Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 

On Day 103 of the US-Backed Israeli Genocidal War on Gaza Strip, 16 Massacres, 163 Palestinians Killed, 350 Injured, with a Death Toll of  24,448 and 61,504 Injuries

January 17, 2024 

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Editor's Notes:  

Here are some initial (not final) statistics, which show the Israeli war crimes against humanity, during the current Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip:  

By January 17, 2024, the initial death toll of Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip is 32,448+.   

This includes the accounted for deaths (24,448) and those who are still missing under the rubble (Corrected on December 23, 2023: 8,000+).   

By January 17, 2024, the documented injuries exceeded 61,504, and more than 2,520 civilians have been abducted from Gaza Strip.

By January 17, 2024, about 661 detainees from Gaza are currently languishing in Israeli prisons as “illegitimate combatants” (the Israeli term for Palestinian fighters) in addition to more than 50 Gazan women detained in Damon prison, noting that 8 women of whom have been recently released.

By January 4, 2023, the death toll included 9,730+ children and 6,830+ women (more than 70% of the victims). 

By January 17, 2024, there were 356 Palestinians who were killed, 3,619 who were injured, and 6,025, who were abducted by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank, since October 7, 2023 (Some of the today's reported detained 5,903 have been released).

About 12,091 Palestinians, from both the West Bank and Gaza, have been detained in 2023. About half of them were detained after October 7. This included 1,085 children and 300 women.

The total number of detainees in the occupation prisons until the end of December was 8,800, and the number of administrative detainees was 3,291.

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By January 9, 2023,  there was a complete destruction of 69,000+ housing units, and a partial destruction of 290,000+ housing units (60% of Gaza housing units). This forced about 1.5 million people to become homeless, taking refuge in crowded UN schools and ultimately sleeping in the streets.  

The Israeli refusal to allow international aid caravans to enter Gaza freely led the Palestinian population to be on the verge of mass extermination for the lack of food, water, medicine, and fuel.  

By January 9, 2024, 326 health personnel and 97 journalists were killed and hundreds were injured, 121 ambulances were destroyed while on duty, killing and injuring their crews, and destroyed 150 health institutions. As a result of the strikes and lack of fuel, 30 hospitals and 53 primary care centers are not functioning. In addition, 99 health personnel have been abducted by the invading Israeli occupation forces.

Meanwhile, 134 government offices and 95 schools and universities were completely destroyed, while 295 schools and universities were partially damaged.

138 mosques were completely destroyed, while 240 others were partially damaged, in addition to three churches.

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5 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli occupation forces attack on Tulkarm, January 17, 2024	Four Palestinians were killed and others were injured in an occupation drone bombing targeting Al-Tammam neighborhood in Tulkarm, January 17, 2024
Crowdedness of Palestinian refugees in a UN school, which led to the spread of diseases among them, like hepatitis A, January 17, 2024	Performing funeral prayer on the Palestinian martyrs who were killed by Israeli genocidal air strikes and bombardment, January 17, 2014
Bidding farewell to the martyrs who were killed by Israeli genocidal air strikes and bombardment, in Dair El-Bala'h, on January 17, 2024	Killing and abduction of Palestinians in Tulkarm by Israeli occupation forces, on January 17, 2024
Israeli occupation forces forced civilian residents to leave the Tulkarm refugee neighborhood, January 17, 2024	Victims of Israeli genocidal air strikes and bombardment arriving to a hospital, January 17, 2024

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

"مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا"  (الْمَائِدَةُ ، 5: 32).

"وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا" (النِّسَاءُ ، 4: 93).

"إِنْ أَحْسَنتُمْ أَحْسَنتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُمْ فَلَهَا ۚ " (الإسْرَاءُ ، 17: 7). 

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

"Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul, or for corruption in the land, it is as if he had killed humankind entirely" (The Holy Quran, Al-Ma-ida, 5: 32).

"And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him, and has cursed him, and has prepared for him a great torment" (Al-Nisa, 4: 93).

"If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, (you do it) to yourselves" (Al-Isra, 17: 7). 

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While brutal force has been used to create Zionist Israel and sustain it thus far, Zionist claims to Palestine are false. Actually, from the five thousand years of known written human history, there has been a continuous Palestinian-Canaanite presence in the Holy Land. Despite the Zionist false claims, the ancient Israelites ruled part of the land for only 85 years (during the reign of Prophets David and Solomon , peace be upon them, and Solomon's son).

 After that, the Egyptians conquered Palestine-Canaan in 925 BC, followed by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans, before the Arab Muslim rule, starting from 636 AD.

