Israeli snipers target civilians, kill father of 3-year-old in Tulkarm

 

13 October, 2023 | International Solidarity Movement | Tulkarm

By Diana Khwaelid

On the evening of Friday, October 13th, 2023, Israeli snipers opened direct live fire on a white civilian car while it was passing near the Sanaoz military checkpoint, in Tulkarm city.
Ahmed Abed, who was one of the two passengers in the vehicle, said that Israeli snipers on the tower opened fire on the car as they were on their way to the gas station to fill up on fuel. Ahmed was hit by four live bullets in the back and shoulder area, but was lucky to survive, he said.

Rami Hassan, 33, from the village of Arta, husband and father of a 3-year-old girl, Abe, was mortally wounded by several bullets that penetrated his body. His condition was initially described as serious. Rami did not withstand the wounds and died 8 hours after the shooting. Rami worked in a blacksmith shop and as a government employee in the municipality of Tulkarm to support his family.

 

The wounded and witness to the incident, Ahmed, said that they were about 500 meters away from the miltary checkpoint and they did not pose a danger to the Israeli occupation forces, as they were not near a military area and did not cross the border. Nevertheless, they were surprised by direct live fire on them.

He added that the Israeli occupation forces directly targeted them knowing that they were civilians, and that the snipers clearly intended on killing them. No warning shots were fired. Ahmed said he survived miraculously.

The National Action factions in the city of Tulkarem mourned the martyr Rami Hassan, dozens of Palestinians participated in his funeral, and he was given a farewell look by his family and friends. Palestinian demonstrators chanted patriotic phrases expressing anger and sadness at the continuation of the Israeli occupation forces targeting Palestinian civilians.

 

For Immediate Release: Over a 1000 Israelis Call to Stop the Genocide in Gaza

On Tuesday, October 17, over 1100 Israelis joined an open letter to the international community organized by “Israelis against Apartheid,” asking other countries and the UN “to intervene immediately to stop the indiscriminate bombing of 2.3 million people living in the Gaza strip”, “to prevent the imminent and disastrous ground military invasion into Gaza,” and “to agree to a prisoner and hostage exchange immediately”.

The group was first formed in 2021 with another 1500-strong petition, calling upon the international community to intervene against the 2021 Israeli attack on Gaza. Last week, on October 12, members of the group shared a similar urgent call for intervention with 400 foreign embassies and diplomats in Israel and with the UN. One of the group’s organizers stressed that “as we watch now hundreds killed in an Israeli airstrike on a Gaza hospital, we implore the international community to stop its cooperation and support for any further killing and displacement of civilians”.

The group’s spokesperson further said that “the Israeli government is using the tremendous loss of Israeli civilian lives to implement a genocidal campaign on the men, women and children of Gaza, ignoring calls of Israelis, including those who just lost their loved ones, to stop.”

“We mourn the indescribable loss of life, and call for massive pressure upon the Israeli government to agree to a prisoner and hostage exchange immediately, and for a safe humanitarian corridor to be created for medical teams and supplies, electricity and fuel. Please help us stop this catastrophe, which is costing the lives of thousands and destroying the vision of a just and safe future for the region.”

The letter is still collecting signatures here: https://act.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/a/israelis-demand-ceasefire

Contact information: Jews4decol@yahoo.co

UPDATE on Gaza Workers: 900 arrested by Occupation forces in West Bank

Detained Gaza workers in Al-Khalil. Credit: Palestinian media

We have heard that 900 of the Gazans working in Israel have been arrested over the past two days. Amongst those detained are 30 of the 45 men we saw in Hebron. They were arrested by the Occupation forces on the night of October 16 – 17.

Some Gazan workers had been welcomed in a Ramallah hostel two nights before. The hostel was raided by the P. A. , but the men had already left and they escaped detention.

70 workers have arrived in Farr’ea, the refugee camp near Tubas. These people also tell of roadside shootings and slaughtered families.
In Tubas itself there are currently around 130 men. Destitute, they cannot move around because of the increased number of checkpoints in the area. An independent trade union movement is providing for their basic needs, but more help is urgently needed, especially since many more are expected to arrive over the coming days.
Local activists hope to get them to nearby farms where they can find work. These men’s only wish is to return to their families in Gaza. Tragically, this might not be possible in a near future.

