Tag: Salfit

Israeli army invades West Bank village

Soldiers use a 16 year old boy as human shield and beating 2 women, including one 8 months pregnant
By IWPS

HARES, WEST BANK At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Thursday July 7, an estimated 60 Israeli soldiers entered Hares, a village in the Salfit district of the West Bank, on foot. Beginning at approximately 2:00 a.m. they entered at least 5 houses, breaking windows, firing sound bombs and live ammunition. They forced families including small children to sit outside at gunpoint while they searched the houses using dogs.

At least 13 jeeps and one large military vehicle were observed entering the village. During the operation soldiers used 2 people as human shields, including one 16-year old boy. They also beat several residents, including a woman who is 8 months pregnant. The army captured and took four men. The location and reason for the detentions are unknown. The incursion lasted approximately 5 and one half hours, from 1:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Soldiers committed several acts that are in contravention to international law including the use of civilians as human shields. Additionally they ordered a Palestinian woman to take off her clothes, but she refused. They threatened to kill her if she didn’t tell where her husband was.

In another home a woman reported that the army took a gold ring and over $1,000 Jordanian dinars from her handbag.

Israeli army demolishes home and threatens families in As Sawiya

By: Wendy and Cathy
IWPS

On July 5th at approximately 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, an estimated 20 army jeeps, 3 police jeeps, 1 large personnel carrier, 75 soldiers, and 2 bulldozers showed up at the home of 82 year old Ibrahim Ahmed Tabil in the village of As Sawiya, Salfit district of the West Bank. They started to demolish the room in which he was sleeping. When he awoke and started to argue with them, they pushed him and his bed out of the room, forced the family to stay in another part of the house and finished the demolition. They did not allow the family to recover any of the possessions in the room. The operation took approximately 10 minutes; the army was there for approximately one hour. The number of people living in the house is 9.

During the operation the army surrounded the neighboring house and forced the family outside. The neighboring house was also damaged by the demolition.

The family of Ibrahim Ahmed Tabil has been living in As Sawiya since the time of his great grandfather, approximately 100 years. His house was built on land owned by the family in 1963. The addition that was demolished was built in 1996. It was built without a permit because it was just a small addition that abutted to his neighbor’s house and was between the two houses. Approximately one month previous to the demolition, the army came to the home and looked around. They told the family that they were not planning to do any damage. They never gave the family any written documents or warning of the impending demolition.

On Tuesday, July 7, the army informed the family of Adnad Ahmed Abu Kafina that his home will be demolished by the end of the month. There are 11 family members, including 8 children that will become homeless if this happens.

The family of Adnad Ahmed Abu Kafina has been living in Sawiya approximately 150 years. Their house was built in 1953 on land owned by the family. Two front rooms were added in 1996. The army is claiming that the whole house was built in 1996, and therefore is planning to demolish the entire house. The family was told to remove their possessions by the end of the month. They have hired a lawyer who has obtained a temporary injunction against the demolition until the matter can be heard by the Israeli Supreme Court. The lawyer is costing 15,000 NIS and the family is seeking to raise the funds.

IWPS members photographed damaged property at the house of Ibrahim Ahmed Tabil.

Marda Under Curfew

Video footage of the Israeli army incursion into the West Bank village of Marda on 9th June 2005. An area of about 10 square kilometers was declared a Closed Military Zone for three days by the Israeli military, in an attempt to prevent demonstrations against the Apartheid Wall taking place in the area, which is right in the centre of the West Bank. Residents of Marda were unable to leave their houses without risking being shot at with tear gas, sound bombs and live ammunition.

Available at The Internet Archive

Peace Group Detained, Activist Arrested

Thursday December 20th, dozens of American and British civilians helped Palestinian villagers remove Israeli roadblocks in the northern village of Hares and Yasuf in the Salfit region.

The international group was threatened with arrest, yet they continued to work removing the roadblock in the presence of Israeli soldiers and bulldozers.

During the peace action, the International Solidarity Movement bus was intercepted and detained by Israeli Security Forces.

One American was arrested and and forceably dragged by her hair.

At 5pm, security guards at the Ariel settlement are refusing ISM representatives access to police station where the American sitizen is being held.

For more information, contact
Huwaida Arraf at 052-642-709
or Neta Golan at 055-213-096 or 052-481-261

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is comprised of local Palestinian and foreign civilians working to raise awareness of the Palestinian plight for freedom and an end to Israeli military occupation. We call on Israel to immediately implement UN Resolutions and abide by international law. We urge the United Nations and our respective governments to take decisive action to ensure Israel’s compliance therewith.

International Activists Investigate Salfit

International activists toured the region of Salfit, meeting local families and activists. They discussed problems of the area. The activists will remain in the region until December 23.

Tomorrow, Thursday December 20th, dozens of American and British civilians will help Palestinian villagers remove an Israeli roadblock in the northern village of Hares.

For more information, contact
Huwaida Arraf at 052-642-709.

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is comprised of local Palestinian and foreign civilians working to raise awareness of the Palestinian plight for freedom and an end to Israeli military occupation. We call on Israel to immediately implement UN Resolutions and abide by international law. We urge the United Nations and our respective governments to take decisive action to ensure Israel’s compliance therewith.