PPP to consider joining new government

PPP to consider participating in new Palestinian government

Date: 02 / 05 / 2009  Time:  18:22

Qalqiliya – Ma’an – The leftist Palestinian People’s Party (PPP) will consider joining a hypothetical Palestinian government to be announced soon, its secretary-general, Bassam As-Salhi, said on Saturday. “The party will think deeply on participating in any Palestnian government, the forming of which will be announced within the coming period of time,” As-Salhi said in an interview on Saturday. “Participating in any new government is not one of the party’s most pressing priorities, instead it is placing priority on agreeing to a Palestinian strategy that would empower the Palestinian stance in confronting the Israeli government,” he added. He also said the PPP would prioritize bringing Palestinians to rally around the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as unifying Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. As-Salhi explained that joining a new government “will be based on serious and approved assessment in case the dialogue fails,” adding that at this time we will wait for clarifications on this issue, especially after the Egyptian leadership altered the mechanism for a comprehensive dialogue, replacing it with a bilateral one.” Concerning the prospect of suspending the dialogue for consultation, the PPP secretary-general said that “it is clear that the margin of independence of the Palestinian dialogue and its accomplishments is subject to international and regional influence, which is peaking.” He went on to say that “for that reason, we should not underestimate the clear Israeli attempts to take advantage [of the division] for the good of its vision to damage the Palestinian cause on the map of comprehensive arrangements in the region by using the weakness of the Palestinian stance, which is affected by division and the absence of a unified Arab strategy to deal with a new Middle East.” ***Get breaking news from Palestine: Click here to follow Ma’an on Twitter.

Gaza: No pigs, no H1N1

Good news from Gaza: No pigs, no H1N1 flu here

Date: 02 / 05 / 2009  Time:  11:55

Gaza – Ma’an – The Veterinary Department of the de facto government health ministry in the Gaza Strip announced Saturday that the Strip is free of the H1N1 swine flu, noting that there are no pigs in the coastal area. Unofficial statistics from the ministry recorded no presence of wild pigs in Gaza over at least the past ten years, there are also no pig farms in Gaza. A report from the ministry, however, recommended it take precautionary measures to ensure hospitals are ready to deal with the flu if a case does occur. ***Get breaking news from Palestine: Click to follow Ma’an on Twitter.

PFLP snipers assault Israeli watchtower

PFLP affiliates fire on Israeli watchtower near Gaza crossing

Date: 02 / 05 / 2009  Time:  17:51

Gaza – Ma’an – Armed Palestinians affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) claimed responsibility on Saturday for targeting Israeli military cameras and a watchtower in Gaza. Palestinian snipers opened fire on the military posts near the Nahal Oz crossing point, according to a statement from the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the armed wing of the PFLP. “The attack comes within a continued confrontation against the [Israeli] occupation,” the statement added. ***Get breaking news from Palestine: Click here to follow Ma’an on Twitter.

Palestine People’s Party (PPP): Reconciliation talks to begin in Cairo May 16, mediators to host 13 Palestinian factions May 18-19

PPP: Hamas-Fatah dialogue to resume 16-17 May, all parties set to arrive in Cairo 18-19 for comprehensive talks

Date: 01 / 05 / 2009  Time:  10:02

Bethlehem – Ma’an – Palestinian conciliation talks have a set start date and concrete plans for a second phase, said Palestine People’s Party member Walid Al-Awad on Friday. The last, and third, round of dialogue was between Hamas and Fatah leaders only, and was seemingly cut short before many of the unresolved issues were discussed. The meetings were originally set for 26 April but were postponed one day to the 27th, then lasted only a day and a half. Following the meetings parties said a fourth round was planned but no details were released. According to Al-Awad, however, a preliminary round of talks between Fatah and Hamas will start on 16 May and go for two days. If all goes well in those meetings, he said, Egyptian mediators plan to host all 13 factions and independents on the 18-19 May. Major issues to be worked out remain the structure of a transitional government or higher committee to rebuild the Gaza Strip and prepare for 2010 elections, as well as the structure and overhaul of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and de facto government security forces Gaza. ***Get breaking news from Palestine: Click here to follow Ma’an on Twitter.

