This Week In Occupied Palestine (17/03/2023)
In only 10 days, a total of 19 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces. The Palestinian Authority continues to attack its own people and collaborate with Israel, allowing another massacre in Jenin.
As yet another PA-Israel security summit, organised by the US, is set to take place, in Egypt’s Sharm al-Sheikh, and is designed to dismantle Palestinian armed struggle and maintain the Israeli occupation, another massacre is committed in Jenin. The brutal nature of the killing of four Palestinians, in a packed civilian city centre, again threatens to escalate tensions. Meanwhile, the Israeli media, military ,and its political figures, have concocted a contradictory narrative about the nature of a bomb attack, which they have attempted to implicate Hezbollah and Hamas in; threatening a response.
The funeral of four Palestinians killed in Jenin city, this Thursday. (Credit: Shehab News Agency)
This week in occupied Palestine…
On Saturday, After a night of arrest raids carried out by the Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF), kidnapping at least 20 Palestinians who participated in the funeral of Abdel Fattah Kharousha, the Jenin brigades responded to an Israeli raid on Zababdeh, south of Jenin.
Employees of the Nablus municipality protested against attacks on Palestinians by the PA’s security forces. The Israeli occupation forces later stole a bulldozer while it was working on lands in the town of Qarawat Bani Hassan, west of Salfit.
Israeli occupation police obstructed the work of cleaners at al-Aqsa mosque, causing unnecessary frustration. Young men threw molotov cocktails at Israeli forces near the entrance to al-Arroub refugee camp, north of Al-Khalil.
The Palestinian teachers union vowed to continue their strike, due to the PA refusing to meet any of their demands. Instead of granting the teachers their rights, the PA has deducted from the salaries of those striking and is floating the idea of canceling an entire semester; instead of meeting the basic demands of the peaceful movement for better teacher salaries and rights.
Occupation forces arrested and brutalized a Palestinian man on al-Wad street in the old city of occupied Jerusalem.
The Palestinian political prisoners movement called for each Tuesday to represent a day of action and stressed that an escalation with Israel is near. The prisoners previously organized a hunger strike at the beginning of the Holy month of Ramadan, escalating their civil disobedience measures in response to repressive Israeli policies against them.
Israelis demonstrated against the Netanyahu government's judicial reforms again, showing up in their hundreds of thousands. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly delayed the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian village Khan al-Ahmar, until after Ramadan.
Israeli settlers attacked the outskirts of the town of Ni’lin in the West Bank, Palestinian villagers organized a counter effort to prevent them from entering the village. Young Palestinians hurled homemade light-explosives towards the Qalandia checkpoint, no injuries were reported. Israeli forces then stormed Deir Ibzi town, West of Ramallah.
On Sunday,
Syrian State media reported that the Israeli bombardment of Tartous and Hama during the early hours of the morning had injured three soldiers in the Syrian Arab Army.
Israeli forces then shot dead three Palestinians near the Surra checkpoint, West of Nablus, after having set up an ambush for them. The three who were assassinated were part of the Lions Den armed group and were named Muhammad Jihad al-Shami, Uday Othman al-Shami, Muhammad Raed al-Dabeek. Two Palestinian workers were also injured, after Israeli forces at the Surra checkpoint opened fire on their vehicle.
Syrian media also published a video, documenting unprovoked Israeli airstrikes against Masyaf.
Israeli forces prevented farmers, from Salfit, from accessing their farm lands. Extremist Israeli settlers again stormed al-Aqsa mosque compound under the protection of occupying forces.
Palestinian resistance forces opened fire at the illegal Israeli settlement of Homesh, located between Jenin and Nablus. No injuries were reported. The occupation army also fired tear gas at Palestinian farmers in the Abu Safiya area, east of Jabalia, in the besieged Gaza Strip. Palestinian farmers are routinely harassed and targeted by Israeli forces, while working their lands near the separation fence. Occupation navy boats also opened fire on Gazan fishermen, off the coast of Khan Younis.
Israeli forces confiscated goods from a Palestinian saleswoman at the Bab al-Amoud entrance to the old city of occupied Jerusalem. Occupation forces also stormed Hizma town, northeast of Jerusalem, in order to arrest a young Palestinian man, they also stormed Rummana village, West of Jenin.
