31 july 2016

Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) banned the Palestinian 89-year-old woman Zubaida al-Awawdeh from travel to receive treatment and visit her son, Salahuddin al-Awawdeh, who was deported by the IOA to Turkey.
The last time when the elderly woman met with her deported son was in 2013 for the first time in ten years. Before that, she had been denied the right to visit her son in Israeli jails for 11 years.
Salahuddin told the PIC’s reporter that his mother has been suffering from a stroke in addition to other chronic diseases and faints most of the time. She is unable to move or even chew food normally, he added.
The deported ex-detainee Salahuddin pointed out that the IOA has recently banned his mother from traveling to Jordan for treatment in full disregard to her medical reports from Palestinian and Jordanian hospitals and the coordination by Palestinian and Jordanian Red Crescent for transferring her via an ambulance car.
Salahuddin al-Awawdeh served 19 years of imprisonment in Israeli jails before being released in Wafaa al-Ahrar prisoner swap deal in 2011 and accordingly being deported to Turkey.
The last time when the elderly woman met with her deported son was in 2013 for the first time in ten years. Before that, she had been denied the right to visit her son in Israeli jails for 11 years.
Salahuddin told the PIC’s reporter that his mother has been suffering from a stroke in addition to other chronic diseases and faints most of the time. She is unable to move or even chew food normally, he added.
The deported ex-detainee Salahuddin pointed out that the IOA has recently banned his mother from traveling to Jordan for treatment in full disregard to her medical reports from Palestinian and Jordanian hospitals and the coordination by Palestinian and Jordanian Red Crescent for transferring her via an ambulance car.
Salahuddin al-Awawdeh served 19 years of imprisonment in Israeli jails before being released in Wafaa al-Ahrar prisoner swap deal in 2011 and accordingly being deported to Turkey.
29 july 2016

The mother of the captured Israeli soldier Oron Shaul said Friday she has a conclusive evidence that her son is held alive in Gaza.
Speaking to the Israeli Maariv newspaper, Shaul’s mother said the proofs handed over to the family by the Israeli army prove that her son was not killed during the offensive.
“As a mom I feel that my son is alive. But I have to say that my certainty is not based on mere feelings. I have enough proofs, conclusive ones, that he is alive,” the soldier’s mother said, without providing further details.
“I will disclose the evidence at the right time.” The mother also said she has been told by Hamas that her son was alive and that a number of reports proved so, reiterating her firm rebuff to attend her son’s memorial ceremony.
She slammed the Israeli army for its failure to protect her son during the 2014 offensive on the blockaded Gaza Strip. The mother further lashed out at Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu for his attempts to hide his army’s failure during the offensive.
“I am eager to discover my son’s location and to receive a sign from him,” she stated.
The Israeli soldier Oron Shaul was held captive by Hamas resistance brigades on July 20, 2014 following an Israeli military offensive on the besieged coastal territory.
Speaking to the Israeli Maariv newspaper, Shaul’s mother said the proofs handed over to the family by the Israeli army prove that her son was not killed during the offensive.
“As a mom I feel that my son is alive. But I have to say that my certainty is not based on mere feelings. I have enough proofs, conclusive ones, that he is alive,” the soldier’s mother said, without providing further details.
“I will disclose the evidence at the right time.” The mother also said she has been told by Hamas that her son was alive and that a number of reports proved so, reiterating her firm rebuff to attend her son’s memorial ceremony.
She slammed the Israeli army for its failure to protect her son during the 2014 offensive on the blockaded Gaza Strip. The mother further lashed out at Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu for his attempts to hide his army’s failure during the offensive.
“I am eager to discover my son’s location and to receive a sign from him,” she stated.
The Israeli soldier Oron Shaul was held captive by Hamas resistance brigades on July 20, 2014 following an Israeli military offensive on the besieged coastal territory.
23 july 2016

The Israeli army radio said that an Israeli reconnaissance unit on Friday prevented a Jewish man from being captured by al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas on the border with the Gaza Strip.
According to the Israeli claims that members of this unit, which is directly subordinate to the military intelligence and assigned to monitor all areas along the Gaza borderline, spotted an Israeli citizen approaching the security fence in a bid to cross into Gaza.
Upon his attempt to climb over the fence, soldiers aboard a military patrol vehicle were dispatched to the area immediately and arrested the man.
The man, who was identified as a Jewish young settler from Beersheba, justified his attempt to enter Gaza by saying he wanted to meet captive soldier Hadar Goldin.
According to the Israeli claims that members of this unit, which is directly subordinate to the military intelligence and assigned to monitor all areas along the Gaza borderline, spotted an Israeli citizen approaching the security fence in a bid to cross into Gaza.
Upon his attempt to climb over the fence, soldiers aboard a military patrol vehicle were dispatched to the area immediately and arrested the man.
The man, who was identified as a Jewish young settler from Beersheba, justified his attempt to enter Gaza by saying he wanted to meet captive soldier Hadar Goldin.
21 july 2016

