Israeli settlers use chainsaw to destroy over 60 olive trees near Nablus

23rd June 2015 | International Solidarity Movement, Huwwara Team | Nablus, Occupied Palestine

On Sunday, 21st of June, residents of the Jamma’in village in the Nablus region discovered that Israeli settlers had cut down over 60 Palestinian owned olive trees. They suspect that the trees had been destroyed the previous day with a chain saw. The trees were owned by farmers from both Jamma’in and Yasuf, both villages are situated close to each other just south of Nablus.

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Palestinians with the olive trees cut by the Israeli settlers.

The olive trees were said to be over 150 years old and have been harvested by generations of the Zeiden family, as well as others from the Yasuf village. 40 of these trees belonged to three brothers from the Zeiden family, who when witnessed the destruction to their land said, ‘We have lost our livelihood’. With the olive harvest only a few months away, this year the family will lose a major portion of their income from the production of olives and oil.

The brothers explained how devastated they felt after seeing the trees cut down. They said that after they themselves had spent tens of years seeing that the trees were well kept and healthy, and then harvesting them yearly, it wasn’t only an economic catastrophe but also emotionally traumatic. For the brothers, and other locals, the trees had become symbols of years of memories, which they have now lost.

Yesterday, another resident of Jamma’in accompanied a Palestinian agricultural development group (PARC) to the area but were stopped by Israeli military who had blocked the road leading to the land. After finding another route, the group documented the destruction. They described it as very upsetting to see the tree branches laying on the ground with the olives almost ready to harvest, ‘We were very sad to see that the trees had been cut and were completely destroyed so close to the harvest time’.

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The damage that settlers did to Palestinian olive trees.

The land surrounding these villages has also been targeted in the past. Two years ago Jamma’in residents faced a similar attack from Israeli settlers who destroyed more of their olive trees. Not only have the settlers targeted the local livelihood but they have also been physically violent. There are regular attacks on farmers throughout the year but they face more danger of settler violence leading up to and during the olive harvest. Many locals label the settlers from the illegal Kfar Tappuah settlement terrorist because of their repeated use of excessive violence on unarmed civilians.

The 505 road that connects Tel Aviv and the illegal settlement Ariel also causes continued issues for Palestinians living in this area. The Israeli settlers often stop their cars when passing Palestinian farmers, or anyone trying to cross the road, to intimidate them by brandishing their weapons and shouting abuse. The farmers with land close to the road and settlements have also been physically attacked and had their crops stolen by settlers during the harvest.

The Israeli occupation forces do not intervene during these attacks and in this instance it is presumed that Israeli courts will claim the trees were cut by an unknown person, meaning the farmers will be unable to receive any compensation.

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All photo credit goes to Jamma’in municipality.

Israeli forces use live ammunition in Kafr Qaddum on the first Friday of Ramadhan

21st June 2015 | International Solidarity Movement, Al Khalil Team | Kafr Qaddum, Occupied Palestine

On the 19th of June in Kafr Qaddum, the first Friday demonstration of Ramadhan, Israeli border police shot two Palestinians with live ammunition. One Palestinian was shot twice in the leg and the other was shot once in the leg. Israeli forces also used skunk spray (chemically treated sewage water) and tear gas as well as rubber coated steel bullets. A Palestinian man was hit with a rubber coated steel bullet in the back which caused him to fall and break his leg.

 

Palestinian demonstrators in Kafr Qaddum
Palestinian demonstrators in Kafr Qaddum

 

Residents of Kafr Qaddum said that this demonstration was the first time that they were able to reach the gate which seals off part of a major road. Despite the heat and fasting hours, Kafr Qaddum continues to resist the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

 

A Palestinian man throwing a stone in Kafr Qaddum

 

Israeli border police positioned themselves on the main road into Kafr Qaddum before the demonstration started and turned back internationals from the village. Internationals ignored the Israeli border police and entered Kafr Qaddum via a back route. Hundreds of Palestinians attended the demonstration. Israeli forces were reluctant to use violence in the beginning as an Israeli TV channel was present however as soon as the TV channel left, the Israeli forces on mass forced their way deep into the village using weapons such as stun grenades, skunk, live ammunition, rubber coated steel bullets and finally a barrage of tear gas which flooded the village and ignited small fires.

