Thursday, July 13, 2017

A 3-year-old Palestinian dies of heart complications in Gaza, becoming the 16th Palestinian from Gaza to die this year of an illness that could have been treated in an Israeli hospital if the PA had delivered a medical referral faster. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights has reported that the PA issued 2,190 medical referrals in 3/2017, which decreased to 1,756 in 4/2017, 1,484 in 5/2017, and 500 in 6/2017. (HA, MNA 7/14)

In the West Bank, IDF troops raid the Hebron offices of al-Quds TV and Ramsat News Agency, seizing equipment and damaging property. They accuse the media outlets of incitement. IDF troops arrest 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid nr. Bethlehem, and patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during late-night raids in Shu‘fat r.c. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian shepherds and farmers working nr. Juhur al-Dik, causing no serious injuries. (TOI, WAFA 7/13; PCHR 7/20)

U.S. rep. Greenblatt announces that the Palestinians and the Israeli govt. have reached a water agreement related to the planned Red Sea–Dead Sea pipeline project. Under the deal, Israel will provide 32–33 m. m3 of water per year to Palestinians in the West Bank at a reduced rate. A desalination plant, planned as a part of the Red Sea–Dead Sea project, will provide the water. Palestinians, Israelis, and Jordanians signed a memorandum of understanding about this project in 2013. Greenblatt refuses to answer any questions about the U.S. efforts to restart peace talks, but he calls the agreement announced today a “harbinger of things to come.” (HA, MNA, NYT, REU, TOI, WAFA 7/13)