Palestine warns of financial crisis unless Israel releases tax revenues

On: By: KhamakarPress
Palestinians hold banners during a demonstration demanding boycott against Israeli products in response to cutting of Palestinian tax revenues in Ramallah, West Bank on 6 August 2019. [Issam Rimawi - Anadolu Agency]
Palestinians hold banners during a demonstration demanding boycott against Israeli products in response to cutting of Palestinian tax revenues in Ramallah, West Bank on 6 August 2019

The financial which the Palestinian Authority is suffering from is likely to get even more complicated during the coming period unless Israel releases tax revenues it has withheld, the finance minister said.

Speaking during a meeting with donors and foreign representatives, Shukri Bishara reviewed the financial situation of the Palestinian Authority and the pressures exerted by the Israeli government, including withholding and illegally deducting Palestinian tax revenues.

“Mr. Bishara explicitly informed representatives of the international community that the [Palestinian] government had exhausted all available options to secure financing, and will not resort to more borrowing from banks,” a statement issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Finance said.

According to the statement, Bishara stressed on the need to reform the financial relationship with Israel and the tax clearance mechanism, which he said “has become a tool to perpetuate the occupation”.

“Bishara urged the international community to take all necessary diplomatic efforts to urge Israel to respond to the Palestinian demands and called for the return of foreign support to what it was before 2018,” it added.

READ: The limits of ‘human rights’ discourse in Palestine 

The minister has also urged donor countries to restore their aid to the Palestinian treasury to the level it was in  2018, explaining that this aid has fallen by 90 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020.

The PA has struggled with finances since 2018 when the US administration of President Donald Trump cut aid to it and to UNRWA, the UN body which supports Palestine refugees in the region.

Israel also began deducting some of the tax revenues it collects on behalf of the PA, which it says was used to pay stipends to the families of martyrs and prisoners who ‘committed terror attacks’ against the occupation.

Current US President Joe Biden restored aid to the tune of $200 million to  the Palestinians when he took office earlier this year.

(Source / 23.09.2021)

Soldiers Shoot And Abduct A Young Man In Jerusalem

On: By: KhamakarPress

Israeli soldiers shot and abducted a young Palestinian man in the at-Tour town, in occupied Jerusalem.

Eyewitnesses said the soldiers invaded the town, leading to protests, before firing rubber-coated steel bullets and gas bombs.

They added that the soldiers shot Bassam Abu Sbeitan, with rubber-coated steel bullets in the leg, and assaulted him before dragging him away.

The Palestinian was seen in pain trying to walk while the soldiers were taking him away, without providing him with the needed medical help.

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(Source / 23.09.2021)

Recently Released Cancer-Stricken Detainee Dies At Hospital In Ramallah

On: By: KhamakarPress

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has confirmed, Wednesday, that a cancer-stricken former Palestinian political prisoner who was recently released from an Israeli prison after his condition seriously deteriorated, has died at a Palestinian hospital in Ramallah, in central West Bank.

The PPS stated that the detainee, Hussein Masalma, 39, from the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, was released from an Israeli prison in February of this year when his condition became extremely serious after he was denied the right to receive the urgently-needed specialized medical treatment for his Leukemia.

The PPS added that the detainee was first moved to Hadassah Israeli medical center, before being sent, a week ago, to the Istishari Arab Hospital in Ramallah.

The PPS held Israel fully responsible for his death, especially since he was subject to medical neglect while in prison, and only started receiving treatment when his condition became serious.

It is worth mentioning that Masalma started suffering from complications and sharp pain in late 2020, and it took Israel more than a month to send him to the clinic of the Negev Desert detention camp and was only moved to an Israeli hospital when his condition became very serious, and the physicians found out that he has End-Stage Leukemia.

The Palestinian was abducted by the Israel army in the year 2002 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He spent 19 years in prison before he was released due to his serious medical condition.

His release came after various appeals, deliberations, and delays by Israeli courts before his lawyer filed an appeal with the Israeli High Court.

In an interview with the Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic), in February of this year, Masalma stated that he has been suffering for two years and that the Israeli physicians didn’t render an accurate diagnosis to his condition.

