Palestinian national arrested in Florida

MIAMI (Ma'an/Agencies) -- A Palestinian national was arrested in South Florida, accused of attempting to buy 300 stolen weapons, the Miami news channel WSVN reported Tuesday.

Abdalaziz Aziz Hamayel was arrested on 29 August at Miami International Airport as he returned from Jordan, the station reported.

The criminal complaint against Hamayel said he tried to buy 300 M16 rifles, 9mm handguns, Uzi submachine guns, silencers, grenades and remote detonation devices "for his people," the report said.

According to WSVN, the Palestinian man had "deep ties to the West Bank."

Police had been investigating Hamayel for over a year, WSVN said, but he had disappeared.

High committee of prisoners: 36 children, three women kidnapped in August

[ 06/09/2010 - 12:04 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- The high national committee for the support of prisoners said it documented in last August the kidnapping of 295 Palestinians, including 36 children and three women in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and occupied Jerusalem, pointing out that Israeli interrogators electrocuted some detained kids. The committee affirmed that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnapped three women including a social activist and a mother of two young children called Kifah Jibreel who was administratively detained for four months despite her suffering from constraints in heart blood flow. 36 children under the age of 18, mostly from Jerusalem, were also kidnapped during the month. Some of the kids were placed under house arrest and forced to pay fines for allegedly throwing stones at Israeli soldiers and others were exposed to beating and electric shocks in detention, according to the committee. It cited as an example what happened to two Palestinian children called Yahya Idwan, 15, Abdelhamid Abu Haneyya, 16. Both were detained in Ariel settlement, severely beaten and stunned with electric cables attached to their bodies before they were forced to sign indictments against themselves.  The committee also reported different violations committed against the Palestinian prisoners in Israel's jails, such as forcing some prisoners to eat their sunset meals while they were handcuffed during the holy month of Ramadan as happened with detainees transferred from Negev to Ofer prison. The suffering of many patients in prison did not end as a result of the policy of medical neglect pursued by Israel against the Palestinians in its jails, the committee said.

Palestine woman barred from visiting son in Israeli jail

[ 06/09/2010 - 11:31 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- A human rights activist says Israeli authorities continue to prohibit 70-year-old Hajja Um Ibrahim from visiting her son for 14 years under claims that such a visit poses a threat to Israeli security. The elderly lady has been searching for a Palestinian family outside her area to adopt her son and visit him on her behalf, as she used to do years back with Arab prisoners. Prisoners' affairs researcher Abdel Nasser Farwana says Hajja Um Ibrahim Baroud, who is from a northern Gaza Strip refugee camp, is one of thousands of Palestinians who  have been barred them from visiting their children languishing in Israeli jails for alleged “security reasons”. Farwana stresses that security measures are no longer an exception, but have become a worrying phenomenon and established policy after the Aqsa Intifada (uprising) broke out in September 2000. A third of Palestinian prisoners have been denied family visits under different pretexts as a result of the so-called “security measures”. The unjust policy has nothing to do with security, Farwana noted, but is only a policy that reflects revenge from Israeli authorities on prisoners and their families and is designed to come between the families and step up punishment on prisoners. Farwana says Hajja’s eldest son Ibrahim Baroud, 48, was arrested April 9, 1986 and sentenced to 27 years behind bars. He is now in the Ashkelon prison after being transferred throughout his term to several prisons.

Israel 'holding remains' of Palestinians killed in 1969

NABLUS (Ma’an) -- Israel has not returned the bodies of two Palestinians killed 41 years ago in the northern West Bank, relatives said Sunday.

Ahraf Othman, from Al-Majdal village south of Nablus, said his father Issa was killed by Israeli soldiers on 5 September 1969, and Muhammad Fazi from Qusra, north of the city, was killed on the same day 41 years ago Sunday.

The men, both Fatah operatives, died in a military operation near Jamma'In and Beit Furik, he said.

"I have an official certificate from Israeli forces proving that they killed my father, and all I want is to get his body back," Ashraf said adding that he would cooperate with the Palestinian National Campaign for the Release of Martyrs' Bodies to file a lawsuit against the Israeli government to bury his father in his village.

Last month, Israeli authorities delivered the remains of Mashhur Talab Al-Aruri to his village near Ramallah, 34 years after he was killed. It was not clear why his body was held for so long.

