Author: KPSC

Palestinians in camps have resorted to be the frontline as community-based health workers and demonstrate the ingenuity and steadfastness that has kept Palestinian dreams for a better future alive.

By Bram Wispelwey & Amaya Al-Orzza | London Review of Books |  Apr 18, 2020

The Israeli government and Palestinian security services announced that they would co-operate for the pandemic, but the actions on the ground tell a different story.

At nearly 18 per cent officially, and probably higher, the prevalence of diabetes among Palestinian refugees in the West Bank is one of the highest in the world. The official rate in Gaza is 16 per cent. Among adult citizens of Israel, it’s 7.2 per cent. The disease suppresses the immune system, among other complications, and can spiral dangerously out of control when combined with an infection, such as the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. Diabetic patients with Covid-19 in China had a 1 in 14 chance of dying, more than triple that of the general population.

Continue reading “Underlying conditions”

View the Zoom gathering on Palestinian Prisoners Day when people gathered virtually to show solidarity with the prisoners whose incarceration puts them at extreme risk for coronavirus infection.

By Jewish Voice for Peace | JVP Facebook | Apr 17, 2020

I am heartened by the work of so many who are making the connections between the need to free prisoners here and in Palestine.
—Stefanie Fox, Executive Director, Jewish Voice for Peace

Zoom Rally to Free Prisoners from Rikers Island to Palestine. JVP’s Executive Director, Stefanie Fox hosted an incredible lineup of speakers at a Zoom Rally of more than 500:

Continue reading “Palestinian prisoners day Zoom Video”

A snapshot of a weeks time in Palestine and the many violations of human rights that occur.

By Kate | Mondoweiss | Apr 11, 2020

Israeli gunboats stationed northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed fishing area (3 nautical miles) and opened fire at a fishing boat.

PCHR: In new Israeli violation, Israeli naval forces wound 2 fishermen in northern Gaza sea

BEIT LAHIA 9 Apr — Israeli naval forces continue their attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Sea preventing them from sailing and fishing freely, accessing the zones rich in fish, despite the fact that fishermen posed no threat to the lives of Israeli naval forces deployed in Gaza waters … According to the investigations of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 07:50 on Thursday, 09 April 2020, Israeli gunboats stationed northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed fishing area (3 nautical miles) and opened fire at a fishing boat. As a result, two fishermen, Obai ‘Adel Mohamed Jarbou‘ (21) and Ahmed ‘Abed al-Fattah Ahmed al-Sharfi (23), were shot and injured with rubber-coated steel bullets. The young men, from al-Shati’ [‘Beach’] camp in Gaza City, were taken to the Indonesian Hospital, where their injuries were classified as minor. It should be noted that Israeli gunboats conduct daily chases of Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, and open fire at them in order to terrify them and prevent them from sailing and accessing the zones rich in fish.

Continue reading “Despite pandemic, Israeli forces drop herbicide on Gaza and shoot at fishermen”

Does the current moment necessitate the consideration of civil disobedience and a mass nonviolent movement in the near future across the occupied Palestinian territories?

By Yaser Alashqar ] |  Mondoweiss |  Apr 8, 2020

Reaffirming international law and human rights for Palestinian people under occupation, the World Health Organization has emphasized that ‘Israel, as occupying power, retains the primary responsibility to respect, protect and fulfill the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health in the occupied Palestinian territory.’

As of April 5th, the occupied Palestinian territories, Gaza and the West Bank including East Jerusalem, have registered 228 cases of Covid 19 (Coronavirus) and one death. While Covid 19 represents a difficult challenge to advanced nations and their strong healthcare systems, it poses a more complex and dangerous challenge to conflict zones and occupied territories, such as Palestine. Decades of displacement, dispossession, conflict, military occupation and blockade have weakened existing medical services and systemically disregarded Palestinian rights to life and health.

The Israeli occupation regime, including the checkpoints and permits system, has fragmented Palestinian towns and villages and impeded their access to healthcare. Palestinian communities in Area C, which comprises approximately 60% of the West Bank and includes the majority of Israeli settlements, suffer from deeper isolation and marginalization. They lack access and connection to the rest of the West Bank and they, unlike the Israeli residents of the nearby settlements, do not enjoy protection and healthcare support from the Israeli government.

Continue reading “From Covid-19 to the ‘Deal of the Century’ — Palestine and international law”

Home demolitions, attacks and harassment by Israeli military continues during the paralyzing healthcare crisis.

By Yumna Patel |Mondoweiss | Apr 1, 2020

 …the ’real weakness’ in the Palestinian’s efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus is the Israeli occupation.
—Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, who has taken the lead role in Palestine’s fight against COVID-19

When the Palestinian Authority (PA) first announced a state of emergency over the coronavirus in early March, an initial panic swept over the occupied territory, as checkpoints and borders with Israel were closed, and entire cities were shut down.

In the early days of the outbreak, which was initially contained to the city of Bethlehem, there was a joke going around between Palestinians that, perhaps, a global pandemic could offer a temporary respite from the terrors of the Israeli occupation.