By the Time Jesus, peace be upon him, started his mission, the three population groups of Canaanites, Palestinians, and Israelites were melted together in religion and language. Most of them became Christians when Constantine converted in 313 AD. Then, most of them became Muslims in the 7th and 8th centuries AD.

So, Palestinian Muslims, Christians, and Jews are the ones who have the right to claim descent from ancient Israelites, Palestinians, and Canaanites, not Zionists from other continents.

No matter what the Zionists and their supporters do, they cannot change the will of God, Who promised the Holy Land to Abraham and his descendants, basically the Palestinian Muslims and Christians.

No matter how much persecution and aggression the Zionists and their supporters inflict upon the Palestinian people, they will never be able to force them out of the Holy Land, which Allah, praise to Him, promised for them, and kept His promise ever since.

This is a necessary brief background to understand the US-Backed Zionist Israeli continuous wars against the Arab nation generally, and the Palestinian people in particular, which included the wars of 1948, 1956, 1967, 1978, 1982, the brutal crushing of the two Uprisings (1987-1993 and 2000-2004), 2009, 2012, 2014, 2021, and the current genocidal war on Gaza, which has culminated a blockade of Gaza since 2007. In addition, the Israeli occupation and apartheid regime launched so many covert operations, raids, and air strikes on many Arab states since 1948.

The following news stories are just examples, not a systematic record, of the Israeli occupation government abuse, mistreatment, and violations of Palestinian human rights, on daily basis.

More detailed news stories can be found at the following sources:

http://english.wafa.ps/, https://english.palinfo.com/, https://imemc.org/, https://paltoday.ps/ar/


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Editorial Notes about terms & names of people and places:

1. Names of people and places have been standardized to match standard Arabic grammatical rules.

2. Underlined letters and letters preceded by an apostrophe are references to Arabic letter sounds, which does not exist in the English alphabet.

3. The English letter i is equivalent to the Arabic short vowel known as kasra, as in Ibraheem and Qasim as well as in the English words sit and bit. So, it is incorrect to use it as a long vowel for such Arabic names as Jameel and Jibreel.

4. The English letter e is equivalent to the Arabi short vowel known as fat'ha, as in A'hmed and Mu'hammed.

5. It is more accurate to refer to the land-grabbing Israelis, who establish illegal settlements in the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, as illegal Israeli settlers, than referring to them as colonists.

The term colony is a reference to a large entity or a country, such as American states before independence. It was also a reference to Egypt, and India, when they were British colonies.

In addition, the term "colony" represents a positive nostalgic theme, in the minds of native speakers of English, particularly in America and Britain.

6. It is more accurate to use the verb "abduct" than the verb "detain," in reference to taking Palestinian citizens by force to prisons and interrogation centers, by Israeli occupation regime soldiers. This is because the presence of the Israeli occupation regime forces is illegal in the Palestinian territories, and they have no jurisdiction over the Palestinian people.

Click here for more about using the apostrophe and the underlining of letters in the transliteration of Arabic names.

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Prisoner's society warns against prolonged deprivation of Gaza detainees in Israeli jails from meeting with lawyers

RAMALLAH, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) -

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) warned in a statement against the Israeli occupation's continued crime of enforced disappearance committed against Gaza detainees, who were detained after October 7.

This came in response to the Israeli Knesset’s approval – in the second and third readings - of an extension of an emergency order that allows Israeli authorities to deny detained Palestinians from Gaza the option to meet with lawyers, according to a report by Haaretz.

The order, which allows Israel to prevent prisoners from meeting with a lawyer for up to 180 days, was extended for an additional four months.

PPS said that through this step, the occupation aims to carry out additional crimes against Gaza detainees without any effective oversight and to use these regulations as a cover for its continuing crimes against them.

PPS stressed that the crime of enforced disappearance is one of the most serious offenses committed against them today, which it maintained comes as part of the genocide and all-out Israeli aggression on Gaza.

With every day that passes without allowing Gaza detainees to meet with their lawyers and the occupation’s insistence on concealing information regarding their fate, places of detention, and state of health, the number of harrowing testimonies of released detainees will continue to increase

The testimonies contained stories of abuse and torture against children, women, and the elderly, in addition to starvation and humiliation, and the dehumanizing detention in inhumane conditions.

PPS stressed that all calls made to many international relevant institutions, including organizations dedicated to addressing the concerns of prisoners, to uncover any information about Gaza detainees were to no avail and did not yield any results that could comfort their families.

