Into the Middle East

Five Palestinians killed Thursday in ongoing Israeli invasion of Balata refugee camp

Kole — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 22:15:00 -0800

IMEMC - Thursday, 23 February 2006, 15:29

After a 17 year old boy was shot and killed early Thursday morning, Israeli forces continued their assault on the crowded neighborhoods of Balata refugee camp, killing four more Palestinians and injuring dozens more during the day on Thursday. The five Palestinians killed Thursday have doubled the death toll of the five-day attack on the city of Nablus and Balata refugee camp.

IOF Continue Military Operations in Nablus for 3rd Consecutive Day

Kole — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 05:47:00 -0800

PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
PRESS RELEASE Ref: 26/2006

The city of Nablus and Balata refugee camp have been subject to a large-scale Israeli military operation for the past three days. 3 Palestinians, including 2 children, have already been killed during these operations. Another 30 have been injured, some seriously. Severe restrictions on the movement of civilians have also been imposed.

Update on Balata refugee Camp

Kole — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 05:42:00 -0800

February 21st, 2006 | Posted in Press Releases, Nablus Region

Sixteen year old Kamal Khalili was shot in his chest with live ammunition at 11:00 this morning in Balata Camp while throwing a stone at Israeli soldiers. He is now brain dead. According to Dr. Ghassan Hamdan head of the Nablus UPMRC nine other youths were injured today, at least four of them with live ammunition. Dr. Hamdan Says that this brings the total of injured people to 64.

IOF Bans Access of Ambulances in Nablus

Kole — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 05:40:00 -0800

NABLUS, February 21, 2006 (WAFA)- Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) banned Tuesday the access of ambulances into the West Bank(WB) city of Nablus to evacuate a citizen, witnesses said.

The Siege on Balata Camp Continues

Kole — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:36:00 -0800

February 20th, 2006 | Posted in Reports, Nablus Region, ISM Media Alerts

19:10 February 19, 2006 Twenty-two year old Mohammad Subkhi Abu Hanade was shot in the chest with live ammunition while he was in his home by a sniper in an occupied house adjacent to his. A medical team andinternational volunteers who were in the vicinity say that the atmosphere was quiet when they heard two shots followed by screaming coming from the house. They immediately came in and found Abu Hanade bleeding heavily. After Mohammad was evacuated, a pregnant woman in the house went into what seemed to be shock induced labor and was also evacuated to hospital.

Israeli military blocks Palestinian emergency medical aid

Kole — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:34:00 -0800

PNN 10:00 am 20.02.06

Since the incursion in Balata refugee camp started on 1:00 am February 19, medical emergency work has been made impossible by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). At this moment all entrances to Balata refugee camp are blocked. There is only one ambulance left inside the camp. It will bring wounded only to the edge of the camp, out of fear of not being allowed back in. Wounded individuals are carried on stretchers to the entrance of the camp and transported to Nablus hospitals. Normal ambulance traffic has come to a complete halt.

IOF Kills 2 Citizens in Nablus

Kole — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:31:00 -0800

The son and daughter, no names available, of Islamic Jihad senior member Ahmed Abu Sharik, 30, cry during the funeral of their father, in the West Bank City of Nablus, Monday (AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh)

NABLUS, February 20, 2006 (WAFA)- Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed Monday two citizens in the West Bank (WB) city of Nablus, medics and security sources said

Israeli Army orders United Nations employees out of Balata Refugee Camp

Kole — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:30:00 -0800

IMEMC & Agencies - Monday, 20 February 2006, 16:13

During an ongoing invasion to the area Israeli military forces ordered foreign employees of the UNRWA to leave Balata refugee camp south of the West Bank city of Nablus immediately Monday afternoon.

A UNRWA manager, wanted to stay anonymous, said that he arrived in the camp in order to prevent employees from leaving the area. He also said that the UNRWA is a humanitarian organization that has nothing to do with the fighting between Israel and Palestine.

In ongoing invasion of Nablus, Israeli military blocks ambulances from reaching injured

Kole — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:27:00 -0800

IMEMC & Agencies - Monday, 20 February 2006, 13:26

Since the latest incursion in Balata refugee camp started on 1:00 am February 18, medical emergency work has been made impossible by the Israeli military. At this moment all entrances to Balata refugee camp are blocked.

In an ongoing invasion to the city, army arrests six residents in Nablus

Kole — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:26:00 -0800

IMEMC & Agencies - Monday, 20 February 2006, 10:13

In an ongoing invasion to the city, Israeli army forces arrested six residents from the West Bank city of Nablus and from Balata refugee camp early Monday morning.