Prisoner awarded PhD in jail

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian prisoner held in the Negev prison was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration from the American World University, the Center for Detainees' Studies announced Sunday.

Abdel Hafez Saadi Gaithan's doctoral thesis was entitled Strategic Planning in Qabilia, a Palestinian village in the northern West Bank district of Nablus, a statement issued by the center's director Rafat Hamdouna said.

Hamdouna said prisoners celebrated Gaithan's success by distributing sweets, biscuits and soft drinks, with many describing his achievement as "a victory over the occupation."

"[Gaithan's] Phd was a challenge to break the policy of occupation, which attempts to abuse the captive and isolate him from the world," the statement read.

The PhD was awarded to Gaithan by AWU in conjunction with Birzeit University.

Palestinian prisoners say assaulted by guards

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- The Supreme National Committee to Defend Detainees said prisoners in Israel's Haredim prison were assaulted shortly after they began eating their iftar meal on Thursday.

A statement from the group said a phone call from prisoners reported a cell invasion as prisoners broke their fast, reportedly in an effort to locate mobile phones smuggled in by inmates.

The report said that guards ransacked several cells, destroyed the property of prisoners and insulted them.

Following the incident, the report continued, three prisoners were put in solitary confinement. They were identified as Rawhi Mishthi, Kamal Abu Na’im and Khamis Akel. Witnesses said they refused to cooperate with the cell check.

Army court rejects appeal to release anti-wall activist

 RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- An Israeli military court of appeal rejected a petition calling for the release of Adeeb Abu Rahmah, an anti-wall activist from the West bank village of Bil’in, supporters said Wednesday.

The appeal was heard Tuesday at Israel’s Ofer military detention center, where the 38-year-old Abu Rahmah has been held since 10 July 2009.

The decision came a week after a second Bil’in activist was convicted on similar charges, of incitement and assaulting a soldier, a move that was openly criticized by EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, who said the verdict charging Abdallah Abu Rahmah appeared to be designed to “prevent him and other Palestinians from exercising their legitimate right to protest.”

Desmond Tutu also called for Abdallah's release.

Adeeb, detained like Abdallah from an anti-wall protest in Bil'in, where the route of Israel's separation wall cuts of village land, will have to remain in Israeli custody until the proceedings against him are concluded, following the Wednesday decision.

The appeal for Adeeb's release argued that his conviction was incorrect and his sentence too severe, and according to supporters, the move was dismissed by the military judge on the grounds that not enough time had passed since the latest appeal was lodged.

400 days and counting: nonviolent Bil’in activist Adeeb Abu Rahmah to remain incarcerated

Posted on ISM webpage : September 2, 2010 |

Adeeb Abu Rahmah (centre) during a 2009 demonstration in Bil'in. PHOTO CREDIT: Oren Ziv/ActiveStills2 September 2010

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2 September 2010


Ramallah, WEST BANK

A military court of appeal yesterday (1st Sept. 2010) rejected a petition calling for the release of Adeeb Abu Rahmah, a leading activist from the West bank village of Bil’in, imprisoned in Israel’s Ofer military detention centre since 10^th July 2009.
The decision comes 8 days after the conviction of another Bil’in activist – Abdallah Abu Rahmah – on very similar charges, was openly criticized by the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton, who said the verdict appeared to be designed to “prevent him and other Palestinians from exercising their legitimate right to protest”.
Adeeb Abu Rahmah, 38, a taxi-driver and father of nine and courageous nonviolent activist (watch video here), was arrested during one of the weekly protests in Bil’in over 11 months ago. An initial decision to release him on condition of avoiding demonstrations was reversed on July 21^st 2009 when the military prosecution appealed. A judge ruled he should be kept till the end of proceedings against him.
Eventually sentenced on June 30^th 2010, he was convicted of “inciting violence” and “activity against the public order”. These broad military orders are increasingly being used by Israel to criminalize peaceful protest. An additional charge initially made against him for inciting others to throw stones was withdrawn following arguments and evidence put forward by his legal defense.
The appeal rejected yesterday – which had argued that his conviction was incorrect and his sentence too severe – was dismissed by the military judge on the grounds that not enough time had passed since the latest appeal was lodged. Instead he will remain incarcerated until a judge decides whether or not to grant the prosecution’s request that his sentence be increased to two years or more.
Adeeb, like Abdallah Abu Rahmah, is well known as a committed non-violent activist.
Amnesty International amongst others called the Israeli court not to convict him, saying that: “The broad scope of Israeli military orders mean that Adeeb Abu Rahma could be imprisoned solely for legitimately exercizing his right to freedom of expression in opposing Israeli policies in the West Bank.” They added that he should be regarded “as a prisoner of conscience who should be released immediately and unconditionally.”
Media contact: ISM Media Office – 054 618 0056
###

Updated on September 2, 2010

Israel releases man without charge after month in prison

TULKAREM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces released a prominent Tulkarem businessman Thursday without charge after one month in Israeli prisons, his lawyer said.