Prisoners’ institutions have revealed in several previous statements, which were based on the testimonies of detainees, who were held in sections close to the sections of Gaza detainees, after their release from the Ofer Israeli prison, the high level of torture committed against the Gaza detainees.

PPS said that aside from the occupation’s confession to having executed one of the Gaza detainees, several detainees in the army Sde Teman camp, near Beersheba, were announced dead in mysterious circumstances, in addition to the killing of two Gaza workers. The identity of only one of the two workers was revealed by the occupation.

T.R.

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Israeli destruction of Gaza's archeological sites 'unprecedented', says Minister of Tourism

BETHLEHEM,  Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) - 

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Rula Maayah, said on Wednesday that the destruction caused to archaeological and historical sites in the Gaza Strip is "unprecedented."

She explained during her meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to Palestine, Päivi Peltokoski, in the city of Bethlehem, that the destruction of these sites is part of targeting the Palestinian national identity.

Maayaa called for obliging the occupation to stop its aggression against Palestinian people and their heritage, stressing that the crimes of the occupation will not discourage Palestinian people from steadfastness and remaining in their land.

She pointed out that the tourism sector suffered millions in losses as a result of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

In turn, Peltokoski stressed the need for more cooperation in the tourism field, exchanging experiences and information in the field of attracting tourist groups from various countries of the world, and carrying out exploratory visits to see what the Palestinian tourism sector possesses in terms of potentials and tourist and archaeological sites.

K.T.

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Health ministry: Hepatitis A spreading in Gaza

Wednesday 17-January-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

Gaza’s health ministry said Wednesday that Hepatitis A was quickly spreading in areas where residents have been displaced in the enclave as a result of overcrowding and poor hygiene.

“We warn against stopping the laboratory blood test (CBC) at any moment due to the lack of its materials,” it added.

Earlier Tuesday, United Nations agencies stressed the urgent need for the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza as the risk of famine increases and more people are exposed to outbreaks of deadly diseases.

The heads of World Food Program, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization said in a joint statement that new entry routes needed to be opened to Gaza, more trucks needed to be allowed in each day, and aid workers and those in need of aid should be allowed to move around safely.

The statement highlighted that all Gaza residents depend on aid to survive in light of the inability to produce or import food, stressing that the sent humanitarian aid does not meet the basic needs of Gaza residents.

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PPS warns of Israeli enforced disappearance against Gaza detainees

Wednesday 17-January-2024, RAMALLAH, (PIC)

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) has warned against the Israeli crime of enforced disappearance committed against Gaza detainees, following the Israeli Knesset’s approval to extend the validity of the regulations that deprive Gaza detainees of meeting with lawyers for an additional four months.

The Prisoners’ Society said in a statement on Wednesday, “Through this step, the Israeli occupation intends to commit more crimes against Gaza detainees without any effective surveillance, and to use these regulations as a cover for its continuous crimes against prisoners of Gaza.”

The Society added that the continued deprivation of Gaza detainees from meeting with lawyers means more rounds of torture, abuse, starvation, humiliation, and detention under inhuman conditions.

The PPS statement pointed out that the appeals to international organizations did not lead to any clear information that could reassure the families of Gaza detainees.

The institutions interested in the issue of the Palestinian prisoners cited, in several previous statements, testimonies on torture by detainees who were released from Ofer prison.

The Israeli occupation forces have reportedly acknowledged the execution of a detainee in jail and the death of a group of detainees in the Sde Teman camp in Beersheba, in addition to two Palestinian workers from Gaza, the identity of one of whom was revealed.

According to latest data, by January 17, 2024, about 661 detainees from Gaza are currently languishing in Israeli prisons as “illegitimate combatants”,(the Israeli term for Palestinian fighters) in addition to more than 50 Gazan women detained in Damon prison, noting that 8 women of whom have been recently released.

The PPS called on international human rights organizations to intervene urgently and immediately to arrange visits for the prisoners and to pressure Israel to reveal the fate of Gaza detainees, and to put an end to the crime of enforced disappearance.

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Qatar announces deal to send medications and aid to Gaza

Wednesday 17-January-2024, DOHA, (PIC)

The Israeli government and the Hamas Movement have reached an agreement to allow medicines to be delivered to Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip and for aid to be transported to residents in the war-torn Palestinian territory, Qatar has announced.

The deal will see humanitarian aid delivered to civilians in “the most affected and vulnerable areas” in Gaza in exchange for the delivery of medication to Israeli captives held by al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, Hamas and Qatar’s ministry of foreign affairs said in statements on Tuesday.

