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July 03 Israeli attacks against Gaza civiliansJamal is a 5 years old. He is talking about his exprince during Israeli invaion.
Jamal is a 5 years old. He is talking about his exprince during Israeli invaion.
http://www.nepras.tv/ar/vedio.php?id=130
June 08 its unfairJune 07 Thumbs up for Hamas!Thumbs up for Hamas!
Despite all what the world might think of, Palestinian under occupation (and elsewhere for sure) still believes that Hamas and Haniyeh are in better position than what the trio - Rice, Bush and Olmert - are trying to present as an alternative for Palestinian Democracy to the world, the corrupted Fatah and President Abbas. In a recent Palestinian public opinion poll, the results shown increased dissatisfaction with the performance of Mahmud Abbas and with the Government of Ismail Haniyeh Seen as having greater legitimacy and better performance than the Government of Salam Fayyad. Hamas’s and Haniyeh’s Popularity increased, Fateh’s and Abbas’s decrease. Despite all the atrocities that the Palestinians in general, and Gazans in particular, went through during the last few months, this survey shows the real metal of Palestinians. Hunger or death will not force Palestinians to bow for occupation or for corrupted, disrespected leadership in Ramallah. The latest poll was conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy
and Survey Research (PSR) in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip between
13 and 15 March 2008. This period witnessed a limited lull that
prevailed between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip in the aftermath
of the Israeli incursion into Gaza in early March that left more than
130 Palestinians dead and after the bombing attack in West Jerusalem
that led to the death of 8 Israeli religious students. Main Findings: Findings indicate that a major shift, in Hamas’s favor, had occurred during the last three months with about 10% of the population shifting their attitudes and perceptions. The change included increased popularity of Hamas and its leadership, increased support for its positions and legitimacy, and greater satisfaction with its performance. These changes might have been the result of several political developments starting with the breaching of the Rafah border with Egypt during the last week of January and first week of February, followed by the Israeli military incursion into the Gaza Strip leading to a large number of Palestinian causalities and an increase in the number of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip against Israeli towns such as Sderot and Ashkelon, the two suicide attacks in Dimona and Jerusalem leading to the death of nine Israelis, and ending with the failure of the Annapolis process in positively affecting daily life of Palestinians in the West Bank, in stopping Israeli settlement activities, or in producing progress in final status negotiations. These developments managed to present Hamas as successful in breaking the siege and as a victim of Israeli attacks. These also presented Palestinian President Abbas and his Fateh faction as impotent, unable to change the bitter reality in the West Bank or ending Israeli occupation through diplomacy.
Narratives Under Siege: Gaza’s 700 Stranded Students Hadeel Abu Kwaik is one of 7 students whose Fulbright scholarships were recently withdrawn, then swiftly reinstated by the US State Dept. But almost 700 other students remain stranded in Gaza Few days ago, on 1 June, Hadeel Abu Kwaik was sitting in her computer lab at Al-Azhar University in Gaza looking worried, and perplexed. Today, having just been told her Fulbright scholarship has been reinstated, she says she is “Happy but still worried. I’m still not sure we will [all] be able to leave for the US.” Hadeel is one of seven Gaza students who, on 29 May, all received letters from the US Consulate in Jerusalem, informing them that their Fulbright scholarship applications would not be finalised. The US consulate letter gave no reason for the sudden withdrawing of the 7 scholarships: instead all seven students, three women and four men, were “Strongly encouraged” to re-apply for the same Fulbright scholarships the following year, and assured they would receive “Priority consideration.” The withdrawing of these Fulbright scholarships caused international uproar, momentarily focusing the world’s attention on the plight of the seven Gaza Strip students. US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice intervened, saying she was “Surprised” by the decision, and adding “If you cannot engage young people and give complete horizons to their expectations and their dreams, I don’t know that there will be any future for Palestine. We will take a look.” In the face of mounting criticism from both within the US and
Israel, the US State Department swiftly reinstated the seven Fulbright
scholarships, and on 2 June assured the students they were “working
closely” with Israeli officials to secure permits for the students to
leave Gaza. Hadeel is now waiting to travel to Jerusalem, where she
will be interviewed at the US Consulate in order to secure her US visa.
