Tag: Demonstration - Page 55 - International Solidarity Movement

Demonstration in Ya’bad is violently repressed by Israeli forces

21st November 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Ya’bad, Occupied Palestine

Yesterday in the village of Ya’bad, a peaceful protest was violently repressed by Israeli forces through the use of tear gas canisters, stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets. Demonstrators were directly targeted by Israeli soldiers, five Palestinians were injured and two were arrested.

Yesterday morning at approximately 10:00, six international activists from several solidarity organisations joined around 100 inhabitants of Ya’bad village in a peaceful march on a restricted road at the edge of the village. The event had been organized to protest against settler and soldier harassment. Illegal settlers recently cut down 67 olive trees in front of Israeli soldiers who did nothing to prevent their actions. Soldiers then later forbid Ya’bad residents access to the road that links Tulkarm to Jenin with no justification. Moreover, according to a source from the local municipality, the Israeli army often uses the village itself as a training ground for military maneuvers during the night.

The protest march started quietly, with a few speeches from the demonstrators to the media, in front of the ruined olive trees. Less than ten minutes later the first military jeep arrived, immediately giving the order that the protesters should leave the forbidden road. The demonstrators refused and continued their march.

Shortly after this, two other military jeeps and a larger military vehicle entered the village. After several minutes of the peaceful protest continuing, filmed by local media, the first stun grenades were thrown in the middle of the gathering, immediately followed by shots of tear gas canisters and rubber-coated steal bullets. Israeli forces were extremely aggressive in their attack, five Palestinians were injured after being shot with tear gas canisters and rubber-coated steel bullets, three of whom required hospital treatment.

While the demonstrators were taking care of the injured people, the Israeli soldiers took the opportunity to arrest two protesters with absolutely no legal justification.

Israeli forces continued their attack, forcing the demonstration back in to the village. As the villagers were returning to Ya’bad, the soldiers broke into a Palestinian home and took up position on the rooftop where they remained for a number of hours.

Despite the arrests and injuries from this this action, a Palestinian source confirmed the village deemed it a success, the demonstrators openly refused a direct order from the Israeli army and stayed peaceful in the face of violent aggression.

Israeli forces attempt to end the peaceful demonstration (photo by ISM).

Photos: Gaza families and supporters rally for Palestinians detained by Israel

19th November 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Gaza Team | Gaza, Occupied Palestine

Families and supporters of Palestinian detainees gather in the Red Cross' Gaza courtyard every Monday morning. (Photo by Joe Catron) — Families and supporters of Palestinian detainees gather in the Red Cross’ Gaza courtyard every Monday morning. (Photo by Joe Catron)

On Monday morning, families and supporters of Palestinian detainees held a weekly sit-in in the courtyard of the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Gaza office.

The regular event, launched by two detainees’ mothers in 1995, demands the freedom of Palestinian prisoners and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Photos of Israeli tear gas canisters fired at Palestinian demonstrators in the Gaza ‘buffer zone’

17th November 2013 | Corporate Watch, Tom Anderson and Therezia Cooper | Gaza, Occupied Palestine

Palestinians demonstrate in the buffer zone East of Gaza City on the anniversary of the signing of the Balfour Declaration. (Photo by ISM Gaza) — Palestinians demonstrate in the buffer zone East of Gaza City on the anniversary of the signing of the Balfour Declaration. (Photo by ISM – Gaza team)

On 2nd November 2013 Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinians demonstrating in the Gaza buffer zone East of Gaza City, by the Nahal Oz checkpoint. A report of the demonstration by an eyewitness can be viewed here. Pictures of one of the canisters fired at the activists are shown below.

Corporate Watch has written several articles about Israel’s use of tear gas in the West Bank. Some of our previous work can be found here and here.

This canister looks a little different to the ones that we have seen in the West Bank, particularly because it is encased in a hard plastic shell. We do not have any evidence to determine which company supplied these canisters to the Israeli military. However, we know that tear gas canisters manufactured by Combined Systems (CSI) in the US and Defense Technologies, previously owned by the British arms giant BAE systems and now owned by the US firm Safariland, have been used by the Israeli police and army in the past.

It is imperative that BDS campaigners take action against companies selling tear gas to Israel.

Combined Systems can be contacted at:

388 Kinsman Road, Jamestown, PA 16134

Safariland can be contacted at:

Ontario Headquaters:
Safariland
3120 E. Mission Blvd.
Ontario, CA 91761

Jacksonville Headquarters:
Safariland
13386 International Parkway
Jacksonville, FL 32218

Gas canister fired at Palestinian demonstrators in the buffer zone on 2/11/13. (Photo by Corporate Watch)

The three separate pieces of the canister fired at Palestinian demonstrators in the buffer zone – 2/11/13. (Photo by Corporate Watch)

Several injuries during Bi’lin weekly demonstration

16th October 2013 | Friends of Freedom and Justice | Bil’in, Occupied Palestine

Yesterday during the weekly Bi’lin demonstration, an Egyptian photographer was injured after being shot by a tear gas canister in his back, Ismaeil Mohamed Abu Rahma (17-years-old) was shot by three rubber bullets in his back and Mohamed Hamed (21-years-old) suffered from tear gas spray in his eyes. Dozens of citizens of Bil’in and international activists suffered from tear gas inhalation in the weekly march against settlements and the apartheid wall.

The march was organized by the Popular Struggle Committee to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the martyrdom of President Yasser Arafat and in commemoration of the 25 ^th anniversary of the announcement of the Declaration of Independence.

The demonstration started from the center of the village, where participants lead Friday prayers on the Abu Lemon liberated territory. Many Palestinian national leaders and several delegations from other Arab countries participated in the march as well as people from Bil’in, Israeli and international activists. The participants raised Palestinian flags and pictures of Yasser Arafat and chanted songs calling for national unity, resistance against the occupation and the release of the prisoners from the occupation jails.

Upon the arrival to the gate of the apartheid wall, dozens of Israeli solders were waiting for the protesters. They shot rubber-coated steel bullets, many canisters of tear gas and stun grenades toward the demonstrators, chasing them through the fields up t the outskirts of the village. Clashes broke out and continued nonstop for more than three hours. The Israeli forces also attacked the journalists present, damaging three cars during the demonstration.

The three injured activists from this demonstration are are recovering and the people of Bi’lin will continue their struggle against the occupation.

Israeli army assaults Arafat memorial march

12th November 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Kafr Qaddum, Occupied Palestine

The residents of Kafr Qaddum held their annual anniversary demonstration marking Yasser Arafat’s death, despite strong repression from the Israeli army.

At approximately 2:30 pm, Palestinian demonstrators and international activists assembled in front of the illegal settlement of Qedumim. After about 30 minutes, the Israeli army began shooting a huge amount of tear gas into the fields and on the main road, trying to prevent the demonstrators to exercise their right to protest and express their opinion.

After one hour of sustained tear gas fire, part of the demonstration slowly moved back to the middle of the street as the soldiers were taking position on the top of the hill in order to better target the demonstrators. A few demonstrators stayed on the road, facing the rest of the soldiers. Suddenly, the Israeli army started throwing stones, followed by more stun grenades and tear gas rained down on the Palestinians citizens of Kafr Qaddum.

Despite the continued Israeli assault, the demonstration lasted until 5:00 pm. Two Palestinian citizens were injured, both on the legs. One of them, directly hit by a tear gas canister, has been admitted to Nablus hospital.