Thoughts: Has any organization in the world validate the Human shield practises & using school/Hospital as the rocket launcher ground by Hamas?
"We believe that what (Ban) did is a positive and responsible development and significant step in the right direction of investigating the crimes committed by Israel and keeping the Security Council engaged," Mansour said.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council on Monday he was about to set up a commission to look into Israeli damage to U.N. premises during the recent Gaza conflict, diplomats said.
Japanese Ambassador Yukio Takasu, current council president, told reporters Ban had promised the council during a closed-door briefing he would give it the names of the members and terms of reference of the panel in the next few days.
Several diplomats said it would be led by Ian Martin, a Briton who until recently was U.N. special envoy to Nepal and from 1986-92 served as secretary-general of human rights group Amnesty International.
Several U.N. buildings were damaged during Israel's 22-day offensive in December and January that was aimed at stamping out rocket fire against Israel from Gaza, which is controlled by the Palestinian militant organization Hamas.
On Jan. 15 Israeli shells that U.N. officials said contained incendiary white phosphorus demolished a warehouse in a Gaza compound belonging to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Shells also hit a vocational training center there, wounding three people.
Earlier, on Jan. 6, Israeli fire killed more than 40 people just outside an UNRWA school in Gaza. The Israeli military said in all cases that it was responding to fire by Palestinian militants.
Ban, who strongly protested the Israeli actions at the time, already had said there would be a U.N. inquiry but diplomats said he now was ready to announce details.
At least two inquiries already are underway -- one by UNRWA itself and one by Israel. The Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council has announced a plan for a broader investigation of rights violations in Gaza.
Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters he understood the commission would consist of four members plus a member of the U.N. secretariat. Another diplomat said the inquiry would last for one month.
"We believe that what (Ban) did is a positive and responsible development and significant step in the right direction of investigating the crimes committed by Israel and keeping the Security Council engaged," Mansour said.
Takasu said the commission would report back to the Security Council, which would then decide how to respond. Diplomats said they thought it unlikely that Israel's ally the United States, which has a veto in the council, would allow the 15-nation body to adopt the report as its own.
Copyright © 2008 Reuters
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Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Hamas: Jerusalem stabbing is natural response to Israeli aggression (Haaretz)
Thoughts: Is killing innocent people considered as Natural response?
Following the stabbing of an elderly Israeli and a policeman by a Palestinian in Jerusalem on Thursday, Hamas said such attacks were a "natural response" to Israel's continued aggression.
Abraham Ozeri, an 86-year-old Jerusalem resident, died of his wounds shortly after the terror attack. The policeman, 30, was taken for treatment at the Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem, where his condition was classified as serious.
The attacker, 20-year-old Mohammed al-Badan, was shot and disarmed during the attack.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas added that the terror attack came as a direct response to Israeli moves to make Jerusalem more Jewish.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said two police officers on patrol in Gilo had stopped an Arab for questioning on the street when he pulled out a knife and stabbed one of them.
"The [wounded] policeman fired at the terrorist, but he continued to attack and stabbed a 86-year-old passerby, before he was apprehended," Rosenfeld said.
A civilian, Yoav Mizrahi, and a municipal inspector, Yehoshua Ben Nun, who were in the area gave chase, seizing the Palestinian some two hundred meters away from the site of the stabbing.
Mizrahi said: "I succeeded in grabbing hold of his back, and with the municipal inspector who was in the area, we held him and called on civilians to phone the police and Magen David Adom [emergency services]. I put my leg on him and pointed a gun at him until the police arrived."
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the stabbing.
Magen David Adom, revising its information that the Palestinian was killed, said he sustained moderate wounds.
IDF raids assailant's village
The Israel Defense Forces later searched the West Bank home of the attacker in the village of Tekoa, near Bethlehem. Witnesses said two of al-Badan's friends were taken away in military jeeps.
Witnesses said about 100 local teenagers hurled rocks at the soldiers, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Palestinian medics said three Palestinians were lightly injured. The army said a soldier was also lightly wounded in the clash, but it gave no further details of the operation.