The Qatari statement said the agreement was mediated by Qatar in cooperation with France.

The ministry added that Doha’s mediation between Israel and Hamas would continue “within the framework of Qatari efforts to bring about an end to the war in Gaza.” 

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Killing and Injuring of Palestinians in Ghazza (Gaza) by Israeli Occupation Regime Forces

On January 17, 2024, Dr. Ashraf Al-Qidra, the Spokesperson of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that the Israeli genocidal air strikes and bombardment on Gaza Strip resulted in 16 massacres, in which  163 Palestinian civilians were killed, and 350 were injured, in the past 24 hours. This increased the death toll in Gaza Strip to 24,448 and the injuries to 61,504, since October 7, 2023.  

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Gaza: Death toll surges to 24,448 martyrs with 61,504 injuries

Wednesday 17-January-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Wednesday that the Israeli occupation army committed 16 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, claiming the lives of 163 Palestinians and injuring 350 others over the past 24 hours.

The Ministry said in a press statement, a large number of victims are still under the rubble or lying on roads, as ambulance and civil defense crews have not been allowed to reach them.

It confirmed that the death toll of the Israeli aggression on Gaza had surged to 24,448 martyrs and the number of the wounded mounted to 61,504 injuries since October 7.

The Ministry affirmed the spread of hepatitis A in the besieged enclave as a result of overcrowding and low levels of hygiene in displacement shelters in the Gaza Strip.

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US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza enters day 103

Wednesday 17-January-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

As the US-backed Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip entered day 103 on Wednesday, massive aerial and artillery strikes continued to pound neighborhoods and homes and massacre more civilians, mostly children and women.

A reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) said that the Israeli occupation army continued to attack different areas of Gaza last night and on Wednesday morning, killing and injuring dozens of citizens.

Al Jazeera’s news correspondent, for his part, affirmed that 25 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli bombing in the Daraj neighborhood of Gaza, while dozens more were wounded.

A Palestinian woman was pronounced dead at the Gaza European Hospital, succumbing to her wounds, which she sustained two weeks ago in the Ma’an area, south of Khan Younus.

The Israeli forces also targeted several residential homes southeast of Khan Younus and bombed several areas, including the Nasser Medical Complex, the port west of Gaza City, Al-Manara neighborhood (east), Batn Al-Sameen, and the center and south of Khan Younus.

Meanwhile, fierce clashes broke out between the resistance fighters and the Israeli forces near Nasir Complex in Khan Younus amid heavy artillery shelling.

Four civilians, including two girls, were killed and several others were injured in an Israeli airstrike on the Al-'Hout family house on Ashdod Street in central Rafa'h.

The Israeli forces also stormed and leveled the Austrian neighborhood cemetery in the city of Khan Younus in the southern Gaza Strip.

Due to the Israeli heavy bombing of areas surrounding the Nasser Medical Complex, dozens of displaced persons were forced to evacuate the medical facility.

At least seven people were killed in the Tariq Bin Ziyad School, which houses dozens of displaced people, due to the heavy bombing on the Austrian neighborhood adjacent to the Nasser Complex. 

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Israeli forces commit 16 massacres in Gaza strip during the past 24 hours

GAZA, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) – 

Israeli occupation forces committed 16 massacres during the past 24 hours against civilian families in the Gaza Strip, killing 163 people and 350 wounded, according to local and medical sources.

Sources said that a number of dead bodies are still missing under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and civil defense crews are unable to reach them.

A number of Palestinians were further killed while dozens of others wounded following the ongoing Israeli airstrikes targeting the Al-Tawam area and the vicinity of Kamal 'Udwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip.

By January 16, 2024, in a preliminary toll, the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 7 has resulted in at least 24,285 fatalities, more than 70% of whom are women and children, and 61,154 wounded.​

Y.S.

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Dozens of civilian casualties in Gaza as Israel's genocide marks 103 days

GAZA, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) - 

Dozens of Palestinians today and last night were killed and wounded, following the ongoing Israeli airstrikes targeting several areas in the Gaza Strip, according to medical and local sources.

Sources said that civil defense and ambulance crews retrieved the bodies of at least 25 people and dozens of wounded individuals following an Israeli airstrike targeting multiple homes in the Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City. They also recovered the bodies of 7 people after the occupation vehicles withdrew from the vicinity of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younus, south of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli fighter bombed a house belonging to the Al-Namrouti family, resulting in the killing of 4 Palestinians.

