Category: Reports - Page 189 - International Solidarity Movement

Israel airstrike bombs major water line, sewage station and water wells in Gaza

13th July 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Ramallah team | Gaza, Occupied Palestine

Israeli airstrikes bombed a major water line and sewage plant west of Gaza City, last Wednesday afternoon, which provides water to tens of thousands of citizens and is regarded as the main water line for al-Shati refugee camp west of the city.

The director of the Water Department in the Municipality of Gaza, Saad Eddin Al-Atbash stated, “Israeli aircraft targeted a sewage plant west of the city, which serves the areas of al-Shati Camp, Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, Sheikh Ajlin, and the western areas of Gaza City, which pumps 25,000 cubic meters of waste water daily to the public treatment plant.” He continued, “While the city is working on improving the water supply systems for the citizens in Gaza, Israeli forces are working on the destruction of water wells in order to increase the suffering of the citizens during the summer.”

This waterline provides water to more than 70,000 people, and it takes several days to repair.

Bassam Al-Raee, a citizen in Gaza City, stressed that the water crisis has been going on since the beginning of the summer, indicating that the targeting of the well will make things even harder than they already were, making life even more difficult for citizens in the area.

The Gaza Strip needs about 180 million cubic meters of water per year, while renewable sources do not exceed 80 million cubic meters per year.

Israeli forces also targeted water wells yesterday (Saturday 12th July), creating a crisis and a severe shortage of water, where airstrikes directly targeted and hit the waterlines of ‘Haouz water’ in the Gaza Strip.

“The warplanes targeted two water wells, one of the wells is owned by the Islamic Society near Maqousi towers, and the other is in Zaytoon town where both water wells feed nearly 7000 people,” said Al-Atbash.

He stressed that the Israeli forces targeted more than five water-lines that are located in vital areas, pointing out that just one single water-line services more than 20,000 people.

Israel airstrike bombs waterlines (image from: http://alray.ps/ar/index.php?act=post&id=124219).

Israeli forces shoot five protesters with live ammunition at Kufr Qaddum demonstration

12th July 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus team | Kufr Qaddum, Occupied Palestine

There were roughly 100 people demonstrating in Kufr Qaddum yesterday.

A number of the Palestinian youths present began to throw stones, when suddenly a young Palestinian fell to the ground, clutching his leg. An entry wound and an exit wound could clearly be seen.

A protester stated that the Israeli forces, who were firing from the top of a hill, were using .22 caliber rifles, which have been outlawed since 2001 according to Israeli law. A few minutes later, another demonstrator tumbled to the ground with a similar wound. The scene repeated itself three more times. A total of five youths were taken by ambulance to Rafidia hospital.

Another protester stated the behaviour of the military was unusual as they did not fire tear gas canisters or rubber-coated steel bullets. They used only live ammunition. The fact that there were dozens of children in the crowds did not seem to deter them.

in 1978, the illegal settlement of Qedumim was established nearby the village, occupying 4,000 dunams of land stolen from Kufr Qaddum. The villagers are currently unable to access an additional 11,000 dunams of land due to the closure by the Israeli army of the village’s main, and only, road leading to Nablus in 2003.

In 2004 and 2006, three villagers died when they were unable to reach the hospital in time. The ambulances carrying them were prohibited from using the main road and were forced to take a 13 km detour. These deaths provoked even greater resentment in Kufr Qaddum and, on 1st July 2011, the villagers decided to unite in protest in order to re-open the road and protect the land in danger of settlement expansion along it.

Report from Gaza: “This is our country, even if it’s just a country by name”

9th July 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Charlie Andreasson | Gaza, Occupied Palestine

The Israeli air forces’ strikes on Gaza over the past days have increased in intensity and are creeping ever closer to the center of Gaza City.

Just after 2PM yesterday, four people were killed, according to initial data they belonged to Hamas’s armed wing; they were travelling in a car when the drone attacked. The targeting killing was carried out west of Saha neighbourhood in Gaza City, a very densely populated area.

Barely two hours later another attack was conducted, this time a few kilometers north of the downtown area. A giant crater and twisted metal remnants were what remained of a garden, and two missiles fired from an F-16 plane between some apartment buildings.

