Alaa Fahmy Za’aqiq, 32 years old
Hamad Ahmad Abu Maria, 20 years old
Jihad Ahmad Abu Maria, 25 years old
Yousef Ali Said Sabarna, 19 years old
Nasr Ali Said Sabarna, 27 years old
Hossam Sabr Zaml Abu Maria, 16 years old
Mohummad Wajee Ahmad Abu Maria, 19 years old

Night raids are a frequent occurrence in Beit Ommar, to create fear in the community and to discourage people from resisting the occupation. Residents of Beit Ommar are frequently arrested with no charges held against them, and usually have to pay fines between 1000 and 4000 shekels in order to be released.

To donate to help pay the support costs associated with the arrest of Beit Ommar residents, see: http://palestinesolidarityproject.org/donate/

Jowad Muhammad Jameel Za’aqiq (15 years old) was arrested at around 5pm on Monday, 21 May, 2012. He was helping his father tend to his family land when the arrest took place. His father asked the soldiers present why his son was being taken. He was informed that Jowad (his son) had been seen throwing stones.

Muhannad Mershad Awad (12 years old) and Alaa Yousef Mohammad Abu Maria (14 years old) were both arrested from their respective family homes in night raids at around 2am on Tuesday, 22 May, 2012. The reason for their arrests is unknown.

Night raids are an almost daily occurrence in Beit Ommar. Night raids typically target Palestinian minors, activists and organizers involved in popular resistance initiatives against the Israeli occupation. Israeli soldiers often fail to explain why the ‘suspect’ is being arrested. The detainees are usually taken to the Gush Etzion settlement, which houses a jail and interrogation center. ]]> http://palestinesolidarityproject.org/2012/05/22/three-children-arrested-in-beit-ommar/feed/ 0 http://palestinesolidarityproject.org/2012/05/12/weekly-demonstration-in-beit-ommar-joined-by-khader-adnan-member-of-popular-committee-arrested/ http://palestinesolidarityproject.org/2012/05/12/weekly-demonstration-in-beit-ommar-joined-by-khader-adnan-member-of-popular-committee-arrested/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 19:59:39 +0000 PSP http://palestinesolidarityproject.org/?p=5400 Today, May 12, 2012, Palestinian, Israeli and international activists joined together for the weekly demonstration in Beit Ommar. Today’s demonstration was in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike and to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the Nakba. Khader Adnan, who was released from administrative detention on April 17th, 2012 and was on hunger strike for 66 days, also took part in the demonstration.

The demonstration began with a march from the center of Beit Ommar to Karmei Tsur settlement, which was built on stolen Palestinian land. As soon as the demonstrators arrived near the settlement, about 30 heavily armed Israeli soldiers came to meet them. The soldiers beat the participants with their shields, batons and rifle butts. Many of the peaceful protestors were injured. Ahmad Abu Hashem, 46 years old, was arrested after being beaten and hit in the face by the soldiers. An international activist was injured after being caught in a headlock and dragged by her throat by Israeli soldiers while she was trying to protect Ahmad. Ahmad is the secretary of the Popular Committee in Beit Ommar. Two of his sons, ages 22 and 15, have been arrested in the past month. Arresting him and his family members is part of Israeli forces targeting the Popular Committee in Beit Ommar.

Yousef Abu Maria (age 38), the spokesperson for the Beit Ommar Popular Committee, was also injured, along with two other members of the Popular Committee: Mousa Abu Maria (age 34), who was hit in the forehead with a rifle butt, and Younes Arar (age 40), who was beaten on his legs with a baton. One of Ahmad’s sons, age 14, was severely beaten and kicked by the soldiers while on the ground. The demonstration ended with teargas being shot at demonstrators as they were leaving.

In Hebron, students from the Hebron district came together and marched in the center of town. Close to one thousand people were present with posters and flags, and youth from all the surrounding areas were present in the march.

