Tag: Ni’lin - Page 45 - International Solidarity Movement

Young Palestinian man and Swedish activist shot with live ammunition during Ni’lin demonstration

5pm, 30th January 2009, Ramallah: On Friday, January 30th, two people were shot by Israeli forces with live ammunition in the West Bank village of Ni’lin.

Ulrika Andersson, 31, was shot in the leg with live ammunition during the weekly demonstration against the construction of the annexation wall in the village of Ni’lin, occupied West Bank.

Ms Andersson, from the Swedish town of Gothemburg, was taking part in the non-violent demonstration when an Israeli soldier shot her from approximately 50 metres with a new 0.22 bullet. The bullet entered and exited through her lower right leg.

Witnesses have reported that the demonstration was in fact finished when the two people were shot, with Israeli forces opening fire as demonstrators were returning home.

A nineteen year old male demonstrator was also shot by a 0.22 bullet in the foot. Fragments of the bullet are still lodged within his foot. He is currently being operated on.

Both demonstrators shot has been taken to Sheikh Zaid hospital in Ramallah for emergency treatment.

Ulrika Andersson said when in Sheikh Zaid hospital;

“I am lucky, I was hit in the calf. Many residents in Ni’lin have not been so lucky resulting in many injuries from the Israeli aggression against the demonstrations in Ni’lin, including four deaths. The soldiers were aware of an international presence within the demonstration and clearly saw me.”

Since the start of the massacre on Gaza (27 December 2009), the Israeli army has been testing new types of weapons in several villages around West Bank. One of these new weapons is the 0.22 caliber bullet.

The small bullet, known by its caliber size as “0.22″, does not make a sound when fired. The low caliber allows the bullet to easily enter the body and causes internal bleeding.

Since the introduction of this new weapon, eight people have now been shot with the “0.22″ in the villages of Bi’lin, Ni’lin, and Budrus. Several people from Bi’lin and Ni’lin have this bullet lodged in their knees, one bullet went through a demonstrator’s leg and another demonstrator was shot in the stomach (causing internal bleeding).

International activists have joined the demonstrations against the construction of the annexation wall in Ni’lin since the village started it’s regular protests in May of 2008. According to the Israeli daily Maariv, in March 2008 the Israeli authorities issued a new directive enabling Israeli forces to open fire directly on Palestinians who try to demonstrate near the wall, unless internationals or Israelis are amongst demonstrators.

The construction of the annexation wall and Israeli only roads around Ni’lin will separate the village from 40% of it’s land and see a total loss of 85% of the village’s land since 1948.

Seven people arrested in Ni’lin during night invasions

On the nights of the 22nd and 23rd of January Ni’lin was invaded by the Israeli army. Dozens of jeeps, more than a hundred soldiers and a helicopter were present in the village invasion. A total of five homes were entered by the soldiers. Family members were beaten, humiliated and arrested when the army could not find who they were looking for. Two of the arrested were women. Collective punishment as witnessed in Ni’lin is forbidden under international law.

On the night of the 22nd of January at around midnight more than 70 soldiers surrounded one house and forcefully entered a house where three families are living, 11 persons in total. They were searching for one of the male family members. The soldiers acted very aggressively, scaring all the people by their brutality. They destroyed a lot of furniture, opened drawers scattering clothes and belongings. The 8 month year old son of the wanted man was taken abruptly from his bed as the soldiers forced everyone to go outside in the cold night in their pajamas, denying them the time to put on more clothes.

The young wife of the wanted man (20 years old and three months pregnant) was beaten with a stool and then dragged outside by her hair. As she was handcuffed the commander then humiliated her in front of her family and the other soldiers.

The father of the wanted man who is 55 years old, was beaten and cuffed by both his hands and feet. The soldiers stayed for about three hours before they left after kidnapping both the young wife and the father. They also stole two computers, two telephones, one car and jewelry.

Both of them were brought to Betunia prison and held captive for three days. In the last two years the soldiers have invaded their house around twenty times.

The following night on the 23rd of January, the soldiers returned to search for the wanted man again. They found him, cuffed him by his hands and feet and blindfolded him. They arrested him and took him to Ofer Prison Camp.

The same night the soldiers invaded a nearby house looking for another wanted man. The home was of a 17 year old that the soldiers believed to be his fiancé. They handcuffed, then kidnapped her and then the following morning, let her return to her family after she had been humiliated and interrogated in prison.

Three people of the seven who were arrested are still in prison.

Two shot with live ammunition at Ni´lin prayer demonstration

January 23, 2009

On Friday, 23 January 2009, the residents of Ni’lin gathered with international and Israeli solidarity activists in their continued resistance against construction of the Apartheid Wall. Around 100 demonstrators participated in the weekly Friday prayer demonstration, a gesture of protest to the annexation of Ni’lin’s land and apartheid policies towards the Palestinian people. The Israeli army responded to the non-violent manifestation by invading the village and injuring 15 people, two with live ammunition.

Around 12.00, residents prayed next to the clinic. Immediately afterwards, the demonstrators marched through the olive grove, towards the site where the Occupation is building the Apartheid wall. Protesters were attacked by Israeli soldiers with tear gas, rubber and plastic coated steel bullets. After 20 minutes of shooting at the demonstrators in the olive groves, the army invaded the village.

