Dozens of people suffered tear gas inhalation during the weekly nonviolent protests against the Wall and 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 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 military 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 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 army also fired rounds of live ammunition at them.
