Weekly Protest Video Round-Up

Bilin

Thierry Vallat led an EU delegation joining the march of around a hundred people. Soldiers dispersed the protest with high velocity tear gas canisters, resulting in injuries to three men, two were named as Ashraf al-Khatib, and Hamde Abu Rahma, the other an unnamed European activist. Soldiers then stormed the village but failed in arrest attempts. As part of the army’s zero tolerance policy toward protests, resident and activist Ibrahim Burnat, 27, became the 36th resident of Bilin to be arrested in the past seven months, in a night raid on Wednesday.

Ni’lin

A group of around 200 blocked the gate and raised the Palestinian flag on the separation wall which has cut villagers off from their land. Despite volleys of tear gas, no serious injuries were sustained. Salah Khawaja of the popular struggle committee said the army’s brutality highlighted a “need to come together and meet the challenges of occupation and attempts to suppress peaceful demonstrations”.

Al Ma’sara

The demonstration passed peacefully, with local organisers delivering speeches calling for unity between Palestinian politicians. There were no reported clashes with Israeli security forces, despite their blocking the protest route. Around 70 took part.

Nabi Saleh

Fast becoming the most volatile of the popular struggle locations. 150 protesters, the majority residents of the village, numbering around 25% of its population, marched on IDF positions in front of the Hallamish settlement, the villagers’ main grievance. They were met with an instant hail of tear gas, rubber coated bullets and .22 rounds, leading to at least 15 injuries. It is believed undercover soldiers were stationed to the rear of protestors in order to identify leaders, although none were seized. Among those hurt were Omar Tamim, 18, shot five times with rubber bullets and Palestine Monitor photographer Lazar Simeonov, whose helmet prevented serious injury when he was hit in the head with a rubber coated steel bullet. Several residences were damaged during the protest.

Sheikh Jarrah

Following the midweek demolition of the Gawi family tent and subsequent protest, Friday’s event featured several hundred protestors, including members of the Knesset. Unlike previous weeks, no arrests were made and the demonstration passed peacefully.