Israel launches huge military operation in Gaza

BREAKING NEWS: Israel has launched airstrikes in Gaza. [Photo: Social Media]

Palestine Chronicle, 26 March 2019

The Israeli military has begun striking Hamas targets throughout Gaza, according to local residents and the Israeli military.

According to Gaza’s ministry of information, the raids targeted the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Residents there reported hearing the sounds of explosions on Monday evening.

The move came after a rocket, allegedly fired from the Gaza Strip, struck a home in central Israel on early Monday, wounding seven.

Israel has blamed Hamas for the attack.

Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniya called for unity to address Israeli attacks:

“The Palestinian cause is being attacked on various fronts – in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, as well as inside Israeli jails … We must face this onslaught with a united national front, and in coordination with our Arab allies … Our people and the resistance will not surrender if the occupation crosses red lines”.

Ashraf al-Qudrah, spokesperson for Gaza’s health ministry, said hospitals and medical points across the strip are ready and on high alert.

The health ministry has also called on residents to take precautions as Israel begins to launch strikes across Gaza.

Israel issued a similar warning about an hour before the raids began, telling residents on Israel’s side to open bomb shelters in the expectation of potential rocket fire coming from inside Gaza in response.

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu appeared alongside US President Donald Trump in a press conference at the White House shortly after the raids began.

Netanyahu said Israel was “responding forcefully” to what he called “wanton aggression”.

He said: “We will do whatever we must do to defend our people and defend our state.”

He added that he will cut his meeting short to return to Israel.

Trump called the attack on Tel Aviv “despicable” and said that the United States “recognizes Israel’s absolute right to defend itself”, describing the alliance between the US and Israel as “unbreakable”.

(AJE, PC, Social Media)

A huge military build-up has surrounded the Gaza Strip as Israel announced the area was a “closed military zone” yesterday. [Photo: Social media]

Earlier reports said that:

Hamas have allegedly communicated, through Egyptian contacts, to Israel, that they will respond to Israeli aggression.

None of the factions in Gaza have claimed responsibility for the missile that hit a house in central Israel.

Israel have placed the Golani Brigade on standby, stationed the military surrounding Gaza and declared the surrounding settlement villages, close to the perimeter of Gaza, as closed military zones.

Israel have also informed Hamas, through Egypt, that “any retaliation to our attack on Gaza will result in a full scale war”.

Israeli warplanes have reportedly destroyed the Gaza city office of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau.

Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz today adds that:

In an interview for Channel 13, acting Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said the offensive is the most expansive action Israel has taken in Gaza since 2014’s Operation Protective Edge.

Sources in Gaza also reported the strikes are targeting Hamas training and military outposts. Reports have also said civilian buildings have been bombarded in the strikes. All hospitals in the Strip are on alert, and residents have been asked to show vigilance. An official notice stated schools across the Strip would be closed on Tuesday.

The Israeli army said it struck a three-story building in the Strip, claiming it served as headquarters for several wings of Hamas’ intelligence apparatus. The statement called the building a central asset of the organization.

Reports in the Strip say the building is used by a well-known insurance company.

Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh said “any crossing of red lines would be met with a response,” and that this offensive must be faced with “a unified front.”

A correspondent from Gaza has informed Kia Ora Gaza that the Palestinian resistance in the enclave has since responded to Israel’s bombardments with a “barrage of 15 rockets” and that shrapnel reportedly hit a house in Siderot and injured two people. Our correspondent commented: “So it’s all on,” adding that “the resistance has just announced that if Israel escalates their attacks, the resistance will target villages near Gaza.”

BREAKING NEWS: The Times of Israel has just reported that Hamas has announced an Egypt-brokered ceasefire agreement will go into effect at 10pm local time. Israel is yet to confirm. Reports that Israeli warplanes continue to pound different targets throughout the besieged Gaza Strip. At least seven Palestinians have been wounded since Israel launched their military airstrike campaign on the coastal enclave, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Leading Israeli politicians have been calling for targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders and the ‘levelling’ of Gaza.

Israel’s war crimes fuel mental illness in Gaza

By Hanin Elholy, IMEMC News, Gaza Strip, 25 March 2019

It was a roasting July afternoon, and the reverberations of bombs were so continuous that her body seemed like it was vibrating in time with them.

There was no time to consider whether to don her hijab, what belongings to gather together, or even where to seek refuge. Amal blindly followed her neighbours jamming the streets of al-Shuja’eyya — pushing and shoving in their effort to flee, even without knowing exactly where they would go.

Sweating profusely while her heart raced, Amal attempted to ward off the stinging teargas by covering her nose and mouth with her sleeve. It didn’t quite work, however, and Amal sneezed and coughed, reflexively trying to spit to clear her throat.

