News

The occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) recorded marginal economic growth last year, and unemployment remained high, with Israel’s closure policy in the West Bank and the blockade of the Gaza Strip continuing to inhibit the territory’s potential for rapid economic expansion, the United Nations reported today.
In its annual report on assistance to the Palestinian people, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates that oPt’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 6.8 per cent in 2009, but the rate of unemployment declined by only 1.6 percent.

Future Generation Hands Association continue its program (Palestinian Palestinian meetings by held the third meeting with the participation of 8 participants from FGHA -Nablus and 8 from Oasis of Peace - Jerusalem.

This meeting was held on 25-26 july 2010. under the guidance of the supervisors from two institutions the participants introduced themselves in terms of personal, social and political and variety dialogues and discussions took place among participants About political, social and outstanding territorial issues.

Future Generation Hands Association has held a training course for the third group of the project of "Training Youths and School Children on Human Rights", financed and supported by Welfare Association and Austrian Development Agency with the participation of 15 students from An-Najah National University-Faculty of Law.

This training course aimed to raise and enhance the level of awareness of the culture and concepts of human rights and democracy among Palestinian youths.

The United Nations is calling for the urgent lifting of Israeli military restrictions on civilian access to Gaza’s land and sea, which has eroded the livelihoods of Palestinian residents and worsened the plight of a population already under an economic blockade.
Over the past 10 years, the Israeli military has expanded restrictions on access to farmland on the Gaza side of the 1949 Armistice Line between Israel and Gaza – also known as the ‘Green Line’ – and to fishing areas along Gaza’s coast, with the stated intention of preventing attacks by Palestinian armed factions.

More than 6,200 children attending a summer camp in the Gaza Strip run by the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees have broken their own world record for the number of kites flown at the same time.

The feat comes exactly one week after more than 7,200 children bounced basketballs simultaneously for five minutes, doubling a 2007 record set in the United States.

More than 7,200 children in Gaza today simultaneously bounced basketballs, putting them on track to set their second world record in as many years, as part of an annual summer sporting event organized by the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees.

Today’s record of 7,203 balls dribbled more than doubles the previous record set in 2007 in the United States, where just over 3,000 balls were bounced.

The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union and First-Vice-President of the European Commission Baroness Ashton visits Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children and holds a meeting with representatives of the civil society and private sector in the main hall of the organization.

About 400 participants attended the International conference titled “monitoring torture, towards an efficient national plan”, which was organized by TRC in partnership with the UN high commissioner office for human rights in the Palestinian territories in the Red Crescent Society hall in al Bireh city on the 30th of June 2010 to Commemorate the UN International day in Support of Victims of Torture “26th of June”.

An independent United Nations expert today urged Israel to prevent further rights violations in East Jerusalem, warning that population transfers in or from occupied territory are war crimes under international law.

Richard Falk, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights on Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, cited in particular the situation of four Palestinians threatened with the loss of their right of residence, as well as the plan by the Mayor of Jerusalem to demolish 22 buildings housing Palestinians in Silwan as part of a redevelopment of the area.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the head of United Nations relief operations in Gaza have deplored this morning’s attack on a recreational facility used by children in the territory, the second such incident in a month.
A group of about 25 armed and masked men attacked and set fire to the facility on the beach in Nuseirat that was being used to host the Summer Games, run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

A top United Nations official today stressed the need for a fundamental change in the situation in Gaza, noting that the recent tragedy involving an aid flotilla intercepted by Israel is just another reminder of why the blockade of the Strip is unsustainable and must end.

“The flotilla crisis is the latest symptom of a failed policy,” Robert Serry, the Special Coordination for the Middle East Peace Process, told the Security Council in an open briefing. “The closure and blockade of the Gaza Strip needs to come to an end.”

The economic situation in the occupied Palestinian territory has seen some improvement but remains precarious, particularly in the Gaza Strip, where the continued Israeli blockade undermines prospects for employment and growth, says a new United Nations report.
The International Labour Organization (ILO), in its annual publication on the situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories, attributes the improvement to an accelerated growth rate and a slightly higher rate of employment – roughly 15 per cent in both Gaza and the West Bank.

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) strongly condemns the detention of the photographers of: Associated press Nasser Al-Shuokhi, Chinese Agency Fadi Aruri, European Agency Atef Safadi, by the Israeli occupation forces. The accident took place while the photographers were covering Bili’n weekly march, today noon 11 June 2010, near the city of Ramallah.

On 1 June 2010, DCI-Palestine submitted a Supplementary Report to the UN Human Rights Committee which will soon review Israel's Third Periodic Report relating to its compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) (ICCPR).

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his shock at the deadly military interception on boats loaded with relief supplies headed for Gaza, calling on Israel to fully explain its actions.

According to media reports, early this morning in international waters, Israeli intercepted and took control of the six-ship aid convoy, which was carrying hundreds of activists from several countries. At least ten people were killed in serious violence on one or more of the vessels.

In a joint press conference held with the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organization Network (PNGO) on 24 May 2010, Al-Haq’s director, Shawan Jabarin condemned two recent attacks on civil society organizations in Gaza. The incidents constitute serious violations of Palestinians’ human rights and highlight an alarming trend with respect to the growing atmosphere of intolerance and incitement perpetuated by extremist religious groups in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Sixteen months after an Israeli military offensive inflicted widespread damage in the Gaza Strip, about three quarters of the damaged buildings and infrastructure have still not been repaired, a new United Nations report says.

The report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), produced in partnership with the Gaza-based Engineering and Management Consulting Center, estimates that another $527 million will need to be spent to reconstruct all the buildings damaged during Operation Cast Lead, which took place in December 2008 and January 2009.

PCHR Calls upon Palestinian President to Promptly Intervene to Ensure Sufficient Supply of Medications and Medical Disposables

As 62 years of ongoing Nakba was marked across Palestine, kites filled the skies above Aida Camp. The red, green, white, and black of the national flag swirled and twisted amongst blue skies as youthful smiles filled Aida’s streets. Aida Camp’s new generations were again demonstrating their sumoud (steadfastness), and their will to return.

DCI-Palestine has documented two new cases of children used as human shields by Israeli soldiers during military operations. While searching her house, Dua’a (16) was ordered by Israeli troops to open closets and lift beds, while the soldiers remained metres away: “They moved three metres backward towards the door while aiming their weapons at me… They ordered me to search the closets and other items in the room.”
 

This morning, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) sent a letter to Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, appealing to him to stop the application of the death penalty under the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), in light the latest developments in the Gaza Strip with regard to the implementation of two death sentences in violation of the law and the constitution. PCHR has expressed concern that more death sentences may be implemented.

Yesterday evening, 3 May 2010, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) organized a ceremony entitled "Distinguished Journalists" to honor 25 journalists, who were granted international awards in 2009 and 2010 for their works. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of journalists, representatives of media institutions and civil society organizations and public figures.

• About 32.8% of wage employees in the private sector in the Palestinian Territory have work contract
• About 22.4% of wage employees in the Palestinian Territory are affiliated to labor or professional union

As part of its proactive dissemination policy, The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) issues a press release on the occasion of May 1st – The International Workers Day – to shed light on the working conditions of Palestinian labor during the year 2009.

On Sunday 18 April 2010, Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights concluded a training workshop entitled 'Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL): Basic Concepts.

Mrs. Shirin Al Shobaki, Coordinator of the Training and Mass Communication Unit at Al Mezan, concluded the course at Al Mezan's office in Gaza. She thanked the 25 participants of the Women Activity Center for their active participation in the course.