The family of the Israeli soldier Shaul Aaron, who is reportedly detained at the Palestinian resistance in Gaza, called for a massive demonstration Wednesday evening before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office in Occupied Jerusalem on the second anniversary of capturing him east of Gaza.
According to a report translated into Arabic for Safa agency, the family asked for big participation in the demonstration. They warned the Israelis of the same fate of their sons if their demand is ignored.
The two families of the Israeli officer Hadar Golden and soldier Shaul Aaron, who are believed held by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, have lately escalated their demands after the Israeli-Turkish reconciliation agreement.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, announced on July, 20, 2014 capturing soldier Aaron in the operation east of al-Shujaiya district during the Israeli aggression. Israeli army, however, declared his death.
According to a report translated into Arabic for Safa agency, the family asked for big participation in the demonstration. They warned the Israelis of the same fate of their sons if their demand is ignored.
The two families of the Israeli officer Hadar Golden and soldier Shaul Aaron, who are believed held by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, have lately escalated their demands after the Israeli-Turkish reconciliation agreement.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, announced on July, 20, 2014 capturing soldier Aaron in the operation east of al-Shujaiya district during the Israeli aggression. Israeli army, however, declared his death.
20 july 2016

A senior leader of al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, has raised new and serious questions about the fate of Israeli captive soldiers in the Gaza Strip.
Although al-Qassam Brigades has been very secretive about giving information about the presence of Israeli soldiers dead or alive in its captivity following Israel's 2014 military aggression against Gaza.
A top Qassam leader gave, in a recent interview conducted by al-Jazeera Net, insinuations that two Israeli soldiers could have been captured alive at the time, or they may be dead.
Abu Attar, identified as one of al-Qassam commanders who participated in the last war on Gaza, told al-Jazeera Net that "the Israeli army, despite its use of the Hannibal procedure during the war, had lost a number of its soldiers and officers without being able to rescue them or know their fate."
Abu Attar said the Israeli army used the easiest options when announced the killing of soldiers instead of having the courage to looking further for facts about the reported capture of soldiers by the resistance in Gaza.
"Let's take for example the case of officer Hadar Goldin, in which the Hannibal procedure was used. This procedure has complicated the situation about the fate of this officer, who completely vanished, and also made it difficult for the enemy to know if he is alive or dead," the Hamas military commander said.
"So it (Israel) has found it necessary to lie to the soldier's family and tell his relatives that he is dead," he added.
As for the fate of soldier Shaul Aaron, the commander said that al-Qassam fighters were able to make the Israeli occupation state face very difficult options following his disappearance in the war.
"Days after examining the wreckage of the carrier which he was aboard along with his comrades, it became evident that there was no single physical or blood trace of the soldier among the remains."
"However, the enemy declared the soldier was killed, choosing one of the easiest options here as well.
At the time, it was forced to deal with a bigger dilemma which was the killing and injury of leading elite troops of the Golani Brigade, but neither the military nor the political leadership had the moral courage later to look into the facts," he elaborated.
"Where have Shaul Aaron gone then if there is no trace of his remains, blood or weapon? Or was the bomb, which had detonated the carrier, so destructive that it made the soldier vaporize with no trace?
And if this was true, why was he the only one among his comrades who vaporized?" the commander questioned.
Although al-Qassam Brigades has been very secretive about giving information about the presence of Israeli soldiers dead or alive in its captivity following Israel's 2014 military aggression against Gaza.
A top Qassam leader gave, in a recent interview conducted by al-Jazeera Net, insinuations that two Israeli soldiers could have been captured alive at the time, or they may be dead.
Abu Attar, identified as one of al-Qassam commanders who participated in the last war on Gaza, told al-Jazeera Net that "the Israeli army, despite its use of the Hannibal procedure during the war, had lost a number of its soldiers and officers without being able to rescue them or know their fate."
Abu Attar said the Israeli army used the easiest options when announced the killing of soldiers instead of having the courage to looking further for facts about the reported capture of soldiers by the resistance in Gaza.
"Let's take for example the case of officer Hadar Goldin, in which the Hannibal procedure was used. This procedure has complicated the situation about the fate of this officer, who completely vanished, and also made it difficult for the enemy to know if he is alive or dead," the Hamas military commander said.
"So it (Israel) has found it necessary to lie to the soldier's family and tell his relatives that he is dead," he added.
As for the fate of soldier Shaul Aaron, the commander said that al-Qassam fighters were able to make the Israeli occupation state face very difficult options following his disappearance in the war.
"Days after examining the wreckage of the carrier which he was aboard along with his comrades, it became evident that there was no single physical or blood trace of the soldier among the remains."
"However, the enemy declared the soldier was killed, choosing one of the easiest options here as well.
At the time, it was forced to deal with a bigger dilemma which was the killing and injury of leading elite troops of the Golani Brigade, but neither the military nor the political leadership had the moral courage later to look into the facts," he elaborated.
"Where have Shaul Aaron gone then if there is no trace of his remains, blood or weapon? Or was the bomb, which had detonated the carrier, so destructive that it made the soldier vaporize with no trace?
And if this was true, why was he the only one among his comrades who vaporized?" the commander questioned.
12 july 2016

