Israeli forces on Sunday raided the Jerusalem governor’s office in the occupied West Bank
Israeli forces on Sunday raided the Jerusalem governor’s office in the occupied West Bank, according to local residents.
“An Israeli force stormed the governor’s office in the town of al-Ram, northeast of Jerusalem, and searched it,” a local resident told Anadolu Agency.
He said Israeli soldiers assaulted a number of employees inside the office.
According to Palestinian medical sources, three people suffered temporary asphyxiation from teargas canisters fired by Israeli forces and were treated on the spot.
The Israeli raid was quickly condemned by the Ramallah-based Palestinian government.
Palestinian resistance factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad have both vowed to continue organizing daily demonstrations along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone until the rallies “achieve their objectives”.Following a late Thursday meeting between their leaders, the two groups released a joint statement emphasizing that “the rallies will continue, and their peaceful character will be maintained, until their objectives are met”.Since March 30, Gaza-based political factions -- especially Hamas and Islamic Jihad -- have organized almost daily demonstrations along the buffer zone.Palestine's Hamas urges Brazil to revoke Jerusalem decisionProtesters demand the right to return to their homes and villages in historical Palestine, from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.They also demand an end to Israel’s 12-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its two million inhabitants of many basic commodities, including food, fuel and medicine.Since the rallies began some seven months ago, more than 200 Palestinians have been killed -- and thousands more injured -- by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the buffer zone.Israeli official says Khashoggi death 'despicable', but Iran greater challengeTruce talksHamas and Islamic Jihad have also welcomed recent efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the UN ostensibly aimed at ending the suffering of the Palestinian people in the occupied West Bank and in blockaded Gaza.An informed Palestinian source told Anadolu Agency that Egypt’s intelligence agency, which is currently leading mediation efforts between the Palestinian factions and Israel, had made "significant progress" in truce negotiations.According to leaked information, the proposed agreement calls for easing Israel’s 12-year blockade of the Gaza Strip in exchange for a halt to the ongoing protests along the buffer zone.Palestine’s Abbas, Egypt’s Sisi to hold talks SaturdayFor the last two weeks, delegations of Egyptian security officials have engaged in intense shuttle diplomacy between Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, where they have met with Hamas, Fatah and Israeli officials respectively.Last month, Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Qatar had agreed to finance the purchase of fuel needed to operate Gaza’s only functioning power plant.
Palestinian resistance factions vow to continue Gaza Strip rallies
An Israeli official on Friday called the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul "despicable" but said that cementing ties with Gulf states in the struggle against Iran was Israel's overriding concern.In his remarks to radio station 102 FM, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz did not explicitly say whether his views were those of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which has been reticent in commenting on the case.Asked about Khashoggi's death, Steinitz said: "It was a despicable action. It's worthy of all reproach. This was a civilian, a journalist, not a terrorist."He went on to say, however, that Israel's struggle against Iran was more pressing."We have a threat that can become an existential threat - the threat of a nuclear Iran, the threat of terror, the threat of spreading through Syria and Lebanon. And Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, are our allies in recent years against the spread of Iran and against the Iranian nuclear threat," he said. 'Khashoggi’s body was dismembered, dissolved in acid'Saudi prince disparaged Khashoggi in US calls: reportGermany hardening line on Saudi Arabia and KhashoggiArab media covers Turkey's Khashoggi statement
Israeli official says Khashoggi death 'despicable', but Iran greater challenge
Israeli police arrested 13 ultra-Orthodox Jews in Bnei Brak city Thursday who were protesting the arrest of a youth who refused to enlist in the army.Mounted police were also deployed, and some protesters narrowly missed being trampled, with some sustaining injuries.The police said in a statement that the protesters were arrested for disturbing public order and blocking roads.Military service is mandatory for most Israelis, although the ultra-Orthodox community has enjoyed exemptions in the past in favor of religious seminary studies.Ultra-Orthodox Jews make up approximately 10 percent of Israel's population and generally reject joining the army.Israeli army rounds up 17 Palestinians in W. Bank raidsNew Egypt ambassador to Israel to assume post next weekIsrael delegation in Chad to discuss strengthening ties
Israeli police arrest 13 ultra-Orthodox Jews
In a statement, government spokesman Yousef al-Mahmoud described the raid as a “dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of all agreements and international law”.
