Category: Ramallah - Page 15 - International Solidarity Movement

Nabi Saleh successfully end three day siege of their village with peaceful protest

15th April 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Ramallah Team | Nabi Saleh, Occupied Palestine

Yesterday, The Palestinian Popular Resistance Committee of Nabi Saleh called for a demonstration at 3pm against a siege enforced on their village by Israeli forces. The demonstration was an overwhelming success with the re-opening of the checkpoint and a withdrawal of the additional forces deployed in the area by the Israeli military.

Mohammed Tamimi, the media officer for the village’s Popular Resistance declared that this was: “The first truly successful demonstration in Nabi Saleh”. He went on to say that “others villages should think about this and how to act towards closed checkpoints in the future.” Palestinian activists, internationals, and ISM activists responded to the protest call out, and joined the villagers themselves.

Internationals traveling to Nabi Saleh reported the presence of many “flying” checkpoints on route from Ramallah. These were deployed in an attempt to prevent people from outside the village joining the protest. Nonetheless the demonstration did take place and was well attended with approximately 50 people beginning to march from the middle of the village down to the checkpoint.

The Israeli army began to shoot tear gas canisters and throw stun grenades as soon as the demonstrators reached the main road. Despite this, the demonstration arrived at the checkpoint and refused to move until the road was opened, and the siege lifted. While people were peacefully demonstrating in front of the barrier, the Israeli army used a large quantity of stun grenades, however after approximately one hour the army agreed to withdraw and open the checkpoint. In addition to this, the western checkpoint, which had been closed since 2002, was also re-opened adding to the already hugely successful day.

The siege itself began on April the 12th when a large number of Israeli forces closed all entrances to the village of Nabi Saleh with roadblocks, and declared the village a Closed Military Zone. The village was in this state for three days until this afternoon’s action. During the siege, workers and students have been unable to go to work or school. The Israeli army also employed brutal tactics against the villagers themselves over the last few days. One Palestinian man was shot in the face with live ammunition, though after surgery was described as being in a stable condition. Additionally, a Palestinian woman sustained various fractures and heavy bruising after being assaulted by soldiers whilst being detained with her child for three hours. Israeli forces threw stun grenades at cars attempting to approach the checkpoint throughout the siege.

It is believed the military began this illegal action due to the demonstrations at Nabi Saleh that have occurred every Friday since 2009. These demonstrations take place to protest against the theft of a water spring, and village land by the nearby illegal settlement of Halamish.

One Palestinian man was arrested during the demonstration today but after negotiations the village secured his release at 9.30 PM. The Popular Resistance Committee from the village has promised that should the Israeli military close the checkpoint again, they will call another protest immediately. In the meantime demonstrations will continue every Friday.

Nabi Saleh honors Muataz Washaha

8th March 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Team Ramallah | Nabi Saleh, Occupied Palestine

On Friday 7^th March the protest at An Nabi Salih took on a special significance after local Palestinian man, Moutaz Washaha, was assassinated in his home town of Bir Zeit on Thursday last week. A group of more than 50 Palestinian locals, activist and journalists gathered for the weekly demonstration against the expropriation of the village’s water spring, which has been diverted to a settlement close by.

Palestinians taking cover from stun grenades fired by Israeli forces. 7th March 2014

The protesters, proceeded away from the village down the hill towards the street which separates the village from Al Qaws spring with was stolen by the illegal settlement of Halamish in 2009. Israeli forces launched a slew of teargas against the unarmed protestors.

Four Israeli soldiers intercepted the protestors at the settlement road and unsuccessfully attempted to arrest two protestors. After some 25 protesters had made it onto the road more soldiers arrived and attempted to violently arrest two young girls who had entered the road. One of the girls is 14 years of age and she was met with physical violence from soldiers who were intent on arresting her. The protestors prevented the arrests, however during their attempt a soldier hit a local woman in the back with his rifle butt causing her to faint. Activists then called for a local ambulance and gave first aid while local Palestinians argued with the soldiers over their behavior.

Palestinians continued marching along the road past the illegal settlement while soldiers threw stun grenades into the crowd. On reaching the observation tower local children climbed onto the road blocks flying the Palestinian flag while soldiers and police looked on. The main body of the protest moved back to village while clashes continued resulting in at least 5 injuries from rubber coated steel bullets and one case of excessive tear gas inhalation. Some Palestinian women reported sexual harassment by Israeli soldiers as well as verbal assault joined with physical violence.

