After killing 1 from Reuters in Gaza, Israeli forces open fire on demo in WB, injuring colleague
18/04/2008
Source : PNN
by Kristen Ess
Demonstrators in the village of Bil’in took off in massive march after Friday prayers in solidarity with the prisoners confined in Israeli prisons.
After killing a Reuters cameraman in Al Buriej Refugee Camp in the southern Gaza Strip earlier this week, Israeli forces shot and injured another in Bil’in today. The Israeli group working for Palestinian human rights, B’Tselem, confirms that internationally banned flachettes were used to kill Fadal Shana’a.
The nonviolent demonstrations are a weekly event, sometimes coinciding with specific events such as today, but most times in protest against the Wall, settlements and land confiscation. But Palestinian Prisoners Day was Thursday, so Friday’s march was in solidarity with the approximate 10,000 imprisoned Palestinians.
Families from Bil’in, many people from Ramallah and neighboring towns, foreign and Israeli supporters, all walked together. They held signs calling for the release of political prisoners and to treat them humanely. There were also signs against the Wall and the practices of occupation in general.
It was also a salute to assassinated Abu Jihad and to Fateh leader Marwan Al Barghouthi, marking six years since his arrest. Even from his prison cell he won the Ramallah elections two years ago.
Before they reached the Wall, the Israeli army fired a shower of bullets to prevent them from approaching. Israeli forces used concussion grenades, gas and rubber-coated steel bullets. They shot Reuters cameraman Ammar Awad in the thigh. He is currently hospitalized.
The Popular Committee in the district said that the violence and brutality suffered by Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli military contravenes all international law and norms. They also pointed out that the Israeli government is sustaining attacks against journalists in order to suppress the truth. They are asking for more foreign supporters to “witness the terrorism and violence against unarmed civilians, children and journalists.”
The Israeli Justice Minister Daniel Friedman supported the Israeli military publically in its mandate to use live ammunition against nonviolent demonstrators against the Wall, bringing wide-spread condemnation from the Palestinian community. Most in the nonviolent movement said that they will not be deterred.
