Tag: H1

Israeli military conducts illegal operations in Tel Rumeida, Hebron

by Wyatt Black

31 December 2012 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

The Israeli occupation forces have shown a large amount of aggression recently in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood of Al Khalil (Hebron). Three Palestinian homes near the ancient Jewish cemetery were entered and searched on the 30 December. Another apartment rented by internationals had soldiers attempting to forcibly enter that same night, the armies’ alleged reason was to get onto the roof.

Today (31 December) Israeli army personnel entered deep into the H1 Palestinian-controlled area of the neighborhood at 4 pm and apprehended a person at a shop who was using a knife for his work. They detained him for more than an hour, during that time he was kept blindfolded.

The Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron of 1997 cites that “Israel will continue to carry the responsibility for overall security of Israelis” and that “both sides reiterate their commitment to maintain normal life throughout the City of Hebron and to prevent any provocation or friction that may affect the normal life in the city.” In the above described case there is no doubt the Israeli military overstepped their bounds. There was no security threat to any Israeli, therefore apprehending anyone or entering any place was a clear violation of the Oslo III agreement.

When activists arrived at the scene there was no explanation given by the Israeli army for why they handcuffed the Palestinian worker and put him into a police car. The army commander demanded instead that the international asking questions hand over his passport. When the international refused and asked for a police officer, the commander insisted upon having it, even though he has no right to obtain such identification.

In addition threats have been made by soldiers to internationals living in Tel Rumeida. Sound bombs have been used at night in the H1 area around Palestinian homes as well and there have been unconfirmed reports of beatings inflicted to Palestinians by the army.

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Israeli soldiers in H1 and H2 area in Hebron

 

Wyatt Black is a volunteer with International Solidarity Movement (name has been changed)

 

Homes searched during Israeli incursion in H1 Hebron

by Team Khalil

16 December 2012 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

One Palestinian was arrested and many were harassed by Israeli soldiers on Sunday evening between 6pm and 7:30 pm during an incursion into the Palestinian Authority controlled area of Hebron.

Israeli occupation forces entered the Tel Rumeida area in H1. Homes and shops were searched, and a Palestinian teenager was restrained in handcuffs and blindfolded. The targeting of this person did  not appear to be based on any evidence. The soldiers illegal actions were an aggressive response to an incident in which a Palestinian allegedly threw a glass bottle at a watchtower.

During the excursion families, ranging from infants to elderly men and women, were made to stand on the street, vehicles were stopped and searched by the soldiers, and businessmen were made to come out of their places of work for interrogation.

The soldiers tried to raid one apartment that is rented by internationals despite possessing no legal documents authorizing a search. The civilians filmed as much of the harassment as possible in the dark and were repeatedly instructed to move 30, then 40 metres away.

When activists questioned the soldiers on their right to be in the area they were ordered to leave, threatened with arrest, and were only given the reasons: “because I said so” and “you are interfering with an investigation”. The military investigation was conducted without respect to the Hebron agreement, which states “Both sides reiterated their commitment to maintain normal life throughout the city of Hebron and to prevent any provocation or friction that may affect the normal life in the city.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocol_Concerning_the_Redeployment_in_Hebron).

The Hebron agreement governs the power given to soldiers in the city. Palestinians in the neighbourhood cite excursions such as this one, as well as the constant restrictions on Palestinian movement in the city, as causes for increasing conflict.

Teenager critically injured in Hebron clashes

by Team Khalil

13 December 2012 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

Nasser Sharabati (16) was shot three times by live ammunition on Thursday night during clashes in Hebron. He in Hebron’s hospital and in a critical condition. Around 90 people were injured and had to receive hospital treatment. It is evident that Israeli army snipers were firing to cause maximum injury.

On another day of clashes between the Israeli army  and Palestinian youth, Nasser Sharabati was shot in the chest, side and arm with three rounds of live ammunition. The clashes in the city began in the Bab Al-Zawiya area of the city centre around half past one in the afternoon. The Israeli military fired large amounts of tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets into this shopping area causing great distress to many people, the vast majority of whom were not involved in the clashes. Shops and businesses had to hurriedly close as the whole area was disrupted.

Palestinian police in the streets of Hebron

At around half past two the Palestinian police drove inbetween the Israeli military and the Palestinian youth. They got out of their vehicles and a uniformed officer backed up by police in riot gear tried to talk the crowd out of confronting the heavily armed soldiers. Only the previous evening however Mohammad Zaid Awwad Salayme had been murdered in Hebron by the Israeli military. The passionate and indignant Palestinian youth were intent on defending their city from yet another incursion into the Palestinian-controlled H1 area of the city by the Israeli army and the attempt was unsuccessful. The Palestinian police withdrew and the clashes resumed with increased intensity. Massive amounts of tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets were now fired by the soldiers.

