The wave of university camps in solidarity with Palestine arrives in Catalonia (English/Catalan)

from thefreeonline on 7th May ’24 by La Directa..

The rally convened on Monday afternoon at the Raval campus of the University of Barcelona , followed by the occupation and Solidarity Camp, represents another step in university, national and international pressure to demand the severing of academic, political and business relations with the State of Israel

Camps at universities in solidarity with Palestine arrive this Monday in Catalonia. Students, teachers and administrative staff of Catalan universities are called for a rally at the Raval campus of the University of Barcelona, which s served as the starting point of “a mobilization process” for all public Catalan universities.

Although, for the time being, it has been decided that the camping at the UB will work as a unit, the organization does not rule out similar actions in other faculties in the country in the coming days.

At the same time as the camp, the organizers of the mobilization – the Student Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Universities with Palestine and the University Network for Palestine – have also prepared activities until Wednesday, as part of the “Days against genocide”, which they include talks, concerts and assemblies where the next steps will be decided.

The camping at the UB is, for now, a unitary action of the Catalan universities, although the organization does not rule out similar actions in other faculties of the country

For this Wednesday, an extraordinary cloister of the UB has been convened, in which it is expected to discuss, and perhaps approve, a motion in support of the Palestinian people and for the “breaking of institutional and academic relations with universities, research centers, companies and other Israeli institutions”, as well as with the requirement to do the same on the part of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the government of the Spanish State.

The text, presented by Universitats per Palestina and Grup Palestina UB, has already been approved by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and it is expected that the Autonomous University of Barcelona will also do so during the month of May.

In the case of the UB, they point to the agreements that this university has with companies such as Abengoa, Carrefour, Siemens, AXA or HP.

The convenors demand that Catalan public universities “condemn the massacre and break relations with the Zionist State and the other entities that do business there”

These agreements are part of what support groups for the population of Palestine consider “a face wash and endorsement by the universities towards the State of Israel”.

For this reason, they demand that the Catalan public universities “stand with the Palestinian people, condemn the massacre and break relations with the Zionist State and the other entities that do business there”.

Global and expanding university pressure

The camps in support of the population in Palestine, which began in the United States, have already spread around the world to denounce both the complicity of the universities themselves with the State of Israel and the role of the governments in the genocide, including the supply of weapons

In many cases, the response of the different rectors has been to allow the police to enter the campuses to violently evict the people encamped.

In the United States, it is estimated that more than 1,300 people have been arrested. In addition, in some places, such as Columbia University, demonstrators have suffered attacks from pro-Israeli groups.

Since October, the Israeli bombings have been indiscriminate. They have destroyed thousands of homes and infrastructure, including all the universities

This same university has already announced the suspension as students and the ban on entering the academic premises of many of the participants in the protests.

In the case of Spain, the first camp was at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Valencia, where dozens of members of the educational community have been there for a week.

These camps have managed to keep the media focus on what is happening in Gaza, where more than 34,000 people have been killed in half a year.

Since the Hamas attack last October, the Israeli bombings have been indiscriminate. They have destroyed thousands of homes and infrastructure, including hospitals and all universities.

Boycott Divestments and Sanctions State of Israel Gaza pacifism Palestine Solidarity University Network For Palestine

L’onada d’acampades universitàries en solidaritat amb Palestina arriba a Catalunya

La concentració convocada aquest dilluns a la tarda al campus del Raval de la Universitat de Barcelona suposa un pas més en la pressió universitària, del país i internacional, per exigir tallar les relacions acadèmiques, polítiques i empresarials amb l’Estat d’Israel Acampada a la Universitat de València en solidaritat amb el poble palestí, iniciada a finals d’abril | Lucas Guerra

Nacho Ibáñez geoconflictos

PUBLICAT: maig 6, 2024

Les acampades a les universitats en solidaritat amb Palestina arriben aquest dilluns a Catalunya. Estudiants, docents i personal administratiu de les universitats catalanes criden a una concentració avui a la tarda al campus del Raval de la Universitat de Barcelona, que ha de servir com a punt de partida “d’un procés de mobilització” al conjunt de les universitats públiques catalanes.

