Israeli army causes two serious head injuries to protestors in Bil’in

11/08/2006

Source : ISM

Today, August 11, the Israeli army and Border Police brutally prevented Bil’in’s weekly non-violent demonstration, by firing rubber bullets and sound grenades on protestors as they marched through the village on their way to the Apartheid wall. Fourteen people from Bil’in, Israelis and internationals, have been injured, including an Israeli in critical condition who was shot just above his right ear with a rubber bullet at close range. He has had surgery at Tel Hashomer hospital to remove the rubber bullet that was lodged in his skull. Currently he is in a medical induced coma in moderate but stable condition, but has sustained brain damaged of unknown severity.

Another demonstrator from Denmark, Rina, has suffered from a brain contusion after a soldier beat her with the butt of his gun. She is currently hospitalized in Hebron, West Bank and is conscious but unable to walk. She was also beaten on her legs and sustained minor injuries.

The demonstrators marched through the village carrying coffins representing the children who have been killed by the Israeli army in order to protest their “New Style of Killing”. The border police and army were stationed along the route of the march that leads to the Apartheid Wall, where the demonstrations usually take place. The military began firing when the protestors were less than 50 meters away, immediately causing many injuries.

The violence began so early that the ambulance (usually present at the demonstrations in case of injuries) had not yet arrived. At first the Israeli army would not let the protestors evacuate the Israeli who was shot in the head, and was suffering from blood loss. Eventually the soldiers took him in an army ambulance to Tel Hashomer hospital in Tel Aviv.

The soldiers then chased after the protestors and beat them as they were retreating, causing more injuries. Soldiers detained Jonathon Pollack, a prominent Israeli supporter and later released him. The army claimed that it was an “illegal demonstration” despite the fact that the Israeli Court ruled that Bil’in has a right to hold demonstrations.

This is a list of those injured at the Bil’in demonstration today, Friday 11th Aug:

  • An Israeli, shot with 3 rubber bullets at close range, with injuries to head and neck. He is currently undergoing surgery.
  • Two villagers, El Haj Wa’el Fahene and Nimer Mustafa Abu Rahma were both shot with rubber bullets to their backs and legs.
  • Gavin from UK, beaten
  • Martin from Sweden, beaten
  • Rina from Denmark, hit with a rifle butt on side of head and beaten
  • Jonathon from Israel, shot with rubber bullet
  • Uri a 20 year old from Israel, struck by rubber bullet
  • Rojo Didier from France (43 years old), shot with rubber bullet in back and leg
  • Jonas from USA, struck with rubber bullets on hip and leg
  • Cheryl aged 45 from USA, struck with rubber bullet to the back
  • Margaret from UK, struck by exploding sound grenade
  • Yoshki, a 22 year old journalist from Japan, shot by rubber bullet
  • Abudullah Abu Rahma, beaten

It is likely that an official complaint will be made to the Israeli authorities about the violent behavior of the soldiers.