Usamah Fakhri At-Tanib, general director of the Tanib Company, was detained when soldiers raided his family's apartment complex on 27 July. Residents were forced to evacuate the building while a search was completed.

At-Tanib's lawyer Jawwad Al-Khatib said no charges were brought against his client, who was released without conditions. Despite having no evidence Israeli authorities tried to charge At-Tanib with various offenses which were "baseless and untrue," his lawyer said.

Abuse of Palestinian children in Israeli jails

Ma'an

Testimonials and events documented by human rights organizations show the abuse of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons to be regular and widespread.

Physical abuse, sexual abuse, torture, threats and intimidation as well as the denial of basic basic human rights, such as access to education are the most common forms of abuse, documents show.

In 2009, a report from the UK-based children's rights group Defence for Children International found, there were 305 Palestinian children being held in Israeli jails. The US-based NGO Save the Children further estimates, that over 6,700 children were arrested between October 2000 and April 2009. Both organizations confirm Israel routinely prosecutes Palestinian children as young as 12, describing the ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children as "widespread, systematic and institutionalised."

Forms of abuse

In 2009, DCI collected 100 sworn affidavits from Palestinian children and teenagers who said they were abused in Israeli military and police custody. Almost 70 percent complained of being beaten, four percent reported being sexually assaulted, and 12 percent said they were threatened with sexual assault.

According to the report, most of the incidents occurred during interrogation and were used against detainees to force a confession.

Physical abuse

The physical abuse of children by soldiers has most frequently been documented as involving "slaps, kicks, punches or blows with a rifle stock or club," DCI stated.

Nearly all children surveyed by DCI, 97 percent, were held for hours with their hands cuffed, and 92 percent were blindfolded for long periods of time. Twenty-six percent said they were forced to remain in painful positions.

In 2010, Palestinian lawyer Hiba Masalha reported the case of Muhammad Rashid Abu Shahin, 16, from the Balata refugee camp. After being arrested, the youth said he was manhandled and beaten by soldiers using rifle butts. He was then transported to the Huwwara detention centre where where he was beaten with a plastic pipe to force a confession. The child is suffering chronic back pain as a result of being hit on the spine.

Sexual abuse

Fourteen percent of child prisoners surveyed by DCI said they were sexually abused or threatened with sexual assault to pressure them into confessions.

In May 2010, the Dubai-based Al-Jazeera news network published the testimony of an unnamed Palestinian child released from an Israeli jail.

"There was a dog barking outside the room… The soldier told me he would bring it in to f**k me if I didn't confess… I was so scared… The guy then took out a stick; he whipped it forward and it got longer. He told his friends, who were looking on and laughing at me: "This boy doesn't want to talk. Let's pull down his pants so I can shove this stick up his a**."

"I tried to hold on to the chair; he kept poking me, groping my privates with the stick, trying to get me off the chair."

Threats and intimidation

Many Palestinian child prisoners testify to being forced into confession by threats and intimidation, including threats against family members, threats of prolonged imprisonment and threats of physical and sexual abuse.

Abuse by other prisoners

Palestinian child prisoners are reportedly confined in close quarters with adult prisoners and become the subject of physical and sexual abuse.

Denial of basic services

Palestinian children in Israeli detention only received limited education in two out of five prisons and no education whatsoever in any of the interrogation and detention centers. According to Save the children, in 2009, Israel prevented 1,821 detainees from writing the high school certification exam, known locally as the Tawjihi.

Typical scenario

According to Save the Children, Palestinian children are typically arrested between midnight and 4a.m. without their families being notified where the child is being taken. The children are normally handcuffed, blindfolded, and subjected to physical abuse in addition to humiliating treatment during arrest and can be detained up to 90 days without access to a lawyer whilst being interrogated. Children can be detained for two years from the time charged until the trial.