Security establishment sources said the police officers' alertness had likely foiled an attack on one of the educational institutions in the area.
On September 22, a Palestinian plowed his car into a group of soldiers at a busy intersection, injuring 13 before he was shot dead.
In two incidents in July, Palestinians carried out attacks on city streets using heavy construction machinery, killing three people and wounding several others.
About two months ago, an Israel Defense Forces soldier was lightly to moderately wounded when he was stabbed by a Palestinian near the Almog Junction north of the Dead Sea.
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Following the stabbing of an elderly Israeli and a policeman by a Palestinian in Jerusalem on Thursday, Hamas said such attacks were a "natural response" to Israel's continued aggression.
Abraham Ozeri, an 86-year-old Jerusalem resident, died of his wounds shortly after the terror attack. The policeman, 30, was taken for treatment at the Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem, where his condition was classified as serious.
The attacker, 20-year-old Mohammed al-Badan, was shot and disarmed during the attack.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas added that the terror attack came as a direct response to Israeli moves to make Jerusalem more Jewish.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said two police officers on patrol in Gilo had stopped an Arab for questioning on the street when he pulled out a knife and stabbed one of them.
"The [wounded] policeman fired at the terrorist, but he continued to attack and stabbed a 86-year-old passerby, before he was apprehended," Rosenfeld said.
A civilian, Yoav Mizrahi, and a municipal inspector, Yehoshua Ben Nun, who were in the area gave chase, seizing the Palestinian some two hundred meters away from the site of the stabbing.
Mizrahi said: "I succeeded in grabbing hold of his back, and with the municipal inspector who was in the area, we held him and called on civilians to phone the police and Magen David Adom [emergency services]. I put my leg on him and pointed a gun at him until the police arrived."
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the stabbing.
Magen David Adom, revising its information that the Palestinian was killed, said he sustained moderate wounds.
IDF raids assailant's village
The Israel Defense Forces later searched the West Bank home of the attacker in the village of Tekoa, near Bethlehem. Witnesses said two of al-Badan's friends were taken away in military jeeps.
Witnesses said about 100 local teenagers hurled rocks at the soldiers, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Palestinian medics said three Palestinians were lightly injured. The army said a soldier was also lightly wounded in the clash, but it gave no further details of the operation.
Security establishment sources said the police officers' alertness had likely foiled an attack on one of the educational institutions in the area.
On September 22, a Palestinian plowed his car into a group of soldiers at a busy intersection, injuring 13 before he was shot dead.
In two incidents in July, Palestinians carried out attacks on city streets using heavy construction machinery, killing three people and wounding several others.
About two months ago, an Israel Defense Forces soldier was lightly to moderately wounded when he was stabbed by a Palestinian near the Almog Junction north of the Dead Sea.
Read more...
Sunday, February 8, 2009
PA: Hamas converts hospitals into jails (Ynetnews)
Thoughts: Is civillian's life less important than any of the military action while cease-fire peace agreement is in progress?
(Ynetnews)
Hamas back to old ways: According to Palestinian Ministry of Health in West Bank, Hamas expels medical staff from Gaza hospitals, takes control of entire wards in order to use them for torture, imprisonment
The Palestinian Health Ministry, run by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, accused Hamas' security apparatus Saturday of commandeering a number of hospital wards in the Gaza Strip for the purpose of converting them into interrogation and imprisonment compounds.
According to Palestinian news agency Ma'an, the Palestinian Health Ministry claimed that Hamas members expelled them and full medical teams from hospital wards despite the serious security situation.
A communiqué put out by the ministry said that "following the unilateral cessation of Israeli aggression against our people, the Ministry of Health, along with all the Palestinian people, was shocked to discover that Hamas militias have returned to their old ways and have expelled all the medical staff responding to the calls of the homeland (to continue their work.) Unfortunately, these same militias used the medical centers, especially in a number of hospitals, converting them into centers for interrogation, torture, and imprisonment."