That was in 2014, during the Israeli military’s last major assault on Gaza. But more than four years later, 46-year-old Amal still suffers fits in which she coughs and compulsively spits; trying to replace the habit with gum-chewing didn’t work. It was a behavior pattern that was particularly troublesome when Amal was trying to socialize. Despite repeated trips to ear, nose and throat specialists, relief was elusive, and her throat felt raw.

International solidarity against terrorism (if only)

Photo: RNZ

By Lois Griffiths, Scoop, 23 March 2019

This was never supposed to happen in New Zealand. That’s why we and our friends, here in Christchurch, are in such a state of shock.

Mass murder, inside a house of worship, is something that happens somewhere else, far away.

Earlier in the day, Martin and I, and many other Cantabrians were in the Cathedral Square supporting the students expressing their concern about climate breakdown, a more meaningful phrase than climate change. It was a happy event. But soon after we came home, a friend came over and told us about the shooting at Christchurch’s two mosques.

The news travelled quickly around the world. We received phone calls from our sons in Melbourne, emails from friends in Canada, Britain and Israel. The Israeli emails were from a Palestinian-Israeli doctor and a Jewish-Israeli retired academic. Both men are very busy humanitarian activists, challenging an extreme right wing regime yet not too busy to think of us. All the contacts asked if we were OK, our replies were, OK physically but shaken mentally.

New Zealand is geographically so far away from anywhere else. Yet the news of the horror reached everywhere; so many messages of sympathy, including from prominent international political and spiritual leaders, were sent to New Zealand.

A world united against terrorism.Yes? Yet other cases of terrorism don’t even make mainstream media. I am thinking, for example, of a very recent incident in Hebron, in the West Bank, Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Two Palestinian toddlers, three-year-old Wael Rabaji and his 18-month-old sister Malak Rabaji, burned to death because Israeli soldiers prevented a Palestinian fire truck from approaching the scene of the fire. This incident has been reported on alternative media but not on mainstream media . No messages of sympathy.

No international solidarity when terrorism is inflicted on Palestinians.

Israeli Forces arrest Palestinian boy (10) at school

VIDEO: Israeli forces arrested a 10-year-old boy from his classroom in Hebron

Palestine Chronicle, 24 March 2019

Israeli forces arrested a 10-year-old boy from his classroom and beat the deputy head of the school in the West Bank on Wednesday. Activists posted a video of the incident.

Israeli soldiers arrested the fourth-grader in the Ziad Jaber School in the Jabir neighborhood adjacent to the Ibrahimi Mosque in the city of Hebron (Al-Khalil).

It is likely they exceeded their authority as the age of culpability is 12 under both Israeli civilian and military law, according to activists and legal experts.

The Christchurch Mosque massacres..

Feigning indifference about Israel’s role as an architect of Islamophobia is unforgivable

By Iqbal Jassat, Opinion: Media Review Network, 19 March 2019

Violent brutality often seen on cinema screens as well as TV and online broadcasts – a hallmark of Hollywood, always ends with a sigh of relief in the knowledge that fiction triumphed over reality. “Dead” actors wake up and walk, ready to “die” and walk again in sequel after sequel of blockbuster movies, enthralling millions of eager viewers demanding more of the same. 

Whether films depict wars or drama and yes, entertainment too, blood curling violence, murder, rape and hatecrimes appear to be intimately entrenched in the script. Though reviewers and critics do often question validity of gratuitous violence, it seems script writers and producers are of the opinion that blood sells. And that the more bloodshed the more popular films will be to rake in huge profits. 

Unfortunately for the victims and families of the #ChristchurchMosqueMassacres in New Zealand, the reality of being mowed down in cold blood was far removed from fiction. Though the killer resorted to filming his ghastly crime via realtime digital media as he calmly proceeded to pump bullets into the bodies of Muslim women, men and children, they will not walk again. 

The orgy of death in the sacred precincts of mosques has shocked the world. That it was captured on video and has gone viral, depicting the utter ruthlessness of the killer splattering blood of innocent worshippers, has sparked fury. 

Pressure on social media platforms to halt further broadcasts showing depravity of the perpetrator’s killing spree may be an idea to not reward him with his “scoop”, but the larger question remains unanswered: who are his scriptwriters? 

There is no doubt in my mind that Ali Abunimah’s tweet correctly singles out Israeli war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu as a leading architect of antiMuslim hate campaigns as well as an ally of white supremacists and Nazis. 

His active pursuit of Islamophobia, incitement of wars and execution of Palestinians is not an irregular occurrence. Netanyahu, as head of the Middle East’s sole colonial entity, has been in the forefront of global war efforts to target what he unashamedly defines as “Muslim extremism” and “Islamist terrorism”. 

A vocabulary of racist invectives which he popularized and as is evident has been absorbed by US president Donald Trump along with his circle of rightwing white supremacist thugs such as Bolton and Pompeo. 

