25 Feb 2010

Demonstrators and press forced back by soldiers
Demonstrators and press forced back by soldiers

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Reports, Arrests, Hebron, Repression, Segregation, Settlements, Shuhada Street
Demonstrators Demand Israel Opens the Segregated Shuhada Street in Hebron

On the 16th anniversary to the Goldstine Massacre at the Cave of Patriarchs, in which 29 Palestinians were slain by the the Kiryat Arba Setteler, and the closing of the Shuhada Street to Palestinians following it, demonstrators defied segregation and marched on the forbidden street. The protest, organized by the local Youth Against Settlements group, took place amidst recent israeli provocations at the Cave of the Patriarch.

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On the 16th year anniversary of the closing of the Shuhada street in Hebron to Palestinian movement about 300 Palestinian, Israeli, and International activists marched from the Hebron Municipality towards the segregated Shuhada Street in Hebron. The protesters, which included an number of Palestinian Legislative Council members, marched in the rain waving flags, linking arms, and chanting slogans in Arabic, Hebrew, and English in a demonstration organized by the local Youth Against Settlements group.

A Palestinian demonstrator forced back as Border Police officers tried to disperse the demonstration
A Palestinian demonstrator forced back as Border Police officers tried to disperse the demonstration

As protesters reached the Shuhada Street, they were met by large military presence, which was quick to assault demonstrators with a volley of tear gas and stun grenades. Tear gas projectiles were fired at demobnstrators from all directions, often coming very close to hitting people. A few elderly protesters lost their consciousness and had to be evacuated by ambulance as a result of tear-gas induced asphyxiation. As protesters scattered and ran to avoid the tear gas, the army continued to surround the demonstration and shoot from all directions.

A demonstrator signaling a V sign facing a line of Israeli soldiers
A demonstrator signaling a V sign facing a line of Israeli soldiers

As the demonstration progressed, soldiers continually tried to physically push protesters further back. The protesters, in response, linked arms to create a "human wall". At this point, three Israeli demonstrators were randomally nabbed from the crowd and detained shortly before being released. An international activist was also arrested, but released several hours later.