronicle 30/07/2020 https://imemc.org/article/opinion-list-of-israeli-targets-leaked-tel-aviv-fears-the-worst-in-icc-investigation-of-war-crimes/ When International Court of Justice (ICC) Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, confirmed last December that the Court has ample evidence to pursue a war crimes investigation in occupied Palestine, the Israeli government responded with the usual rhetoric, accusing the international community of bias and insisting on Israel’s ‘right to defend itself.’
If Israeli individuals were to be indicted for war crimes it becomes a legal obligation of ICC members to apprehend the criminals and hand them over to the Court.
West Bank demolitions and displacement – July 2020 OCHA July 2020 https://imemc.org/article/ocha-report-west-bank-demolitions-and-displacement-july-2020/
In July, the Israeli authorities demolished or seized 72 Palestinian-owned structures, all on grounds of a lack of building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain. This is over 30 per cent above the monthly average during the first half of 2020 and nearly 40 per cent above the 2019 monthly average. A total of 33 people were displaced as a result and over 350 others had their livelihoods or access to services affected. A total of 388 structures have been demolished or seized as of end July 2020, a slight increase compared with the same period in 2019.
Massive Israeli airstrikes reported in Gaza IMEMC 1/08/2020 https://imemc.org/article/massive-israeli-airstrikes-reported-in-north-east-and-south-of-gaza/ Israeli warplanes launched a number of missiles at Palestinian civilian areas in the northern, southern and eastern West Bank, according to local sources. The areas hit include Khan Younis, in the southern West Bank, Beit Lahia, in the north, and al-Boreij refugee camp, in eastern Gaza. Dozens of injuries have been reported, Saturday’s bombings marked the seventh straight night of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Israel claimed it launched the massive missiles into the Palestinian civilian areas in response to what it called ‘incendiary balloons’ from Gaza, which are children’s party balloons with a string attached, bearing a flaming rag or paper that someone in Gaza sent floating upward.
Israeli soldiers tear-gas patients & staff PIC 23/08/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-soldiers-tear-gas-patients-staff-at-jerusalem-hospital/ Israeli Occupation forces, on Friday, invaded Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem while firing of tear-gas bombs.. Local sources said that dozens of patients and medical staff suffered breathing difficulties as a result of tear-gas inhalation, making it necessary to evacuate many patients.
Heavy bombardment of the Gaza Strip WAFA 21/08/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israel-continues-heavy-bombardment-of-the-gaza-strip/
Israeli combat helicopters, late Thursday night struck a site west of Khan Younis city in the southern enclave with at least six missiles. Israeli warplanes, early Friday morning, bombed several sites across the besieged Gaza Strip. Israeli military jets fired three missiles at a site west of Gaza city, in the central Strip, causing heavy destruction to the site as well as to nearby homes. Meanwhile, Israeli tanks fired artillery shells against farmlands to the east of Gaza city.
Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian teen IMEMC 20/08/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-soldiers-kill-a-palestinian-teen-near-ramallah-4/ Israeli soldiers killed, late on Wednesday at night a Palestinian teen, and injured at least two others, in Deir Abu Mashal town, west of Ramallah, in central West Bank. The corpse of the slain Palestinians remains in the hands of the Israeli army. The Palestinian Health Ministry said it was informed that the teen Mohammad Damer Matar, 17, died from serious wounds he suffered after the soldiers shot him with live fire, on Wednesday at night, after the soldiers and undercover officers invaded the town.
The Palestinian teen was one of at least three who were shot by the soldiers, during protests that erupted after the army invaded their town.
Jerusalem home demolished, protestor seriously injured IMEMC 18/08/2020
https://imemc.org/article/after-demolishing-a-home-israeli-soldiers-seriously-injure-a-palestinian-near-jerusalem/ Israeli soldiers shot and seriously injured, Tuesday, a young Palestinian man during protests that erupted in the as-Sal’a neighborhood, in Jabal al-Mokabber, south of occupied East Jerusalem, after the army demolished an under-construction six-story residential building. Media sources said the soldiers attacked dozens of Palestinian protesters, who marched in condemnation of the Israeli escalation, including the demolition of homes, and fired many live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades at them. Palestinian medics rushed the seriously wounded young man to the al-Makassed hospital which was surrounded by occupation forces intent on abducting him.