Tot i que, de moment, s’ha decidit que l’acampada a la UB funcioni de forma unitària, des de l’organització no descarten accions similars en altres facultats del país en els pròxims dies.

Alhora que l’acampada, les convocants de la mobilització —el Comitè Estudiantil en Solidaritat amb el Poble Palestí, Universitats amb Palestina i la Xarxa Universitària per Palestina— també han preparat activitats fins dimecres, dins de les “Jornades contra el genocidi”, que inclouen xerrades, concerts i assemblees en què es decidiran els següents passos.

L’acampada a la UB és, per ara, una acció unitària de les universitats catalanes, tot i que l’organització no descarta accions similars en altres facultats del país

Per aquest dimecres, hi ha convocat un claustre extraordinari de la UB, en què s’espera discutir, i potser aprovar, una moció en suport al poble palestí i pel “trencament de relacions institucionals i acadèmiques amb universitats, centres de recerca, empreses i altres institucions israelianes”, així com amb l’exigència de fer el mateix per part de la Generalitat de Catalunya i el govern de l’Estat espanyol.

El text, presentat per Universitats per Palestina i el Grup Palestina UB, ja ha estat aprovat en el claustre de la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, i s’espera que també ho faci la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona durant aquest mes de maig.

En el cas de la UB, assenyalen els convenis que aquesta universitat té amb empreses com Abengoa, Carrefour, Siemens, AXA o HP.

Les convocants exigeixen a les universitats públiques catalanes que “condemnin la massacre i trenquin relacions amb l’Estat sionista i la resta d’entitats que hi fan negoci”

Aquests acords formen part del que els grups de suport a la població de Palestina consideren “una rentada de cara i aval per part de les universitats cap a l’Estat d’Israel”.

Per això, exigeixen a les universitats públiques catalanes que “es posicionin al costat del poble palestí, condemnin la massacre i trenquin relacions amb l’Estat sionista i la resta d’entitats que hi fan negoci”.

Pressió universitària global i en expansió

Les acampades en suport de la població a Palestina iniciades als Estats Units, s’han estès ja arreu del món per denunciar tant la complicitat de les mateixes universitats amb l’Estat d’Israel com el paper dels governs en el genocidi, inclòs el subministrament d’armes.

En molts casos, la resposta dels diferents rectorats ha estat la de permetre l’entrada de la policia als campus per a desallotjar amb violència les persones acampades. Als Estats Units es calcula que han estat detingudes més de 1.300 persones. A més, en alguns llocs, com la Universitat de Colúmbia, les manifestants han patit atacas de grups proisraelians.

Des del mes d’octubre, els bombardejos israelians han estat indiscriminats. Han destruït milers d’habitatges i infraestructures, incloses totes les universitats

Aquesta mateixa universitat ja ha anunciat la suspensió com a estudiants i la prohibició d’entrar als recintes acadèmics a moltes de les participants en les protestes.

En el cas de l’Estat espanyol, la primera acampada ha estat a la a la Facultat de Filosofia de la Universitat de València, on desenes de membres de la comunitat educativa hi són des de fa una setmana.

Aquestes acampades han aconseguit que no desaparegui del focus mediàtic el que està succeint a Gaza, on han estat assassinades més de 34.000 persones en mig any. Des de l’atac de Hamas el passat mes d’octubre, els bombardejos israelians han estat indiscriminats. Han destruït milers d’habitatges i infraestructures, inclosos els hospitals i totes les universitats.

Boicot Desinversions i Sancions Estat d’Israel Gaza pacificisme Palestina Solidaritat Xarxa Universitària Per Palestina

Israel launches great Rafah massacre-rejects Ceasefire and seizes key Gaza border crossing

from thefreeonline On 7 May 2024 by Aljazeera News

Fierce bombing and Closure of crossing begins Rafah Massacre on 1,4 million refugees despite Hamas accepting Ceasefire deal...

