Child, Paramedic Wounded By Army Fire During Nabi Saleh Weekly Protest

Saturday January 01, 2011 10:14 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

As dozens of residents and international peace activists held their nonviolent weekly protest against the Annexation Wall in Nabi Saleh village, near the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Israeli soldiers violently attacked them and fired rubber-coated metal bullets and gas bombs leading to several injuries.

Protesters marching to the Wall in Bil'in- Photos By Hamde Abu-Rahma

Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers fired dozens of gas bombs at the protesters, and that one child, identified as Islam Al Tamimi, was hit by a gas bomb in his foot, while a paramedic identified as Nariman Al Tamimi, was hit by a gas bomb in her shoulder.

Dozens of residents were treated for the effects of teargas inhalation but did not require hospitalization.

Furthermore, Israeli soldiers attacked resident Abdul-Hakim Awad and repeatedly kicked and punched him as the army attacked a protest in support of the Palestinian detainees at the Ofer Israeli prison.

One home was partially burnt due to army fire, and an elderly man suffocated by smoke resulting from the fire. The man is in his eighties, and has been already receiving treatment for respiratory and other health issues.

The army sealed all of the entrances of the village since early morning hours Friday, and prevented the reporters from entering it.

Also on Friday, dozens of residents were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation after the army attacked the weekly nonviolent protests in Al Ma'sara village, near Bethlehem, Bil'in and Ni'lin villages near the central West Bank city of Ramallah.

The protesters called for national unity among the Palestinians and their factions, and chanted slogans against the illegal Israeli Annexation Wall, settlements and the ongoing Israeli violations against the residents, their homes and their lands in Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied territories.

bethlehem | the wall | news report saed at imemc dot org