 

Israeli police positioned to fire at demonstrators in Kafr Qaddum
Israeli police positioned to fire at demonstrators in Kafr Qaddum

 

Residents of Kafr Qaddum have begun regular Saturday demonstrations in addition to the one on Friday to show that the resistance will not end despite the violence and pressure from Israeli forces.

 

Israeli forces in Kafr Qaddum
Israeli forces in Kafr Qaddum

All photos belong to the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee Facebook page.

Israeli forces try to violently suppress protest in Jalazone

14th June 2015 | International Solidarity Movement, Ramallah Team | Jalazone, Occupied Palestine

On Friday June 12th in Jalazone, north of Ramallah, Israeli forces responded to a Palestinian protest against illegal Israeli settlements with rubber coated steel bullets, tear gas, stun grenades and live ammunition.

The Israeli occupation forces also attacked journalists that were covering the demonstration, throwing stun grenades directly at them, pushing them with their rifles and threatening to arrest and shoot them.

A civilian passer by was also severely injured by the Israeli military. He was left with open wounds on his head after being struck with rifles and beaten to the ground before being arrested.

The unarmed man was repeatedly punched by the military and then hit on the head with their rifles as he tried to make his way past the group. The Soldiers can be heard cursing the man and his family, shouting, ‘Fuck your mother’s mother you son of a whore’.

The Israeli military were also using Palestinian cars as shields by taking the keys and leaving the people inside. They detained more than 20 cars during the protest.

At least three people were shot with live ammunition during the demonstration.

Below is a video recorded by ISM of the violence from the Israeli soldiers in Jalazone:

 

Israeli soldier pointing his gun in the face of a Palestinian man
Israeli soldier pointing his gun in the face of a Palestinian man
Israeli soldier hitting a Palestinian man
Israeli soldier hitting a Palestinian man
Soldiers beating a Palestinian man
Soldiers beating a Palestinian man
Soldiers crushing a Palestinians head
Soldiers crushing a Palestinians head
Soldiers forcing a Palestinian on the ground
Soldiers forcing a Palestinian on the ground
An injured Palestinian man being taken away by soldiers
An injured Palestinian man being taken away by soldiers
An Israeli soldier using a taxi full of people as a shield
An Israeli soldier using a taxi full of people as a shield
Israeli soldiers using a truck with passengers as a shield
Israeli soldiers using a truck with passengers as a shield
Soldier taking the keys of a Palestinian's car
Soldier taking the keys of a Palestinian’s car
Palestinian throwing
Palestinian throwing
Palestinian with burning tires
Palestinian with burning tires
Israeli soldier with sniper rifle
Israeli soldier with sniper rifle
Israeli soldiers abusing Palestinian press
Israeli soldiers abusing Palestinian press

Israeli army murders Palestinian in Kafr Malek

14th June 2015 | International Solidarity Movement, Khalil Team | Kafr Malek, Occupied Palestine

***GRAPHIC IMAGE WARNING***

Abdullah Eyad Ghanayem, 21 years old, was killed by the Israeli army early morning around 3:00 AM in Kafr Malek, a village north Ramallah.
According to a Palestine Red Crescent Society paramedic that contacted ISM, the soldiers invaded the village around 2:30 AM. The clashes took place and they began shooting tear gas, stun grenades, and live ammunition. They shot the Ghanayem in the back with live ammunition after he allegedly threw stones at the army jeep. The soldiers followed him with the jeep and ran over him and then the jeep rolled over onto him and he was in critical condition and bleeding under the jeep for three hours. The soldiers didn’t allow any ambulance to come close and to give medical care, even the villagers were forbidden to come and try to pull him from under the jeep. The soldiers didn’t care about him. Finally after 3 hours they gave him to the PRCS ambulance. Ghanayem spent 2 years in an Israeli prison, he was released only three months ago.