Another Israeli airstrike targeted a house for the Safi family, leading to the tragic death of three others. Additionally, a number of citizens were wounded following an Israeli bombardment of houses belonging to the 'Hamdan and Mu'haisin families.

The occupation artillery targeted Al-Manara neighborhood, Batn Al-Sameen, and the center and south of Khan Younus. The area east of Jabalya camp was also bombed by Israeli military force.

Israeli military air force further carried out intense airstrikes targeting Ansar complex and the port west of Gaza City

Medical sources warned of serious health complications to which chronic patients are exposed, as 350,000 chronic patients are without medication in the Gaza Strip.

A large number of people are still missing under rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and civil defense crews are unable to reach them.

For the sixth day in a row, the complete outage of communications and Internet services in the Gaza Strip continues, due to the ongoing Israeli aggression.

This is at least the seventh time that communications have been completely cut off from the Gaza Strip since the start of the aggression on October 7.

 Networks and transmission towers were damaged as a result of the massive destruction caused by the aggression to the infrastructure, and the lack of fuel due to the siege. This led to frequent outages, pressure on the network, and weak transmission in various parts of the sector.

By January 16, 2024, in a preliminary toll, the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 7 has resulted in at least 24,285 fatalities, more than 70% of whom are women and children, and 61,154 wounded.

Y.S.

At least 13 civilians killed in Israeli shelling of Khan Younus, in southern Gaza, death toll today rises to 23

GAZA, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) -

At least 13 civilians were killed and others were injured late tonight on Tuesday in the continuous Israeli strikes and artillery bombardment of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, raising the number of people killed since Tuesday morning to 23.

Israeli warplanes launched strikes targeting four houses west of Khan Younus with the inhabitants still inside. Heavy shelling also targeted several residential buildings in the al-Namsawi neighborhood in Khan Younus.

Israeli artillery also targeted the Batn al-Sameen and the New Abasan areas to the west and east of Khan Yunis, respectively.

The occupation airstrikes and artillery also targeted the vicinities of the Nasir Medical and Al-Amal Hospitals, causing severe damage to the Al-Amal hospital and spreading a state of panic and terror among patients, wounded, medical staff, and displaced people seeking shelter there.

Local sources said that the Israeli occupation reduced to rubble scores of houses and residential buildings in Khan Younus governorate.

Earlier Tuesday night, a Palestinian mother and her child were killed in an Israeli air raid that targeted a group of civilians in the Al-'Hashasheen area, west of Rafa'h city, in the southern Strip.

At least four other civilians were killed in an Israeli bombing targeting the town of Jabalya, in the north.

According to sources, four civilians, including a child, were killed by an artillery shelling of the town of Jabalya.  Israeli jets also launched several strikes on the town of Bait 'Hanoun, in the north.

In Gaza City, rescue teams were able to recover the bodies of 20 civilians and dozens of wounded after violent airstrikes that targeted several homes in the Al-Nafaq area of Gaza City, causing massive destruction.

By January 16, 2024, as the death toll continues to rise, the number of people killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israeli aggression on October 7 has so far risen to 24,285. At least 61,154 people were wounded and thousands were reported missing.

The reported number might not count all casualties due to incomplete coverage as a result of Israel’s ongoing intensive shelling and the repeated complete interruptions of communications and internet services.

T.R.

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Killing and Injuring of Palestinians in the West Bank by Israeli Occupation Regime Forces

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Death toll of ongoing Israeli military offensive against Tulkarm and its camps rises to 5 after killing of youth

TULKAREM, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) -

The death toll of the ongoing Israeli offensive on the city of Tulkarm and its camp since the pre-dawn hours today, which so far has caused massive destruction, has risen to five following the killing of one Palestinian youth by Israeli forces’ fire this evening.

The Ministry of Health announced the killing of 22-year-old Ashraf A'hmed Yaseen after Israeli soldiers opened fire on his vehicle.

According to sources, forces opened fire on a vehicle in the camp, resulting in the killing of Yaseen and the injury of two others, including his 13-year-old brother. The boy was shot and injured in the hand and shoulder, while a youth who was also onboard the car was shot in the foot. Israeli forces also prevented the ambulances’ access to the injured.

Earlier this morning, four other civilians were killed and others were wounded, including some seriously, in an Israeli drone strike that targeted a group of Palestinians in the said camp.

Meanwhile, a reporter for Palestine TV, Ihab Al-Dumairi, told WAFA correspondent that several soldiers attacked him while he was reporting live on TV; snatched the microphone, forced him to raise his hands and stand against a wall, and searched him before beating him with the butts of their rifles and kicking him with their combat boots.

