This week’s protest, on the eve of the Eid El-Adha fest, saw the participation of a larger group of villagers than the usual.
As in every week lately, on their way to the wall, demonstrators spotted border police officers entering the village to taunt the youth and attract stone throwers. On reaching the closed gate, with soldiers barricaded behind it and razor-wire, protesters were able to breach through the razor-wire nearby, the first barrier of the wall, creating a passage. Soldiers, limited by the same razor-wire they placed in front of the gate, slowly made their way to close the passage. By that time a small group had already crossed, and was now between the razor-wire and the second barrier of the wall, a 2.5 meters fence.
A demonstrator passing through the razor-wire barricading the wall
Now separated into two groups, both accompanied by soldiers, protesters marched along the path, opening more and more passages in the barricading razor-wire and trying to cross the second fence. Despite some pushing and shoving and numerous concussion grenades, all demonstrators eventually managed to cross the razor-wire fortifications.
Demonstrators opening breaches in the wall
On returning to the village, demonstrators noticed border police officers occupying two houses in the outskirts of the village. The first groups left the house immediately, as soon as they saw demonstrators approaching them, chanting “soldiers go home” in Hebrew. Protesters then entered the second occupied house, where the officers refused to leave.
When the group of the three border policemen received an order to leave the house over the radio, they also decided they will arrest one of the Palestinians inside the house, Farhan Burnat. When demonstrators tried preventing his arrest, border police reinforcement arrived and brutally lashed at people causing two injuries.
Border policemen trying to arrest a Palestinian demonstrator
Another group of border policemen occupying a nearby rooftop, shot teargas at the people around the house.
Rather than leaving the house, the army opted for invading the village with even more soldiers. The situation momentarily calmed down after protesters were able de-arrest Farhan, but escalated again shortly after, when border policemen started firing rubber coated steal bullets.
Border policemen scuffling with demonstrators inside the house
Three people were injured today, including popular committee coordinator Abdallah Abu Rahme, who was shot in the leg twice with rubber bullets.