Israeli soldiers kill two children in Balata invasion

Kole — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 14:02:00 -0800

Saed Bannoura-IMEMC & Agencies - Sunday, 19 February 2006, 17:22

Ibrahim Issa (16) and Mohamed Natour (16) at the Rafidiya morgue in Nablus. (AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh)

In several attacks throughout the day on Sunday, Israeli soldiers, supported by armored vehicles and Jeeps, invaded Balata refugee camp, in the West Bank city of Nablus, shot and killed two Palestinian children during clashes which erupted there following the invasion, five residents were arrested

1 Jihad fighter killed, 4 injured, 2 soldiers wounded in Nablus invasion

Kole — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 13:20:00 -0800

Palestinian youths hurl stones at Israeli troops during clashes after an Israeli army raid in the West Bank city of Nablus February 7, 2006. (Abed Omar Qusini/Reuters)

George Rishmawi-IMEMC & Agencies - One Islamic Jihad operative was killed and two Israeli soldiers were wounded on Tuesday morning, as Israeli troops invaded the northern West Bank city of Nablus, claiming that they are attempting to arrest claimed wanted Palestinians, Palestinian sources reported.

Voting at refugee camp has all the trappings of democracy

Kole — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 12:55:00 -0800

By Dion Nissenbaum (Knight Ridder Newspapers)

BALATA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank - On one end of Schools Street the Islamist militant group Hamas, which is best known for suicide bombings in Israel, set up a different kind of war room Wednesday, in which activists crowded around a computer to help direct supporters to the right polling place.

Army invades Nablus, one resident arrested

Kole — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 11:43:00 -0800

Supporters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) marching during an election campaign rally, are prevented by an Israeli soldier from approaching a checkpoint outside the village of Beit Fourik, near the nothern West Bank town of Nablus Tuesday. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Tuesday, 03 January 2006, 14:33

(IMEMC) - In an invasion to the West Bank city of Nablus, on Tuesday at dawn, Israeli soldiers arrested one resident, and searched several houses searching for wanted members of the resistance. Omaer Arafat, 17, was arrested when troops stormed and searched his family house in the city, and was taken to an unknown destination. The invasion was carried out when some twenty armored vehicles stormed the city and took positions in Al Quds and Al Hisba Streets.

Beit Iba Checkpoint Occupied by Peace

Kole — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 11:29:00 -0800

Protestors dressed as clowns argue with an Israeli during a demonstration against the closure of the Beit Ebla checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus. (AFP/Jaafar Ashtiyeh)

NABLUS, January 1, 2006 (WAFA)- Palestinian, Israeli and international activists from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and the International Women's Peace Service (IWPS) celebrated Saturday the new year and their continuous determination to jointly fight the occupation by peacefully taking over Beit Iba checkpoint, north of Nablus.

3 Palestinians Extra-Judicially Executed by IOF in Nablus

Kole — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 22:54:00 -0800

Thousands of mourners bid farewell to three Palestinian militants who were shot during their funeral procession in Nablus. (AFP/Jaafar Ashtiyeh)

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
22 December 2005

On Thursday morning, 22 December 2005, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) extra-judicially executed 3 Palestinians in Nablus. This attack was the second of its kind in less than 24 hours, as IOF extra-judicially executed a Palestinian in Jenin on Wednesday afternoon.

The terrorism of the Occupation

Kole — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 10:47:00 -0800

Palestinian youths hurl stones at an armored Israeli army vehicle during clashes in the West Bank City of Nablus December 21, 2005. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini

by Walid Abdelhadi
Balata Refugee Camp

Monday early morning (2:00 am) Israeli occupation troops invaded the Balata refugee camp. They attacked several people’s homes in the camp. At one of these homes they used a dog equipped with a wireless speaker in its ear, a spotlight and a wireless camera. The dog resembled more of a robot than an actual animal. The human handler verbally controls every move for the dog. The dog is used to search for wanted fighters instead of the soldiers. The dog bites its 12year old victim on the leg and with the third bite removes a chunk of flesh the size of a cigarette box. The boy’s father in his late 40s was outside where he had been detained by the Israelis when he answered his front door. He was forced to strip naked and to stand up against the wall of the house in the cold of night for almost one hour until the soldiers withdrew. The child was not transported to the hospital until the soldiers had gone. There was no one wanted in this household, but instead they were victims of collective punishment that the Israeli occupation forces make to the residents of the camp.

Hamas wins al-Bireh, Nablus councils

Kole — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 10:11:00 -0800

Palestinian Hamas supporters after casting their ballots for the municipal elections at a polling station in the West Bank city of Nablus December 15, 2005. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini

AL-JAZEERA - Hamas has swept the latest round of local Palestinian elections, beating the ruling Fatah to control large city councils in a test of strength ahead of a parliamentary vote. A Palestinian official who helped administer the elections said on Thursday that preliminary results showed that Hamas won control of the councils of Nablus, one of the biggest cities in the West Bank, and al-Bireh, although he did not reveal specific figures.

Nightmares in Nablus

Kole — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 10:36:00 -0800

from Walid Abdelhadi
Balata Refugee Camp, Nablus

Friday morning (December 9, 2005) at Howara checkpoint (the northern gate of Nablus), a young child 12 years old was crossing the checkpoint when he was arrested because the occupation soldiers at the check point were suspicious that he was carrying a bomb in a plastic bag. They stopped him, grabbing him by the neck, and sent him to the field beside the checkpoint to drop the plastic bag there and to return back to them while they were sniping their guns at him.