 

Childhood is being killed in Palestine

15 October, 2023 | International Solidarity Movement | Tulkarm

By Diana Khwaelid

The 16-year-old martyr Mohammed Adwan was fatally wounded by a live bullet fired by an Israeli soldier while participating in a demonstration in solidarity with Gaza that took place last Friday, 13th of October, 2023.
Mohammed answered the call to participate in a demonstration organized by the youth of the village of Far’oun, south of the city of Tulkarm. Last Friday was one of anger in all cities of the world, and Mohammed could not sit at home. He went out to meet the call and express in his own way his solidarity with the people of Gaza as Israel was bombing civilian homes in the Strip.
Mohammed was a student studying at Far’oun Secondary School. The occupation killed his dreams and ambition.

Mohammed was fatally injured, although he was unarmed: the occupation does not distinguish between big and small, and it shoots at the young
demonstrators nevertheless. Mohammed’s injury was between moderate and serious, but his small, thin body could not withstand it. He died from his wounds a day later. Mohammed is the first son in the family, he has another brother and two sisters, his family said goodbye to him with moments of oppression and sadness.

Dozens of Palestinians in the village participated in the funeral of the child martyr Mohammed Adwan and chanted Palestinian patriotic phrases in a state of anger, sadness and oppression, as the occupation forces continue to kill and shed the blood of
Palestinian youth, especially children.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 1000 children, a third of whom infants, were killed in Gaza since Saturday, 7th of October. 43% of Gaza’s population is younger than 14 years-old.

Revenge attacks in Masafer Yatta

Mohammed Hathaleen, a disabled resident of Umm al-Khair who was shot at by Israeli soldiers next to the settlement fence of Carmel (pictured behind)

 

16 October, 2023 | International Solidarity Movement | Masafer Yatta 

In the week since Israel began its onslaught on Gaza, soldiers and settlers have bulldozed homes, carried out night raids and attacked Palestinians across the Masafer Yatta region.

Occupation forces have taken advantage of the state of emergency to escalate their violence and displacement of Palestinians in the southern region of the West Bank.

Olive trees have also been uprooted and rampaging settlers have opened fire on shepherds and villagers.

Villagers in Umm al-Khair have been documenting the growing number of attacks by settlers in Masafer Yatta. The community shared this information with ISM, which we are reporting here.

On October 7, settlers set up road blocks throughout Masafer Yatta, preventing villagers from accessing vital services and disrupting their daily lives.

On the same day, a group of settlers entered the village of Khalet Adabe, attacking one resident and breaking his arm.

On Tuesday, October 10, settlers in military uniforms entered Umm al Khair and proceeded to detain the young people of the village, checking their IDs and confiscating cell phones.

The settlers claimed that they had seen someone from the village walking ‘dangerously’ close to the fence surrounding the settlement of Carmel. This turned out to be Mohammed Hathaleen, a disabled man, who was left with severe brain damage after being brutally beaten by Carmel settlers 23 years ago.

“Mohammad currently lives in a state of unawareness of his surroundings,” his brother Tariq Hathaleen said. “In his condition, he is unable to perceive or react to danger, particularly when walking near the settlement fence.

“It’s difficult to fathom or even endure such an accusation, given that the Carmel settlement is located merely one metre from Umm al-Khair village.”

The settlers left with a warning that they would shoot anyone who comes in close proximity to the fence that separates the settlements from the village.

On Monday, October 16, the village of Umm al-Khair was terrorised once again when a military patrol stopped and soldiers pointed their guns at Mohammed Hathaleen. They are said to have put down their guns after villagers shouted at them to stop.

Carmel was built in 1981 on the doorstep of Umm al-Khair, a Bedouin village that has lived under constant threat of demolition for many years.

Also on Tuesday (October 10), settlers accompanied by the military demolished five Palestinian homes and two animal barns in the village of Simri.

On Wednesday, October 11, several villagers including Susyiah, at-Tuwani, Adirat, Umm Al-Khair, Al-Karmel and Ajawaiah came under gunfire by settlers.

A military patrol also opened fire on a shepherd near the village of at-Tuwani without warning. He was left unharmed but two of his sheep were shot and injured.

As previously reported by ISM, a settler shot at-Tuwani resident Zakarya Adra in the stomach on Friday, October 13.

Hathaleen continued: “What is happening is unlike anything before; nobody can predict what tomorrow may bring. There seem to be no openings for hope or a clear vision of tomorrow at this time.

“As the ordeal enters its second week, the people endure immense suffering, despite limited media coverage of these distressing events. It begs the question: How much longer must Palestinians endure before the world takes notice and acts?”