“For more than two years I have been suffering, and they couldn’t diagnose my condition currently,” he said, “It is not just me, there are so many detainees suffering from serious conditions.”

The PPS said that many Palestinian political prisoners, especially those who have been held captive by Israel for more than 20 years are facing serious health conditions, including cancer.

It called on various regional and international human rights and legal groups, including the World Health Organization, to act on ensuring the release of all ailing Palestinian detainees from Israel prisons and to send an independent medical committee to look into these cases.

After the detainee’s death, various Palestinian political factions declared a general strike, Thursday, and called for massive popular protests across the occupied West Bank, during and after his funeral procession which will be held on Thursday at 11:30 before noon.

(Source / 23.09.2021)

Israeli Police Detain A Palestinian Who Reportedly Rammed Colonizer With Car

On: By: KhamakarPress

Israeli sources have reported, Wednesday, that the police detained a Palestinian man after he allegedly rammed an Israeli colonialist settler with his car, near occupied Jerusalem. The injured woman made the allegation that two hours after she was injured.

The sources said that the “incident appears to be hit and run”, and took place near Maale Michmash colony, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem.

They added that the woman suffered a moderate injury before she was moved to a hospital in Jerusalem.

According to the injured woman, who remained alert, a car passed her on the road near the colony, “before turning back and accelerating towards her.”

However, the woman only made the allegation to the police and the medical crews two hours after she was injured.

The Israeli police said they located the Palestinian vehicle, and detained the driver in the al-Ezariyya town, east of Jerusalem, before moving him to an interrogation facility.

It is worth mentioning that Mikhmas, inhabited by about 1700 persons, is a Palestinian village, southeast of Jerusalem, and is surrounded by three illegal Israeli colonies (Michmash, Psegot, and Adam( that were built after Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in the year 1967.

(Source / 23.09.2021)

Soldiers Abduct Three Palestinians Near Jenin

On: By: KhamakarPress

Israeli soldiers abducted, on Thursday at dawn, three young Palestinian men from Ya’ad town, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin.

Samer Abu Bakr, the head of Ya’bad Municipality, stated that several army jeeps invaded the town at dawn before the soldiers stormed and ransacked homes.

He added that the soldiers abducted three young men identified as Samih Sa’id Amarna, Yazan Sa’id Kabaha, and Ahmad Zoheir Hirzallah.

On Wednesday at night, the soldiers closed placed sandhills at the western entrance of the town, in addition to various minor roads leading to it.

Abu Bakr stated that the army frequently invades the town, in addition to the constant violations against the Palestinian farmers and their lands, especially during the olive harvest season.

It is worth mentioning that large areas of farmlands and olive orchards are completely isolated behind the illegal Annexation Wall, an issue that forces the Palestinians to apply for permits from the Israeli army just to be able to enter their lands.

(Source / 23.09.2021)

Israeli Army Invades Farmlands In Northern Gaza

On: By: KhamakarPress

Israeli soldiers invaded and bulldozed, Thursday, Palestinian farmlands, north of Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Media sources said several military vehicles, and bulldozers, invaded the farmlands near the perimeter fence while firing live rounds and smoke bombs to force the farmers away.

They added that the military bulldozers uprooted the lands and installed sand hills close to the fence.

The attacks are part of frequent Israeli violations against the Palestinians, especially the fishermen, farmers, shepherds, and workers in the besieged and impoverished Gaza Strip, and have led to dozens of casualties, including fatalities, in addition to serious property damage and the confiscation of many boats after abducting the fishermen.

(Source / 23.09.2021)

Israeli Soldiers Abduct Eight Palestinians In West Bank

On: By: KhamakarPress

Israeli soldiers abducted, earlier Thursday, eight Palestinians from their homes in several parts of the occupied West Bank, including the occupied capital, Jerusalem.

The soldiers invaded Ya’bad town, west of Jenin, in northern West Bank, searched homes, and abducted three young men, identified as Samih Sa’id Amarna, Yazan Sa’id Kabaha, and Ahmad Zoheir Herzallah.

In occupied Jerusalem, the soldiers abducted a woman, identified as Randa Sa’id, and a young man, Saif Qawasmi, in the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The soldiers also invaded Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and abducted a young man, identified as Ahmad Jamil Silwadi, from his home in Batn al-Hawa neighborhood.

