16th October 2013 | Friends of Freedom and Justice | Bil’in, Occupied Palestine
Yesterday during the weekly Bi’lin demonstration, an Egyptian photographer was injured after being shot by a tear gas canister in his back, Ismaeil Mohamed Abu Rahma (17-years-old) was shot by three rubber bullets in his back and Mohamed Hamed (21-years-old) suffered from tear gas spray in his eyes. Dozens of citizens of Bil’in and international activists suffered from tear gas inhalation in the weekly march against settlements and the apartheid wall.
The march was organized by the Popular Struggle Committee to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the martyrdom of President Yasser Arafat and in commemoration of the 25 th anniversary of the announcement of the Declaration of Independence.
The demonstration started from the center of the village, where participants lead Friday prayers on the Abu Lemon liberated territory. Many Palestinian national leaders and several delegations from other Arab countries participated in the march as well as people from Bil’in, Israeli and international activists. The participants raised Palestinian flags and pictures of Yasser Arafat and chanted songs calling for national unity, resistance against the occupation and the release of the prisoners from the occupation jails.
Upon the arrival to the gate of the apartheid wall, dozens of Israeli solders were waiting for the protesters. They shot rubber-coated steel bullets, many canisters of tear gas and stun grenades toward the demonstrators, chasing them through the fields up t the outskirts of the village. Clashes broke out and continued nonstop for more than three hours. The Israeli forces also attacked the journalists present, damaging three cars during the demonstration.
The three injured activists from this demonstration are are recovering and the people of Bi’lin will continue their struggle against the occupation.