Description

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian man was arrested and dozens suffered excessive tear gas inhalation when Israeli forces violently dispersed the weekly protest in Bilin near Ramallah on Friday.

Witnesses said that four Israeli military vehicles raided the village at midday, arresting Samir Mohammad Burnat, 40, and taking him to an unknown destination.

Hundreds of Palestinian and international activists marched to the Israeli separation wall where a group of Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas and stun grenades at them, witnesses aid.

The protesters raised Palestinian flags and chanted songs for national unity, and resistance.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said she had no information of either the protest or Burnat's arrest.

This year marks the tenth consecutive year of weekly marches against the Israeli separation wall in Bilin, which was constructed on
Palestinian land in 2005.

Two members of the Abu Rahmeh family have been fatally injured during non-violent marches in Bilin.

Bassem Abu Rahmah died after he was hit in the chest with a tear gas canister in 2009, and Jawaher Abu Rahmah died from excessive tear gas inhalation in 2010.

Israeli forces routinely suppress weekly marches across the occupied Palestinian Territories using violent means.
Print