Nabi Saleh stands in solidarity with Aboud village and Palestinian martyr, Mohammed Asfour

On Friday  8 March and Friday 15th March, the residents of Nabi Saleh did not hold their weekly march in the village.On March 8, the residents of Nabi Saleh and their supporters joined the funeral for the martyr Mohammed ‘Asfour, 22 years, who died on Thursday March 7 as a result of being shot with a steel coated rubber bullet on February 22nd by the Israeli Occupation Forces with a rubber coat steel bullet.  Mohammed funeral was attacked by Israel Occupation Forces who fired teargas and steel coated rubber bullets at funeral goers.

On Friday, 15 March, the residents of Nabi Saleh and their supporters joined the Nabi Saleh  joined the nearby demonstration in Aboud village to commemorate Mohammed Asfour. The demonstration was  attacked by the IOF.

Below is a report and photos from French activist and photographer, Anne Paq on the March 8 funeral of Mohammed Asfour from her blog, Chroniques de Palestine: popular resistance and human rights.

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Another funeral in Palestine: Muhammad Asfour from Abud village  08.03.2013

by Anne Paq: Chroniques de Palestine- Popular resistance and human rights

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Abud village, 08.03.2013

Clashes erupted between Palestinian youth and the Israeli army following the funeral procession of Muhammad Asfour in the West Bank village of Abud, March 8, 2013.

Muhammad Asfour, 23,  was shot in his head by a rubber coated steel bullet by an Israeli soldier, on February 22, 2013, during clashes in the entrance to his home village of Abud, northwest of Ramallah, during a solidarity protest with the hunger striking Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
Asfour succumbed to his fatal injury after 2 weeks in the hospital.

The same day of his funeral; two other Palestinians were critically shot in Hebron and North of Gaza.

Haaretz: IDF probe: 80 bullets fired without justification in death of West Bank Palestinian, Rushdi Tamimi

By Chaim Levinson and Jack Khoury | Jan.16, 2013

|Investigation finds no reason to use live ammunition in the November shooting death of Rushdie Tamimi, 31, in Nabi Saleh, in the West Bank.

An IDF probe has concluded that in November, Israeli soldiers fired 80 bullets without justification causing the death of a Palestinian man shot in the back during clashes in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh.

Rushdie Tamimi, 31, was killed when a group of Palestinians in the village began throwing stones toward a road from a long distance, and an army reserve unit tried to disperse them.

The army probe of the November 19 shooting in Nabi Saleh arrived at harsh conclusions regarding the conduct of the IDF company commander and the reserve unit called in to disperse the stone-throwers.

While events were still unfolding, Channel 10 reported that the commander had been relieved of his duties following the shooting. The probe conducted by the army’s Central Command found that the commander had been driving in the vicinity when he saw some 10 youths throwing rocks from a hilltop.

The probe determined that the youths were too far from the road to constitute any real danger. Nevertheless, the commander summoned about 10 reserve soldiers from a nearby army outpost and instructed them to disperse the youths.

However, he neglected to report this immediately to battalion headquarters, which was only 50 meters away.

It turned out that the commander did not report the shooting incident at all, until
Haaretz approached the IDF spokesman two days later for a response to the incident. The army investigation found that the soldiers had fired tear gas at the stone-throwers for an hour and a half. When they ran out of canisters, a medic was sent by jeep to the adjacent outpost to bring back some more. At that point, the commander instructed the soldiers to use live rounds.

They fired 80 bullets, one of which hit Tamimi in the back. For several minutes, the soldiers prevented anyone from giving him medical aid, until they relented. Tamimi was evacuated to a hospital in Ramallah, where he died two days later.

The investigation found there was no reason to use live ammunition. Even when the order was given, the commander did not clearly indicate the target and the reason for opening fire. In professional terms, the troops did not “control the fire.”

The commander claimed the soldiers had not noticed that anyone had been hit, which is why they prevented anyone from approaching Tamimi to provide medical aid. This seemed a dubious claim, though, since the victim was bleeding from the head.

