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 109 of the US-Backed Israeli Genocidal War on Gaza Strip, 22 Massacres, 195 Palestinians Killed, 354 Injured, with a Death Toll of  25,490 and 63,354 Injuries

January 23, 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 23, 2024, the initial death toll of Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip is 33,490+.   

This includes the accounted for deaths (25,490) and those who are still missing under the rubble (Corrected on December 23, 2023: 8,000+).   

By January 23, 2024, the documented injuries exceeded 63,375, 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 23, 2024, there were 357 Palestinians who were killed, 3,623 who were injured, and 6,195, who were abducted by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank, since October 7, 2023 (Some of the detainees 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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A Palestinian man grieving the loss of his child, who was killed by Israeli genocidal air strikes and bombardment on Gaza Strip, January 23, 2024	Injured Palestinian children and their families, who survived Israeli genocidal air strikes, receiving medical treatment on the floor of Nasir hospital in Khan Younus, January 23, 2024
Palestinian teenager, Yamin Mu'hammed 'Husiti, 17, was killed by Israeli occupation soldiers in 'Arraba, Jineen, on January 22, 2024	A group of Palestinian women leaving the areas targeted by Israeli genocidal air strikes in Khan Younus, January 23, 2024
Palestinian families leaving central and western areas of Khan Younus, which are targeted by Israeli genocidal attacks, towards less dangerous areas.	The funeral procession of the Palestinian teenager, Yamin Mu'hammed 'Husiti, 17, who was killed by Israeli occupation soldiers in 'Arraba, Jineen, on January 22, 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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American activists urge voters to write 'ceasefire' on US ballots

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) -

American peace activists are urging US voters considering candidates for November’s presidential election to instead write “ceasefire” on their ballots in protest over Joe Biden’s handling of Israel's aggression on the Gaza Strip.

“Vote Ceasefire” — a coalition of local anti-war groups — says the effort allows Americans to give voice to their anger at the Democratic president over the mounting toll of civilian deaths in Gaza.

“For the last three months, as the world has watched the war in Gaza continue to worsen, the Biden administration has refused all demands to call for a ceasefire and to end US support for Israel,” the campaign posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“So we’re taking our fight to the place Democrats care about the most — the polls. While Joe Biden will almost certainly win the Democratic nomination later this year, he must know that the road to get there will be long and hard if he refuses to listen to his constituents.”

“I’m doing this as over 80 percent of Democratic voters are in favor of a ceasefire for Gaza and are opposed to the continuing slaughter of civilian men, women and children in Palestine, with the United States-supplied weapons,” campaign volunteer and former Democratic state representative Chris Balch said in a video posted to X.

K.T.

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Supreme court in Washington rejects attempt to silence Palestinian human rights advocacy

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) -

A U.S.-based Palestinian rights organization prevailed when the Supreme Court refused to take up a lawsuit brought by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and several U.S. citizens who live in Israel.

Citing the speech and expressive activities of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), including its support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, the lawsuit argued that the group provided “material support” for terrorism.  The dismissal by the district court had been unanimously affirmed by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

This lawsuit is just one example of a long line of efforts to silence Palestinians for advocating for their freedom – in this case, by wielding the accusation of support for terrorism to discredit and dehumanize Palestinians for their advocacy, including their support for boycotts, said the Center for Constitutional Rights in a statement.

Multiple organizations with histories of seeking to silence Palestinian rights filed their briefs to have the Supreme Court of the United States endorse their suppression effort.

USCPR’s attorneys said today’s decision to let the lower court rulings stand is an important win for the movement and definitively sets the record straight. As the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals found, “[a]advocating and coordinating a boycott of Israel – ‘economically, academically [,] and diplomatically,’... – is not unlawful.”

In dismissing the suit in March 2021, the lower court said the arguments were, “to say the least, not persuasive.” Advocates say the suit is part of a broader effort to criminalize and silence the political activities of supporters of Palestinian rights, a threat that has only increased as Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza intensifies.

“USCPR’s message is justice for all and an end to funding genocide. There’s no lawsuit in the world that can stop us from pushing our demands for human rights,” said Ahmad Abuznaid, Executive Director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. “We will remain focused on opposing Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people and pursuing justice and freedom for the Palestinian people.”

