A burning tire lit to try and stop military jeeps from invading the village. Picture credit: Anne Paq/Activestills.org

Already at 6 AM this morning, more than six hours before the demonstration was scheduled to begin, the army has laid a tight siege on the small village of Nabi Saleh, which is home to some 500 people. Dozens of soldiers took positions at the three roads leading in and out of the village and brought traffic to a complete standstill.

Hours later, dignitaries, Israeli and international supporters and people from surrounding villages who tried to join the protest by the dozens, were stopped by the army and prevented from entering the village. Clashes erupted on the road leading to Nabi Saleh from Beit Rimma, between frustrated youth and the soldiers, but died out quickly.  A few of those stopped did eventually managed to make their way to the village, walking miles by foot through the olive-tree spotted hills that surround Nabi Saleh.

Inside the village, more soldiers were positioned at the main junction and prevented the demonstration from even starting, shooting tear-gas, concussion grenades and rubber-coated bullets. Soldiers have also used lethal high velocity tear-gas projectiles of the same kind that killed Bil'in activist, Bassem Abu Rahmah, and critically injured American demonstrator, Tristan Anderson.

Clashes between local youth and the soldiers persisted until nightfall, when Border Police officers simultaneously fired 64 tear-gas canisters onto the village, drowning it in an asphyxiating thick cloud that lingered over the streets and houses for long minutes. Five demonstrators were injured throughout the day, including one who was hit by a rubber-coated bullet that was shot by the officers as they retreat from the village. He suffered a penetration wound and broken leg as a result of the shooting. The ambulance that evacuated him to the hospital was turned back by the soldiers at the checkpoint and had to take a much longer alternative route.