In a worrying new development snipers taking up prone positions on the Palestinian streets were deployed by the Israeli military. It was clear that these snipers were firing to cause maximum injury, to maim and even kill the Palestinian teenagers and children that confronted them. Undaunted the Palestinian youth defended their territory and the stuggle continued for several hours into the evening. Sometime between 8 pm and 9 pm Nasser Sharabati was struck by three live rounds, was critically injured and taken to hospital. Reports suggest up to 10 people were injured by live ammunition during the day. Nasser Sharabati was operated on and the hospital issued a call for blood donations on the local radio to which many people responded. Around 90 people suffered injury or problems from tear gas inhilation and had to recieve hospital treatment. Nasser Sharabati remains in a critical condition at the hospital in Hebron.

It is clear that the Israeli army has decided that increased and lethal force against teenagers and children defending their streets is an acceptable way to enforce their illegal occupation of Palestine.

Passionate and indignant Palestinian youth intent on defending their city from yet another incursion into the Palestinian-controlled H1 area
Israeli soldiers taking up prone positions on the streets in Hebron

 

Team Khalil is a group of volunteers of International Solidarity Movement based in Hebron (al Khalil)

Clashes erupt in Hebron after Israeli forces provoke Palestinians in area H1 [Update: Video added]

6 December 2012 | International Solidarity Movement, Hebron, Occupied Palestine

Clashes broke out in Hebron on Thursday after a confrontation between Palestinian Authority police and Israeli Occupation Forces.

 On Wednesday there was a verbal confrontation between a Palestinian Police officer and the Israeli Army. The following day Israeli Forces spotted the Officer while they were on a patrol in area H1 (which is a Palestinian controlled area) and tried to arrest him in Bab Al-Zawiye. Palestinians who witnessed the scene intervened and the officer managed to avoid the unlawful arrest.

After the PA Officer avoided arrest, the situation remained tense, as the army would not leave the scene. Israeli Forces then shot tear gas into crowds of civilian bystanders, which quickly escalated the situation. Palestinians became enraged, then clashes broke out between Palestinian youth and the IOF.

 Israeli Forces still wouldn’t leave the scene, and began firing tear gas, rubber coated steel bullets, and percussion grenades, escalating the situation. Terrified families with their children, were caught up in the middle of the situation, however, this did not prevent the IOF from using violence, and firing live ammunition into the air.

The clashes continued for a few hours. Over 20 Palestinians were injured. Israeli Forces are supposed to stay in their controlled area of H2, where the illegal settlements are. However they are constantly encroaching into H1 which is controlled by the Palestinian Authority. While the soldiers patrol H1 streets they harass and provoke the local Palestinian population. These kind of patrols prevent any chance of a peaceful atmosphere in the city.

Hebron: settler illegally enters Palestinian home

By Lucy Diamond

9 August 2012 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

On the evening of August 2, an Israeli settler illegally entered a Palestinian home in Hebron, drawing the presence of the Israeli army which encouraged her to leave. Rather than face any consequences, the settler left the scene and a Palestinian man was arbitrarily arrested.

A Palestinian man is detained at Checkpoint 56 | Flora Alnur

Around 9:45 p.m., an illegal Israeli settler stopped her car in front of Checkpoint 56, one of the barriers between H1 area (Palestinian-controlled) and H2 area (Israeli-controlled) in Hebron. Immediately after, the woman forcefully entered a Palestinian home. Israeli soldiers intervened and took the woman outdoors, urging her to leave.

Hebron is a Palestinian city, but several illegal Israeli settlements have occupied both the center town and surrounding areas. The settlers enjoy a series of benefits, such as the exclusive right of driving in H2, or the wide dismissal of complaints of violence from them. When settlers illegally occupied a downtown area of Hebron, rather than comply by international law, the Israeli government supported the theft by closing the central commercial street to Palestinian access. Palestinian shops were closed and people forced by circumstance from their homes as a result of the illegal settlement.

Several Israeli soldiers crowd around a detained Palestinian man | Flora Alnur

Before the settler left the scene, she aimed a camera against the faces of all people present. While Israeli soldiers remained impassive, a Palestinian man raised his hand to the camera to hide his image. At this moment, soldiers chose to intervene and stop the man, Sami Abo Rumeli, from raising his hand to the settler’s camera. Soldiers detained Sami and demanded his documents, simultaneously allowing the settler woman to leave without consequences to her actions.

International Solidarity Movement (ISM) volunteers and other Palestinians were present and documented the happening with photos and videos. Soldiers unsuccessfully tried to turn them away.

This unequal treatment of the settler who forced her way into a home, and Sami who attempted only to hide his face from her camera, caused a controversial reaction. Many people arrived to observe and document the event, causing several soldiers to group. Some 13 soldiers were surrounding Sami as he was detained. Eventually Sami was handcuffed and taken away. Before being released later that night, he suffered hits and mistreatment in the soldiers’ hands.

Video taken depicts the moment when Sami Abo Rumeli is surrounded by soldiers, to be detained without reason.

Lucy Diamond and Flora Alnur are volunteers with the International Solidarity Movement (names have been changed).