On June 9th, 2010, the Israeli Occupation forces released the Palestinian activist, Mazin Qumsiyeh, and the international supporters that were arrested earlier that day for participating in a sit-in aimed at preventing the Israeli bulldozing of agricultural land in the region of Al-Jozeh in al-Walajeh, a village in the Bethlehem district. They were released after being detained for four hours.
The occupation forces beat Qumsiyeh very badly while he was in detainment in their attempt to deter him from participating in future demonstrations. Both Qumsiyeh and the international supporters were told that they would face real harm if they continued their efforts to interfere with the Israeli bulldozing of Palestinian land.
Qumsiyeh and the international supporters were arrested for their efforts to prevent even more destruction of the villageâs land. Villagers and international activists arrived at the threatened pocket of land before 6:30 in the morning of June 9th, 2010 before the time occupation forces usually begin their demolition of Palestinian land. Qumsiyeh and international settlers joined the villagers and sat in front of the bulldozers to try to stop the devastation but the Israeli forces attacked the gathering, beat-up some of the villagers, and arrested Qumsiyeh and the international supporters. The occupation forces then took the arrested individuals to the military check post 300 near Bethlehem, where they were detained for four hours.
Arrests of activists like Qumsiyeh and the international supporters are a futile attempt of the occupation forces to suppress solidarity against Israeli infringements on Palestinian human rights. Demonstrations against the confiscation of land for the construction of the Apartheid Wall and settlements will continue in spite of the various threats used by the occupation forces.