Yesterday, Friday 6th September, the weekly demonstration at Bil’in continued in solidarity towards prisoners in Israel and in protest of the recent settler attack at Al-Aqsa mosque. During the demonstration a photographer, Mohammed Basman Yassin (21) was shot in the leg by a tear gas canister.
The regular demonstration is organised by the Popular Struggle Committee and included dozens of Palestinian, Israeli and international activists. The demonstrations began in protest against the settlements and apartheid wall that was illegally built on Bil’in land.
The protest march began after Friday prayers from the centre of the village heading towards the annexation wall. The activists raised Palestinian flags and chanted slogans calling for national unity, resistance against the occupation and the release of all prisoners. As the demonstrators reached the wall area, Israeli occupation forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas canisters, sound grenades and “skunk” water (waste water mixed with chemicals). Some of the youth of Bil’in threw stones at the soldiers, who then proceeded to chase the demonstrators into the olive groves and to the outskirts of the village, which is where Mohammed was injured.
Demonstrators overwhelmed with tear gas (Photo by Mohammed Yasin)
Israeli occupation forces spraying protesters with “skunk” water (Photo by Rani Bomat)
New trial dates have been set for Tristan Anderson’s civil case against the Israeli Military. The new dates follow a recent ruling from the High Court of Israel forcing the Israeli Police to re-open their investigation into the near fatal shooting, which occurred when Israeli Border Police opened fire on a crowd of Palestinian and international activists following a protest against the building of the Apartheid “Seperation” Wall in the West Bank village of Ni’ilin March 13, 2009.
Tristan was shot in the face from close range with a high velocity tear gas grenade, causing severe damage to his brain and paralysis to half his body.
The Israeli High Court has ordered the police to actually interview the officers involved in the shooting, who to date have never been questioned about it. (The findings of the new investigative report are scheduled to be released shortly before Anderson’s civil trial has been scheduled to begin.)
“Officers on the ground need to be afraid,” said Gabrielle Silverman, the girlfriend of Tristan Anderson and witness to his shooting. “We need real accountability for police violence, and for abuse against civilians by the military.”
High Velocity Tear Gas is manufactured in the USA.
23rd August 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Kafr Qaddum, Occupied Palestine
Today, Friday 23rd August, Israeli occupation forces invaded the village of Kafr Qaddum before their regular demonstration began. Shooting gas and sound grenades at residents, the army stormed the village from several different directions, attempting to make arrests – two protesters were injured with teargas canisters, which were shot directly at protesters. Soldiers shot teargas directly into the village mosque, whilst around three hundred people were inside praying, causing people to flee from the building.
Soldiers inading the village before the demonstration begins (picture by Svenson Berger)
At around midday, over twenty soldiers ran directly down the main road of Kafr Qaddum, shooting gas and sound grenades towards a group of people in the village, some of whom were preparing to go to the mosque. Shortly afterwards they retreated, but continued to attack the village from several directions for the next hour, before the demonstration had started. Two people were injured by teargas canisters which were shot directly into a crowd of people who were running away from the soldiers charging down the road; one was hit in the back and one in his arm. The latter immediately required stitches by Red Crescent medics and later had to go to the hospital for further treatment and to ensure that there was no damage to the bone.
Protester treated by medic after being hit by teargas canister (photo by ISM)
The Israeli military guidelines for shooting teargas canisters state that they should be fired at an arc into the air, but as usual the soldiers disregarded this rule, shooting directly at people. This is a dangerous practice which has killed protesters in the past – today several villagers reported that they had seen and felt the heavy metal canisters flying straight past their heads. “I feel I was nearly killed today,” said one demonstrator who experienced the near-miss.
Israeli military shooting teargas canisters (Photo by Svenson Berger)
At 1 o’clock, following a sustained attack of multiple teargas canisters shot from the hill overlooking the village, several canisters were fired directly into the village mosque. Around three hundred men were inside, ranging from the elderly to very young children – most came fleeing outside as the gas filled the building, choking and blinded from the severe effects of gas inhalation.
People fleeing the mosque after teargas was shot inside (photo by Sevnson Berger)
Angered by the attack on the mosque, residents of Kafr Qaddum then began their weekly demonstration, gathering on the main street which used to lead to Nablus and now is blocked by the settlement of Qedumim. Fires, set by burning tyres, were lit on the road and smoke billowed towards the illegal settlement – a reminder from the villagers of Qaddum that they are still present and that they are the legitimate owners of the land, as well as a deterrent for the army invading the village.
Protesters burning tyres, the smoke of which blew towards the illegal settlement of Qedumim (photo by Svenson Berger)
Soldiers continued to invade the village, shooting excessive teargas into residential areas, between homes and into gardens – causing many more to suffer from the effects of teargas inhalation. Finally, the villagers advanced all the way down the blocked road towards the settlement as soldiers retreated out of the village – following one final volley of teargas, the soldiers left and the people of Kafr Qaddum went to their homes, chanting and clapping; celebrating their continued existence and resistance.
Teargas filling the streets of Kafr Qaddum village (photo by Sevenson Berger)
The village of Kafr Qaddum has been holding weekly Friday demonstrations for over two years. In the last weeks, three youths were arrested in night raids on the village, including one seventeen year old – because of this, several impromptu demonstrations were held on days other than Friday in the last week. The demonstrations in Kafr Qaddum are held in protest at the continued occupation of Palestine, along with the injustices and human rights abuses that come along with it. The village has suffered personally from the occupation, with their land stolen for the illegal Israeli settlement of Qedumim and their main access to Nablus being blocked, adding 14 kilometres to the journey and causing two deaths when ambulances were not able to reach the village in time.
