Three Palestinian women were shot dead in the northern Gaza Strip last month — rumours say it had to do with ‘honour’. The corpses of the women — Ibtisam Mohammad Musallam Abu Qeinas, 31; Samira Tahani Debeiky, 45; and Amani Khamis Hosari, 40 - were found within a 24-hour period in Beit Lahiya and Gaza City, leaving residents shocked. “People are saying it was an honour killing, that the women were of loose morals…” Read more about Violence against women rises in the occupied territories
Women around the globe celebrate International Women’s Day tomorrow, 8 March 2007. This event is one of the most distinguished ones that renews commitment and stresses the importance of women’s enjoyment of all their rights in accordance with international standards and conventions. In addition, this day comes as a reminder of the pioneering role of women in different social, cultural, economic, and political spheres.The 8th of March comes this year upon Palestinian women as they face very difficult and harsh circumstances. Read more about International Women's Day: Yes to Life, No to Death
At approximately 02:30 on 28 February, a large force of IDF soldiers and Israeli Border Police re-entered Nablus. This latest incursion marks the continuation of Operation “Hot Winter”, the largest military incursion in three years in Nablus city. Since re-entering Nablus in the early hours of this morning, as was the case with the first incursion, the IDF has placed the Old City and its surroundings under curfew. The IDF has again taken over the facilities of local television and radio stations to announce the names of seven wanted Palestinians they are specifically seeking. Read more about OCHA: Nablus Situation Report
In the past three days, a person was killed and two others, including two children, were wounded in the Gaza Strip in the context of the state of lawlessness and proliferation of weapons prevailing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 1 March 2007, Yasser Fathi Zannoun, 17, from al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah, was wounded by a bullet to the left foot when he was checking a gun inside his house. Read more about One Killed and Ten Wounded in Gaza Due to Weapons Mishandling
‘Abd a-Ra’uf al-‘Adini testifies to B’Tselem: Two days ago [23 January], the last day of school semester, I went to school and took an exam in mathematics. Then, around nine o’clock, I met my two friends. We sat together for about fifteen minutes. Mahran suggested that we quit school and look for work in Israel , anything other than this life of hardship in the Gaza Strip. Mahran’s father is a government clerk, and he lives off advances that he gets on his salary, which is not currently being paid. ‘Imad and I agreed to the idea of working in Israel ; in any case the situation there is better than it is here. Read more about Wounded teen speaks about friend's killing at Gaza fence
On 17 February 2007, around 9:40 P.M., three young men from ‘Azzun ‘Atmah were summoned to help free a car that was stuck in a field in the village. They drove to the area in a tractor without lights. The tractor went up onto a boulder and flipped over. One of the men, ‘Adel ‘Omar, 21, was pinned under the tractor and seriously injured. The village of ‘Azzun ‘Atmah is surrounded by the separation barrier, and lies between Israel ‘s green line and the separation barrier. The only way out of the village is through a gate in the barrier, which closes at 10:00 P.M. Read more about Injured Palestinian dies after being held up at gate
During the reporting period four Palestinian were killed by IOF in the West Bank, three of the victims were extra-judicially executed by IOF in Jenin. Twenty-eight Palestinian civilians, including two journalists, four children and four women, were wounded by IOF gunfire. On Sunday, 25 February the IOF launched a wide scale military campaign on Nablus during which over 150 Palestinians were arrested. On 26 February during the invasion the IOF shot and killed ‘Anan Mohammed al-Teebi and wounded his son, both resident of the Old City of Nablus. Read more about Weekly Report on Human Rights Violations
Sinn Fein Justice and International Affairs Spokesperson Aengus O Snodaigh TD has called on the Government to enforce emergency economic sanctions on Isreal after its latest illegal military incursion into Nablus in the West Bank. Deputy O Snodaigh said occupying Israeli forces have killed and wounded Palestinian civilians and forced young Palestinians to act as human shields. Speaking in the Dail today Deputy O Snodaigh said, “There is an urgent need for the government to respond to the latest illegal Israeli military incursion into Nablus in the West Bank by enforcing emergency economic sanctions on Israel.” Read more about Sinn Fein leader calls for economic sanctions on Israel after Nablus incursion
At a media conference in Dublin yesterday, Bishop Raymond Field, Chair of the Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs (ICJSA), Bishop John Kirby, Chair of Trocaire and Rev Dr Eoin Cassidy of the ICJSA, launched a position paper Palestine/Israel, Principles for a Just Peace before a briefing meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern TD. Bishop Field said: “Today we shall meet with Minister Ahern and raise with him the issue of the EU-Israel Association agreement.” Read more about Irish Bishops call for justice in Palestine/Israel
In early January, the Civil Administration’s Supreme Planning Council approved the amended outline plan for the new neighborhood in the Modi’in Illit settlement, which is located west of Ramallah. The plan for the neighborhood, called Matityahu East, took effect on 23 February and retroactively “rendered fit” forty-two buildings, containing hundreds of new housing units, that were built in violation of the relevant planning and housing laws. Read more about Illegal construction approved in the Modi'in Illit settlement
