Palestine Live Coverage: Updates from the West Bank and Gaza

Hamas targets two Israeli airbases

Hamas's military wing, the Izzedin Qassam Brigades, announced that it had launched rockets at two Israeli airbases on Wednesday night - the Tel Nof base south of Tel Aviv and the Hatzerim base near Beersheba in southern Israel, as Israeli aircraft continued to pound the Gaza Strip.

Israeli police disperse protesters in Umm al-Fahm with tear gas after killing of youth

Israeli security forces used tear gas and skunk water to disperse protesters who had gathered in the Palestinian-Israeli town of Umm al-Fahm on Wednesday night after Mohammed Kiwan, a 17-year-old teenager who was shot in the head by security forces on May 12, died of his injury. (Source: Arab48)

أم الفحم: تظاهرة حاشدة احتجاجًا على استشهاد الشاب محمد كيوان
للتفاصيل: https://t.co/kbhlXOB4JY pic.twitter.com/oEOd3AGf4f

— موقع عرب 48 (@arab48website) May 19, 2021

Hamas leader issues defiant statement ahead of expected escalation

Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of Hamas's political bureau, has issued a short statement saying that the Palestinian resistance is ready for "a long struggle" against Israel, adding that its "capacity to continue is  greater than [Israel] believes".

His statement comes amid growing international calls for a ceasefire and an expected intensification of Israeli airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip before a ceasefire agreement is reached.

Palestinian Health Ministry raises Gaza death toll to 231

The Palestinian Health Ministry announced that 12 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, raising the total death toll from Israel's assault on the besieged Palestinian territory to 231 since strikes began last week. The dead include at least 64 children.

Palestinian woman shot dead near Hebron

A Palestinian woman was shot dead on Wednesday afternoon close to a road leading to the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba near Hebron in the West Bank. A settler is believed to responsible.

Aref Jaber, a local activist, told The New Arab's Arabic-language service, "A woman was near a road reserved for settlers leading to the entrance of the Kiryat Arba settlement. An armed settler opened fire on her and she was killed instantly."

The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the woman's death

4 people, including seven-month pregnant mother and two-year old toddler, killed in fresh Israeli airstrikes in Gaza

Israeli warplanes shelled a civilian house in Deir al-Balah city, in central Gaza Strip, without any prior warning, killing three members of one family and injuring many others (Wafa)

Abbas addresses Arab Parliament: "Jerusalem is our eternal capital"

In a virtual speech before the Arab Parliament’s emergency session on the Israeli onslaught on Gaza and escalation throughout the occupied territories, particularly the forced expulsions in Sheikh Jarrah, President Abbas stated: “Jerusalem is our eternal capital, and we will never accept any substitute for it. Without it, there would be neither peace, nor security, nor stability, nor agreement in our region and the world.”

He pointed that Jerusalem “has once again proven as the common foundation around which the Palestinian people as well the Arab and Islamic nations meet. Everything is worthless without it.” 

Read full speech here:

IDF kills 3 "Hamas operatives" in Gaza airstrike

Israeli fighter jets struck a building with three "Hamas operatives" overnight, killing all of them, IDF said in a statement. (Haaretz)

Biden, in call to Netanyahu, says he expects "significant de-escalation" today

U.S. President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call that he "expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire," the White House said in a statement.

"The two leaders had a detailed discussion on the state of events in Gaza, Israel’s progress in degrading the capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist elements, and ongoing diplomatic efforts by regional governments," according to the White House. (Reuters)

Several rockets fired towards Israel from South Lebanon, officials report.

The Israeli military said it identified four rockets fired from Lebanon into northern Israel. One landed in an open area, two landed in the sea, and one was intercepted by aerial defences. Residents of the city of Shfaram, east of Haifa, said one rocket landed near the town.

The Lebanese officials said the latest rockets were launched from the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Qlayleh, adding that four fell inside Lebanese territory. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Read the full story on The New Arab here:

UNRWA launches $38 million Flash Appeal for Gaza and the West Bank

Wafa News Agency: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) urgently requires $38 million to cover the most urgent humanitarian needs of affected populations in Gaza and the West Bank, following the dramatic intensification in violence in the occupied Palestinian territory in recent days.

Under the Flash Appeal, UNRWA is requesting support to maintain the provision of essential health services and for emergency first aid, as needed; enhance the provision of psycho-social support (PSS) including for school children; deliver multipurpose cash assistance to vulnerable refugee families whose properties have sustained damage from confrontations; and to ensure that UNRWA staff are able to continue providing services safely and securely to vulnerable refugees in need.