Then she will return to Gaza in order to prepare for her departure at
the end of summer. She hopes to study her MBA in software engineering
at Minnesota University. The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights both explicitly confirm the rights of all people to freely travel to and from their own state. The Israeli closure of the Gaza Strip, which is about to enter its third year, is systematically and deliberately destroying the Gazan economy, its health and education services, and crushing the future of its people. Gazan students who want to pursue specialist education abroad, many of whom intend to return to Gaza afterwards and assist in rebuilding their country, are being denied this right because Israel remains intent on its illegal policy of collective punishment. An Israeli human rights organization, GISHA, has just gone to the Israeli Supreme Court to petition for 2 Gaza students, Wissam Abuajwa and Nibal Nayef, to be permitted to leave Gaza and study their Masters in the UK and Germany. Meanwhile, 29 year old Said Ahmad Said Al-Madhoun has been waiting more than a year to pursue his Master of Law abroad. After being awarded a fellowship by the Open Society Institute in January 2007, he was accepted onto a Masters program at the American University, Washington College of Law, but has been unable to reach the US. “I managed to get out of Gaza in December 2007 and to travel to the Egyptian border” says Said. “It was a complex journey - because of the closure we were forced to travel through Erez Crossing (in northern Gaza) and then via another Israeli crossing, at Kerem Shalom, to the Egyptian border. But I was turned back at the [Egyptian] border because I had no US visa.” Said could not obtain a US visa, because, like the vast majority of other Gazans, he is not permitted to travel to Jerusalem, where the US Consulate issues its visas. He attempted to leave Gaza once more in early January, and was turned back at the Egyptian border again. His academic career, and life, suspended, Said is still waiting. “This is so frustrating for me, and for all of us students in Gaza” he says wearily. “We want to work and to learn. We want to enjoy our freedom of movement. We want to determine our future.” When Hadeel Abu Kwaik first heard that her Fulbright scholarship had been withdrawn, she said she felt angry and disappointed. “I wonder if Israel wants an educated neighbor or an angry one” she stated publicly. Like Said Al-Madhoun, Hadeel wants to pursue her studies overseas and then return to Gaza and work in her own community. Although she says she’s happy her Fulbright scholarships has been reinstated, she admits she is still worried about whether she will actually be able to leave Gaza, and her anxiety is clearly tainting her joy. “I won’t be relieved until we actually reach the United States (to start my studies),” she says. help gaza 2 help your selfsupport gaza even in words
please talk about gaza with everyone in school in university in cafes at parties in gardens everywhere, just send your massege 2 help gaza & the children in gaza
EU delegation in Palestine: Improvement on the ground is crucial
PRESS RELEASE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION URGES ACTION TO COUNTERACT ERODING CONFIDENCE IN THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI PEACE PROCESS
Improvement on the ground is crucial
Jerusalem, 2 June 2008
A European Parliament delegation visited Israel and the Palestinian Territories from 31 May to 2 June with the aim of assessing the situation on the ground as regards developments since Annapolis.
"We have observed encouraging improvements in the security situation in the West Bank municipalities with Palestinians being able to take on their responsibilities. Nevertheless, Israeli incursions and other restrictions undermine the authority and ability of Palestinian police and security forces to function.
We further witnessed the beginnings of Palestinian economic recovery with greater commerce, trade and tourism in some West Bank areas. However in order for these economic and security improvements to be consolidated, the movement of people and access of goods needs to be ensured. Palestinian compliance in this field is not enough; a change in Israel's policies is required. The existing policy of roadblocks and the impact of the route of the "separation barrier" seriously hamper on-going efforts, strongly backed by the European Union, to achieve economic recovery.
We have observed considerable and continuous expansion of settlements which is illegal, and incompatible with the objectives laid out in Annapolis and with the Road Map, making a two-state solution impossible. In particular, we are worried over the future of East Jerusalem, the "E1" settlement project and the situation in the old city of Hebron.
