Today Existence is Resistance participated in the weekly demonstration in the Palestinian village of Bil’in to protest the apartheid wall built by Israel. They amongst other international groups and locals who participated in the weekly protest were attacked by Israeli troops with tear gas.
EIR has brought down a group of artists and activists to conduct workshops with young Palestinians who live in the refugee camps, mainly focusing on music and the arts as a tool of resistance. It is also to show solidarity with the Palestinian people in their ongoing struggle against colonialism. To many participants in Existence is Resistance Voices and Visions Tour it has been learning experience.
Gabi, an activist participating in this years tour had this to say about her day in Bil’in:
Experienced first hand the Palestinian struggle today at the demonstration in Bilin. This shit aint no joke, got tear gassed and had to run for my life. The Palestinian people are true fucking fighters. Palestine will always be in my heart.”
Here is a statement along with photographs released by the Popular Committee Against the Wall and settlement of Bil’in:
Dozens of citizens and international activists were suffocated in Bil’in weekly marchDozens of demonstrators were suffocated after inhaling tear gas in Bil’in weekly march, which began after Friday prayers from the center of the village toward the Israeli apartheid wall.
Participated in the march along with the people of Bil’in, in addition to USA delegation, Spanish delegation, dozens of Israeli and foreign peace activists, the participants raised Palestinian flags and they chanted slogans calling for resisting the occupation, demolition of the separation wall, the liberation of the Palestinian prisoners, and also they called on Palestinians to remain faithful of the Palestinian national constants.
Upon the arrival of the participants to Abu Lemon’s area adjacent to the wall, the Israeli soldiers who were situated behind the concert wall started shooting tear gas, stun grenades, rubber-coated metal bullets towards the demonstrators and also they sprayed waste water mixed with chemical poison material, which led to the injury of dozens of cases of suffocation, all of them were treated in the field.On other side, some youths threw rotten eggs and stones at the Israeli soldiers.
Also some members of the popular committee against the wall met with two delegation, USA Delegation and Spanish delegation, they listened to the explanation of the violation practiced by the Israeli occupation army against the people in Bil’in and Bil’in nonviolence popular resistance through seven years.”
Photos by Rani Bornat, Hamde Abo Rahma and Mohamed Yaseen
