Weekly Anti-Wall Protest Update – February 25
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Weekly Anti-Wall Protest Update – February 25

Al Ma’sara: Occupation forces repress the weekly demonstration, held in commemoration of the Hebron massacre and the Libya revolution.

The weekly demonstration in al Ma’sara was held in commemoration of the 17th anniversary of the massacre at the Ibarihmi Mosque in Hebron and in support of the Libyan revolution.

Demonstrators set off from the village school toward the entrance of the village, raising Palestinian and Libyan flags and chanting slogans condemning the Ibrahimi massacre and crimes of the settlers. They also called for the victory of the Libyan revolution and for national unity to confront the Occupation.

Arriving at the village entrance, marchers tried to break through to their isolated land, but were pushed back by Occupation forces who hurled sound bombs in their direction. Demonstrators responded with stones, and clashes continued for a short time.

The Campaign’s media coordinator in Bethlehem, Mohammed Braijya, spoke during the demonstration about the massacre in the Ibarahimi Mosque as well as the other crimes that are being committed by soldiers and settlers against the Palestinian people under the watch of the international community, which remains silent. Brajiya paid tribute to the souls of the Hebron martyrs, and also spoke about the support of the Palestinian people for the Libyan revolution, emphasizing that the Arab Nation is in a state of awakening and is beginning to rise up against its repressive regimes.

Mass demonstration in memory of Hebron massacre and demanding the opening of Shuhada Street

A number of people were injured when Occupation forces fired on and beat demonstrators participating in a march on the 17th anniversary of the massacre in the Ibrahimi mosque. Demonstrators called for the opening of Shuhada Street, a central Hebron street that has been colonized and closed off to nearly all Palestinians living in Hebron, and also condemned the American veto of the settlements at the UN.

Youth Against the Settlements called for the demonstration, and thousands of Palestinians were joined by many international supporters after Friday prayers. Demonstrators marched toward the entrance of Shuhada Street, where Occupation forces had formed a human chain in an attempt to block their path. However, a large number of people were able to get around the soldiers, arriving at the entrance of Shuhada Street where they sat on the street and in front of Occupation military vehicles in protest. Occupation forces set upon them, beating them with their fists, kicking them, and hitting them with the butts of their rifles, dragging away three international activists and a photographer.

Later, the protestors separated into smaller groups, attempting to gain access to the street through back alleys and confronting Occupation forces, who responded with force.

Occupation forces closed Shuhada Street in 1994 to Palestinian vehicles in response to the massacre at the Ibrahimi mosque. They then prohibited Palestinian foot-traffic at the end of 2000, under the pretext of increasing the security for 600 settlers who occupy the heart of Hebron. This has transformed the life for the 200,000 Palestinian residents of the city into a hell, causing many thousands to leave their homes.

al Nabi Saleh: Four injured, two arrested in weekly demonstration

The people of al Nabi Saleh broke the curfew that was imposed on the village by Occupation forces, marching against the Wall and settlements after Friday prayers.

As has become routine, Occupation forces sealed the entrances to al Nabi Saleh in the morning and encircled the small village. When protestors arrived at the edge of the village soldiers opened fire with tear gas, and also used a police vehicle to spray chemical water toward protestors. A number of people were affected severely by tear gas, and tear gas rounds also broke several windows.

Soldiers also fired randomly towards residents, leading to four injures. Basem Tamimi (43) was hit in the back by a tear gas round, along with Ahmed Tamimi, who was hit in the leg. Two people were also hit in the head with rubber bullets: 50-year-old Abdalhafith Mahmoud Saleh, who was rushed to the hospital in Salfit, and 23-year-old Hussein Tamimi.

During the protest, Occupation forces arrested Mohammed Abdalma’di Sabri al Khatib from the village of Deir Nazam. He was returning home and found himself by chance in an area where clashes were occurring. He was forced to get out of the bus because soldiers had closed the road leading to his village, and as he was passing al Nabi Saleh on foot he was arrested. Occupation forces also arrested a foreign journalist.

Bil’in: Protestors condemn US veto

One person was injured and a number seriously affected by tear gas in Bil’in, where demonstrators marched against the Wall and condemned the American veto at the UN.

Carrying Palestinian and Libyan flags, pictures of the martyrs Bassem and Jawaher Abu Rahmah, posters of the prisoners Marwan Barghouthi and Abdallah Abu Rahmah as well as American flags with “veto” written on them, participants marched toward the Wall. Some held banners calling for national unity and an end to internal Palestinian divisions.

Soldiers attacked the march when it reached the Wall, using tear gas, chemical water spray and rubber bullets. Occupation forces have also recently been using live ammunition (smaller .22 rounds), and recently one resident from Bil’in was hospitalized after being shot. While no one was hit with a live bullet this week, one young man was injured after being shot in the hand.

The Bil’in Popular Committee condemned the American administration and its refusal to condemn settlement activity, which indicates that the American administration will continue with its bias in favor of the Occupation and its crimes while denying the national, legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Nil’in: Protestors face tear gas, condemn veto

Hundreds of people from Ni’lin joined Friday prayers near the Apartheid Wall. The weekly sermon emphasized the need for unity and condemned the American veto, which showed that America would stand with the Occupation state in any situation. It also praised the revolutionaries in Libya and condemned the crimes of Qaddafi against the Libyan people.

After prayers, marchers made their way toward the Wall, accompanied by a number of international activists. They chanted against the United States and raised banners condemning the American position on settlements.

Soldiers repressed the demonstration, firing tear gas at protestors as they arrived at the Wall, which serious affected the younger marchers. Soldiers also chased demonstrators through the fields in the direction of the village and fired tear gas near homes.