Friday protests and a Saturday funeral Credit: . Date: April 20th, 2009.
This Friday, Basem Ibrahim Abu Rahma was martyred in Bil’in, where he was shot during a protest. Soldiers also attacked several other anti-Wall demonstrations in the West Bank, wounding scores of people. In these past months, the deaths of Abu Rahma, along with Arafat Khawaja, Mohammed Khawaja, Ahmed Mousa and Youssef Amirah are not isolated examples of “unauthorized fire” or protocol breach, but rather reflect a violent, institutionalized military policy.
Above: In Ni’lin, demonstrators run from a barrage of tear gas fired into the streets of the village. The gas is fired into homes, where it affects entire families and has recently led to several damaging fires.
Above: Soldiers in Ni'lin fire tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at protestors. In addition to the death of Abu Rahma, a number of people were injured on Friday, including one young man who was shot in the stomach with a small steel bearing, resembling the hunting ammunition, in Ni’lin.
Above: A young boy hurls a stone at invading troops in Ni’lin. Of those killed at anti-Wall demonstrations, a vast majority have been in their early or mid teens.
Above: The body of Basem Ibrahim Abu Rahma is carried by mourners in Ramallah. Abu Rahma was shot in the chest at close range by a high-velocity tear gas canister during the village’s weekly protest and died soon after.
Above: Two young men pay their respects to Abu Rahma. Hundreds of people attended the funeral procession on Saturday.
Above: Mourners gather at the funeral. The death of Abu Rahma marks the 16th Palestinian to be killed at anti-Wall demonstrations since 2004.
Above: Tear gas canisters in Ni’lin. These types of ammunition are used against demonstrations across the West Bank. The high velocity round, pictured in the center, is the same type that killed Abu Rahma and critically injured Tristan Anderson.
