Tag: Demonstration - Page 45 - International Solidarity Movement

Prisoner solidarity in Hebron

7th June 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Khalil team | Hebron, Occupied Palestine

Since the Palestinian prisoners began their hunger strike, there has been a protest each week in al-Khalil (Hebron). The majority of these demonstrations have been in the H1 area (under Palestinian Authority civil and security control), not directly against the Israeli military. However, On Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th this last week, there were two actions against the Israeli forces in al-Khalil.

On Wednesday at the entrance of al-Khalil, near the city of Halhul, an action was organised with the intention of marching down road 60. After approximately 100 meters, Israeli forces began to fire tear gas canisters, stun grenades, and spray the demonstrators with ‘skunk’ (chemical) water. The protest was pushed back, and when they tried to continue they were once again sprayed with skunk water. This happened several times before clashes broke out between the Israeli military and the local Palestinian youths. The military then sprayed the insides of local shops and homes with skunk water, as a form of collection punishment. During the action, many people were treated for tear gas inhalation by paramedics, and one protester was injured after being shot with a tear gas canister.

On Thursday the 5th, the demonstration was held in Bab al Baladia in the H2 area (under Israeli military civil and security control) of al-Khalil. Approximately 40 people gathered to demonstrate, though were stopped by the Israeli army after just 50 meters. Shaheed Fahme, a local activist, was arrested by the army, who thew many stun grenades towards the protesters. A spokesperson from both the demonstrations spoke to ISM activists and stateed that the belief is that direct action is one of the most effective ways for spreading the prisoner solidarity message to the rest of the world.

Photo story: Palestinians march in Tulkarem to defend their right of return

31th May 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus team | Tulkarem, Occupied Palestine

On the morning of the 31st of May, several buses filled with Palestinian and international activists from across the West Bank gathered in Tulkarem to march towards the Natanya checkpoint, used only by the Israeli military forces.

Political groups, Palestinian civil society and Popular Resistance Committees named this action as the “March of Return”. Their aim was to defend their right of return and were united under the following slogan: “Our return is inevitable: Freedom for Al Aqsa (Jerusalem) and the prisoners”.

Once the buses arrived in Tulkarem, the activists marched several hundred meters to arrive at the checkpoint. Several protesters gathered at the gates of the checkpoint and began chanting, others spray-painted messages onto the apartheid wall [declared illegal by the International Court of Justice in 2004], while other activists used heavy craft hammers to damage it.

A few tear gas canisters were shot soon after the demonstration reached the gates of the checkpoint, enough to break up the protesters into two groups. One of these tear gas canisters caused a fire in a nearby field. Then, several “warning” shots were fired into the air with live ammunition and Israeli forces then fired large amounts of tear gas canisters. Tear gas projectiles were fired at the crowd.

Political groups, Palestinian civil society and Popular Resistance Committees marched together to defend the right of return (photo by ISM).

Among the organizations involved there were also women's unions (photo by ISM). — Among the organizations involved there were also women’s unions (photo by ISM).

Activist carries a heavy craft hammer that was later used to damage the apartheid wall (photo by ISM).

Public speeches and chanting in front of the military checkpoint (photo by ISM).

Palestinian women and men chanting at the gates of Natanya military checkpoint (photo by ISM).

Two heavy craft hammers were used during the action to damage the apartheid wall near the checkpoint. Other protesters also had enough time to spray-paint messages onto the wall (photo by ISM).

Israeli soldiers leave their positions at the checkpoint to fire teargas projectiles and canisters at the demonstrators. At least two people received a direct impact from teargas projectiles that were fired at the crowd (photo by ISM).

Highly concentrated teargas was fired frequently during the demonstration. Eye irritation was commonplace and as many as 20 people had to be attended by paramedics due to suffocation (photo by ISM).

Tear gas canisters being shot at protesters (photo by ISM).

Protesters regrouping after a first attack by Israeli soldiers. The man on the left is holding an “ice pack” underneath his arm, he was shot with a tear gas projectile and his arm was visibly swollen after the demonstration (photo by ISM).

Palestinian youth attempted to build tire barricades but were soon ambushed by Israeli soldiers. Jeeps and armored vehicles drove at high speed from behind and surrounded some protesters, at that point one youth (20 years old) was arrested (photo by ISM).

VIDEO: Violating the land they do not own: Kufr ad-Dik resists

25th May 2014 | International Women’s Peace Service | Kufr ad-Dik, Occupied Palestine

It was so different this time around.
It had gotten much worse.

There was not one occupation bulldozer but four; the whole hilltop to the East of the Palestinian village of Kufr ad-Dik (Salfit governorate) had been flattened, huge rocks stacked to the side to make way for a new illegal Israeli colony intended to fill the gap between the illegal colony of Ariel and others in the area.

Only a week ago the village achieved a small yet meaningful victory, when an occupation bulldozer was made leave the hilltop without raping the land. However, it came back three days later accompanied by some 40 soldiers to protect the large number of illegal Israeli colonists who started drilling the land they do not own. Villagers estimate at least 600 dunam (600,000 sq m) of land is currently being stolen, in addition to the thousands already confiscated for Israeli settlement expansion.

At least 400 Palestinians from the neighbouring villages of Biddiya, Sarta, Bruqin, and Kufr ad-Dik itself gathered this morning to pray on their land in protest of Israel’s colonialist project of land theft. The villagers outnumbered the Israeli soldiers present by at least 10:1, yet it was the heavily armed military who attacked unarmed civilians with sound grenades and tear gas canisters. One person was hit in the stomach with a tear gas canister and had to be taken away for medical assistance; seven people were treated for tear gas inhalation.