Headquartered in Jerusalem, the JNF is a quasi-state institution that acquires and administers land for the sole benefit of Jewish Israelis. The JNF’s lawsuit alleges that USCPR bears responsibility for “incendiary terror balloons and kites” sent from Gaza onto JNF land during the 2018 Great Return March.

At issue were USCPR’s fiscal sponsorship of the Boycott National Committee and expressions of support for the rights and demands of Palestinians participating in the Great Return March, when Palestinians protested to demand respect for their right to return to the villages from which Israeli settlers expelled them in 1948. These two activities, the lawsuit claimed, amount to a violation of the U.S. Antiterrorism Act, which prohibits “material support” for terrorism.

“The JNF’s prolonged and egregious pursuit of a fishing expedition to silence and intimidate urgent advocacy for Palestinian rights has been definitively put to rest by the Supreme Court,” said Diala Shamas, a Senior Staff Attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights. “The JNF’s accusations were baseless, as recognized by the district court, the court of appeals, and now confirmed by the Supreme Court. Now, as the government of Israel is carrying out an unfolding genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, it is more important than ever that activists be free to speak out without fear. This is an important victory, but USCPR shouldn’t have been subjected to these smears in the first place.”

T.R.

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Palestinian Red Crescent Society warns situation remains very serious in vicinity of Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younus

GAZA, Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) -

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PCRS) warned that the situation remains very serious in the vicinity of Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younus, in the southern Gaza Strip, as a result of the ongoing Israeli bombardment.

In a statement, PRCS said that its ambulance crews reported having great difficulty reaching the wounded due to the relentless Israeli shelling.

PRCS expressed deep concern over the fate of its crews in Khan Younus due to the complete interruption of communication and internet services, calling on the international community to promptly intervene to protect its staff working at its headquarters and at the Al-Amal hospital in Gaza.

It also called for providing protection for the thousands of displaced persons seeking shelter inside its headquarters.

T.R.

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

On January 22, 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 22 massacres, in which  195 Palestinian civilians were killed, and 354 were injured, in the past 24 hours. This increased the death toll in Gaza Strip to 25,490 and the injuries to 63,354, since October 7, 2023.   

Gaza death toll from Israeli attacks nears 25,500 since Oct. 7: Health Ministry (aa.com.tr)

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Death toll since the Israel genocidal war on Gaza, following October 7, rises to 25,490

GAZA, Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) –

The death toll since the start of the Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7 of last year has surged to nearly 25,490 people, mostly are women and children, with 63,375 injured. In addition, thousands of people were reported missing.

The Israeli occupation forces continue to commit massacres in their ongoing genocidal war against the Gaza Strip for the 109th day in a row, in light of a severe shortage of water and basic foodstuffs, a power outage, in addition to the massive destruction of buildings, facilities and infrastructure, and the collapse of most hospitals.

The United Nations confirmed that the occupation authorities place obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and that what arrives is not enough to meet the minimum needs of civilians.

The suffering of civilians will increase in shelter centers housing tens of thousands of displaced people in the northern and southern regions of the Gaza Strip, as the country is affected by cold and rainy weather.

 Y.S/K.T.

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US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza enters Day 109

Tuesday 23-January-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

As the US-backed Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip entered day 109 on Tuesday, massive aerial and artillery strikes continued to pound neighborhoods, homes and shelter centers 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 Tuesday morning, killing and injuring dozens of citizens.

The health ministry said that the Israeli occupation army committed, over the past 24 hours, 22 massacres in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the martyrdom of at least 195 civilians and the injury of 354 others.

According to the health ministry in Gaza, four civilians were martyred after an Israeli tank bombed a car they were aboard in Khan Younus.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army issued new displacement instructions ordering the residents of Khan Younus refugee camp and al-Amal neighborhood in western Khan Younus to walk to Al-Mawasi area, although its forces killed and injured a number of citizens today and yesterday in this area.

Local sources said that the Israeli army killed eight citizens and injured others when Israeli tanks carried out attacks in al-Mawasi area on Tuesday morning.

An Israeli drone also opened fire towards the entrance of Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younus, killing one citizen and causing panic among the civilians inside the hospital.