Young Palestinian man rammed and killed by settler vehicle IMEMC 18/08/2020 https://imemc.org/article/palestinian-killed-after-being-rammed-by-israeli-settler-vehicle-near-tulkarem/ A young Palestinian man was killed on Saturday evening, August 15th, 2020, when a speeding Israel settler’s car struck him near a military roadblock, south of Tulkarem, in northern West Bank. The victim was identified as Eqab Bashir Darawsha, 21, from Tallouza village, north of Nablus, in the northern West Bank.
UAE sells out Palestinian Rights through agreement with Israel IMEMC 18/08/2020 https://imemc.org/article/uae-dictatorship-sells-out-palestinian-rights-through-agreement-with-israel/ By The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC):
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement strongly slammed in a statement the recent normalization agreement between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel, calling on Emiratis to boycott any Israeli activity in the country.
“Palestinian civil society stands with the silenced majority in the United Arab Emirates and the Arab world in strongly condemning the agreement reached between the despotic rulers of the United Arab Emirates and Israel, with support from the Trump White House,” the statement said. “This is the UAE regime’s gravest betrayal of the struggle for Palestinian liberation and self-determination.”
Occupation forces kill Palestinian man in Jerusalem IMEMC 18/08/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-soldiers-kill-a-palestinian-in-jerusalem-3/ Ashraf Hasan Atallah Halasa was shot with at least three live rounds in the chest, one of them struck his heart, and was left on the ground without medical attention for about 90 minutes, while the soldiers “secured the area”, and the Israeli medics tended to the wounded officer. Soldiers also abducted Tareq and his brother, Atef Sbeitan, near the al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli Court annexes 525 dunams of land to the JNF PIC 29/08/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-court-annexes-525-dunams-of-land-settlers-set-up-new-outpost/
The Israeli army, on Wednesday, delivered demolition orders against 3 Palestinian-owned homes and stop-work orders against 6 others in Nahalin town, west of Bethlehem, in the southern occupied West Bank. The army also handed stop-work orders to the owners of six under construction homes.
The Israeli authorities annexed 525 dunams (130 acres) of Palestinian-owned lands in Nahalin town, registering it as property of the Jewish National Fund. Israeli occupation courts rejected all documents filed by Palestinian locals proving their ownership of the annexed area. The land will be utilized for the expansion of the Gush Etzion settlements south of Bethlehem. Illegal Israeli settlers, Thursday, set up a new illegal outpost on land belonging to the village of Obwein, north of Ramallah, in the central West Bank, according to a local official.
Israeli warplanes, tanks attack the Gaza Strip PIC 26/08/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-warplanes-tanks-attack-the-gaza-strip/
Israeli jets and tanks, Tuesday at dawn, bombed Palestinian lands in Rafah and Khan Younis in the southern besieged Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Information Center reported.
Local sources told the PIC’s reporter that Israeli warplanes fired two missiles at Palestinian-owned farm land east of Rafah City. At the same time, Israeli tanks stationed along the eastern border between Gaza and Israel, opened fire at two observation posts east of Khan Younis City.
Israel attacks fishermen, opens fire at shepherds PIC 24/08/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-navy-attacks-fishermen-army-opens-fire-at-shepherds/
The Israeli navy, on Sunday, attacked Palestinian fishermen and their boats as they sailed within one nautical mile off the Gaza shore, the Palestinian Information Center reported.
Israeli total closure of the Gaza sea, which has continued for the seventh consecutive day, deprives Gaza fishermen of their daily sustenance and increases their families’ suffering.
The 1993 Oslo accords allowed fishing up to 20 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, but the Israeli authorities have reduced the fishing zone to between three and six nautical miles.
The Israeli army, on Saturday morning, opened machine-gun fire towards cultivated land and shepherds in the besieged Gaza Strip,
PCHR: Israeli human rights violations in the OPT PCHR 27/08 – 2/9/2020 https://imemc.org/article/pchr-israeli-human-rights-violations-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-2/ Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued to commit crimes and multi-faceted violations against Palestinian civilians and their properties, including raids into Palestinian cities that are characterized with excessive use of force, assault, abuse and attacks on civilians. This week, IOF wounded 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child in excessive use of force during raids into Palestinian cities and suppression of peaceful protests in the West Bank. IOF also continued its policy of demolishing and destroying Palestinian houses and facilities for its settlement expansion schemes.
