Dear friends,
as you may be aware, Friday 25th February marked the Global Day of Action calling for Shuhada St in Hebron to be opened and to mark the anniversary of the Ibrahim Mosque Massacre carried out by Israeli settler, Baruch Goldstein.
Please find below video of yesterday's action and the media release issued by Youth Against Settlements.
In solidarity, Kim
as you may be aware, Friday 25th February marked the Global Day of Action calling for Shuhada St in Hebron to be opened and to mark the anniversary of the Ibrahim Mosque Massacre carried out by Israeli settler, Baruch Goldstein.
Please find below video of yesterday's action and the media release issued by Youth Against Settlements.
In solidarity, Kim
Video by Israel Puterman
February 24, 2012 – Press Release
The
“Youth Against Settlements” movement marks 18 years since the Ibrahimi
Mosque Massacre with a peaceful march through the streets of Hebron,
violently broken up by Israeli forces
and part of the Apartheid week in Palestine .
thousand of Palestinians from across the West Bank joined by solidarity
activists participated in a demonstration in Hebron today (Friday)
calling for the reopening of Shuhada Street. Occupation forces arrested
Badia Dweik (39), member of Youth Against Settlements, along with Fadi
Quran (24) and four other Palestinians. Issa Amro, Coordinator of Youth
Against Settlements and dozens of others suffered asphyxiation due to
overwhelming amounts of tear gas.
Medical
sources from Mohammad Ali Hospital reported that the number of injured
protesters that arrived to the hospital and were treated was over 80
people. The number of people injured continues to rise as a result of
tear gas weapons being used in the region.
The
events Friday were only a few of many activities taking place as part
of a wider campaign, the 3rd Annual Global Day of Action to Open Shuhada
Street. This year’s campaign was called “Shideh Helek Ya Balad” (a
call for Hebronites to join the struggle), organized by Youth Against
Settlements.
Unarmed
demonstrators chanted for the reopening of Shuahda Street, ending the
closure on the city of Hebron and the removal of settlers from the city.
Other chants expressed solidarity with Sheikh Khader Adnan (currently
under administrative detention and his 65-plus-day hunger strike), as
well as calling for Palestinian national unity.
Media
spokesperson for the 3rd Annual Global Day of Action to Open Shuhada
Street, Tamer Al-Atrash said, “despite our peaceful, unarmed
demonstration, Occupation forces met it with violence as yet another way
of supporting the illegal settlement enterprise. None of this will
stop us from continuing our struggle to reopen Shuhada Street, the
closure of which results in severe human rights violations. Worldwide
solidarity actions took place today. thousand of Palestinians from
various regions of the West Bank, and representing the full political
spectrum, met in Hebron in coordination with national and Islamic
entities in the city.”
The
Annual Global Day of Action to Open Shuhada Street falls on the 18th
commemoration of the Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre. The campaign was
launched in 2010 in more than 25 locations across the world, growing the
following year to more than 31 locations. This year over 35 solidarity
actions will take place globally.
Shuhada
Street is in the heart of Hebron and is the central thoroughfare
connecting all corners of the city. It has been closed since the
Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre in 1994.
Youth
Against Settlements is a politically unaffiliated national youth
movement working to end the Occupation and to dismantle settlements
through nonviolent community actions.
On
the occasion of the 3rd Annual Global Day of Action to Open Shuhada
Street, the Mayor of Naples, Italy, sent the following message of
solidarity:
In
a normal country, Shuhada Street would be a swarm of workshops, sellers
of zatar, barbers and candy artisans. In a country under occupation,
Shuhada Street, is instead subjected to an endless curfew, closed shops,
racist drawings and writings painted on walls and doors. Citizens from
international movements, as well as Palestinians and Israelis, who are
acting in a nonviolent manner to reopen Shuhada Street, represent one of
the best aspects of solidarity and humanity. I send them all my
support and hope that Hebron will soon return to be a town of inclusion.
In fact, the Arabic name of the city, Al-Khalil, means “friend” and
those who live there cannot, and never will be an enemy.
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