Friday 17 April 2009

Bassem Abu Rahme killed in Bil'in weekly protest

Bassem Abu Rahme was killed in Bil’in today. He was shot with new kind of tear gaz canisters (The Rocket). He was shot in his chest which lead to his death immediately. He participated in the weekly protest and was standing in the other side of the wall, and was shouting at the soldiers “we are in a nonviolent protest, there are kids and internationals” he couldn’t continue his scrim and was shot. He was transferred to Ramallah governmental hospital, but he was dead. The funeral will be tomorrow in the village of Bilin at 1:00 pm.

The gas canister (centre) is similar to the one that killed Bassem today in Bil’in. Photo: Palestine Monitor

Following Friday prayers in Bil’in today, residents held a protest in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on Prisoners’ Day. The demonstration was joined by the Israeli Anarchists Against the Wall and international activists from Belgium. The crowd marched towards the wall carrying Palestinian flags and posters calling for the release of all prisoners, especially bodies of prisoners who have died in prisons still held by the Israeli government. Protesters wore symbolic handcuffs in solidarity.

The protest was also joined by family members of prisoners. The families marched holding photos of their relatives who are in prison. The protesters expressed that the wall, settlements and Israeli-only roads in the West Bank and the ongoing siege on Gaza create cantons for Palestinians that amount to de facto prisons. Posters were also carried to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the murder of Abu Jihad and the 7th year since the arrest of political prisoner Marwan Al-Barghouti.

As soon the protest reached the wall, an Israeli army, stationed behind the wall since early morning, prevented the crowd from going through the gate. The army fired tear gas canisters to disturb the crowd, causing dozens to suffer gas inhalation and and the martyr of Basem Abu Rahme.

The Popular Committee Against the Wall in Bil’in stated their frustration with the ongoing and violent Israeli policies against protesters. The committee also called for Palestinians to organize demonstrations to support the threatened residents of Jerusalem and for the protection of the holy sites. Finally, the committee announces an open invitation for the 4th Annual International Conference on Non-Violent Resistance in Bil’in April 22nd to 24th, 2009.

Friday, 17 April 2009: A resident has been killed by Israeli forces during a demonstration. Basem Abu Rahme, 29 years of age, was shot in the stomach with a high-velocity tear gas projectile. The tear-gas projectile, labeled “40 mm bullet, special/long range” in Hebrew has also critically injured American national, Tristan Anderson at a demonstration in Ni’lin on 13 March 2009 when he was shot in the head from 60 meters.

Basem Abu Rahme is the 18th individual to be killed by Israeli forces during a demonstration against the Wall.

February 26th, 2004:
Muhammad Fadel Hashem Rian, age 25 and Zakaria Mahmoud ‘Eid Salem, age 28
Shot dead during a demonstration against the wall in Biddu.

February 26th, 2004:
Abdal Rahman Abu ‘Eid, age 17
Died of a heart attack after teargas projectiles were shot into his home during a demonstration against the wall in Biddu.

February 26th, 2004:
Muhammad Da’ud Saleh Badwan, age 21
Shot during a demonstration against the wall in Biddu. Muhammad died of his wounds on March 3rd 2004.

April 16th, 2004:
Hussein Mahmoud ‘Awad ‘Alian, age 17
Shot dead during a demonstration against the wall in Betunya.

April 18th, 2004:
Diaa’ A-Din ‘Abd al-Karim Ibrahim Abu ‘Eid, age 23
Shot dead during a demonstration against the wall in Biddu.

April 18th, 2004:
Islam Hashem Rizik Zhahran, age 14
Shot during a demonstration against the wall in Deir Abu Mash’al. Islam died of his wounds April 28th.

February 15th, 2005:
‘Alaa’ Muhammad ‘Abd a-Rahman Khalil, age 14
Shot dead while throwing stones at an Israeli vehicle driven by private security guards near the wall in Betunya.

May 4th, 2005:
Jamal Jaber Ibrahim ‘Asi, age 15 and U’dai Mufid Mahmoud ‘Asi, age 14
Shot dead during a demonstration against the wall in Beit Liqya.

February 2nd, 2007:
Taha Muhammad Subhi al-Quljawi, age 16
Shot dead when he and two friends tried to cut the razor wire portion of the wall in the Qalandiya Refugee Camp. He was wounded in the thigh and died from loss of blood after remaining a long time in the field without being treated.

March 28th, 2007:
Muhammad Elias Mahmoud ‘Aweideh, age 15
Shot dead during a demonstration against the wall in Um a-Sharayet - Samiramis.

March 2nd, 2008:
Mahmoud Muhammad Ahmad Masalmeh, age 15
Shot when trying to cut the razor wire portion of the wall in Beit Awwa.

July 29th, 2008:
Ahmed Husan Youssef Mousa, age 10
Killed while he and several friends tried to remove coils of razor wire from land belonging to the village.

July 30th, 2008:
Youssef Ahmed Younes Amirah, age 17
Shot in the head with rubber coated bullets during a demonstration against the wall in Ni’lin. Youssef died of his wounds August 4th 2008.

December 28th, 2009:
Arafat Khawaja, age 22
Shot in the back with live ammunition in Ni’lin during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza.

December 28th, 2009:
Mohammad Khawaja, age 20:
Shot in the head with live ammunition during a demonstration in Ni’lin against Israel’s assault on Gaza. Mohammad died in the hospital on December 31st 2009.

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