30 oct 2014
Provocations by Israeli soldiers and settlers continued in the occupied Palestinian territories, on Wednesday, with multiple violations occurring across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while militant Jewish settlers again broke into al-Aqsa Mosque via the Mughrabi gate.
West Bank
Masked Israeli forces were reported to have brutally attacked a 13-year-old elementary student before taking him into custody from inside his school, in the old town of Hebron, according to the student’s father, Arif Jabir.
Mr. Jabir told WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency that forces raided the school, attacked and severally beat his son Bara’a before leading him out of the school in a brutal manner and using foul language.
The soldiers violently forced Bara’a into the back of a military jeep, severely bruising his body. He was transferred to a hospital for treatment.
WAFA notes that educational facilities, including students and teachers, are not spared from Israel’s regular attacks, including obstruction of access to schools and the violation of the right to education.
During the recent 51-day military assault on the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces bombarded a number of schools, including those run by the UN -- a serious violation of international law.
Israeli forces, on Wednesday, also demolished several structures used for housing and livestock, in addition to a traditional oven in Yatta town, to the south of the Hebron and Jerusalem districts, according to local activist Rateb Jabour.
Mr. Jabour, who is coordinator of the local anti-wall and settlement committee said that a large Israeli force, backed by bulldozers and military jeeps, broke into Khashem al-Daraj, where they cordoned off the area and demolished a residential structure, a cave, an out-door toilet facility and a livestock shed, all which belong to Mustafa, Mousa and Eid al-Tibni.
Jabour slammed the demolition as an ‘arbitrary act of revenge’ perpetrated as part of Israeli plans to displace Palestinians and illegally replace them with Israeli settlers.
Meanwhile, forces demolished a traditional tabon (oven) in the village of Umm al-Khair, to the east of Yatta, under the pretext that it disturbed Israeli settlers from the nearby illegal settlement of ‘Karmiel’.
Mr. Jabour additionally stated that Israeli forces demolished a traditional oven for the second time in just a week, under the pretext of unlicensed building. Forces brutalized anyone who attempted to confront them and save the oven, inflicting multiple wounds and bruises on several local residents.
The tabon provides bread for the family who owns it, as well as for other members of al-Hathalin family.
Israeli settlers frequently harass Palestinian locals. Last February, a settler from ‘Karmiel’ filed a lawsuit claiming that he, along with his family, suffer from the smoke emitted by the oven and requested a compensation of some $72,000.
To the west of Salfit, in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces raided the town of Qarawat Bani Hassan, where they kidnapped five Palestinians after inspecting their homes.
The Salfit governorate issued a statement which identified the five as Majd Nassim Assi, 23, Ali, 20, Ahmad 22, Layth, 19, and Muhammad Rayyan, age19.
Governor of Salfit, Mr. Issam Abu Bakr, denounced the raiding and inspection residents’ homes, as well as the arrests which followed. He said that most of those who are arrested by Israeli forces are youth and children.
According to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, Israel has arrested a total of 3,000 Palestinian children since 2010.
Abu Bakr noted that such actions appall residents and deprive children from living a normal life.
He further called on human rights organizations to take urgent action in stopping all aggressive Israeli practices against Palestinians in the Salfit district.
Jerusalem
Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, Israeli police, accompanied by West Jerusalem Municipality bulldozers broke into Silwan, where they demolished the a cave-like structure used as a shelter by a Palestinian family.
The cave is located in a plot of land belonging to Khaled al-Zir, who, together with his family, were forced to take shelter in the cave following the demolition of their house, again under a pretext of unlicensed building.
Khaled and his relative, Fahmi, were both brutally assaulted and abducted, following a confrontation with Israeli troops as they attempted to stop the demolition process.
According to the Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem, the residents of Umm al-Khair are originally Palestinian refugees who were driven out from their original homeland of ‘Arad and Beersheva in 1948.
WAFA further reports that the residents of this village, as well as those of Khashem al-Daraj, are mainly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. More than 85% of the residents are engaged in agricultural activities, especially animal husbandry.
Jewish militant settlers again broke into al-Aqsa Mosque through the Mughrabi gate, on Wednesday, as well, touring its yards in a provocative manner under the protection of Israeli police, said witnesses.
