Thirty children arrested in Hebron on their way to school

20th March 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Hebron, Occupied Palestine

By Team Khalil

Schoolchild being dragged by Israeli military
Schoolchild being dragged by Israeli military

Around 30 young boys aged betweeen 7 and 15 years were arrested between 7 and 8 am this morning, the 20th of  March, on their way to the Al-Khalil and the Al-Ibrahimi school in Hebron. Various witnesses reported the soldiers entered the school and arrested all boys that were present at the time. More children were arrested on the street. Soldiers claimed that they were looking for children who had thrown stones.

Inhabitants of the area surrounding the school reported that Israeli soldiers forced their way into a private appartment, moved the family to one room and took pictures of the children passing by on the street. Other soldiers hid in buildings near the school, making traps for the children. The arrested boys were violently dragged behind by the soldiers and beaten and kicked, as shown in video footage from human rights organisation B’Tselem below.

Most of the children were released to the Palestinian Authority around four hours later, but there are reports that some may still be detained by Israeli military, along with protesters who were arrested for walking down Shuhada Street wearing Obama masks, as Obama arrived into Israel today.

This continues a worrying trend of disregard for the rights of children by the Israeli authorities in Hebron.

Video by B’Tselem

UPDATE – VIDEO – Army arrest two children, one adult during Hebron clashes

15th March 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Hebron, Occupied Palestine

by Team Khalil

Clashes in Hebron continued on Friday 15th March, following the death of 25 year old Mahmoud Adel Tete in the nearby Al Fawar refugee camp three days previously. At around 3pm, one adult male and two boys were detained by soldiers in the Palestinian controlled H1 area, and were forced into the small terminal comprising Checkpoint 56.

The boys are aged around 9 and 11. They were held inside the sealed cabin with several soldiers for half an hour, with observers being denied access, despite repeated attempts made to ensure that the detainees were not being mistreated. All three had their hands zip-tied and the adult was blindfolded.

One of the detained children being taken to the army jeep.
One of the detained children being taken to the army jeep.

The detainees were eventually removed from the checkpoint into a waiting army jeep. Soldiers stated that they would be taken to the police station. This brings the total number of Hebron citizens arrested in the last three days to eleven, none of whom have yet been released.

During the demonstration today, Israeli forces shot large amounts of teargas and rubber bullets at crowds of Palestinians protesting at the killing of Mahmoud Adel Tete, making repeated invasions into Palestinian controlled H1 area – which under the Oslo accords the Israeli army are not permitted to enter. They also invaded homes to use for further attacks on the resisting Palestinians. Several were wounded, including an international activist shot with a plastic coated steel bullet.

Student shot and many others injured during night raid in Al Fawwar camp , Hebron

12th March 2013 International Solidarity Movement, Hebron , Occupied Palestine

By Team Khalil

One student is dead and three others were shot during an Israeli army night raid in the al-Fawwar camp south of Hebron on Tuesday. 5 others were also injured .25 year old university student, Mahmoud Adel Tete, was shot with live ammunition alongside his teenage brother and two other men last night at 9pm .

Funeral of  Mahmoud Adel Al-Tete
Funeral of Mahmoud Adel Al-Tete

Four army vehicles entered the refugee camp attempting to find a suspect they claimed had thrown a molotov cocktail at a settler car. However, they were swamped with stones as soon as they arrived from the Palestianian refugees furious about the sudden invasion of their camp. One of the vehicles was immediately descended on by people trying to destroy the army vehicle. The soldiers panicked, opening fire on the Palestianian refugees, shooting blindly into the crowd with live ammunition.

Within minutes there was fatal casualty, Mahmoud an active supporter of the prison hunger strikers, was shot in the head with an illegal “dum dum” bullet by a Israeli soldier, the shot killed him instantly. His brother, 15 year old Feres, was shot in the hand including Mahmoud Shadfan who was shot in the stomach and Rami Al Karanz who was shot in the leg, all with live ammunition. Several people were injured with rubber coated bullets, and purposely driven over by army vehicles attempting to disperse the crowd.

The al-Fawwar Camp has been firmly situated in South Hebron for sixty years, established in 1951, the camps many residents are villagers from now occupied lands from the 1948 armistice line. The camp is home to around 8,500 people who receive minimal assistance from outside organizations and are also subject to the road block at Beit Hagay which restricts their movements in the West Bank.

The funeral for Mahmoud Adel Al-Tete was held today and attended by an estimated 8,ooo people at 12:30PM in the al-Fawwar Camp. Following the death of Mahmoud and the injuries sustained by the Palestinians involved in last nights raid, clashes erupted in Hebron city and in the al-Fawwar camp, continuing well into the night.

Blood on the streets of Al Fawwar camp
Blood on the streets of Al Fawwar camp

Racist attacks are daily reality in Hebron, even for children

10th March 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Hebron, Occupied Palestine

by Team Khalil

Today a group of young settlers assault three Palestinian boys, Sharef (15), Ibrahim (14) and Walid Hamad (12), at the entrance of their home.

The Abu Aesheh family lives in a house surrounded by settlements and an army base. In addition to the harassment from their neighbours they also suffer various restrictions on transportion, building and with curfews among many others. All of these control tactics and random hate crimes are used with the purpose of forcing them to leave a home which they have lived in for 50 years, all so the settlers, with the help of the army, can occupy their home and their land.

The attack occurred in Tel Rumeida, Hebron. For many years the Hebron area has suffered from army harassment and settler violence, forcing some families to place iron bars around their windows and balconies in fear of attacks.

Non Violent Demonstration in South Hebron ends with violent military response

10th March 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Hebron, Occupied Palestine

By Team Khalil

On Friday afternoon near the illegal Beit Hagai settlement, a non violent demonstration over the closing of the vital road between Al Fawar Camp and Al Hareaq (South of Hebron) ended with military violence.

Soldiers fire tear gas at demonstrators
Soldiers fire tear gas at demonstrators

Within minutes of the demonstration beginning, the military responded by firing tear gas indiscriminately into the crowd. After retreating to a safer distance the crowd attempted to walk back to the road block, with one of the protesters calling out “We don’t want to fight, we come in peace,” which was ignored as the soldiers ushered in a skunk water truck, which showered the demonstrators and nearby Palestinian land.

Re-opening the road block has been a continuous struggle over the last 12 years (amongst the many struggles Palestinians are facing during the occupation), it serves as a symbol of the constant harassment and military control over how the Palestinian people move through their land.

Demonstrators attempt to shield themselves behind wooden board
Demonstrators attempt to shield themselves behind wooden board