Palestine

22 March 2022; MEMO: The Gaza Strip's underground water supply is facing a massive crisis from rising salinity levels and pollution, Anadolu has reported. The problem has arisen largely from overuse.

"There is a continuous, high rate fall in the underground water level in most areas of the Gaza Strip," Mazen Al-Banna from the Water and Environmental Quality Authority told reporters ahead of World Water Day. The day is marked on 22 March and is an opportunity to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater sources.

22 March 2022; MEMO: The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Monday for the international community to implement the law and dismantle Israel's apartheid regime, Al-Sabeel newspaper has reported.

22 March 2022; MEMO: Dozens of international organisations, human rights networks, academics and researchers from forty-five countries have called on the UN and the West to sanction Israel for its occupation of Palestine and its apartheid regime, Wafa news agency has reported.

21 March 2022; MEMO: A ceremony was organised in the Gaza Strip on Monday to commemorate South Africa's anti-apartheid icon and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu, Anadolu News Agency reports..

Organised by the Council of International Relations, a Gaza-based NGO, the ceremony was attended by a host of Palestinian and South African figures, including South Africa's Ambassador, Shaun Edward Byneveldt.

RAMALLAH, Mar 21 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammed Ishtaye, yesterday said, Israeli measures, including settlement expansion, undermine any chances of establishing a Palestinian state.

The reality on the ground is gradually deteriorating, and the two-state solution will not be achieved through negotiations, “because the Israeli government doesn’t want to,” said Ishtaye, during a meeting with Singaporean Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, according to an official statement.

21 March 2022; MEMO: All Palestinian people and factions are ready to defend the Negev and its resident, Quds Press reported a senior Islamic Jihad leader saying yesterday.

"Palestinian factions formed a support committee for the Palestinians in the lands occupied in 1948, mainly the residents of the Negev who have been subject to Israeli crimes and ethnic cleansing," Ahmed Al Modallal said.

21 March 2022; MEMO: Israeli occupation authorities yesterday released the Palestinian Authority's Governor of Jerusalem, Adnan Ghaith, on bail.

Ghaith had been in detention for 24 hours and was released on a bail of 10,000 shekels ($3,300), Arab48 reported.

Ghaith was banned by the Israeli occupation from travelling abroad via Allenby (King Hussein) Bridge between the occupation state and Jordan.

21 March 2022; MEMO: Israeli occupation forces yesterday raided the Irahimi Mosque in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron and climbed onto its roof, the Wafa news agency reported.

Speaking to the news site, mosque Director, Ghassan Al-Rajabi, said: "Suddenly, the Israeli occupation forces raided the Ibrahimi Mosque, went upstairs and prevented Palestinian worshippers from entering it."

19 March 2022; MEMO:The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Friday has condemned the Israeli crackdown on peaceful anti-settlement demonstrations, as well as the abuse of unarmed civilians taking part, Anadolu Agency reported.

In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, the PA announced: "The Israeli crackdown on the peaceful protests is a clear attempt to break the will of the Palestinian people in order to oblige them to surrender to settlement as a fait accompli."

18 March 2022; MEMO: Israeli occupation forces yesterday closed the Old City of Hebron and attacked Palestinian citizens with stun grenades, the Palestinian Information Centre reported.

Local sources said occupation forces stormed the municipality plaza, sealed off the Old City and forced storekeepers to close their businesses. They fired stun grenades to force Palestinians out of the area.