Tag: Bil’in - Page 5 - International Solidarity Movement

Thank you, Ibrahim is home

23rd November 2014 | International Solidarity Movement | Bil’in, Occupied Palestine

The Bil’in Popular Committee would like to thank everyone who supported Ibrahim Abu-Rahma, the 15-year-old boy who was arrested on September 14^thwhile walking to school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBcY-L8WYGA

A military judge ruled that he could be released on a 5000 NIS bail, and Ibrahim is now at home with his family.

ISM placed a call for donations to pay the bail, and thankfully 2100 NIS was raised. The remaining money, 2900 NIS, was lent to the family and we would like to support them in paying it back.

Bil’in village has been diligently protesting Israel’s theft of their land and the construction of settlements and the apartheid wall, for the past 10 years. All families in the village have paid a high price of resistance to a brutal military occupation. The Abu-Rahma family has lost two family members, Bassem and Jawaher, as a direct result of soldier violence. The young men and boys of the village are constantly targeted for arrests.

Any amount helps. Please donate here https://palsolidarity.org/donate/ and send an email to lumalayan@yahoo.com with “Ibrahim Abu-Rahma” in the subject line telling us the sum you have sent.

In solidarity,

ISM

Human Rights Defender Abdallah Abu Rahma receives guilty verdict from military court

21st October 2014 | International Solidarity Movement | Bil’in, Occupied Palestine

On October 21st, Human Rights Defender Abdallah Abu Rahma was found guilty by an Israeli military court of “disturbing a soldier”.

“Demonstrating against the occupation cannot be a criminal offence. Finding Abdallah guilty only shows that the [Israeli] military force is a tool to perpetuate the occupation.” Stated Gabi Lasky, lawyer of Abdallah Abu Rahma, to the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).

Abdallah at a demonstration in Bil'in on November 9th, 2012. — Abdallah at a demonstration in Bil’in on November 9th, 2012.

Abdallah spoke to the ISM about his recent conviction. “Yesterday the military court ruled that I was guilty, showing once again that they stand on the side of the occupation, and not that of truth and justice.

I was arrested on the 13th of May 2012 in front of Ofer Military prison at a demonstration commemorating the Nakba and in solidarity with the prisoners, many of who were on hunger strike. I was imprisoned in Ofer for 16 months a year earlier, for my role in the non-violent demonstrations in my village, Bil’in, against the Apartheid wall and settlements built on our land.

This time when I was arrested I was held for a few hours and released on bail, I was not summoned to court until the beginning of 2013, following the success of the popular committees in the construction of the Palestinians villages Bab Al Shams and Bab Al Manatir.”

Abdallah Abu Rahmah is the coordinator of the Bil’in popular committee, which began popular demonstrations against the Apartheid wall and settlements in January 2005. The route of the Apartheid wall originally planned to separate the village form 50% of its agricultural land. As a result of the village’s continued popular struggle, the route was changed and 25% of the village land was effectively annexed by the wall to the illegal settlement of Modiin Elite.

Hundreds of protesters have been arrested and injured by Israeli forces in Bil’in since the popular struggle in the village began. In 2009 during a demonstration, Bassam Abu Rahmah was shot directly in the chest with a high velocity tear-gas projectile, dying of his wounds minutes later. On Januray 1^st 2011, Jawaher Abu Rahmah died of poisoning after inhaling excessive amounts of tear gas during the weekly demonstration the previous day.

Action alert: Arrested on the way to school in Bil’in

23rd September 2013 | International Solidarity Movement | Bil’in, Occupied Palestine

On September 14th at 11:00 in the morning, 15 year-old Ibrahim Abu-Rahma was walking to school with his little brother, 13-year-old Ahmed, in their village of Bil’in. An Israeli army jeep had infiltrated the village and stopped near the boys. The two ran in the opposite direction, only to run into another of the army’s infiltrating units. Ibrahim was grabbed by the soldiers and arrested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBcY-L8WYGA

A military Judge ruled that he could be released on bail. Now, the Bil’in popular committee need 5000 NIS to pay the bail money.

Bil’in village has been diligently protesting Israel’s theft of their land and the construction of settlements and the apartheid wall, for the past 10 years. All families in the village have payed a high price of resistance to a brutal military occupation. The Abu-Rahma family has lost two family members, Bassem and Jawaher, as a direct result of soldier violence. And the young men and boys of the village are constantly targeted for arrests.

Any amount helps. Please donate here https://palsolidarity.org/donate/ and send an email to lumalayan@yahoo.com with “Free Ibrahim” in the subject line telling us the sum you have sent.

In solidarity,

ISM

Tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets, and arrests

19th September 2013 | International Solidarity Movement | Occupied Palestine

Every week, several villages across the West Bank demonstrate against the Israeli occupation of Palestine. This week, ISM activists attended protests in the villages of Bil’in, Ni’lin, and Nabi Saleh.

During the demonstration in Bil’in, Israeli soldiers shot mass amounts of tear gas at peaceful protesters. Many Palestinians and internationals suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation. An Israeli activist, and a Labour Party Councillor traveling withChi Onwurah, the British Member of Parliament for Newcastle, were arrested.

In Ni’lin, north of Ramallah, the Israeli military shot tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at protesters. The army began shooting unprovoked at Palestinians and internationals as soon as the Friday prayer had finished and people and children as young as five year olds were walking in the area. Several Palestinians were still praying when the military attacked.

The Israeli military shot approximately ten tear gas canisters at a time and also fired rubber coated steel bullets and stun grenades. No one was injured in the demonstration today. For the past weeks the military has moved closer to the residential area of the village, locals have raised concerns that the army will soon enter the village during a demonstration.

During the Nabi Saleh demonstration protesters attempted to reach the gate at the entrance to the village which Israeli forces use to close the village off from the rest of the West Bank. Israeli forces fired many rubber-coated steel bullets at demonstrators and used excessive amounts of tear gas. Several people were injured by rubber coated steel bullets. Many protesters also suffered from the effects of the tear gas, which resulted in a Palestinian women being taken to hospital for tear gas inhalation, she was later released.

Two activists arrested during Bil’in protest

In celebration of victory in Gaza, and the thirteenth anniversary of the martyrdom of Abu Ali Mustafa this week, two activists were arrested at the Bil’in demonstration. Further to this dozens of demonstrators suffered from inhalation of tear gas.

Soldiers fire tear gas canisters from behind the wall (photo by Sameer Bornat) — Soldiers fire tear gas canisters from behind the wall (photo by FFJ Media Center)

The demonstration protests the Zionist military Occupation, against the Apartheid Wall and the policies of Israeli colonization. The inhabitants of the village are protesting against the consequences of the regime of Apartheid, joined by internationals in solidarity with the resistance of the people of Bil’in.

Demonstrators in Bil'in (photo by Sameer Bornat) — Demonstrators in Bil’in (photo by FFJ Media Center)

Today the army and border police forces were waiting for demonstrators, not behind the wall as usual, but in the hills and fields. The Israeli Occupation Forces brutally repressed the demo. Israeli Military forces fired hundreds of tear gas canisters at participants. They also shot a lot of tear gas towards members of the press.

Tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets, and stun grenades were fired by the Israeli Occupation forces from the Apartheid Wall, and from a jeep that invaded the village. Israeli occupation forces also tried to arrest protesters who attempted to peacefully reach the wall. Further to this they followed the participants who were trying to run away shooting tear gas canisters at them and then arresting two activists.