In the Gaza Strip the revolting consequences of the ongoing sanctions and blockade policy were all too evident. Dramatic overall shortages - in particular, medical supplies, food and fuel - result in unacceptable human misery, which, in turn, will generate future violence. We were positively struck by the mobilisation of the civil society, as well as the activities of UNRWA, who try to counterbalance the effect of the siege. Their efforts need immediate increased support from the international community.
On behalf of the European Parliament, we reiterate our pressing call to put an end to the geographical and political isolation of the Gaza Strip and to reconnect it to the rest of the world. We call on the Quartet, and its representative Mr Blair, and on the Palestinian Authority institutions to re-engage on the ground and to collaborate with the Gazans. The only identified project of a sewage plant in the context of the Quartet's quick impact projects must be urgently implemented. We condemn the launching of rockets on the neighbouring State of Israel and consider it as totally counterproductive with respect to the willingness for peace that is the desire of a great majority of Gazans.
All the above points were raised during discussions between the delegation and members of the Knesset. Finally, we strongly feel that without serious signs of good faith translated into tangible improvements on the ground, the time is not yet right to upgrade EU-Israel relations."
The delegation comprised fourteen MEPs and co-chaired by Mrs Veronique DE KEYSER and Mrs Annemie NEYTS-UYTTEBROECK. Luisa Morgantini, Vice President of the European Parliament, also participated to the MEPs delegation.
Further info Luisa Morgantini 00972 547271742 or Office 0032 22 84 51 51 or 0039 06 6...
Luisa.morgantini@europarl.europa.eu;
www.luisamorgantini.net
Israel kills a 20-year-girl, Siege Victims up to180Israel kills a 20-year-girl, Siege Victims up to180
Israel kills a 20-year-girl, Siege Victims up to180
Gaza Strip, June, 7, 2008, (PCAS)- A new patient died today morning due to Israeli refusal to let her travel for treatment. The number of dead patients raised to up to 180 persons in a very obvious violation for all human rights accords and treaties.
Medical sources reported that the new casualty was seeking treatment outside Gaza strip. Rnia Thabet, aged 20 years old died due to the Israli ban over leaving. Israeli authorities neither secured her medicines nor allowed her to leave for treatment abroad.
Popular Committee against siege warned previously and several times of what's going on now. " Israel is issuing slow death sentences against our people and the world is silent! We call upon the world to intervene strongly in Gaza." Said PCAS Chairman, Gamal El Khoudary
It's remarkable that all life aspects in Gaza are so deteriorating. Tens of thousands became jobless, basic food stuff unavailable, medicines are prevented to get into Gaza and patents are being sentenced
May 25 linksPalestine/Israel USA/Canada Europe Australia, India, Asia Un «tsunami» des égouts de Gaza
Aftermath of operation ’warm winter’: the tragic story of a boy in GazaA tragic story of a boy in Gaza Defence for Children International - Palestine Section
2 April 2008
Ahmad, nicknamed “Misho”, is 16 years old and lives in Block 2 of Jabalia Camp in the North of the Gaza Strip. On 1st March, during the recent Israeli military operation codenamed “Warm Winter”, he was seriously injured by shrapnel from a missile launched by Israeli tanks invading northern Gaza. For two weeks Misho was thought dead, as his identity was tragically mistaken for that of his friend Mohammad, killed in the same missile attack. He was lying in Al Shifa’ hospital, his body so wounded that everyone failed to identify him and his parents assumed he had been killed. Misho is alive, and has been reunited with his parents, but he is in need of specialised medical assistance. He has been referred to receive professional medical support abroad, as the damage to his brain and spine has hampered his ability to speak and he is paralysed on the right side. Gaza’s hospitals, affected by the Israeli imposed blockade, are not sufficiently equipped to support his rehabilitation and the Palestinian Ministry of Health cannot fully fund the treatment needed for his recovery. For this reason, DCI/PS appeals to its partners and to all concerned to help Misho receive appropriate medical assistance. Through this article, we urge organisations willing and able to facilitate Misho’s treatment to get in touch with DCI/PS. Read the full story below.
