Tag: Arrests

Release the Palestinian activists arrested in al-Ma’sara

4 May 2009

After arrests and injuries on Workers Day, Palestinian workers and activists call on trade unions around the globe to increase solidarity

On May 1, people from the village of al-Ma’sara and the neighbouring villages in Bethlehem area commemorated Workers Day with a march in protest against the Apartheid Wall. The Wall continues to encroach on their land and isolates their villages. The demonstration and Workers Day festival was organized by the popular committees of the Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign in al Ma’sara and Bethlehem district, in cooperation with the Bethlehem branch of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU).

Israeli Occupation forces repressed the mobilization and fired on the crowd with tear gas, sound bombs and rubber coated steel bullets. Nine people were injured, among them the head of the PGFTU, Shaher Sa’ad. Soldiers arrested ‘Azmi Sheukhi from Hebron, Mustafa Fawagreh from Um Salamoneh and Muhammed Brajiya, Mahmoud Zawahreh, Hasan Brajiya, all members of the popular committee in al Ma’sara. They are still held in prison.

The events of May 1 are the latest of a strategy of escalation implemented over the last months by the Occupation forces and which has lead to increased arrests, injuries and deaths among the coordinators and activists against the Apartheid Wall.

Several weeks ago, Basem Abu Rahmeh was shot and killed in the village of Bil’in while last week, 37 people were injured in similar protests. Ni’lin suffers regular invasions and arrests. This Friday, Occupation forces took over several homes as military bases. In February, Occupation forces staged a full day raid detaining 75 youth and arresting 16. The occupation forces regularly impose curfews and other collective punishment measures.

International trade unions must act in the face of these attacks on trade unionists, workers and villagers.

The popular committee against the Apartheid Wall of al Ma’sara and Bethlehem district, the Bethlehem branch of the PGFTU and the Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign call upon trade unions across the globe to:

  • Demand the release of the Palestinian activists arrested on Workers Day.
  • Raise awareness about the land theft and ghettoization of Palestinian communities through the Wall and the grassroots resistance against it.
  • Support the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and promote concrete BDS actions to hold Israel accountable for its crimes and force it to respect Palestinian rights.

Popular committee against the Apartheid Wall of al Ma’sara and Bethlehem district
Bethlehem branch of the PGFTU
Palestinian grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign

Israeli forces invade Nil’in and kidnap one resident

30 April 2009

In the early morning on Thursday, 30 April 2009, around 2.45 am, the Israeli army invaded Ni’lin. Soldiers entered the home of Hussein Mohammad al Khawadja, 21, blindfolded him and took him away. The soldiers tried to take another man as well, but he wasn’t at home. The army stayed in the center of Ni’lin throwing sound bombs and tear gas until 4.15 am.

The al Khawadja family were awoken by soldiers forcefully pounding at their door. About 10 soldiers entered their home, forcing them, including the small children to get up from their beds, and go into the living room. The soldiers pointed their weapons at them and Hussein was kicked and assaulted while still in bed.

“His studies are very important for him. I’m worried Hussein now will miss his final exams and therefore can´t continue next year.” – Hussein’s mother

After half an hour, Hussein was blindfolded and taken away from his home. An officer, who called himself Captain Foad, made cruel jokes to the terrify the family, insulting them by pretending Hussein would be taken on a joyful trip.

During the invasion, the army fired tear gas and sound bombs, keeping the residents of Ni’lin awake. Several young men decided to go out and protest against the presence of the army by shouting and throwing stones. One young man was hit in his leg with a tear gas canister and had to be taken to a doctor for medical treatment. The invasion lasted until 4.15 am, when the army left the village.

Hussein Mohammad al Khawadja , a university student in Abu Dis, is the 70th resident of Ni’lin to be arrested on allegations of participation in demonstrations against the Apartheid Wall.

Israeli soldiers arrest journalist, close village of Um al Kheir

Christian Peacemaker Team

24 April 2009

[Note: According to the Geneva Conventions, the International Court of Justice in the Hague, and numerous United Nations resolutions, all Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal. Most settlement outposts are considered illegal under Israeli law.]

