Soldiers arresting a protester today

Protesters from Beit Ummar, Yatta, Beit Jala, the Palestinian Women's Struggle Committee, as well as their Israeli and international supporters, managed to partially block the Israeli "Tunnels Checkpoint" for half an hour by staging a football match inside the premises of the military installation.

The Tunnels Checkpoint, situated on Route 60 near the towns of Beit Jala and al-Walajah, is the main checkpoint controlling movement in and out of Jerusalem from the south. Despite its location well within the West Bank, Palestinians are not allowed to cross in northbound, in the direction of Jerusalem.

Protesters at the waving flags during a protest during today's protest

The protest football match was held to highlight the checkpoint's importance in Israel's Apartheid infrastructure. Participants stressed their right to use this road, which was built on Palestinian land, and every other road in Palestine freely and without permits, including travel to Jerusalem.

Shortly after the ball first hit the ground, dozens of soldiers tried to ward off the 50 protesters from the checkpoint by physically pushing them and detaining Mousa Abu Mariya, a member of the Beit Ummar Popular Committee. Despite the soldiers' violence, protesters refused to leave as long as Abu Mariya remains under arrest, which eventually brought to his release.