Nabi Saleh has been the scene of frequent weekend protests against settler incursions on villagers’ water supply. The stone-throwing that preceded Tamimi’s death took place during Operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza.

The army sees the incident as a “failure of values,” and the Military Police’s investigation branch has opened a formal inquiry into the fatal shooting.

On Tuesday, a 16-year-old Palestinian boy was shot to death by Israel Defense Forces soldiers in the West Bank village of Budrus, Palestinian sources said. Samir Awad was shot four times in the torso and legs, sources said. He is the fourth Palestinian killed by IDF fire in the last week.

The incidents came a day after Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian man in the Gaza town of Beit Lahiya near the border with Israel. Gazan officials said Mustafa Abu Jarad, 21, was a farmer. He was taken to Shifa hospital, where doctors said he died from his wounds.

The Israel-Gaza frontier has been mostly calm since November, when eight days of Palestinian rocket fire and Israeli air strikes killed 170 Palestinians and six Israelis.

Since then, four Palestinians have been shot dead by Israeli troops along the Gaza border, most of them in an area Israel has deemed off-limits for several years, citing the risk of attacks on soldier

In Photos: Nabi Saleh mark 1 years anniversary of the IOF killing of Mustafa Tamimi

     Photo by Haim Schwarczenberg

Photo by Tamimi Press

  Photo by Tamimi Press

Photo by Tamimi Press

  Photo by Haim Schwarczenberg

  Photo by Haim Schwarczenberg

  Photo by Tamimi Press

  Photo by Haim Schwarczenberg

Photo by Tamimi Press

B’Tselem: One year on, investigation into the killing of Mustafa Tamimi still not completed

by B’Tselem: 5 Dec 2012

A year after the killing of Mustafa Tamimi, resident of the West Bank village of a-Nabi Saleh, who was fatally injured in the head by a tear gas canister, B’Tselem contacted Military Advocate for Operational Matters Lt. Col. Ronen Hirsch, demanding clarification of the status of the case. The organization served notice that it intends to seek legal remedy as may be required to end the delays in pursuing this case and prevent damage to the rights of the complainants and to the criminal process.

Photographs of the firing directly at a-Tamimi, by Haim Scwarczenberg, 9 Dec. ’11.

Nearly one year ago, on 9 December 2011, an Israeli soldier shot a tear gas canister at very short range at Mustafa Tamimi during a demonstration in a-Nabi Saleh. Tamimi, critically injured, was taken for treatment at Beilinson Hospital and died of his wounds the next day. On the same day the incident took place, B’Tselem submitted a complaint to the Military Police Investigations Unit in Jerusalem. The MPIU opened an investigation two days later. Nonetheless, the Advocate for Operational Matters has yet to announce a decision on whether to serve an indictment or close the case. To the best of B’Tselem’s knowledge, the investigation continues. The explanation provided to B’Tselem to justify the lengthy process is that “this is an operational inquiry, complicated and challenging, and decisions arrived at during it, which influence its duration, are taken in a matter-of-fact manner based solely on the needs of the inquiry and the quest for the truth.”

Noa Tal, Director of the Data Department at B’Tselem, noted in her letter that even had this explanation been acceptable some two months after the incident, an inquiry lasting a period of nearly one year cannot be considered reasonable. The longer the process is drawn out, the greater the damage to the prospects for an effective criminal proceeding, inter alia because some of the evidence will no longer exist and the witnesses’ recollections are liable to be less acute. Thus grave harm is done to the principle of the rule of law and the deterrent value for discouraging similar acts in the future.

Nabi Saleh continues to protest Israeli occupation and apartheid

30 November 2012

video by David Reeb

Clashes erupted following martyr funerals in Nabi Saleh and Hebron

By Popular Struggle Coordination Committee: 20 November 2012

Nariman Tamimi and son Waed, at her brother’s funeral.