He added that the Israeli occupation soldiers provocatively interrogated him, took away his cell phone and turned it off and inspected his personal belongings, under the pretext that he was present in an off-limit area.

He said that soldiers also harassed other journalists and threatened to shoot them, including female journalist Fay'haa Khanfar, who was threatened more than once and had her phone snatched away by the soldiers.

Forces also opened live fire toward the vehicle of a cameraman working for Palestine TV, who was identified as Fadi Yaseen.

The ongoing Israeli offensive against the city of Tulkarm and its camp, which began at dawn today, caused massive destruction to streets, infrastructure and residents’ properties.

According to WAFA correspondent, dozens of residents’ homes were raided and turned into military bases after forcing children and women to leave.

Massive destruction to houses and private and public properties was reported during the brutal offensive, including to the al-Salam mosque and the building of the Popular Services Committees (PSC) in the camp.

In the meantime, forces, accompanied by bulldozers, also stormed the Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm City, and proceeded to bulldoze and destroy infrastructure, structures and commercial shops there.

Scores of Palestinians were reportedly detained during the military offensive and subjected to interrogations inside the buildings that were turned into military outposts by the Israeli soldiers.

Two paramedics of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PCR) were also injured by bullets shrapnel during the offensive.

T.R.

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Three Palestinians killed in an Israeli drone strike near Nablus

NABLUS, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) - 

Three Palestinians at dawn were killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle near Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, according to local and security sources.

Sources said that an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle near the Barada Junction near Balata camp, completely burning it and resulting immediately in the killing of three men. Israeli forces prevented medical teams from reaching the place.

The three men were identified as Mu'hammed Al-Qattawi, and siblings Saif Al-Najmi and Yazan Al-Najmi.

The occupying Israeli forces surrounded the vehicle by several military jeeps, during which the occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance crews and prevented them from reaching the burning vehicle.

Israeli forces further stormed the Balata and 'Askar camps, conducting massive raid and search operations of homes.

The Red Crescent said that it was able to reach the vehicle after the occupation forces withdrew from the area.

Forces reportedly withheld the bodies of other young men along with the vehicle before withdrawing from the area.

The occupation forces had previously stormed Balata camp accompanied by military vehicles, amid airstrikes and overflights by planes and drones, leading to violent confrontations between the camp’s residents and the occupation forces.

Y.S/K.T. 

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Four Palestinians killed in Israeli drone bombing in Tulkarm camp

TULKARM, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) - 

Four Palestinians were Wednesday killed and others were injured in an occupation drone bombing that targeted Al-Tammam neighborhood in Tulkarm camp.

Eyewitnesses from inside the camp told WAFA correspondent that a drone targeted a group of youths in Al-Tammam neighborhood inside the camp, killing a number of them and seriously wounding others.

The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that its crews transported the bodies of four slain Palestinians from inside the camp to the Martyr Thabit Thabit Governmental Hospital in Tulkarm.

Sources at Thabit Thabit Governmental Hospital said that the four youths were identified as Ahmed Tariq Noman Faraj, 18, Waleed Ibraheem Mu'hammed Ghanim, A'hmed Mo'een Dtheeb Mahdawi, 36, and A'hmed Mousa Mutlaq Badawi.

The occupation forces prevented ambulances and the Palestinian Red Crescent from entering the camp to transport the injured from the targeted location.

The occupation forces surrounded the site of the bombing and foot patrols were deployed in its vicinity.

The Israeli occupation forces have continued their aggression against the city of Tulkarm and its camp since 4:30 in the morning, amid acts of vandalism and destruction of citizens’ property and infrastructure.

Israeli occupation forces continue their aggression against the city of Tulkarm and its camp, causing massive destruction to Palestinians’ property and infrastructure.

A large military force, accompanied by two military bulldozers, stormed the city at dawn from its western, northern and southern entrances.

The occupation forces surrounded the Tulkarm camp from all its entrances, deployed their military vehicles in the streets and neighborhoods, while snipers were deployed on the rooftops of several buildings and shops.

A number of military vehicles were stationed at the entrances to Al-Isra Specialized Hospital in the western neighborhood and in the vicinity of Thabit Thabit Governmental Hospital near the camp, preventing the entry or exit of residents into and out of the said hospitals.

Intense confrontations between local residents and occupation soldiers erupted following the raid, during which the occupation forces fired heavy live bullets, while sounds of explosions and live gunfire were heard from inside the city and its camp.

