The reports from Gaza come to us late. Along with the water, the Israeli army cuts the electric whenever they please. When tanks invade the city, they bomb the streets, turning a once paved road into rubble and leaving it completely unusable. The people are not free to relax in an Internet cafe write reports, search websites or send emails to friends. Such was the case in Khan Younis Refugee Camp. On 26/10/2006, the last day of the Eid celebration, the power was cut at 6am and the people heard the tanks and F16s approaching. The people know now that this is the signal to flee their homes to avoid … Continue reading

October 23, 2006, members of the Palestine Solidarity Project joined with Israeli peace groups Ta’ayush and Anarchists Againt The Wall to challenge the validity of the illegally created road blocks that have been forced upon many Palestinian villages, severly limiting their freedom of movement and access to essentials such as schools, hospitals, and economic centers.

They began their work in the village of Al-Jab’a where they have tried several times to remove a roadblock blocking the path from Surif to Al-Jab’a (please see previous report for more information on this situation). As they waited for more demonstrators to join them, an Israeli military hummer pulled up and was parked in front of the roadblock. … Continue reading

Today, October 21, soldiers and settlers from Susiya settlement came with army- issued bulldozers and proceeded to destroy 150 Dunums (1 Dunum=1/4 acre) of olive groves belonging to the Palestinians. The groves belong to the families of Ashmasti, Abu Sopea and Asha Bin who live in Susiya bedouin camp. The families had planned to harvest these olives at the end of Ramadan, when they would be finished fasting and have more energy to work. Because of the economic crisis throughout Palestine, and the particularly difficult situation for small farming communities in this area which is the beginning of the Negev desert, the demolition of this land will have unbelievably devastating consequences for the people of Susiya, and their ability to … Continue reading

Rafah city, Gaza
Not one day passes in Rafah city without destruction and violence from the Israeli army. Homes are continued to be destroyed. Rockets are being fired into the city daily. Entire families have been killed. Yesterday alone, 8 people were killed in Gaza. 24 people were killed last week alone in Gaza, including a woman and children. The people here are suffering. 80% of households live in poverty. The uncertainty of what will come in the next moments, the lack of jobs and education, the loss of hope and obtainable dreams overwhelm the people. The army comes into Rafah daily. There is no escape from the brutality. The people of Gaza cry out for help, … Continue reading

On Saturday, Oct. 14 at 4am two unmarked cars with Israeli Special Forces inside drove into the village of Beit Ommar and shot a man in the street as he was walking to the mosque for morning prayers. The special forces were dressed as Palestinians. Jamil Aljem, 40, was shot twice in the stomach. He is currently in critical condition in a hospital in Hebron. Arab media reports that the IOF has not made a statement as to the reason for this attempted execution.

Israel has publicly admitted to engaging in a policy of extra-judicial killings since the beginning of the Second Intifada (though practically Israel has engaged in such activities for decades) . The UN has consistently condemned these actions, … Continue reading

A Palestinian man, 25, was severely beaten, following the successful removal of a road block in Beit Ommar. Shafiig Khlayel intervened when Israeli occupation forces began assaulting a Palestinian woman shortly after her husband had participated in the Beit Ommar roadblock removal. As people tried to stop the assault, they themselves came under attack. Shafiig was punched in the stomach and back, as well as being hit several times with a rifle butt. After he was thrown to the ground, he was then set upon again, being kicked in the back and on the legs. Internationals who had been involved in the road block removal happened to be passing by the site of the incident and were able to … Continue reading

Today, at 12pm Israeli soldiers and Shabak (Israeli intelligence) blocked the mosque in Beit Ommar and attacked people who had come to pray. Two military jeeps, one hummer and one shabak car, totalling twenty soldiers and four secret service officers, entered and proceeded to block the mosque in Beit Ommar. People going to prayer were left standing outside the mosque, unable to enter.

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stayed for one hour, forcibly checking IDs, filming worshipers, and issuing two Palestinians with papers requiring them to attend questioning. The IOF then attacked five Palestinian men, beating them with their rifle butts and fists, causing two of them to bleed from the head, elbows and hands and forcing them to seek medical assistance.

Palestinian, international and Israeli activists joined together to demonstrate against land theft, road closures and economic isolation by bringing two tons of the surplus Palestinian grape harvest to an occupation checkpoint along Route 60. In a display of civil disobedience akin to the North American Boston Tea Party, the demonstrators hoped to dump the surplus harvest onto the road, but were viciously attacked before they were able to reach the checkpoint.

Al-Khadr is a center for vineyards, as is the Bethlehem area in general. Every year its fertile lands yield 11,000 tons of grapes. Not long ago, these grapes were marketed to the entire West Bank, as well as Jordan, Gaza and Israel. Nowadays, with some … Continue reading

This afternoon, Palestinian, international and Israeli activists carried out two non-violent demonstrations focused on two illegal roadblocks in the Betlehem region. Roadblocks in al-Jab’a and Beit Ommar were chosen, and the barrier in Beit Ommar was successfully opened. Large forces of occupation soldiers amassed at both demonstrations, and brutally beat many present.

Following Friday prayers in the village of al-Jaba, thirty five internationals and Israelis, and more than forty Palestinians, marched from the village mosque to the earth mound roadblock. The internationals represented the Palestine Solidarity Project (PSP), the International Women’s Peace Service (IWPS), the Christian Peace Makers Team (CPT), while the Israelis were from Ta’ayush, and Anarchists Against the Wall. This … Continue reading