FOUR HIT DIRECTLY BY TEAR GAS CANISTERS IN BILIN

An Israeli soldier fires tear-gas towards Palestinian protesters during clashes following a demonstration in the West Bank village of Bilin, on July 31, 2014. (AFP/Abbas Momani)

Ramallah, 13 Dhulhijjah 1436/26 September 2015 (MINA) – Four demonstrators in Bilin were hit directly with tear gas canisters shot by Israeli forces during the village’s weekly march against the separation wall and nearby settlements on Friday.

Munther Amireh, head of the coordination committee for popular resistance, and Bassem Yassin, member of the Bilin village council, were hit by the canisters, locals said. A Danish supporter, meanwhile, was hit in the leg and an Israeli supporter was hit in the foot, Ma’an News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Dozens of other Palestinians suffered tear-gas inhalation when clashes erupted between youth and Israeli forces after the march set off from the village’s centerCoordinator of the local popular committee, Abdullah Abu Rahmeh, condemned Israeli violations against Palestinian lands and citizens, as demonstrators called against the three Palestinian deaths in the last week.

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Tear-gas canisters also set fire to dozens of dunams of land planted with olive trees belonging to Mahmoud Abd al-Hadi Samara.An Israeli army spokesperson had no immediate information but told Ma’an they were looking into the incident.

This year marked the tenth consecutive year of weekly demonstrations in the occupied West Bank town, where two residents of the same family have died from tear gas-related incidents. Bassem Abu Rahmeh, 30, was struck in the chest by a tear gas canister on April 17, 2009 at a protest and died shortly afterward from his wounds.

His sister, Jawaher Abu Rahmeh, 36, died from excessive tear gas inhalation in 2010.A case was opened into Bassem’s death after international law experts alleged that Israeli use of tear gas from close proximity could be lethal and against international law, however the case has yet to be properly closed.

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The weekly demonstrations continue as the separation wall still runs through village lands, separating residents from their property, and nearby settlements continue to grow at the village’s expense. (T/P010/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)