by Kate, Mondoweiss
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Gaza industrial sector hit hard as 134 factories destroyed
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 6 Aug — At least 134 factories were destroyed during Israel’s four-week military offensive in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian industrial union said Wednesday, causing severe damage to an already fragile industrial sector. The union of Palestinian industries said that most factories stopped operations for over 30 days, with reported losses of at least $70 million. Over 30,000 workers were made redundant due to the closures. “The Israeli war machine deliberately destroyed the infrastructure of the Palestinian national economy by targeting factories which posed no security threat to the occupation,” the union said. The industrial sector had already suffered major damage during previous Israeli military offenses in Gaza in 2012 and 2008. The ongoing Israeli blockade has also severely limited the productivity of the industrial sector since it was imposed eight years ago, forcing factories to close or fire workers to remain in operation. “Israel shouldn’t be rewarded for this aggression, and so Israeli products should be boycotted both locally and internationally,” the union added.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=718526
Israel has caused ‘$5 billion’ damage to Gaza homes, infrastructure
BETHLEHEM (Ma‘an) 4 Aug — Israel’s offensive on Gaza has caused over $5 billion of damage to homes and infrastructure in the Strip, the Minister of Public Works said Monday. Minister Mufeed al-Hasayneh, a resident of Gaza, told Ma‘an that the amount of money is likely to increase as the assault continues. Some 10,000 homes have been completely destroyed, and 30,000 homes partially destroyed, al-Hasayneh said. “The three areas that have undergone the most intense destruction are Shuja‘iyya, Beit Hanoun, and Abasan,” the minister said. “Ministry crews were astonished when they arrived to Shuja‘iyya, where some 110,000 people live. Sixty percent of the homes were completely destroyed, especially those in the eastern part of the neighborhood.” The minister said it would take $5 billion to rebuild structures alone, “not including possessions, like furniture and cars.” “The offensive destroyed buildings belonging to Gaza governorates, in addition to police stations and national security buildings,” al-Hasayneh said. The diesel containers belonging to Gaza’s power plant have been destroyed as well, he said. Al-Hasayneh says the “containers will cost $25 million, and there are ten power lines that supply Gaza with power and have been cut off” as well. He added that 70 percent water wells had been completely destroyed, “in addition to waste water lines.” According to UN figures, up to 485,000 people — a quarter of Gaza’s population — has been forced to leave their homes throughout the assault on the Strip. Many of them will return to find their homes destroyed or damaged.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=718079
Official: Israel to allow Gaza rebuilding in exchange for disarmament
BETHLEHEM (Ma‘an) 5 Aug — Israel is willing to agree to the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip in exchange for the disarmament of militant groups there, an official said Tuesday. Ofer Gendelman told Ma‘an that the Israeli government linked the rebuilding of Gaza with disarming factions in the coastal enclave. Gendelman said that Israel was interested in achieving a lasting ceasefire, but he insisted that it was dependent on Hamas’ respect of the current 72-hour truce. The Israeli assault in Gaza has caused severe damage to the infrastructure in Gaza. Over 10,000 houses, government buildings, universities, mosques, and schools were damaged in a month-long assault.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=718492
West Bank / Jerusalem
Israel restricts Aqsa mosque entry for Jewish holiday
JERUSALEM (Ma‘an) 6 Aug – Israel was temporally dividing the al-Aqsa Mosque compound between Muslims and Jews this week, as Israeli police officers deployed in the compound Tuesday for the third consecutive day denying Muslim worshipers entry at gunpoint. Witnesses told Ma‘an that Israeli police officers rounded up Muslim worshipers at gunpoint and forced them to go to the yards around the Dome of the Rock. They highlighted that only elderly people aged over 50 were present in the compound. They were all forcibly moved from the main yard near al-Aqsa Mosque and the Marawani mosque and gathered around the Dome of the Rock. Heated arguments and fistfights took place between worshipers and Israeli officers. The restrictions appeared to be in preparation for the Tisha B’Av holiday, when Jews mark the destruction of two historic Temples, believed to have been located on the site of what is now the Al-Aqsa compound. On the main gates leading to the compound, witnesses said Tuesday that Israeli police officers deployed heavily denying all women and men under 50 entry to the compound. Employees of the Palestinian ministry of endowment were also denied entry except security guards. Witnesses said Israeli officers fired tear gas canisters at women crowded outside the King Faysal gate trying to argue with officers to be allowed to enter the compound.
Meanwhile, more than 170 right-wing Jews including the Israeli minister of housing Uri Ariel entered the compound through the Moroccan gate escorted by Israeli police officers. They toured the compound and performed religious rites before they left.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=718331