Israeli settler extremists later attacked a Palestinian man whilst he was passing near the village of Ni’lin, leading to his hospitalization. Occupation forces later confiscated a football that young Palestinian children were using in the al-Aqsa mosque compound.
Israeli helicopters flew over the border area between Lebanon and occupied Palestine, amidst reports of a shooting. On the Lebanese side no such incident was reported. Israeli Hebrew media then denied there had been any security incident. This story would later develop.
The occupation police arrested two young Palestinians in the old city of occupied Jerusalem. Palestinians were again stopped and searched without justification near the village of al-Issawiya, east of occupied Jerusalem.
Later, also in al-Issawiya, occupation police beat and arrested Ibrahim Derbas.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) decided to freeze an arms deal with Israel after racist comments from Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich, who had urged for even greater measures against the Palestinian town of Hawara, after a pogrom was carried out there by illegal settlers.
The civil disobedience of the Palestinian political prisoners entered its 27th day, with the prisoners chanting “freedom”.
Meanwhile, PA security forces fired tear gas that was sold to them by Israel, to shoot at a reception ceremony that was set up in Tulkarem in order to celebrate the release of Rebhi Amara, a political prisoner who just got out of Israeli military prison after serving 16 years. This has been a routine practice for the PA, which also attacked a funeral procession last week.
Occupation forces also stormed al-Bireh and Anata town. A young Palestinian man was arrested after his home was raided in al-Bireh.
On Monday, six Palestinians, held in a PA prison in al-Khalil, reportedly escaped and the PA security forces announced that they were pursuing them. Israeli occupation forces also accompanied demolition vehicles and stormed the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood in occupied east Jerusalem to destroy Palestinian homes.
Unelected PA Prime Minister, Mohammed Shtayyeh, urged Palestinian teachers to return to their jobs immediately amidst repression of another demonstration, organized by the Palestinian teachers union, that attracted thousands in central Ramallah. After 17 years in Israeli military prison, Fouad Shobaki, a former General with the PA’s security forces and close ally of former PA President Yasser Arafat, was released.
Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian while he was selling vegetables at a store in Qatna town, occupied East Jerusalem, to which the Palestinian defended himself and knocked out one of the settlers.
Israeli media then reported that an explosive device was detonated in a car at Megiddo junction, near the Jezreel valley. Allegations began then to emerge that this may have been a commando operation. No further details were revealed at this point.
An Israeli military court decided to extend the detention, in solitary confinement, of Ahmed Mansara, for which the Palestinian prisoners club accuses the military authorities of an attempt to kill him.
Israeli media release a video of what was at the time rumored to be someone who crossed the Lebanese border, however it is unclear if it had any connection to the Megiddo explosion.
Later, Israeli forces stormed Beit Ummar, in al-Khalil, to which Palestinian youths responded by throwing stones and armed gunmen opened fire on military jeeps. Lions Den operatives opened fire at Israeli drones that were being used to monitor the Old City of Nablus.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces launched an early morning raid on Rummana town, West of Jenin. The occupation forces then demolished the house of al-Maqdisi Muhammad Abu Tair, in the town of Um Tuba.
Hamza al-Hroub, from the town of Deir Samet, near al-Khalil, was pronounced dead of his injuries sustained from being stabbed by an illegal settler a month ago in the Beir Saba market.
Israeli news website, Walla, reported that the Megiddo explosion was causing concern inside the security establishment due to the device allegedly resembling the sorts of explosives used by Hezbollah, against Israeli forces when they occupied southern Lebanon.
Israeli occupation police assaulted Adel Abu Tayr, before arresting him, because he protested whilst his brother’s home was being demolished in the town of Um Tuba. His immediate family have now been rendered homeless, including his 6 young children.
The PA security forces stormed Tubas and arrested Muhammed Daraghmeh, after chasing and shooting at him. Daraghmeh was recently released from Israeli military prison.
Israeli settlers marched into al-Issawiya neighborhood, to harass Palestinians, to which locals responded by shooting fireworks towards them in order to make them run away. The occupation army also decided to storm Sebastia town, northwest of Nablus.