But even as most aspects of everyday life have been turned upside down in Israel, Palestine, and the rest of the world, the one thing that has remained steady in the lives of Palestinians, is the presence of the occupation.

Continue reading “In the midst of global pandemic, Israeli occupation thrives”

Palestinian health care workers in Israel are healing everyone while Netanyahu continues to label Palestinian legislators as terrorists.

By Philip Weiss | Mondoweiss | Mar 25, 2020

‘If the thousands of Arab health workers — doctors, nurses, pharmacists —were to stay at home, the entire system would collapse…’
—Ephraim Halevy, former Mossad spy chief

The political news from Israel really could make you lose your mind right now.

A great number of the professionals who are helping Israelis fight the coronavirus pandemic are Palestinian: “18 percent of doctors and 24 percent of nurses and 47 percent of pharmacists,” according to Eli Kowaz of the Israel Policy Forum.

The Israeli health system would collapse without Palestinians. “If the thousands of Arab health workers–doctors, nurses, pharmacists–were to stay at home, the entire system would collapse,” former spy chief Ephraim Halevy wrote in Haaretz.

Continue reading “Palestinians are good enough to save Jews’ lives in Israel, but not to be in their government”

A petition for US leadership to provide humanitarian aid during this critical time.

By Michael Arria | Mondoweiss | Mar 27, 2020

‘If there was ever a moment to realize that we are in this fight together, it is now.’
— IfNotNow press release

A group of Senators has sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging the administration to supply Gaza and the West Bank with much-needed humanitarian aid. There are already are at least 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the West Bank and multiple individuals have tested positive for the virus in Gaza. Gaza has been under siege for years and the densely populated area is bracing for a potentially catastrophic situation. Trump has frozen nearly all aid to Palestine since January 2018.

“Given the spread of the coronavirus in the West Bank and Gaza, the extreme vulnerability of the health system in Gaza, and the continued withholding of U.S. aid to the Palestinian people, we are concerned that the Administration is failing to take every reasonable step to help combat this public health emergency in the Palestinian Territories,” reads the letter. It was lead by Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), but was also signed by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

Continue reading “Warren, Van Hollen lead Senators in demanding Trump admin send aid to Palestine amid COVID-19 crisis”

Cutting off funds to Palestine during a global pandemic would have devastating consequences.

By Michael Arria | Mondoweiss |  Mar 24, 2020

‘If we do not receive additional pledges or those who have pledged do not make good on existing pledges, then we will run out of money at the end of next month,’
— UNRWA’s acting- Commissioner General Christian Saunders

In 2018, the Trump administration cut all funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Over five million people in the region rely on the organization for social services, but now their work has become even more crucial in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

Mondoweiss’s Yumna Patel produced this video in September 2018 outlining the potentially devestating impacts of the cuts:

Continue reading “UNRWA urges Trump admin to restore funding as it stands at the frontline of Palestine’s COVID-19 crisis”

The risks continue to grow for detained Palestinian children.

By Michael Arria | Mondoweiss | Mar 20, 2020

‘There is no way Israeli prison authorities can ensure the health and well-being of Palestinian child detainees as long as they continue to be in a custodial detention setting.’
— Ayed Abu Eqtaish, DCIP Accountability Program director

Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCIP) is calling on the Israeli government to release all Palestinian child detainees amid the COVID-19 crisis. According to Ha’aretz, Israel has confirmed over 700 cases of COVID-19 and four Palestinian prisoners, being held at Megiddo prison, have been in contact with an Israeli officer who tested positive for the virus.

“Israeli authorities must take immediate action to release all Palestinian child detainees in Israeli prisons and detention centers due to the increasing vulnerability created due to the rapid global spread of the COVID-19 virus and to safeguard their right to life, survival, development, and health in accordance with international law,” reads the group’s press release.

Continue reading “Human rights org calls on Israel to release all Palestinian child detainees in response to COVID-19 crisis”

Ongoing effort by faith groups for humanitarian efforts.

By Palestine Israel Network  | Global Ministries |  Mar 18, 2020

In mid-February, Rep. Pocan (D-Wisc.) and Rep. Dingell (D-Mich.) sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging the Trump administration to alleviate the ongoing crisis by restoring all humanitarian assistance and working to end the Gaza blockade.

The Gaza Strip faces a chronic humanitarian crisis, impacting the livelihoods and access to essential services by its two million residents. The United Nations predicted in 2012 that conditions in Gaza would be unlivable by the year 2020 as a result of the Israeli blockade for more than 12 years. This crisis has been driven also by an unsolved internal Palestinian divide. Since March 2018, the crisis has been exacerbated by the massive increase in Palestinian casualties in the context of demonstrations taking place near Israel’s perimeter fence, as well as limited escalations in hostilities between Israel and Palestinian armed groups.

Continue reading “3rd Thursday Action Alert: Tell Congress to restore funding to UNRWA and bilateral assistance to Gaza and the West Bank”