Early morning on Saturday 1st March, Misho, Mohammad, Abed, Abdullah and Mohammad Emad, aged 15 to 16, were walking towards Al-Seka street, north of Jabalia camp, to watch Israeli military operations. DCI/PS met with Mohammad Emad, who survived the attack. According to his recollection of the events, the Israeli army had invaded the Izbet Abed Rabbo area and stationed their troops on Al-Khashef mountain. Filled with curiosity, the children approached the area where Israeli forces were engaged in violent combat with resistance fighters, but shocked by the gruesome sights they moved from the mountain back towards the camp on Salah Eddin Street. There, they asked a shopkeeper for some water then walked towards Jabalia Martyrs school. As the fighting intensified the children ran away, and hid behind a wall near the school. Suddenly, Mohammad Emad reports, there was a huge explosion: I felt pain in my foot, fire on my face, and I felt that I was burning all over my body, my right eye was bleeding. It was around 10:15 am. I saw Abdullah (…) to my left 1 metre away and he was lying on the ground on his abdomen (…), he was trying to stand but he couldn’t. After 5 minutes, several ambulances arrived, because of the severe burn I was unable to turn my face to see what had happened to my friends. As the ambulance reached them, the area was evacuated and Mohammad Emad fainted, only to wake up three days later in Kamal Adwan hospital. He was told that two of his friends had died, Abed Al Raouf and Abdallah, and that Mohammad was seriously injured. However there was no information about Misho. Misho’s father, Na’im, also spoke with DCI/PS, and recalled the events of that day. After he heard about the attack, he realised that Misho had been missing from home since the morning and started to panic. He started to search for his son under heavy bombardments. He visited all the hospitals in the area, the Red Cross headquarters, and Al Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City, where many dead and injured had been transferred. On the second day of his search, Na’im returned to Kamal Adwan hospital, where he was told about the unidentified body of a child in the morgue; he asked if he could see it. It was a horrible sight. The body was so dismembered, that he was not able to identify it. He tried to recognise the features of the dead child, and identify his belongings, but he could not be certain. Filled with uncertainty and despair, Na’im returned home. On 3rd March, as the Israeli military eventually withdrew from Izbet Abed Rabbo and Al-Kashef mountain, the search for Misho started again. In the evening of that day, a boy came to visit Na’im. He informed him that a friend of Misho’s, Mohammad Emad, had been injured in the same attack, and had been taken to Kamal Adwan hospital, where he still was. Na’im ran to meet him, and the child’s account prompted Misho’s father to look for the body of his son in the area where the attack took place. Through pictures, a shopkeeper indentified Misho as the child who had asked him for water, and someone had found Misho’s torn shoes near the school. Na’im deduced from this that the child in the morgue was his son. The following day, Na’im buried the child. Mohammad Emad recounts to DCI/PS how, on that morning, he attended the burial ceremony of his three friends, Misho, Abed Al Raouf and Abdallah. On the same day, he learned that Mohammad had been hospitalised in the Intensive Care unit of Al Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. About a week later, on 13th March, Mohammad Emad visited him in Al Shifa’ hospital. However, instead of Mohammad, he recognised Misho. As I entered to visit my friend, I saw something that I couldn’t imagine. I saw Ahmad (…) sleeping in the bed, not Mohammad (…). His features were slightly changed due to the shrapnel in his face, and the bandage on his head and the pipes in his mouth. His body was totally bandaged but his features were that of Ahmad!(…) I looked towards Mohammad’s (…) father, who was standing near Ahmad (…) and told him “this is not your son”. He looked astonished and told me “this is Mohammad, but the shrapnel changed his look slightly”. I told him that that was not Mohammad, but Misho. And Abdo (…), and those who knew Ahmad and Mohammad, said the same thing. Also the other children with me said the same thing. But Mohammad’s father was insisting. On the same day, a phone call changed the life of Misho’s family. As he left the hospital, Mohammad Emad immediately called Na’im, who could not believe what he was told. He ran to Gaza City, his nerves tense with hope. As he entered the room, Na’im recognised his son. When I entered the room, 5 metres away from Misho bed, it was like a miracle, the boy on the bed