To assume that the Christchurch massacre is an isolated case, is to deny the existence of scriptwriters in Tel Aviv, Washington, London, Paris and many more capitals of the world. The results of the cancer of hate spread by them against Muslims is found in the debris of war ravaged Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Kashmir and scores of unidentified rural villages dotting the Muslim world. 

The names of these scriptwriters are known to the world, but regrettably not for the enormity of their illegal wars and crimes associated thereby, but as “statesmen”. Tony Blair, George Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and the group of killers in Israel, are glorified as “leaders” on world stages, while their records of mass murders are either glossed over or justified as necessary under the false rubric of the “War on Terror”. 

Miko Peled correctly links racist killings to the impunity whereby Israel and the US kill Arabs and Muslims. And insists that unless Israel’s “dominant influence” is halted, expect more #ChristchurchMosqueMassacres. 

Displaying outrage and issuing statements of condemnation as Netanyahu, Trump and their fellow travelers have done, smacks of blatant hypocrisy and double standards. Their insincerity stinks and must be called out if the world is to rid itself of white supremacy. 

Islamophobia and the elephant in the room

A woman places flowers at a memorial for the victims of the Christchurch massacre. (Photo: FIle)

By Jamal Kanj, Opinion: Palestine Chronicle, 21 March 2019

Were you surprised by Masjid Al-Noor massacre in Christchurch, New Zealand? If your answer is yes, I would like to be the first to welcome you to our planet earth. According to FBI records, hate crimes against Muslims have increased by as much as five folds since 2001.

The massacre in New Zealand, or the murders of shop-owners (some were Indian Sikhs suspected of being Muslims) and mosque bombings in the US, or Quebec City mosque massacre and the London van ramming into a crowd of worshippers in 2017. To name just few, these were not abstract singular events, but the outcome of organized virulent campaigns to demonize Muslims in the West.

It is impossible to have constructive discourse on Islamophobia absent of confronting the elephant in the room: Islamophobia is the creation of an unholy alliance between political Zionism and neocons in the West. The depraved alliance made it easy for Islamophobes to normalize Muslim hate and castigate Islam as “radical” religion.

Will Christchurch be our wakeup call?

Atta Elayyan (33) was killed at the Christchurch terrorist attack in New Zealand. (Photo: via Social Media)

By Rifat Audeh, Opinion: Palestine Chronicle, 21 March 2019

Yesterday I met my cousin, although he was killed in cold blood a few days ago, at the Christchurch terror attack in New Zealand. I “met” him upon visiting his aunt’s house and learned much more about this ambitious 33-year-old whose life was cut so short.

While my cousin Atta Elayyan lived in Kuwait and later New Zealand, I was living in Jordan and North America, and we never crossed paths. During my visit, I heard about how kind and supportive he was to his family, how intelligent and ambitious he was as a tech entrepreneur establishing his own company, and how energetic and athletic he was as a member of New Zealand’s national futsal team.

‘Endless Trip to Hell’

Israel jails 100s of Palestinian boys a year. These are their testimonies…

Young Palestinian detainees under guard. Soldiers typically burst into the house in the middle of the night, seize the wanted youth and leave the family with a document stating where he’s being taken. [Breaking the Silence]

By Netta Ahituv, Haaretz, 16 March 2019

They’re seized in the dead of night, blindfolded and cuffed, abused and manipulated to confess to crimes they didn’t commit. Every year Israel arrests almost 1,000 Palestinian youngsters, some of them not yet 13.

Solidarity from Gaza for Christchurch victims

Palestinians in Gaza went out to the streets in solidarity with Christchurch Mosque shooting victims last night. Gaza Post 16 March 2019

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NZ terror attack severely affected the Palestinians

By Tareq al-Shareef, Gaza Post, 16 March 2019

Earlier this morning a man in his late 20’s stormed into two mosques full of Muslim worshipers in New Zealand leaving 49 dead and dozens severely injured. 

He streamed a live video of the terrorist attack on his own Facebook page which showed him firing Indiscriminately at men, women, and children from zero distance. 

A number of Palestinians were killed and others were injured in a terror attack that targeted two mosques in New Zealand on Friday, says Palestine ambassador to Australia Ezat abed-Al Hadi. 

Palestinian Waseem abed-Razeq and his son, from the occupied Palestinian Tubas city, have been critically injured during the terror attack that targeted two mosques in New Zealand today.

Another Palestinian was dead, he is the Palestinian doctor Mohammed Atta Eleyan and his son were injured in the terror attack on the two mosques in New Zealand. According to local media sources.

The attack led to the killing of at least 49 Muslims and seriously injured other dozens in Christchurch, New Zealand, said New Zealand government.

