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2016 Ten Years of Israeli Illegal Blockade of Gaza

காசாவில் வாழ்வு

2016 Marks Ten Years of Israeli Siege, Illegal Blockade of Gaza
By Days of Palestine
Global Research, January 04, 2016

International organisations have issued warned that life in Gaza on brink of collapse due to effects of the oppressive Israeli siege, which is regarded a collective punishment and illegal in international law.
Experts warn if the siege of Gaza continues, normal life would not be viable in the territory in 2016

Days of Palestine, Gaza Strip –It has been ten years for the strict, harsh and inhumane Israeli, Egyptian and internationally backed blockade on the Gaza Strip.

The blockade started in the wake of the 2006 Palestinian elections, which the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, won with an overwhelming majority.

Local and international monitoring organisations described the Palestinian poll as one of the most transparent ever recorded. However, Palestinians remember it with sadness as the elections marked the internal political split and the start of the siege of Gaza.

The Israeli occupation closed all crossings into the territory, keeping only the Erez Crossing open for occasional pedestrian traffic and Kerem Shalom for a few classified and highly-regulated goods. Erez has been used a trap for people trying to cross.

Egypt has been keeping the Rafah Crossing closed for most of the time. In 2015, the crossing was only open for 21 days; just 10,000 Palestinians were allowed through, among them pilgrims, patients and students.

The Israeli authorities imposed severe restrictions on patients and their companions travelling through Erez. Human rights groups have recorded the arrest of several patients or their companions while using the crossing into the occupied Palestine.

Attempts are made by the Israeli occupation intelligence agents to blackmail people into becoming informers in exchange for being allowed to cross.

Palestinian ministry of health in Gaza has since been reporting chronic shortages of medicines and hospital disposables. “Shelves are empty due to the restrictions imposed by the Israelis on people and goods going in and out of the coastal enclave,” MOH spokesman says.

Attempt to break the siege

The plight of the Palestinians in Gaza has aroused widespread popular support across the world and many attempts have been made to break the siege by sea.

Although a few small boats made the trip in the first few years, later and more ambitious attempts were stopped in international waters by the Israeli navy, often violently.

In May, 2010, for example, the Israeli commandos intercepted the Freedom Flotilla. Nine Turkish citizens were killed in the assault and a number of others were wounded; one died in 2014 as a direct result of his wounds. The ships were towed into and Israeli port and everyone on board was arrested.

During the siege, the Israeli occupation has launched four major military offensives against the people of Gaza, in 2006, 2008/9, 2012 and 2014; the latter was the most destructive. It lasted for 51 days and whole areas of Gaza were flattened by Israeli bombs; tens of thousands of people were displaced.

The strict siege and wars have shattered the Palestinian economy in Gaza, economic commentator Maher al-Tabaa told Quds Press. “The unemployment rate in Gaza stands at 42 per cent, with the blockade deepening the economic crisis,” he explained.

According to the International Monetary Fund, the unemployment rate in Gaza is the highest in the world and there are more than 200,000 unemployed people in Gaza.

Al-Tabaa warned that if the siege of Gaza continues, normal life would not be viable in the territory in 2016.

Many international organisations have issued similar warnings due to the effects of the oppressive Israeli measures, which are regarded as collective punishment and are illegal in international law.

வீர வணக்கம் BURHAN WANI

Over 90 civilians have been killed in the uprising, which began a day after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with government forces in south Kashmir on July 8.

Day 89: Kashmir continues to remain shut

Day 89: Kashmir continues to remain shut

In some parts of Srinagar, especially in civil lines area, an increased movement of private vehicles has been witnessed during past few days after government-imposed restrictions were removed.

GK Web Desk

Srinagar, Publish Date: Oct 5 2016 1:24PM | Updated Date: Oct 5 2016 1:24PM

Life remained affected on Wednesday in Kashmir on the 89th consecutive day of shutdown called by the resistance leadership.

All shops and other business establishments remained shut in Srinagar and other districts of the valley.

Clashes erupted in Bandipora earlier today after youths hurled rocks at an army convoy.

In some parts of Srinagar, especially in civil lines area, an increased movement of private vehicles has been witnessed during past few days after government-imposed restrictions were removed.

Over 90 civilians have been killed in the uprising, which began a day after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with government forces in south Kashmir on July 8.

Kashmir 88 days -Shutdown completes forces foil women rallies, 50 injured

Shutdown completes 88 days: forces foil women rallies, 50 injured
2 auto-rickshaws burnt in old city | Woman injured in pellet firing in Bijbehara; Asiya Andrabi arrested

ABID BASHIR/ KHALID GUL

Srinagar/Anantnag, Publish Date: Oct 5 2016 12:15AM | Updated Date: Oct 5 2016 12:15AM

Photo: Mir Wasim/GK

At least 50 persons were injured, majority of them women, when security forces foiled all-women rallies in various parts of Kashmir on Tuesday. Shutdown was observed across Kashmir on 88th consecutive day.

Joint resistance leadership had called for organising all-women rallies at various district headquarters. In the ongoing unrest, 93 people including two cops have been killed while 13500 people have been injured with nearly 800 hit by pellets in their eyes.