However, the shebab [youth] claimed their own symbolic victories today. They staged sit-ins next to the machinery that razed their land and put up the Palestinian flag on top of one drilling vehicle; they managed to take off one Israeli flag and get rid of it; and, working quietly behind the soldiers who were busy aiming their rifles at children, they tore down a colonist tent where land thieves gather for their break with a Coca-Cola.

Today’s demonstration in Kufr ad-Dik will probably not change the course of events in the larger Israeli colonial project; yet by resisting it, the Palestinians reinforced their dignity, once again.

Photo by International Women's Peace Service — Photo by International Women’s Peace Service

Improvised field hospital ward in which the injured were treated. Illegal Israeli colony of Bruchin in the background (photo by International Women's Peace Service). — Improvised field hospital ward in which the injured were treated. Illegal Israeli colony of Bruchin in the background (photo by International Women’s Peace Service).

Israeli army attacking unarmed civilians with sound grenades and tear gas (photo by International Women's Peace Service). — Israeli army attacking unarmed civilians with sound grenades and tear gas (photo by International Women’s Peace Service).

Photo story: Nablus rally in solidarity with political prisoners

On the 26^th of May, more than 500 people joined a demonstration in Nablus in solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners and hunger strikers. Starting from the city’s main square, they then marched through some of the main streets of Nablus.

On the 24th of April, over 100 Palestinian political prisoners, many of whom are held under administrative detention, started an open-ended hunger strike. Their hunger strike continues and is entering the 33rd day. More prisoners have joined the campaign, adding up to 125 Palestinian political prisoners currently in hunger strike. Palestinian prisoners are protesting in order to stop the practice of administrative detention, which involves detention orders that can range up to six months and renewed indefinitely. These orders are based on secret information that neither the detainee nor the lawyer have access to, and the widespread use of this practice is against international standards.

Protesters march handcuffed through the streets of Nablus. (Photo by ISM)

Many children participated in the march, handcuffed and blindfolded to symbolize the brutality of Israeli authorities. (Photo by ISM)

Mothers, sisters and wives. Almost every Palestinian woman has or has had at least one relative in jail. (Photo by ISM)

According to Addameer (Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association) there are currently over 5,200 political prisoners under Israeli custody, 186 of them are held under administrative detention. The hunger strike is a protest aimed at ending the use of administrative detention. (Photo by ISM)

“Water and salt”. These are the essential elements necessary for prisoners to undergo a hunger strike. However the Israeli authorities refused to give salt to them for the first three weeks of the strike. (Photo by ISM)

People carrying a coffin. As many prisoners said, they will lead their protest until the Israeli government ends the practice of administrative detention, even if this means death. According to Palestinian media, several detainees have already been taken to hospitals due to critical health conditions. (Photo by ISM)

In the city of Nablus, a tent was erected several weeks ago as a permanent sit-in protest in solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners and hunger strikers. Protests are held almost on a daily basis and provide a forum for both relatives and political parties to have their voices heard.

Photo story: Al-Fwar refugee camp shows support for the political prisoners on hunger strike

25th May 2014 |International Solidarity Movement, Khalil team | Al-Fwar, Occupied Palestine

On the 24th of May, approximately 40 protesters gathered at Al-Fwar refugee camp. The protest was to support the 5,000 political prisoners of whom more than a 180, are on their 30th day of hunger strike.

The protesters walk toward highway 16 (photo by ISM). — The protesters walk toward road 60 (photo by ISM).

An Israeli soldier is about to throw a tear gas granade at the feet of the protesters, to stop them from going further (photo by ISM). — An Israeli soldier is about to throw a tear gas grenade at the feet of the protesters, to stop them from going further (photo by ISM).

Protesters retreat after a tear gas grenade is thrown (photo by ISM). — Protesters retreat after a tear gas grenade is thrown (Photo by ISM).

The demonstrators gathering behind the gate, continuing the protest (photo by ISM).

Even after the protesters were following the soldiers' instructions to stand behind the gate, the soldiers continued to throw tear gas and stun grenades at their feet (photo by ISM). — Even after the protesters were following the soldiers’ instructions to stand behind the gate, the soldiers continued to throw tear gas and stun grenades at their feet. (Photo by ISM)

Protesters running away from a stun-grenade. Standing too close to a stun-grenade when it explodes, can result in hearing loss, concussion and loss of balance. (Photo by ISM) — Protesters running away from a stun grenade. Standing too close to a stun grenade when it explodes, can result in hearing loss, concussion, and loss of balance.
(Photo by ISM)

Throughout the protest the soldiers were firing tear gas, some grenades aimed directly towards the protesters. Being hit by a tear gas canister in the head or other parts of the body, can be fatal. (Photo by ISM) — Throughout the protest the soldiers were firing tear gas canisters and throwing tear gas grenades, some of them aimed directly towards the protesters. Being hit by a tear gas canister in the head or other parts of the body, can be fatal.
(Photo by ISM)

One man was hit in the ankle by a tear gas canister, and treated at the scene. (Photo by ISM) — One man was hit in the ankle by a tear gas canister, and treated at the scene.
(Photo by ISM)

The protest was successful in the sense that their message was expressed strongly and non-violently, despite the extreme violence of the Israeli soldiers and border police.

A local resident of Al-Fwar refugee camp told ISM, that three teenagers aged 13-14 were arrested in the past week. Their parents haven’t been allowed to see them or speak with them since, although a lawyer had told the parents that they are in Ofer prison. According to the lawyer there have been eight child arrests recently.