Where do we go? Thousands flee as Israeli genocide spreads to Rafah

Israeli forces have seized control of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing, cutting off a vital route for humanitarian aid and potential sanctuary for civilians from a building offensive-…

The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it had seized “operational control” of the Gaza side of the border post, which links the besieged enclave with Egypt. The closure of the crucial passage and positioning of tanks in the centre of Rafah is seen as a demonstration of Israel’s determination to press on with an assault on the southern city despite ongoing truce talks.

Photos: Belgian and Dutch students join Gaza protest wave

Palestinians ‘trapped and attacked’ as Israeli forces seize Rafah crossing

The 401st Brigade entered the Rafah crossing early on Tuesday, the Israeli military said, closing a route vital for the aid entering Gaza and any civilians able to flee the fighting to Egypt.

Palestinians inspect the area after an Israeli strike on a residential building in Rafah, Gaza, on May 7. Ismael Abu Dayyah/AP

The military claimed that the crossing was “being used for terrorist purposes”, alleging that Hamas’s mortar attack on Sunday on the Karem Abu Salem crossing, known as Kerem Shalom to Israelis, which remains closed, was launched from the vicinity. However, it has not so far provided evidence.

سلسلة غارات عنيفة من الاحتلال الإسرائيلي على رفح#حرب_غزة pic.twitter.com/bMADYKRZcV
— الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) May 7, 2024

Tweet translation: A series of violent raids on Rafah by the Israeli occupation.

The operation came amid an overnight assault on eastern parts of the city. Warplanes pounded residential homes, killing at least 12 people.

Israel’s military said in a statement it had struck numerous Hamas targets in eastern Rafah, killing about 20 fighters.

A spokesman for the Palestinian Crossings Authority acknowledged to The Associated Press news agency that Israeli forces had seized the crossing and closed it for the time being.

‘Chaos’ in central Gaza as Palestinians fleeing Rafah seek shelter

Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah, Gaza

It is not only people on the eastern side of Rafah that are evacuating … a lot of people from different areas [of Rafah] that were not designated as red are also evacuating to the middle area and Khan Younis.

It’s packed. People are not even finding a place to set up a tent. They are setting up their tents near the beach, very close to the coastline, on agricultural land.

Two hospitals are also evacuating their patients to the central area. The situation is chaos. All the streets are filled with cars and people putting all their stuff on their cars.

You can see mats and pillows on every car that is coming from the south. Palestinians do not know what they’re going to do, where they’re going to settle, and they’re 100 percent sure that Deir el-Balah is also not safe.

There’s no guarantee that evacuating from Rafah will keep them safe from the Israeli air strikes and shelling and artillery.

“It’s been a very difficult night,” reported Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud from Rafah. “It’s been very violent, very bloody and full of destruction.”

The assault comes despite Hamas having said on Monday that it had agreed with the terms of a truce deal hammered out by mediators.

However, pressed by hardline nationalist coalition partners who have demanded a full offensive on Rafah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears set to press on regardless.

INTERACTIVE-GAZA-INCURSION MAP-MAY7-2024-1715066795

Trapped

Tareq Abu Azzoum reported from Rafah that the Israeli military carried out an incursion on the eastern side of Rafah, during which there was a heavy exchange of fire with Hamas fighters amid an intense bombing campaign, with the main objective of seizing control of the crossing.

The Israeli control of the border post “is devastating because … Palestinians will no longer be able to leave the territory”, he said.

Despite urgent warnings from its closest allies that an offensive on the city risks huge numbers of civilian casualties, Israel insists that its plans will allow it to clear Rafah and press on to attack the Hamas command and fighters there.

“The Rafah offensive has started again, in spite of all the requests of the international community, the US, the European Union member states, everybody asking Netanyahu not to attack,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, told journalists on Tuesday. “I am afraid that this is going to cause again a lot of casualties, civilian casualties. Whatever they say,” he said, adding, “there are no safe zones in Gaza.”

