Israeli Knesset passed, on Wednesday, in its first reading, a bill to deprive Palestinian prisoners from 1948 territories of national insurance benefits, upon their release from Israeli jails, amidst increased violations in the month of January.“We can’t imagine the Israeli government to release those prisoners and allocate cash allowances for them; this farce must end,’ the Likud member and bill drafter told Israel Seventh Channel.
This bill comes ahead of an Israeli cabinet vote on the release of the fourth batch of prisoners, which Israel agreed to free in a goodwill gesture, due in late March, according to Al Ray.
Arab MK and Meretz party member Freij Isawisaid that the Knesset has long been mulling over how to tighten the grip over Arab citizens of Israel, as the Jewish members always compete to propose bills to detract from their rights.
In related politics, a government report marked a significant increase in the Israeli occupation’s violations during January, with eight Palestinians killed and dozens injured.
The report, released by Ministry of Planning in Gaza, explained that six citizens died and 41 sustained injuries in separate shootings and bombings incidents, during January, while two Palestinians passed and dozens were injured in tear gas attacks.
Those detained during the month numbered 400; two of them were from the Gaza Strip, it added.
The Israeli occupation’s gunboats monitoring the Gaza fishing zone carried out 14 attacks on Palestinian fishermen across the sea.
Wednesday, at dawn, Israeli gunboats opened fire towards Palestinian fishing boats off Gaza coast.
The gunboats fired the beach in Gaza city with a shell; no injuries or damage were reported.
Israel has controlled Gaza waters since the 1967 occupation, and has kept several warships stationed off the coast since 2008.
Regarding the violations committed against journalists during their coverage of West Bank protests, the report stated that two journalists were detained, increasing the number of journalists held in the occupation prisons to 14.
