Category: Hebron

Israeli military conducts illegal operations in Tel Rumeida, Hebron

by Wyatt Black

31 December 2012 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

The Israeli occupation forces have shown a large amount of aggression recently in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood of Al Khalil (Hebron). Three Palestinian homes near the ancient Jewish cemetery were entered and searched on the 30 December. Another apartment rented by internationals had soldiers attempting to forcibly enter that same night, the armies’ alleged reason was to get onto the roof.

Today (31 December) Israeli army personnel entered deep into the H1 Palestinian-controlled area of the neighborhood at 4 pm and apprehended a person at a shop who was using a knife for his work. They detained him for more than an hour, during that time he was kept blindfolded.

The Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron of 1997 cites that “Israel will continue to carry the responsibility for overall security of Israelis” and that “both sides reiterate their commitment to maintain normal life throughout the City of Hebron and to prevent any provocation or friction that may affect the normal life in the city.” In the above described case there is no doubt the Israeli military overstepped their bounds. There was no security threat to any Israeli, therefore apprehending anyone or entering any place was a clear violation of the Oslo III agreement.

When activists arrived at the scene there was no explanation given by the Israeli army for why they handcuffed the Palestinian worker and put him into a police car. The army commander demanded instead that the international asking questions hand over his passport. When the international refused and asked for a police officer, the commander insisted upon having it, even though he has no right to obtain such identification.

In addition threats have been made by soldiers to internationals living in Tel Rumeida. Sound bombs have been used at night in the H1 area around Palestinian homes as well and there have been unconfirmed reports of beatings inflicted to Palestinians by the army.

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Israeli soldiers in H1 and H2 area in Hebron

 

Wyatt Black is a volunteer with International Solidarity Movement (name has been changed)

 

Homes searched during Israeli incursion in H1 Hebron

by Team Khalil

16 December 2012 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

One Palestinian was arrested and many were harassed by Israeli soldiers on Sunday evening between 6pm and 7:30 pm during an incursion into the Palestinian Authority controlled area of Hebron.

Israeli occupation forces entered the Tel Rumeida area in H1. Homes and shops were searched, and a Palestinian teenager was restrained in handcuffs and blindfolded. The targeting of this person did  not appear to be based on any evidence. The soldiers illegal actions were an aggressive response to an incident in which a Palestinian allegedly threw a glass bottle at a watchtower.

During the excursion families, ranging from infants to elderly men and women, were made to stand on the street, vehicles were stopped and searched by the soldiers, and businessmen were made to come out of their places of work for interrogation.

The soldiers tried to raid one apartment that is rented by internationals despite possessing no legal documents authorizing a search. The civilians filmed as much of the harassment as possible in the dark and were repeatedly instructed to move 30, then 40 metres away.

When activists questioned the soldiers on their right to be in the area they were ordered to leave, threatened with arrest, and were only given the reasons: “because I said so” and “you are interfering with an investigation”. The military investigation was conducted without respect to the Hebron agreement, which states “Both sides reiterated their commitment to maintain normal life throughout the city of Hebron and to prevent any provocation or friction that may affect the normal life in the city.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocol_Concerning_the_Redeployment_in_Hebron).

The Hebron agreement governs the power given to soldiers in the city. Palestinians in the neighbourhood cite excursions such as this one, as well as the constant restrictions on Palestinian movement in the city, as causes for increasing conflict.

Teenager critically injured in Hebron clashes

by Team Khalil

13 December 2012 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

Nasser Sharabati (16) was shot three times by live ammunition on Thursday night during clashes in Hebron. He in Hebron’s hospital and in a critical condition. Around 90 people were injured and had to receive hospital treatment. It is evident that Israeli army snipers were firing to cause maximum injury.

On another day of clashes between the Israeli army  and Palestinian youth, Nasser Sharabati was shot in the chest, side and arm with three rounds of live ammunition. The clashes in the city began in the Bab Al-Zawiya area of the city centre around half past one in the afternoon. The Israeli military fired large amounts of tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets into this shopping area causing great distress to many people, the vast majority of whom were not involved in the clashes. Shops and businesses had to hurriedly close as the whole area was disrupted.

Palestinian police in the streets of Hebron

At around half past two the Palestinian police drove inbetween the Israeli military and the Palestinian youth. They got out of their vehicles and a uniformed officer backed up by police in riot gear tried to talk the crowd out of confronting the heavily armed soldiers. Only the previous evening however Mohammad Zaid Awwad Salayme had been murdered in Hebron by the Israeli military. The passionate and indignant Palestinian youth were intent on defending their city from yet another incursion into the Palestinian-controlled H1 area of the city by the Israeli army and the attempt was unsuccessful. The Palestinian police withdrew and the clashes resumed with increased intensity. Massive amounts of tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets were now fired by the soldiers.

