Year: 2013 - Page 86 - International Solidarity Movement

Night raids in Haris sees 3 innocent youngsters arrested

24 February 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Haris, Occupied Palestine

At approximately 1:00 AM on Sunday morning, the 17^th February 2013 as part of a wider raid on the village of Haris, near the Palestinian town of Salfit and the illegal Israeli settlement of Ariel, 3 Palestinian youth Nur Atar Fareed Sultan, aged 13, Rabia Samia Sala Sultan aged 15 and 18 year old Morad were illegally detained by the Israeli military. This village raid coming weeks after two home demolitions and numerous orders have been issued for more planned destruction of houses.

Israeli soldiers burst into the home of 13 year old student Nur Atar Fareed Sultan, breaking the door and pushing past his grandfather, who was pleading for them to “mindful that there were children and women not fully-clothed in the house”. The 75 year-old fell to the ground, briefly unconscious. Initially the officer on the scene was after 12 year old Yazan, who was terrified of the balaclava-wearing troops; though, the officer changed his mind upon seeing Nur. Nur was grabbed and pushed hard before being handcuffed, blindfolded and then marched outside without any shoes, leaving behind his screaming siblings. His mother and uncle were roughly handled as the soldiers proceeded to chaotically search their home.
Nur’s family pleaded to know why he was being taken, but received no answer. They requested for him to be properly dressed; however this appeal was met with a violent response from the soldiers. Nur was initially taken to Ariel Police Station, before being transferred to Huwwara military base. It was alleged that Nur was throwing stones; the soldiers intimidated the child into accepting a caution, even though no evidence was given for his detention. His family was made to wait for him through all this out in the rain.

The grandfather normally uses a cane to walk

Nur was fortunately released later on due to his age, but his 20 year old brother, Fareed Atar Fareed remains captive, along with 17 year old Hindi Ead Abdul Aheem another 20 year old, Masjd Atar Fareed Sultan, these 3 were detained in a raid that happened a fortnight before.

15 year old Rabia Samia Sala Sultan who was apprehended the same night as Nur – was also freed, whilst less information is presently known about Rabia’s 18 year old brother, Morad. As of now he currently awaits release.

Haris is very close to two illegal, Israeli settlements. To the east, Revava and to the north, the settlement of Ariel, the fourth largest of Isarel’s settlements, which are gradually annexing the West Bank;
creating what are often referred to as “facts on the ground”, standing in the way of Palestinians being able to retain future sovereignty over vast areas of their own land. This is in direct violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, a view upheld by the UN’s Security Council, General Assembly, International Court of Justice, European Union, International Commitee of the Red Cross, Amnesty International, B’Tselem and Human Rights Watch.

Israeli settlers and army raid Yasouf: One person arrested, several cars vandalized

20 February 2013| International Solidarity Movement, Yasouf, Occupied Palestine
ISM Nablus

At approximately 3:00 AM in the morning on Tuesday, the 19th of February 2013, 3 armed settlers from the illegal settlement of Kfar Tappuah raided the Palestinian village of Yasouf. Not only did the settlers vandalize several cars by slashing the tires, they also sprayed graffiti on several walls in the village, which included the main council building. The graffiti which was written in Hebrew, roughly translated to: “Paying the Price for Terrorism of Stones”. The slogan aforementioned is a reference to the settlers’ “Price Tag Campaign” which, since its inception has violently targeted several Palestinian villages.

Graffiti in village of Yasouf, reading ‘Price tag; stone terror’, 18 February 2013 (Photo via: Abed Al-Karim a-Saadi/B’Tselem) — Graffiti in village of Yasouf, reading ‘Price tag; stone terror’, 19 February 2013 (Photo via: Abed Al-Karim a-Saadi/B’Tselem)

The mayor of Yasouf commented on the graffiti asserting that “For the Israeli, guns are like flowers but stones are the weapons of terrorists.” The villagers believe that this particular raid is retaliation for them farming their own land near the Israeli checkpoint of Zat’tara.

Not only did the Israeli military continue to watch the situation from the outskirts of the village without intervening to stop the vandalism, this raid was accompanied by the Israeli military itself. They began searching multiple houses, which ended with the arrest of 1 Palestinian. The man detained was 21 year old, Thaer Neem Obeid. He was later taken to the Israeli military prison at Huwarra and was still being held captive beyond the day of his arrest.

This is not the first time the Palestinians of Yasouf have been subjected to settler harassment, especially in the last few months. December 2012 saw the settlers uprooting a number of the village’s olive trees. For the story, read more here.

