The Knesset ratified Monday night a legislation that imposes more severe punishment on ‘stone-throwers’, making a three-year imprisonment the minimum punishment for such acts.
Previous amendments to the Penal Code have been passed during the year. In July, an amendment enabled those who throw stones at cars, including police patrol cars, to be convicted and sentenced for up to 20 years without the state having to prove that they were trying to damage cars or harm their occupants.
On Tuesday, a limited number of Israeli settlers continued to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, while under the protection of Israeli security forces, state media reported.
Palestinian News Agency Wafa reported that over 60 girls continued to protest in front of the mosque as they were not permitted to enter.
Wafa and the Jerusalem Post also reported on Tuesday that Israeli forces raided the headquarters of a Fatah-affiliated local radio station in Hebron, enforced a shut down for six months and confiscated equipment.
The Israeli army spokesperson issued a statement claiming that the raided radio station was broadcasting content that incites violence against Israelis and encourages Palestinian stabbings.
The Palestinian Journalists Association and the Ministry of Information condemned the attack, and called upon other international journalists’ associations to take a stance against the “aggression”.
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) documented 450 Israeli violations against Palestinian and international journalists in the Occupied Palestinian Territories throughout the year, with at least 100 of them having occurred during October.
In a press release issued Monday, MADA said 17 Palestinian journalists were killed in 2014 during the violence in Gaza.
The group condemned Israel’s continued use of violence against journalists, saying lack of accountability has encouraged Israel to perpetrate more crimes against journalists.
On Monday, Israeli forces detained 13 Palestinians, including four minors, and summoned three others from various West Bank districts, according to security sources and local anti-settlement activists.
This came a day after thousands of Palestinians attended the funeral procession of five Palestinians who were killed by Israeli forces following alleged stabbing attempts during the past month in Hebron.
Over the past month, violence has been ongoing between Palestinians and Israelis due to anger over access to the holy mosque.
More than 61 Palestinians have been killed since 2 October, according to the Cairo Institute for Human Rights (CIHRS) report. 11 Israelis have been killed in Palestinians attacks so far, Reuters reported.
