Israeli forces attempt to arrest a group of Palestinian youths and beat solidarity activist in Ni’lin

from International Solidarity Movement

On the 17th February, a group of seven Palestinian youths and four solidarity activists were walking through Ni’lin’s olive field. At around 3.30pm a group of soldiers were seen by the group moving though the olive fields and the youths decided to protest their presence, but kept their distance from the army. The army fired teargas at the Palestinians and activists who headed back to the village.

On the road back to the town the army threw sound bombs and attempted to block the group from going back to the village. The soldiers tried to kidnap Palestinian youths, two of whom were under 10 years old and solidarity activists.

One Japanese activist was captured by seven soldiers one of whom started to beat him by hitting him in the face. They forced him to put his hands on his head and lie face down on the road. The soldiers sat him up and aimed the teargas gun at him and threatened to kill him. One soldier then grabbed him and led him to the jeep, where they took his camera and interrogated him. The activist was then told that they would take him to Ni’lin and force him to point out which youths take part in the demonstrations.

Three solidarity activists approached to ask why the activist was being kidnapped. The soldiers then took him into the jeep and refused to speak to the observers. He was forced to sit bent over with his hands on his head as they took his wallet and phone. The army went through his phone and asked him about any Palestinian names. The activist was then taken to the checkpoint by the Border Police in the jeep. At the checkpoint he was interrogated again. The soldiers then took him outside where he was asked about his family, trying to make him sign an unknown piece of paper. The activist was held for over an hour in total and then released.

Ni’lin villagers suffer constantly from the army for their popular resistance to the illegal Apartheid Wall. Around 60 villagers have been arrested, 20 of whom are still in jail for allegedly taking part in the demonstrations.