Tag: Ni’lin

For the second day in a row, on the 5th July, the village of Ni’lin remained under siege by the Israeli army, in an attempt to suppress the inhabitants fierce resistance to the stealing of their land due to the construction of the apartheid wall and the expansion of nearby settlements.

The army has set up check points on all roads, allowing no one to enter or leave the village. Starting from eight o’clock in the morning the army have been carrying out continuous invasions, shooting tear gas and rubber bullets at people who happened to be in the streets.

Despite the army’s attacks the Popular Committee of the village decided to carry out another non-violent demonstration, the seventh this week. The aim of today’s demonstration was to fly kites decorated with the Palestinian flag over the settlements built on the land of the village, to state that not only the land but also the air is Palestinian. Before the demonstration could reach it’s destination it was met with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Meanwhile the army had once more invaded the village in force, bringing bulldozers to break through the barricades set up in the streets. During the following hours youths attempted to drive them out by throwing stones. The army responded with immense shooting. Tear gas was fired into houses, and at least one home was set on fire. When the army finally pulled back eleven people where left severely injured, one of them a young boy shot through the throat. His situation is as of now unknown.

According to the army the blockade of the village will continue for at least another seven days. The village’s small medical center is in danger of running out of medicine, and there is also a lack of gas and other vital supplies. Further demonstrations in protest of the situation, and stealing of the village’s land are planned for the coming week.

At five o’clock on the morning the 4th July, the Israeli army declared the village of Ni’lin as a closed military zone and blocked the three entrances to the village. The village was now under curfew. The Israeli army prevented the Palestinians from entering and leaving the village. The committee against the wall had planned a non-violent prayer-demonstration, as every Friday, at twelve o’clock. Usually the demonstration takes place at the construction-area of the wall but because of the closed military zone today it took place close to one of the roadblocks. 600 villagers participated. 15 Israeli and international activists joined the protests after they managed to enter the village through the fields.

During the day 24 persons were injured by rubber-bullets, live ammunition and tear-gas. Three homes were attacked by tear-gas and had their windows smashed. Four Israeli activists were arrested while leaving the village after the protests. One news reporter from AB News was arrested while trying to enter the village.

The roadblock prevented workers from going to their job, villagers to visit friends and family both inside and outside of Ni’lin, because one of the roadblocks divides the village in two parts. The Israeli army also stopped ambulances at the roadblock and prevented them to pass even though there were people injured. One 65 year old woman named Fayqa Hussni Khawaja was in need of hospital treatment, but because of the roadblock could not go. Soldiers drove into town several times to disturb the villagers. Boarder-police were also present in the village.

The demonstration was one of the biggest in Ni’lin’s history. Despite the curfew, 600 villagers protested by joining the prayer-demonstration. This was a peaceful protest against the collective punishment of the village. The demonstration was attacked by sound-bombs, tear-gas, rubber-bullets and live ammunition. The protests kept on until about 6 o’clock in the afternoon.

The last two months 160 persons have been injured by rubber-bullets and 300 have been severely effected by tear-gas during demonstrations against the building of the wall, the settlements, the checkpoint and the collective punishment of the village. Amongst these there are children between 8 and 20 years.

On Wednesday evening the villagers of Ni’lin held a candle-lit procession to outside the expanding settlement of Hashmoniim. Villagers and international peace activists marched towards the nearby settlement and stopped at the site where the Israeli state is building the wall that will cut Ni’lin off from it’s land. Before leaving the construction site of the wall, demonstrators blocked the road to prevent the bulldozers from working the following day.

Flares were shot towards the protesters, though it was unclear whether these were shot by Israeli soldiers or settler security personnel.

The villagers of Ni’lin protest against the construction of the apartheid wall several times a week – by making peaceful demonstrations, holding prayer meetings, candle processions and other kinds of non-violent activities. This time the Israeli army didn’t respond violently, but most of the time the non-violent resistance of Ni’lin is met by heavy violence from the Israeli army. Still the villagers continue the struggle for their right to their own land.

On Thursday, about 100 Palestinians, joined by international and Israeli solidarity activists, demonstrated in Ni’lin against the construction of the apartheid wall. As the protesters arrived at the site of the demonstration, the Israeli army was waiting. When the peaceful demonstration started, the protesters were met with tear gas and rubber bullets, most of which aimed directly at them. Five people got injured by the bullets; one boy was hit on the head and one Canadian international was hit on the shoulder, leaving them bruised, but none severely wounded. Around 15 people had severe reactions to the tear gas.

The demonstration went on for about two hours, and the Israeli army kept shooting at the protesters, even as they were trying to leave the area.

The people of Ni’lin are struggling to keep their land, from being confiscated by the construction of the apartheid wall.

On the 1st July, the village of Ni’lin again forced construction on the apartheid wall to halt. Bulldozers and other machinery were also damaged.

Video by Israel Putermam

Around 200 Palestinians, Israelis and international activists surprised Israeli armed forces guarding the site. They were confronted by soldiers who fired live ammunition close to demonstrators. Despite this, many people took up rocks and threw them at the vehicles, breaking the windscreens and forcing them from the construction site. People returned to the village as soldiers fired tear gas and rubber bullets. Five people, including a nine year old child were injured by rubber bullets

To view video published on Walla News, click here

Afterwards, it was decided to march on another site at which the wall is being constructed. This time troops responded aggressively before the site could be reached, firing tear gas canisters directly at demonstrators and throwing sound bombs.

Hot tear gas canisters started fires amongst the olive trees which spread quickly. Protesters attempted to control the fire while Israeli forces continued to fire tear gas and rubber bullets. A fire engine eventually managed to reach the area but not before at least fifteen trees were burnt.

The village of Ni’leen is about to lose approximately 2500 donums when the construction of the apartheid wall is finsished. From having over 57 000 donums in 1948, the village has seen its land decrease to 33 000 donums in 1967 to about 10 000 donums at the present time. The villagers fear that the next annexation will be the death blow to the village’s economy. Organisers of the demonstrations are therefore adamant that the village will continue the demonstrations.