The Red Crescent said that Israeli army drones open fire at any person or vehicle moving around Al-Amal Hospital, while ambulance crews at the hospital are unable to provide help for the wounded citizens in other areas of Khan Younus.

The Red Crescent said that its ambulance crews managed only to reach nine martyrs and two wounded civilians during the morning hours.

The Red Crescent added that the Israeli army launched artillery and drone attacks on its headquarters in Khan Younus, where several displaced civilians are taking refuge, injuring a number of them.

Casualties were also reported when Israeli warplanes bombed a house in Bait Lahya, north of Gaza.

Other casualties were reported in different areas of Gaza following Israeli aerial and artillery attacks on Tuesday morning and later in the afternoon. 

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Twenty bodies recovered from under rubble in Gaza - Medical sources

GAZA, Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) -

Medical sources reported that 20 bodies of people killed in Israeli shelling arrived at Al-Shifa Hospital to the west of Gaza City on Tuesday afternoon. The bodies were recovered from under the rubble west of the city.

WAFA correspondent reported a large-scale destruction of buildings, houses, apartments and infrastructure in western Gaza as a result of airstrikes and artillery bombardment carried out by the occupation forces.

In western Khan Younus, in the south, Israeli artillery shelled centers sheltering displaced persons on the Al-Rasheed street, which stretches along the coast of Gaza, resulting in the killing of four civilians, including a child.

WAFA correspondent also reported the intensification of military tanks around the Al-Aqsa University west of Khan Younus.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PCRS) said its ambulances were attempting to open alternative routes to facilitate access to the Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younus due to the blockage of the path leading to it as a result of the continuous shooting operations by the Israeli occupation.

T.R. 

Palestinian woman says Israeli occupation forces burned husband and daughter to death in Khan Younus

GAZA, Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) –

 In a horrific testimony on the ongoing crimes of the Israeli occupation against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, a woman from the city of Khan Younus said that her daughter and her husband were burned to death after the Israeli occupation forces set fire to their tent in Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younus, last Monday night.

The mother explained, in a video clip circulating on social media, shot by Ma'hmoud Bassam, that 'fire descended on us and the tent caught fire. My daughter was near me and she caught fire and I could not put it out until she was charred, and my husband caught fire and was charred and killed as a result.'

She added, pointing to her daughter on a bed in a hospital in the Gaza Strip, “We left the tent burning with fire, and this is my daughter, with burn marks on her hands, face, and all over her body, and I suffered burns on my hands until my bones appeared.”

K.T.

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Dozens of civilians killed by Israeli occupation forces west of Khan Younus

GAZA, Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) - 

Dozens of civilians today were killed and others wounded by occupation forces’ live bullets west of Khan Younus, in the southern Gaza Strip, according to local and security sources.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that there were several casualties among the displaced people following an Israeli airstrike that targeted its headquarters in Khan Younus.

Israeli air forces renewed its genocidal artillery shelling in the vicinity of Nasir Medical Complex.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes carried airstrike targeting the center and east of Khan Younus.

Israeli fighter jets bombed the east of the Al-Musaddar area in the central Gaza Strip.

Israeli occupation aircraft, with several missiles, bombed the tents of the displaced individuals in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younus, resulting in the tragic death of several civilians and causing multiple casualties.

By January 22, 2024, the death toll since the start of the aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7 of last year has risen to about 25,295 people, with 63,021 injured, the majority of whom are women and children. In addition, thousands of people were reported missing.

Y.S.

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

Israeli occupation forces shoot and injure Palestinian woman before detaining her

RAMALLAH, Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) - 

Israeli occupation forces Tuesday fired live bullets at a Palestinian woman near the illegal Israeli settlement of Psagot, which is built illegally on Palestinian lands, east of the city of Al-Beerih, before detaining her.

Security sources told WAFA that the occupation forces stationed at the said illegal Israeli settlement, which was built on Palestinian lands in the city of Al-Beerih, shot a woman, whose identity is not yet known, wounding her in the foot, before detaining her.

K.T.

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Israeli occupation forces shoot, injure Palestinian man near Nablus-area- town

NABLUS, Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) -

A Palestinian man today was shot and injured by Israeli occupation forces following a military raid of the town of Bait Foureek, located to the east of Nablus, according to local and security sources.