Fleet of Free Gaza Movement ships to break Gaza siege

Free Gaza Movement to launch new fleet of ships

Date: 01 / 05 / 2009  Time:  16:41

Bethlehem – Ma’an – The Free Gaza Movement announced on Friday it plans to launch a new fleet of ships for the besieged Gaza Strip. “We sail again to break Israel’s blockade of 1.5 million civilians, 80% unemployed because of Israel’s draconian siege,” the group said in a statement to Ma’an. “I believe the Israeli government policies are against international law, against human rights, against the dignity of the Palestinian people,” said Mairead Maguire whose efforts for a peaceful solution to the violence in Northern Ireland earned her the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize. “And I feel grateful to be able to go again on one of these boats to visit the people of Gaza.” The Free Gaza Movement will use the Free Gaza as the lead vessel in the flotilla. In August 2008, it was the first boat to dock in the Gaza port in 41 years. The movement intends to donate it to fishermen. The Dignity will carry Mairead as well as two other high-profile passengers, 84-year-old Hedy Epstein, a Holocaust survivor and Cynthia McKinney, former Georgia congresswoman and candidate for US president under the Green Party. McKinney was on the Dignity when it was rammed three times by the Israeli navy on 30 December 2008. “We cannot let Israel’s threats and aggression deter us. To do so would give in to violence and concede that might is stronger than right. To do so would turn our backs on our brothers and sisters in Gaza who have been waiting far too long for the international community to stand up to this injustice,” said Huwaida Arraf, one of the delegation leaders on the Hope Fleet. “Our boats are a part of a larger flotilla making its way to Gaza loaded with humanitarian aid and building supplies such as generators and electronic equipment for hospital emergency machines,” the statement went on to say. “The people of Gaza need cement and lumber and PVC to rebuild their shattered infrastructure, and Israel refuses to allow anything into the small enclave except for food and some medicine.” “The Palestinians don’t want hand-outs from the international community. They want their lives back. They want their human and civil rights. They have a great labor force wanting to rebuild their communities. They are perfectly capable of that if their borders, including the sea border, were open,” states Lubna Masarwa, another delegation leader of this flotilla and a passenger on board the rammed Dignity. The group noted that in most of the world, May 1st is a day of international labor solidarity. It is a day of joy as workers picnic together with their families and celebrate the achievements of one of the most phenomenal movements of the 20th century. “It is fitting, then, that the Free Gaza Movement chooses May 1 to announce the launching of the Hope Fleet to Gaza,” they said. “We are leaving on June 1 as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians, a people who have been massacred, terrorized and suffocated by the Israeli military.” ***Get breaking news from Palestine: Click here to follow Ma’an on Twitter.

Palestinian man breaks record as longest held political prisoner, 31 years

 

Palestinian to break record for longest-held political prisoner

Date: 29 / 04 / 2009  Time:  12:54

Bethlehem – Ma’an – On Friday, 1 May, Palestinian Nael Barghouthi will become the world’s record-holder as the longest-held political prisoner. Barghouthi will have completed more than 31 years in Israeli custody by May, said Abd An-Nasser Farawna, a Palestinian specialist in prisoners affairs. On Friday, Barghouthi will break the Guinness World Record, which is currently held by Sa’id Al-Ataba, a Palestinian who was also in Israeli custody. According to Farawna, Barghouthi was detained on 4 April 1978. He became the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner after his fellow prisoner, Sa’id Al-Ataba, was released on 25 August 2008 after efforts made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Al-Ataba spent 31 years and 26 days in Israeli custody. Barghouthi was born in 1957 in Ramallah in the central West Bank. He was detained on 4 April 1978 at the age of 21, and an Israeli military court later sentenced him to life imprisonment. He has already been in prison ten years longer than he was free. ***Get breaking news from Palestine: Click to follow Ma’an on Twitter.

Mauritania gives Israeli embassy staff 48 hours to leave the country

Mauritania sets 48 hour deadline for Israeli embassy staff to leave country

Date: 06 / 03 / 2009  Time:  17:19

Bethlehem – Ma’an – Mauritania gave its Israeli ambassador 48 hours to leave the country, Israeli sources confirmed Friday. The ambassador has been asked to leave following a freeze in relations between the two countries in the wake of the Israeli war on Gaza which killed 1,455 and injured more than 5,000. As staff at the embassy packed their belongings Mauritanian police were seen removing the security barriers from around the building, opening the road for regular traffic. In a statement on the issue the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “the procedure was taken upon Mauritania request after the decision in January to freeze relations with Israel over the assault on Gaza.”