According to the Health Ministry, Hamas members have taken control of wards in Shifa Hospital, as well as al-Nasser Hospital and the psychiatric hospital.
The Palestinian Authority-controlled Ministry urged Hamas "to act responsibly and to cease immediately the harassment of medical staff."
In addition, the Ministry also called Hamas "to halt the stealing of medical aid sent to the Strip most of which (Hamas) has redirected to the organization's warehouses and centers."
The remarks were made in reference to the equipment reportedly stolen from UNRWA aid sent to the Gaza Strip, a incident that led the UN organization to cease its operations in Gaza.
Read more...
(Ynetnews)
Hamas back to old ways: According to Palestinian Ministry of Health in West Bank, Hamas expels medical staff from Gaza hospitals, takes control of entire wards in order to use them for torture, imprisonment
The Palestinian Health Ministry, run by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, accused Hamas' security apparatus Saturday of commandeering a number of hospital wards in the Gaza Strip for the purpose of converting them into interrogation and imprisonment compounds.
According to Palestinian news agency Ma'an, the Palestinian Health Ministry claimed that Hamas members expelled them and full medical teams from hospital wards despite the serious security situation.
A communiqué put out by the ministry said that "following the unilateral cessation of Israeli aggression against our people, the Ministry of Health, along with all the Palestinian people, was shocked to discover that Hamas militias have returned to their old ways and have expelled all the medical staff responding to the calls of the homeland (to continue their work.) Unfortunately, these same militias used the medical centers, especially in a number of hospitals, converting them into centers for interrogation, torture, and imprisonment."
According to the Health Ministry, Hamas members have taken control of wards in Shifa Hospital, as well as al-Nasser Hospital and the psychiatric hospital.
The Palestinian Authority-controlled Ministry urged Hamas "to act responsibly and to cease immediately the harassment of medical staff."
In addition, the Ministry also called Hamas "to halt the stealing of medical aid sent to the Strip most of which (Hamas) has redirected to the organization's warehouses and centers."
The remarks were made in reference to the equipment reportedly stolen from UNRWA aid sent to the Gaza Strip, a incident that led the UN organization to cease its operations in Gaza.
Read more...
Hamas heavyweight in Egypt for Gaza talks (Agence France-Presse)
Thoughts: One thing I can't seek to understand is the lack of support from other Arab nations around the conflict region especially on opening of their country's borders linked to Gaza strip.
(Agence Rance-Presse)
A Hamas delegation from Gaza led by heavyweight Mahmud Zahar was in Egypt on Saturday for talks on consolidating a ceasefire with Israel, which a Hamas spokesman said may be reached in a few days.
It was the first time Zahar had been seen in public since Israel's massive 22-day war against the Gaza Strip's Islamist rulers which ended with both sides calling separate ceasefires on January 18.
Zahar was among a delegation of seven Hamas officials who crossed the Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza on their way to Cairo for talks with intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.
Thought to be overall Hamas leader in the Palestinian territories, Zahar told the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite channel he would meet Egyptian negotiators and members of Hamas's Syrian-based politburo later in the day.
The delegation will hear Israel's position, which senior Israeli defence official Amos Gilad relayed to Suleiman on Friday, he said.
"There will be a follow up on the position Israel has arrived to, and based on that we will give the final Palestinian viewpoint," Zahar told Al-Jazeera.
A Hamas official told the channel the delegation will travel later to Damascus to consult with the movement's political leadership before returning to Cairo on Sunday.
Gilad reported back in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, an official said.
Egypt's Suleiman has been mediating indirect talks between Israeli and Palestinian officials for a lasting truce since the end of the Gaza war, which killed at least 1,330 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.
The fragile calm has been tested by Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel and retaliatory air strikes.
A Hamas spokesman in Gaza said the Islamist movement expects to see an agreement with Israel on reopening the border crossings into the enclave soon.
"If the Egyptian efforts are successful at this time, we expect to reach an agreement within the next few days," Fawzi Barhum told AFP.
He said the talks were over an agreement "to end the siege, stop the aggression and reopen the crossings."
