Palestine Summer Encounter 2008

[P F Tinmore]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--T8HzgSpqE&feature=related]Palestine Summer Encounter 2008 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[JStone]

Summer in Hamastan

http://asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=2&id=22115

Hamas police proceeded to close a water park in Gaza due to the presence of "degrading and unethical gender mixing" according to the justification reported in the news. Subsequent information about this incident revealed that the citizens who were removed from the water park, following the Hamas decisions, had just sat down to break their fast [during the holy month of Ramadan], and those evicted from this water park included a charity organization that looked after orphans.

 

[P F Tinmore]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Bans on women smoking water pipes in public and male coiffeurs styling women's hair are no longer being strictly enforced in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, apparent signs of greater tolerance as the Islamic militant group acknowledges mistakes in seeking to impose a religious lifestyle.

In explaining the change, several senior members said Hamas has matured in five years in power and learned lessons from the Arab Spring. Islamic groups that have scored election victories in the wake of pro-democracy uprisings in the region now find themselves trying to allay fears they seek Islamic rule.

In recent months, there's been a change in atmosphere, say rights activists and even political rivals of Hamas.

"Things are freer than before," said Nasser Radwan, whose family restaurant is one of the places where women again come to smoke water pipes.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said "some mistakes were made" under Hamas rule, though he blamed individual security commanders and overzealous activists, not the government, for heavy-handed tactics.

"They don't represent the ideology and policy of the Hamas movement," Barhoum said. "Our policy is that we are not going to dictate anything to anyone."

Hamas in Gaza says it's learning from Arab Spring - Yahoo! News

 

[JStone]

Summer in Hamastan: More Honor Killings

A 27-year-old mother of five was bludgeoned to death with an iron chain by her father last week in Gaza in what human rights groups report was an honor killing.

According to police in Gaza, the father, Jawdat al-Najar, heard his daughter Fadia, who had divorced in 2005, speaking on the phone with a man. He believed she was having a relationship with him. Police say al-Najar became enraged and beat her to death; her body was brought to a hospital where officials said she died of a skull fracture

The woman was beaten to death in the northern Gaza neighborhood of Jebalya on Thursday night. The father called police and confessed to the murder.

According to investigators for the Gaza-based Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, the father and his three sons were taken into police custody. They said the killing "was carried out on grounds related to 'preserving' the honor of the family."

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights, another Gaza-based organization, said hospital forensic reports show the woman's body showed signs of torture and that she suffered a skull fracture from being hit by an iron chain.
Rights groups decry Gaza 'honor killing' - CNN

 

[P F Tinmore]

Over two years old. Must be a big problem.

And besides they were arrested.

 

[JStone]

Summer in Hamastan

Gaza's Elected Islamist Rulers Crack Down on Secular Community
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...t-rulers-crack-down-on-secular-community.html

After nearly four years of Hamas rule, the Gaza Strip's small secular community is in tatters, decimated by the militant group's campaign to impose its strict version of Islam in the coastal territory.

Hamas has bullied men and women to dress modestly, tried to keep the sexes from mingling in public and sparked a flight of secular university students and educated professionals. Most recently, it has confiscated novels it deems offensive to Islam from a bookshop and banned Gaza's handful of male hairdressers from styling women's hair.

Gaza, a tiny sliver of land squeezed between Egypt and Israel, always had a significant Islamic flavour, but once tolerated bars and cinemas, especially during Egyptian rule from 1948 to 1967. A conservative religious movement began to take hold in the 1980s, as part of a larger, region-wide religious awakening.

The trend toward religious fundamentalism preceded the Hamas takeover. In recent years, hardliners have burned down the cinemas. Their charred remains are still visible in Gaza City. Militants blew up the last bar in 2005.

Gaza women, whose attire once varied from Western pants and skirts to colourful traditional embroidered robes, began donning ankle-length loose robes. Women with face veils, once rarely seen in Gaza, are now a common sight.

Today, plainclothes officers sometimes halt couples in the streets, demanding to see marriage licenses. Last year, the Interior Ministry banned women from smoking water pipes in public. Islamic faith does not ban women from smoking, but it is considered taboo in Gaza society.

