Numerous injured during demonstration in Ni’lin

from International Solidarity Movement

On Friday, residents of Ni’lin along with international and Israeli solidarity activists gathered to demonstrate against the construction of the Apartheid Wall. Israeli forces fired teargas, sound bombs, the heavy, high velocity ‘Saruch’ teargas and 0.22 caliber live ammunition. The army attempted to arrest an international solidarity activist and entered the outskirts of the town by foot several times. According to the Red Crescent, 18 individuals were injured, including a Spanish solidarity activist.

The demonstration started around 12.30 after a prayer at the medical clinic.  At the clinic, an exhibition displayed Ni’lin’s solidarity with Gaza. The demonstrators marched towards the olive groves chanting slogans against the illegal Apartheid Wall and for Palestinian unity. The Israeli army responded to the non-violent demonstration by firing tear gas canisters at the protesters. Demonstrators scattered after the army began to use a large amount of the new ‘Saruch’ teargas , a high velocity long range black canister that cannot be seen in the air and causes serious injury upon impact. The ‘Saruch’ canister is far heavier than the regular canister and getting hit in a sensitive area such as the head can result in death.

The demonstration moved near and inside the village, where Israeli forces shot teargas and sound bombs as they repeatedly made incursions from the olive field into the village by foot. The army set up sniper positions to fire the 0.22 calibre live ammunition down the street and then attempted to arrest an international solidarity activist. A Spanish solidarity activist was hit with a teargas canister and required medical treatment. There were 18 injuries, 5 from rubber coated steel bullets and 13 from serious teargas inhalation.

The demonstration ended around 5.30 when the army withdrew. Ni’lin has been resisting the construction of the illegal Apartheid Wall with non-violent demonstrations since May 2008. The weekly demonstrations have resulted in numerous injuries and the death of four boys from the village. Despite the Israeli forces’ attempts to deminish the resistance, Ni’lin will continue their struggle against the construction of the illegal Apartheid Wall.