Palestinian villagers defiant as Israeli occupation forces tighten blockade of Ni'lin

Date: 06 / 07 / 2008 Time: 13:55
Ramallah - Ma’an -

Israeli occupation forces laid siege to the West Bank town of Ni'lin, northwest of the city of Ramallah, for a third day on Sunday in an attempt to repress popular protest against the Israeli illegal Land-Grab, Apartheid Wall.

Witnesses said at least 17 people were injured on Sunday and five others arrested. The contents of five houses have been destroyed. The village's clinic is running out of medicine due to the blockade. Journalists have been barred from entering the village.

Israeli occupation forces began an indefinite blockade of the village on Friday, anticipating more protests against the construction of the illegal Israeli wall. Six hundred villagers defied the curfew on Friday, joining a weekly prayer-demonstration.

Another demonstration against the wall went ahead in defiance of the curfew at 11am on Sunday, with villagers marching in the streets and on rooftops.

The coordinator of Ni'lin's Popular Committee Against the Wall, Salah Al-Khawaja, told Ma’an that military vehicles are patrolling the streets of the village, frequently firing bullets, tear gas, and sonic bombs at civilian houses.

Al-Khawaja added that clashes are ongoing between young stone-throwing Palestinian youths and Israeli occupation forces.

Witnesses said that Israeli occupation forces abducted three young men from their homes at dawn on Sunday. The detainees are 16-year-old twin brothers Juma’a and Shihab Al-Khawaja and 24-year-old Abdallah Zroul. At least two others were arrested in the course of the demonstrations, witnesses said.

Israeli occupation forces also raided the house of Ni'lin resident Abdallah ‘Amira. No one was arrested.

Activists with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) inside the village said the Israeli occupation forces intensified their assault on Saturday afternoon. According to the human rights activists, the Israeli army "had ... invaded the village in force, bringing bulldozers to break through the barricades set up in the streets. During the following hours youths attempted to drive them out by throwing stones. The army responded with immense shooting. Tear gas was fired into houses, and at least one home was set on fire."

"When the army finally pulled back eleven people where left severely injured," ISM said, "one of them a young boy shot through the throat. His situation is as of now unknown."

***Updated at 16:12 local time

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