Also in Silwan, the soldiers and intelligence officers invaded the home of Jamal Gheith in the same neighborhood, and violently searched it, causing excessive damage. The soldiers also used a K9 unit in the search.

In Ramallah, in central West Bank, the soldiers invaded and searched homes, before abducting Sameh Abdul-Hadi Rammaha, 18, from the al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, and Nihad Eyad Hamdan, from Beit Sira town, west of the city.

In related news, the soldiers invaded and bulldozed Palestinian farmlands, north of Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

(Source / 23.09.2021)

Video| Israeli forces shoot young man in Jerusalem

On: By: KhamakarPress

Occupied Jerusalem (QNN)- Israeli forces on Wednesday shot at a young man near a school in Al Tour in occupied Jerusalem.

Local sources said Israeli forces opened fire at Bassam Abu Sbeitan then arrested him despite his injury in his left leg.

The sources added that Israeli forces attacked and beat up school kids during their raid.

(Source / 23.09.2021)

Due to medical negligence, Palestinian ex-detainee in Israeli jails dies of leukemia

On: By: KhamakarPress

Occupied Palestinian (QNN)- Palestinian ex-detainee in Israeli jails, Hussein Masalma, has died on Wednesday, after a long struggle with illness and due to medical negligence, in a Palestinian hospital in Ramallah.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has confirmed last night that 39-year-old Masalma, who was recently released from an Israeli prison after his condition seriously deteriorated, has died at a Palestinian hospital in Ramallah, in central West Bank.

The PPS stated that Masalma, who is from the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, was released from Israeli prisons in February 2021, after serving a 19-year sentence, when his condition became extremely serious after he was denied from receiving an urgent specialized medical treatment for Leukemia.

The PPS added that Masalma was first moved to Hadassah Israeli medical center, before being sent, a week ago, to the Istishari Arab Hospital in Ramallah.

The PPS held the occupation state fully responsible for Masalma’s death, especially since he was subject to medical negligence while in prison, and only started receiving treatment when his condition became serious.

It is worth mentioning that Masalma started suffering from complications and sharp pain in late 2020.

However, the occupation state took more than a month to send him to the clinic of the Negev Desert detention camp and was only moved to an Israeli hospital when his condition became very serious, and the physicians found out that he has an End-Stage of Leukemia.

Masalma was arrested in 2002 for resisting the occupation and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Masalma stated after his release that he has been suffering for two years and that the Israeli physicians didn’t render an accurate diagnosis to his condition.

“For more than two years I have been suffering, and they couldn’t diagnose my condition currently,” he said, “It is not just me, there are so many detainees suffering from serious conditions.”

(Source / 23.09.2021)

Pictures & Video| Hundreds Palestinians participate in funeral of ex-detainee died due medical negligence

On: By: KhamakarPress

Bethlehem (QNN)- Hundreds of Palestinians took part on Thursday in the funeral of ex-detainee in Israeli jails, Hussein Masalma, as he died on Wednesday, after a long struggle with illness and due to medical negligence, in a Palestinian hospital in Ramallah.

The Palestinians participated in the funeral after various Palestinian political factions declared today a general strike and called for massive popular protests across the occupied West Bank.

39-year-old Masalma, who was recently released from an Israeli prison after his condition seriously deteriorated, has died at a Palestinian hospital in Ramallah, in central West Bank on Wednesday.

Masalma, who is from the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, was released from Israeli prisons in February 2021, after serving a 19-year sentence, when his condition became extremely serious after he was denied from receiving an urgent specialized medical treatment for Leukemia.

Masalma was first moved to Hadassah Israeli medical center, before being sent, a week ago, to the Istishari Arab Hospital in Ramallah and he started suffering from complications and sharp pain in late 2020.

However, the occupation state took more than a month to send him to the clinic of the Negev Desert detention camp and was only moved to an Israeli hospital when his condition became very serious, and the physicians found out that he has an End-Stage of Leukemia.

Masalma was arrested in 2002 for resisting the occupation and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Masalma stated after his release that he has been suffering for two years and that the Israeli physicians didn’t render an accurate diagnosis to his condition.

(Source / 23.09.2021)