Israeli Army Raids Palestinian Tent Village, Dispersing Hundreds
'We came here to build a Palestinian village upon Palestinian land, and to freely use our land in the way we want'
The Israeli army has forced the evacuation of hundreds of Palestinian activists protesting Israeli settlement building in the southern West Bank, dismantling the tent encampment they erected in an effort to reclaim their occupied land.
"We came here to build a Palestinian village upon Palestinian land, and to freely use our land in the way we want as Palestinians have rights and own this land," said activist Younis Araar.
Declaring the site a "closed military zone," the Israeli army overran two encampments early Saturday, dismantling the steel-framed tents being erected and dispersing over 100 activists, AFP reports.
They continue:
Soldiers dismantled tents that were being erected in two different areas near the town of Yatta in the southern West Bank, and forced activists to leave, the Palestinian witnesses said.
At the first site no arrests were made, but soldiers used water cannon to disperse activists at the second and arrested six people, including two photographers.
Two protesters were injured and taken to hospital in nearby Hebron.
While clearing the second encampment, five Palestinian and two Israeli activists were arrested, according to an Israeli army spokesperson.
The activists attempted to build the tent village--named Canaan--in an effort to secure farmland for local villagers in areas where Israel plans to build new settlements, Haaretz reports.
"It is our natural right to develop, reclaim, improve, use, and live on all our lands, free and without threats from the occupiers," said activist Mazen Qumsiyeh.
This is the fifth such protest camp erected in the West Bank since mid-January.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
The Israeli army has forced the evacuation of hundreds of Palestinian activists protesting Israeli settlement building in the southern West Bank, dismantling the tent encampment they erected in an effort to reclaim their occupied land.
"We came here to build a Palestinian village upon Palestinian land, and to freely use our land in the way we want as Palestinians have rights and own this land," said activist Younis Araar.
Declaring the site a "closed military zone," the Israeli army overran two encampments early Saturday, dismantling the steel-framed tents being erected and dispersing over 100 activists, AFP reports.
They continue:
Soldiers dismantled tents that were being erected in two different areas near the town of Yatta in the southern West Bank, and forced activists to leave, the Palestinian witnesses said.
At the first site no arrests were made, but soldiers used water cannon to disperse activists at the second and arrested six people, including two photographers.
Two protesters were injured and taken to hospital in nearby Hebron.
While clearing the second encampment, five Palestinian and two Israeli activists were arrested, according to an Israeli army spokesperson.
The activists attempted to build the tent village--named Canaan--in an effort to secure farmland for local villagers in areas where Israel plans to build new settlements, Haaretz reports.
"It is our natural right to develop, reclaim, improve, use, and live on all our lands, free and without threats from the occupiers," said activist Mazen Qumsiyeh.
This is the fifth such protest camp erected in the West Bank since mid-January.
The Israeli army has forced the evacuation of hundreds of Palestinian activists protesting Israeli settlement building in the southern West Bank, dismantling the tent encampment they erected in an effort to reclaim their occupied land.
"We came here to build a Palestinian village upon Palestinian land, and to freely use our land in the way we want as Palestinians have rights and own this land," said activist Younis Araar.
Declaring the site a "closed military zone," the Israeli army overran two encampments early Saturday, dismantling the steel-framed tents being erected and dispersing over 100 activists, AFP reports.
They continue:
Soldiers dismantled tents that were being erected in two different areas near the town of Yatta in the southern West Bank, and forced activists to leave, the Palestinian witnesses said.
At the first site no arrests were made, but soldiers used water cannon to disperse activists at the second and arrested six people, including two photographers.
Two protesters were injured and taken to hospital in nearby Hebron.
While clearing the second encampment, five Palestinian and two Israeli activists were arrested, according to an Israeli army spokesperson.
The activists attempted to build the tent village--named Canaan--in an effort to secure farmland for local villagers in areas where Israel plans to build new settlements, Haaretz reports.
"It is our natural right to develop, reclaim, improve, use, and live on all our lands, free and without threats from the occupiers," said activist Mazen Qumsiyeh.
This is the fifth such protest camp erected in the West Bank since mid-January.