Israel, which controls all border crossings except Rafah, which is managed by Egypt, has kept the densely populated strip closed to all but essential supplies since June 2007 when Hamas seized power, ousting forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
"There was some question about guaranteeing the truce and how the Rafah crossing will reopen and today we expect to have an answer from our Egyptian brothers," Barhum said.
Egypt closed Rafah on Thursday, after opening it to aid and Palestinian wounded during the war. Egypt has refused to permanently open the crossing in the absence of EU monitors and Abbas's representatives.
Hamas officials have said they are seeking clarifications on an Israeli offer to allow between 70 and 80 percent of goods through its crossings into Gaza, barring those it says could be used to make weapons.
The fact that Zahar himself was attending the talks showed how important the truce was to Hamas, Barhum said.
"It is very important for Hamas to see these Egyptian efforts succeed," he added.
At a rally in Damascus on Friday, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said Israel has yet to provide guarantees that border crossings will remain open.
"The enemy gave opaque and incomplete answers through Egypt that do not amount to a lifting of the blockade," he said.
(Agence Rance-Presse)
A Hamas delegation from Gaza led by heavyweight Mahmud Zahar was in Egypt on Saturday for talks on consolidating a ceasefire with Israel, which a Hamas spokesman said may be reached in a few days.
It was the first time Zahar had been seen in public since Israel's massive 22-day war against the Gaza Strip's Islamist rulers which ended with both sides calling separate ceasefires on January 18.
Zahar was among a delegation of seven Hamas officials who crossed the Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza on their way to Cairo for talks with intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.
Thought to be overall Hamas leader in the Palestinian territories, Zahar told the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite channel he would meet Egyptian negotiators and members of Hamas's Syrian-based politburo later in the day.
The delegation will hear Israel's position, which senior Israeli defence official Amos Gilad relayed to Suleiman on Friday, he said.
"There will be a follow up on the position Israel has arrived to, and based on that we will give the final Palestinian viewpoint," Zahar told Al-Jazeera.
A Hamas official told the channel the delegation will travel later to Damascus to consult with the movement's political leadership before returning to Cairo on Sunday.
Gilad reported back in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, an official said.
Egypt's Suleiman has been mediating indirect talks between Israeli and Palestinian officials for a lasting truce since the end of the Gaza war, which killed at least 1,330 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.
The fragile calm has been tested by Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel and retaliatory air strikes.
A Hamas spokesman in Gaza said the Islamist movement expects to see an agreement with Israel on reopening the border crossings into the enclave soon.
"If the Egyptian efforts are successful at this time, we expect to reach an agreement within the next few days," Fawzi Barhum told AFP.
He said the talks were over an agreement "to end the siege, stop the aggression and reopen the crossings."
Israel, which controls all border crossings except Rafah, which is managed by Egypt, has kept the densely populated strip closed to all but essential supplies since June 2007 when Hamas seized power, ousting forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
"There was some question about guaranteeing the truce and how the Rafah crossing will reopen and today we expect to have an answer from our Egyptian brothers," Barhum said.
Egypt closed Rafah on Thursday, after opening it to aid and Palestinian wounded during the war. Egypt has refused to permanently open the crossing in the absence of EU monitors and Abbas's representatives.
Hamas officials have said they are seeking clarifications on an Israeli offer to allow between 70 and 80 percent of goods through its crossings into Gaza, barring those it says could be used to make weapons.
The fact that Zahar himself was attending the talks showed how important the truce was to Hamas, Barhum said.
"It is very important for Hamas to see these Egyptian efforts succeed," he added.
At a rally in Damascus on Friday, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said Israel has yet to provide guarantees that border crossings will remain open.
"The enemy gave opaque and incomplete answers through Egypt that do not amount to a lifting of the blockade," he said.
Read more...
Israel seeks quicker steps to free soldier in Gaza
Thoughts: War hostages exchange no longer a fresh issue in Gaza-Israel war affair but the exchange conditions proposed by certain conclict party seems imbalanced but again that's just another piece where outsiders can't really understand...