Israeli police were stationed at the gates of al-Aqsa, where they imposed strict measures on worshipers who wished to enter the compound, seizing identity cards and returning them when they had left the compound.
Witnesses told WAFA that Israeli police, on Tuesday evening, also stormed al-Aqsa, raided al-Marwani Mosque, and seized the back packs of students who study there.
Furthermore, several extremist Jewish organizations which call for the demolition of al-Aqsa Mosque and construction of the “Jewish Temple”, have reportedly organized a conference under the title of “Israel Returns to the Temple Mount”.
The conference coincides with the Jewish event which celebrates a group of Jews' journey of prayer at what they consider to be the 'Temple Mount', set to be held in the presence of high ranking Israeli figures, right-wing parties and members of various “Temple Mount” extremist groups.
The ceremonies celebrating this event will last for an entire week.
Jewish groups have called for a mass raid of al-Aqsa Mosque, during which they are expected to perform provocative tours and prayers. According to sources, they aim to schedule a program for the Jewish Students of the Temple and Israeli rabbis to visit al-Aqsa compound.
Jews hold al-Aqsa to be the site of the first and second temples, with a number of advocates attempting to recruit Christian groups (mostly of Western denominations) into the campaign, with some having gone so far as to suggest bombing the mosque.
Christians at large, however, remain divided on the issue, as biblical prophecy states: "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." ~Revelation 21:22
Escalating attacks against both Islamic and Christian holy shrines in Israel and the oPt now total over 500, in just the past five years.
A number of churches have since taken up the cause of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement in response to the violations by both Israeli authorities and settlers in this regard.
Pope Francis, on the last day of a recent 3-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land, called for allowing all believers free access to holy sites in Jerusalem.
The mounting tension in the Old City of Jerusalem has sparked numerous violent confrontation between Palestinians and Israeli settlers backed by police.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is currently administered by Jordan, according to a treaty signed between Jordan and Israel in 1994, WAFA further notes.
As the main custodian of all Muslim and Christian sites in Palestine, Jordan expressed concerns over calls by several prominent Israeli officials to take over the sovereignty of the holy site.
According to media sources, a debate held in the Israeli Knesset, introduced under the title “The Loss of Israeli Sovereignty Over the Temple Mount”, was initiated by Moshe Feiglin, a Jewish far-right member of PM Netanyahu’s Likud party, to take control of al-Aqsa Mosque.
Further abductions
Israeli forces, on Wednesday, abducted at least nine Palestinians from the occupied West Bank districts of Jenin and Nablus, while taking on youth from the Jerusalem area, according to reports by local and security sources.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped three Palestinians in the town of Qabatiya, to the south of Jenin, after raiding and searching their families’ homes. They were identified as Ibrahim Sabaghneh, 53, Tariq Abu Elrob, 20, and Asyad Zakarneh, 22.
Forces also took Bilal Sharqawi and Ahmad Torkman, both from the town of Yabod, while they were present at ‘Dotan’ military checkpoint, near Jenin.
Meanwhile, forces detained and interrogated two brothers from the same town, for hours, before releasing them.
WAFA further notes that the town of Yabod is a target destination for daily Israeli raids and arrest campaigns, leading to regular confrontations, the last of which took place on Tuesday, where four Palestinian youth were shot with live ammunition; one of the injured is reported to be in critical condition.
In the town of Jaba’a, forces abducted two brothers; Mahmoud and Mohammad Khalilyeh, 35, 45, respectively, and Nayif Hamammreh, 30, following a raid on their homes and motor shops, where they confiscated a motor bike and several car parts.
In Nablus, forces took into their custody 31-year-old Samih Jaber, from the town of Aqraba, to the south, after raiding his family home.
In occupied East Jerusalem, special police units further raided the town of Silwan, to the south of the Old City, where they took Morad Ghaith, who was taken to an interrogation center in Jerusalem.
Police also kidnapped Sameera Edrees, from Jerusalem, as she tried to leave al-Aqsa Mosque from one of its main gates; she was subsequently led to a police station in the Old City.
