UN Fact Finding Mission Finds Strong Evidence of War Crimes during Gaza Conflict

September 15, 2009

gaza3

From a September 15, 2009 press release from the United Nations:

NEW YORK / GENEVA – The UN Fact-Finding Mission led by Justice Richard Goldstone on Tuesday released its long-awaited report on the Gaza conflict, in which it concluded there is evidence indicating serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed by Israel during the Gaza conflict, and that Israel committed actions amounting to war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity.

The report also concludes there is also evidence that Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes, as well as possibly crimes against humanity, in their repeated launching of rockets and mortars into Southern Israel.

Read the rest of this entry »


Event: Report From Palestine

September 2, 2009

gaza

Friday, September 18, 2009
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
BUS 1-5 (Business Building, University of Alberta)

Member of Parliament for Vancouver East Libby Davies, and rabble.ca publisher Kim Elliott will share stories and photos from their August 2009 delegation to the West Bank and Gaza in Occupied Palestine.

*FREE*
(donations accepted to fund Edmonton participation in the January 1, 2010 Gaza Freedom March)

Presented by Palestine Solidarity Network and the U of A Campus NDP

Help us spread the word!

Invite your friends via the facebook event page.


New Concrete Wall in Ni’lin Prompts Fierce Resistance

August 23, 2009
The new concrete wall in Ni'lin

The new concrete wall in Ni'lin

The regular march to the confiscated land in the village of Ni’lin was different this week, as occupation forces have begun building a concrete wall in front of the fences and military road. The march started after the farmers finished praying in an area near the stolen lands. More than 150 people protested on Friday, with international and Israeli activists supporting the people from Ni’lin.

The protesters arrived at the stolen lands to face a high concrete wall, four to eight metres high depending on the area. Soldiers fired barrages of a tear gas on the crowd, covering the area with clouds of tear gas that resulted in many breathing problems. Occupation forces also sprayed chemical wastewater, which carries an unbearable smell and induces vomiting, to keep people back from the Wall.

Clashes started between stones throwers and soldiers, extending along the fences that have not yet been covered by the new wall. Soldiers fired rubber bullets at those who managed to reach the fences and cut parts of it. Young people responded by throwing tear gas canisters at the soldiers and jeeps, which forced the soldiers to retreat and abandon their jeeps until the gas had cleared.

Youth then broke through one of the gates, passing through to the street and one of the electronic sensors with a Palestinian flag. Soldiers responded by opening fire with all types of bullets, including live ones, and shooting high-velocity tear gas canisters at groups of people. Soldiers then opened the gates and perused protestors by jeep, launching tear gas everywhere. Young men threw three tear gas canisters at one group of soldiers, forcing them to withdraw.

During the course of the demonstration, the army attacked the first-aid teams in an attempt to force them from the area. One volunteer was injured when a captain fired a sound bomb directly at the group. In total, six people were injured on Friday.

The demo continued for six and half hours. According to a resident, “This sends a message to occupation forces that the new wall will not prevent us from fighting and protesting for our rights. We will protest more and more. This was message sent by the all the people who were there.”

[Report from stopthewall.org]


Update on Bil’in Arrests

August 6, 2009

The Military Prosecution is claiming that the seven people taken from their homes during the night raid that took place in Bil’in on August 3, 2009 are suspected of stone throwing. A leading member of the Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, non-violent activist Mohammad Khatib, is accused of incitement to “damage the security of the area.”

Read the rest of this entry »


Take action against suppression of non-violent resistance in Bil’in

August 4, 2009
Bil’in activist Mohammad Khatib in Montreal. Photo: Valerian Mazataud

Bil’in activist Mohammad Khatib in Montreal. Photo: Valerian Mazataud

At around 3 am on the morning of Monday, August 3, a large military force wearing combat paint and masks invaded the West Bank village of Bil’in. Israeli soldiers raided several homes, arresting two Palestinian children and five Palestinian adults, including Mohammad Khatib of the Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, and an American national. The home of another member of the Popular Committee was raided, but soldiers could not arrest him because he was not present at home.

Attempts to criminalize the leadership of non-violent protests were curbed in the past with the help of an outpouring of support from people committed to justice from all over the world. Please continue reading for ways you can take action in support or Mohammad and the other people arrested on Monday.

Read the rest of this entry »


Report: Repression Allowed, Resistance Denied

August 4, 2009

kalandia

The Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign and Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association have released a new report entitled Repression Allowed, Resistance Denied: Israel’s Suppression of the Popular Movement Against the Apartheid Annexation Wall.

You can download a copy of the report here or on the Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign website here.

Read the rest of this entry »


Israeli forces arrest Palestinian on his return from testifying to the United Nations

July 22, 2009

Israeli forces fire tear gas at demonstrators in Ni'lin.

Israeli forces fire tear gas at demonstrators in Ni'lin.


Mohammad Srour was arrested on July 20, 2009 while crossing the Allenby Bridge from Jordan.

Srour and Jonathan Pollack, an Israeli solidarity activist, testified to the United Nations in Geneva on July 6, 2009 about the murder of two young men by Israeli forces during a demonstration in Ni’lin.

A video of Srour and Pollack’s testimony is available on the UNHRC’s website here. You can also download the video.

Srour, a member of the Ni’lin Popular Committee Against the Wall, participates in demonstrations that take place against the theft of Ni’lin’s land. He and Pollack were witness to the shooting of two Ni’lin residents (Arafat Rateb Khawaje and Mohammed Khawaje) on December 28, 2009 during a demonstration in solidarity with Gaza.

“I know full well that I will pay the price for this testimony when I return at Israeli crossing points in my journey of return after this hearing,” Mohammad Srour stated at minute four of his testimony to the United Nations

Srour was arrested at the border crossing of the Allenby Bridge and taken to Ofer prison. On Wednesday, he was interrogated by Israeli forces and his lawyer has requested an urgent hearing for Thursday. He will likely be taken to court on Thursday, July 23 2009 to hear the charges against him.

[Report from the International Solidarity Movement]


Disguised Israeli forces arrest two Palestinians in Ni’lin

July 22, 2009

Around 80 Palestinian residents, alongside Israeli and international solidarity activists, gathered to demonstrate against construction of the Apartheid Wall in Ni’lin on Friday, July 10, 2009. After the weekly prayer, demonstrators marched to the Wall, chanting slogans against the Occupation and theft of their land. Upon arriving at the site, protesters cut the illegal fence with cutters.

Israeli forces shot tear-gas canisters at the protest, but individuals continued to destroy the fence. In response to the military violence, young Palestinian men threw stones and paint at the military vehicles driving below the Wall. Demonstrators managed to cut through the fence and placed boulders and a burning tire on the road to prevent military vehicles from driving close by and attacking.

The demonstration ended abruptly when approximately 10 members of Israeli special forces, disguised as participants with masked faces pulled out pistols and telescopic batons. Soldiers armed with guns and riot shields then entered through the fence and shot large amounts of tear gas, smoke grenades, percussion grenades and live ammunition from their handguns.

Read the rest of this entry »


Bil’in’s Response to Cellcom Advertisement

July 21, 2009

Bil’in village has responded to a recent Israeli Cellcom advertisement in which Israeli soldiers play soccer with Palestinians over the Apartheid Wall with a video of their own, showing the reality of what actually happens in the Occupied Territories. Truth in advertising.

Bil’in’s response was created by Ayyad Mediqa.

The original ad:

Bil’in’s response:


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 85 other followers