 

———————————
Al-Masakin News Agency
http://almasakinnewsagency.wordpress.com/
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Al-masakinNewsAgency
http://almasakinnewsagency.wordpress.com/feed/
http://twitter.com/AlMasakin

Hamas may holds remains of Israeli soldier captured, then killed by Israeli bombardment

Hamas says it has body parts of slain Israeli soldier in northern Gaza

Date: 15 / 02 / 2009  Time:  15:45

Gaza – Ma’an – The Hamas movement in the northern Gaza Strip said on Sunday that it has body parts of an Israeli soldier killed on the first full day of the ground invasion of the Gaza Strip in early January. According to a statement circulated by the movement, fighter Muhammad Bashir Khadir captured the soldier from a special forces unit near the As-Salam Mosque in eastern Jabalia refugee camp on 4 January, before Israeli reconnaissance planes bombarded the house killing both the soldier and the Palestinian fighter. According to the statement, “torn body parts of the soldier, his helmet, telescope, bullets, right foot, left hand, and military equipment are kept by resistance fighters.” Abu Ubaida, the official spokesperson of Hamas’ military forces, however, said that the northern Gaza branch of the movement was not authorized to release this information. Israel has not confirmed the news.

Ma’an: Fatah’s Marwan Barghouthi may be feed in Gilad Shalit swap deal

Report: Marwan Barghouthi to be released ‘within days’

Date: 15 / 02 / 2009  Time:  21:33

Jerusalem – Ma’an/Agencies – Israel is inching closer to the release of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi, who is sentenced to five life terms for his activities with the Al-Aqsa Brigades, Fatah’s armed wing, during the second Intifada. Khader Shuqeirat, one of Barghuthi’s lawyers, told Israel’s Channel Ten that “It is a matter of days until Marawan will be free.” “No prisoner swap will be held without Marawan,” said Shuqeirat, “Marawan will be with his family, wife and children within days.” Israeli analyst Tsivika Yehezkili said that “many sides in Israel are considering and seriously proposing Marwan’s release as a good will gesture to President Abbas “ Channel Ten reported that other sources close to Barghouthi said that “the moment of his release is getting closer each day.” Israel’s top leaders agreed on Sunday to formulate a proposal involving the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and a truce with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni have agreed to hold additional talks on the proposal, and could put the proposal up for a vote in the cabinet as early as Wednesday, the website of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported. Amid reports of progress in Egyptian-brokered ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, Israel announced on Saturday that it is insisting on the release of Shalit as a part of any truce deal. It is unclear whether this means a prisoner exchange will also be a part of the truce. Another possibility, raised by Israeli analysts, is that Israel could free Barghouthi as a unilateral gesture to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. On Sunday, the official spokesperson of Hamas’ armed wing, Abu Ubaida, issued a statement saying that Shalit, who has been held in Gaza since 2006, would not be handed over without the release of Palestinian prisoners Abbas As-Said, Abdallah Barghouti, and Ibrahim Hamad, all of whom are accused of plotting attacks inside Israel. Hamas has insisted on the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit, including Barghouthi and other high profile leaders, such as PFLP Secretary-General Ahmad Sadat.

Egypt to keep money seized from Hamas leaders, local report shortage of bank notes in Gaza

Egyptian authorities to keep funds seized from Hamas leader

Date: 12 / 02 / 2009  Time:  11:02

Bethlehem – Ma’an – Egyptian authorities have deposited in a special bank account millions of dollars in cash account seized from Hamas leaders last week. A source at the Al-Ahli Egyptian Bank told the newspaper Al-Ahram that the cash “will be disposed according to Egyptian authorities’ orders,” in the bank’s branch in the town of Al-Arish, on the border with the Gaza Strip. Hamas leader Ayman Taha was detained at the Egypt-Gaza border last Thursday when Egyptian officers found him in possession of nine million US dollars and two million Euros. Taha was returning with other Hamas leaders to Gaza from talks in Cairo. An Israeli ban on cash transfers to Gaza has caused a severe shortage of banknotes in the tiny territory.

DFLP’s National Resistance Brigades seeks to unify Palestinian military wings into a single army

DFLP: Palestinian fighters unite

Date: 12 / 02 / 2009  Time:  14:24

Gaza – Ma’am – The military wing of the leftist Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) called on Thursday for the creation of a unified Palestinian military front to confront Israeli incursions. National Resistance Brigades said in a statement, “the Brigades proposed to establish one united brigade and they are keen to make it happen to oppose the Israeli troops and all their aggression.” The group said that Palestinian resistance fighters had “learned lessons” from the three-week Israeli offensive on Gaza in December and January.