Photo and information credit goes to the PRCS paramedic that contacted ISM. Their name is not included out of privacy.

Abdullah Eyad Ghanayem in the emergency room.
Abdullah Eyad Ghanayem in the emergency room.
The battered body of Abdullah Eyad Ghanayem.
The battered body of Abdullah Eyad Ghanayem.
Wounds on Ghanayem's body
Wounds on Ghanayem’s body

5 Palestinians shot in Kafr Qaddum

12th June 2015 | International Solidarity Movement, Al Khalil Team | Al Khalil, Occupied Palestine

At Kafr Qaddum’s weekly demonstration yesterday, 12th June 2015, Israeli occupation forces invaded the village hours before the protest was set to start. Five Palestinians were shot with live ammunition. Two were shot in the leg, one was shot in the arm and two were shot in the abdomen. One of the men shot in the abdomen was in a critical condition for some hours after being transferred to hospital.

A blood stained shirt on the ground in the streets of Kafr Qaddum
Blood stained shirt in the streets of Kafr Qaddum

The 35 year old underwent surgery to remove part of his intestines that had been damaged by the bullet. Following the operation the man’s condition stabilized. The man was not participating in the protest, he was shot while in his home standing next to the window. His injury highlights the collective punishment of the entire village for their efforts to resist the restriction of their right to freedom of movement. The local villagers said that the Israeli forces’ new tactic of extreme violence was an attempt to scare the residents into ending their weekly demonstration.

Muhammed Mhaid being carried from his home to the ambulance by protesters
Muhammed Mhaid being carried from his home to the ambulance by protesters

After the occupation forces invaded the village they used the ‘Skunk truck’ to spray protesters and homes with foul smelling liquid. Palestinian youth began to throw stones and reflect sunlight into the eyes of the military and police by using mirrors. These actions were met with immediate use of live ammunition.

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Protesters using mirrors and slingshots

Israeli police snipers targeted anyone who passed within range and which resulted in the previously mentioned injuries. The two men that were shot in the arm and leg are both still in hospital and awaiting surgery after the bullets penetrated the bone and inflicted serious damage. Two other villagers were taken away by ambulance after suffering severe tear gas inhalation. However, many of the injured protesters were forced to travel in civilian cars to the hospital because of a lack of ambulances at hand to deal with the quick succession of injuries.

People caught in one round of tear gas amongst many fired in the village.
People caught in one round of tear gas amongst many fired in the village

The locals of Kafr Qaddum said that it was the first time in years that the Israeli forces had so aggressively invaded the village before the Friday demonstration had begun. In 2011 the village had had a similar response when they had organised the first demonstrations in protest against the closure of the main road connecting Kafr Qaddum with the neighboring villages and the city of Nablus. The road had been blocked because it ran through the illegal Israeli settlement named Qedumim.

Rubber tires set alight on the road to the illegal settlement Qedumim
Rubber tires set alight on the road leading to Qedumim

The village has seen an increase in such restrictions over the last few months. On the morning of 12th June the main entrance was blocked off by military jeeps and Israeli soldiers, who were denying people access into Kafr Qaddum, claiming it was a closed military zone. Locals stated that this was a daily occurrence in recent weeks. And that not only have the occupation forces been blocking the entrance but that they have been raiding the village in the early morning.

Protesters using slingshots to throw back tear gas canisters
Protesters using slingshots to throw back tear gas canisters

Kafr Qaddum’s residents are undeterred by the excessive violence they face on a daily basis. Following the harsh suppression of the demonstration on Friday, local villagers declared they will hold another demonstration on Saturday 13th June in protest against the regular early morning military incursions into their village.

Young protester looking towards Qedumim
Young protester looking towards Qedumim