18th November 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Maria del Mar Fernandez | Gaza, Occupied Palestine
(Photo by Rosa Schiano)
We attended a photography exhibition last Wednesday in besieged Gaza City. There were many, many pictures, some of which we photographed. I wish were as much of an an artist as the children, between nine and 16 years old, who shot the originals. They were there, among the public, and I was able to talk to some of them. They told me that they, themselves, had chosen what they wanted to express. The black and white photography reflected how life is going in Gaza well. Yet there were many cheerful photos. I was moved as I wandered about among the scores of people at the exhibition. The children watched eagerly for our reactions and comments. I really would have liked to photograph all of them, or to spend more time there. It was amazing. Initiatives like this encourage children to overcome the great difficulties they face in their daily lives under occupation and siege, and under the permanent fear that Israel may launch another military offensive against them.
17th November 2013 | Corporate Watch, Tom Anderson and Therezia Cooper | Gaza, Occupied Palestine
Palestinians demonstrate in the buffer zone East of Gaza City on the anniversary of the signing of the Balfour Declaration. (Photo by ISM – Gaza team)
On 2nd November 2013 Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinians demonstrating in the Gaza buffer zone East of Gaza City, by the Nahal Oz checkpoint. A report of the demonstration by an eyewitness can be viewed here. Pictures of one of the canisters fired at the activists are shown below.
Corporate Watch has written several articles about Israel’s use of tear gas in the West Bank. Some of our previous work can be found here and here.
This canister looks a little different to the ones that we have seen in the West Bank, particularly because it is encased in a hard plastic shell. We do not have any evidence to determine which company supplied these canisters to the Israeli military. However, we know that tear gas canisters manufactured by Combined Systems (CSI) in the US and Defense Technologies, previously owned by the British arms giant BAE systems and now owned by the US firm Safariland, have been used by the Israeli police and army in the past.
It is imperative that BDS campaigners take action against companies selling tear gas to Israel.
Combined Systems can be contacted at:
388 Kinsman Road, Jamestown, PA 16134
Safariland can be contacted at:
Ontario Headquaters:
Safariland
3120 E. Mission Blvd.
Ontario, CA 91761
Jacksonville Headquarters:
Safariland
13386 International Parkway
Jacksonville, FL 32218
Gas canister fired at Palestinian demonstrators in the buffer zone on 2/11/13. (Photo by Corporate Watch)The three separate pieces of the canister fired at Palestinian demonstrators in the buffer zone – 2/11/13. (Photo by Corporate Watch)
15th November 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Ramallah Team | Bir Nabala and Rafat, Occupied Palestine
This morning, November 15, 2013, 25 years after Yasser Arafat declared independence of the Palestinian state, a group of Palestinian activists undertook a direct action against the annexation wall and fence, supported by both Israeli and international activists.
Palestinian activist smashes annexation wall with a sledgehammer (photo by Ingrid Bousquet).
At approximately 6:30 am groups of Palestinian, Israeli and international activists traveled to a section of the annexation wall in Bir Nabala. Sledgehammers and other tools were donated by local popular committees and these were used to begin to smash through the wall.
Palestinian activists gradually begin to break through (photo by Ingrid Bousquet).
The action continued for approximately 20 minutes.
The hole in the apartheid wall grows larger (photo by Ingrid Bousquet).(Photo by Ingrid Bousquet)
Israeli soldiers did not arrive and activists were able to leave the area without confrontation from Israeli forces, moving on to the second action in Rafat.
Palestinian activists began to cut down the annexation fence (photo by Ingrid Bousquet)
Activists used donated wire cutters and bolt cutters to damage the annexation fence north west of Jerusalem.
The fence is torn down by Palestinian activists (photo by ISM).
Again, activists were able to successfully complete the action without intervention from Israeli forces.
Activists leave the Rafat area (photo by Ingrid Bousquet).
