Humanitarian | The American Task Force on Palestine

UN has 'serious concerns' over home demolitions
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
December 22, 2010 - 1:00am

The UN's Humanitarian Coordinator in Jerusalem told reporters Wednesday that the displacement of a Jerusalem family whose home was demolished the day before "raises serious concerns with regard to Israel’s obligations under international law.” The UN's Maxwell Gaylard, issued a statement after visiting the family of 13 whose home in the Ras Al Amud neighborhood of East Jerusalem was torn down on Tuesday by order of the municipality of Jerusalem, under the Israeli government.

Aid groups say they, not Hamas, are thwarted by Israeli restrictions on Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Janine Zacharia - December 21, 2010 - 1:00am

Despite recent moves by Israel to ease construction in the Gaza Strip, restrictions on building materials are hampering international humanitarian efforts while doing little to impede the Hamas-led government they are designed to weaken, aid and nongovernmental groups say. Israel says the limits on cement and other imports are intended to prevent misuse by Hamas. But the Islamist militant group has ready access to construction materials through smuggling tunnels along the border with Egypt.

Kindergarten near-miss highlights Gaza risks
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Alertnet
December 21, 2010 - 1:00am

A rocket fired from Gaza exploded near an Israeli kindergarten on Tuesday as cross-border violence surged in the approach to the two-year anniversary of Israel's war in the Hamas Islamist-run enclave. No one was hurt at the preschool but a teenage girl in a nearby building was cut by flying glass in the shower. "We were lucky," said Ilan Goldsmith, community manager at Kibbutz Zikim, just north of the Gaza Strip. "It exploded at quarter to eight this morning, the exact time when parents are bringing their children in ... 28 children."

UN concerned after Gaza charity closed
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
December 15, 2010 - 1:00am

Almost one week after Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip closed the doors to a charity assisting children and teenagers, UN officials and international NGO Human Rights Watch released statements calling for the re-opening of the institution, and condemning the closure.

Jordan soccer brawl highlights Palestinians' feelings of deprivation
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Zvi Barel - December 15, 2010 - 1:00am

A soccer match played Friday between the Jordanian league's Al-Faisaly and Al-Wihdat ended in a 1:0 victory for Al-Wihdat. The real news, though, wasn't the score, but the skirmish that broke out, in which 250 fans and policemen were injured, after the wire fence that separates the spectators from the field collapsed. This wasn't just a clash between fans accompanied by stone-throwing, broken bones and arrests. It was a political battle pitting the Al-Wihdat fans, mostly of Palestinian descent, against the Al-Faisaly fans, mostly of Jordanian origin.

Medics: 2 teens killed by old Israeli shell
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
December 10, 2010 - 1:00am

Two Palestinian teenagers was killed when an artillery shell left behind by Israeli forces exploded in Gaza Friday morning, medics said. Gaza medical services spokesman Adham Abu Salmiya said 16-year-old Victor Batniji was dead when he arrived at Gaza City's Shifa Hospital. Moumin Helles, also 16, died shortly after arriving at the hospital, after being wounded in the same incident in the Shujaiyya area. An Israeli military spokesman said the army was aware of an explosion in the area but "nothing IDF [Israel Defense Forces] related."

20 diplomats attend hearing of anti-wall activist
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
December 7, 2010 - 1:00am

Twenty diplomats attended a military court on Monday to hear an appeal to extend the sentence of non-violent protest leader Abdallah Abu Rahmah, the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said. Abu Rahmah was due to be released on 18 November, having served a 12-month sentence. The anti-wall activist was convicted of incitement and organizing illegal demonstrations for his role in Bil'in's campaign against the construction of Israel's wall on its lands. He has been kept in detention at the military prosecution's request despite having served the term of his sentence.

Hamas court orders execution of 'collaborator'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
December 7, 2010 - 1:00am

A Gaza military court has convicted three men of collaborating with Israel, sentencing one to death and two more to prison terms, the Hamas interior ministry said on Monday. "The military court handed down a death sentence against one collaborator with the occupation, and prison terms of seven years and three years for two other collaborators," the ministry said in a statement. No additional details on the men were provided.

Jailed Palestinian atheist sorry
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman
by Diaa Hadid - December 7, 2010 - 1:00am

A Palestinian atheist jailed for more than a month for sharing his anti-Islam views on the Internet has apologized for offending Muslims, and a Palestinian military spokesman said he expected "positive" developments in the case. Rights groups have criticized his arrest as a demonstration of the limits on free speech under the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which has trawled Internet sites like Facebook as part of a crackdown on dissent and unpopular views.

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