Stone throwing is the most common offense Palestinian children are charged with under Israeli military law accounting for 26.7% of cases. The maximum penalty is 20 years imprisonment. Save the Children reports that in 91 percent of cases involving Palestinian children, bail is denied. The group also says that currently, 32.9 percent of sentenced children are 15 years of age or younger and that 21.25 percent are sentenced for a one-year period or longer.

Effects on the child

A 2009 report by Save the Children says most detainees develop Post Traumatic Stress symptoms as a direct result of their abuse in prison. The psycho-social consequences of detention affect the immediate behavior of children, the way they think including their analysis of the outside world.

International and domestic law

The UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty states imprisoning children should only be a "last resort and for the minimum period and should be limited to exceptional cases" further stating that "fundamental international law must be respected at all times with no exceptions" and "the welfare, special needs, best interests, and human rights of juveniles "shall be a primary consideration".

Despite being a State member of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Israel identifies a "child" as any person below the age of 12, "youth" as any person between 12 and 14, "young adult" as any person between 14 and 16 and "adult" as any person above 16. Israeli citizens however, are legally considered an adult at 18. This denies Palestinian children many of the basic services granted to Israelis of the same age.

Israeli accountability

Reports by groups such as B'Tselem, Save the children and DCI are regularly dismissed by the Israeli military as "inaccurate" and are rarely investigated. A 2009 report from the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, says that from 600 complaints regarding abuse of children all were dismissed without a single criminal investigation.

Action Alert: Stop Israel's Abuse of Palestinian Children

Action Alert: Stop Israel's Abuse of Palestinian Children September 2, 2010 According to the Palestine Section of Defense for Children International, each year, about 700 Palestinian children from the West Bank are prosecuted in Israeli military courts. Out of 100 sworn affidavits collected by lawyers in 2009, 69% of the children were beaten and kicked, 49% were threatened, 14% were held in solitary confinement, 12% were threatened with sexual assault, including rape, and 32% were forced to sign confessions written in Hebrew, a language they do not understand. Israel's treatment of detained Palestinian children is considered to be torture by the United Nations under international law. Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition calls on all its members, supporters and people of conscience to contact the White House to demand that the Obama administration direct the Israeli leadership, currently in Washington DC, to immediately release and end to the systematic and institutionalized abuse of all Palestinian children in Israeli prisons in accordance with international law. The US government, which supports Israel to the tune of billions of taxpayer dollars a year while most ordinary Americans are suffering in a very bad economy, is bound by its laws to cut off all aid to Israel until it ends all of its violations of human rights and basic freedoms in a verifiable manner. To contact the White House, please use the online form at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/   Alternatively write to: President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500   Phone : 202-456-1414 Fax: 202-456-2461   Letters in the US may be faxed online via: http://www.tpc.int/sendfax.html   To contact your Representatives and Senators, go to: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt?command=congdir House members can be reached through the Capitol switchboard toll free at: 1-877-331-2000   Please cc your correspondence to alerts@al-awda.org Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition PO Box 131352 Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA Tel: 760-918-9441 Fax: 760-918-9442 E-mail: info@al-awda.org WWW: http://www.al-awda.org Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition (PRRC) is the largest network of grassroots activists and students dedicated to education and advocacy for the restoration of Palestinian human, national, legal, political and historical rights in full with particular emphasis on the right of Palestinians to return to their homes and lands of origin from which they have been dispossessed since 1948. PRRC is a not for profit tax-exempt educational and charitable 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States of America. Under IRS guidelines, your donations to PRRC are tax-deductible. To donate, go to http://www.al-awda.org/donate.html and follow the instructions. To become a member, go to http://www.al-awda.org/membership.html

Palestinian anti-wall protester convicted by Israeli military court

 Amnesty International

27 August 2010

Amnesty International has condemned the conviction by an Israeli military court of a Palestinian non-violent political activist who has been detained since last December because of his involvement in protesting against the fence/wall which the Israeli authorities have been building largely on Palestinian land.

Abdallah Abu Rahma, head of the "Popular Committee Against the Wall" in the West Bank village of Bil'in, was found guilty of "organizing and participating in an illegal demonstration" and "incitement" by an Israeli military court on Tuesday.

He was acquitted of two other charges of "stone-throwing", and "possession of arms". He is expected to be sentenced within the next few weeks and could face up to 10 years in prison.  He remains in custody awaiting sentence.

