On 24 August, using excessive force against peaceful protesters in Gaza for the 22nd Friday in a row, Israeli forces wounded 89 civilians, including 17 children, 2 women and 3 paramedics. Five sustained serious wounds.
The illegal West Bank settlement of Ariel is marking is marking its 40th birthday. In the span of a few decades it has grown into one of the largest Israeli communities in the West Bank with a theater, a university and plans to increase its population to the size of a formidable city of 100,000.
Al Jazeera reports that Israel has closed an investigation into an assault on August 1, 2014, in which 135 Palestinians were killed in southern Gaza: “In a report on Wednesday, the Israeli army cleared itself of wrongdoing and said it would not prosecute commanders who were involved, claiming its investigation found no reason to suspect criminal misconduct.”
Palestinians held funerals for three killed by Israel in recent day, including pregnant mother Enas Mohammad Abu Khammash, buried along with her 18-month-old daughter Bayan. Meantime, Israelis reported that a “huge” 13-foot long incendiary kite from Gaza landed on a kibbutz’s electrical wires, causing great concern.
Amira Hass reports: “The state is willing to allow six women cancer patients to leave the Gaza Strip for the West Bank for treatment that is not available in the West Bank, or to go abroad for treatment they cannot afford. However, it will not allow the women, who are severely ill, to go to either of two Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem which can treat them.”
During the Great March of Return yesterday, an Israeli army sharpshooter killed Ahmad Yahia Atallah Yaghi, 25, east of Gaza city. In a previous protest, the soldiers shot Yaghi with live fire, wounding him in his leg.
The Israeli authorities have cancelled all family visits for Palestinian prisoners from Gaza held in Israeli jails until further notice. The move comes as the latest measure to sanction the Strip, following a ban on commercial trade and limits in exit permits.
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza has reported that Mo’men Fathi al-Hams, 17, died, on Saturday morning, from serious wounds he suffered by Israeli army fire on Friday. In addition to two other killings Friday, one of a child, the death toll for the Great Return March is now 155.
AFP reports Gaza medical clinics serving low-income families and refugees are already shutting down services and bracing for full closures following President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend aid to Palestinians.
An indirect ceasefire was reached between Hamas and Israel on Friday night, following extensive Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, and the killing of four Palestinian fighters and one soldier. Hamas spokesperson said that “through Egyptian, and international mediation, a ceasefire understanding was reached between the occupation and the resistance.”