8th anniversary of the death of Vittorio Arrigoni

16th April 2019 | International Solidarity Movement, al-Khalil team | Gaza, occupied Palestine

This week marks the 8th anniversary of the death of Vittorio Arrigoni, a journalist and an italian activist working with the International Solidarity Movement in Gaza. On April 16th 2011, when Arrigoni was 36 years old, his body was found in Gaza city, only a few hours after “The Brigade of the Gallant Companion of the Prophet Mohammad bin Muslima”, a Salafist group operating in Gaza, released the video where he was blindfolded and wounded. His alleged murderers were arrested and sentenced to 15 years after appealing their sentences.

Vittorio Arrigoni spent three years inside Gaza, working with peoples who’s lives were affected by the blockade of the area. He witnessed and documented the effects of the Israeli blockade and the continuous human rights abuse in the area. He was a committed ISM activist which also made him a target for arrest and harassment by the Israeli forces, but also lead him to different demonstrations and protests around Gaza.

After breaking the blockade in 2008, Arrigoni described that moment as being on of the happiest of his life, as “it became clear, not only to the world, but Palestinians also, that there are people who are willing to spend their lives to come and hug their brothers here in Gaza.”.

On the 8th anniversary of his passing, when Gaza remains besieged by the occupation, we still remember Vittorio through his words and actions and hope to continue our work through the example that he set us.

“We must remain human, even in the most difficult times …
Because, despite everything, there must always be humanity within us. We have to bring it to others.”
Vittorio Arrigoni
4th February 1975 – 15th April 2011

School Children bombarded with teargas by soldiers in Al-Khalil

April 14, 2019 | International Solidarity Movement, Al-Khalil team | Al-Khalil (Hebron), occupied Palestine

Israeli occupation forces shoot huge amounts of tear gas at school children near Al-Salaymeh checkpoint in Al-Khalil.  Soldiers further confiscate the car keys of every Palestinian driver in the area.

 

Soldiers invade Al-Khalil, bombarding the city with tear gas and stun grenades. Tear gas is seen in the background.
Soldiers invade Al-Khalil, bombarding the city with tear gas and stun grenades.

Around 8am soldiers shot tear gas and stun grenades at school children near Al-Salaymeh checkpoint. Forcing the children back with tear gas, the soldiers moved closer to the schools, while continuously throwing tear gas and stun grenades. At one point the soldiers tried to enter a school, but the principal convinced them not to. As protests erupted, the soldiers closed off all traffic, while confiscating the keys of all Palestinian drivers.

Several of the young children were visibly scared, but thankfully no one was seriously injured, although many suffered the effects of excessive tear gas inhalation. The press was told to leave several times.

The soldiers retired behind the checkpoint around 10.30am.

Protesters Attacked by Israeli Forces in Ras Karkar

April 12, 2019 | International Solidarity Movement, Ramallah team | Ras Karkar, occupied Palestine

This Friday, protesters from the villages around Mount al-Risan and were gassed by Israeli forces as illegal settlers watched on. Shortly after prayers finished, between 20 and 30 soldiers and border police surrounded protesters, shooting rounds of teargas directly at them. Some Israeli forces descended through the hills through the olive groves, others stood with illegal settlers and watched on as Palestinians and internationals were attacked.

Medics attended to a man whose hand was burned by a gas canister.

In 2018, settlers invaded land atop al-Risan Mountain, which overlooks the three villages Ras Karkar, Kafr Ni’ma and Kharbatha Bani Harith. Since then local Palestinians have gathered in a valley below the mountain every Friday to non-violently protest the theft of their land, trying each week to get past occupation forces who now keep them from accessing it.

 

 

Soldiers invade Al-Khalil; fire live ammunition at protesters

April 5, 2019 | International Solidarity Movement, Al-Khalil team | Al-Khalil (Hebron), occupied Palestine

Israeli occupation forces storm into Al-Khalil and fire live ammunition at protesters after bombarding the city with tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber-coated steel bullets.

Three soldiers point guns at press and protesters while a taxi drives by

Around 1pm soldiers invaded Al-Khalil through checkpoint 56. The soldiers fired stun grenades at protesters. Immediately following the stun grenades, the soldiers fired tear gas into the street–forcing the protesters and press personnel to move. As the tear gas disappeared, protests continued. The Israeli soldiers then proceeded to shoot protestors with rubber-coated steel bullets while continuing to fire stun grenades at protesters.

At one point the soldiers switched from rubber-coated steel bullets to live ammunition. For approximately an hour soldiers fired live ammunition and stun grenades at Palestinian protesters until eventually retiring behind the checkpoint, which was closed to the public at this time.

The protests arose again and the soldiers fired several rounds of tear gas and shot rubber-coated steel bullets. During the invasion they also threw stun grenades at the press.

 

Join ISM: Training in Dublin, Ireland, April 27, 2019

Women marching toward Khan al-Ahmar

ISM Ireland is offering a day of pre-training for prospective volunteers who are interested in joining the International Solidarity Movement on the ground in Palestine. All volunteers are required to participate in training before joining activities in Palestine.

Attending the training session in Dublin will give you a chance to get a first impression of ISM and the kind of work we do, receive training, connect with former volunteers and have your questions answered. It is a chance to learn about how Palestinians are working against the occupation and how we as internationals can work in solidarity with them using a variety of tactics.

Attending the training is not a commitment to go to Palestine, although many who have attended the training in the past have decided to go.

The training will take place on April 27, 2019:
Time: 10:30-16
Venue: Jigsaw, 10 Belvedere Court, Dublin 1, D01 E726

To sign up for the training, please contact ism.dublin@protonmail.com