During the raid, Israeli forces detained two ex-prisoners and a third one after breaking into their houses and caused damages to their contents from different areas and neighborhoods of the city of Tulkarm.

The Directorate of Education in Tulkarm announced that schools in the city and its camps would be postponed until nine o’clock in the event that the occupation forces leave.

K.T.

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Israeli occupation forces break into against Tulkarm city and camp

TULKARM, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) - 

Israeli occupation forces continue their aggression against the city of Tulkarm and its camp, causing massive destruction to Palestinians’ property and infrastructure.

A large military force, accompanied by two military bulldozers, stormed the city at dawn from its western, northern and southern entrances.

The occupation forces surrounded the Tulkarm camp from all its entrances, deployed their military vehicles in the streets and neighborhoods, while snipers were deployed on the rooftops of several buildings and shops.

A number of military vehicles were stationed at the entrances to Al-Isra Specialized Hospital in the western neighborhood and in the vicinity of Thabit Thabit Governmental Hospital near the camp, preventing the entry or exit of residents into and out of the said hospitals.

The occupying military forces also surrounded an ambulance center in the southern neighborhood of the city, where they detained its crews, searched the ambulance vehicles, and prevented them from practicing their job.

The occupation bulldozers proceeded to raze the entrance to the northern camp, Al-Wakala Schools Street, and Al-Okasha Neighborhood Street, and vandalized the infrastructure and citizens’ property, including vehicles, walls, and the entrances to a number of homes and shops,

The forces reportedly vandalized and damaged the memorial of the slain Palestinian Mahdi Al-Hilu during the raid.

Intense confrontations between local residents and occupation soldiers erupted following the raid, during which the occupation forces fired heavy live bullets, while sounds of explosions and live gunfire were heard from inside the city and its camp.

In a related context, Israeli forces stopped a vehicle on Nablus Street in Tulkarm, took its passengers out, detained and interrogated them for hour.

During the raid, Israeli forces detained two ex-prisoners and a third one after breaking into their houses and caused damages to their contents from different areas and neighborhoods of the city of Tulkarm.

The Directorate of Education in Tulkarm announced that schools in the city and its camps would be postponed until nine o’clock in the event that the occupation forces leave.

Y.S/K.T.

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Israeli occupation forces carry out a late night offensive against refugee camp east of Nablus

NABLUS, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) -

The occupation forces, backed by bulldozers and military vehicles, stormed late at night on Tuesday the Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, raiding several houses and destroying streets, according to local sources.

A large military force, which consisted of around 30 military vehicles, blockaded the camp before storming it amid airstrikes and over flights by planes and drones, leading to violent confrontations between the camp’s residents and the occupation forces.

The confrontations reportedly began at the camp's southern entrance and later spread to several neighborhoods.

Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, stun grenades and tear gas bombs heavily during its offensive. However, no injuries were reported. Explosions were also heard in the camp during the offensive.

Two houses belonging to two families in the said camp were also raided during the military incursion.

Israeli soldiers stationed at the military checkpoint on Mount Gerizim in Nablus reportedly opened fire indiscriminately during the military offensive.

T.R. 

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Abduction of Palestinians in the West Bank by Israeli Occupation Regime Forces

 

Including 40 Gazan workers, Israeli forces detain 85 Palestinians from the West Bank

RAMALLAH, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) -  

Israeli occupation forces detained 85 Palestinians, including 40 workers from the Gaza Strip, across the West Bank in a wide-scale arrest campaign last night and this morning, according to sources.

In Ramallah, 11 Palestinians, including a minor and a woman, were detained by Israeli forces, while in Qalqilya, six people were detained.

Additionally, the soldiers detained 10 from Hebron and one from Al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Moreover, the occupation forces detained three from Tulkarm, and three others from Jericho, while in Bethlehem, four people were detained.

K.T.

Israeli occupation forces storm al-Bireh city, detain a female teacher

AL-BIREH, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) –

Israeli occupation forces after midnight on Tuesday stormed the Al-Balou area, in al-Bireh city, and detained a female teacher after raiding her house, said local sources.

Sources said that Israeli soldiers detained a teacher, who was identified as Badriyah A'hmed, after raiding her home in the Al-Balou neighborhood.

A military force also broke into the Al-Khudairi family house, but no further detentions were reported.

T.R. 

The Israeli occupation regime forces detained 6,025 Palestinians from the West Bank since October 7th

RAMALLAH, TULKARM, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) -

The Commission Of Detainees and for Ex-Detainees’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS) said today that the Israeli occupation forces have detained 6,025 Palestinians from the West Bank since the seventh of last October.