Palestinian detainee dies in Israeli prison IMEMC 3/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/palestinian-detainee-dies-in-israeli-prison-3/
The PPS issued a statement mourning the detainee, identified as Daoud Tal’at Khatib, 45, from Bethlehem, south of occupied Jerusalem in the West Bank, and added that the detainee was abducted by the soldiers in April 2002, and was sentenced to 18 years and eight months in prison. He was only a few months away from being released. The PPS added that Israel is claiming he died from a heart attack, but without any further information, and added that the detainee, throughout the years of imprisonment, has faced numerous health complications, including a heart attack a few years ago, in addition to undergoing an open-heart surgery. Israel rejected various appeals for Daoud’s release on humanitarian grounds so that he could receive the needed treatment at specialized medical centers.
Fifteen Palestinians, including a child, detained IMEMC 3/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/fifteen-palestinians-including-a-child-detained-by-israeli-army/
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) reported that Israeli forces detained 15 Palestinian civilians, Thursday, from the occupied West Bank. In the al-‘Isawiya neighborhood in occupied city of Jerusalem, under full Israeli control, 2 Palestinian civilians were detained by the Israeli military, including a child; Montaser Sabtah, 14,
Palestinian shot from Bethlehem watchtower IMEMC 3/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-soldiers-shoot-palestinian-man-from-watchtower-in-bethlehem/
Local sources said that Ahmed Abu Akr, 32, from Aida refugee camp, was shot by an Israeli soldier who was stationed in a military watchtower near the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque. In related news, Israeli forces shot a young Palestinian man near Nablus, the injury being described as moderate.
Israeli forces attack elderly protestor WAFA 2/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-soldiers-attack-elderly-protestor-journalists-in-tulkarem/ The occupation forces brutally assaulted elderly Khairy Hanoun while protesting Israel’s plan to expropriate occupied Palestinian land from the village of Shofa near Tulkarem city.
Israel approves hundreds of settler units near Bethlehem IMEMC 13/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israel-approves-hundreds-of-colonialist-units-near-bethlehem/
The Israeli government and its so-called “Civil Administration Office,” the executive branch of its illegal occupation, has approved the construction of hundreds of new units in an illegal colony, south of Bethlehem, south of occupied Jerusalem, in the West Bank. Hasan Breijiyya, the head of the Bethlehem office of the “Wall and Colonization Resistance Commission,” has reported that Israel approved the construction of 980 units in the Efrat illegal colony, which was built on stolen Palestinian lands. Breijiyya also stated that the new construction would lead to the illegal confiscation of large areas of privately owned Palestinian farmlands, the only sources of livelihood to many families.
Elderly Palestinian abducted In Jerusalem IMEMC 13/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-intelligence-officers-abduct-an-elderly-palestinian-man-in-jerusalem/ Israeli intelligence officers officers, accompanied by many soldiers, invaded the Silwan home of Abdul-Rahim Barbar, 80, and ransacked it before abducting him and removing him to a Jerusalem interrogation facility. His son, Majd Barbar, is a political prisoner who was imprisoned by Israel for twenty years in 2001.
Water shortage in the Gaza Strip amid COVID-19 al Mezan 12/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/news-brief-al-mezan-issues-a-fact-sheet-on-water-shortage-in-the-gaza-strip-amid-covid-19-outbreak/ Al Mezan is deeply concerned for the population’s health and wellbeing, in particular, the impoverished populations in Gaza amid the declining municipal services and COVID-19 outbreak and addresses the deteriorating living conditions in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel’s 14-year blockade and recent punitive measures, notably the ban on fuel entry to the Strip, and their repercussions on the provision of municipal services, particularly water and sanitation. In addition, their fact sheet [Read Full Document here ] sheds light on the struggle of low-income families to access alternative sources of water to offset the intermittent supply of municipal water amid a full lockdown imposed on Gaza to fight the spread of COVID-19, which further exacerbated these families’ financial troubles.