Palestinian activists come out in support of CPT members held in Iraq

Kole — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 19:45:00 -0800

Hebron, December 6 - REUTERS/Nayef Hashlamoun

Over the last few days Palestinian activists have come out in full force to support the CPT members currently being held in Iraq. The Palestinian National and Islamic Forces, the main coordinating body of the Intifada, have come out with a strong statement urging the Swords of Truth Brigades in Iraq to release the captured activists. Please take the time to sign the petition for their release. You can also read the full text of the petition and browse pictures of recent solidarity actions in Palestine in the rest of this article.

Nablus endures ongoing Israeli raids and arrests

Kole — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 20:40:00 -0800

(AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh)

by Amin Abu Warda, Nablus (PNN)

Nablus residents guessed the convoy of Israeli military patrols that entered the city at dawn today had come to carry out further arrests. Special trucks for transporting prisoners that residents knew all too well were with the convoy.

Hamas vows revenge for Israeli killing of commander

Kole — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 21:22:00 -0800

(AFP/Jaafar Ashtiyeh)

The Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas) on Monday vowed tough revenge on Israel for the killing of the group's senior leader in the West Bank.

Soldiers invade Nablus

Kole — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 20:14:00 -0800

Israeli military vehicles block Palestinians waiting to cross a checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus. (AFP/File/Jaafar Ashtiyeh)

Manar Jibreen-IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli soldiers, supported by 30 armored vehicles, invaded on Monday at dawn the West Bank city of Nablus from Huwwara checkpoint entrance, and surrounded a house in Al-Daheya Al-'Olya neighborhood, the Maan News Agency reported. Troops broke into a house which belongs to Al-Qutub family, searched it and attacked one member of the family.

Child killed, five residents injured in Nablus

Kole — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 19:59:00 -0800

REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini

Saed Bannoura-IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli soldiers shot and killed one Palestinian child and injured five other residents after invading the West Bank city on Nablus, on Tuesday evening.

Boy injured and citizens arrested in Nablus

Kole — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 19:44:00 -0800

Qatar News Agency

Doha --A Palestinian youngster was seriously injured in Balata refugee camp, east of the West Bank City of Nablus and others were arrested when Israeli occupation forces stormed the camp. Eyewitnesses said the boy, Shahda Abudllah al-Shafie (15), was injured in the chest in his house. Citizens in the camp said the Israeli occupation forces arrested Bashshar Khalil Ibrahim Abu Ziraa (28) and Mahran Mohamed Abu Alfa (22) and led them to an unknown destination. Meanwhile the Israeli occupation forces mounted a military barricade on the al-Bazan-Nablus road obstructing traffic and also closed Beit Aiba crossing, west of the city.

Family denounces the release of four settlers who attacked their son

Kole — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 18:44:00 -0800

Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The family of Manhal Hussein, 14, from Jeet village, south west of Nablus, denounced the Israeli decision to release four settlers who attacked their son at a junction near the entrance of the village while he was selling vegetables.

Two resistance fighters arrested in Nablus

Kole — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 18:24:00 -0800

Saed Bannoura-IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli soldiers arrested on Friday at dawn Ali Mansour, leader of the Al Aqsa Brigades, the military wing of Fateh movement in Nablus. Another fighter identified as Saddam Mansour was also arrested in the attack.

IDF Constructing 10-Lane Checkpoint South of Nablus

Kole — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:36:00 -0800

photo courtesy of annaianinthemiddleeast.com

Date posted: October 31, 2005
By Amira Hass - Ha'aretz

The Israel Defense Forces has been constructing a major new checkpoint south of Nablus, at the Zaatara (Tapuah) junction, for checking Palestinian cars arriving from the northern and western parts of the West Bank.

More...Army invades Nablus, resistance detonates explosive

Kole — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 12:31:00 -0700

(AFP/Jaafar Ashtiyeh)

Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies
Saturday, 29 October 2005, 12:31

Israeli soldiers invaded, on Saturday morning, the West Bank city of Nablus and conducted military searches of homes. Palestinian resistance detonated an explosive charge near a military patrol during the invasion.

REVIEW Occupational Hazards - Paradise Now

Kole — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 18:01:00 -0700

Paradise Now (film still)

by Howard Feinstein (Village Voice)

In Rana's Wedding (2002), a determined Palestinian bride-to-be bests Israeli gatekeepers and Palestinian bureaucrats who nearly block her marriage. A West Bank taxi driver in the doc Ford Transit (2002) circumvents ubiquitous checkpoints and inflexible Israeli soldiers. Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad expands upon the prevailing Palestinian mood of frustration in the provocative Paradise Now, a humanizing exploration of the minds and motivation of two potential suicide bombers. He makes it clear that bright twentysomethings Saïd and Khaled act out of conviction, but both have dim economic prospects as well. Saïd also blames the murder of his collaborator father on the now four-
decade-old occupation.