South Kashmir: A 30-year-old lady was injured when forces allegedly fired pellets towards her during night raid, ransacked their house and beat up inmates in Waghama village of Bijbehara in Anantnag district.

Six others also sustained injuries as forces tried to foil a women rally in Tral area of Pulwama district. Police reportedly raided the house of Fayaz Ahmad – General Secretary Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) for Anantnag district - in Waghama during night at around 2:30 a.m. in order to arrest him. Fayaz, who is evading arrest, was not home.  According to his family, “Police barged into the house and asked for Fayaz. They ransacked the house and broke doors and windows. They also beat up his aged mother Raja Begum, niece Ameer and his father.” They said that they later fired pellets which hit Fayaz’s cousin Shakeela - aged 30- on her back.

On the call of joint resistance leadership, all-women pro-freedom rallies were held at various areas. “A huge women rally was organized in Tral by Dukhtaran-I-Millat (DeM),” reports said. They said that as the procession reached bus stand forces resorted to baton charge and lobbed tear gas canisters. “Later the women again assembled near Batnag but forces again beat them up and resorted to shelling, resulting in injuries to at least 10 women,” witnesses said.

The forces action triggered massive protests and clashes in Tral which were on till last reports came in. Similar women rally was held in Dadasara village of Tral. A huge pro-freedom rally was also organized in Bijbehara town by DeM activists. “Women in large numbers participated in the congregation at Jamia Masjid in Baba Mohalla locality. After the congregation, women carrying Pakistani flags and shouting pro-freedom slogans marched from Baba Mohalla to martyrs graveyard.
Protests erupted in Ruhmoo village of Pulwama district after Tehreek-e-Hurriyat activist Mushtaq Ahmad was arrested when he was accompanying his family member to hospital.

North Kashmir: Clashes broke out between government forces and youth in Qazipora village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district. Witnesses said that as police arrived in the village to remove road blocks erected by youth, they were attacked with stones. “Police responded by firing dozens of tear smoke shells and pellets to disperse the protesting youth. At least 15 protestors suffered minor pellet injuries during the clashes,” reports and witnesses said.

Witnesses said that a youth was picked up by police during the clashes.  Authorities had imposed strict restrictions in Kaloosa village to prevent any “untoward incident”.

Residents of Putushai village alleged that police and CRPF went berserk and they damaged several residential houses in the morning, triggering brief clashes. Locals said that window panes of several houses were completely damaged by police without any provocation. Mild clashes were also reported from Ashtengoo village when police vehicles were stoned by youth. Witnesses said that police responded by firing dozens of teargas shells and pellets. Reports said that two persons received minor pellet injuries during the brief clashes.

Women carried out a protest rally in Nusoo village and marched from main Chowk Nusoo to martyrs graveyard amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.

Reports from Kupwara district said that at least eight people sustained injuries at Trehgam when forces fired pellets and tear gas shells at the protestors. Similar clashes were reported from Panzgam area of the district during evening in which two youth sustained injuries.

Central Kashmir: Three people including a cop sustained minor injuries after clashes broke out between youth and forces at Saloora in Ganderbal district. Witness said that trouble started after a women’s convention of Dukhtaran-e-Millat was going on at Jamia Masjid of the locality which was disrupted by forces. They said a police party including women police reached the spot and asked the locals to get the participants of the convention out from the Masjid. The participants resisted the move and chanted slogans inside the Masjid. Angry over the forces’ intervention, local youth started pelting stones on the forces present outside Masjid triggering clashes which continued till late afternoon. Later police pushed the stone pelting youth towards Bapora, Sofi Mohalla and Patipora of Saloora. Police used dozens of tear smoke shells to disburse the stone pelting youth. Reports said that four youth were detained from the locality.

Restrictions were imposed in Kawoosa area of Budgam district on the Chahrum of local youth Muhammad Muzafar Pandit who died of infection post pellet injuries in his eye.

DeM chief arrested: Chief of Dukhatran-e-Millat, Asiya Andrabi, was arrested by police at Kralkhud area in Srinagar when she was reportedly on way to Ganderbal district to address all-women rally. Police sources said she was arrested along with her close aide Fehmeeda Sofi. Police said that Asiya was lodged in Police Station Kothibagh. Asiya was on the run and evading arrest since July 8. DeM strongly condemned the arrest.

SRINAGAR

Two auto-rickshaws were set ablaze by unknown people at Baba Demb and Saida Kadal areas of old Srinagar. Evening clashes were reported from many areas that included Rainawari, Safa Kadal, Nawakadal and Qamarwari. Reports said that six youth sustained pellet injuries in Batamaloo area of uptown Srinagar during clashes. Evening protests were reported from Nowgam, Lasjan and Soiteng areas of uptown Srinagar.

Police Version: According to a statement issued by Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, situation across the valley remained by and large peaceful. “However two incidents of arson were reported from Srinagar and a stray incident of stone pelting was reported from Bandipora,” the statement said. “Normal movement of people and vehicular traffic was observed in Srinagar. Shops in some parts of the city were open besides a large number of vendors were also on the streets. Scores of vehicles were seen plying in the main towns and on the inter-district roads of the valley,” it said. The statement said that during the past 24 hours police arrested 57 individuals involved in various offences of creating disturbances.

(With inputs from Eijaz-ul Haq Bhat and Sheikh Nazir) GK