The occupying forces raided the said town, sparking intense confrontations with local residents, during which the occupation soldiers fired live bullets, stun grenades and gas bombs, shooting and moderately injuring a Palestinian by live bullets in the shoulder.

He was later transferred to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

In a related context, Israeli forces also stormed the village of Bait 'Amreen, west of Nablus, detained a father along with his son after breaking into his house and tampering with its contents.

Israeli military vehicles further stormed several neighborhoods of the city of Nablus.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the Israeli incursion, snipers were deployed on Market Street and schools in the vicinity of the Old City. However, no detentions or injuries were reported.

Y.S/K.T

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Palestinian teenager shot and killed during confrontations south of Jineen

Jineen, Monday, January 22, 2024 (WAFA) -

A Palestinian teenager was killed tonight during confrontations with Israeli occupation forces in the town of 'Arraba, south of Jineen.

Citing medical sources, WAFA correspondent said that a 17-year-old teen, who was identified as Yamin Mu'hammed 'Husiti, died of critical gunfire wounds he sustained in the abdomen shortly after being shot by Israeli forces’ live bullet during confrontations that broke out in the town of 'Arraba.

Confrontations reportedly broke out in the said area following a military incursion, during which forces fired live bullets heavily toward residents, shooting and injuring the 17-year-old youth.

According to eyewitnesses, Israeli occupation soldiers left the teenager bleeding on the ground and prevented ambulance access to the site. Forces reportedly opened fire on the ambulance to prevent it from approaching and withdrew from the area once they made sure the teen was dead.

T.R. 

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

IOF raids West Bank areas, kidnaps citizens from their homes

Tuesday 23-January-2024, WEST BANK, (PIC)

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnaped at dawn Tuesday a number of Palestinian citizens, including a journalist and two women, during raids in the West Bank.

According to local sources, the IOF raided homes in Al-Shuyoukh town, northeast of Al-Khaleel, and kidnaped two citizens from their homes, including Mu'hammed Halayqa, the husband of MP Samira Halayqa.

In Toulkarm, the IOF kidnaped ex-detainee Alaa Shuraiti'h’s mother and wife to pressure him to turn himself in and raided a commercial store belonging to his family.

In Nablus, a young man was reportedly injured during clashes with local youths in Bait Foureek town, while Israeli occupation forces stormed the Dha'hiya neighborhood in the east of the city.

Meanwhile, resistance fighters detonated an explosive device at an IOF bulldozer in Balata refugee camp in eastern Nablus and opened fire at Israeli occupation soldiers at the entrance of the camp.

The IOF also stormed different areas in the south and north of the West Bank, with no reported arrests.

In a separate incident, a horde of settlers torched some cars belonging to Palestinian citizens in Baiteen town, east of Ramallah, before a crew from the fire department extinguished the flames. 

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Aggression and Attacks by Illegal Israeli Settlers and Soldiers

Illegal Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque in Al-Quds (Jerusalem), escorted by Israeli occupation soldiers

Al-Quds (Jerusalem), Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) - 

Dozens of the illegal  Israeli settlers Tuesday morning stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Al-Quds (Jerusalem), under protection from Israeli occupation regime police, according to local sources.

Witnesses said scores of the illegal Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque in separate groups, where they conducted provocative tours through the courtyards of the mosque, received explanations about the alleged "Jewish Temple," and performed Talmudic rituals near the Dome of the Rock.

K.T.

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To threaten Palestinian children, illegal Israeli settlers dig graves near school near Aree'ha (Jericho)

Aree'ha (Jericho),  Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) – 

Illegal Israeli settlers Tuesday dug symbolic graves near the Bedouin Arab Al-Ka'abna Basic School, in the Al-Marajat area, northwest of Aree'ha (Jericho).

The supervisor of the “Al-Baidar” organization for defending the rights of the Bedouins, Hassan ualai'hat, told WAFA that colonists from the illegal Israeli settlement of Mefiot dug symbolic graves to threaten children with death near the “Arab Al-Kaabna Basic School” in Al-Ma’rajat, in a provocative step to create a state of fear and terror among the people, students and children.

The illegal Israeli settlers, accompanied by vehicles and equipment under the protection of the occupation army, also carried out excavation and construction works in the lands adjacent to the Arab Mlihat community on the Al-Marajat Road, west of Aree'ha (Jericho), in preparation for seizing it.

