On January 23rd, a demonstration against Israel’s apartheid wall in the village of Jayyous, was once again met with repression from the Israeli Army. Israeli soldiers and border police shot tear gas, rubber and live bullets at villagers during the weekly demonstration. At least four people, including a pregnant woman, were treated for tear gas inhalation. The army occupied two homes and used the roofs to shoot at youth. However, a family in a third home, supported by international solidarity activists, successfully prevented the army from entering the building.
Army jeeps entered Jayyous several hours before the demonstration began. The mayor of the village also received a phone call from the area commander, who him that if villagers marched to the south gate in the wall, they would be shot with live ammunition. Despite this intimidation, several hundred Jayyous residents, supported by Israeli and international solidarity activists, marched towards the gate waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation.
The crowd’s path was soon blocked by two jeeps and more than a dozen soldiers and border police. After a ten minute stand-off, several youth began to throw stones. The army then began firing rubber bullets, tear gas, and live ammunition at the boys. The clashes continued in the village for several hours after soldiers entered the village from three different areas.
During this time, the army occupied the roofs of two houses, from which they fired at the demonstrators below. Residents of the occupied houses were prevented from leaving the buildings. Soldiers also attempted to enter a third house, but the family refused to let them in, and told the army to leave their property. The army withdrew from the village at around 7:30pm.
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