The police additionally arrested an elderly at the compound. His identity remains unknown, but he was reportedly taken for chanting religious slogans and attempting to fend off settlers’ who broke into the holy compound.
According to guards who work at al-Aqsa Mosque, Israeli police seized worshipers’ identity cards at the main gates and referred many of them to a detention center for further interrogation.
See this week's Opinion/Analysis section for further information on the escalating violence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
West Bank
Masked Israeli forces were reported to have brutally attacked a 13-year-old elementary student before taking him into custody from inside his school, in the old town of Hebron, according to the student’s father, Arif Jabir.
Mr. Jabir told WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency that forces raided the school, attacked and severally beat his son Bara’a before leading him out of the school in a brutal manner and using foul language.
The soldiers violently forced Bara’a into the back of a military jeep, severely bruising his body. He was transferred to a hospital for treatment.
WAFA notes that educational facilities, including students and teachers, are not spared from Israel’s regular attacks, including obstruction of access to schools and the violation of the right to education.
During the recent 51-day military assault on the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces bombarded a number of schools, including those run by the UN -- a serious violation of international law.
Israeli forces, on Wednesday, also demolished several structures used for housing and livestock, in addition to a traditional oven in Yatta town, to the south of the Hebron and Jerusalem districts, according to local activist Rateb Jabour.
Mr. Jabour, who is coordinator of the local anti-wall and settlement committee said that a large Israeli force, backed by bulldozers and military jeeps, broke into Khashem al-Daraj, where they cordoned off the area and demolished a residential structure, a cave, an out-door toilet facility and a livestock shed, all which belong to Mustafa, Mousa and Eid al-Tibni.
Jabour slammed the demolition as an ‘arbitrary act of revenge’ perpetrated as part of Israeli plans to displace Palestinians and illegally replace them with Israeli settlers.
Meanwhile, forces demolished a traditional tabon (oven) in the village of Umm al-Khair, to the east of Yatta, under the pretext that it disturbed Israeli settlers from the nearby illegal settlement of ‘Karmiel’.
Mr. Jabour additionally stated that Israeli forces demolished a traditional oven for the second time in just a week, under the pretext of unlicensed building. Forces brutalized anyone who attempted to confront them and save the oven, inflicting multiple wounds and bruises on several local residents.
The tabon provides bread for the family who owns it, as well as for other members of al-Hathalin family.
Israeli settlers frequently harass Palestinian locals. Last February, a settler from ‘Karmiel’ filed a lawsuit claiming that he, along with his family, suffer from the smoke emitted by the oven and requested a compensation of some $72,000.
To the west of Salfit, in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces raided the town of Qarawat Bani Hassan, where they kidnapped five Palestinians after inspecting their homes.
The Salfit governorate issued a statement which identified the five as Majd Nassim Assi, 23, Ali, 20, Ahmad 22, Layth, 19, and Muhammad Rayyan, age19.
Governor of Salfit, Mr. Issam Abu Bakr, denounced the raiding and inspection residents’ homes, as well as the arrests which followed. He said that most of those who are arrested by Israeli forces are youth and children.
According to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, Israel has arrested a total of 3,000 Palestinian children since 2010.
Abu Bakr noted that such actions appall residents and deprive children from living a normal life.
He further called on human rights organizations to take urgent action in stopping all aggressive Israeli practices against Palestinians in the Salfit district.
Jerusalem
Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, Israeli police, accompanied by West Jerusalem Municipality bulldozers broke into Silwan, where they demolished the a cave-like structure used as a shelter by a Palestinian family.
The cave is located in a plot of land belonging to Khaled al-Zir, who, together with his family, were forced to take shelter in the cave following the demolition of their house, again under a pretext of unlicensed building.
Khaled and his relative, Fahmi, were both brutally assaulted and abducted, following a confrontation with Israeli troops as they attempted to stop the demolition process.
According to the Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem, the residents of Umm al-Khair are originally Palestinian refugees who were driven out from their original homeland of ‘Arad and Beersheva in 1948.
WAFA further reports that the residents of this village, as well as those of Khashem al-Daraj, are mainly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. More than 85% of the residents are engaged in agricultural activities, especially animal husbandry.
