During an olive planting action to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the death of American activist Rachel Corrie, Israeli forces arrest two Palestinians–one of them while unconscious.
Text and photos by: Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org
Pictures of Rachel Corrie hang on trees during an olive tree planting activity in Qaryut village to commemorate the 12 year anniversary of her death. (photo: Activestills.org)
Marking 12 years since the death of Rachel Corrie, activists planted 40 olive trees in the threatened lands of the West Bank village Qaryut, which is surrounded by many Israeli settlements and outposts. Corrie, an American activist, was killed in 2003 by an Israeli military bulldozer in Rafah, Gaza Strip, as she tried to block the demolition of a Palestinian home. Activists hung pictures of Corrie on the newly planted trees. Pictures of Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni and the British activist Thomas Hurndall were also hung trees. By the end of the event, Israeli forces arrested two Palestinians—one of them while unconscious.
The activists chose the village of Qaryut to plant trees in order to support the village’s protest against the blocking of the main road connecting the village to Road 60, which leads to two main cities in the West Bank, Nablus and Ramallah. The road was blocked one year ago, forcing villagers to take a different road and making their trip 20 kilometers longer. The road was closed dozens of times in the recent years, according to locals.
In the midst of the event, Israeli military jeeps came to the area and clashes with some Palestinian youth erupted. Palestinians threw stones at the soldiers while soldiers fired tear gas. A group of about 10 soldiers came through the village and surrounded the Palestinians. At one point, soldiers started to shoot live bullets in the air in order to repress the activity.
Soldiers tried to arrest many Palestinians but village women managed to protect most of them. Soldiers decided to arrest an unconscious Palestinian who fell while he was running away. Villagers and activists tried to convince the soldiers to release him and demanded a Palestinian ambulance, but the soldiers refused.
“I know you are trying to mislead us! You will be arrested!” soldiers shouted at the unconscious Palestinian. The soldiers eventually took him and the other detainee by the military jeep through the mountains, more than 200 meters away from the village.
A response from the Israeli army spokesperson went unanswered at the time of this report. It will be published here if and when received.
Israeli soldiers arrive at the event, attacking and arresting participants. (photo: Activestills.org)
Palestinian activists plant olive trees and hang Vittorio Arrigoni’s photo in Qaryut village. Arrigoni, and Italian solidarity activist, was killed in Gaza in 2010 by extremists for unknown reasons. (photo: Activestills.org)
Palestinians run from Israeli tear gas in the village of Qaryut. (photo: Activestills.org)
A photo of Tristan Anderson, an American activist, is seen on a newly planted olive tree. Israeli forces shot Anderson in the head with a high velocity tear gas canister in the village of Ni’lin village in 2009. He is permanently disabled and has suffered brain damage. (photo: Activestills.org)
A Palestinian woman tries to protect a youth from arrest. (photo: Activestills.org)
Palestinians try to treat an unconscious Palestinian in the village of Qaryut. Soldiers refused him treatment and decided to arrest and remove him in a military jeep. (photo: Activestills.org)
Israeli soldiers take away two Palestinians they’ve arrested, one of them while unconscious. (photo: Activestills.org)
Palestinians look toward Road 60. The main road of Qaryut village, which connects the village with Road 60, is closed by Israeli forces. This adds 20 kilometers to the daily journey of villagers. (photo: Activestills.org)
Palestinians raise their flag over the West Bank village of Qariyut. The Israeli settlement Shilo can been seen on the other hillside. All Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law. (photo: Activestills.org)
Palestinians raise their flag over the West Bank village of Qariyut. The Israeli settlement Shilo can been seen on the other hillside. All Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law. (photo: Activestills.org)
Activestills is a collective of Israeli, Palestinian, and international photographers, united by a conviction that photography is a vehicle for political and social change. We believe in the power of images to shape public attitudes and to raise awareness on issues that are generally absent from public discourse. We view ourselves as part of the struggle against all forms of oppression, racism, and violations of the basic right to freedom. Our images are frequently published by many leading human rights, development, and advocacy agencies, as well as by alternative and leading news media. To stay updated on our latest images, like Activestills on Facebook or visit our Flickr photostream.
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