Category: Nablus - Page 27 - International Solidarity Movement

Israeli army arrests a further two people from Kafr Qaddum

23rd May 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team| Occupied Palestine

During the night of the 23^rd of May, approximately at 02:00AM, the Israeli army raided several houses in the town of Kafr Qaddum and arrested two people. Ryad Mohamad Eshtewi (40) and Fadi Baseem Jomah (27), both of whom are Palestinian police officers.

Another two villagers were threatened during the same night raid. The Israeli army, numbering up to 50 soldiers, stormed into their houses, but the villagers were not there at the time. In one of the houses, according to a witness, the Israeli army left bullets underneath a bed “to send a message”. The other villager who was not at his house during the raid found a police order.

Ryad was sleeping at one of his brothers’ house when he was arrested at 02:00AM. Israeli soldiers forced Ryad back to his house, where they broke into his home and threw a stun grenade inside, searching Ryad’s property. Ryad asked the soldiers why they were being violent if he was already arrested, but no reply was given. No personal items were stolen nor any reasons given for his arrest.

On the morning of the 23^rd of May, Ryad’s family received a call from an Israeli captain informing them that he was being held at the Israeli military base of Huwwara. The whereabouts of Fadi are still unknown since his family have not yet received any calls from the Israeli authorities.

According to a villager, this month there have been up to 30 arrests in Kafr Qaddum although 15 of them have been released on bails. These bails, however, could reach as much as 9,000 NIS (over 1,800 euros). Some of these arrests have already been documented, among them is also Murad Eshtewi who is the media coordinator for the weekly demonstrations in Kafr Qaddum. Murad was arrested along with another four youths from the village on the 29^th of April. Three of them have recently been released but Murad and Reslan remain under custody almost one month after their arrest.

Hunger strike solidarity tent in Nablus

16th May 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Nablus, Occupied Palestine

Erected in the duar (city center) in the northern Palestinian city of Nablus, is a large tent utilized throughout the day by those in solidarity with the exceeding-one-hundred Palestinian administrative detainees.

“We will stay here as long as it takes” says Yousef, a Lawyer and University Lecturer, implying that the tent will remain until the hunger strike ceases.

Within the tent sits two fathers who are holding posters of their sons’, both married with children, one a journalist with a masters degree, the other with a doctorate; hence encapsulating the political motives behind these illegal incarcerations.

There have been dispersed hunger strikes by activist groups for one day at a time in solidarity with the prisoners.

Currently on its 24th day, the hunger strike is in objection to the ‘administrative detainee’ prisoner status, prisoners can be detained without a criminal charge, little to no visitation (in some cases none for months), inadequate to no legal representation, exploitative prisoner treatment, and lengthy/nonexistent trials.

On the 20^th day salt was excluded from the diet, which now consists entirely of water.

Detainees are constantly denied proper medical care, while clothing is confiscated. Beatings, isolation, and violent raids of prisoner cells are common realities.

In recent developments, the Knesset (Israeli Legislative branch) is debating legislation to grant Israeli personnel authority to force feed hunger strikers.

Meanwhile, the occupants of the tent are calling for more honest and widespread media coverage, alongside an increase in foreign support.

UPDATED: House demolitions at Khirbet al-Taweel

30th April 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Khirbet al-Taweel, Occupied Palestine

Update 15th May:

On Monday the 12^th of May, at 7AM, approximately 350 Israeli soldiers, two buses, and several military jeeps arrived at the remote village of Khirbet al-Taweel and ordered the inhabitants of two houses to remove all furniture in order to proceed with their illegal demolition. Previously the IRC (International Red Crescent) had aided the village providing tents as temporary shelter. However, two tents were ultimately seized and one destroyed that morning. The owner of one of the houses apparently offered the soldiers tea saying, “You may take away my house, but you can’t take away my hospitality”.