The US government decided to set up another summit, following on from the recent Aqaba Security Summit, for discussions to develop between the PA and Israel. This time the meeting will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, sparking Palestinian popular outrage at the plot for the PA’s security forces to form a special task force to hunt down resistance fighters and help Israel maintain its control over the West Bank.
Palestinian resistance fighters targeted an Israeli military checkpoint, near Beit Ummar ,in al-Khalil. The Israeli army arrested three Palestinians from the city of Jenin at the “Shavei Shamron” checkpoint. Ain al-Sultan refugee camp, near Ariha (Jericho), was later stormed, as was the village of Harmala, in Bethlehem.
On Wednesday, Israeli occupation forces stormed Askar refugee camp (East of Nablus), in addition to Deir Abu Mishaal (West of Ramallah), Al-Arroub refugee camp (North of Al-Khalil) and Allar town in Tulkarem, arresting over 20 Palestinians. Settler also stormed al-Aqsa mosque compound again.
Israeli media began to talk about the possibility that the Megiddo explosion had something to do with Hezbollah, Iran and Hamas. At this point, clarifications had been offered, other than it was said that someone was injured by the explosion and this turned out to be a Palestinian citizen of Israel.
Five Palestinians who crossed the separation fence, near al-Bureij, from the Gaza Strip, were detained by the Israeli military.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu announces that he will shorten his visit to Berlin, due to the security situation, however, no further information was revealed about what had happened in the north. Israeli Knesset member, Danny Danon, then urged a strong response to the alleged Megiddo attack and urged for there to be a lifting of the media blackout on the incident. Israeli Channel 14 then quoted the Chief of Staff of the army to have said “we must prepare for an event on several fronts”. Speculation began to spread through the Israeli media that a man had crossed the Lebanese border and carried out the attack, which led to accusations of a joint Hezbollah-Hamas operation, without any evidence presented to support this claim. Israeli media claim that the alleged attacker crossed from Lebanon and was killed by Israeli forces, while in possession of an explosive belt. The narrative did not seem to make complete sense, given the number of different accounts of what transpired and lack of any evidence or details. Israeli reserve army general Amos Yadlin later claimed that Hezbollah was responsible for the Megiddo operation.
Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian family near Deir Jarir, northeast Ramallah, and stole 30 sheep.
Palestinian resistance forces in Gaza shot down an Israeli drone that was operating over the city of Beit Hanoun. The Jenin brigades also opened fire towards the Jalama checkpoint, north of Jenin.
Israeli occupation forces stormed Husan village, West of Bethlehem, opening fire on Palestinians. Meanwhile, demonstrators burned tires and gathered to protest in Nablus, in preparation for a planned Israeli raid in order to allow extremist settlers to party inside an area called Joseph's Tomb.
A Palestinian man was assaulted and arrested at the Qalandia checkpoint, whilst occupation forces began their raid into Nablus. Israeli forces shot towards Palestinian demonstrators and enchanted fire with resistance fighters. Lions Den operatives also threw homemade explosives at Israeli soldiers, confirming direct hits. Israel refused to acknowledge its casualties, however, photo and video evidence showed pools of blood from Israeli soldiers.
On Thursday, Israeli occupation forces demolished another Palestinian home in Deir Ammar. Israeli settlers again stormed al-Aqsa mosque compound and performed rituals provocatively under the protection of the occupation police.
Mass Israeli protests again erupted against the Netanyahu government's planned judicial reforms, resulting in clashes between the occupation police and Israeli citizens.
Israeli forces destroyed a vehicle in Ni’lin village. The Palestinian ministry of health condemned repeated Israeli attacks on hospitals, the latest being an attack on the Qalqilya governmental hospital.
The Israeli army radio released a new detail about the Megiddo explosion, claiming that the individual responsible appears to be of Palestinian origin and from one of the refugee camps in Lebanon and that it is possible he is from Hamas. No evidence was presented and no names were given. Threats were made against “all those involved” in the Megiddo explosion by the Israeli military, this comes after reports that the attacker acted alone and that an arrested suspect was released, adding another level of confusion.
