Egyptian delegation to enter Gaza Strip

Published yesterday (updated) 11/01/2010 18:06

Gaza – Ma’an –

A delegation of Egyptian politicians and actors is due to reach Gaza next Friday, the de facto government’s Anti-Siege Committee announced on Monday.

Under the banner “No Siege and No Wall,” the visit was organized by the Egyptian Labor and Karama parties as well as the Kifaya movement, a statement from the committee said.

The delegation reportedly will include Dr Diyaa Sawi, Dr Muhammad Sab’awi, Dr Najla Qayloubi, wife of detained Labor leader Majdi Hussein, as well as Sheikh Abu Omar Al-Masri. Egyptian actors Abdul Aziz Makhyoun and Muhsina Tawfiq were also scheduled to join the delegation.

The group awaits permission from the Egyptian authorities but will enter with a “symbolic gifts” for the people of Gaza, the statement read.

Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian and foreign activists began on Monday the first of weekly demonstrations against Israel’s creation of a buffer zone between the Green Line and the northern and eastern borders of Gaza.

Saber Al-Za’aneen, coordinator of the local committee that organized the protests, said they were joined by foreign participants in the intended "security zone," reaching approximately 100 meters of the separation wall in Beit Hanoun.

Al-Za’aneen told Ma’an that the committee hopes to see participation grow, in order to protect farmers, who are most affected by the decision, and to assist them in gaining entry to their agricultural land.

The Israeli occupation army dropped leaflets across Gaza, informing its residents of the new areas that are no longer accessible to the population.

Israel's Siege Kills Another Child. Man Reported Dead At A Tunnel Site

Monday January 11, 2010 15:08 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

A Palestinian child was reported dead on Monday after he was unable to leave the Gaza Strip for the medical care he urgently needed.

Three year old Mayisarah Mousa had a heart condition, but doctors were unable to treat him in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli siege. Doctors said that he needed an operation to save his life but the Israeli military did not give his family the much needed permit to leave Gaza for medical treatement abroad.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, with Mousa's death the number of patients who died because of the Israeli siege has now reached 368. The Israeli military started its siege on the Gaza Strip in June of 2006.

Also on Monday a young man was reported dead after he fell into a tunnel at the southern Gaza Strip borders with Egypt.

Local sources identified the man as Fadi Azzam, 20 years old, from Rafah city. Witnesses told local media that Azzam fell inside a tunnel that he works in and died of his wounds.

Activists enter Gaza buffer zone created by Israeli occupation forces

Published yesterday (updated) 11/01/2010 17:04

Gaza – Ma’an –

 Dozens of Palestinian and foreign activists began on Monday the first of weekly demonstrations against Israel’s creation of a buffer zone between the Green Line and the northern and eastern borders of the Gaza Strip.

Saber Az-Za’aneen, coordinator of the local committee that organized the protests, said they were joined by foreign participants in the intended "security zone," reaching approximately 100 meters of the separation wall in Beit Hanoun.

Al-Za’aneen told Ma’an that the committee hopes to see participation grow, in order to protect farmers, who are most affected by the decision, and to assist them in gaining entry to their agricultural land.

The Israeli occupation army dropped leaflets across Gaza, informing its residents of the new areas that are no longer accessible to the population.

Activists: Israeli occupation army prevents tree-planting near Hebron

Published yesterday (updated) 11/01/2010 21:44

Hebron – Ma'an –

Israeli occupation forces reportedly prohibited Palestinian farmers from planting 1,500 olive trees in the Abu Ar-Rish area of the Beit Ummar village near Hebron on Monday.

"Despite the decision by an Israeli court allowing Palestinian farmers to work on their lands, Israeli troops banned farmers today from planting [olive trees]," said Muhammad Awad, media spokesman for the Palestine Solidarity Project. "The troops said that it is a closed military area," Awad said.

The spokesman added that four journalists and three American activists were detained, as Israeli forces used stun grenades and closed off the area leading to the agricultural land in question.

An Israeli occupation forces spokesman said he had no knowledge of the incident.