This Week in Palestine, September 23rd, 2016

Four Palestinians killed this week by Israeli gunfire in the meantime Palestinian President Abbas announce intentions to fight illegal Israeli settlements at the United Nations. These stories, and more, coming up, stay tuned.


The Nonviolence Report

Let’s begin our weekly report as usual with the nonviolent activities organized in the West Bank. scores of protesters were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation on Friday as Israeli forces attacked nonviolent protests organized in West Bank villages.

Many residents and their international and Israeli supporters were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation when soldiers attacked the weekly protest in the central West Bank village of al Nabi Saleh on Friday.

Troops attacked the protest at the village entrance using live rounds, tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets. Later troops stormed and fired tear gas at residents homes, many residents were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation as a result.

At the nearby villages of Bil’in and Ni’lin, Israeli soldiers attacked the protesters as soon as they reached the gate in the wall that separates local farmers from their lands. Many protesters suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation and were treated by field medics at both locations. In Bil’in some olive trees caught fire that was caused by tear gas bombs fired by Israeli troops.

In the meantime many civilians also were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation as Israeli troops attacked the weekly protest organized by the villagers of Kufer Kadum in northern West Bank.


The Political Report

This week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced his intention to submit a draft resolution to the UN, over illegal Israeli settlements. IMEMC’s Rami Al Meghari has more:

Addressing world leaders in a regular summit of the UN’s General Assembly, Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, said Palestinians intend to submit a draft resolution to the UN’s Security Council, over illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Abbas appeared outraged, calling on world leaders to exert more efforts for peace in the region.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, responded in a similar speech by saying that peace cannot be maintained through the United Nations, but rather in the region itself.

Netanyahu had earlier declined a bilateral meeting with Abbas in Moscow, invited by Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

In a related note , US’s President Barak Obama, called on Israel to go for peace with the Palestinians. Washington had earlier described Israeli settlements activities, as illegal.

In another news, the Islamist Hamas party in Gaza insisted that status of two Israeli soldiers, missed since the 2014’s Israeli war on the coastal territory, will not be revealed, until Israel releases Palestinian detainees, inside Israeli jails.

Hamas’s position came in response to remarks by Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu, during the UN’s speech this week.

For IMEMC News, I am Rami Al Meghari in Gaza.


The West Bank and Gaza Report

This week, four Palestinians were killed and four others injured by Israeli army gunfire in the west Bank, meanwhile attacks on Gaza farmers and fishers continue by Israel. IMEMC’s Ghassan Bannoura reports:

In Hebron district, southern West Bank Israeli troops shot and killed four Palestinians this week. Hatem al-Shaloudi 25, was killed by Israeli troops manning checkpoint in Hebron old city. He was meters away from his home. Israeli sources claimed that al-Shaloudi tried to stab soldiers before they shot him dead.

On Monday, Amir Rajabi 17 and his cousin Mohamed 22, were both killed when they were shot by Israeli soldiers at the entrance of the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron old city. Troops claimed that both were planning an attack on them.

Also near Hebron, Essa Tarayra, 16, was crossing a checkpoint at the entrance of his village Bani No’em, when he was shot dead by soldiers. He was posing no threat when he was shot, witnesses told local media.

Moreover, Israeli soldiers shot and injured several Palestinians this week during separate incidents. On Sunday, Baha’ Quda, 20, was injured by Israeli army gunfire near the Efrat settlement in southern West Bank. Troops claimed he tried to stab soldiers.

Later on Monday midday, Ayman al-Kurd 20, was injured after he was shot by Israeli troops at Jerusalem old city. He stabbed two soldiers injuring one of them. On Tuesday of this week, three Palestinian youth were wounded when Israeli forces invaded Dheisha refugee camp, in Bethlehem city and clashed with local youth. Moreover, Bara’a Owaisi 13, from northern West Bank city of Qalqilia was injured and taken by soldiers manning a military checkpoint near the city.

During the week, Israeli forces conducted at least 127 military invasions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem. During these invasions, Israeli troops kidnapped at least 110 Palestinian civilians, including 31 children.

Also this week, an agreement was reached for the release of hunger striking detainees for over two months Mohammad Balboul, Mahmoud Balboul and Malek al-Qadi, after Israel agreed not to renew their illegal Administrative Detention The detainees reached near-death conditions, going in and out of coma, and faced very serious health deterioration, yet remained determined to continue their hunger strike in protest of their illegal Administrative Detention, without any charges or trial.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces opened fire, on Wednesday at dawn, towards civilian homes east of Khan Younis, southern costal enclave. Damage was reported but no injuries. Moreover, Israeli naval boats attacked Palestinian fishermen with gunfire, late Tuesday evening, despite their sailing within the designated fishing zone off the Gaza shore. No injuries were reported.

For IMEMC News this is Ghassan Bannoura


Conclusion

And that’s all for today from This Week in Palestine. This was the Weekly report for September 17 to the 23, 2016. From the Occupied Palestinian Territories. For more news and updates please visit our website at www-dot-imemc-dot-org, This week’s report has been brought to you by George Rishmawi and me Eman Abedraboo-Bannoura.