The two organizations said in a statement that this toll includes those who were detained from homes, through military checkpoints, those who were forced to surrender under pressure, and those who were held hostage.

They pointed out that the occupation forces continue to carry out widespread incursions during arrest campaigns in cities, towns and camps, accompanied by widespread abuse, severe beatings, and threats against detainees and their families, in addition to widespread sabotage and destruction of citizens’ homes, premeditated killings, and confiscation of vehicles and money, in addition to widespread damage operations affecting infrastructure.

The statement explained that the ongoing and escalating arrest campaigns in an unprecedented manner come within the framework of the comprehensive aggression against Palestinian people and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which targeted all groups.

The occupation forces arrested at least 45 citizens from the West Bank, including two women, two children, and former prisoners, from yesterday evening until this morning, in addition to arresting a number of Gaza workers from the town of 'Azzoun in Qalqilya Governorate.

K.T. 

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Aggression and Attacks by Illegal Israeli Settlers and Soldiers

Palestinian child assaulted by Israeli colonists near Nablus

NABLUS, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) - 

A Palestinian child was injured and left with bruises after Israeli colonists attacked him in the town of 'Ainabous, south of Nablus.

Director of the Ambulance and Emergency Center at the Red Crescent Society in Nablus, Ahmad Jibril, said that ambulance crews took a 16-year-old child to the hospital with bruises after colonists beat him up in the town of 'Ainabous.

K.T.

Israeli forces seize vehicle in the Jordan Valley

JORDAN VALLEY, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) -

Israeli occupation forces Wednesday seized a vehicle in the northern Jordan Valley.

The official responsible for the settlement file in Tubas Governorate and the Northern Jordan Valley, Mo'taz Bisharat, told WAFA that the occupation forces stormed “Umm al-Jimal” area in the Northern Jordan Valley, and seized a vehicle owned by local resident A'hmed Hamad 'Ulayyan 'Awad.

K.T.

Illegal Israeli settlers attack farmers, prevent them from reaching their lands

Al-Khaleel (Hebron), Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) - 

Illegal Israeli settlers, under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces, on Wednesday attacked Palestinian farmers in the village of Sha'b Al-Butm in Musafir Yatta, south of Hebron.

WAFA correspondent said that colonists of "Avigal" colony, established on citizens' lands and property south of Hebron, under the protection of the occupation soldiers, attacked a number of farmers while they were cultivating their lands in the village of Sha'b Al-Butm.

He added that these colonists severely beat youth 'Eisa Ma'hmoud Al-Jabbareen, while he was grazing his sheep, leaving him with bruises, after which he was treated in the field.

They also prevented the farmers from cultivating their lands, and threatened to kill them.

K.T.

Israeli occupation forces demolish greenhouse near Qalqilya

QALQILYA, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) - 

Israeli occupation forces demolished an agricultural greenhouse in the town of Jayyous, east of Qalqilya.

Local sources told WAFA that the occupation forces stormed the western area of the town of Jayyous, and demolished a greenhouse with an area of one dunum, owned by a local resident.

K.T.

Israeli occupation forces, settlers raid school near Jericho

JERICHO, Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (WAFA) –

Israeli occupation forces and Israeli settlers today raided a school in the Arab Al-Malihat community on Al-Ma’rajat Road, northwest of Jericho.

Hassan Malihat, the supervisor of the Al-Baidar organization for defending the rights of the Bedouins, told WAFA that the occupying Israeli army forces along with a group of Israeli settlers stormed the Arab Al-Kaabna Basic School in the Al-Ma’rajat area, and inspected the teachers’ ID, terrorizing and causing panic among students.

Israeli forces reportedly managed to storm the Shallal Al-Auja School, north of the city, to remove the flag of Palestine, but the school administration confronted them and prevented their entry to the school.

Y.S.

Illegal Israeli settlers assault elderly woman, steel sheep near Hebron

Al-Khaleel (Hebron), Tuesday, January 16, 2024 (WAFA) – 

Illegal Israeli settlers today attacked the home of an elderly Palestinian woman and severely assaulted her in the village of Maghayir Al-'Ubaid in Masafir Yatta, south of Al-Khaleel (Hebron).

Shehada Makhamra, her son, told WAFA that a group of Israeli settlers from the illegal Israeli settlement of Hafat Maon, which was built on citizens’ lands and property south of Hebron, broke into our house, severally beat up my mother Nuzhat Al-Najjar, 75, and stole three sheep.

Settlers also detained Makhamra`s two siblings during the raid.

Y.S. 

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