Protester on blocked road leading to Nablus (photo by Svenson Berger)
Follow live tweets every Friday from the International Solidarity Movement at Kafr Qaddum and other demonstrations across the West Bank, by following us on twitter @ISMPalestine or looking up the hashtag #PalResists
21th August 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Balata Refugee Camp, Occupied Palestine
Last night, hundreds of settlers accompanied by Israeli forces invaded Balata refugee camp in Nablus to pray at Joseph’s Tomb. Israeli soldiers shot tear gas canisters and sound bombs at residents who protested the incursion – three youths were reportedly arrested.
At around 12am, several buses carrying hundreds of settlers, escorted by Israeli military, invaded Balata refugee camp. The settlers went to Joseph’s tomb to pray while Israeli soldiers separated into various groups and patrolled the area around the tomb. Residents of Balata, outraged by the incursion, left their homes to protest the invasion and were soon met with tear gas canisters and sound bombs shot at them. Soldiers blocked all entrances of the refugee camp, severely restricting movement of people in and out of the camp.
International activists were present at the scene and could witness how Israeli soldiers were shooting the teargas canisters directly at people rather than in an arc as the Israeli military guidelines on shooting teargas dictate. Soldiers also fired teargas directly into the narrow residential streets, several times hitting and damaging civilian cars. No one was injured there are reports that three Palestinian youths from the area were arrested.
Running from the tear gas canisters fired at protesters, one resident stated: “This happens every week. This is our life in the camp; constant settler and army invasions…the Israeli army comes with the settlers to protect them while they are praying but we, Palestinians, have no right to be in our camp”.
Indeed, this type of incursion is part of the daily life of Palestinian refugees living in Balata camp. Israeli settlers believe that Joseph’s tomb is a holy place, where Joseph is buried. Thus, groups of extremist settlers storm the camp and perform religious rituals on a weekly basis. Israeli soldiers, as usual protecting the settlers, shoot tear gas canisters and sound bombs at residents around the tomb.
19th August 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Asira al Qibliya, Occupied Palestine
In the evenings of the 15th and 16th of August, the village of Asira al Qibliya was raided by Israeli occupation forces, who fired teargas canisters and sound bombs throughout the village. Residents of Asira are concerned for the children of the village and how life under the occupation is stealing their childhoods.
The Israeli military recently posted a blog that used falsified images to claim that there was not a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and that Palestinians were enjoying the holiday season of Eid, which comes after the fasting month of Ramadan. It is true that Palestinians all over Palestine are enjoying the holiday season particularly the children, as they have a break from school but they still face the difficulties of living under the occupation on a daily basis.
Palestinian dubke dancing from a children’s event in Asira (Photo by ISM)
In Asira, children have been involved in various activities and workshops. On Saturday the 18th of August they celebrated the end of their music workshop with a party. The holiday had not been problem free however, as on the nights of the 15th and 16th of August, at around 9.30pm, the Israeli army drove into the village and shot teargas and soundbombs. Because it was the holidays, children had been playing in the street and families had been relaxing as they were not at work. The army invasion led to everyone being trapped in their homes, suffocating from the gas.
The army shooting their weapons in the night was ‘like lightning,’ an organiser of children’s activities said, ‘leaving people shocked and scared.’ The children’s organiser was confused about the reason behind the attack, asking ‘why do they come now? There have been no incidents or clashes, it’s the Ramadan holiday when people are relaxed, I don’t know why they come.’ The army stayed for 30-40 minutes and made no arrests, leaving the village in shock. Many people wondered why the army would come, other than to add to a list of problems and harassment that the villagers already face.
The villagers of Asira have faced problems with settlers almost daily, even during Ramadan. Settlers from the illegal settlement of Yitzhar regularly attack the village, an attack which the army then join against the villagers when they come out to defend their homes. Settlers have been focusing their attacks on a water project on the outskirts of the village, which is being constructed in order to provide the people of the village with water. Asira has a shortage of water – unlike the nearby illegal settlement of Yitzhar – so families are required to buy tanks of water. However, these are so prohibitively expensive that villagers always have less than they need. The children’s organiser spoke about an attack that day where settlers had managed to set a small fire at the water project, but it was thankfully swiftly extinguished. The water project is scheduled to be finished in 18 months, but with almost daily attacks by the settlers, who knows its fate.
Asira al Qibliya being attacked by settlers on 30th May 2013 (Photo by ISM)
The children of Asira are naturally conditioned by the occupation. The activities organised for them aim to offer an escape and psychological support for the fear and hardships that the occupation creates. During the holidays, children were encouraged to make a film about themselves but instead wanted to make a film about the army and the settlers. This saddened the organiser who said: ‘They should take opportunity to talk about themselves and their feelings. If they want to talk about settlers it will take too long, as the history is long. Children should escape and should not always have to think about the occupation, they should talk about what they want to talk about, they must start now to talk about what they want.’
The party celebrating the end of the music project was a break from the children’s typical games of playing soldier, settler and shabab (Palestinian youth). The children listened to music and joined in with the excercises they had learnt in the workshop, before celebrating Palestinian culture through dabka and traditional songs. The party was interrupted briefly when a boy commented on gathering military on the hill and so everyone believed it would lead to a settler attack. Fortunately that evening they did not attack the village, allowing the children to enjoy their workshop.