Zero tolerance of bigotry, racism and hate groups

VIDEO: What does the Christchurch attacks mean to a Muslim from New Zealand? TRT World producer Mohamed Hassan, who grew up in New Zealand, reflects on the terror attacks on two Mosques in Christchurch.

New Zealanders everywhere are standing united in total condemnation of the cowardly and horrific terrorist attack that killed 49 Muslim worshippers in Christchurch yesterday. As we mourn the loss of so many innocent lives, we must step up our commitment to respect diversity and stand firm against all forms of hatred and bigotry, and refuse to allow this tragic violence to divide us.

Massive vigils, rallies and actions are planned throughout the country [see the Spinoff message below].

The Khadija Leadership Network has called for a vigil in Auckland’s grassed area at Aotea Square at 2pm today, to honour the lives of those we have lost.

People from all communities and faiths are invited to join the vigil: “We can stand together to offer aroha and show we are not divided by this.”

The line-up of speakers includes:

• Marama Davidson, co-leader of the Green Party
• Golriz Ghahraman, Green MP,
• John McDonald, Methodist Mission,
• Hon Carmel Sepuloni,
• Hon David Parker,
• Auckland Mayor, Phil Goff

Kia Ora Gaza promotes justice, human rights, peace and freedom for the people of Palestine.

All manifestations of racism and discrimination are the antithesis of justice, human rights, peace and freedom. Kia Ora Gaza steadfastly opposes and will not tolerate any act or discourse which adopts, promotes or fuels, any form of bigotry and racism, including anti-Arab racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, white supremacism, sexism, xenophobia, and homophobia. Its time to “call it out and shut it down!”

We express our most sincere condolences to all of those impacted by this horrific violence, and stand alongside all fellow New Zealanders to celebrate our rich diversity and demand zero tolerance of bigotry and racism and hate groups.

 

Christchurch terror attack: How to support NZ’s Muslim communities

The Spinoff | Staff writers 16 March 2019

Mass murder at mosques in Christchurch on Friday targeted Muslim New Zealanders at worship. Here are some things you can do to support a devastated community:

Donate to the victims and families

The New Zealand Islamic Information Centre (NZIIC) has set up a crowdfunding campaign on Launchgood with all funds raised distributed to the victims and families affected by the Christchurch attack. All proceeds will go towards helping with their immediate, short-term needs. “No amount of money will bring back their loved ones, but we do hope to lessen their burden in some way,” says NZIIC.

The New Zealand Council of Victim Support Groups has also set up a crowdfunding campaign on Givealittle. Victim Support says it will use all donations received to the page to provide support and resources for people affected by the Christchurch shootings and their family members.

The Al Manar trust has launched an emergency appeal for victims of the Christchurch attack. “It is a very tragic situation in Christchurch,” the page reads. “Many of our beloved brothers and sisters were martyred. This is to offer a simple help from the community around New Zealand to support the affected families.”

A halal food drop to support the Muslim community is happening in Christchurch on Saturday afternoon. Food donations can be taken to Theos Fisheries on Riccarton Road between 12pm and 3pm.

Attend a vigil

“We all share the sorrow from this tragedy and urge all New Zealanders to stay calm and united,” says Ikhlaq Kashkari of the New Zealand Muslim Association. “We cannot allow these types of people to divide our community.”

NORTH ISLAND

In Auckland, a peace vigil will be taking place at Aotea Square on Saturday at 2pm.

Another vigil is planned at Aotea Square next Friday (March 22) to “remember the precious lives unjustly taken from us, and in total rejection of Islamophobia and violence.”

‘Bringing Light to Our Darkest Hour’ is happening at Takapuna Beach in Auckland on Saturday (March 16) 8-10pm.

Hamilton’s Love to Christchurch Vigil is scheduled for 8pm Saturday at Claudelands Park.

In Hastings, Ngāti Kahungunu leaders have organised a public prayer session for Sunday (March 17) at Waipatu Marae. “Nau mai haere mai,” the iwi have said. “Come along and join in prayer for our Christchurch people who are suffering.”

Haven Falls funeral home have opened their chapels in Henderson, Wellington and Whangarei “for our Muslim brothers and sisters.” There will also be a public service held at each site on Saturday 16 at 7pm.

SOUTH ISLAND

Christchurch has a vigil to “remember those who lost their lives in the mosque attacks in Christchurch on 15-3-19 and show that hate can’t divide us” on Thursday March 21.

Nelson Race Unity Day will be on Sunday (17 March) in Victory Square, Nelson from 11am-4pm

Dunedin has a vigil planned for Thursday (March 21) in the Octagon hosted by Amnesty Otago. 