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel is trying to accelerate talks to secure the release of a soldier held captive in the Gaza Strip since 2006, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said in remarks televised on Saturday.
Barak's comments came as Israeli leaders met to review progress in talks hosted by Egypt to cement a truce between Israel and Hamas Islamists in control of Gaza.
A Hamas official told Reuters that with the additional mediation of Turkey and Qatar, talks to free soldier Gilad Shalit, captured in 2006, have recently made "significant progress." He would not elaborate.
But Osama al-Muzaini, a senior Hamas official close to talks on freeing the soldier, dismissed Israel's claims of progress.
Hamas has also given mixed signals on the status of talks for a deal to widen a ceasefire from Jan. 18 that ended a 22-day Israeli offensive in the coastal territory, in which 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed.
Hamas insists Israel lift a blockade on Gaza's crossings while Israel says it will not do so unless Shalit is released. Hamas has said it would free Shalit in return for Israel freeing 1,400 of its prisoners.
"We want to see Gilad Shalit here and are dealing with this day and night," Barak said at a campaign appearance on Saturday.
"A supreme effort is being made to accelerate the process that will bring about Gilad's safe return home," Barak added.
The sudden clinching of a deal for Shalit's freedom could boost Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's centrist Kadima party and Barak's left-wing Labour in a national election on Tuesday that rightist leader Benjamin Netanyahu is now favoured to win.
Muzaini said talk of progress towards Shalit's was "election-motivated."
He told Reuters on Friday "there has been no progress in the file for several months and that is because (Israel) remains unwilling to pay the price," referring to demands to free prisoners convicted of involvement in suicide bombings.
Senior Hamas leader, Mahmoud Al-Zahar, making his first public appearance since the Israeli offensive, arrived in Cairo on Saturday where Hamas officials said he would likely hear Israel's responses to the group's demands for a longer truce.
In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Livni and Barak about the talks with Hamas being held in Cairo, moving up a meeting they had planned for Sunday, political sources said.
(Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza)
Copyright © 2008 Reuters
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JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel is trying to accelerate talks to secure the release of a soldier held captive in the Gaza Strip since 2006, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said in remarks televised on Saturday.
Barak's comments came as Israeli leaders met to review progress in talks hosted by Egypt to cement a truce between Israel and Hamas Islamists in control of Gaza.
A Hamas official told Reuters that with the additional mediation of Turkey and Qatar, talks to free soldier Gilad Shalit, captured in 2006, have recently made "significant progress." He would not elaborate.
But Osama al-Muzaini, a senior Hamas official close to talks on freeing the soldier, dismissed Israel's claims of progress.
Hamas has also given mixed signals on the status of talks for a deal to widen a ceasefire from Jan. 18 that ended a 22-day Israeli offensive in the coastal territory, in which 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed.
Hamas insists Israel lift a blockade on Gaza's crossings while Israel says it will not do so unless Shalit is released. Hamas has said it would free Shalit in return for Israel freeing 1,400 of its prisoners.
"We want to see Gilad Shalit here and are dealing with this day and night," Barak said at a campaign appearance on Saturday.
"A supreme effort is being made to accelerate the process that will bring about Gilad's safe return home," Barak added.
The sudden clinching of a deal for Shalit's freedom could boost Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's centrist Kadima party and Barak's left-wing Labour in a national election on Tuesday that rightist leader Benjamin Netanyahu is now favoured to win.
Muzaini said talk of progress towards Shalit's was "election-motivated."
He told Reuters on Friday "there has been no progress in the file for several months and that is because (Israel) remains unwilling to pay the price," referring to demands to free prisoners convicted of involvement in suicide bombings.
Senior Hamas leader, Mahmoud Al-Zahar, making his first public appearance since the Israeli offensive, arrived in Cairo on Saturday where Hamas officials said he would likely hear Israel's responses to the group's demands for a longer truce.
In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Livni and Barak about the talks with Hamas being held in Cairo, moving up a meeting they had planned for Sunday, political sources said.
(Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza)
Copyright © 2008 Reuters
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