Currently the villagers are planning to establish a temporary camp 200 meters away from the previous demolitions as under Israeli law this requires a new demolition order to be enacted. Some of the buildings are historical landmarks under Israeli Law; however any renovations (fixing the roof, adding a toilet) are photographed by the Israeli military in order to ‘justify’ their demolition.

*****

On Tuesday the 29^th of April, at 02:00AM, the Israeli army arrived at the small Bedouin village of Khirbet al-Taweel to demolish several structures claiming that they were built without permits. In total, three houses, several animal shelters and the village’s mosque were destroyed.

Khirbet al-Taweel has an approximate population of 180 inhabitants. 30 of them are now without homes because of the demolitions, 17 of which are children; the youngest child is only one-year old.

Three families were forced out of their homes at gunpoint at 02.00AM. They had no time to collect their belongings and were only able to take the most necessary items before the demolitions started. The Israeli army took two hours to carry out the demolitions, until 04:00AM, destroying three houses and the village mosque, which was built in 2008.

The three families also lost their water tanks to the demolitions carried out by the Israeli army. In order to get drinking water, they now have to walk 30 minutes uphill to get to the nearest town (Aqraba), and then back.

During the day, the Red Crescent provided the families with some tents. However according to one of the women who were evicted, the Israeli army told them that they were not allowed to stay in the area and had to leave immediately.

The woman stated that: “We have nowhere to go. This is our land, our homes. Where should we go?”

During the past five years, Khirbet al-Taweel has had many demolitions. According to several local villagers, this is a strategy from the Israeli authorities to force local populations to move, and thus expand the illegal farming settlements, located on the other side of the mountain from Khirbet al-Taweel.

14 more arrested as Israeli army intensifies arrest campaign in Kafr Qaddum

13th May 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Kafr Qaddum, Occupied Palestine

Update 13th May:

The eight youths arrested and held following the night raid in Kafr Qaddum have court on the 15th May, at Salem Court, near Jenin.

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14 people were arrested in Kafr Qaddum during a night raid on the 11^th to 12^thof May, six of them were released the same morning.

At around 12:30AM, the Israeli army arrived at Kafr Qaddum with approximately 35 jeeps and about 100 soldiers, they entered houses to arrest people, while harassing the residents.

During the night raid, some of the villagers tried to prevent the arbitrary arrests. The Israeli army responded by shooting tear gas canisters and stun grenades, consequently clashes erupted between the invading Israeli forces and youths from the village.

Witnesses reported that the Israeli soldiers walked behind the detainees, using them as human-shields.

The army raided 15 homes, some of which were damaged. Among the raided homes were the mayor of Kafr Qaddum’s house and the house of a member of the Union Council. The latter claims to have been thoroughly beaten and two of his sons were arrested. At around 1:30AM the army entered in the mayor’s house. He recalled that the Israeli army identified him and wanted information about the weekly demonstrations in village. He added, “It’s simply not nice to come here at this time and disturb my children that are sleeping. They can come to the Council Union meeting any time they want, because they are an occupation force.”

At around 2:00AM, the Israeli army stormed into Kamel Ibrahim Barra Wahlid’s house, a member of the Union Council. As he recalls, while the army tried to arrest his two sons, he resisted the army’s intrusion in his house and was then beaten throughout his body and on the head. The Israeli army finally arrested two of his children: Sami Mofid Kamel Barham, 21 years old, a student that would have had his last exam in these days, and Wasim Kamel Ibrahim Barra, 19 years old, released the same morning he was arrested. Wasim was hit in the head by a tear gas canister a year and a half ago. It was shot from a distance of 15 meters, and had caused him serious brain damage and as a consequence he lost his speech ability.

The raid ended at around 3:30AM with the detention of 14 people, 6 of them were released the same morning while the other 8 are currently under Israeli custody in Huwwara’s military base. According to local sources, the arrests are targeted at people that usually participate at the weekly demonstrations, in order to intimidate villagers. As a witness concluded: “Everything is done to stop our demonstration, but the army will never succeed in stopping us”.