The Invercargill Vigil for Peace and Solidarity is taking place Sunday (March 17) from 11am-12pm

Please keep an eye on the pages for updates; some details may change. Let us know if there is a vigil happening in your area and we’ll include it – info@thespinoff.co.nz

Follow police advice

For anyone concerned about friends and family following the Christchurch terrorist attack, New Zealand Police have asked people to call 0800 115 019.

Police also wish to notify the public of the Restoring Family Links (RFL) website where people can register missing persons or register themselves as alive. The RFL website is a tool managed by the Red Cross where the public can self-register so family and friends know they are safe.

Police are also advising not to watch or circulate the distressing footage online relating to the Christchurch attack. “We would strongly urge that the link not be shared. We are working to have any footage removed.” Facebook is urging people to report all instances to them so their systems can block the video from being shared.

Share support helplines

The Aotearoa Resettled Community Coalition has set up a number of support lines run by multilingual volunteers in Christchurch. You can find them all here. “The events of today in Christchurch are distressing,” wrote the Canterbury District Health Board on Facebook. “If you or someone you know needs mental wellbeing support or advice then call or text 1737 any time day or night to talk to a trained counsellor.” This page has also been set up to republish messages of support for the Muslim community in New Zealand.

Open your doors

With mosques instructed to close their doors nationwide, it’s possible many people will be looking for a place to congregate. Make like the Te Atatū Baptist church in Auckland and open your doors to people in your community, even if it’s just for a cup of tea and a chat. In Auckland, six community centres are open this weekend for people to pray, connect and grieve – Te Atatu Peninsula Community Centre, New Lynn Community Centre, Ellen Melville Centre, Wesley Community Centre , Onehunga Community Centre and Te Puke O Tara Community Centre.

Condemn racism

Call out casual racism. Report Islamophobic and xenophobic comments. Read this guide from Amnesty on how to tell someone you love they are being racist. Take action. Aro Against Racism Ōtautahi has been set up following the attacks to fight racism through positive action and kōrero. “We believe that only through actively dismantling the parts of our culture which oppress people of colour can we truly move toward a city and world without racism.”

Donate to Shakti

Shakti is a non-profit organisation serving migrant and refugee women. Shakti, meaning strength, works to end all forms of violence and discrimination against women of colour. It supports women to overcome the barriers that come with migration and intergenerational bonds of cultural oppression.

Volunteer for The Red Cross

Contact your local Red Cross and see what they need. Volunteer tasks may include setting up a home for a refugee family, helping them with everyday admin such as enrolments, budgeting and shopping, and generally welcoming them into New Zealand.  

Support Shama

In Hamilton, the Shama Ethnic Women’s Centre Trust is a social service agency providing support, advocacy, and programmes in order to empower all ethnic women, their children and their families.

Volunteer to teach 

English Language Partners New Zealand has a volunteer teaching programme providing free English lessons to former refugees and migrants. They will train you to provide those who need it with the language skills and confidence necessary to integrate and participate fully in Aotearoa.

Post script: Marama Davidson, co-leader of the Green Party addresses the huge gathering at the Auckland solidarity vigil this afternoon.

They came in their thousands…

Israeli forces raid school, injure dozens of students

Ma’an News Agency, Hebron, 14 March 2019

Dozens of Palestinian students suffered from tear-gas inhalation, on Wednesday, after Israeli forces raided the premises of an elementary school in the southern occupied West Bank district of Hebron.

Video: Israeli soldiers beat up Palestinian detainees

Footage of Israeli soldiers beating and humiliating a Palestinian father and son prisoners tied up and blindfolded on the floor of a military jeep was released by an Israeli military court on Tuesday, Haaretz reported.

In the video [above], the soldiers are seen continuously smacking the heads of the father and son, laughing and telling them “it’s your party”, and repeatedly ordering them to “say hello” to the camera.

The Jaffa Military Court – which last week convicted three soldiers of aggravated assault and aggravated battery – yesterday cleared the video for publication, lifting a gag order imposed by the Israeli Army, the Times of Israel has reported.

Both Palestinians were taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem immediately after the incident happened on 8 January. One was beaten so severely he was hospitalised for three days, Haaretz, citing the court indictment, reported on Sunday.

All five soldiers were found guilty and sentenced to between two and six months in jail.

Comment from acclaimed writer, Gideon Levy from his recent column in Israel’s Haaretz newspaper:

Israeli Soldiers Who Beat Detained Palestinians Are Part of a Bigger Evil 

Most moral army in the world? Keep tripping.

The Netzah Yehuda soldiers convicted of beating up prisoners are not exceptions. What took place between Givat Assaf and Abu Shukhaydam occurs every night and it’s only the absence of documentation that prevents the expose of the pure evil on the part of the world’s most moral army.