Israeli forces whipped up panic on Monday as they ordered 1.4 million or so Palestinians in Rafah – most of whom are displaced following previous instructions from the Israeli military – to evacuate.

The Israeli army reiterated on Tuesday that it has “encouraged” displaced people and international humanitarian organisations operating in eastern Rafah to “temporarily evacuate”.

However, people sheltering in Rafah, amid poor conditions with little shelter, food, or medicine, have few places to go.

The closure of the border crossing only threatens to worsen those shortages and trap more people close to the fighting.

Sources from three humanitarian relief agencies told the Reuters news agency that aid shipments had been halted due to the closure of the crossing.

Al Mayadeen Live Stream

The latest Israeli operation sees them being pushed towards al-Mawasi on the coast, where the military says it has set up field hospitals, tents, and medical supplies.

“The Israeli military is … strategically cutting off the Gaza Strip and sealing it off from the region,” suggested Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud.

*******

Houthi Heroes continue blocking Israeli, US and British ships for Gaza support

An Iranian court sentences a Kurdish language teacher to 11 years

from thefreeonline on 7th May 2024 by Hengaw, and .KurdisCat

Iran’s Islamic judiciary has sentenced a Kurdish language teacher and civil activist to 11 years in prison, a human rights monitor reported Sunday.

The trial of Soma Pourmohammadi on the charge of “forming anti-security groups” began on Wednesday in a Sanandaj branch of the revolutionary court.

Three days later, on April 20, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be served in a prison in Kermanshah, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.

She was also given a one-year suspended prison sentence by a criminal court in Sanandaj for “disturbing national security”. Pourmohammadi is a Kurdish language teacher and member of the Nojin Cultural Association, an organization that offers courses in Kurdish language and literature.

She was arrested in January 2022 while investigating her husband’s arrest in a court in Sanandaj and was released on bail after 27 days.

The co-founder of the Nojin Cultural Association, Zara Mohammadi, was arrested in 2019.

She was teaching Kurdish to hundreds of children in and around Sanandaj. Mohammadi was charged with “establishing a committee and group against the stability and security of the system” and was sentenced to five years in prison in February 2021.

She began serving her first sentence in January 2022 and she was released in February 2023 for unknown reasons.

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Comment tags: Iran

Detention

Hengaw Expresses Concern Over Potential Execution of Reza Rasai 02 May 2024

22:15. Kurdish Singer Arrested by Iranian Security Forces 01 May 2024 16:20. Member of Kurdistan teachers association detained in Iran 30 April 2024 22:56. Thirteenth Day Passes of Kurdish Political Prisoner Keyvan Rashu Zadeh’s Hunger Strike: Condition Reported as …

Hanging – Hengaw Organization for Human Rights

Children… Hengaw’s report on a teenage girl, a victim of mandatory “Hijab” in Tehran

Mahmoud Mehrabi gets DEATH SENTENCE for Instagram posts

https://hengaw.net/en/news/2024/05/article-24

Iranian Court Sentences Political Prisoner Mahmoud Mehrabi to Death

Hengaw:Monday, May 6, 2024

Mahmoud Mehrabi, a political detainee held at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, has been condemned to death by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Babak Farsani, one of Mehrabi’s defense attorneys, relayed this update on his verified account, noting that while the court refrained from officially posting the verdict on the Judiciary’s dedicated website, “Sana,” it was verbally communicated to Mehrabi’s legal team at the issuing branch.

Based on the indictment prompted by complaints from 77 plaintiffs, Mahmoud Mehrabi stands accused of “engaging in widespread dissemination of falsehoods on his Instagram page, propagating against the regime, enticing military and police forces to dereliction of duty, inciting violence and homicide, as well as insulting the founder and leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, among other charges.”

https://hengaw.net/en/news/2024/05/article-24

Execution of Death Sentence for Four Kurdish Political Prisoners

Hengaw: Monday, January 29, 2024 https://hengaw.net/en/news/archive/64151

The death sentences of four Kurdish political prisoners, Mohsen Mazloum, Mohammad Faramarzi, Vafa Azarbar, and Pejman Fatehi, have been carried out in Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj.