"In the end, the people who think differently are leaving," said Rami, a 32-year-old activist in one of Gaza's few secular groups. He refused to give his last name, fearing retribution

 

[P F Tinmore]

Old news. Much was pre Hamas.

 

[JStone]

Summer in Hamastan

PA Stops Cancer Patients From Being Treated In Israel
Palestinian Center for Human Rights

The Ministry of Health in Ramallah issued a decision decreasing transfers of patients to Israeli hospitals starting from 02 November 2011, and the Department of External Treatment in Gaza has been committed to this decision. The decision is attributed, according to sources of the Ministry, to the high costs of treatment in Israeli hospitals. These sources pointed out that this decision had been studied and discussed in the Ministry of Health for years, but it was delayed due the need of some patients, especially those suffering from serious or incurable diseases in need of treatment in advanced health facilities, and because Israeli hospitals are closer to the Gaza Strip than Egypt and Jordan.

This decision has led to stopping dozens of transfers of patients who suffer from serious diseases, 90% of them cancer patients, whose treatment is not available in the Gaza Strip. It has also endangered the lives of dozens of patients who are in critical conditions and whose transfer to Egyptian hospitals is not possible due to the long distance. Furthermore, not all medical treatment for their diseases is available in hospitals in Jerusalem or the West Bank. Two children died as they urgently needed advanced medical treatment, but the Ministry of Health transferred them to hospitals that cannot treat their diseases. Those hospitals apologized for not admitting them, and the Ministry of Health did not transfer them to Israeli Hospitals."

 

[P F Tinmore]

PA Stops Cancer Patients, blah, blah, blah...

The PA is the enemy of Hamas and the people.

Its existence depends on US money and weapons.

 

[JStone]

Summer in Hamastan

There are an estimated 20 honour killings committed in the West Bank and Gaza each year, although the measurement of such crimes is incredibly difficult.

Some feminist activists believe that these figures represent only a small number of the honour based crimes carried out against women

The alleged “justifications” for honour killings vary, but include rape, sexual assault and even incest – all of which are seen to bring shame on the young woman and her family, and for which the woman bears the blame. In effect this constitutes a double assault.

Honour-based killing in Palestine -is changing the law enough? | Women's Views on News

 

[P F Tinmore]

Harriet Sherwood profiles the horrific honour killing of 20 year old university student Aya Baradiya, who was murdered by her uncle in April 2010.

Why is it that her name is the only one ever mentioned?

 

[JStone]

Summer in Hamastan

Palestine Press Agency: Hamas arrested and beat a group of women holding a protest at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in central Gaza City on Saturday.

The women were celebrating the 46th anniversary of Fatah's first terror attack.

"Witnesses said that members of Hamas attacked the women with batons, tore up their flags and took the women to a detention center, shouting curses and insults."
http://www.palpress.co.uk/arabic/

 

[P F Tinmore]

Summer in Hamastan

Palestine Press Agency: Hamas arrested and beat a group of women holding a protest at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in central Gaza City on Saturday.

The women were celebrating the 46th anniversary of Fatah's first terror attack.

"Witnesses said that members of Hamas attacked the women with batons, tore up their flags and took the women to a detention center, shouting curses and insults."
-

English link?

 

[JStone]

Summer in Hamastan

Hamas tries to detain woman walking with man | World news | The Guardian

 

[P F Tinmore]

Summer in Hamastan

Hamas tries to detain woman walking with man | World news | The Guardian

Over two years old.

Got anything new?

 

[JStone]

Summer in Hamastan




Palestine Press Agency: Hamas beat and arrested children in Gaza for raising a Fatah banner last night.

Today Hamas arrested of a minor child Mohammed Abu Harbeed (13 years old) and other children, and tortured and beat them with batons and blindfolded them in the cold, for raising the banners of the Fatah movement.

A Fatah spokesman said that 'these practices are incompatible with the principles of national and moral traditions and customs, and with human rights and international covenants and instruments, which provide for the protection of the rights of children, as well as inconsistent with the teachings of our religion."

http://www.palpress.ps/arabic/index.php?maa=ReadStory&ChannelID=81021