“We are not terrorists, we are only resisting the occupation”

Nine on hunger strike in solidarity with prisoners

22 February 2013| International Solidarity Movement, Hebron, Occupied Palestine

Nine Palestinians from Hebron, mostly family members of hunger-striking prisoners, are continuing their hunger strike to express support for, and raise awareness of, the plight of Palestinian political prisoners.
They began their strike last Saturday, and gained much media attention thanks to their presence in a solidarity tent in Hebron in the midst of Monday’s demonstration in support of prisoners. The mother of one of the hunger-striking prisoners, who suffers from diabetes, was taken to hospital on Wednesday after losing consciousness as clashes erupted around them during another demonstration in Hebron. She has been falling in and out of consciousness since. The other hunger strikers continue their strike in the hospital where they go to stay throughout the visiting hours. They refuse any food and are only drinking water. However, one female hunger striker, teacher Nahil Abu Aisha from Hebron, has been forced to interrupt her strike due to a flue.

When asked why the group decided to go on hunger strike, Nahil explained that they want to show solidarity with the prisoners and take part in their resistance struggle. “And of course we’re hoping for a soon release of the prisoners”. She added that they aim to provoke a reaction from the media and draw attention to the unjust treatment of the Palestinian prisoners, as well as the suffering caused by the illegal Israeli occupation at large. “The whole world needs to know what’s going on here”. She emphasized that she and her fellow hunger strikers were ordinary people, mothers, brothers and sympathizers of prisoners, who simply felt compelled to stand up in solidarity against injustice. “We are not terrorists, we are only resisting the occupation”.

Violent confrontations during open Shuhada Street demonstrations

22 February 2013| International Solidarity Movement, Hebron, Occupied Palestine

Today was the 4th annual Open Shuhada Street demonstration where activists and organizations from all over the world join in solidarity with the Palestinian residents of Hebron/Al Khalil , to demand the opening of Shuhada Street to Palestinians and an end to the Israeli occupation.

Shuhada Street used to be the principal street for Palestinians residents, and their businesses. It was also a very active market place in the Palestinian city of Hebron/Al Khalil. Today, because Shuhada Street runs through the Jewish settlements of Hebron, the street has been closed to Palestinian movement and looks like a virtual ghost street which only Israelis and tourists are allowed to access. Hate graffiti has been sprayed across the closed Palestinian shops and Palestinians living on the street have to enter and exit their houses through their back doors or, even sometimes by climbing over neighbor’s roofs.

The demonstrators gathered after Friday prayers where around 1000 people marched through the streets towards the entrance of Shuhada Street . We came across a fence which was once also an entrance to Shuhada Street. Several people scaled it and hung Palestinian flags from it. Another young man tried to open it with wire clippers.

Demonstrator tries to open fence blocking access to Shuhada street

When demonstrators stood in front Bab Baldier gate which blocks Shuhada street the Israeli army sprayed the crowd with skunk water before throwing stun grenades into the crowd. Dozens were taken away in ambulances after being hit by rubber coated steel bullets or for treatment for excessive teargas inhalation. One journalist was hit in the leg with rubber coated steel bullets. The clashes continued into the evening when an Israeli Soldier threw a stun grenade directly at three international activists.

The fence blocking the way to Shuhada street is scaled

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhWvw5RdQZY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Protests spread to every city for hunger striking prisoners

22 February 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Occupied West Bank, Palestine

Palestinians demanding the release of all political prisoners and especially hunger-striking prisoners confront the Israeli army through out the West Bank and east Jerusalem on Friday.

The Huwwara checkpoint near Nablus saw around 300 people protesting, in solidarity with the hunger strikers. There were many tear gas related injuries, rubber coated steel bullets were fired and at least one activist was hospitalised as confrontations continued into the evening. Similarly violent episodes were also reported in Tulkarm, Jenin, Bethlehem and of course Ofer which has seen protests almost everyday this week.

Following Friday prayers worshipers at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem confronted Israeli Occupation Forces. Israeli forces then stormed the area surrounding the mosque and used undercover police to make arrests.

Statistics from Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association show that as of 1 January 2013, there were 4,743 Palestinians political prisoners being held in Israeli jails. Addameer claim, as of the 22nd February, the length of time the following prisoners have been on hunger strike is:

Samer Issawi – 206 days

Ayman Sharawana – over 200 days

Jafar Azzidine – 87 days

Tarek Qa’adan – 87 days

The four men are struggling not only for themselves but for the freedom of all Palestinians who are living under occupation. Issawi wrote …

“My battle is not only for individual freedom. The battle waged by me and by my heroic colleagues, Tariq, Ayman and Ja’affar, is everyone’s battle, the battle of the Palestinian people against the occupation and its prisons. Our goal is to be free and sovereign in our liberated state and in our blessed Jerusalem”

Elsewhere there were also weekly protests in Kufr Qaddoum, Nabi Salah, Bilin, Nilin, Jayyous as well as the annual Open Shuhada Street protest in Hebron.