Their case, marred by ambiguity, saw a lack of access to legal representation throughout their 18-month detention.

According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on the early morning of Monday, January 29, 2024, the execution of the death sentences took place for Pejman Fatehi (28 years old, from Kamyaran), Mohsen Mazloum (27 years old, from Mahabad), Vafa Azarbar (26 years old, from Bukan), and Mohammad (Hajir) Faramarzi (28 years old, from Dehgolan) in Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj.

The Mizan website, the official platform of the Iranian judiciary, has verified the executions of these four political prisoners.

After 18 months of detention, these four political prisoners had their initial and last meeting with their families at Evin prison on Sunday, January 28, 2024. Subsequently, they were transferred from Tehran’s Evin prison to Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar prison for the execution of the death sentence, amidst stringent security measures.

Hengaw Organization for Human Rights vehemently condemns the execution of these four Kurdish political prisoners, emphasizing that even by the standards of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the minimum requirements for a fair trial were not met in their case.

The proceedings of the case were shrouded in complete secrecy, as the death sentences were both issued and confirmed by the Supreme Court. Throughout the process, the prisoners were deprived of their fundamental rights to legal representation, visits, and even communication with their families.

Executions conducted without adherence to these essential principles not only display inhumanity but also stand in direct contradiction to international laws and human rights agreements to which Iran is a signatory.

These four political prisoners were condemned to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, led by Judge Iman Afshari, on September 18, 2023.

The charges included “corruption on earth” through cooperation and espionage for Israel. Recently, Branch 9 of the Supreme Court of Iran, headed by Judge Qasim Mazinani, silently confirmed the death sentences. Additionally, each of these individuals received 10 years of imprisonment for “forming a gang” and 5 years for being a member of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan.

Members of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, these individuals were apprehended on July 23, 2023, in the village of “Yengajah” within the Sumay-ye Beradust district of Urmia by the security agencies of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In August 2023, government media released a report alleging that these four Kurdish political prisoners, affiliated with the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, were arrested under charges of being “armed while attempting to explode Isfahan’s industrial facilities.”

Responding to these claims, the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan issued an official statement categorically dismissing the assertions made by the Islamic Republic of Iran government as baseless. The party emphasized that such allegations were part of a fabricated scenario aimed at suppressing more people and protesters.

It is crucial to note that during their detention, these four political prisoners faced severe torture, leading them to confess against themselves on camera. Subsequently, these coerced confessions were publicized through the media channels of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

********

original of 1st article in Catalan..

Un tribunal iranià condemna una professora de llengua kurda a 11 anys

a dilluns, d’abril 22, 2024 https://kurdiscat.blogspot.com/2024/04/un-tribunal-irania-condemna-un.html

El poder judicial islàmic iranià ha condemna una professora de llengua kurda i activista civil a 11 anys de presó, va informar diumenge un monitor de drets humans.

çEl judici de Soma Pourmohammadi per l’acusació de “formar grups contra la seguretat” va començar dimecres en una sucursal de Sanandaj del tribunal revolucionari.

Tres dies després, el 20 d’abril va ser condemnada a 10 anys de presó per ser complerta a una presó de Kermanshah, segons l’Organització Hengaw pels Drets Humans.

També va ser condemnada a un any de presó suspesa per un tribunal penal de Sanandaj per “pertorbar la seguretat nacional”. Pourmohammadi és professora de llengua kurda i membre de l’Associació Cultural Nojin, una organització que ofereix cursos de llengua i literatura kurda.

Va ser detinguda el gener de 2022 mentre investigava sobre el seu marit detingut en un jutjat de Sanandaj i va ser posada en llibertat sota fiança després de 27 dies.