Netanyahu: Israel ‘not a state of all its citizens’

…this is what Apartheid looks like

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [ODED BALILTY/AFP/Getty Images]

Middle East Monitor, 13 March 2019

Israel’s Prime Minister reiterated on Tuesday that Israel is a Jewish state for the Jewish people alone, Israeli media have reported. The so-called Israeli Arabs, insisted Benjamin Netanyahu, do not need another state.

This is what Apartheid looks like – UK firefighters outraged

UK Fire Brigades union demand action after Palestinian children die in blaze as Israel blocks fire engine access

Shocking video footage of fire engine blocked by Israeli military checkpoint last week.

By Steve Sweeney, Morning Star (UK), 8 March 2019

BRITAIN’S Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has demanded their government take action after two Palestinian children were killed in a fire on Wednesday as Israeli authorities blocked the fire brigade from reaching them. [ See earlier report: https://kiaoragaza.wordpress.com/2019/03/07/two-palestinian-children-killed-in-blaze-after-israel-blocks-fire-brigade/ ]

Three-year-old Wael Rabaji and his 18-month-old sister Malak Rabaji died after a blaze at their home in Hebron’s Old City in the occupied West Bank.

A third child suffered serious injuries and remained in intensive care in the Hebron government hospital according to Dr Walid Zalloum. [Ed. More recent reports have since announced that the third child has tragically succumbed to his severe burns. Wafa 8 March 2019]

Video footage showed a fire engine racing to the scene being blocked by Israeli soldiers as it made its way down a narrow street. Locals were heard shouting to the soldiers to “open the gate quickly, for the children.” [See video above]

Soldiers continued to block the path of the fire engine preventing it from reaching the burning building leaving the children trapped inside.

One of the children is understood to have died at the scene with another dying in hospital from the effects of the fire. Police spokesman Colonel Loai Arziqat confirmed in a press statement that two children had died, but did not release further details.

Wael and Malak Rabaji

Israeli forces frequently stop emergency vehicles in the occupied territories. According to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), Israel has prevented ambulances from crossing checkpoints on 123 occasions since 2015. There were 386 attacks against Red Crescent teams across the occupied territories during the same period, with 105 ambulances damaged.

The world has lost a beautiful soul

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is deeply saddened by the death of Divina Levrini in Sweden a few days ago. She was a good friend and shipmate to many of us who sailed with her on the vessels  Freedom and Al Awda in 2018 or met her in different ports. Divina was a passionate advocate for justice, a talented musician and gifted communicator who touched many lives. We mourn her early loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.

Divina pre-recorded this ‘SOS’ video message that was broadcast on social media after the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla boat, the Al Awda, was illegally hi-jacked by Israeli forces in international waters last year.

The Israeli navy assaulted and injured many of those on board (including Divina and New Zealander Mike Treen), threatened to assassinate the captain, and forced the boat to a port in Israel. All aboard were imprisoned for several days before being deported. Most of their belongings were stolen by Israeli forces. The Al Awda, and the other flotilla boat Freedom, remain confiscated in Israel, and the 114 boxes of medical supplies destined for Gaza, have never been seen since.

Some of the 2018 Freedom Flotilla participants in Messina, Sicily, prior to departure: Chris Graham, Divina Levrini, Lucía Mazarrasa, Mike Treen, Larry Commodore, Mohd Afandi Salleh.

Kia Ora Gaza is a member of the international Freedom Flotilla Coalition. New Zealand’s representative on the 2018 flotilla, union leader Mike Treen, yesterday remembered his time on the Al Awda with Divina: I shared the final leg of the journey to Gaza and detention in Israel. She fought every inch of the way with great courage. One of our other trip participants only got urgent medical attention because she kept shouting at the guards until he was attended to. It makes me angry a soul like hers can’t survive this world.

Christchurch human rights activist, Lois Griffiths paid this moving tribute to Divina, posted on Scoop NZ yesterday:

The World has lost a Beautiful Soul

I was saddened today to learn of the sudden death of Swedish human rights activist, singer Divina Levrini. I became aware of this young woman when researching the background of participants in the Freedom flotilla 2018 to Gaza. She was one of the participants.

It’s fascinating and inspiring too, to learn about people with various backgrounds, from different countries, who share a compassion for justice for the people of Gaza, suffering under appalling, truly inhumane, sadistic even, conditions. The world has looked the other way for far too long.

When challenged by an interviewer as to why she was volunteering Devina Levrini explained, “I have been reading about Palestine since I was a teenager and it touched me. This conflict is different from many others because it’s a modern day apartheid and a genocide that never should be accepted. I am a mother of two children, who have to live in this world and it’s up to us, adults, to change it for the better. The children of Palestine are no different and should be able to live as freely as my children in Sweden. This trip is a humanitarian and peaceful act to raise awareness, and if it makes politicians act, then we have succeeded in many ways.” Palestinians of Gaza ” need to be remembered. They need the world talking about them.” “I risk a lot by going, but it is an action I must take. I can’t sit by and watch the genocide of Palestinians. The world has been through this before and has succeeded in ending a lot of occupations. The amount of support we have received on our way is overwhelming and shows there is support for Palestine. I believe that without human rights activists nothing will change, but as I said during our trip “maybe you are the change you have been waiting for.”

