At a time when the Corona virus crisis has crowded out other news, the Alliance is producing news briefs every two weeks to keep our members informed about the situation in occupied Palestine.
Brief for May 30, 2020
Corona virus restrictions have been eased in Israel where, as of May 30, there were 16,987 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 281 deaths. Restrictions have also been partially lifted in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with some 550 cases and 3 (or possibly 4) deaths. The number of cases in the Gaza Strip rose to 61 as of May 28, with a 77-year-old woman dying of the disease. Some 1500 people remain quarantined, mostly in Gaza’s hotels.
Netanyahu & Abbas
On May 24, newly-sworn-in prime minister Netanyahu went to court to face corruption charges, becoming the first Israeli prime minister to stand trial. This has not delayed his administration from preparing its annexation plans. On May 28, Netanyahu said that Palestinians living in annexed territory will not be given Israeli citizenship but will remain part of the ‘Palestinian enclave’ under Israeli security control. With annexation looming, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas announced on May 19 that he “is no longer abiding by agreements with Israel and the US” including security cooperation. It is unclear whether he will backtrack, as he has done on previous occasions.
Occupation practices
Israel has ratcheted up its intimidation and control mechanisms. While settlers, backed by the army, have continued to seize and raze Palestinian land, attack farmers and demolish buildings, a new military order allows Israel to seize funds from Palestinian banks. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights documents 120 army raids during the last 2 weeks, during which civilians were attacked, homes, water tanks and wells were destroyed, and over 100 people arrested, including women and children. The army beat worshippers celebrating Eid in Jerusalem’s Old City. On May 29, near the village of Nabi Saleh, soldiers killed the driver of a car they said was threatening them, and then shot at civilians who gathered in protest. In the Old City on the following day, the army killed Eyad Hallaq, an unarmed disabled man they claimed was carrying a ‘suspicious object’. On at least 15 occasions soldiers sniped at farmers in the Gaza Strip from the border fence and opened fire on fishermen. According to the Electric Intifada (May 21), Israel has fired on Gazan fisherman 100 times during the pandemic.
Nancy Murray, for the Alliance
See these links - https://www.palestinechronicle.com/category/news/