Hamas allows Gaza newspaper Al-Ayyam to re-open

Gaza authorities end seven-month ban of Al-Ayyam newspaper

Date: 12 / 02 / 2009  Time:  14:32

Al-Ayyam’s logo [Ma'anImages] Gaza – Ma’an – The Hamas-run de facto government in Gaza has decided to allow the Palestinian daily newspaper Al-Ayyam to resume distribution in Gaza on Thursday, ending a seven-month ban. The director of the newspaper’s Gaza branch, Sami Al-Feshawi said, “We received a call from the media office of the de facto government saying that ‘we do not mind in re-distributing the newspaper’” “This decision after a meeting from Hasan Abu Hasheesh head of the media office and Ihab Al-Ghusien spokesperson of the Ministry of the Interior,” he added. Al- Feshawi described his meeting with the two government officials as “democratic,” adding that no restrictions were placed on Al-Ayyam’s resumed distribution. Al-Ayyam is one of three main daily newspapers in the Palestinian territories.

Hamas claims AI report false and insulting, suggests AI seek evidence against Israeli war criminals and submit it to the ICC

Hamas: Amnesty report unfair and discriminatory

Date: 11 / 02 / 2009  Time:  14:37

Gaza – Ma’an – Amnesty International accused Hamas of waging a violent campaign against its Palestinian opponents in the Gaza Strip, to which the party responded calling the report “unfair” and “discriminative.” The report is based on false stories and propaganda against Hamas, spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a statement Wednesday. “This report directly insults Hamas and its reputation,” the statement said and suggested it was “better for Amnesty to look for the Israeli war criminals that killed hundreds of people in the Gaza Strip instead of tracking Hamas.” He added, ”Amnesty has to bring real evidence and submit it to the international institutions and to the international court instead of making the entire world busy with Hamas and blinded to the Israeli crimes in the latest war against the Gaza Strip.”

Palestinian reconciliation talks to begin Feb. 22 in Cairo

PPP: Unity talks scheduled for 22 February in Cairo

Date: 10 / 02 / 2009  Time:  10:17

Gaza – Ma’an – A member of the Palestinian People’s Party (PPP)’s politburo said Tuesday that Egyptian officials invited Palestinian factions to unity talks in Cairo on 22 February. Walid Al-Awad said in a statement that the invitation was sent to the general secretaries of all Palestinian factions so give them time to prep committees that will lead talks, adding that the committees hope to resolve outstanding issues by 28 February in Cairo. But Al-Awad said the invitation had “come too late,” especially after stepped-up efforts for a truce between Gaza factions and Israel had “badly damaged the national dialogue process.” “What we want is a Palestinian international reconciliation to oppose Israel’s aggression,” Al-Awad said.

Ma’an’s Editor-in-Chief Nasser Lahham urges Palestinian leadership to to take a stand on Israel’s separation barrier

Ma’an’s Nasser Lahham calls on Palestinian leadership to act on seperation wall issue

Date: 09 / 02 / 2009  Time:  17:18

Bethlehem – Ma’an – The Palestinian leadership must decide whether the Israeli separation wall can stay or whether it must be demolished, said Ma’an’s Chief Editor Nasser Lahham in Ni’lin on Sunday. Lahham’s remarks came at a conference organized by the Popular Committee Against the Wall in one of the handful of villages that stages weekly protests against the construction of the Israeli separation wall. “The wall won’t fall by itself,” Lahham asserted, and went on to explain that the Palestinian leadership has a responsibility decide whether they accept the wall and limiting the borders of Palestine, or whether it should be demolished. “The Palestinian leadership didn’t work well on the wall issue during the last five years,” he said, “whether they are the PLO or the Islamic movements, neither did anything regarding the wall, they just watched the people and the villagers fighting the wall and calling for their rights.” He reflected on the failure of the intifadah to set out a “clear and stable strategy” which resulted in a “shaking of the Palestinian unity and made them lose confidence in the resisters that fight for Palestinian rights.” Lahham called for Palestinian leadership to announce a clear strategy regarding the wall before Palestinians are even more scattered, fragmented and isolated.

