Author: ISM Media - Page 410 - International Solidarity Movement

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.

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.