The apartheid wall and fence was declared illegal by the International Court of Justice in 2004, yet it continues to be used as a mechanism to contain and oppress Palestinians who live within its boundaries. The action today can be seen as a symbol of the resistance within Palestine especially as today marks the anniversary of the Palestinian declaration of independence. Although this statement was written and signed 25-years-ago, Palestine remains under control by Israeli forces, the annexation wall a constant reminder of this occupation.
14th November 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Izbit Tabib, Occupied Palestine
Several years ago the village of Izbit Tabib, east of Qalqiliya was served with demolition orders by the Israeli Army. The orders would mean destruction of 33 houses (73% of the village) and the village school.
The school of Izbit Tabib (photo by ISM).
Two houses have already been demolished and the school which has 52 students is vital to the village and its future.
One of the demolished houses (photo by ISM).
The villagers have been striving to get the order quashed in the Israeli courts, but the threat remains and hangs over the village like a black cloud.
Yesterday the villagers organised a demonstration against the threat and were supported by representatives of the Palestinian Authority, groups of international activists, Israeli activists and a TV camera team. The school children joined the protest and made several speeches.
The protest march (photo by ISM).
Trees were planted at the site of a proposed new school and the demonstrators then marched into the village with banners flying and heard speeches condemning the Israeli army’s intended action.
11th November 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Rosa Schiano | Gaza, Occupied Palestine
Families and supporters gather weekly in the Red Cross courtyard. (Photo by Rosa Schiano)
On Monday morning, many relatives of Palestinian detainees, political representatives and solidarity activists attended the weekly rally at the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City.
In the first part of the sit-in, families of Fateh prisoners commemorated the ninth anniversary of Yasser Arafat’s death. Some of them held portraits of Arafat, waved Palestinian flags, and chanted slogans in homage to Arafat.
During the second part, women from Hamas rallied outside the Red Cross building.
Women rally for Palestinian detainees and martyrs in Gaza. (Photo by Joe Catron)
Speakers praised the steadfastness of prisoners currently held in Israeli prisons and detention facilities and denounced the suffering from torture, medical negligence and human rights violations in Israeli jails. On 5 November, detainee Hasan Abdul-Halim Toraby, 22 years old, died at the Al-‘Affoula Israeli Hospital, after being denied necessary medical treatment. He suffered from leukemia, and was not provided the specialized treatment he urgently needed.
Rawda al-Najjar. (Photo by Rosa Schiano)
Like every Monday, mothers, wives, sisters, sons and daughters showed the pictures of their relatives, some of whom they hadn’t seen for years. “Mohammed has been in prison for six years,” said Rawda al-Najjar, mother of Mohammed Ismail al-Najjar, as she held his picture. “I have only seen him twice.”
Despite current negotiations and the recent release of some prisoners, Israeli forces are still kidnapping and arresting Palestinians, included children, and using administrative detention. On 10 November, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine organized a protest in solidarity with Palestinian academic and administrative detainee Ahmad Qatamesh and all administrative detainees in occupation prisons.
Palestinian families in Gaza will continue demanding the release of all prisoners, especially sick ones and administrative detainees.
Women rally for Palestinian detainees and martyrs in Gaza. (Photo by Joe Catron)
Women rally for Palestinian detainees and martyrs in Gaza. (Photo by Joe Catron)
Posters of Samer Issawi and Marwan Barghouthi hang inside the Red Cross. (Photo by Joe Catron)
Families and supporters gather weekly in the Red Cross courtyard. (Photo by Rosa Schiano)
A woman rallies for Palestinian detainees and martyrs in Gaza. (Photo by Rosa Schiano)
Women rally for Palestinian detainees and martyrs in Gaza. (Photo by Rosa Schiano)
to express. The black and white photography reflected how life is going in Gaza well. Yet there were many cheerful photos. I was moved as I wandered about among the scores of people at the exhibition. The children watched eagerly for our reactions and comments. I really would have liked to photograph all of them, or to spend more time there. It was amazing. Initiatives like this encourage children to overcome the great difficulties they face in their daily lives under occupation and siege, and under the permanent fear that Israel may launch another military offensive against them.