EU urges Israel to cease demolition of Palestinian homes IMEMC 11/09/2020
https://imemc.org/article/eu-missions-urge-israel-to-cease-demolition-of-palestinian-homes/
“In line with the EU’s long-standing position on Israel’s settlement policy, illegal under international law, and actions taken in that context, such as forced transfers, evictions, demolitions and confiscations of homes, the EU once again urges the Israeli authorities to halt demolitions of Palestinian structures,”
Palestinian forced to demolish fourth floor of his home PIC/Silwanic 10/09/2020
https://imemc.org/article/palestinian-forced-to-demolish-fourth-floor-of-his-home-in-jerusalem/ The Israeli authorities, Tuesday, forced a citizen of Jerusalem to demolish the fourth floor of his home, near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. The owner for the home, Hamed Hammad, said he was ordered to remove the fourth floor of his house himself or pay excessive demolition costs to the Israeli municipality.
In related news, an Israeli court issued a verdict in favor of the settler group, Ateret Cohanim, expelling a Palestinian family from their apartment building in Silwan neighborhood, located on the outskirts of the Old City of Jerusalem.The building consists of three apartments, which are home to 30 members of the Rajabi family.
Twelve detainees in Ofer prison are Covid-19 positive IMEMC 8/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/twelve-detainees-in-ofer-israeli-prison-are-covid-19-positive/
The number of detainees in Ofer Israeli prison, who have been officially diagnosed as Covid-19 positive, has arrived to 12. A total of 29 detainees in various prisoners are infected with the virus thus far. The infected detainees are in Section 14 of Ofer Israeli prison, which is already overcrowded, Five of them tested positive on Tuesday evening, and seven during morning hours. It is worth mentioning that Israel is holding captive more than 4500 Palestinian detainees, including women, children, elderly, and many who are suffering from various serious issues, such as cancer, renal failure or diseases, and other conditions.
Hebron: Settler runs down Palestinian Child IMEMC 8/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-settler-strikes-palestinian-child-with-vehicle-in-hebron/
An Israeli settler, on Sunday, struck a Palestinian child with his car, near the illegal Kiryat Arba settlement, built on Palestinian-owned land of Hebron, southern occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Information Center.Eyewitnesses states that an unidentified Israeli settler ran over the child with his vehicle, and proceeded to escape responsibility, heading towards Kiryat Arba
Israel arrests cancer patient at Erez crossing al Mezan 16/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/press-release-israeli-authorities-arrest-cancer-patient-at-erez-crossing/
14 September 2020, the Israeli authorities at Erez crossing arrested Mohammed Tayseer Sawali, a 36-year-old cancer patient from Khan Younis, despite having granted him a travel permit. Sawali was on his way to Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem. Sawali’s family told Al Mezan that Mohammed was diagnosed with colon cancer six months ago and had been referred to Augusta Victoria Hospital for medical treatment. His mother, Asmahan Sawali, was his designated companion. However, when they arrived at Erez crossing at around 1 pm on Monday, Mohammed was called in for interrogation by Israel Security Agency officers at the crossing.
Several hours later, at around 7 pm, Asmahan Sawali was ordered to go back to Gaza without her son who had just been arrested. She was admitted to a quarantine facility upon returning as a mandatory preventive measure—initiated by authorities in Gaza—to fight the spread of COVID-19. The reason for Sawali’s detention and his current health condition remain unclear. The Israeli authorities continue to use Erez crossing as a means of entrapment and attempted coercion of Palestinians residing in Gaza, particularly of those in urgent need of medical exit permits, which are only granted for pressing humanitarian needs.
“UAE and Bahrain’s normalisation with Israel incentivises continued colonisation of Palestine” al Haq 16/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/al-haq-uae-and-bahrains-normalisation-with-israel-incentivises-continued-colonisation-of-palestine/
The decision of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalise relations with Israel lay bare what has been clear to Palestinians for decades: Israel’s illegal acts of annexation and apartheid will not deter those in power from the pursuit of their own interests, to the detriment, if not damnation, of justice, accountability, and human rights in Palestine. . . .
Unlawful demolitions in the West Bank spike during pandemic IMEMC 15/09/20 https://imemc.org/article/ocha-unlawful-demolitions-in-the-west-bank-spike-during-pandemic/ Early during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Israeli authorities indicated that they would restrain their longstanding policy of demolishing inhabited Palestinian homes. Yet the six month period from March 1 to August 31, 2020 saw the demolition or confiscation of 389 Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank, on average, 65 per month, the highest average destruction rate in four years. . . .