On 23 April Israeli soldiers arrested a Palestinian journalist in the village of Um al Kheir and declared the village a closed military zone after settlers from the nearby settlement of Karmel resumed construction of a road on Palestinian land. The proposed road passes within a few meters of Palestinian homes, animal enclosures and gardens. Due to a pending legal action in Israeli court filed by Um al Kheir villagers, settlers had previously suspended construction but resumed the work Thursday afternoon.

When he observed internationals filming the road construction, the Karmel settlement security guard called the Israeli military. Soldiers arrived
quickly, and when internationals asked for an explanation, they were told to wait for police. Police arrived shortly and stated that the bulldozer
was being used for “military work.” At 12:00pm, an officer arrived in a second military jeep and declared the area a closed military zone for 24 hours. Soldiers forced the journalists and internationals to leave, and arrested a journalist who did not leave immediately.

Villagers from Um al Kheir reported on Friday that work on the road had been suspended, but stated that they feared it would resume in a few days time. A legal complaint filed by the village states that the proposed road is an expansion of the settlement of Karmel and is therefore illegal. Um al Kheir residents have witnessed substantial expansion of Karmel settlement in recent months. The contested road is planned to surround
the existing settlement, effectively expanding its borders.

The Palestinian villagers of Um al Kheir bought the land on which the village now lies fifty years ago, when the state of Israel was created. At that time they were forced to flee their homes in the area south of Arad.

The village of Um al Kheir has also experienced recent settler violence and harassment. On 10 April four male settlers attacked three women from the village as the women grazed sheep near the village. One of the women, who is eight months pregnant, required hospitalization for a serious injury to her arm. The women have filed a legal complaint against the four settlers.

The residents of Um al Kheir remain committed to nonviolent resistance to settler harassment and settlement expansion.

Israeli forces abduct Gazan fishermen

ISM Gaza | Fishing Under Fire

21 April 2009

At least 4 Palestinian fishermen were abducted and 2 fishing boats stolen today by the Israeli navy in yet another act of piracy. According to initial unconfirmed information provided by their colleagues, the abducted hassaka fishermen are Khader Al Saedee and Saleem Al Noaman from Gaza, while Raed Athman and Mohammed Awada are from Rafah and were onboard a motor hassaka.

Since the end of the recent onslaught on Gaza, at least 28 fishermen have been abducted, 13 fishing boats stolen and not returned and at least 5 fishermen have been injured in the sea whilst others have reportedly been injured on the shore.

Settler boys collide, Palestinian boy jailed

13 April 2009

Tel Rumeida, Hebron – After 2 settlers boys collided on their bicycles, a 16 year old Palestinian who was not involved in the accident was arrested and has remained in prison for 3 days so far. His accuser is a son of Baruch Marzel, the leader of the far-right Jewish National Front and the former leader of Kach, which is now outlawed and is considered a terrorist organization by the EU, the US, and Israel.

On Monday, April 13th, the 2 settler boys of about 10 -12 years old were riding their bicycles through the Tel Rumeida neighborhood when the bikes collided. 1 of the boys, identified by observers as a son of Baruch Marzel, injured his ankle or leg in the accident. A local Palestinian shopkeeper noticed the injured boy and alerted nearby Israeli soldiers. The soldiers spoke with the injured Marzel boy, who falsely accused the young Palestinian nearby of injuring him, and the Palestinian was then detained. The injured settler went home, presumably alerting his father of the accusations, and the elder Marzel returned with a group of male settlers, including other sons of his, who were hostile and physically threatening by observers’ accounts. As the soldiers spoke with the group of angry settlers, the 16 year old Palestinian fled, worried about his physical well-being.
The soldiers began looking for the Palestinian shortly after he left, asking Tel Rumeida residents the boy’s name and house. The following day, on April 14th at about 7 P.M., he was arrested and taken to Jerusalem then returned to Hebron the same day, where he remains in the Kiryat Arba police station. Police told the boy’s father that he would be released the following day, the 15th. The next day, police told the boy’s father that his son would be released the 16th. On the 16th the boy’s father was told that his son would come before a judge on the 19th, and will remain in prison until then.

The lawyer of Baruch Marzel informed the father of the imprisoned Palestinian boy that charges would be dropped if the Palestinian family paid Marzel 4000 shekels. Knowing that his son did nothing wrong, the father of the imprisoned boy refused on principle.