Palestinian journalist and human rights activist was arrested and physically assaulted by Israeli Occupation Forces

In "Israel", if you are Palestinian, you may be arrested, assaulted, humiliated and tortured by MISTAKE... You know... It happens!

Ahmad Sub Laban, a Palestinian journalist and human rights activist from Jerusalem, was arrested and physically assaulted by Israeli Occupation Forces last Friday 24th of October. Ahmad, 35 years old, father to two children and resident of the Old City of Jerusalem left his house on Friday night going to the nearby grocery to buy milk and document the clashes taking place in the Old City as he is the field researcher for a human rights NGO.

Ahmad said: “I saw a boy running from three soldiers that were chasing him. They grabbed the boy and started to beat him. I wanted to take pictures but I feared they will attack me too. I decided to go back home, however I know I shouldn’t run away but stand in my place so the soldiers will understand I am not part of the clashes taking place. Nevertheless, three soldiers grabbed me and accused me of throwing stones. I tried to explain that I am a journalist but they started beating me up. One of them grabbed my neck and choked me. They then took me to the police station. With me were two teenagers aged 17 and 20. They kept beating us all the way to the police station including beating us with the butts of their M-16 rifles.”

He continue: “In the police station, they sat me on a chair and started to beat me again. They asked me: ‘who threw stones?’ I tried to explain to them that I work with Ir Amim, an Israeli human rights NGO, but they continued to beat me. They were four border control police and one policeman who started laughing. Ten minutes later, another policeman arrived and asked them to take us outside where they continued to beat us. I decided to shut up as I realized nothing I say will help and they will beat me even more if I say anything. The worst part is that we didn’t have the right to say a single word, because if you speak, you would be beaten. You feel like a child.”

“An hour later, an officer came in and I hear that he had an argument with the policemen who arrested us. He told them that we did nothing. Nevertheless, an hour and a half later we were taken to Al-Kishleh Police Station. We were detained there while being handcuffed. The 17 year old boy was kicked between his legs and he had to go to the toilet several times, maybe around 15 times. At 5.30 Am, an investigator went in and ordered the policemen to take the handcuffs off my hands. He then told me: ‘Listen, we are sorry, we arrested you by mistake!’”
The most painful part was when my two year old son asked me: “Dad, did the Jews arrest you?” He had heard me shouting downstairs from the window when they arrested me and see the blood. I try to raise my children away from this conflict, but every time the practices of the Israeli authorities puts them in the middle of it.”
Israeli police later released a statement that three men were arrested and were released later after checking the security cameras which proved that they were not involved in throwing stones. The police did not comment on the aggression and assaults on those who were arrested.

Source : http://blogs.haaretz.co.il/nirhasson/

Related :
http://stateofblood.blogspot.com/2014/10/soldiers-kidnap-palestinian-researcher.html

See More at :

http://stateofblood.blogspot.com/2014/10/israeli-soldiers-blindfold-and-detain.html\

http://stateofblood.blogspot.com/2014/08/gaza-massacre-2014.html

http://stateofblood.blogspot.com/

1,060 new settlement homes announced as anger grows over al-Aqsa

Plans for 1,060 new settlement units in Jerusalem were approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this morning.

The settlement expansion will see 400 new houses added to the Har Homa block north of Bethlehem, and 660 to the northern East Jerusalem block of Ramat Shlomo, which already houses some 20,000 Israeli settlers.

Read more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/west-bank-1192674398…

(Photo shows the Palestinian area of Jebal Abu Ghneim in 1997
and a picture taken in 2003, showing its transformation into the illegal settlement of Har Homa. Photo from:http://spiritofresilience.blogspot.com/).

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Source  : https://www.facebook.com/ismpalestine?fref=nf

(International Solidarity Movement)

900 Palestinians Detained in East Jerusalem

Monday October 27, 2014 21:59 

Israel has detained 900 Palestinians from East Jerusalem and pressed charges against 300 of them since the July 2 murder of East Jerusalem teen Mohammad Abu Khdeir, according to Israel's public security minister.

photo -- DCI-Palestine

10/27/14 -- The Alternative Information Center (AIC)

Israel's Minister of Public Security, Yitzhak Aharonovich (Yisrael Beitenu), gave these figures to the Knesset's Internal Affairs and Environment Committee Monday, according to the settler-affiliated news site Arutz 7. The powerful committee held a discussion about the security situation in Jerusalem, during which Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat called for creation of a special police force for areas in which clashes are prevalent. Barkat claimed that “Residents of the Arab neighbourhoods ask that we bring the police”.

At the request of Aharonovich and others, Israel's State Attorney has issued directives to carry out arrests and toughen punishment for rock throwers, including possible fines for the parents of minors who throw rocks. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu further urged Monday that additional directives to substantially stiffen penalties for rock throwers be moved speedily forward. Such tactics were utilised – unsuccessfully – by Israel during the first Intifada.

Clashes in the East Jerusalem neighbourhoods of Silwan, Ras al Amud and Issawiya continued Monday, as Israeli police and border police used “riot dispersal means” against Palestinian protesters. Israel had arrested eight Palestinians throughout East Jerusalem early Monday, four of whom were minors.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas sent an urgent message to the US on Sunday, requesting its intervention against Israeli policies in Jerusalem, and in particular attempts to change the status quo in the al Aqsa mosque compound (Temple Mount).

