Author: ISM Media - Page 406 - International Solidarity Movement

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.

No peace without justice; protesters return to Ofer for the fourth day in a row

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

Hundreds of protestors again returned to Ofer prison today despite heavy repression. This week’s protests are in solidarity with Palestinian hunger strikers and political prisoners including Samer Issawi who has now refused food for over 210 days. The protest began with prayers in front of the prison, as soon as they were finished the Israeli army began firing huge quantities of teargas and rubber coated steel bullets directly at those who had gathered.

Yesterdays demonstration, 21th February 2013, was the biggest of the week, around 1000 protesters marched towards the prison to be met by approximately 100 Israeli soldiers and border police. During the protest teargas canisters, rubber coated steel bullets and live ammunition were shot directly at protesters.

The Israeli army and Border Police used indiscriminate weaponry; they fired grenades which fire out multiple rounds of rubber coated steel bullets in all directions. These and other weapons were responsible for numerous injuries; two people were hit with rubber coated steel bullets on the head, and one narrowly missed hitting an activist’s eye. Four others were also hospitalised as a result of rubber coated steel bullets injuries, two of them were medical relief staff.

The Israeli army broke their own laws by firing teargas canisters directly at people. Two protesters were hit by these canisters, one of them hit a female activist in the head, causing her to need stitches. Whilst running away, a young male was shot in the lower leg with live ammunition, he collapsed and was taken away by the ambulance’s crew. Sources at the hospital confirmed his situation to be stable. Many other demonstrators suffered from minor injuries and tear gas inhalation.

Despite heavy repression the mood of the protestors is defiant, today protests have spread to every major city across the West Bank.

Al-Manatir three, have been released

14 February 2013| International Solidarity Movement, Burin, Occupied Palestine

Waheeb, Ashraf and Diaa were released on the 14^th of February 2013 after spending 12 days in an Israeli prison following the al-Manatir protest village in Burin.

During the al-Manatir action, the 3 Palestinian activists were detained by the Israeli military and then arrested by the border police. The 3 of them were pepper sprayed and Waheeb was severely beaten and kicked by the Israeli military as shown in the video evidence below:

The reason for arrest given was that they participated in an illegitimate protest as well as allegedly throwing stones. 2 of the 3 men, Waheeb Qadoos and Ashraf Abu Rahma, were also potentially facing an extra charge of assaulting the soldiers. The trials for the 3 were delayed twice and they were finally released, having their charges dropped after their lawyer adel Samara submitted video footage of the proving that it was the settlers and soldiers who attacked the demonstrators. A welcome party was held in the village of Burin, where residents, Palestinian and International activists welcomed the released detainees.

Al-Manatir protest village was established by Palestinian activists, with the support of International activists, in a hilltop located in the northern village of Burin, which has been inaccessible for residents of Burin for the past few years due to the surrounding illegal settlements of: Adei Ad, Bracha, Yitzhar, and Mitzpe which encircle the Palestinian village.

The protest village was simultaneously being dismantled by the Israeli military and border police at the same time it was being established. There was an excessive use of tear gas canisters and stun grenades fired upon the residents and activists, causing many to vacate the area. Illegal Settlers from the nearby Bracha and Yitzhar settlements showed up at the scene and proceeded to steal the metal huts from the protest village and attacked Palestinian houses injuring 17 year old Zackariah Yasir Nijar, on the outskirts of Burin.

Clashes between Palestinian youth and the Israeli military and border police continued until sunset, ending when the Israeli forces retreated from the village.

Help us work towards justice in Palestine

Please donate for our work to continue through out 2013!

The International Solidarity Movement is stepping into its thirteenth year of solidarity with the Palestinian people. What started as a few activists participating in actions against the Israeli occupation has developed into a movement of constant growth and change.

Despite our growth and change, our deep commitment to justice and freedom has remained constant. We remain dedicated to supporting Palestinians in popular resistance and acting as witnesses to the occupation and other crimes. This has all been made possible by the financial support of thousands of individuals like yourself.

Throughout the Gaza Strip, international activists have accompanied farmers at their request in the “kill zone” near the Israeli separation barrier. Israeli troops have fired tear gas and continue to use live ammunition against farmers accompanied by internationals. They frequently injure and kill farmers, workers, or children who go to school in areas near the fence. International activists have also accompanied fishermen being attacked in Palestinian territorial waters off the Gaza Strip. They have been some of the few to witness and produce regular reports on those abducted, injured and killed, as well as the destruction and confiscation of boats and fishing equipment.

Throughout 2012 we have continued to stand with Palestinians in the West Bank against unremitting settlement expansion and settler attacks. We have been invited by Palestinian communities to provide a constant international presence in areas at high risk of attack by the Israeli military and settlers, such as the home of the al-Daraghmah family on the road to the settlement of Ma’ale Levona in Khan al-Lubban, or in villages such as Burin and Asira al Qibliya near to the settlements of Itamar, Yizhar and Bracha as well as Susiya next to the settlement of the same name. We took part in the olive harvest and accompanied farmers to their fields for the 11th year in a row, working in high-risk areas where farmers are often attacked or refused the right to enter their lands. Our activists continue their presence in the firing zone 918 in the South Hebron Hills where eight villages are in eminent danger of demolition. We continue to take part each Friday in popular demonstrations organized by Palestinian communities against the theft of their lands and water resources in the villages of Bil’in, Kufr Qaddum, Nabi Saleh, and Nil’in.

In 2013, we are facing new challenges in our struggle against the isolation and displacement of the Palestinian people. We hope to expand our work in Gaza as well as continue expanding in the West Bank.

For our work to continue, we need your help. Please go to our web page and make a donation. Your contribution will go a long way in making sure all this can happen. Any amount is greatly appreciated.

In addition, please consider joining the ISM in 2013. Thank you.