Israeli Aggression Against the Palestinian People: Invasions, Attacks, Kidnapping, mistreatment of political prisoners, on July 4, 2008

Several youth wounded in an Israeli invasion to Hebron refugee camp

Friday July 04, 2008 01:36 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Eyewitnesses reported on Thursday evening that at least six youth were wounded by Israeli military fire after the army invaded Al Fari’a refugee camp, north of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and clashed with local youth, who hurled stones at the invading forces.

The eyewitnesses added that one homemade explosive charge was hurled at a military jeep near the camp and that the explosive directly hit the jeep; the Israeli army reported no injuries.

Later on soldiers, supported by more than 20 military vehicles, closed the area and invaded the camp.

Dozens of youth took off to the streets and hurled stones at the invading forces. Soldiers fired rounds of live ammunition and rubber-coated bullets, causing at least six injuries among the Palestinian youth.

Additionally, soldiers surrounded the camp, installed roadblocks. and initiated a search campaign that targeted dozens of homes in the camp.

Soldiers invade a Palestinian town near Nablus

Friday July 04, 2008 01:25 by IMEMC News

Palestinian sources in Kuful Hares village, north of the West Bank city of Salfit, reported that Israeli soldiers invaded the village on Thursday evening and installed tents at its entrances, in order to enable a group of settlers to visit some religious sites.

File - Israeli settlers attacking homes in Kuful Hares village

The sources added that soldiers divided the village into several “security sectors” and barred the residents from entering these sectors or even walking in the streets.

Thousands of settlers are expected to visit the area this night until 6 a.m on Thursday morning.

Soldiers topped several Palestinian homes and installed roadblocks at the entrances to the village, local sources reported.

Five explosive devices launched at Israeli forces near Nablus

Date: 04 / 07 / 2008 Time: 10:44
Bethlehem – Ma'an -

Five locally manufactured explosive devices were launched at an Israeli force in a field north east of Nablus on Friday morning, Israeli sources said.

The sources added that there were no casualties among the soldiers.

Israeli forces storm the village of Kefl Haris to protect settlers visiting religious shrines

Date: 04 / 07 / 2008 Time: 09:51
Salfit – Ma'an -

Israeli forces stormed the village of Kefl Haris on Thursday night to protect Israeli settlers visiting religious shrines, Palestinian security sources said.

The sources told Ma'an that Israeli patrols backed up by Israeli troops overran Kefl Haris and erected tents at the entrance to the village to ensure the safety of Israeli settlers. Earlier that day settlers attacked the houses of citizens in the village.

The sources confirmed that the Israeli forces climbed on the rooftops of houses in the village, as well as set up checkpoints in the village to restrict the villagers' movement.

Two international activists and a Palestinian injured in Bil'in Weekly Protest

Friday July 04, 2008 16:12 by Abdullah Abu Rahma - IMEMC News

Three activists were injured by Israeli forces on Friday in the weekly protest against the separation wall in Bil’in; near the West Bank city of Ramallah: two of them are French activists and the third one is Mohamad Ali Abo Sa'di 65 years old, in addition to the dozens of protesters were treated for tear gas inhalation.

Villagers from Bil’in marched together with international and Israeli solidarity activists after Friday prayers, carrying Palestinian flags and banners demanding the removal of the Israeli wall and settlements, while calling on the international community to lift the siege on Gaza and help Palestinians retain Jerusalem.

Participants also demanded that the Israeli army stop killing Palestinian civilians and end the use of live ammunition against non-violent protesters. As protesters approached the separation wall, Israeli forces prevented the villagers from reaching the gate that is supposed to provide access to their lands, and opened fire on them with tear gas canisters, sound bombs, and rubber-coated metal bullets.

Three were injured and scores of protesters were treated for gas inhalation, In related news, the Israeli force released on Thursday afternoon Ali Hamadan Abo Rahma 17 years old, who were arrested four day before when the army invaded the village and attacked the houses of Mohammad Ali Yassin and Hamadan Ali Abo Rahama and terrorized the resident of the two homes while arresting Ali.

Detained Hamas leader remains in solitary confinement after six years

Friday July 04, 2008 02:29 by IMEMC News

The Ahrar Center for Detainees Studies reported on Thursday that an Israeli Military Court decided to extend solitary confinement against Shaikh Jamal Abu Al-Haija, one of Hamas' leaders, who is currently in solitary confinement in the Al Ramla prison.

Abu Al-Haija was sentenced to nine life-terms and additional twenty years. He is in very bad health, as one of his hands was amputated during the massive Israeli assault against the Jenin refugee camp in April 2002. Abu Al-Haija is also suffering from a skin disease.

The Israeli assault against the camp started on April 3 and lasted through April 13. The United Nations said after the attack that the Israeli army killed 58 Palestinians, wounded hundreds of others and leveled at least 200 homes.

Abu Al-Haija filed an appeal to the Israeli court to allow him to meet both of his detained sons, but his request was rejected. Abdul-Salam one of the sons of Abu Al-Haija was sentenced to seven and a half years, and his other son, Asem, has been under administrative detention for three years.

The wife of Abu Al-Haija said that she is worried since her husband’s health condition is continuously deteriorating, and voiced an appeal to the resistance fighters in Gaza, who are holding the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit captive, to make sure that Abu Al-Haija and all detainees who are sentenced to lengthy terms, are released in any prisoner swap deal with Israel.

Fuad Al-Khuffash, head of the Ahrar Center, stated that the detainees who are in solitary confinement cannot see the sunshine for extended period of times, leading to eye problems and skin diseases due to the humidity in the cells.

Al-Khuffash added that Abu Al-Haija has been in solitary confinement since he was kidnapped by the army in August 26, 2002.

He stated that the prisoner swap deal should include sections which demand improving the conditions of the Palestinian detainees, and ending solitary confinement and collective punishment policies practiced by Israel.

Palestinian Workers Union slams Israel’s arrest of 50 Palestinian workers

Friday July 04, 2008 02:02 by IMEMC News

Shaher Sa’ad, secretary-general of the Palestinian Workers Union, slammed the Israeli attacks against Palestinian workers and said that Israel arrested 50 workers inside Israel after claiming that they do not carry the needed work permits.

Sa’ad added that Israeli policemen chased and arrested 50 workers in an area in Jerusalem. The workers were assaulted, humiliated and were taken to a nearby police station.

He also stated that these assaults violate the international law and human rights regulations as those workers are trying to work in order to sustain a decent living to their children and families.

Sa’ad urged international organizations to practice pressure on the Israeli Authorities in order to stop their violations against the workers especially since the Israeli restrictions caused a sharp increase of poverty rates in Palestine.

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