Jewish militant settlers again broke into al-Aqsa Mosque through the Mughrabi gate, on Wednesday, as well, touring its yards in a provocative manner under the protection of Israeli police, said witnesses.
Israeli police were stationed at the gates of al-Aqsa, where they imposed strict measures on worshipers who wished to enter the compound, seizing identity cards and returning them when they had left the compound.
Witnesses told WAFA that Israeli police, on Tuesday evening, also stormed al-Aqsa, raided al-Marwani Mosque, and seized the back packs of students who study there.
Furthermore, several extremist Jewish organizations which call for the demolition of al-Aqsa Mosque and construction of the “Jewish Temple”, have reportedly organized a conference under the title of “Israel Returns to the Temple Mount”.
The conference coincides with the Jewish event which celebrates a group of Jews' journey of prayer at what they consider to be the 'Temple Mount', set to be held in the presence of high ranking Israeli figures, right-wing parties and members of various “Temple Mount” extremist groups.
The ceremonies celebrating this event will last for an entire week.
Jewish groups have called for a mass raid of al-Aqsa Mosque, during which they are expected to perform provocative tours and prayers. According to sources, they aim to schedule a program for the Jewish Students of the Temple and Israeli rabbis to visit al-Aqsa compound.
Jews hold al-Aqsa to be the site of the first and second temples, with a number of advocates attempting to recruit Christian groups (mostly of Western denominations) into the campaign, with some having gone so far as to suggest bombing the mosque.
Christians at large, however, remain divided on the issue, as biblical prophecy states: "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." ~Revelation 21:22
Escalating attacks against both Islamic and Christian holy shrines in Israel and the oPt now total over 500, in just the past five years.
A number of churches have since taken up the cause of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement in response to the violations by both Israeli authorities and settlers in this regard.
Pope Francis, on the last day of a recent 3-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land, called for allowing all believers free access to holy sites in Jerusalem.
The mounting tension in the Old City of Jerusalem has sparked numerous violent confrontation between Palestinians and Israeli settlers backed by police.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is currently administered by Jordan, according to a treaty signed between Jordan and Israel in 1994, WAFA further notes.
As the main custodian of all Muslim and Christian sites in Palestine, Jordan expressed concerns over calls by several prominent Israeli officials to take over the sovereignty of the holy site.
According to media sources, a debate held in the Israeli Knesset, introduced under the title “The Loss of Israeli Sovereignty Over the Temple Mount”, was initiated by Moshe Feiglin, a Jewish far-right member of PM Netanyahu’s Likud party, to take control of al-Aqsa Mosque.
Further abductions
Israeli forces, on Wednesday, abducted at least nine Palestinians from the occupied West Bank districts of Jenin and Nablus, while taking on youth from the Jerusalem area, according to reports by local and security sources.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped three Palestinians in the town of Qabatiya, to the south of Jenin, after raiding and searching their families’ homes. They were identified as Ibrahim Sabaghneh, 53, Tariq Abu Elrob, 20, and Asyad Zakarneh, 22.
Forces also took Bilal Sharqawi and Ahmad Torkman, both from the town of Yabod, while they were present at ‘Dotan’ military checkpoint, near Jenin.
Meanwhile, forces detained and interrogated two brothers from the same town, for hours, before releasing them.
WAFA further notes that the town of Yabod is a target destination for daily Israeli raids and arrest campaigns, leading to regular confrontations, the last of which took place on Tuesday, where four Palestinian youth were shot with live ammunition; one of the injured is reported to be in critical condition.
In the town of Jaba’a, forces abducted two brothers; Mahmoud and Mohammad Khalilyeh, 35, 45, respectively, and Nayif Hamammreh, 30, following a raid on their homes and motor shops, where they confiscated a motor bike and several car parts.
In Nablus, forces took into their custody 31-year-old Samih Jaber, from the town of Aqraba, to the south, after raiding his family home.
In occupied East Jerusalem, special police units further raided the town of Silwan, to the south of the Old City, where they took Morad Ghaith, who was taken to an interrogation center in Jerusalem.