Source : http://www.imemc.org/article/69536

Israeli army kills 14-year old Palestinian with U.S. citizenship

© Shadi Hattem
14-year old slain Palestinian youth, Orwa Hammad who is also a U.S. citizen, was killed by the Israeli army, October 24, 2014

A Palestinian teen with U.S. citizenship was killed today by the Israeli army at a demonstration in the West Bank town of Silwad, near Ramallah. Fourteen-year old Orwah Hammad was shot with a live bullet that entered his neck and exited through his head, according to Ramallah hospital staff. He died while being treated at Ramallah hospital around 6 p.m. this evening, Jerusalem time.

The killing comes eight days after Israeli soldiers killed a 13-year-old boy during a raid on a West Bank village.

Hammad’s father, Abdulwahhab Hammad, lives in Louisiana and was informed of his son’s killing via telephone. His mother, Ikhlas Hammad, is in Jordan visiting relatives, but is said to be traveling back to the West Bank this evening.

“The Israeli soldier shot directly at the child,” said mayor of Silwad Abu Salah. “His father wanted his children to live here, not in America,” he continued.

The slain youth’s remains will be held in the morgue of Ramallah hospital until Sunday, when his father is due to arrive. A funeral will be held the same day with a procession in Ramallah, and a burial in the family’s home village of Silwad.

Hammad was shot while taking part in a weekly Friday protest against Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. Witnesses said Hammad was stone throwing when he was struck.

“Orwah is the tenth Palestinian child killed by Israeli forces with live ammunition in the occupied West Bank in 2014,” said Brad Parker, attorney and international advocacy officer at Defense for Children International-Palestine. “Impunity is the norm for Israeli soldiers that commit violence against children as they consistently violate their own live-fire regulations and know that they will not be held accountable for their actions no matter what the result. There is no justice or accountability for child victims.”

Update: Here is the State Department statement from Jen Psaki today:  “Death of US minor in Silwad.”

The United States expresses its deepest condolences to the family of a U.S. citizen minor who was killed by the Israeli Defense Forces during clashes in Silwad on October 24.  Officials from the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem are in contact with the family and are providing all appropriate consular assistance. We call for a speedy and transparent investigation, and will remain closely engaged with the local authorities, who have the lead on this investigation.  We continue to urge all parties to help restore calm and avoid escalating tensions in the wake of the tragic recent incidents in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

- See more at: http://mondoweiss.net/2014/10/israeli-palestinian-citizenship#sthash.hBg25V5n.dpuf

Bil’in Children’s Garden Stolen By Israeli Army

At midday today, 26 October 2014, Israeli soldiers arrived in the village of Bil’in in order to confiscate children’s playground equipment. The Israeli army had already confiscated some farm equipment, chairs and tables and loaded it onto the truck when the alert was put out and the villagers came onto the scene.

According to Robert Martin (a visiting International) they threatened him personally and the soldiers yelled out to the villagers that if they did not leave the scene they would shoot him. Robert asked why they were taking the children’s playground equipment. The soldier said ‘I’m protecting Israel’ and threatened him with arrest. Robert said there were people on the hill watching their every move with cameras.

The soldier retaliated and threatened that the village kindergarten playground would be demolished. He also threatened that houses belonging to the farmers would also be demolished. Eventually the villagers and Robert managed to drive the soldiers out of the village.

Source: http://hamdeaburahma.com/2014/10/26/bilin-childrens-garden-stolen-by-israeli-army/

Soldiers Kidnap A Palestinian Researcher In Occupied Jerusalem

 Saturday October 25, 2014 10:15

Israeli soldiers violently attacked, and kidnapped, on Friday evening, a Palestinian field researcher in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem, as he was documenting clashes taking place between dozens of soldiers and local Palestinian youths.

File Photo - alresalah.ps

The kidnapped researcher, Ahmad Sob-Laban works for a local human rights organization; he is also specialized in Israeli settlements' affairs.

Clashes took place in different parts of occupied East Jerusalem, including Silwan, Jabal al-Mokabber and the Old City, while Sob-Laban was documenting the clashes before the soldiers assaulted him.

At least 30 Palestinians were injured by Israeli rubber-coated metal bullets, while dozens suffered the effects of tea gas inhalation, including seven members of two families.

The family members were injured after the soldiers targeted several homes causing fire in two homes, but the residents managed to extinguish the fire before it spread. The seven were moved to to a local hospital.

The researcher, Sob-Laban, published numerous reports documenting Israel’s ongoing illegitimate Israeli settlement construction and expansion activities, illegal annexation of Palestinian lands, and various other violations.

Dozens injured, Many Kidnapped In Occupied Jerusalem
http://www.imemc.org/article/69497

Israeli forces shoot, kill Palestinian teenager near Ramallah

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian teenager late Friday during clashes in Silwad village near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, medical officials said. 

Orwa Abd al-Wahhab Hammad, 14, was shot multiple times with live bullets. He was taken to Palestine Medical Complex where he was pronounced dead. 

An Israeli army spokeswoman said that soldiers fired at a Palestinian adult who was hurling a Molotov cocktail at forces in the area.

Witnesses said Hammad was hit by an Israeli sniper from close range, insisting the soldier shot to kill. 

Orwa was a US national. His uncle was killed during the First Intifada.

Source: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=735085