An Israeli driver allegedly attempted to commit a car ramming attack against anti-Netanyahu protesters and the incident was caught on CCTV.
A plain clothed Israeli undercover unit infiltrated the city of Jenin and exited out of bullet proof cars, before opening fire in the middle of a packed civilian area and executing four Palestinians, one of them only 16 years old. Two of those killed were leaders in Palestinian armed groups and were shot from behind in broad daylight, one of those murdered was even shot again after he was already killed with a gunshot to the back of his head, adding insult to injury. The two others who were shot dead were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, as were five others who were shot and injured. The PA security forces had withdrawn from the area in order to allow the Israeli incursion to occur, which turned out to be a mafia style slaughter in front of innocent bystanders. The rage at the PA’s complicity in allowing Israel to commit yet another massacre, led to the armed Palestinians shooting at the PA’s headquarters in Jenin and throwing an explosive device towards the building.
Protesters in the village of Nabi Saleh confronted Israeli occupation forces and faced tear gas fire. Commenting on the latest mass shooting in the West Bank against Palestinians, the head of the Hamas party’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, said that “the Zionist enemy, in cooperation and coordination with the Palestinian Authority, is trying to eliminate the Palestinian resistance”. The names of those killed in latest Jenin massacre are as follows: Youssef Saleh Barakat Shreim (29 years old) and Nidal Amin Zaidan Khazim (28 years old), who were resistance commanders; in addition to teenager Omar Muhammad Awadin (16 years old), and Luay Khalil Al-Zughair (37 years old).
Israeli occupation forces stormed Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem and attacked residents there. Occupation forces were also filmed assaulting Palestinian children in the Bab al-Amoud area of occupied Jerusalem.
A number of flares were launched across the Lebanese border by the Israeli military, fearing an attack from Hezbollah. It ended up turning out that it was likely a group of wild pigs that triggered the false alarm response.
The Israeli military decided to set up a checkstop and caused a large traffic jam, at the northern entrance to al-Bireh. Meanwhile, Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli forces that stormed al-Issawiya in occupied east Jerusalem. Young Palestinians also threw molotov cocktails as Israeli settlers near the town of Azzun, east of Qalqilya.
Israel’s Channel 12 stated that it had been estimated that the Megiddo explosion was a joint operation between Hezbollah and Hamas in Lebanon. The narrative again shifted, with no evidence presented to support any aspect of the story.
On Friday, The Palestinian political prisoners entered their 32nd consecutive day of civil disobedience, prisoner Khader Adnan entered the 41st day of his ongoing hunger strike. Israeli forces also opened fire towards agricultural lands, east of Gaza City.
Palestinian demonstrators were shot at by Israeli raiding forces in al-Ram, north of occupied Jerusalem. 70,000 Palestinians attended Friday prayers inside al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli occupation forces stormed Beit Zata, north of al-Khalil, and were confronted by Palestinian demonstrators. Occupation forces also fired tear gas and live bullets towards protesters in Beit Dajan village, east of Nablus, inflicting a number of injuries.
A drone was discovered by the Israeli army, which had allegedly flown over the border from Lebanon and caused speculation that it was being used by Hezbollah.
A Palestinian man was shot by Israeli occupation forces, who accuse him of having tried to stab one of them.
As a note on this series of articles, each piece focuses on the key events of each day during the past week and is heavily focused, as a result, on the Gaza Strip and West Bank. There are various other developments that are taking place on a daily basis, throughout occupied Palestine, that are too numerous to include. However, these are the highlights from each day and hopefully work to give you a more in depth picture of what shapes the lives of Palestinians under occupation.
[For those following this series, last weeks article was couldn’t be produced due to constraints. Please support this series by selecting the paid subscription option below.]
Thank you, brother. You're one of the few that speaks directly about the PA collaborationist regime. It adds another dimension and helps explain the suffering of the people. I wonder if you could do a Youtube video or an article focusing on this. It is evident that the occupation forces never intended to exchange land for peace, but did the PA "mean well" in the beginning or did it succumb to preferential treatment and turn against its own people from the start? Is the economic reach of the PA too great to overcome or with the teachers' strikes is there an understanding that the PA will not even defend their livelihoods?