Police also kidnapped Sameera Edrees, from Jerusalem, as she tried to leave al-Aqsa Mosque from one of its main gates; she was subsequently led to a police station in the Old City.
The police additionally arrested an elderly at the compound. His identity remains unknown, but he was reportedly taken for chanting religious slogans and attempting to fend off settlers’ who broke into the holy compound.
According to guards who work at al-Aqsa Mosque, Israeli police seized worshipers’ identity cards at the main gates and referred many of them to a detention center for further interrogation.
See this week's Opinion/Analysis section for further information on the escalating violence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
29 oct 2014
Scores of Israeli soldiers and police officers invaded, on Tuesday, the Secondary School for Boys in Silwan town, in occupied east Jerusalem, before attempting to kidnap a number of students.
Issam al-Abbasi, secretary of the Parents Committee of Silwan schools, stated that dozens of undercover soldiers invaded the yards of the school, and its rooms, before attempting to kidnap a number of students.
Al-Abbassi said the administration of the school and the teachers prevented the soldiers from searching the classrooms, adding that the soldiers also attacked several students and teachers.
He said the invasion into the school even violates an Israeli court ruling preventing the army from breaking into schools, but the soldiers went ahead and invaded it.
The army claimed that a student hurled stones at their jeep, and ran into the school, but al-Abbasi refuted the Israeli claims and said the students were in their classrooms with their teachers.
He added that, since last week, the soldiers started extensive deployment in the Schools Street in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood in Jerusalem, and carried out repeated provocative acts against the students and residents in the area.
Issam al-Abbasi, secretary of the Parents Committee of Silwan schools, stated that dozens of undercover soldiers invaded the yards of the school, and its rooms, before attempting to kidnap a number of students.
Al-Abbassi said the administration of the school and the teachers prevented the soldiers from searching the classrooms, adding that the soldiers also attacked several students and teachers.
He said the invasion into the school even violates an Israeli court ruling preventing the army from breaking into schools, but the soldiers went ahead and invaded it.
The army claimed that a student hurled stones at their jeep, and ran into the school, but al-Abbasi refuted the Israeli claims and said the students were in their classrooms with their teachers.
He added that, since last week, the soldiers started extensive deployment in the Schools Street in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood in Jerusalem, and carried out repeated provocative acts against the students and residents in the area.
29 sept 2014
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This afternoon, Israeli border police entered through Salaymeh checkpoint and fired 14 tear gas grenades and one stun grenade at children leaving school.
28th September 2014 | International Solidarity Movement | Khalil Team Several teenagers threw stones towards the checkpoint and the soldiers began firing tear gas. An ISM activist present stated, “Four young girls were walking past the boys throwing stones. The boys deliberately stopped throwing stones so the girls could pass safely, but the border police fired tear gas anyway.” At one point two border police grabbed a 12-year-old boy by the arm, |
dragged him to the checkpoint, and detained him for 20 minutes.
In a separate incident close by, nine-year-old Razain was walking near another local school when Israeli forces threw a stun grenade close to her legs. Shrapnel from the stun grenade injured her as it exploded in close proximity, stated Razain’s grandfather to ISM volunteers.
This morning at the Salaymeh checkpoint, Israeli forces fired three tear gas grenades and one stun grenade at schoolchildren.
An ISM activist present stated, “Around three young boys ran towards the checkpoint and threw stones towards the armed Israeli soldiers. They then fired a tear gas grenade towards the the children walking to school, forcing them to run through clouds of gas. This continued for around 40 minutes, with several more children throwing stones and two more tear gas grenades being fired. At one point the soldiers entered through the checkpoint towards the schools and threw one stun grenade. Many of the children were very afraid, it’s clearly no way to begin a day of education. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to concentrate and learn when your day begins with military violence.”
In a separate incident close by, nine-year-old Razain was walking near another local school when Israeli forces threw a stun grenade close to her legs. Shrapnel from the stun grenade injured her as it exploded in close proximity, stated Razain’s grandfather to ISM volunteers.
This morning at the Salaymeh checkpoint, Israeli forces fired three tear gas grenades and one stun grenade at schoolchildren.