The village of Nabi Saleh has been demonstrating against Israeli colonialism for 5 years now, they have lost two local Palestinians in these demonstrations. Mustafa Tamimi who was shot with a teargas canister from close range in 2011, and Rushdi Tamimi killed with live ammunition in 2012. The village’s persistence continues in the face of Israeli brutality.

Palestinian shot with live ammunition during weekly Ni’lin demonstration

12th January 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Ramallah Team | Ni’lin, Occupied Palestine

On Friday 10th January, a Palestinian demonstrator was injured after being shot in his leg with live ammunition by Israeli forces while attending the weekly Friday demonstration.

The incident happened in Ni’lin where Israeli military shot live ammunition against approximately thirty demonstrators who gathered around the annexation wall. An ambulance parked in the area drove the 40-year-old man to a hospital in Ramallah straight after being injured.

Israeli soldiers and Palestinians from Ni’lin clashed for more than two hours before the demonstrator was shot, Palestinian youth threw stones towards the military and Israeli soldiers responded with tear gas canisters, stun grenades and live ammunition.

Every Friday residents of Ni’lin gather to march towards the annexation wall in order to protest the loss of their stolen land.

Five demonstrators injured in violent Nabi Saleh protest

29th December 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Ramallah Team | Nabi Saleh, Occupied Palestine

On Friday 27th December, during the weekly demonstration in Nabi Saleh, Israeli forces raided the town with a “skunk” (chemical) truck, fired large amounts of tear gas canisters and shot rubbed-coated steel bullets at unarmed protesters. Five people were injured by rubber-coated steel bullets and one woman was shot at extremely close range.

Shortly after the demonstration began, Palestinian and international activists attempt to march towards the local spring which has been stolen by a nearby illegal settlement. Israeli forces responded by firing stun grenades, tear gas canisters, skunk water and rubber-coated steel bullets at the protesters. They then proceeded to raid the village, spraying houses and cars with skunk water. In one Palestinian home, part of their garden caught on fire when a tear gas canister was shot in their fruit trees. Many protesters were forced to seek shelter in houses while Israeli border police entered the village shooting rubber-coated steel bullets at those left on the streets. One protester, Manal Tamini, was shot by four rubber-coated steel bullets in both of her legs

The village of Nabi Saleh has demonstrated against the theft of their natural spring by the nearby Halamish settlement and the occupation in general since December 2009. Israeli forces violently suppress the weekly Friday protests by shooting tear gas canisters, skunk water, sound bombs, rubber-coated steel bullets and even live ammunition at protesters. Two people have been killed, Mustafa and Rushdi Tamimi, and many others severely injured.

Three people detained and several people injured during demonstration in Nabi Saleh

8th December 2013 | International Solidarity Movement | Nabi Saleh, Occupied Palestine

Yesterday, the village of Nabi Saleh held an event to commemorate the deaths of Mostafa and Rushdi Tamimi. It is the second year anniversary of the death of Mostafa who was killed during a demonstration. The 7th of December also marks 26 years since the beginning of the first intifada.

In addition to the weekly Friday demonstrations that are held throughout the West Bank, the popular committees also started having events on Saturdays, which will be followed by a demonstration in one village once a month. Yesterday in Nabi Saleh was the first of these events.Hundreds of people came together in the village square, where speeches and performances were held.The event ended with a dance performed by the youth. After that several hundred people marched to the army tower at the entrance of Nabi Saleh. Before even reaching the tower the army shot lots of tear gas canisters at the approaching protesters. Even though many people suffered from heavy tear gas inhalation, it did not prevent them from trying to get to the tower again. Demonstrators successfully reached the yellow gate which blocks access to the village from one side; several people went in front of it. The soldiers initially detained three people; one Palestinian, one Israeli and one international. They were all released after a short while. The soldiers made several further attempts to arrest Palestinians and internationals, all of which were prevented by the protesters.

Demonstration in Nabi Saleh, 7th December 2013
Photo by Thomas Severe

Israeli army is trying to arrest demonstrators, which was successfully prevented.
Photo by Thomas Severe

Meanwhile, Palestinian youth were throwing stones at soldiers and jeeps in the field, who responded with tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets. Mustafa Tamimi’s brother was shot in face, resulting in the breaking of his jaw.

Youth are throwing stones at the soldiers and the police.
Photo by Thomas Severe

The group in front of the yellow gate moved on together, blocking the army jeeps which were exiting the village.After protesters were forcefully removed they tried to reach the spring, which has been stolen by the settlers from the nearby illegal Settlement of Halamish.The army prevented this by attacking the protesters with more tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets. Soldiers were pushing them back into the village where the demonstration ended. The whole event lasted for about five hours, with one person being hospitalized and many others injured.