30th September 2017 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus team | Kafr Qaddum, occupied Palestine
Israeli soldiers entering Kafr Qaddum
Activists continued to protest in Kafr Qaddum today, despite heightened repression from the Israeli Army. Before the protest began, an Israeli Armed Personnel Carrier (APC) entered the village in a move to intimidate the residents before returning to the illegal settlement of Kadumim.
The protest itself was met with two APCs, which were unable to enter the village due to roadblocks that the residents set up. However, at least six soldiers invaded the village on foot, entering through the olive groves above and below the main road in an effort to isolate and arrest protesters. They also invaded the private properties of residents who were not involved in the protest.
Protesters at the closed off road in front of the illegal settlement of Kadumim
The Army fired live ammunition as well as rubber coated steel bullets at the protesters, many of which were children. No protesters were injured in the demonstration. The Army, which had set up a checkpoint shortly before the protest began, continued to check passing cars on the road out of Kafr Qaddum into the evening.
For six years, the villagers of Kafr Qaddum have held weekly marches toward the main road, which has been closed since 2003. The road has been closed to Palestinians due to the establishment of the illegal settlement of Kadumim, which has bisected a once-easy commute to Nablus, the economic and cultural hub in the area.
22nd September 2017 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus team | Kafr Qaddum, occupied Palestine
During today’s march in Kafr Qaddum, three protesters were injured by rubber coated steel bullets fired by the Israeli armed forces. When it looked as if the soldiers had retreated, they surprised the demonstrators by re-entering the village and fired several rounds of live ammunition.
Shortly after the march had started, the Israeli military entered the village and fired sound bombs, rubber coated steal bullets and tear gas at protesters. A 22-year old got shot by a rubber coated steel bullet in his shoulder and a 20-year old and a 46-year old man got shot in their hands. All could be treated at the scene.
It was some time ago that the military used live ammunition in Kafr Qaddum. One of the demonstrators told ISM that it reminded him of the dramatic incidents between 2014 and 2016 where many people were shot with live ammunition. Six of these people were children under the age of 11 and six people got shot in the upper parts of their body. Some of them are still suffering from their injuries. Four people got killed. During this period there were also 170 protesters arrested and kept in military detention from 3 months to 24 months.
Since 2011, the villagers of Kafr Qaddum have had weekly marches towards their main road which have been closed since 2003. The road is closed off due to the location of the illegal settlement of Kadumim, and have severe effects on the daily commutes for the villagers of Kafr Qaddum.
19th September 2017 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team| Kifl Hares, Occupied Palestine
“They punish us in all the ways they can”
The last two weeks, 17 boys and men aged 16-25 have been arrested during night raids in the village of Kifl Hares. Since a week ago, the Israeli military have also closed off the main entrance to the village, which is located south west of Nablus in a hot spot next to the illegal settlement of Ariel. The villagers now have to go through the surrounding villages in order to get out, which leads to an increase of 20 minutes to their daily commute.
(The closed gate to Kifl Hares leading to the main road is guarded by Israeli military.)
Some nights, the raids happened during some of the Jewish holidays. The settlers made a circle in the village square, dancing, guarded by soldiers placed on the roofs of the Palestinian homes around the square. ISM met the father of two of the young men who have been arrested. The home of the family has been raided six times in the last two weeks.
The first night raid, the father asked the soldiers what they were looking for, and after searching the entire house they replied: “We are just checking if you are OK.” The night raids have been following the main pattern of conduct: the military storms the village and closes it off, enters family homes, forces the families to get up where they then lock them in one room, whilst they destroy the family’s belongings in their search.
The second raid, the Israeli forces woke the village and the family up at 2 am to give them a document with a call for a court hearing. The third time, the Israeli soldiers forced two of the sons to the Ariel police station, detained them there for two hours, and then released them. The fourth raid, the military searched the house violently again. The fifth time they arrested a 19 year old son and the sixth time, the 22-year old son. The sons endured days of questioning, and after a rubber stamp in Salem court, they were then taken to Meggido, awaiting another trial in Salem court. The family only managed to see their sons briefly in the court hearing. In 2013 their older son was also kept in military detention for 16 months.