Family members of the Israeli soldier Aaron Shaul, who is reportedly detained by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza, along with dozens of their friends and supporters demonstrated before Nafha Israeli jail and obstructed the visit by families of dozens of Palestinian prisoners for four hours.
Quds Press quoted Bassam al-Majdalawi, head of Detainees and Ex-detainees Committee in Gaza, as saying that the Israeli demonstrators closed the road leading to Nafha jail on Monday.
They detained the families who came from Gaza Strip in buses from nine a.m. to 1 p.m. Majdalawi reported testimonials on the suffering of 72 families of Palestinian prisoners, mostly of women, elderly people and children, due to being detained in the severe hot weather.
The families managed to visit their prisoners after the intervention of the Red Cross and other authorities.
According to Palestinian media sources in 1948 Occupied Palestine, the demonstrators demanded banning Palestinians of visiting their imprisoned relatives and withdrawing the canteen and TVs from prisoners’ sections.
They called for withdrawing all privileges given to Palestinian prisoners’ in Israeli jails unless Israeli soldiers have the same services where they are held at Hamas in Gaza.
The families of the Israeli soldiers detained in Gaza started pressuring the Israeli government to work on the release of the Israeli soldiers who were declared captives by al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, on April 02.
Quds Press quoted Bassam al-Majdalawi, head of Detainees and Ex-detainees Committee in Gaza, as saying that the Israeli demonstrators closed the road leading to Nafha jail on Monday.
They detained the families who came from Gaza Strip in buses from nine a.m. to 1 p.m. Majdalawi reported testimonials on the suffering of 72 families of Palestinian prisoners, mostly of women, elderly people and children, due to being detained in the severe hot weather.
The families managed to visit their prisoners after the intervention of the Red Cross and other authorities.
According to Palestinian media sources in 1948 Occupied Palestine, the demonstrators demanded banning Palestinians of visiting their imprisoned relatives and withdrawing the canteen and TVs from prisoners’ sections.
They called for withdrawing all privileges given to Palestinian prisoners’ in Israeli jails unless Israeli soldiers have the same services where they are held at Hamas in Gaza.
The families of the Israeli soldiers detained in Gaza started pressuring the Israeli government to work on the release of the Israeli soldiers who were declared captives by al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, on April 02.
11 july 2016

Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu has asked for an Egyptian role in bringing back Israeli prisoners being held in the Gaza Strip following intensive efforts by their families to raise their issue.
According to Maariv newspaper, Netanyahu officially asked Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shukri, during a meeting last Sunday in Jerusalem, for an Egyptian intervention to help get back the missing Israelis in Gaza.
Shukri, for his part, responded affirmatively to Netanyahu's request and pledged to make efforts in this regard.
This development came up after families of Israeli captives in Gaza intensified their pressure on the government to return their sons.
There are reportedly four Israelis, including three soldiers, being held by al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas in Gaza. The Brigades said last April that it would not provide free information on the Israeli captives.
According to Maariv newspaper, Netanyahu officially asked Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shukri, during a meeting last Sunday in Jerusalem, for an Egyptian intervention to help get back the missing Israelis in Gaza.
Shukri, for his part, responded affirmatively to Netanyahu's request and pledged to make efforts in this regard.
This development came up after families of Israeli captives in Gaza intensified their pressure on the government to return their sons.
There are reportedly four Israelis, including three soldiers, being held by al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas in Gaza. The Brigades said last April that it would not provide free information on the Israeli captives.
10 july 2016

