The Friends of Freedom and Justice Committee in Bil’in, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, reported Friday that dozens of nonviolent protesters were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation after Israeli soldiers attacked their weekly nonviolent protest against the Annexation Wall and settlements in the village.The Committee said that the Palestinian ambassador in Serbia, Talal Zek and a Serbian press delegation marched with the residents along with Israeli and international peace activists.
The protesters started their procession following Friday prayers in the center of the village, and marched towards the Annexation wall carrying flags and chanting the illegal Wall, Israel’s illegal settlements and its ongoing illegal occupation of Palestine.
As the protesters arrived at the Abu Lemon natural reserve, adjacent to the Wall, some protesters managed to cut sections of the barbed-wire fence, a few meters away from the concrete Annexation Wall, while soldiers, stationed behind the Wall started firing gas bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets in addition to spraying the protesters with water mixed with chemicals; dozens of protesters were treated by field medics for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Clashes were also reported between some local youths and the army after the soldiers attacked the protesters; the youths hurled stones at the soldiers and the army fired more gas bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets.
The Friends of Freedom and Justice Committee stated that the Palestinian Ambassador and the Serbian press delegation toured in Bil’in and listened to testimonies of local residents who spoke of some of Israel’s violations against the residents and their lands.
Israeli soldiers resort to the use of excessive force against nonviolent protests against the Wall and settlements in Bil’in, and several other West Bank villages including the nearby Bi’lin village, an issue that led to dozens of casualties, including several fatalities.
At the northern West Bank village of Kufur Qaddoum, Israeli soldiers attacked the weekly anti wall protest with tear gas and arrested two protesters. The two men were farmers from the village, local souirces said. According to villagers Israeli forces surrounded their village since the early hours of firdya morning to try to stop the protest.
Also on Friday, the army attacked nonviolent protesters in the nearby village of Ni’lin, and fired gas bombs and concussion grenades at them in addition to spraying the protesters with water mixed with chemicals.
Soldiers also attacked the weekly protest in the nearby village of Nabi Saleh, and installed roadblocks at the entrance of the village in order to prevent the residents and their supporters from marching towards Palestinian lands that were illegally taken away from the resident so that Israel can build and expand its illegal settlements.
In Bethlehem, the army attacked nonviolent protesters in Al Ma’sara village, and prevents the local and their Israeli and International supporters from marching, and attacked several protesters with batons and rifle-butts.