The father told ISM that he asked the commander of the military raiding their home why they come in the middle of the night. The commander replied: “I choose when I want to come”. The commander then threatened the father to steal the family’s land, to revoke his potential work permit and confiscate his car if he would protest more. “They punish us in all ways they can”, the father told ISM.
He told us his wife started screaming when the soldiers entered her bedroom, and the military then questioned why she was screaming. When the father emphasised the horror of the situation,the soldier said: “I have the right to do what I want. If you protest I will have your house demolished.” The soldiers also pulled their 85-year old grandmother up from her mattress in order to check her room.
Several families in Kifl Hares have suffered from similar horrific experiences during the last two weeks. Several villages around the occupied West Bank have also been raided during the night, and the villagers have seen their sons and neighbours being arrested by the Israeli forces. What are these Palestinians being punished for? The father answered: “For being Palestinian.”
15th September 2017 | International Solidarity Movement, al-Khalil team | Hebron, occupied Palestine
On Friday the 15th of September, after noon prayer, a Palestinian demonstration started by the Ali al-Baka mosque within the old city of Hebron. People gathered to protest against the establishment of a new settler municipality within the H2 area of the occupied city. The planned municipality is illegal according to the Hebron Protocol and will separate the two parts of the city even more.
The demonstration started at 12:30pm in front of the mosque next to the old city of Hebron and went to the entrance of the Israeli military camp within H2. They continued their peaceful protest in front of the gates to the military base . The soldiers started to push back the protesters, forcing them to leave the market area. The protesters tried to stay in the market which led to physical and verbal confrontations between the two sides. The Israeli forces called for additional soldiers and military vehicles to outnumber the protesters. In the end, the protesters were forced to leave the old city area and to stop their demonstration. One of the Israeli military vehicles was a skunk truck which spreads a chemical liquid that causes a strong and unpleasant smell. This chemical weapon wasn’t used that day but threatened the participants of the demonstration as well as the residents of the area, as the smell from skunk water can last for many days.
After the demonstration, the soldiers stayed present in H1 and more confrontations erupted between the soldiers and other protesters, making the H1 area of the city an insecure environment until around 6pm the same evening. The Israeli forces used plenty of stun grenades and tear gas projectiles against these protesters.
(The ‘skunk’ truck which the Israeli forces used as a threat)
The idea to expand municipal powers to settlers in the H2 means that the government of Hebron loses a significant part of their power and influence in H2 and could result in two fully separated cities within Hebron. The new municipality is planned to be established at the 21th of September, right at the celebrations of the Jewish new year.
14th September 2017 | International Solidarity Movement, Al-Khalil team | Hebron, occupied Palestine
(Military vehicles entering the H1 area through a guarded checkpoint)
On Thursday evening, at around 6:40pm, the Al-Khalil team was patrolling the city and came across Israeli forces stationed by the Tareq roundabout, in the Altahta area south of the city. The military teams consisted of two groups of around six soldiers, several military vehicles and more soldiers stationed on the roof tops.
The tension was high since the area is a highly active traffic hub in Hebron, with large amounts of Palestinian residents in the streets.
The situation escalated when the crowd got larger and military forces used sound grenades and tear gas canisters to suppress the crowds. This was met with successful resistance from civilians, and the soldiers were forced to go back into the Salameh checkpoint.
Although nobody suffered from direct injuries, one Palestinian individual lost consciousness due to the stressful situation, and had to be carried away from the area.
The general situation in occupied Hebron has become more tense, due to the recent decision by the Israeli army to extend municipal powers to settlers in H2. The Israeli forces going into the H1 area of the city are common provocations towards the Palestinian people. Thursday nights are spent relaxing and enjoying the night off as Friday is a holiday. There was no threat or protest on the Palestinian side before the soldiers had entered, meaning that the Israeli forces’ decision to illegally enter the H1 area was unnecessary.
