Bil’in: A Palestinian citizen was injured and dozens of other citizens and activists suffered from temporary suffocation as the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) suppressed the weekly demonstration against the Wall and Settlements. The protestors marched under the slogan “We are all Mahmoud Sarsak and Akram Alrichawi” who are on hunger strike for the 92nd and 68th day, respectively. Stun grenades, rubber coated bullets and tear gas were fired at the participants on their arrival at the land adjacent to the apartheid wall, resulting in the injury of Moses Husam al-Khatib (18), who was shot with a rubber-coated metal bullet and had to be taken to the hospital.
Nabi Saleh: The media coordinator for Ramallah and Al Bireh district, Bakir al-Wahidi, was injured by a rubber bullet to the foot as two international activists were shot with rubber bullets to the back and hand, and required treatment in the field. The IOF have been preventing local media, journalists and activists from entering the village recently to mask increased Israeli suppression.
Alma’sara: The weekly demonstration against the Wall and Settlements in Alma’sara experienced severe repression, as the IOF prevented the participants from reaching the vicinity of the Wall. The soldiers beat protestors with fists and rifle butts, including 12 year old Obada Briggah.
Beit Ummar: Saqr Abu Maria (42) was arrested during the weekly demonstration against settler land theft in the town of Beit Ummar. Demonstrators wore blindfolds and had their hands tied, as they symbolically played a game of football in front of the soldiers, in solidarity with Mahmoud Sarsak and the other hunger strikers. The IOF swiftly confiscated the ball and began to beat protestors with their riot shields, rifle butts and feet when asked for it back. They proceeded to arrest Abu Maria and when some activists tried to intervene an English woman and Scottish man were taken behind the wall of soldiers and beaten, despite having their hands tied and blindfolds on. The soldiers used force to disperse the participants held near the Etzion settlement where land belonging to local farmers has been declared a closed military zone and access has been prevented.