Divina Levrini was actually a crew member for the entire 2½ month Freedom Flotilla campaign, starting in Scandinvia. She crewed on the Freedom as far as Palermo and then the Al Awda from Palermo. In other words she was a colleague of Mike Treen’s. She witnessed the violence inflected on the young Norwegian captain and then on Mike and others.

Her eyewitness account after returning to Sweden, can be found via the freedom flotilla website: https://jfp.freedomflotilla.org/

And now I learn that this lovely, passionate, caring, humane young woman has died.

Although I never met her, I would like to do something positive, something she would have approved of, in her memory. I would like to demand that Israel release the medical supplies that it stole from the Flotilla boats, medical supplies that were meant for hospitals in Gaza. That seems so weak though. I’d really like to be able to demand that the Israeli Embassy be expelled. What kind of a country would steal basic medical supplies meant for hospitals that are barely functioning? That’s another story that needs to be told.

Which raises another point. Why is New Zealand determined to remain silent, i.e. complicit, as Israel continues its obscene oppression of Palestinians, not only, but especially, in Gaza. Is there no red line?

There will be another Freedom Flotilla in 2020. Most sadly, without Divina Levrini.

The world has lost a beautiful soul.

[Ed: For more on the hi-jacking of the flotilla boats, see reports posted in July/August 2018 on kiaoragaza.net and jpf.freedom.flotilla.org ]

Want hate speech? Look at Israel’s ‘new norm’ leaders

Michael Ben Ari, leader of the ‘Jewish Power’ (Otzma Yehudit) party, now in alliance with Israeli PM Netanyahu’s Likud party.

By Ramzy Baroud, The Palestine Chronicle, 7 March 2019

Why the Outrage? ‘Jewish Power’ Party is the New Norm in Israeli Politics

Immediately after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allied with the fringe political group, Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), a widespread outrage ensued.

The anger did not emanate only from the Centre, Left and Arab parties, but from some in the Right as well. Even the pro-Israel lobby in the US, known for its hawkish political views, spoke out against the sinister union.

“The views of Otzma Yehudit”, the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) tweeted, “are reprehensible. They do not reflect the core values that are the very foundation of the State of Israel.”

But what if they do? And what if “Otzma Yehudit” is but a different political articulation of mainstream Israeli views, reflecting the very “core values” that even AIPAC has been blindly defending since its inception in 1953?

Before the alliance between Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party, Rafi Peretz’s far-right Jewish Home, and Otzma Yehudit, which was struck on February 20, Israel was hardly a liberal democracy that shunned racism and embraced political pluralism. Indeed, it must be understood that the inclusion of Otzma Yehudit in Israel’s mainstream political scene is consistent with the moral corruption of Israeli politics as a whole.

To protest the alliance between Netanyahu and the fanatical leaders of Otzma Yehudit is to suggest that mainstream Israeli politicians don’t represent the very chauvinistic, racist and violent ideals that the extremist party has championed since its formation in 2012.

Two Palestinian children killed in blaze after Israel blocks Fire Brigade

Two Palestinian children were killed in a blaze after Israeli forces prevented the fire brigade from reaching them in time in Hebron, West Bank.

Palestine Chronicle, 7 March 2019

Two Palestinian children have been killed in a blaze at their home in occupied Hebron (Al-Khalil) after the Israeli authorities prevented the fire brigade from reaching them in time.

The two children – one of whom is believed to have been just 18-months old – were burned to death in a fire at their home in the Al-Salaymeh neighborhood of Hebron’s Old City in the occupied West Bank.

One was reported dead late last night, while the second succumbed to the burns received this morning after receiving emergency treatment at the nearby Hebron government hospital. A third child, thought to be the dead children’s brother, also suffered severe burns in the incident and remains in intensive care, according to hospital Director Dr. Walid Zalloum.

The names of the three children have not been released formally, but Palestinian news site Palestine Today named the two who were killed as four-year-old Wael Al-Rajabi and his 18-month-old sister Malak. The local police spokesman, Colonel Loai Arziqat, confirmed in a press statement that two children had died, but did not offer further information.

Though the emergency services were called, the fire brigade was prevented from reaching the scene by Israeli soldiers. In a video filmed last night at 21:50 local time (19:50 GMT), the fire engine can be seen trying to drive down a narrow street. The truck comes to a stop at a roadblock obstructing the way, while local residents implore the Israeli soldiers stationed there to “open the gate quickly, for the children.”

