25th May 2014 |International Solidarity Movement, Khalil team | Al-Fwar, Occupied Palestine
On the 24th of May, approximately 40 protesters gathered at Al-Fwar refugee camp. The protest was to support the 5,000 political prisoners of whom more than a 180, are on their 30th day of hunger strike.
The protesters walk toward road 60 (photo by ISM).An Israeli soldier is about to throw a tear gas grenade at the feet of the protesters, to stop them from going further (photo by ISM).Protesters retreat after a tear gas grenade is thrown (Photo by ISM).(Photo by ISM)The demonstrators gathering behind the gate, continuing the protest (photo by ISM).Even after the protesters were following the soldiers’ instructions to stand behind the gate, the soldiers continued to throw tear gas and stun grenades at their feet. (Photo by ISM)(Photo by ISM)Protesters running away from a stun grenade. Standing too close to a stun grenade when it explodes, can result in hearing loss, concussion, and loss of balance. (Photo by ISM)(Photo by ISM)Throughout the protest the soldiers were firing tear gas canisters and throwing tear gas grenades, some of them aimed directly towards the protesters. Being hit by a tear gas canister in the head or other parts of the body, can be fatal. (Photo by ISM)One man was hit in the ankle by a tear gas canister, and treated at the scene. (Photo by ISM)
The protest was successful in the sense that their message was expressed strongly and non-violently, despite the extreme violence of the Israeli soldiers and border police.
A local resident of Al-Fwar refugee camp told ISM, that three teenagers aged 13-14 were arrested in the past week. Their parents haven’t been allowed to see them or speak with them since, although a lawyer had told the parents that they are in Ofer prison. According to the lawyer there have been eight child arrests recently.
17th May 2014 | International Solidarity Movement | Ofer, Occupied Palestine
On the 16th May, Palestinians protest on the road to Ofer prison, following the murder of two Palestinian youths on the same road on the previous day during the Nakba Day protest. The youths, 22-year-old Muhammad Audah Abu al-Thahir and 17-year-old Nadim Siyam Nuwarah, were both shot with live ammunition.
Photo by ISM
The Israeli army launch another round of tear gas. Several protesters were carried from the scene by medical staff with breathing problems due to the amount of tear gas used.
Photo by ISM
Some protesters came prepared with gas masks.
Photo by ISM
A protester is treated for tear gas inhalation.
Photo by ISM
Another protester is treated for tear gas inhalation.
Photo by ISM
The tear gas canisters are hot. When they land on something flammable it will ignite. Here, the fire brigade try to extinguish a fire that had taken hold in a grassy field next to the protesters.
Photo by ISM
To protect themselves from being shot, the protesters use a metal skip. Israeli soldiers and border police were using live ammunition and rubber-coated steel bullets throughout the protest.
Photo by ISM
As the Israeli army use more tear gas canisters, another protester is carried away for treatment.
Photo by ISM
Protesters retreat following yet another round of tear gas.
Photo by ISM
A photojournalist makes his way back through the tear gas.
Photo by ISM
Protesters take cover as the Israeli army fires more rubber-coated steel bullets and live ammunition.
Photo by ISM
Photo by ISMPhoto by ISM
A protester fixes flags to a scaffold. The black flag represents the Palestinian refugees’ right to return following their expulsion in the Nakba of 1948.
Photo by ISM
Israeli soldiers take position on a nearby hill. The soldier in the middle is lining up to shoot rubber-coated steel bullets at the protesters.
Photo by ISM
A protester is shot in the leg with a rubber-coated steel bullet. Wounds from these bullets, if taken to the head or from shorter range to other parts of the body can be fatal.
Photo by ISM
Another protester is taken away for treatment after being shot in the foot with a rubber-coated steel bullet.
In all, four protesters were shot yesterday with rubber-coated steel bullets, one protester was hit with a tear gas canister in the face, another protester was shot in the face at close range with a foam-tipped projectile and one 16-year-old boy was shot in the leg with live ammunition.
15th May 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Khalil Team | Hebron, Occupied Palestine
This morning in al-Khalil (Hebron), one young child threw one stone towards the checkpoint. Four Israeli soldiers then entered through checkpoint 29, provoking the children who were gathered to go to school. Several children then threw approximately four stones towards the soldiers, who then threw one stun grenade.
Photo by ISM
Photo by ISM
One of the Israeli soldiers repeatedly aimed his gun at the passing children, some as young as four-years-old.
Photo by ISM
‘I want peace’ photo by ISM
One of the Israeli soldiers drew the Star of David (symbol of Judaism) and a crescent moon (possibly symbolizing Islam), and then wrote, ‘I want peace’.
Photo by ISM
Then same soldier who wrote ‘I want peace’, then threw a stun grenade at the children as they gathered to go to school.
The Israeli military regularly uses their weapons against school children in al-Khalil (Hebron), especially in the mornings. Yesterday, 14th May, the same Israeli soldiers at the same checkpoint [checkpoint 29] threw two stun grenades and fired one tear gas grenade at the children at approximately 7:30 am. Children are also targeted for detentions and arrests, which ISM has previously documented, some as young as six-years-old.
2nd March 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Gaza Team | Gaza, Occupied Palestine
In recent weeks, protests for both sick Palestinian detainees and those engaging in long-term hunger strikes have increased in the Gaza Strip.
(Photo by Joe Catron)
Last Monday morning, following a regular weekly sit-in in the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Gaza office, demonstrators rallied by a protest tent erected outside.
(Photo by Joe Catron)
On 18th February, Addameer reported hunger strikes by seven detainees. Today the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club said three additional prisoners had launched strikes against their administrative detentions.
(Photo by Joe Catron)
Demonstrations in solidarity with the detainees have also been held elsewhere in the Gaza Strip, including yesterday by the Erez checkpoint in Beit Hanoun.
An estimated 400 – 500 people, most in their late teens, gathered at the hillside east of Jabaliya for the recurrent demonstration against the occupation. There was no organizer, leader or banners, and the demonstration was largely chaotic. Stones were thrown, mostly from quite far distances, tear gas drifted along the hillside. Youth trying to get past rolls of razor wire to attach the Palestinian flag on the fence facing Israel were met by tear gas as well as live ammunition.
(Photo by Charlie Andreasson)
Unlike previous bombardments with tear-gas cartridges, it was clear this time that the occupying power was deliberately trying to hit protesters with the cartridges, not only disperse them with gas. This procedure has previously caused deaths. Perhaps the most well-known case was in Nabi Salah on 9th December 2011 when Mustafa Tamimi was shot at close range.
Kamal Radwan hospital reported 17 casualties from the demonstration, most of them direct hits with tear-gas cartridges. Two were also shot by live ammunition in the legs. Previously injured demonstrators have explained the demonstrations as a manifestations against the impacts of the occupation: soaring unemployment, poverty and lack of confidence in the future.
(Photo by Charlie Andreasson)(Photo by Charlie Andreasson)