is Misho my son, I recognised him, and I ran toward him saying: Misho… my son…. I am your father! It was unbelievable to see my son again! I looked at Misho in the eye, but he did not say anything, his mouth was full of pipes and his face was full of shrapnel. But he was my son; I could recognise him. Misho looked at me and a tear drop fell from his eye, it was one tear only. The scene, however, turned tragic when Mohammad’s family continued to claim Misho as their son. Contacted by Na’im, Misho’s mother made her way to the hospital. She lifted her niqab, in order to identify herself to her son, and Misho started trembling, as if suffering from an electric shock; tears pouring down on his face. After establishing their son’s identity through his body marks, Misho’s parents were finally reunited with their son. Misho was alive, severely and irremediably injured, but alive. Misho needs immediate assistance. He is hemiplegic and both his legs are severely burnt. He lost a finger on his left hand which is also burnt. There are still pieces of shrapnel embedded in his right hand and jaw. He has now been transferred to the Al Wafa’ rehabilitation centre in Gaza City but the hospital cannot continue his treatment, as it is too costly. Misho is slowly re-gaining the ability to speak and on 6th April he will be transferred to Hashomer hospital in Israel. The Palestinian Ministry of Health will partially cover his treatment which, according to the Israeli doctors, should last at least one and a half months. Misho needs to receive urgent specialised treatment. DCI/PS holds Misho’s medical reports; they can be consulted by those with the capacity to help Misho. Another patient dies due to the siege, death toll mounts to 160
Spokesperson of the Popular Committee Against the Siege in Gaza,
Rami Abdo, stated on Tuesday that Dr. Abdul-Karim Hussein, 69, died of
brain tumor after he was unable to leave the Gaza Strip for medical
treatment abroad.
New ILO report on the situation of workers of the occupied Arab territoriesNew ILO report on the situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories GENEVA (ILO News) ─ The annual report of the International Labour Office (ILO) on the situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories depicts a much degraded employment and labour situation showing that the plight of the Palestinian people has deteriorated alarmingly in a number of respects (1). ‘Working poverty is rising, genuine employment is declining, and frustration is growing’, the report says. According to the report, only one person of working age (15 years and above) in three living in the occupied Arab territories was employed for all or part of the time, with unemployment hovering above 20 per cent. Over 80 per cent of the population in Gaza is now dependent on food aid as a result of the severe economic siege imposing a closing of all crossings save essential humanitarian supplies. What’s more, about half of all Palestinian households are dependent on food assistance provided by the international community, a situation which has become even more critical with the rise in food prices, the report says. The incidence of extreme poverty was 40 per cent of the population in Gaza and 19 per cent in the West Bank in November 2007, showing some improvement compared to November 2006 levels though remaining alarmingly high. According to the report, the reduction was mostly due to the resumption of wage payments to civil servants by the Palestinian Authority who regained the financial support of the international community. The report was prepared for the ILO’s International Labour Conference which opens its annual session here on 28 May. The findings of the report are based on missions sent to the occupied Arab territories and Israel and to the Syrian Arab Republic earlier this year to assess the situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories, including the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan. The ILO mission also consulted with the Arab Labour Organization (ALO) and the League of Arab States in Cairo. The report evokes the concerns of the ILO mission about the danger of a growing gap between peace talks, which have acquired a new momentum following the Annapolis Conference in November 2007, and the continuing ‘facts on the ground’ as reflected in closures, military incursions, checkpoints, the permits regime, the endless patience required to cross the Separation Barrier, the continuing construction within settlements, and ‘settlers-only’ roads, including the separation of East Jerusalem from the Palestinian territory. ‘With the devastation of military action, and the continuing fine net of restrictions on m |
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