"In prosecuting Abdallah Abu Rahma, the Israeli authorities appear to be seeking to punish him and to deter others from participating in legitimate protests," said Malcolm Smart, director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa programme.

"Abdallah Abu Rahma now faces imprisonment for exercising his right to freedom of expression in protesting against the construction of the fence/wall."

Abdallah Abu Rahma is a school teacher and well-known political activist who through peaceful means has sought to raise international awareness of the human rights violations suffered by Palestinians because of Israel's fence/wall.

The villagers of Bil'in, together with Palestinian, Israeli and international supporters, have been holding weekly demonstrations for the last five years in protest against the fence/wall and the confiscation of their land by the Israeli authorities for its construction.

The arrests of Abdallah Abu Rahma and other prominent activists against the fence/wall – including Mohammed Othman, and Jamal Juma' – have been part of a crackdown on those voicing their opposition to the construction of the fence/wall.

Mohammed Othman and Jamal Juma' were released uncharged in January 2010 following international appeals.

In 2008 the Bil’in Popular Committee was awarded the Carl Von Ossietzky Medal for Outstanding Service in the Realization of Basic Human Rights by the Berlin-based International League for Human Rights in Berlin.

The Israeli 700-kilometre fence/wall runs from north to south of the West Bank, encircling Palestinian villages as well as whole neighbourhoods in and around East Jerusalem.

Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) are subjected to Israeli military laws including Order No. 101, “Order Regarding Prohibition of Incitement and Hostile Propaganda Actions” which was established shortly after the beginning of the Israeli occupation in 1967.

The order enables sweeping restrictions to be placed on freedom of expression, requiring any proposed gathering of 10 or more persons “for a political purpose of for a matter that could be interpreted as political” or even to “to discuss such a topic” to obtain a permit in advance from the commander of the Israeli military forces in the area.

This year there has been a dramatic increase in the use of the Order No. 101 particularly against Palestinians who organize demonstrations against Israel’s fence/wall.

The majority of the fence/wall is not built on the "Green Line" (the 1949 armistice line which separates the State of Israel from the occupied West Bank) but is located on Palestinian land inside the West Bank, separating Palestinian towns, villages, communities and families from each other and vital services, as well as cutting off Palestinian farmers from their land.

In June 2004 the International Court of Justice issued a unanimous advisory opinion stating that the construction of the wall in the OPT is contrary to international law and that Israel was obliged to dismantle sections already built there and provide reparation to Palestinians affected by the construction. The Israeli government rejected these recommendations.

When Palestinians, together with Israeli and international supporters, have demonstrated against the fence/wall, Israeli forces have often used excessive force against them. Some demonstrations are conducted peacefully; in others, some protesters throw stones at the Israeli military or attempt to damage the fence/wall.

Read More

Palestinian activist faces prison sentence (News, 11 June 2010)
Second Palestinian activist freed by Israel (News, 15 January 2010)
Palestinian activist Jamal Juma' freed (News, 13 January 2010)
Israeli detention of Palestinian activists must end (News, 8 January 2010)
Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Enduring occupation. Palestinians under siege in the West Bank (Report, 4 June 2007)

PCHR weekly report 26/8-1/9/2010: 15 Palestinians, including 3 children arrested during incursions, 4 Palestinian paramedics and 2 Israeli human rights defenders arrested during demonstrations, 8 Palestinians including 2 children arrested at checkpoints

extracts from PCHR weekly report 26/8-1/9/2010:

At least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than three years. 
 In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
IOF arrested 4 paramedics and two human rights defenders. 

 IOF conducted 37 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.IOF arrested 15 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, in the West Bank.


Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank arrested at least 8 Palestinian civilians, including two children.

Thursday, 26 August 2010


  

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. 'Omar Mitri Qassis, 25;

2. Ramez 'Abdul Rahim Wash'ha, 25; and

3. Yousef Mousa Housha, 46.

· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Jafna village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. Tariq Nasser Matar, 21; and

2. Emile Ghassan 'Abdu, 24.

· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Kufor 'Aqab village, south of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Tha'er 'Abdul Rahim Wash'ha, 26. 

