Israeli occupation soldiers violently attack Bil'in and Ni'lin anti-wall marches

[ 27/11/2010 - 02:44 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)--

Dozens of Palestinian citizens and multinational activists suffered suffocation and some of them fainted when the Israeli occupation forces attacked the weekly anti-wall protests organized yesterday in the villages of Bil'in and Ni'lin in the West Bank.

In the village of Bil’in, in central West Bank, Israeli and international supporters joined villagers after the midday prayers at the local mosque and marched towards the Israeli segregation wall built on farmers' lands.

As soon as protesters reached the gate of the wall, soldiers stationed there fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at them, many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation. Soldiers then chased people back to the village.

In the nearby village of Ni’lin, the weekly protest started when villagers conducted the Friday prayers in an area not far from the Israeli wall. Multinational supporters also joined Ni’lin villagers.

When all participants approached the wall, soldiers started to fire tear gas at them. Many received medical treatment after they inhaled tear gas.

In the village of Ma'sarah, south of Bethlehem on the same day, Israeli troops detained five participants, four foreign activists and a child, during the weekly anti-wall march organized in the village.

Violent clashes between the protesters and troops, and dozens of tear gas suffocation cases were reported.

Non Violent Demonstrations in Bil'in and Ni'lin Attacked by Israeli Occupation Forces

Friday November 26, 2010 18:57 by Ane Irazabal - IMEMC & Agencies

Dozens of people suffered tear gas inhalation during the weekly nonviolent protests against the illegal Israeli Apartheid Wall and illegal settlements in the West Bank Villages of Bil'in and Ni'lin, near Ramallah, on Friday; no arrest were reported.

In Bil’in, west of Ramallah, dozens of protesters suffered tear gas inhalation following clashes, with the Israeli occupation soldiers, during the weekly protest organized by the Popular Committee Against the Wall. As the case every week, peace activists and international supporters joined village residents in the weekly demonstration against the wall and settlements.

Demonstrators carried pictures of Abdallah Abu Rahma a leader of the nonviolent popular resistance movement, who is in Israeli detention since July 2009. His 16 year-old son Mohammed was detained on Tuesday, after Israeli occupation soldiers raided his house.

Abdallah was due to be released over a week ago, but his detention was extended without legal grounds. He was convicted by an Israeli Court of “incitement” and “activity against public order”.

As soon as the protesters reach the military fence, the Israeli soldiers who were stationed behind it, threw tear bombs at them for an hour, organizers said.

In the nearby village of Ni’lin, the weekly protest also started after the midday pray. Israeli and international supporters joined the villagers, raising banners calling for national unity and popular resistance against the apartheid wall, the Israeli occupation and the illgal settlement construction.

Israeli troops started throwing tear gas, and fired rubber coated steel bullets and stun grenades. As a result, dozens of people were treated for the ill effects of tear gas inhalation.

The protesters also claimed that the Israeli occupation army also fired rounds of live ammunition at them.