In Beit Ommar, Israeli soldiers entered the town in the afternoon and occupied several people’s homes, firing teargas and rubber-coated bullets at the children in the street. In the evening, villagers marched in the town supporting Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahla. Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahla are both members of Islamic Jihad, and they are on the 71st day of their hunger strike. Their condition is critical, and the Supreme Court has recently denied their petition. Islamic Jihad has said that if any of the hunger strikers die, they will consider it as a political assassination and the truce between them and Israel will be broken.

Additionally, another 2000 or so prisoners are on their 21st day of hunger strike. The prisoners are protesting the torture and ill treatment they receive in prison, and demanding their legal rights (such as the right to a lawyer during interrogations) and an end to administrative detention. Under administrative detention, under which both Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahla are being held, prisoners are kept without any charges against them and without trial, for a period of up to six months which can be renewed indefinitely. 320 people are now being held under administrative detention.

In total around 50 soldiers appeared during the demonstration, preventing the 20 or so activists from reaching the fence. The soldiers pushed the non-violent activists roughly onto barbed wire and rocky ground, and soldiers kicked activists in their legs while pushing them with their shields. An Isaeli activist, Kobi, was arrested during the demonstration after arguing with a soldier. He was released late last night without restrictions after the judge ruled that he had the right to freedom of speech and protest. Meanwhile, Hossein Alamy, the 14-year-old boy who was arrested from the Beit Ommar demonstration last month, is still in jail and has not been granted access to a lawyer during his interrogations.

Beit Ommar residents face daily harassment and arrests from the soldiers at the entrance of the town, disrupting their daily life and interfering with their ability to go to school, work, and other places.

Mohamad Ahmad Khalil Abu Hashem, 15 years old.
Tareq Jamal Khalil Abu Maria, 17 years old.
Badran Jalal Badran Abu Ayash, 15 years old.
Wahed Hamdi Abu Maria, 44 years old.

The soldiers broke into their houses at night and harassed the families and fired several canisters of teargas. The ambulance was called because people were injured after inhaling the gas.

19 people have been arrested from Beit Ommar so far this month, and 13 of these are under the age of 18. Night raids are almost a nightly occurrence in Beit Ommar, to create fear in the community and to discourage people from resisting the occupation. Residents of Beit Ommar are frequently arrested with no charges held against them, and usually have to pay fines between 1000 and 4000 shekels in order to be released.

This was of course a frightening event for the whole family. Basel’s little sister was especially upset by the event, and is now scared at night, refusing to go to the toilet alone.

She and her other siblings talk about their big brother every day.

That same night, two other boys were arrested, with another three arrests taking place the following night. None of these boys have received a sentence, but are still imprisoned.

Basil is charged for throwing stones and for participating in demonstrations. But having already met in Ofer court seven times since being arrested, it is obvious Israel has nothing on him. This is a common practice being used by Israel to hurt families and so ultimately crush the popular struggle against the occupation.

Basel was, like most Palestinians, not allowed a lawyer during the first interrogation. In fact, he sees his lawyer only in court.

On May 9th, 2012, he will be back in Ofer court, for the 8th time! No one believes that the prosecutors have new evidence. At the same time, no one believes that this lack of evidence will lead to the release of Basel (as is the case in democracies).

Over 99% of the Palestinians arrested end up being convicted in these military courts.

The soldiers did, however, make arrests from other families last night. The soldiers also went to the home of Ahmad Khadr Abu Maria. They broke in, broke several items in the house, and stole 140 Jordanian Dinar. They attempted to arrest his 16-year-old son, Qassam, but he managed to escape. In similar raids at other houses last night, soldiers arrested Tayseer Za’aqiq (25 years old) and Jihad Alqam (18 years old).

[Edit: April 19, 2012, 7:35pm]: Ismail Ghalib Ismail Awad, age 25, was also arrested during last night’s raid.

Night raids are almost a nightly occurrence in Beit Ommar, to create fear in the community and to discourage people from resisting the occupation. Residents of Beit Ommar are frequently arrested with no charges held against them, and usually have to pay fines between 1000 and 4000 shekels in order to be released. For more information, see our Palestinian Youth Bail Fund and this urgent request from PSP co-founder Bekah Wolf.