Tuesday report: Marches took place in several locations and cities across the West Bank, one injured in the head from tear gas grenade and more than thirteen arrested.

Nabi Saleh: Thousands took part in martyr Rushdi Tamimi’s funeral today. The funeral procession began in Ramallah hospital and marched through Irsal Street in the city, followed by a military funeral. His burial took place in the village of Nabi Saleh. Youth clashed with the army who fired tear gas, rubber coated steel bullets and live ammunition.

Hebron: about ten thousand participated in the funeral of martyr Hamdi Falah. Clashes erupted following the funeral and spread across the city and governorate.  Clashes were also reported at Bab Alzawyeh by the old city, which continued until the late evening. wo people were arrested.

Jenin: More than a thousand protesters marched today from Jenin city to the Jalameh checkpoint. Clashes erupted with the army who fired tear gas canisters and rubber coated steel bullets extensively. Six people were reported to have been arrested.

Atara: hundreds of protesters reached Atara checkpoint. Clashes erupted with the army. Few injuries were reported from rubber coated steel bullets. Soldiers also attacked two photojournalists today.

Ni’lin: clashes erupted between tens of residents and soldiers after the army entered the village. Soldiers are fired live ammunition, tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets.Nablus: Hundreds of protesters marched toward Huwara military checkpoint. Soldiers fired great amounts of tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets. Several cases of suffocation were reported.

Bethlehem: more than a thousand protesters protested next to Belal Ben Rabah Mosque (Rachel’s Tomb). Clashes erupted with soldiers as they raided the entrance of the city. More than ten injuries were reported from rubber coated steel bullets and tear gas, including one from a canister hitting a protestor’s head. Two people were arrested.

Jerusalem: Four students were arrested during a demonstration at the Hebrew University against the assault on Gaza. Clashes also erupted with the army at Al-Issawiyeh village. Soldiers shot tear gas at houses and rubber coated steel bullets at protesters.

First West Bank Martyr in Demonstrations Against the Assault on Gaza killed in Nabi Saleh

by Popular Struggle Coordination Committee: 19 November 2012

Rushdi Tamimi (31) was injured by a live ammunition bullet shot at his back, two days ago in Nabi Saleh.  He passed away today in Ramallah Hospital

On Saturday, November 17th, clashes erupted in the village of Nabi Saleh north west of Ramallah, after Israeli soldiers entered the village following a protest residents held a demonstration in against the assault on Gaza.  During the clashes soldiers used extensive live ammunition bullets, rubber coated steel bullets, and tear gas.
According to eyewitnesses, Rushdi Tamimi (31) was shot first with a rubber coated steel bullet that hit him in the back, he fell on the ground.  Afterward soldiers shot him again, this time with a live ammunition bullet which entered through his hip and into his gut.

When soldiers came closer to Rushdi, they gave him a blow to the head with the butt of one of their rifles, even though he told them he was injured, and then shot him with another rubber coated steel bullet in the stomach.  Soldiers then attempted to drag him through the rocky terrain instead of providing him with medical treatment.

They continued to shoot live ammunition towards residents and prevented them, including Rushdi’s sister, from approaching him and bringing him to an ambulance meanwhile while saying, “I don’t care” and “it’s not my problem.”

Video by Boshra Tamimi

Rushdi was finally transferred to Ramallah Hospital where he underwent surgery.  He suffered from ruptured intestines and two arteries. Today, Monday, he passed away in the hospital.

Rushdi Tamimi is the first martyr of the West Bank demonstrations which have erupted as a protest again the war on Gaza.  He is also the second martyr from the village of Nabi Saleh in the past three years since the village began holding weekly Friday popular struggle demonstrations.

His funeral will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, at the Ramallah Hospital and will be brought to burial in Nabi Saleh at 2pm.

Over the past few days the Israeli army has used live ammunition in multiple locations against Palestinian unarmed demonstrations against the war on Gaza.  In addition to Rushdi Tamimi, at least five more people have been injured from live ammunition today, two during clashes in Attara, one in Takua near Bethlehem, and two in Hebron.

