Demonstrators gathered on Friday to show support for the occupied town of Al-Isawiyya, East Jerusalem. After a peaceful rally, Israeli police fired tear gas canisters into the unarmed crowd.
Written and photographed by Brynn Ruba.
- The protest was well-attended by Jewish-Arab solidarity groups, internationals, and Palestinians.
The confrontations follow a month of severe harassment of the village by occupying forces. Israeli police have raided Isawiyya on eight previous occassions.
Last Tuesday, Israelis illegally demolished a local home and print workshop. Family members trying to protect their property were confronted by police in riot-gear. Israel has illegally demolished at least eighteen buildings since July, and uprooted around 450 trees.
The village of Al-Isawiyya has been effectively surrounded by police, with police "inspecting" all vehicles going in and out of the city. The police are issuing fines for problems they find with vehicles, and supposed unpaid utilities and municipal taxes.
- Village boys show their placards to passing cars.
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- At the conclusion of the formal demonstration and march, most of the international presence departed. Unarmed Palestinian children carried their flag towards the Israeli riot-police standing nearby.
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- The police responded by firing tear gas into the group of children.
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- The unarmed children are forced to run through tear gas. Police give chase and continue to fire.
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- On 24 September, 18 month-old Mohammed Abu Sneneh died from tear gas inhalation, after Israeli police officers fired large amounts of the gas at protesters in the village.
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- The teenagers push a waste bin into the street to protect them from the rubber bullets fired by the police. The battle begins between Palestinian youth and their stones on one side, and the Israeli police and their automatic weapons on the other.
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- The police eventually used a tank to clear the street of rubble, and continued firing until after sundown.
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