PFLP-GC demands end to Palestinian in-fighting, affirms support for the PLO

PFLP-GC urges end to incitement among Palestinian groups

Date: 09 / 02 / 2009  Time:  15:08

Ramallah – Ma’an – Isma’il As’ad, a political official with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC), urged Palestinian political factions to end incitement against one another. The PFLP-GC said that dialogue is the only solution to the current political split. As’ad made this pronouncement during a press conference at Ramattan Studio in Ramallah on Monday, also attended by attended by PFLP-GC officials Shawkat Hammad and Ziad Ash-Shouli. The PFLP-GC is one of the smaller Palestinian factions. As’ad said on Monday that his movement is united both within Palestine and in exile, denying any disagreements within the group. He said the General Command in the West Bank maintains contact with its Secretary General, who is in exile. “Despite ongoing blockade and aggression and despite continuation of wall construction, still resistance is one of our people’s rights as decided by the UN and international laws, as long as occupation continues,” said As’ad. The PFLP-GC also called on President Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the PLO Executive Committee to reactivate the institutions of the PLO, which it said was an irreplaceable organization for Palestinians.

Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) demands inquiry into death of man believed to be tortured to death by Palestinian Internal Security Services

Investigation sought after Gaza man tortured to death by security forces

Date: 09 / 02 / 2009  Time:  15:20

Gaza – Ma’an – A Palestinian human rights organization is calling for an investigation in to the death of a Gazan man it says was tortured to death by Palestinian security forces in Gaza. According to the independent Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), Jameel Shafiq Shaqqura, 51, from Khan Yunis refugee camp Internal Security Services and subsequently died of his injuries. According to PCHR’s investigation, the security forces delivered Shaqqura to a hospital on 31 January. He died on Friday after his condition deteriorated while in custody. The victim’s brother, Aatef Shaqqura told PCHR that on 30 January Jameel and three others were summoned to the Khan Yunis Sports Club for questioning “in a case they knew nothing about.” “At approximately 06:30 on Saturday, 31 January, I received a phone call from a staff member of Nasser Hospital, who informed me that my brother Jameel had been admitted into the hospital and that he was in a serious condition. I went to the hospital immediately,” Aatef Shaqqura said. “When I saw my brother, I saw signs of beating on his head and limbs. Jameel told me that as soon as he and his friends entered Khan Yunis Sports Club, they were handcuffed, blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination, where they were violently beaten. He added that security officers beat him to force him to change a testimony in the case. He fainted due to being subjected to violent beating.” According to PCHR, On Saturday evening, a delegation of Hamas members, headed by Younis Al-Astal, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) went to pay their condolences to the Shaqqura family in Khan Yunis. Al-Astal delivered a speech in which he indicated that Shaqqura had been unjustly killed, and that Hamas was responsible for his death. He added that a commission of inquiry had been established, and the movement would comply with the results of the inquiry. Al-Astal stated that “This offense has made the movement stricter in its instructions to the Internal Security Service.”

Hamas: There is no probelm between de facto governement and the UNRWA, mix-up was on Israeli side of Kerem Shalom crossing where there is no de facto gov., things to be worked out

Hamas: Reported theft a mix-up; UNRWA: Aid deliveries suspended after 2nd Hamas theft

Date: 06 / 02 / 2009  Time:  15:21

Gaza- Ma’an -“There is no problem or issue between the de facto government and UNRWA,” de facto minister of Palestinian social affairs Ahamd Al-Kurd said on Friday The comments came in response to UNRWA’s announcement that aid deliveries into the Strip would be halted after two thefts attributed to the de facto police and ministry. “The de facto government did not stop any of the UNRWA tucks,” Al-Kurd insisted. “The problem,” he explained, was at the Israeli side of the Al- Au’ja (Kerem Shalom) where there are no de facto government representatives. He said there was some confusion over who was supposed to pick up the goods, the UNRWA transport or the de facto ministry. “It was a problem between the drivers to identify the goods,” he said. The de facto government driver loaded nine trucks at the crossing on 5 February, and the UNRWA driver loaded 24 trucks, he said. When the mistake was discovered the de facto government issued instructions to identify the misplaced goods and return them to UNRWA. The statement made no mention, however, of a 3 February incident where UNRWA employees reported armed de facto government police took 3,500 blankets and 406 food parcels from a distribution store at Beach Camp in Gaza by police personnel. The UNRWA staff had already reportedly refused to give supplies to the de facto Ministry of Social Affairs. During the incident police broke into the warehouse and seized aid by force. According to the agency, the suspension of imports will “remain in effect until the aid is returned and the Agency is given credible assurances from the Hamas government in Gaza that there will be no repeat of these thefts.” UNRWA aid is distributed to Palestinians regardless of political affiliation, and the official UN stance on contact with Hamas government members is that relations can occur on a “working” basis. One UN official explained that, for example, UNRWA will call hospitals and notify them of impending aid deliveries. While the Ministry of Social Affairs is responsible for a great deal of aid as well as social welfare programs, UNRWA does not work with the ministry. ***Updated 18:35 Bethlehem time

