Palestinian mobilization all across the West Bank continued yesterday, even as the Occupationâs massacre in Gaza intensified and tanks were rolling into Gaza. The ongoing collective action gives voice to the unified Palestinian condemnation of the Occupationâs heinous crimes, and solidifies their resistance to the continuous repression that they face.
Hebron district saw several demonstrations and other actions take place, as national and Islamic activists came together to call for a general strike to protest the attacks in Gaza. Near Hebron city, the Al Fawar refugee camp was the site of a large demonstration last night, with hundreds of people joining the protest. Further clashes occurred in the village of Yatta, south of Hebron, where 26 year-old Thalal Ali was injured by Occupation forces.
Similar violence from Occupation forces occurred in Qalqilya, where one person was killed and many were injured in confrontations with the forces. Twenty year-old Mufid Saleh Walwil was killed by live bullets in the head and chest as he was taking part in a demonstration condemning the assault on Gaza.
In Jenin and Nablus, protests took place outside of the local Red Cross offices, chanting their solidarity with the people of Gaza, and issuing a letter to the organization urging it to condemn the Occupationâs war crimes. This is especially pertinent for the Red Cross, as the Occupation has targeted medical personnel since it began its ground invasion. According to Red Crescent sources in Gaza, five Red Crescent medics have been killed since ground troops entered the Strip.
Nablus district also faced several incursions and invasions yesterday, as Occupation forces raided the villages of Beita and Huwwara. Several injuries were reported in Beita, as forces fired tear gas, sound bombs and live bullets inside the village. Sixteen year-old Mustafa Salami was hit by a live bullet and was taken to hospital, but remains in stable condition. In Huwwara, Occupation forces invaded the village and occupied homes by installing military posts on several rooftops.
In Bethlehem and Ramallah, meanwhile, hundreds of people from all spectra of Palestinian society gathered to demonstrate in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Protestors in both cities carried out their demonstration in the most central areas, attracting plenty of local media attention.
Actions are also taking place in â48 Palestine, particularly amongst the student population. A large demonstration was held in front of Haifa University, with participants calling for a studentsâ strike in protest against the assault on Gaza. Under the call of âOne Nation, One Pain,â Arab students announced that in addition to their strike at their universities, they plan to stage a hunger strike as well.
All of these initiatives came as the Occupation intensified its attacks on Gaza by sending in ground troops and occupying the streets of Gaza City and other areas. To date, approximately 521 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the bombings, with some 2,400 people being injured. Despite the Occupationâs continued denial of the existence of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, UN OCHA reports that 13,000 people have been made homeless as a result of the bombing, and some 70% of the people of Gaza are without electricity due to the targeting of electricity generators. Furthermore, the Occupation continues to seal of the Gaza crossings, as fifteen vans carrying desperately-needed humanitarian supplies were prevented by Occupation authorities from entering the Strip.