Friday’s protest in Bil’in village, west of the West Bank city of Ramallah called on the Palestinian factions and people to renounce all sorts of internal violence and conflict, and to stand united against Israel’s annexation policies and its continuous attacks against the Palestinian people.
Abdullah Abu Rahma, coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall informed the IMEMC that 300 residents, along with Israeli and international peace activists, marched against the Wall and chanted slogans calling for unity among the Palestinian factions, and called for an end to the internal clashes that claimed that lives of innocent civilians while Israel did not stop its aggression and attacks against the people.
“We call on the Palestinian factions to unite under one flag, the Palestinian flag”, Abu Rahma stated, “Internal clashes are destructive for the Palestinian cause and achievements”.
The Israeli army declared the construction area of the Wall as a closed military zone in an attempt to bar the residents and peace activists from entering it to protest against the annexation Wall.
As the protesters attempted to reach the construction site, troops fired gas bombs, concussion grenades, and rubber coated bullets at the peaceful protesters. Ten residents, and three international peace activists were injured.
One international woman, known as Anna, was injured in her chest and received treated by Red Crescent medics, one Norwegian activist, known as Cesare, and one Israeli peace activist, known as Shai, were also injured.
Associated Press reporter, Rami Abdo, and a Japanese reporter known as Leo, and a Palestinian resident identified as Abdullah Rawashada, were injured after the army attacked the peaceful protesters.
Also, resident Akram Al Khateeb was detained by the army for two hours.
Later on, several youth clashed with the soldiers who fired rubber-coated bullets and concussion grenades at them.
Resident Mohammad Ahmad Yassin, 17, was shot by a rubber-coated bullet in his head from a relatively close range, and was transferred to Sheikh Zayid Hospital in Ramallah.
Moreover, resident Odah Ribhi Abu Rahma, 17, was shot by a rubber-coated bullet in his thigh, and Omar Hisham Nasser, 20, was shot by a rubber-coated bullet in his head.
Abu Rahma informed the IMEMC that the soldiers are using excessive force against the peaceful protesters in an attempt to end the protesters against the annexation Wall and the protests against Israel’s settlement construction and expansion plans.
Ten injured in Bil’in weekly protest against Israel’s annexation Wall
Saed Bannoura-IMEMC; 26-5-2006; 22:50
Local source in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah city in the West Bank, reported that Israeli soldiers violently attacked the weekly protest against the annexation Wall in Bil’in and injured ten peaceful protesters, including an American peace activist and a Palestinian youth.
Army violently attacked the protest and fired gas bombs, and rubber coated bullets at the protesters in addition to attacking and clubbing several activists.
Dozens of protesters headed towards the construction site of the Wall and tried to cross the barbed wire section of the annexation Wall which Israel is constructing on Palestinian private lands and orchards.
One American woman was hit in the head by a gas cannister fired by the army. Mohammad Khateeb, head of the Popular Committee Against the Wall, reported that the woman was evacuated to a Palestinian hospital.
Also, Abdullah Abu Rahma, coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall informed the IMEMC that one youth identified as Mohammad Ahmas Yassin, 17, was injured in his head and was transferred to Ramallah Hospital.
Meanwhile, Israeli army source claimed that one soldier was lightly injured in the protest.
Israeli troops continuously attack the peaceful protests against the Wall and use excessive force in order to disperse the local, Israeli and international peaceful protesters who protest against Israel’s annexation and settlement expansion plans in the occupied West Bank.