Court approves mosque demolition in Silwan Silwanic 14/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-court-rejects-appeal-approves-mosque-demolition-in-silwan/
An Israeli court rejected an appeal from the residents, which was filed after a demolition order was issued by the City Council to demolish the Al-Qa’qa’ mosque in the town. The mosque, the only one in that area, was built through donations from various individuals and institutions and is being used for worship by about 7000 residents – all part of ongoing Israeli violations against the Palestinians in Silwan, and the rest of occupied East Jerusalem.
Two fishermen killed by Egyptian Naval Forces PCHR 27/09/2020
https://imemc.org/article/pchr-2-fishermen-killed-and-another-injured-by-egyptian-naval-forces/
The three fishermen Mahmoud Mohammed Ibrahim al-Za’zou’ (20) and his two brothers Hasan (26) and Yaser (18), from Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza Strip, went fishing at approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 24 September 2020. After they crossed the Palestinian-Egyptian maritime boundaries and entered the Egyptian regional waters; at approximately 01:00 on Friday, 25 September 2020, Egyptian gunboats opened heavy fire against them and took them to an unknown destination.
Body of Palestinian mother handed back to her family IMEMC 26/09/2020
https://imemc.org/article/corpse-of-palestinian-mother-killed-by-the-army-in-september-2019-handed-back-to-her-family/ Nayfa Mohammad Ka’abna, 50, from Aqbat Jabr refugee camp, was killed by the soldiers on September 18th, 2019, while crossing Qalandia Terminal. The slain Palestinian woman was a mother of nine children; after she was shot by the soldiers, she was left bleeding for a long time, before an Israeli ambulance moved her to Hadassah Israeli Medical Center in Jerusalem, where she succumbed to her wounds. The soldiers claimed that they ordered the woman to stop and alleged that “she did not heed to their commands, and pulled out a knife before the soldiers shot her.” The allegation was refuted by Palestinians at the roadblock and her family.
Israeli soldiers abduct two children IMEMC 21/09/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-soldiers-abduct-two-children-near-nablus/ ‘Amir Sa’ada, 12, and Mohammad Atallah ‘Azem, 13 from Qaryout village were walking in the al-‘Ein area, south of Qaryout when the soldiers abducted them and took them to Shilo settlement . . .
Twelve Palestinian policemen abducted IMEMC 4/10/2020 https://imemc.org/article/israeli-soldiers-abduct-twelve-palestinian-policemen-near-ramallah/
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Saturday evening, the village of Ni’lin, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and abducted twelve Palestinian on-duty police officers, in addition to confiscating their vehicles and weapons. The police officers were on a mission to apprehend a resident, wanted by the police over criminal charges.
Haaretz: What Are You Proud of When You Think of the State of Israel?
By: Gideon Levy
A group of Palestinian laborers leaned on the felled trees that were dragged like corpses by a tractor, and sawed down the trunks into small logs. The first light was rising over the fields north of Tel Aviv. Only a few hundred meters from there, a luxury neighborhood was still asleep; the noise from the saws and the smoke had not penetrated the double windows of the elegant villas.
Haaretz: Inhuman Apathy to Israel Border Police's Brutal Assault of Palestinians
By: Gideon Levy
They entered the hotel room one at a time and committed their despicable act, and the country roiled with shock. They ordered them to strip and beat them, one after the other, with a bamboo stick and brass knuckles, as they lay helpless and bleeding on the ground. Fourteen cases of such cruel abuse – and Israel yawned with disinterest.
Haaretz: Incriminating Minutes of an Israeli Knesset Panel on the West Bank
by Amira Hass
There are five ways to read the minutes of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, convening as the subcommittee for the spread of the settlements. They are there for all to see on the Knesset website. One way is not to bother. After all, who cares about a meeting that’s not about the ultra-Orthodox, the coronavirus lockdown and the future of our salaries? It’s enough to know that fine fellows are preparing more land for us for hikes and vacations minus the Arabs.
Hugh Humphries
Secretary
Scottish Friends of Palestine 0141 637 8046 info@scottish-friends-of-palestine.org
