There are reports, coming in both on Twitter and via Maan, a Palestinian news outlet, that all communications have been cut in Gaza.

Initial reports suggest that Israeli bulldozers had caused the communications network to go down at the Gaza Strip after cutting the line connecting area of Nahal Oz. International and local telecommunications, internet and mobile telecommunications are reported to be down, as a result cutting off all communication into Gaza.

This is confirmed by reports on twitter #GazaBlackout.

It is yet unknown whether this is intentional or accidental, however it is important ensure media attention is received as all eyes are on the UK riots and last thing we want is the people of Gaza who are under their 1518th day of siege to go unnoticed.

EDIT:

UPDATE: Maan English Report

UPDATE: Further reports on twitter #GazaBlackout suggesting that calls to landlines within Gaza are working, just nothing international.

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2. Viva Palestina Convoy begins entering Gaza
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Stella from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) reports that in the last few days, with a wave of demolitions, Israeli bulldozers have spread destruction and despair in the villages across the West Bank: in Qarawat Bani Hassan near Salfeet, in al-Jiftlik in the Jordan Valley, in Hizma, near Jerusalem, in Khirbet Yarza, east of Tubas, and in the South Hebron Hills. Click here to read more of her report.

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Hours ago, BNP’s Bob Bailey viciously attacked several kids in Barking today. The young lad should not have spat on Bailey. Watch as Bailey continues to beat the defenseless kid even after the kid falls to the ground.

A camera team caught the attack on video – you need to watch it and then share it with everyone you know.

Bailey and his thugs could be running Barking & Dagenham by this weekend.

Source: Hope Not Hate

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The Independent reported earlier today that personal information concerning the private lives of almost 1,000 British Muslim University College London (UCL)  students is to be shared with US intelligence agencies in the wake of the Detroit bomb scare.

The police initially approached the UCL Islamic Society on 4 January 2010 for a list of names of their members between 2005 and 2008. Following legal advice, the society declined to give the information. The police then approached the student union with a personal data request. The union provided names and email addresses of members of the UCL Islamic Society and Royal Free and UCL Medical Islamic Society between September 2005 and June 2009. The police then approached the university for telephone numbers and home addresses. These were passed on by the UCL Registry.

The Student Union has absolutely no right to betray its own students. Student Unions have a primary role in representing and supporting student interests. It is as though the rights and privacy of Muslim students bear no importance.

As a Muslim the reason I joined the Islamic Society at my University was completely for social reasons, to meet people who enjoyed the same things I enjoyed, it’s the same reason one joins any society at University. This is simply heavy handed intelligence gathering by the police. I have no doubts that as an ex-president of an Islamic Society I am on some sort of list, this new information that has come to light only lessens my doubt.

I am glad that the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) has taken an active stance on this issue, and will be keeping a close eye on the forthcoming events.

I am shocked that UCL’s Student Union succumbed to Police pressure at the expense of the privacy of the very students they are meant to represent. As much as the government claim that Muslims are not being targeted, I refuse to believe it.

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There is no doubt that you have all read or heard by now about about the decision to expel an Israeli diplomat over the assassination of a Hamas member in Dubai by Mossad agents. David Miliband said earlier today that there was “compelling evidence” that Israel was responsible for misuse of British passports as part of a plot to kill the aforementioned Hamas member.

I cannot be alone in thinking that this response was weak. In 1987 Israel promised to stop the practise of forging UK documents after eight British blank passports, reckoned to be for Mossad agents, were left in a phone booth in West Germany [1].  This then leaves one wondering how much of this decision is a ploy just to win votes from the pro-Palestinian group of voters. No doubt this faux outrage by Britain is simply a necessity more than anything else.

The correct response should include the search and arrest of those responsible and demands made to hand those responsible over for trial. No compliance? Go further – sanctions!

No doubt, the replacement for this expelled diplomat will be on the way if he/she is not already. In conclusion, Israel gets off lightly, and escapes another crime. Does this really come as a surprise? I think not. It will be interesting to see how the other countries who had their passports forged respond in the coming days/weeks.

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Rachel Corrie (1979 - 2003)

On Sunday March 16, 2003 in Rafah, occupied Gaza, 23 year old peace activist Rachel Corrie from Olympia, Washington, USA was crushed to death by a US made (Caterpillar D9R) Israeli bulldozer while protesting non violently. She was trying to prevent the demolition of the home of a Palestinian family (a pharmacist, accountant, their wives, and five young children). As a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Rachel was in Gaza opposing the bulldozing of Palestinian homes by the Israeli army.

Her words as a child are shown in the video below:

The video above is an excerpt from the award winning documentary Occupation 101, which if you have not yet seen, I highly recommend you do.