The youths that are still under custody are:

Sami Mofid Kamel Barham
Abdel Latif Atomi Hamdan
Harb Mashoor Jomma
Odai Samir Barham
Raed Tayzir Barham
Jafar Khaled Jomma
Anas Waled Barham
Misaab Dawod Ehstawi

Tyre barricade in Kafr Qaddum, 12th May 2014, after the arrests. Photo by Al Masira Kufr Qaddum

UPDATED: Murad Eshtewi, and four Palestinian youths from Kafr Qaddum, still under custody after court hearing

12th May 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Kafr Qaddum, Occupied Palestine

Second Update Tuesday 13th May:

Murad Eshtwei’s next court day is Sunday 18th May at Ofer prison. Ream Harham, Mustafa Eshtewi, and Ahmad Hassan Eshtewi have a court date tomorrow in Ofer court at 14:30. Reslan Joma will have his court date next week.

Update Tuesday 13th of May:

On Monday 12th of May there was a court hearing for Murad, Reslan, Ream, Mustafa and Ahmad. Murad is still in remand (pre-trial detention) until the next court hearing. Murad’s attorney will appeal the decision, but if rejected the next court hearing should be on the 9th of June.

The remaining four residents of Kafr Qaddum have been technically released on bail. The court demanded a bail of 10,000NIS for each one (over 2,000 euros). However, the Israeli state has appealed this decision and therefore they are still under custody. Their attorney will appeal against the bail.

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On the night of the 28^th to 29^th of April 2014, the Israeli army raided the village of Kafr Qaddum to arrest five people, among them Murad Eshtewi, the media coordinator of the weekly Friday demonstration in Kafr Qaddum. The four other young man who where arrested are Reslan Joma, Ream Harham, Mustafa Eshtewi and Ahmad Hassan Eshtewi.

At this time, all five are still imprisoned by Israeli forces in Meggido prison. This prison is located north of the West Bank and thereby contradicting Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which states that “Protected persons accused of offences shall be detained in the occupied country, and if convicted they shall serve their sentences therein”.

Murad is being charged with stone throwing and organizing the demonstration, while the remaining four youths are also charged with stone throwing.

Witnesses from the village state that the Israeli army, numbering approximately 100 soldiers, raided the different houses at approximately 02.30AM. Murad was arrested at his house, however the Israeli army used unconventional methods to arrest him. The soldiers climbed into Murad’s bedroom window using ladders, and took him out of the window. Although no tear gas or stun grenades were used during the arrests, the other four houses that were raided in Kafr Qaddum suffered serious property damage.

According to Murad’s attorney, two youths from Kafr Qaddum were arrested 12 weeks ago. They were held in custody and interrogated for a month and forced to give out names of people participating in the weekly Friday demonstration in their village. The lawyer suspects that Murad Eshtewi and the four youths arrested during the night raid were on the list.

Murad Eshtewi was ambushed and arrested by Israeli forces on December 2013, but he was released on bail four days later. His attorney at the time stated that: “Contrary to the fundamental principles of due process we have not been presented with the accusations against Murad nor has he been interrogated since his arrest.”

Currently, Murad and the other villagers from Kafr Qaddum have been in custody for 12 days. During this period, they have had two court hearings in which their sentences were postponed, allegedly to collect more evidence.

The weekly Friday demonstrations in Kafr Qaddum started in 2011 to reopen the road to Nablus and against the illegal Israeli settlement of Qedumim. The Israeli army responded with systematic arrests. In some cases, the detainees would be under custody for one or two days and then released on bail. According to the former mayor of Kafr Qaddum, this has had an important economic impact: approximately 250,000 shekels (almost 52,000 euros) have been paid by local villagers to release their detainees. As of today, there are 155 villagers from Kafr Qaddum detained in Israeli prisons out of a total population of approximately 4,500.