An ISM activist present stated, “Around three young boys ran towards the checkpoint and threw stones towards the armed Israeli soldiers. They then fired a tear gas grenade towards the the children walking to school, forcing them to run through clouds of gas. This continued for around 40 minutes, with several more children throwing stones and two more tear gas grenades being fired. At one point the soldiers entered through the checkpoint towards the schools and threw one stun grenade. Many of the children were very afraid, it’s clearly no way to begin a day of education. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to concentrate and learn when your day begins with military violence.”
24 sept 2014
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Today (sept 23) at Salaymeh checkpoint in Hebron, Israeli forces fired 29 rounds of tear gas and 5 stun grenades at children going to school.
The morning started off peaceful as children passed through the checkpoint but as word spread that two Palestinians had been murdered by the Israeli army the night before, tensions began to rise quickly. Israeli forces had a clear presence at the checkpoint from the start. A few small stones were thrown by a small number of young boys, but landed nowhere near the checkpoint. Three Israeli Border police proceeded to fire the first round of tear gas at the children. In total, 29 tear gas canisters and 5 stun grenades were fired. This was extremely excessive and unnecessary as the Israeli border police were clearly in no danger. Two ambulances were called to the scene due to the immense amounts of tear gas fired and a Palestinian teacher stated that 30 school children and 15 teachers suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation. International Solidarity Movement (ISM) activists then left Salaymeh checkpoint and headed over to Qeitun checkpoint around 5 minutes away as they heard the firing of tear gas. At Qeitun checkpoint clashes had erupted and were underway between unarmed Palestinian youth and Israeli forces. An excessive amount of tear gas was used in addition to rubber coated steel bullets and stun grenades. A small group of older boys were throwing stones but they did not manage to reach the Israeli forces. However, the commander insisted on firing despite the presence of the many young children, some as young as 8 |
years old, in front of them attempting to get to school. Later on the Israeli forces threw stun grenades and brutally grabbed and arrested two young Palestinian boys between the ages of 14 and 15 years old. One of the boys whilst in a headlock and handcuffed was punched several times in the side. ISM activists ran up to ask the boys their names and correct ages but the Israeli forces were very hostile. They were both forced through the turnstiles and were kept at the checkpoint for a few minutes before Israeli forces marched them to the police station near the Ibrahimi mosque.
8 sept 2014
The minister of education and higher studies Khawla al-Shakhshir has announced her intention to visit the Gaza Strip next week.
She said on her Facebook page on Sunday that she will visit Gaza to attend the start of the new scholastic year.
The new school year in Gaza starts next week while it had already started in the West Bank last week.
She said on her Facebook page on Sunday that she will visit Gaza to attend the start of the new scholastic year.
The new school year in Gaza starts next week while it had already started in the West Bank last week.
3 sept 2014
ISM watched over two different checkpoints in al-Khalil (Hebron) on the 31st of August, Qeitun (209) and Salaymeh (29), both separating the H1 and H2 zone in this occupied city (H1 is supposedly under full Palestinian Authority control, H2 under full Israeli military control).
At the Salaymeh checkpoint, three tear gas canisters were fired at children on their way home from school. One child threw a stone in the direction of the checkpoint, and due to apparent problems with the gun, the soldier at the checkpoint did not fire.
A few moments later, a child approached the checkpoint in order to pass it and the soldier fired a tear gas canister right at the child’s feet. The gas filled the street and schoolchildren, some as young as six-years-old, had to flee the area coughing while their eyes streamed.
Later a group of three Palestinian children threw stones towards the checkpoint and the soldiers fired another tear canister at the children. The same routine repeated moments later. The tear gas lingered in the air for several minutes, irritating bypassing schoolchildren, teachers, and others residents walking in the street.
Similarly, children passing through the Qeitun checkpoint did not end their school day unharmed. A group of children threw stones towards the checkpoint from a rooftop. The soldiers fired a total of four tear gas canisters on the roof where the children were located.
This afternoon, September 2nd, two ISM volunteers watched over Salaymeh checkpoint at school closing time. Two Israeli soldiers were stationed at the checkpoint to begin with, and as usual, children started walking home after a day at school. At one point two young boys threw stones at the checkpoint. This was shortly followed by a short-range tear gas canister fired by one of the soldiers, which was aimed at the stone-throwing children but primarily affected those who needed to pass the cloud of tear gas in order to reach their homes.