The spokesman went on to hold the Israeli government responsible for “the repercussions of these assaults”.
There was no comment from the Israeli army on the report.
Last month, Israeli police detained Jerusalem governor Adnan Ghaith and released him two days later.
Last week, Ghaith was again briefly detained by Israeli forces.
A security delegation from the Egyptian intelligence service left the Gaza Strip on Saturday after talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire between resistance factions and Israel and healing inter-Palestinian rift.The delegation left the strip via the Erez crossing following a two-day visit, a Palestinian security official said on condition of anonymity because he was no authorized to speak to media.The source did not give details where the delegation was heading.The delegation had held talks with leaders of Gaza-based Palestinian factions with a view to brokering a truce between them and Israel and healing a rift between rival groups Hamas and Fatah.Hamas demands Britain apologize for Balfour DeclarationThe Egyptian delegation has been holding a shuttle diplomacy between the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Israel for weeks, during which they are meeting with officials of Hamas, rival group Fatah and the Israeli government.An informed Palestinian source earlier told Anadolu Agency that Egypt’s intelligence agency had made "significant progress" in truce negotiations.According to leaked information, the proposed agreement calls for easing Israel’s 12-year blockade of the Gaza Strip in exchange for a halt to the ongoing protests along the buffer zone.Turkish relief organization helps injured PalestiniansSince March 30, Gaza-based political factions -- especially Hamas and Islamic Jihad -- have organized almost daily demonstrations along the buffer zone.Protesters demand the right to return to their homes and villages in historical Palestine, from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.They also demand an end to Israel’s 12-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its two million inhabitants of many basic commodities, including food, fuel and medicine.Since the rallies began some seven months ago, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred -- and thousands more injured -- by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the buffer zone.Palestinian resistance factions vow to continue Gaza Strip rallies
Egyptian delegation leaves Gaza after truce talks
A Palestinian minor on Saturday succumbed to wounds he sustained during the 2014 deadly Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, according to the Health Ministry.Mohammed Nasser al-Rifi, 14, was seriously injured in an Israeli attack on his home in Al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza City, in 2014.“He died of his wounds on Saturday at Al-Wafa hospital in Gaza,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said in a statement.The minor’s father, brother and four relatives had died in the Israeli attack.In July 2014, the Israeli army launched a 51-day offensive on the Gaza Strip on the pretext of halting rocket fire from the Palestinian territory.A total of 2323 Palestinians were martyred and around 11,000 others injured in the assault, according to figures released by the Palestinian Health Ministry.The Gaza Strip has groaned under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2006 that has gutted the territory’s economy and deprived its two million inhabitants of many staple commodities.Hamas demands Britain apologize for Balfour DeclarationTurkish relief organization helps injured PalestiniansPalestinian resistance factions vow to continue Gaza Strip rallies
Gazan child dies of wounds from 2014 Israeli war
Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are close to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire, a report said Saturday, citing a high-level Israeli source.According to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, an unnamed senior political figure leaked that a deal was in the making between Israel and the Gazan administration to allow Qatar to provide the enclave with funds to pay its civil servants as well as fuel.The source added that the Israeli side would audit the funds to ensure they were not being used for “terror activities”.Since Palestinians began holding regular rallies along the buffer zone on March 30, more than 200 protesters have been killed and thousands more injured.Demonstrators demand the right to return to their homes and villages in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.They also demand an end to Israel’s 12-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its roughly two million inhabitants of many basic commodities.Hamas demands Britain apologize for Balfour DeclarationTurkish relief organization helps injured PalestiniansPalestinian resistance factions vow to continue Gaza Strip rallies
Israel, Gaza close to ceasefire