Dozens injured in nonviolent protest in Bil’in

Friday October 03, 2008 14:31 by IMEMC News

Three civilians were wounded with rubber-coated steel bullets and dozens treated for gas inhalation in the village of Bil’in near Ramallah, in the weekly nonviolent anti-wall protest Friday afternoon.

Israeli troops firing gas canisters at protestors in Bilin (Photo: Active Stills)

The villagers accompanied by International and Israeli supporters marched after the Friday prayer carrying Palestinian flags and banners calling for continuing the nonviolent resistance to remove the wall and the settlements from the West Bank.

Marchers also took to the streets chanting slogans calling for national unity among Palestinian factions.

Protestors also carried ladders they usually use in the process of harvesting the olive trees, as the harvest season started. Palestinian farmers usually face problems from Israeli settlers and soldiers during the gravest season, who sometimes shoot at them or booby-trap the trees.

As protestors arrived at the gate in the fence, troops showered them with dozens of gas canisters and concussion grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets causing many of them to choke.

Dozens were treated for gas inhalation and three suffered minor injuries as they were hit with rubber-coated steel bullets. Three were identified as Muheeb Barghouthi, a journalist with a local newspaper, Abdullah Yassin from Bil’in and a Japanese peace activist.

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