The immediate cause of the current crisis in Gaza is the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority’s efforts to pressure its rival Hamas and to curry favor with the Trump administration. However, the appalling conditions that the nearly 2 million Palestinians in Gaza are forced to endure are ultimately the result of 50 years of Israeli military rule over the tiny coastal enclave and a cruel and illegal siege and naval blockade.
on June 19, 2017Since militarily occupying the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, during the June 1967 War, Israel has destroyed more than 48,000 Palestinian homes and other structures, imprisoned more than 800,000 Palestinians using a military court system that human rights organizations have condemned, and built approximately 125 official settlements on occupied Palestinian land in violation of international law.
on May 31, 2017Birzeit University on Monday condemned an Israeli army raid into its campus in Ramallah overnight, during which it said Israeli forces confiscated and damaged university equipment. "Birzeit University condemns this attack and the direct violation of the sanctity of the university campus," the university said in a statement. "This is a belligerent military attack on the university..."
on January 11, 2016Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in the Qalandiya refugee camp at dawn on Monday during a raid to demolish the home of an alleged Palestinian attacker, witnesses said. Israeli soldiers shot and killed Laith Assad Manasra, 21, and Ahmad Abu al-Aish, 28, as clashes broke out following a raid involving hundreds of Israeli forces in the densely populated refugee camp.
on November 16, 2015As of 29 October 2015, Israel’s security forces have closed off Hebron’s Tel Rumeidah neighborhood, denying local residents free access into and out of the neighborhood. Even prior to this date, security forces checked all persons leaving and entering the neighborhood, but since last Thursday (29 October), they have allowed access only to individuals registered as residents of the neighborhood.
on November 5, 2015Israel has passed an amendment to the country's civil law establishing a minimum prison sentence of three years for people who throw rocks at Israeli troops, civilians or vehicles. Passed late on Monday night by a vote of 51-17, the legislation includes a number of provisions, among them one that permits the government to strip those convicted of stone throwing of their state benefits
on November 3, 2015Israeli authorities on Tuesday delivered a home demolition order to Ibrahim Dwayyat from Sur Bahir in East Jerusalem, the brother of Shurouq Dwayyat, who Israel accuses of attempting to stab an Israeli settler earlier this month. Their mother told Ma'an that the Israeli municipality claimed the home had been built without the necessary permits.
on October 27, 2015The Israeli army and Border Police closed off both entrances to the Palestinian village of Hizma in the West Bank on Monday afternoon, in response to what the military claimed were incidents of stone-throwing in the area. Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem reported that Hizma’s 7,000 residents were also prevented from leaving the village.
on April 18, 2015Israel has halted transfers of the tax revenue it collects on behalf of the Palestinians in retaliation for their move to join the international criminal court in the Hague, according to Israeli media. The Palestinians announced earlier this week that they are joining the international criminal court in the Hague to pursue war-crimes charges against Israel.
on January 3, 2015