The soldiers invaded the village from the main road and the olive groves taking up several positions in the town. Soldiers were stationed at the clinic and main street, marching to the town centre. They fired tear gas, rubber-coated steal bullets, sound bombs and live ammunition from inside the village, endangering the community. Two were shot in the leg with live ammunition and required medical attention.

The whole town was affected by the military incursion, forcing people to take shelter from the attack in their homes and shops. Teargas landed in many places in the town away from any demonstrators and one person by a tear gas canister that hit his head. Soldiers were targeting houses and nearly created a catastrophe by shooting next to the petrol station. Soldiers in the main street used speakers to make a high pitched alarm, known as the ‘scream’, to panic and disorientate the demonstrators and later they played classical music as they shot at people. Additionally, soldiers occupied the medical centre and removed the Palestinian flags at Arafat and Mohamed al Khawadja’s graves (two youths murdered by the occupation forces during a solidarity with Gaza demonstration in Ni’lin).

The demonstration ended around 4:30pm when the army withdrew from the town after injuring over 15 people. This is the fourth consecutive occasion where the army has aggressively occupied the town of Ni’lin during the demonstration: a means of collective punishment on the entire village of Ni’lin for the resistance to the Apartheid Wall.

Israeli army invade Ni’lin

21 January 2009

On Wednesday, 21 January 2009, at 12.30, residents of Ni’lin, along with international and Israeli solidarity activists, gathered to demonstrate against the construction of the Apartheid Wall. The demonstration began in the olive fields but was forced back when the Israeli army shot teargas and threw sound bombs. After the demonstration began, the army invaded the town from the fields and the checkpoint at the entrance of the village, firing tear gas canisters, rubber coated steel bullets and plastic coated steel bullets. The army proceeded towards the centre of the town, shooting at houses and cars. Israeli forces arrested three Ni’lin residents who were not participating in the demonstration and injured nine individuals.

Around 60 demonstrators peacefully marched into the olive fields carrying flags and chanting slogans against the Wall. As they approached the construction site, protesters were confronted by soldiers. The army shouted at the demonstrators to end their peaceful protest and quickly proceeded to use weapons against the individuals.

The demonstrators were forced to head back to the town and the army followed them. The soldiers fired excessive amounts of tear gas, sound bombs and rubber coated steel bullets, aiming directly at people. In all, four were injured with rubber coated steel bullets and five were hit with teargas canisters; one of whom had to be taken to Ramallah hospital. Several cars and shop windows from the shooting. One teargas canister ignited a fence that had to be put out by a fire engine. The army came further into the town, driving a jeep into the town centre, where soldiers continued firing before they eventually withdrew.

The three arrested individuals were playing pool in the local pool club at the time of the demonstration. According to two medics who were inside the pool club, the soldiers fired teargas and rubber bullets into the building, hitting one person in the leg. The army then entered the building and arrested three Ni’lin residents.

This is the second invasion of Ni’lin in one week. The Occupation is collectively punishing the Palestinians of Ni’lin for their resistance to the Apartheid Wall. When completed, the Apartheid Wall will annex land belonging to villagers. Furthermore, the simultaneous establishment of the Apartheid Wall and a tunnel will allow the Israeli army to bar all but one connection leading to complete control over movement for Ni’lin residents.

‘Unity of Ni’lin to Gaza urgently’

On the 17th of January 2009, residents of Ni’lin began a collection of clothes and food to be sent to the besieged people of Gaza. Calls from the mosques announced that contributions of clothes, shoes and food could be brought to the village center.

Ni'lin residents fill village center with supplies for Gaza

Aid collection for Gaza from the people of Ni’lin had been organized during a meeting with municipalities from all over the West Bank. The Ni’lin Municipality and the Social Club arranged the plan for the mass effort. The aid will be sent to Gaza with the Red Crescent via the Erez checkpoint.

The mobilization for aid began before a women and children’s demonstration near the girls’ school. Lasting several days, the community came together to show their support for Gaza. According to the Municipality President Ayman Nafi, 10,000NIS was raised to buy olive oil that will be put in bottles of Top Drink at the factory in Ni’lin with special labels that say ‘Unity Ni’lin (from all the people of Ni’lin) to Gaza Urgently.’ About 20,000NIS worth of food and clothes was also collected. The formal assembly of aid for Gaza will continue for another three days.

A Palestinian community that regularly demonstrates against construction of the Apartheid Wall, Ni’lin has lost lives and land in their struggle. Two boys from the village were shot and killed with live ammunition in a solidarity with Gaza demonstration on the 28th of December.

Local Ni'lin business will send olive oil with special message: 'Unity Ni’lin to Gaza Urgently'

With an ongoing blockade on Gaza, the Israeli government severely limits the amount of aid that can enter Gaza. On the constant brink of humanitarian crisis, amplified significantly by Israel’s latest attacks, many Gazans have almost no access to basic foodstuffs or water. Even if the supplies are prevents from entering Gaza by the Israeli authorities, the act of organizing a delivery is a way in which Ni’lin and the West Bank can show that their hearts and thoughts are with Gaza.