Israel fires on Lebanese aid ship bound for Gaza, divert it to Ashdod

Israel’s navy attacks Lebanese aid ship bound for Gaza

Date: 05 / 02 / 2009  Time:  09:53

Thu Feb 5, 10:22 AM ET The Lebanese boat (left) carrying aid supplies to the Gaza Strip sits at the Israeli port of Ashdod. The Israeli navy intercepted and boarded the Gaza-bound boat and escorting it to Ashdod.(AFP/David Buimovitch) Bethlehem – Ma’an – Two Israeli warships assaulted then intercepted a Lebanese ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza late on Wednesday and redirected the vessel to Ashdod Thursday morning, according to journalists on board the vessel. Nine passengers and crew members are being held and questioned by Israeli authorities. Israeli troops attacked the Lebanese ship as it entered Gaza waters, firing on the ship and crew and blocking passage into the coastal area. The ship was reportedly directed by Israeli authorities to divert its course and land in Egypt’s Al-Arish port 40kms south of Gaza, but circled in territorial waters and made a second attempt to enter the besieged area. When the ship attempted its second entry it was boarded by Israeli naval officers who beat pointed weapons at crew members and passengers. “They are pointing guns against us. They are kicking us and beating us. They are threatening our lives,” said Salam Khoder, an Al-Jazeera correspondent on board. According to an Israeli military spokesperson, Israeli sailors boarded the ship after it said it would divert course to Egypt, then turned toward Gaza. The Israeli navy has denied firing shots. “The boat crew will be taken for questioning by the Israeli police, and any humanitarian goods found on the boat will be transferred to the Gaza Strip,” the military said. Co-organizer of the voyage Dr Hani Suleiman assured that the boat had been inspected by Cypriot customs authorities and was cleared for sail. The boat, named the Brotherhood, contained 50 tons of medical and humanitarian aid. Among the passengers onboard were Greek-Catholic archbishop of Jerusalem, Monsignor Hilarion Capucci, a notable named Dahoud Mustafa and journalists Ogarit Dandash and Salam Khoder, Muhammad Aleiq and Mazen Majed, and an Irish activist with the Free Gaza movement. The ship is the tenth such mission where aid groups or government-sponsored vessels attempted to break the Israeli imposed siege on Gaza. The first three missions, organized by the Free Gaza Movement, were successful, though all attempts after the 8 November docking were blocked by Israel naval vessels, diplomatic actions or Israeli police. ***Updated 14:13 Bethlehem time

Ma’an: UNRWA accuses Hamas of stealing 406 packages of food and 3,500 blankets

UN accuses Hamas of seizing Gaza aid

Date: 04 / 02 / 2009  Time:  13:42

Bethlehem – Ma’an – The United Nations’ relief agency for Palestinian refugees on Wednesday accused the Hamas-run government in Gaza of seizing thousands of blankets and food parcels from a warehouse. In a statement the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) said that Hamas-allied police confiscated 3,500 blankets and 406 food parcels from a distribution center in the Beach refugee camp in Gaza at 2:30pm on Tuesday. “This took place after UNRWA staff had earlier refused to hand over the aid supplies to the Hamas-run Ministry of Social Affairs. The police subsequently broke into the warehouse and seized the aid by force. The aid was due to be distributed to five hundred families in the area,” the statement said. The de facto government has “categorically denied” the accusations, according to a statement that appeared on the Palestinian Information Center, a Hamas-linked news service. UNRWA condemned “in the strongest terms” the confiscation of the humanitarian aid and demanded its immediate return. “UNRWA has a strict system of monitoring aid delivery and ensuring that its assistance reaches only the intended beneficiaries. Our officials were on the ground overseeing the delivery of our aid and taking all possible steps to avoid its diversion,” the agency said. ***Updated at 21:34 Bethlehem Time