Inside a house, the floors and furniture were covered with shattered windows and grout from the ceiling, clear cracks appeared in the walls from the strong detonation. An hour later, two more missiles were fired a kilometer south of the harbour. The street was covered with shattered glass from the houses, and even the parked cars had their windows shattered by the blast.

Amihan Shublaq was at home with her family when the missiles detonated; several windows were shattered on her house.

“The attacks are coming closer and closer, next time maybe it is us who get hit,” she said as she held one of her children close.

Fortunately, no one in her family was injured this time. However she still would not leave Gaza, even if she could.

“This is our country,” she continued, “Even if it’s just a country by name. And remember,” she said without raising her voice, “that it was Israel that started, it’s them who want to break the reconciliation between Gaza and the West Bank, that’s why they’re doing this. But we cannot fight against Israel, nor the outside world can persuade Israel to stop the violence. We want peace. The situation is getting worse with each generation, how will it be for our children? They have no future. We must have peace otherwise it will be no future for them, but we also have to have our Palestine, and that Israel will never allow.”

From the street outside, the neighbours sweep away shattered glass; drones can be heard hovering above and in the distance, further explosions.

The casualty toll in the ongoing assault has now climbed to 41 deaths and over 370 injuries.

Settlers attack village of Einabus

7th July 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Einabus, Occupied Palestine

The village of Einabus lies approximately 10 km south of Nablus, in the northern half of the West Bank. The illegal settlement of Yizar is located just up the hill from the village.

In the evening of Monday, July 6th, ten to twelve settlers descended from the settlement and attacked a house in the village. According to witnesses, at least two of them were carrying rifles, and the rest were armed with stones. Their target was the house of an inhabitant named Saleh, who had died the previous day and whose family was in mourning. In keeping with tradition, only women and children were staying in the house, since the three day mourning period had not yet passed.

“They came to kidnap the boys,” said a witness when asked why he thought the settlers would attack that house. “They know there are only women and children there now.”

Young men from the village were able to chase away the settlers. They called the District Coordination Office, and the army entered the village, but by that time the settlers had vanished.

Palestinians protest the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir and destroy apartheid tramway

6th July 2014 | International Solidarity Movement | Shu’afat, Occupied Palestine

On the 04th July 2014, at least 2,000 Palestinian mourners gathered in Shu’afat for the funeral of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who was kidnapped last week.

Photo by Matthew Vickery: http://mondoweiss.net/2014/07/murdered-tensions-shufat.html

His mutilated body was later found in a forest on the outskirts of Jerusalem. The autopsy indicates that he was burnt alive. It is widely believed that the murder was carried out by extremist Israeli settlers.

Mourners gathered by the mosque and marched carrying the body to the burial ground. Initially the funeral organisers formed a human chain to separate mourners and the police to prevent violence. Later on, Israeli police clashed with Palestinians for around 12 hours.

It has been reported that at least 30 Palestinians were hurt by rubber-coated bullets while dozens more were treated for the effects of tear gas. 13 Israeli police officers were also injured. A field of wheat was also partly destroyed by fire, probably caused by tear gas canisters.

Throughout the demonstration, undercover police agents, who were also acting violently towards the police, abducted and violently assaulted at least 11 Palestinians, including Tarek Abu Khdeir, Mohammed’s cousin, who was filmed being beaten by police.

Later in the evening, local Palestinian residents took steps to remove the illegal light rail system which runs through their neighbourhood. Two French companies, Veolia and Alstom, are subject to an international boycott and divestment campaign due to their involvement in the project. The tram primarily services illegal Israeli settlements in Occupied East Jerusalem and thereby facilitates Israel’s illegal policies of colonization and ethnic cleansing.

Local Palestinian’s pulled up bricks and cement that hold the tracks in place and damaged the tracks using an angle grinder. Many local residents gathered round to express their support for this act of civil disobedience. One Palestinian resident in his 60′s said that the tram “is for the illegal settlements. Israel takes our land and kills our people…we want them [the Palestinian protesters] to rip it up and take it away completely…we want rid of it”.