It is noteworthy that on October 26, colonists threw blood-stained dolls in front of the same school.

K.T.

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Illegal Israeli settlers puncture tires of several vehicles belonging to Palestinian teachers in Masafir Yatta

Al-Khaleel (Hebron), Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) –

Illegal Israeli colonial settlers today punctured the tires of several vehicles belonging to Palestinian teachers in Masafir Yatta, located to the south of Hebron, and smashed their windows.

Jameel Al-Nawaj'a, the director of Al-Tawana School, said that Israeli colonial settlers from the illegal Israeli settlement of Havat Ma’on, dressed as occupation soldiers, punctured the tires of several vehicles owned by school teachers, while they were parked near the entrance to the village, smashing their windows.

Mu'hammed Rabee', the head of the Tuwana Village Council, said that Israeli forces and colonialists have recently escalated their acts of violence against teachers and students, for the benefit of forcing them to leave their lands in favor of colonial expansion.

Y.S.

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Illegal Israeli settlers proceed with excavation works on land near Aree'ha (Jericho)

Aree'ha (Jericho), Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) –

Illegal Israeli settlers today, heavily protected by the occupation army, proceeded with excavation works on land near the Al-Mulai'hat Arab community, northwest of Aree'ha (Jericho).

Hassan Mulai'hat, the supervisor of Al-Baidar organization for defending the rights of the Bedouins, said that a group of Israeli colonists, accompanied by army vehicles, proceeded with excavation works on land adjacent to the Mulai'hat Arab community on the Al-Ma’rajat Road, west of Aree'ha (Jericho), often a step seen as a prelude to taking over it.

He said such works aim to build caravans for the colonists on about 500 dunums of land and to seize more lands, restricting Palestinian's movements.

 Y.S.

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Israeli occupation forces demolish house near Al-Khaleel (Hebron)

Al-Khaleel (Hebron), Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) - 

Israeli occupation forces Tuesday demolished a Palestinian-owned house in the village of Lasifar, Masafir Yatta, south of Al-Khaleel (Hebron)n Governorate, in the south of the West Bank.

WAFA correspondent said that the occupation forces demolished a house, southeast of Yatta, inhabited by local resident Ma'hmoud Khalil Abu Qubaita and his family, with an area of 120 square meters.

Fouad Al-'Umour, coordinator of the Protection and Resilience Committees in Masafir Yatta and the South Al-Khaleel (Hebron) Mountains, explained that the house was home to approximately ten individuals, noting that its owner has all the legal papers confirming his ownership of it.

He added that the Israeli occupation forces and the illegal Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Lasifar and Khavat Talya aim to force the citizens to leave, to expand the colonization south of Al-Khaleel (Hebron).

K.T.

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Since October 7th, the illegal Israeli settlers committed 444 attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, says OCHA

RAMALLAH, Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) -

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said that the illegal Israeli settlers committed 444 attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since 7 October 2023.

OCHA said in its report that as 22 January 2024, it has "recorded 444 illegal Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians, resulting in Palestinian casualties (45 incidents), damage to Palestinian-owned property (344 incidents), or both casualties and damage to property (55 incidents). This reflects a daily average of four incidents."

One-third of the settler attacks against Palestinians after 7 October 2023 have involved firearms, including shootings and threats of shootings. In nearly half of all recorded incidents after 7 October, Israeli forces were either accompanying or reported to be supporting the attackers.

In 2023, 1,229 incidents involving Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (with or without Israeli forces), resulted in Palestinian casualties, property damage or both. Some 913 of these incidents resulted in damage, 163 resulted in casualties and 153 resulted in both. This is the highest number of settler attacks against Palestinians in any given year since OCHA started recording incidents involving settlers in 2006.

K.T.

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Illegal Israeli settlers set fire to car showroom near Ramallah

RAMALLAH, Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (WAFA) -

Illegal Israeli settlers Tuesday set fire to a Palestinian-owned vehicle showroom in the village of Baiteen, east of Ramallah.

Local sources said that a group of colonists set fire to a vehicle sales showroom in the village, burning all the vehicles inside, before they withdrew from the area.

K.T.

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