The Palestinian Ministry of Culture today details Israel's attack on cultural and educational institutions in the Gaza Strip.

Statement Excerpt (Wafa News Agency)

“The Israeli attack continues to target Educational and Cultural buildings including Book stores that gathered thousands of books that are now due to be damaged and puts civilians working in these places in danger. The Israeli attacks targeted the Kuheil building near the Islamic University which caused direct damage to the university – Israel’s ongoing attacks caused direct damage to Samir Mansour Publishing house, Iqraá bookstore and score of other smaller bookstores and publishing and distribution agencies.”

“The attacks on other buildings in the city caused severe damage to many cultural centers and institutions including Basma Institute for Culture and Arts and Mashareq production center.  Moreover, dozens of media and information offices and more International and Local Media/News agencies were totally or partially damaged".

Read full statement here:

The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem today condemned the attack of a clergy by Jewish settlers in the occupied city of Jerusalem

The Patriarchate said in a press communiqué that it “strictly condemns the attack on Very Reverend Father Arbag Sarukhanyan by young Jews in the middle of the night, when Fr. Arbag was heading to the Holy Sepulchre Church.” (Wafa News Agency)

Manchester United star Paul Pogba waves Palestine flag at Premier League match

Manchester United Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer backed Paul Pogba and Amad Diallo's pro-Palestine solidarity gesture during a match with Fulham at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The pair held up a Palestinian flag together during the team's post-match lap of honour

Read full story here:

Over 50,000 people call for Irish government to expel Israeli ambassador to Ireland

A petition organized by Ógra Shinn Féin calling on the Irish government to expel the Israeli Ambassador has amassed more than 50,000 signatures.

Full statement: 

Ógra Shinn Féin Leas-Cathaoirleach and International Officer Ciarán Ó Meachair said in a statement that "this is a reflection of the strong public anger against the actions of the Israeli state in recent days.”

“Israel has been attacking Gaza with near-impunity and a decision by the Irish government to expel the Israeli ambassador be a landmark moment internationally and show Israel the extent to which their actions have been met by disgust around the world".

"There are other moves such as the Occupied Territories Bill and the official recognition of the State of Palestine that the Irish government need to stop delaying.”

“Ógra Shinn Féin continues to campaign in support of the Palestinian people until they achieve justice, freedom and equality".

Senior Israeli Official: Ceasefire expected "within days"

A senior Israeli political official said Tuesday night that "if there is no surprising turn of events," a cease-fire with Gaza is expected on Thursday.

According to the individual, a ceasefire will be called in "the coming days" given the IDF and Hamas have both reached their "respective goals". 

11 Palestinian children killed in recent Israeli airstrikes were being treated for trauma - Norwegian Refugee Council.

Eleven of the children killed in recent Israeli air raids on Gaza were being treated for trauma, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said on Tuesday. 

The children, aged between five and 15, were part of a psycho-social programme aimed at helping them to cope with previous trauma experienced in their lives within the besieged enclave.

Read the full article on The New Arab here: 

Death toll in Gaza rises to at least 219, 24 killed in West Bank and Occupied East Jerusalem

According to the Palestinian Military of Health, Israeli forces have killed 237 Palestinians and wounded 6,278 others since May 7.

"Among the 237 Palestinians, 23 were killed in the West Bank, 213 others in the Gaza Strip and another in Jerusalem. Among the 213 Palestinians slain in Gaza, 61 children and 36 women were killed" (WAFA News Agency)

3,825 Palestinians in the West Bank, 1,442 in the Gaza Strip and 1,011 others in Jerusalem have been wounded.

Jewish employees at Google petition Palestinian support

In a statement made by a "coalition of diverse Jewish and allied Googlers" who are "concerned about the internal dialogue around the political and racial violence in Israel and Palestine".

The statement continued in saying: "we as Jews do not endorse the views of those who have written to you seeking to garner support for exclusively pro-Israel and pro-Zionist actions".

The letter then goes on to ask for 5 action points for Google to enact on: "heed the request of Palestinian Googlers"; "fund relief for Palestinians affected by military violence"; "recognize the pain"; "protect freedom of speech"; "affirm Google's commitment to human rights"

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib corners President Joe Biden, demands Palestinian support.

US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib confronted President Joe Biden on Tuesday as he arrived in Michigan to visit a Ford factory near her congressional district, The New York Times reported.

Biden and Tlaib were seen shaking hands on a tarmac where she told "the president that he must do more to protect Palestinian lives and human rights", according to an aid who spoke to the paper the condition of anonymity.

The two held an intense eight-minute conversation, after she accused him "taking orders" from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.