The Shaul family
The parents of soldier Oron Shaul, who's body is being held captive by Hamas in Gaza, requested that Hamas members in Israeli custody be prevented from watching the Euro Cup final. Their request was denied.
"Hamas prisoners are allowed to watch the Euro 2016 final" said Israeli Supreme Court Justice Ori Shahem, while rejecting a petition brought forth to the court by the parents of Oron Shaul on Sunday.
Oron Shaul's body is being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
The Shaul family went to the Supreme Court to ask that the Israel Prison Service restrict Hamas prisoners' access to the Euro final on Sunday evening.
The request filed on behalf of the family claimed that permitting the prisoners to watch the game "is a decision which the public can not accept… there is no rational to this, it's illogical, and it hurts the sensibilities of the general public. The decision (to let the Hamas prisoners watch the game) is disgusting and repulsive."
The request was filed against the Israel Prison Service, the Internal Security Ministry, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister himself.
The family previously requested that the Israel Prison Service restrict Hamas prisoners' access to the Euro Cup games in a request filed last week.
"There is no legal way to prevent security prisoners from watching the Euro Cup final on Channel 2, which is a public station. The petitioners didn't use any factual or legal basis in their request to restrict the prisoners from watching the game. The court is not under the impression that preventing the prisoners from watching the Euro Cup final will put pressure on Hamas to release our soldiers and citizens held in captivity," the judge wrote in his ruling.
He continued, saying "therefore, we do not see it fit to prevent the prisoners from watching the game. The conclusion is reinforced by the timing of the request. The date and time of the final game has been well known for a long time, while the request was filed on the day of the game."
The parents of soldier Oron Shaul, who's body is being held captive by Hamas in Gaza, requested that Hamas members in Israeli custody be prevented from watching the Euro Cup final. Their request was denied.
"Hamas prisoners are allowed to watch the Euro 2016 final" said Israeli Supreme Court Justice Ori Shahem, while rejecting a petition brought forth to the court by the parents of Oron Shaul on Sunday.
Oron Shaul's body is being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
The Shaul family went to the Supreme Court to ask that the Israel Prison Service restrict Hamas prisoners' access to the Euro final on Sunday evening.
The request filed on behalf of the family claimed that permitting the prisoners to watch the game "is a decision which the public can not accept… there is no rational to this, it's illogical, and it hurts the sensibilities of the general public. The decision (to let the Hamas prisoners watch the game) is disgusting and repulsive."
The request was filed against the Israel Prison Service, the Internal Security Ministry, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister himself.
The family previously requested that the Israel Prison Service restrict Hamas prisoners' access to the Euro Cup games in a request filed last week.
"There is no legal way to prevent security prisoners from watching the Euro Cup final on Channel 2, which is a public station. The petitioners didn't use any factual or legal basis in their request to restrict the prisoners from watching the game. The court is not under the impression that preventing the prisoners from watching the Euro Cup final will put pressure on Hamas to release our soldiers and citizens held in captivity," the judge wrote in his ruling.
He continued, saying "therefore, we do not see it fit to prevent the prisoners from watching the game. The conclusion is reinforced by the timing of the request. The date and time of the final game has been well known for a long time, while the request was filed on the day of the game."
9 july 2016

Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett advocated, on Thursday, for Israelis to kidnap Palestinians, to be used as leverage to obtain the release of two Israeli civilians and the bodies of two soldiers held in the besieged Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported.
In an interview with Radio Darom, Bennett — who leads the far-right Jewish Home party — discussed the issue of releasing Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal to obtain the return of Israeli citizens Avraham Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, as well as the bodies of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, two soldiers killed during Israel’s 2014 offensive on Gaza.
“My policies are consistent over the years: complete opposition to disproportionate deals to free terrorists, and certainly in exchange for bodies,” The Times of Israel quoted Bennett as saying, according to Ma’an.
According to Israeli news outlet The Jerusalem Post, Bennett then advocated for the kidnapping of Palestinians to pressure for the release of the slain soldiers and missing Israelis.
“We should do what the State of Israel once did,” he said. “What we once did in such situations was we would go and kidnap from the other side, and create new leverage against the other side, rather than releasing more and more terrorists.”
The Jerusalem Post quoted Bennett’s spokesperson as specifying that the far-right political leader was suggesting kidnapping “terrorists,” not Palestinian civilians.
It remained unclear from Bennett’s statement whether he advocated the kidnapping of Palestinians to use as a bargaining chip to exchange with Israelis, in contradiction of his earlier statement, or as an intimidation tactic to coerce those holding the Israelis in Gaza into releasing them.
It was also unclear whether Bennett was pushing for Israel should detain more Palestinians in addition to the 7,000 currently held in Israeli prisons, or hold them completely extrajudicially.
Spokespeople for the Education Ministry and Bennett’s office were unavailable for comment on Friday, the weekend in Israel, to clarify the minister’s statements.
Bennett is well known for his incendiary rhetoric vis-a-vis Palestinians.
In the wake of several attacks last week which killed two Israelis, including a 13-year-old girl, and three Palestinians, Bennett advocated for a number of measures which have been denounced by rights groups as constituting collective punishment.
These proposed measures, many of which have been implemented, included increased settlement construction; stepping up Israel’s policy of demolition of Palestinian property built without permits; full Israeli military control over the entirety of the occupied West Bank; military closures of suspected attackers’ hometowns; the detention of suspected attackers’ family members; and cutting off internet and cellular access to the southern West Bank district of Hebron.
Israel is still withholding the bodies of at least seven Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since October, as the slain Palestinians’ families remain uncertain as to when, and if, they will be released for burial.
In an interview with Radio Darom, Bennett — who leads the far-right Jewish Home party — discussed the issue of releasing Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal to obtain the return of Israeli citizens Avraham Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, as well as the bodies of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, two soldiers killed during Israel’s 2014 offensive on Gaza.
“My policies are consistent over the years: complete opposition to disproportionate deals to free terrorists, and certainly in exchange for bodies,” The Times of Israel quoted Bennett as saying, according to Ma’an.
According to Israeli news outlet The Jerusalem Post, Bennett then advocated for the kidnapping of Palestinians to pressure for the release of the slain soldiers and missing Israelis.
“We should do what the State of Israel once did,” he said. “What we once did in such situations was we would go and kidnap from the other side, and create new leverage against the other side, rather than releasing more and more terrorists.”
The Jerusalem Post quoted Bennett’s spokesperson as specifying that the far-right political leader was suggesting kidnapping “terrorists,” not Palestinian civilians.
It remained unclear from Bennett’s statement whether he advocated the kidnapping of Palestinians to use as a bargaining chip to exchange with Israelis, in contradiction of his earlier statement, or as an intimidation tactic to coerce those holding the Israelis in Gaza into releasing them.
It was also unclear whether Bennett was pushing for Israel should detain more Palestinians in addition to the 7,000 currently held in Israeli prisons, or hold them completely extrajudicially.
Spokespeople for the Education Ministry and Bennett’s office were unavailable for comment on Friday, the weekend in Israel, to clarify the minister’s statements.
Bennett is well known for his incendiary rhetoric vis-a-vis Palestinians.
In the wake of several attacks last week which killed two Israelis, including a 13-year-old girl, and three Palestinians, Bennett advocated for a number of measures which have been denounced by rights groups as constituting collective punishment.
These proposed measures, many of which have been implemented, included increased settlement construction; stepping up Israel’s policy of demolition of Palestinian property built without permits; full Israeli military control over the entirety of the occupied West Bank; military closures of suspected attackers’ hometowns; the detention of suspected attackers’ family members; and cutting off internet and cellular access to the southern West Bank district of Hebron.
Israel is still withholding the bodies of at least seven Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since October, as the slain Palestinians’ families remain uncertain as to when, and if, they will be released for burial.

Head of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) Qadura Fares said Friday that an unprecedented prisoners swap deal is projected in the coming period.
During a popular festival in support of prisoners’ families, Fares revealed that a new prisoner swap deal that includes large numbers of prisoners is going to be reached against Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s will.
"Our prisoners will be released soon against your will and your arbitrary laws", he said in reference to the Israeli recent bill to tighten noose around Palestinian prisoners.
How do Israelis dare to illegally imprison Palestinian children like Dima al-Wawi and Shadi Farakh in flagrant and clear violation of international laws and conventions? he continued.
During a popular festival in support of prisoners’ families, Fares revealed that a new prisoner swap deal that includes large numbers of prisoners is going to be reached against Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s will.
"Our prisoners will be released soon against your will and your arbitrary laws", he said in reference to the Israeli recent bill to tighten noose around Palestinian prisoners.
How do Israelis dare to illegally imprison Palestinian children like Dima al-Wawi and Shadi Farakh in flagrant and clear violation of international laws and conventions? he continued.
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