Month: June 2021

Israeli army bulldozers razed Palestinian land in Masafer Yatta in the south of the West Bank in order to expand an illegal settlement, according to a local activist.

Fouad al-Imour, an activist, told WAFA that the bulldozers razed land in Khirbet Umm al-Khawas in Masafer Yatta in order to expand Havat Talia settlement nearby.

He said that the occupation authorities have escalated their measures against Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, including demolishing their homes, razing their lands and forcing people out of their lands in order to expand illegal settlements.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

The latest with the efforts to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the unending Israeli settlement activities in the occupied West Bank were highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies published today.

Al-Quds daily said Egypt’s intelligence chief discussed with Hamas leaders and other factions yesterday in Gaza the ceasefire, the reconstruction, prisoners’ exchange and reconciliation.

Al-Hayat al-Jadida daily said Fatah Central Committee also discussed in a meeting yesterday in Ramallah efforts to rebuild Gaza following the Israeli war in order to alleviate the hardships of the people there.

The third daily, al-Ayyam, which also reported on the developments in Gaza, said in its main front-page story headline that Israel announced the construction of 1178 new housing units in the illegal settlements and the appropriation of 1538 dunums of Palestinian land for settlement expansion.

The paper said that another building is under threat of eviction and seizure by settlement groups in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem. It said the building and land are owned by the Palestinian NET tours company.

Al-Quds said tens of thousands of UNRWA employees are demanding that the agency’s director of operations in Gaza to leave following statements he made on the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

It said that journalists in the West Bank held a protest against Israel’s assault on fellow journalists.

The papers also said two people died of coronavirus in Palestine yesterday and 302 new cases were recorded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

Israeli forces today detained dozens of Palestinians in several areas in the occupied West Bank, according to local sources.

In Ramallah district, the forces detained eight Palestinian youths, while in Tulkarm, two youths were detained.

The forces also detained a former prisoner from the Jenin district.

In Tubas, one youth was arrested.

Additionally, Israeli soldiers detained one from the Nablus-district, while in Qalqilya, one youth was detained.

Five youths from the Bethlehem-district were detained. In Hebron, the forces detained a youth injured a few days ago by Israeli gunfire.

The sources added that Israeli forces also detained a youth from the village of Qatanna, northwest of Jerusalem.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

Representative of the European Union in Palestine, Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, said today that the reconstruction of Gaza requires the lifting of the 15-year-old Israeli siege and the free access of people and goods in and out of Gaza.

This came during a press conference held in front of the ruins of al-Jala tower – housing the AP and al-Jazeera offices – destroyed during the 11-day of the Israeli onslaught on the Strip, during which he affirmed that the Israeli siege on the Strip must be lifted and the people and goods must be allowed to move freely in and out of the Strip.

He said that the European Union, the World Bank, and international institutions are undertaking an assessment of the damages and will do their utmost to ensure urgent assistance in terms of food, water, electricity, and shelter, referring to the previously-announced grant of about 34 million euros to support the Gaza Strip.

He maintained that all efforts extorted toward the reconstruction of Gaza will make no difference as long as the elements of the conflict remain unresolved.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

Upon instructions of President Mahmoud Abbas, and at the directives of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad al-Malki, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry Amal Jadou summoned today four ambassadors over their countries’ latest negative votes on resolutions relevant to the Palestinian cause at the UN Security Council and World Health Organization (WHO).

The Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry expressed shock over Austria, the Czech Republic, Britain, and Bulgaria’s negative votes, which it slammed as a ’green light’ to Israel, the occupying power, to persist in its aggression and systematic violations of Palestinian people rights.

She said that such negative votes reinforce the culture of impunity, and give Israel better room to consolidate its occupation and perpetuate further crimes of apartheid and persecution which constitute crimes against humanity based on international law.

The four ambassadors were summoned, handed strong-worded letters of protest, and requested clarifications by their foreign ministries regarding their country’s negative votes at the UNSC and the WHO.

The Ministry stated that the German ambassador will be summoned next Thursday.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh arrived today evening in Muscat, capital of Oman, as part of an official Gulf tour to discusses the latest political developments.

The premier is scheduled to meet with Deputy Prime Minister for Relations and International Cooperation Affairs Asaad bin Tariq al-Said, the sultan’s special representative, and several ministers and other Omanis officials.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency