Several Palestinians were kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in a predawn sweep rocking the West Bank and Jerusalem. The Israeli army claimed in a statement responsibility for the abduction of 19 Palestinians on allegations of involvement in anti-occupation activities. The Israeli military claimed weapons were detected in Jerusalem’s Abu Dis town following a round of home break-ins carried out in the area. The IOF also kidnapped seven Palestinians from the southern occupied West Bank province of al-Khalil and nine others from the northern West Bank. Israeli patrols rolled into Qalqilya and kidnapped the young man Mahmoud Shteiwi from … Continue reading Arrests, home break-ins reported in West Bank sweep by Israel army

Israeli authorities have issued 338 administrative detention orders since the beginning of 2018, the Palestinian Center for Prisoners’ Studies said on Monday. The center pointed out that from among the 338 orders, 222 were renewals of detentions of prisoners already held by the occupation. However, 116 orders were issued against Palestinians detained for the first time or re-detained. Israel’s widely condemned policy of administrative detention allows internment without charge or trial in maximum six-month long renewable intervals based on undisclosed evidence that even a detainee’s lawyer is barred from viewing. Rights groups have claimed that Israel’s detention policy has been … Continue reading Israel issues 338 administrative detention orders

There has been a sharp increase in the number of attacks by Jewish extremists against Palestinians in the West Bank this year, Haaretz Hebrew newspaper reported. According to data from the Israeli Shin Bet intelligence service, number of Israeli settlers’ hate crimes in 2018 has already exceeded the total number in 2017, with attacks centered around the Nablus area. The report referred to a surge in “price tag” incidents, characterized by acts of vandalism such as graffiti or vehicle defamation. There have been 13 attacks of this kind since January 2018 compared to 8 the year before. Attacks defined as … Continue reading Sharp rise in attacks against Palestinians by Israeli settlers

Avigdor Lieberman,, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman yesterday expressed his “absolute support” for the Israeli soldiers who have been shooting Palestinian protesters in the occupied Gaza Strip in recent weeks. On Friday, Israeli snipers shot and killed four Palestinians (with a fifth succumbing to his wounds on Sunday night), including a 14-year-old child, Mohammad Ayoub. Lieberman said that Israeli soldiers had done nothing wrong. “I was there myself and saw how the soldiers were operating. The way our soldiers function inspires respect,” the defence minister stated, adding that “there is absolute support for IDF soldiers and every incident is investigated.” Lieberman … Continue reading Israel defence minister gives ‘absolute support’ to snipers shooting Palestinian protesters