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One injured and dozens affected by tear gas at Bilin weekly non-violent protest against the apartheid wall
août 1, 2008
by Abdullah Abu Rahma
Today on the 1st of August 2008 after the Friday Prayers, the inhabitants of Bil’in, Israeli, and international peace activists participated in a demonstration against the wall. They raised Palestinian flags and signs with slogans that condemn the policies of the occupation. The slogans condemned the construction of the wall, the confiscation of Palestinian lands for the construction of settlements, the road closures, and the seizure of Palestinian villages, towns, and cities. The protesters also carried signs with slogans against the killing of innocent civilians, especially children. In addition, the slogans condemned the attacks on detainees, in particular, shooting at them while detained, hand cuffed and blindfolded.
The protest started from the centre of the village, and the protesters chanted similar slogans in addition to those that called for national unity. Upon arrival to the wall, the protesters while raising photos of the 10-year-old murdered child, Ahmed Husam Yousef Musa, attempted to cross the wall in to their land. The action was a symbol of protest against the monstrous violations that Israeli soldiers commit against Palestinian civilians. Israeli soldiers murdered Ahmed three days ago, 29 July 2008, while participating in a non-violent protest against the construction of the segregation wall in Ni’lin.
Today, the protesters succeeded to arrive at the location of the wall, and they repeated chants and slogans against the occupation soldiers and their officers that command them to shoot unarmed civilians. Soon after, confrontations started and the soldiers started firing tear gas and rubber coated bullets at the protesting crowds. resulting in the injury of Imad bournat and dozens affected by the tear gas. Such actions caused tens of injuries
On a different note, a group of 45 Italians visited our village two days ago, 30 August 2008, in solidarity with the Bil’in nonviolent resistance movement. The popular committee provided the group with a detailed explanation about the early stages of the struggle against the wall and its effects on the daily lives of the villagers. The group tried to visit the lands of Bil’in across the wall. However, Israeli soldiers refused them entry. The Italian group then tried to visit Ni’lin to express their condolences to the family of Ahmed, but once again, the Israeli soldiers denied them entry.
The Popular Committee to Resist the Wall in Bil’in condemned the violations that protesters are subject to during their peaceful protests. The peaceful protesters continue to be victims of live ammunition, rubber coated bullets and tear gas of the occupation soldiers. Multiple human rights organizations have demanded for immediate intervention, and for investigations of the atrocities committed by occupation soldiers and their commanders in the occupied Palestinian Territory.