As two more tear gas canisters were fired, many of the smaller children became scared, crying and running in panic. Minutes later, two more soldiers arrived at the checkpoint. One boy threw five or six stones towards the checkpoint, as with other stones, none of them reached the checkpoint or the soldiers. Two more short range canisters of tear gas were fired, as well as three or four long range canisters, one landing inside the school yard and the others landing in the middle of a group of approximately 80 children, exiting the UN school further down the street.
At the Salaymeh checkpoint, three tear gas canisters were fired at children on their way home from school. One child threw a stone in the direction of the checkpoint, and due to apparent problems with the gun, the soldier at the checkpoint did not fire.
A few moments later, a child approached the checkpoint in order to pass it and the soldier fired a tear gas canister right at the child’s feet. The gas filled the street and schoolchildren, some as young as six-years-old, had to flee the area coughing while their eyes streamed.
Later a group of three Palestinian children threw stones towards the checkpoint and the soldiers fired another tear canister at the children. The same routine repeated moments later. The tear gas lingered in the air for several minutes, irritating bypassing schoolchildren, teachers, and others residents walking in the street.
Similarly, children passing through the Qeitun checkpoint did not end their school day unharmed. A group of children threw stones towards the checkpoint from a rooftop. The soldiers fired a total of four tear gas canisters on the roof where the children were located.
This afternoon, September 2nd, two ISM volunteers watched over Salaymeh checkpoint at school closing time. Two Israeli soldiers were stationed at the checkpoint to begin with, and as usual, children started walking home after a day at school. At one point two young boys threw stones at the checkpoint. This was shortly followed by a short-range tear gas canister fired by one of the soldiers, which was aimed at the stone-throwing children but primarily affected those who needed to pass the cloud of tear gas in order to reach their homes.
As two more tear gas canisters were fired, many of the smaller children became scared, crying and running in panic. Minutes later, two more soldiers arrived at the checkpoint. One boy threw five or six stones towards the checkpoint, as with other stones, none of them reached the checkpoint or the soldiers. Two more short range canisters of tear gas were fired, as well as three or four long range canisters, one landing inside the school yard and the others landing in the middle of a group of approximately 80 children, exiting the UN school further down the street.
One tear gas canister landed in the path of three schoolchildren, no older than six-years-old, who were walking in the direction of the checkpoint, the ISM volunteers saw how one of the two girls was dragged away from the tear gas by the boy, however the other girl did not run away, seemingly too shocked and scared to move.
An ISM volunteer present said, “I ran into the cloud of gas to get the crying girl away and into safety. In a situation like that it is difficult to show a child, who is so terrified and wary of the world around her, that she can trust you. Especially as it becomes difficult to see and breath when surrounded by tear gas. Thankfully she took my hand and I led her to the other two children who she was walking with.”
The groups of children affected by the teargas were more than hundred meters away from the checkpoint and were no threat to the soldiers in any way. This resulted in children being delayed on their way home, either because they had to wait for the gas to clear or because they were forced to take a detour home. It is clear to see how the Israeli army’s tactic of collective punishment is carried out in the daily lives of Palestinians, and children suffering from tear gas inhalation before and after school is not an unusual occurrence in Hebron.
An ISM volunteer present said, “I ran into the cloud of gas to get the crying girl away and into safety. In a situation like that it is difficult to show a child, who is so terrified and wary of the world around her, that she can trust you. Especially as it becomes difficult to see and breath when surrounded by tear gas. Thankfully she took my hand and I led her to the other two children who she was walking with.”
The groups of children affected by the teargas were more than hundred meters away from the checkpoint and were no threat to the soldiers in any way. This resulted in children being delayed on their way home, either because they had to wait for the gas to clear or because they were forced to take a detour home. It is clear to see how the Israeli army’s tactic of collective punishment is carried out in the daily lives of Palestinians, and children suffering from tear gas inhalation before and after school is not an unusual occurrence in Hebron.
