Israeli Settler Attempts to Run over a Palestinian Human Rights Defender

Imad and his 3 sons, Awne (left), Soli (middle), Muhammed (right), who are all taking part in resistance against the occupation – Family photo

Hebron, MINA – An Israeli settler Tuesday attempted to run over a Palestinian human rights defender while he was on his way home to Tel al-Ramida in Hebron, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

The human rights defender, Imad Abu Shamsiyya, said ‘the extremist Israeli settler, Ofer Hanna who regularly intimidates Palestinian peaceful demonstrations, attempted to run him over, however he managed to escape unharmed.

Abu Shamsiyya said this is not the first time he was attacked by settlers in the area, however this time he was able to recognize the face of the person who tried to attack him. The activist filed a complaint with the Israeli police against the extremist settler.

Settlers violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.

According to the Israeli rights group B’Tselem, “As the occupying force, Israel must protect the Palestinians in the West Bank. However, the Israeli authorities neglect to fulfil this responsibility and do not do enough to prevent Israeli civilians from attacking Palestinians, their property and their lands.”

Imad Abu Shamsiyya is the co-founder of the Human Rights Defenders Palestine, and works specifically on documentation and video recording of human rights violations committed against Palestinians.

He is a long-standing activist in Palestine and was formerly a volunteer at B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, where he is involved in documenting the occupation of Tel-Rumeida. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)