Screen shot of video recording the fire engine obstructed by the Israeli military roadblock. [Middle East Monitor]

The Israeli soldiers, however, did not yield to the onlookers’ pleas, delaying the emergency services’ response and preventing them from reaching the property. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Israel is no stranger to restricting emergency services’ access to Palestinians in need. According to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), citing the Palestine Red Crescent Society, since 2015 Israel has prevented ambulances from crossing checkpoints on 123 occasions. In addition, there were 386 attacks against Red Crescent teams across the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) during the same period, as well as 105 ambulances damaged.

Under international law, as the occupying power, Israel is forbidden from preventing access to medical care and emergency services to the people living under its occupation. According to the Fourth Geneva Convention,

“The occupying power must ensure sufficient hygiene and public health standards, as well as the provision of food and medical care to the population under occupation.”

In addition,

“Personnel of the International Red Crescent Movement must be allowed to carry out their humanitarian activities.”

Israel, however, continues to breach this and other articles of international laws and conventions with impunity.

(Source: MEMO, PC, Social Media)

 

Israel closes Gaza border, blocks aid transfers

Karam Abu Salem border crossing. (Photo: File)

Palestine Chronicle, 5 March 2019

Israel today closed Gaza’s main commercial crossing to all good except fuel, local sources reported.

Israel has increased its targeting of the besieged Gaza Strip over the past few days, striking sites in the enclave causing damage to property.

It claims the closure of the Karam Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing is in response to “increased violence from Gaza”.

Occupation forces regularly block access to the Gaza crossings as a means of controlling the Palestinian population. In July Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Kerem Shalom would be closed if kite and balloon launchers continued with their activity.

Gaza ran out of cooking gas as a result of the Israeli closure of the crossing days later.

Palestinians wait to fill canisters with cooking gas. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are experiencing shortage in gas and fuel. [Ashraf Amra/Apaimages]

(Sources: MEMO, PC, Social Media)

Israel issues denials, smears investigations of its crimes

Palestinians carry an injured protester during the Great March of Return on 2 February 2019 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

By Professor Kamel Hawwash, Middle East Monitor, 6 March 2019

From Qana to Gaza, Israel issues denials and smears investigations of its crimes

I wrote recently about an EU report on the growth of illegal Israeli settlements and argued that the EU was diligent in documenting Israel’s-breaches of international law but that it has singularly failed to bring it to account, even when it has demolished EU-funded projects.

A more recent report commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) investigated the actions of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) at the nominal border with Gaza since 30 March last year, which marked the beginning of the Great March of Return protests. For almost 50 weeks, Israeli snipers have gunned down, with deliberate, chilling precision, Palestinian men, women and children.

The “Report of the independent international commission of inquiry on the protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory – A/HRC/40/74” acknowledges that the peaceful protests “were civilian in nature, with clearly stated political aims.” The protesters asked to be allowed to return to the homes from which they have been expelled from 1948 onwards, and for a lifting of the siege on Gaza. Instead of meeting their peaceful and legitimate demands from the outset, Israel has killed over 200 Palestinians, including journalists and medics, and maimed dozens of young men, who now have to face life as amputees, rather than sportsmen.

Dozens of young men now face life as amputees, rather than sportsmen.

The irony here is that Israel complained about Malaysia’s decision to ban the Israeli Paralympics team from competing in the country, while the IDF was making its own sickening contribution to future Palestinian Paralympics teams.

The UNHRC’s report makes for gruesome reading. Israeli soldiers are accused of “intentionally firing on civilians, who were neither directly participating in hostilities, nor posing an imminent threat.” The report warns that, “These serious human rights and humanitarian law violations may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.”

Israel’s reaction was predictable and follows a long line of denial and smearing of any report which accuses it of wrongdoing. According to a Foreign Ministry spokesman, “This report was born in sin, in a politically biased, one-sided resolution that determined the outcome before the investigation even started.” He went on to lay the blame on Hamas: “[Hamas] has declared war on Israel and calls to kill Jews. Hamas is orchestrating the attacks and using civilians in Gaza as human weapons to assault Israel and Israeli civilians. Hamas exploits the civilians in Gaza as human shields for terrorists.” As usual when such allegations are made, no evidence is produced to back them up, nor is the legitimate right to resist military occupation ever mentioned.

The spokesman went on to smear the UNHRC and the report’s three authors: “The HRC becomes an accomplice of a terrorist organisation, supporting Hamas’s aggression against Israel and the oppression of the people of Gaza.” The three individuals, he alleged, lack any understanding in security matters, without a relevant professional background.

UN investigators accuse Israeli of possible war crimes

Middle East Eye, video report published 1 March 2019

“Israeli security forces committed serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.” United Nations investigators have said that Israel’s killing of Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border “may constitute war crimes.”