La cofundadora de l’Associació Cultural Nojin, Zara Mohammadi, va ser arrestada el 2019. Estava ensenyant kurd a centenars de nens a Sanandaj i als voltants. Mohammadi va ser acusada d'”establir un comitè i un grup contrari a l’estabilitat i la seguretat del sistema” i la van condemnar a cinc anys de presó el febrer de 2021. Va començar a complir la seva condemna el gener de 2022 i va ser alliberada el febrer de 2023 per motius desconeguts.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iran/21042024

Israeli war cabinet continue Rafah genocide attack after Hamas agrees to Ceasefire Deal

49m ago.. 9:23 GMT)

As thousands of Palestinians celebrated the ceasefire deal in the streets Israel renewed bombing of Rafah where 1.4 million are trapped

Gaza latest: Hamas accepts ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar – but Israel says ‘Targeted strikes’ ongoing in Rafah, – despite Hamas accepting Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal…‘

Ofir Gendelman, the Arabic language spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, says on X that the proposal Hamas agreed to for a ceasefire in Gaza is “far from Israel’s necessary demands,” but that a delegation will be sent nonetheless.

“The war cabinet unanimously decided that Israel would continue the operation in Rafah in order to exert military pressure on Hamas,” Gendelman added “with the aim of pushing forward the release of our kidnapped and achieving the goals of the war”.

Palestinians try to dig a body out of the rubble of a destroyed house hit by an Israeli strike during a 12-hour cease-fire in Gaza City’s Shijaiyah neighborhood, Saturday, July 26, 2014. Gaza residents used a 12-hour humanitarian cease-fire on Saturday to stock up on supplies and survey the devastation from nearly three weeks of fighting, as they braced for a resumption of Israel’s war on Hamas amid stalled efforts to secure a longer truce. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

After evacuation order, Israeli army announces strikes on Rafah

The Israeli military says it is currently conducting targeted strikes against targets belonging to Hamas in the eastern part of the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Palestinians evacuate the wounded after an Israeli bombardment of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip,

The army, in a brief statement, said that more details would follow.

Live updates: Hamas says it accepts Qatari and Egyptian Ceasefire deal

Leaders of Egypt, Jordan and France warn Israel of ‘dangerous consequences’ of Rafah offensive | Arab News

Cambridge, Oxford, Barcelona protest Occupations 6th may 2024

‘The country will burn’: Families of Israeli captives demand a deal

Several families of Israeli captives held in Gaza have blocked the major Begin Road in Tel Aviv to demand that authorities agree to a deal to bring back their loved ones.

Families of Israeli captives arrive in Jerusalem, rally at PM’s office …

In a televised interview with Channel 12 that is being widely shared online, the mother of captive Matan Zangauker directly addressed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say he needs to be a “leader” and reach an agreement.

32m ago

(19:55 GMT)

Bombardment and air strikes on eastern Rafah

Tareq Abu Azzoum

Reporting from Rafah, southern Gaza

As Palestinians were celebrating the Hamas announcement [on agreeing to a ceasefire proposal], there was ongoing bombardment and air strikes on the eastern part of Rafah.

More attacks have been carried out on neighbourhoods that have been designated as warzones as we’ve been observing flares being fired in the sky over the eastern areas of Rafah.

This is where Palestinians have been told to flee [from] in order to guarantee their own safety.

We have been receiving reports of injuries from different hospitals in Rafah district.

Despite what is happening on the ground, Palestinians are still closely following all the diplomatic efforts being made regarding the truce and waiting for the Israeli response.

“.

news.sky.com

48m ago 21:58

Israeli attack on Rafah threatens to lead to ‘new massacre’

An Israeli attack on Rafah threatens to lead to a “new massacre”, Jordan’s King Abdullah II has warned during a meeting with Joe Biden at the White House today.

The Jordanian leader’s comments follow the announcement from Israel tonight that it is conducting targeted strikes in eastern Rafah.

After Hamas released a statement saying it had agreed to an Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal, Palestinians erupted in cheers in the sprawling tent camps around Rafah, hoping the deal meant an Israeli attack had been averted.

Israel’s closest allies, including the US, have repeatedly said that Israel should not attack Rafah.

The looming operation has raised global alarm over the fate of the Palestinians sheltering there.