Friday, 27 August 2010  


Also following the Friday Prayer on 27 August 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with Israeli troops positioned near the Wall. Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, several demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.  Israeli troops also arrested 4 paramedics and two human rights defenders, but released them later:

1. Murad Khalil 'Amira, 35;

2. Mohammed Mousa Jabazi, 23;

3. Ma'ath Mohammed 'Amira, 18;

4. Tariq Hani 'Amira, 21;

5. Hamouda Sa'id 'Amira, 34, a photographer of the Israeli B'Tselem; and

6. Ms. Sirit, 39, Spokesperson of B'Tselem.

Sunday, 29 August 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Eyad Shihda Jabarin, 33, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:25, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1. 'Imad Ahmed Doula;

2. Ahmed Mohammed al-Dalu;

3. Ameer Hassan Jibara, 19; and

4. Anas Hassan Jibara, 18. 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Irsal neighborhood in Ramallah.  They raided a 5-storey apartment building belonging to the Abu 'Ein family, and searched a flat on the second floor. They then arrested Yazan 'Abdul Hadi al-Shrouf, 22

  Tuesday, 31 August 2010 


At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian children:

1. Saleh 'Imad Abu Sharar, 14;

2. Mohammed Zakaria al-Qiq, 16; and

3. Firas Zakaria al-Qiq, 14. 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

· On Thursday morning, 26 August 2010, IOF arrested Zaid Burhan Hamdallah, 19, from 'Anabta village east of Tulkarm, after summoning him for interrogation. 

· At approximately 23:00 on Friday, 27 August 2010, IOF arrested Ahmed Rasheed Basheer, 20, from Jainsafout village east of Qalqilya, when he was going to his work in "Emanuel" settlement. 

· At approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 29 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested 'Abdul Rahim Mohammed Daoud, 23. 

· At approximately 16:00 also on Sunday, IOF arrested Mohammed Mashour Salim, 15, and Yousef Mahmoud 'Edwan, 15, both from 'Azzoun village east of Qalqilya, claiming that they threw stones at Israeli cars traveling on bypass road #55 north of the village. 

· At approximately 18:00 on Monday, 30 August 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Hani Mohammed Mas'oud. 

· At approximately 17:30 on Tuesday, 31 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at Jeet intersection, east of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles, and arrested Jalal Ameen Samara.  

Egyptian security detains son of Palestinian health minister

[ 02/09/2010 - 12:02 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- The Egyptian security apparatuses recently apprehended Mohammed Naim, the son of Palestinian health minister in Gaza Dr. Basem Naim, Palestinian sources told the Quds Press. They said that Mohammed, who is in his twenties, arrived in Cairo via the Rafah border terminal two weeks ago. The sources said that Mohammed was taken to the Marj jail in Cairo with no charges leveled against him, adding that he was detained just for being the son of the health minister in Gaza. The Egyptian authorities detain 30 Palestinians some of whom have court orders for their release.

Group: Salah prevented from receiving religious reading

JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- An Israel-based prisoners support organization said the country's Prison Administration prevented detained leader of the Islamic movement in Israel from receiving religious books while incarcerated.

Firas Amri, who heads the Yusuf As-Siddiq Institute based in Umm Al-Fahim, said books requested by Sheikh Raed Salah and sent by the organization were refused to the official, serving a five-month sentence after being convicted of assault for spitting on an Israeli border guard.

Salah, Amri reported, was initially allowed two books, Al-Bedaya wa An-Nehaya (The start and end) and Tafseer Asharwai (Asharawi interpretation), but when he asked to exchange them for others, he was told by the administration at Beersheba's Ayalon Prison that it would not be possible.

The Yusuf As-Siddiq Institute sent a letter to the prison administration asking why books were no longer being allowed to the religious leader, but Amri said he had "not received any written response to this moment, but Sheikh Raed told us that he was informed that religious books were no longer allowed to enter the prison at all."

Egypt seizes Hamas official in northern Sinai

EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma’an) -- Egyptian authorities on Tuesday detained a Hamas internal security official while en route to Egypt.

Identified only by his initials, S.A., 30, from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, was found in a taxi in the northern Sinai when he was arrested.

Police say he confessed under interrogation to paying a smuggler to transport him through a tunnel under the Rafah border area. He was found in possession of $5,000 and 1,000 Egyptian pounds, officials said. He was not carrying ID, they added.

Police have yet to determine why the man was in Egypt, they said. He was being held at the Egyptian State Security investigations headquarters in northern Sinai to undergo further interrogation, security sources said.