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 June 29, 2020
Covid-19 cases have spiked upward in Israel, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel had 23,755 cases by June 28 and 318 deaths; the West Bank and East Jerusalem 2112 cases and 6 deaths. Closures have been re-imposed on Bethlehem, Hebron and Nablus. In the Gaza Strip cases remain at 72, with 1 death.
Countdown to Annexation
With the Israeli Knesset primed to consider annexation (Israel prefers the term ‘applying sovereignty’) of as yet unspecified areas of Palestinian land on or soon after July 1, Netanyahu has come under growing pressure from the UN, EU, Jordan, the Arab League and Congressional Democrats to abandon annexation plans. While 120 of 198 Republicans in the House wrote Netanyahu endorsing annexation and blaming Palestinians for refusing to accept the Trump plan, 189 of 233 Democrats signed a June 25th letter expressing opposition to annexation, and Joe Biden termed it “a huge mistake.” But so far the condemnations have been consequence-free, although on June 26 the Belgian parliament urged the EU to implement sanctions if annexation goes ahead. US Secretary of State Pompeo said on June 24 that it is up to Israel to decide what to do.
The West Bank and East Jerusalem
Despite Israel’s Covid-19 upsurge and new restrictions on movement, the IDF has made some 200 incursions and raids on West Bank villages, and violently suppressed several demonstrations. Settlers have attacked farmers and set fire to their fields. Houses have been demolished in East Jerusalem, including Silwan where 500 houses are earmarked for demolition. On June 23, Ahmad Moustafa Erekat, the nephew of Saeb Erekat (the chief Palestinian negotiator), was shot by soldiers and left to bleed to death at a checkpoint near Bethlehem. He had hit a curb when he was in a hurry to pick up his mother and sister at a Bethlehem beauty salon so they could get back to Abu Dis in time for his sister’s wedding.
The Gaza Strip
On June 26, Israeli warplanes and artillery bombed several sites in Gaza. Fishing boats continue to be attacked, while farmers have been fired on in their fields on at least 6 occasions. The PA’s decision to cut ties with Israel has meant there is no travel coordination to enable severely ill patients to reach medical treatment outside of Gaza. Eight-month-old Omar Yaghi died on June 18 when he was blocked from leaving the Strip for life-saving heart surgery. See these sources: Palestine Chronicle and Palestine Center for Human Rights.
See: The Palestine Chronicle and Palestine Centre for Human Rights
