International Solidarity Movement Nonviolence. Justice. Freedom.
22 March 2024 | International Solidarity Movement | Qalandia checkpoint
Women performing mid-day prayers outside Qalandia checkpoint. @ISM
Palestinians perform Friday mid-day prayer outside of Qalandia checkpoint this morning while held at gunpoint by Israeli occupation soldiers, after being forcefully denied their right to enter Al-Quds to pray at Al-Aqsa.
People trying to enter were again met with an intensified militarisation of Qalandia checkpoint of heavily armed occupation border police, some of them masked, and vehicles.
Israeli occupation forces at the checkpoint. @ISM
While the Occupation Force officially has announced that men above 55 years, women above 50 years and children below 10 years from the West Bank are allowed to enter, today numerous people in the applicable age group were denied entry by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) claiming that “too many” had entered.
Close to 12 noon, IOF completely shut the checkpoint entrance.
In resistance, and under surveillance and held at gun point by IOF border police, denied women gathered in front of the closed gate to perform the midday Friday prayer, joined by a group of men.
One of the women stated: “We will pray here, what else can we do? Allah will understand that this is the closest we can get to Al-Aqsa”.
She had come from Al-Khalil with a permission to enter, but was denied entry at two attempts, and so was her 66 year old father; IOF told both that “too many” had entered.
Another 60-year old man who had been denied was told that now he had to apply online a week prior.
As the women were praying, a masked IOF border police officer shouted to disturb the prayers, while another masked officer made dance moves towards the prayers. During the IOFs surveillance of people trying to enter, a border police officer was observed removing the safe on their gun.
A large amount of Palestinian medics were present wearing fluorescent vest saying: “Don’t shoot me, I’m not a target. I am a health care provider”.
Medics at the checkpoint. @ISM
IOF dancing and disturbing prayers. @ISM
IOF closing Qalandia checkpoint. @ISM
IOF soldier removing safe from gun. @ISM