In a worrying new development snipers taking up prone positions on the Palestinian streets were deployed by the Israeli military. It was clear that these snipers were firing to cause maximum injury, to maim and even kill the Palestinian teenagers and children that confronted them. Undaunted the Palestinian youth defended their territory and the stuggle continued for several hours into the evening. Sometime between 8 pm and 9 pm Nasser Sharabati was struck by three live rounds, was critically injured and taken to hospital. Reports suggest up to 10 people were injured by live ammunition during the day. Nasser Sharabati was operated on and the hospital issued a call for blood donations on the local radio to which many people responded. Around 90 people suffered injury or problems from tear gas inhilation and had to recieve hospital treatment. Nasser Sharabati remains in a critical condition at the hospital in Hebron.

It is clear that the Israeli army has decided that increased and lethal force against teenagers and children defending their streets is an acceptable way to enforce their illegal occupation of Palestine.

Passionate and indignant Palestinian youth intent on defending their city from yet another incursion into the Palestinian-controlled H1 area
Israeli soldiers taking up prone positions on the streets in Hebron

 

Team Khalil is a group of volunteers of International Solidarity Movement based in Hebron (al Khalil)

Settlers attack children in Hebron

by Team Khalil

13 December 2012 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

After school on the 13th of December in Al Khalil (Hebron) two children were attacked by a group of settlers. Younes Azzeh, age nine, and his sister Raghad Azzeh, age fourteen, were attacked by three male settlers that are speculated to be between seventeen and nineteen years old. Younes was kicked in the shins, thighs and generally roughed up as Raghad was accosted by a hurled stone hitting her lower back.

The attacks ensued as the children were walking home after school at around one o’clock in the afternoon. Their families’ house is next door to the Ramat Yeshay settlement which has historically caused numerous problems for Hashem Azzeh’s family, who is the father of the children.

The Azzeh family is of the few Palestinians allowed to walk on the road close to where the incident took place besides Zionists. The incident took place around checkpoint 57 in Tel Rumeida, this means that Israeli soldiers were nearby while the aggression took place.

Hashem has been under house arrest, his extended and immediate family have regularly received abuse and is under constant threat of settlers or soldiers intruding on their property and/or well being.

 

Illegal outpost with settlers above Hashem Azzeh’s house. Photo taken in October 2012 during olive picking in Hashem’s garden. Credit: Ryan Rodrick Beiler

 

Team Khalil is a group of volunteers of International Solidarity Movement based in Hebron (al Khalil)

Israeli forces kill teenager on his 17th birthday in Hebron [Updated]

by Team Khalil

12 December 2012 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

Palestinian youth Mohammad Ziad Awwad Salayme was shot dead on his 17th birthday in Hebron. Live ammunition was fired injuring another man and several journalists had to be hospitalised after being beaten on the street. Clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation forces erupted throughout the city and surrounding areas.

At around 7:30 pm on Wednesday 12 December 2012 a soldier of the Israeli army shot dead Mohammad Salayme, killing him with two bullets to the body and head in the Salayme neigbourhood of Hebron near to the Ibrahimi mosque. Mohammad had spent the day in school and was on his way to buy some cake for him and his family to celebrate his birthday, when suddenly his life was cut short. Another Palestinian man was shot with live ammunition and injured, he was taken to a hospital in the city. The Israeli military claimed Mohammad Salayme was carrying a fake gun, therefore shot him. Mohammad’s father who rushed to administer first aid to his son said he saw no fake gun on him. Sound bombs, tear gas and rubber bullets were fired at Palestinians who tried to help the dying teenager.

The Israeli military closed off all the streets around the area where Mohammed was killed to prevent any journalists from reaching the incident. A car carrying four journalists was hit with several rounds of live ammunition and the journalists were stopped and forced from their car. The journalists, two from Youth Against Settlements, one from Reuters and one from Palmedia were forced to strip to their underwear in the cold evening air. The soldiers took their cameras and physically beat up the journalists resulting in them needing hospital treatment. A filmmaker who works for the Israeli peace group Btselem who lives close to the shooting was surrounded by 12 soldiers, beaten up and arrested. Officers from the District Coordination Office For Military Affairs informed local activists the cameras would be returned to them tomorrow after being checked for evidence.

The Israeli military flooded the city with an enormous amount of soldiers who attempted to clear the streets in a very aggressive manner, throwing sound bombs into groups of remonstrating Palestinians, shooting tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets. This behaviour only antagonised the residents of Hebron turning the tense situation into outright confrontation as clashes erupted throughout the city. The areas of Salayme, Bab Al-Zawiya, Qtoun and Dar Al Binzaid all echoed to the sound of live ammunition, concussion grenades, tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets. Clashes were reported in the nearby city of Yatta and in Dura.

Tensions in Hebron are rising as the Israeli occupation forces are using increased levels of violence in the city ever since the recent Israeli assualt on Gaza. Hamdi Alfalah was killed on November 20th and many people have been injured. Hebron will see another funeral on Thursday 13th of December.

Team Khalil is a group of volunteers of International Solidarity Movement based in Hebron (al Khalil)