Nabi Saleh protestor injured with live ammunition

By Popular Struggle Coordination Committee: 31 September 2012

Malek Tamimi, 22, was hit in the hand and waist. A second protester was shot in the head with a rubber-coated bullet; delayed ambulance entry to the village by an hour.

Malek Tamimi, evacuated after being shot with live Ammunition. Picture credit: Anne Paq/Activestills.org

Three Palestinians protesters were injured and 5 others arrested during the weekly demonstration in the village of Nabi Saleh. In order to prevent people from joining the demonstration, the Israeli army had set up checkpoint in all entrances to the village earlier in the morning.

During the demonstration, the soldiers have arrested 5 people, including local cameraman, Bilal Tamimi, Bil’in activist, Mohammed Khatib, two female protesters and a journalism student, as they walked to the village’s spring, which settlers from the adjacent Jewish-only settlement of Halamish have been trying to take over for the past 3 years.

Soldiers arresting a protester. Picture credit: Anne Paq/Activestills.org

In the afternoon, soldiers retreated from inside the village, adding the firing of live bullets to the assemblage of tear-gas, the foul-smelling liquid known as “the Skunk” and rubber-coated bullets used throughout the day. One protester, 22 year-old Malek Tamimi, was hit with a bullet that pierced through his arm and eventually lodged itself in his waist. Tamimi was evacuated to the Ramallah hospital where he underwent surgery. A second protester was shot in the head with a rubber-coated bullet and evacuated to the Ramallah hospital, where he received stitches. Yet another protester, a young woman, was hit in the leg with a tear-gas projectile shot directly at a crowd of people, resulting in a gushing wound. The woman’s wound could only be treated long after her injury, as soldiers prevented the ambulance from entering the village for about an hour.

At 4.30 p.m., Malek Tamini was shot with a live bullet which went through his hand and the side of his body. He has undergone surgery for his injuries. One Palestinian suffered an open wound after being shot with a tear gas canister during protests. Soldiers were firing tears gas canisters directly in to the crowd with the intent of causing serious injury and then prevented the ambulance from entering the village for one hour . One local resident received stitches in Ramallah hospital after suffering a head wound from a rubber-coated steel bullet.

Breaking News: Israeli Occupation Forces crack down on Nabi Saleh protest in major arrest raid

by  Activestills : +972 Magazine -  24 August 2012

Israeli forces are presently conducting a major arrest operation in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, reportedly going from house to house and detaining men, women and youth from the village.

Some 100 people demonstrated on Friday at the weekly protest in Nabi Saleh. As demonstrators approached the village’s spring, which has been seized by the neighboring settlement of Halamish, the Israeli forces arrested at least five women, including Nariman Tamimi, a prominent activist from the village. Her arrest is pictured below. Her daughters are seen trying to intervene as Israeli soldiers detained their mother, but they were forcibly held back.

As of 3:30 p.m. Friday, arrests at Nabi Saleh were continuing. We will update more as details emerge.

Activists: Man hospitalized after Israeli army raids Nabi Saleh

by Maan News: 29 July 2012

This is the fifth day in a row that the army have raided Nabi Saleh at the time of Iftar, the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said.

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli forces raided the village of Nabi Saleh on Saturday evening and fired tear gas and live ammunition, a local committee said.

Soldiers entered the village just before Iftar, the Ramadan meal to break the fast, and raided several houses without warrants, the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said.

One man was hospitalized with internal bleeding after being beaten by soldiers and another man, Abd Alrazeq Tamimi, fainted after inhaling tear gas. Abd Alrazeq Tamimi’s son Mustafa was killed in Nabi Saleh last year when an Israeli soldier fired a tear gas canister directly at him from close range.

Saturday’s raid was the fifth day in a row that the army entered Nabi Saleh at the time of Iftar, the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said soldiers entered Nabi Saleh on Saturday evening during “routine activity” and fired tear gas. She was not aware of any injuries.