The video below is Rachel’s last interview conducted by Middle East Broadcasting Company on March 14th, 2003, two days before she was murdered by the Israeli Defense Forces:

It is now 7 years since the death of Rachel, and there is yet a thorough investigation to be done of the death of Rachel Corrie. The family of Rache are bringing a civil lawsuit against the Israeli defence ministry for Rachel’s killing. The Haifa District Court began hearing eyewitness testimonies today, the 10th of March 2010. The court heard the testimonies of two ISM witnesses today. The case continues.

Israel has granted visas to four key witnesses, three Britons and an American. These fellow members of ISM were at the scene in Rafah when Corrie was killed and will give evidence, according the family lawyer, Hussein Abu Hussein.

“As we approach the seven-year anniversary of Rachel’s killing, my family and I are still searching for justice. The brutal death of my daughter should never have happened. We believe the Israeli army must be held accountable for her unlawful killing,” said Rachel’s mother, Cindy Corrie who will be attending the trial today.  “We hope this trial will also illustrate the need for accountability for thousands of lives lost, or indelibly injured, by the Israeli occupation and bring attention to the assault on nonviolent human rights defenders – Palestinian, Israeli, and international,” stated Ms. Corrie.

I recommend a read through the sites listed at the bottom of this article if you wish to learn about the great woman that was Rachel Corrie. Rachel was a brave, courageous and heroic woman,  an inspiration to us all. A woman who sacrificed her life defending the Israeli destruction of a Palestinian home, defending a palestinian family. She will not be forgotten. May her soul rest in peace.

Sites related to Rachel Corrie:

• http://rachelcorriefoundation.org – The Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice was established by members of Rachel’s family and community to continue the kind of work that she began and hoped to accomplish
• http://rachelswords.org
• http://www.rachelcorrie.org
• http://rachel-corrie.com

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Settler armed with an M-16 attacking a young boy

Jerusalem – Ma’an – Israeli police detained an Israeli settler and confiscated his weapon after he attacked a member of the Al-Ghawi family in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem on Sunday evening.

Maysoon Al-Ghawi told Ma’an: “Children were playing in the area when a settler came, showed off his weapon, and tried to shoot people who intervene – including police. He was detained and police confiscated his weapon.”

The incident came two days after hundreds of Israelis protested in Sheikh Jarrah against what they have termed settler attempts to ethnically cleanse the neighborhood of its Palestinian inhabitants.

The settler first threw rocks at the tent the Gawi family has stayed in since being evicted, provoking angry shouts from the family. When the settler descended to the street, he physically attacked a neighbourhood boy, shaking and pushing him. Other adults stepped in and the settler began pushing and eventually punched Nasser Gawi. Numerous blows were exchanged before the settler began wildly waving his M-16 rifle, he then cocked the gun and pointed it at neighbourhood residents and internationals who were present.

The video below shows Nasser threatening the residents with the M-16 rifle. You can hear the gun being cocked.

Sources: 1 2

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We spent the day in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem today. 28 Palestinian refugee families are at the threat of being evicted from their homes to become refugees again. Four families have already been evicted and thrown out on the streets of Sheikh Jarrah by Settlers with the support of the Israeli government – Police and Military involved.

The story of these internally displaced refugees is heartbreaking. Listen to Nasir as he shares with us the background of what is happening in Sheikh Jarrah. Note: Nasir only started learning English 17 months ago, and is a fluent Hebrew speaker as well. A man with many talents he is a graphics designer by profession, but has now made staying outside his own house in a tent his full-time duty. He shares his story with all the visitors, and even attempts to converse with his Occupiers.

The videos are below:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

This set of videos was brought to my attention by the brilliant Palestine Video blog.

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Here is a video of protestor Grace McCann who explains her attempt at performing a citizen’s arrest on Tony Blair. Many hold Tony Blair responsible for an illegal war on Iraq. A war which has left hundreds of thousands of people dead. A war started on the apparent threat that Iraq posed with its weapons of non existence mass destruction.

Anyway, a video of Grace below courtesy of Sky News.

Read the full article on stopwar here.

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As I’m sure you’ve all heard by now, a huge earthquake has hit Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale. This was followed by numerous aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude.

Thousands are feared dead, however international aid efforts are under way. You can help by donating to the following charities:

Oxfam:
https://www.oxfam.org.uk/donate/haiti-earthquake/index.php

Islamic Relief:
http://www.islamic-relief.com/Emergencies-And-Appeals/emBackground.aspx?emID=66

British Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.org.uk/donatesection.asp?id=102168

Unicef:
https://www.unicef.org.uk/common/wp_donate/donform.asp?appealid=940DEDA4-3C5C-47C1-A939-4F2720C56FCF

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti.

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