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Together, We Will Break The Siege of Gaza! Demonstration in Ramallah 31-12-2009
More than 250 Palestinians rallied in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah on New Year's Eve Day in solidarity with the Gaza Freedom March during an event organized by the Palestinian Popular Committees of the West Bank. “We are calling on the people of Palestine to work together to end the occupation,” said Iyad Burnat, a community organizer with the Bil'in Committee for Popular Resistance Against the Wall and Settlements. “Only by uniting the resistance can we succeed." The Gaza Freedom March and the Palestinian Popular Committees of the West Bank are demanding an immediate end to the blockade of Gaza, a form of collective punishment which has essentially turned the Gaza Strip into an open-air prison for its 1.5 million inhabitants. The New Year's Eve Day protests were scheduled to mark the 1-year anniversary of Israel's Operation: Cast Lead massacre in Gaza that killed more than 1,300 people and wounded more than 5,000. 31/12/09 Tulkarm Gaza Solidarity Demonstration Stopped by Palestinian Authority Police Around 11am today members of the Tulkarm Popular Committee, Khodori University students, and residents of Tulkarm and surrounding communities attempted to hold a demonstration in solidarity with the people of Gaza. One jeep with approximately 6 Palestinian Authority police quickly arrived and stopped the demonstration. The message from the organizers being, “together we can break the siege.” The demonstration was also intended to speak out against Israel’s 11 chemical factories, which contaminate Tulkarm’s land and water. These factories were forbidden to operate in Israel because of the environmental and health problems that they caused the Israeli population. The Tulkarm Popular Committee says that they were only stopped today and that this is only one of many demonstrations against the occupation. 31/12/09 Demonstration in Bethlehem Candle Lit Vigil Held in Manger Square Bethlehem to Commemorate Gaza Residents of the Bethlehem area, West Bank, gather to commemorate those lost in last years Gaza War and stand in solidarity with those still living under seige. At 4:30 this afternoon residents of Bethlehem and the surrounding towns gathered to commemorate the 1,500 Palestinians that lost their lives this time last year, and stand in solidarity with the residents of Gaza, who continue to live under siege from the Israeli military; a situation that has continued since June 2006. The vigil was held in Manger Square, bordered with The Church of the Nativity to the [south?] and [???] mosque to the [north?] After a brief introduction given by a young girl from the town, those in attendance received a call from Dr. Haidar Eid, from inside the Gaza Strip. Dr. Eid is an associate professor in the Department of English Literature, AL-Aqsa University, Gaza Strip and also works as a grass roots activist. Dr. Eid spoke of the necessity of the ending of the siege on Gaza, and thanked those in attendance, both local residents of the Bethlehem municipality and internationals alike. Following Dr. Eid was Dr. Victor Batarseh, mayor of Bethlehem. Dr. Batarseh spoke in a similar vein, endorsing the support of the Gazans and reminding all to keep the plight of their plight in their thoughts. Today was a day to commiserate the loss of vast numbers of children in Gaza, but also to celebrate the beauty of youth and be hopeful for their future. Children from Al-Ruwad Centre located in Aida refugee camp treated the crowd to a performance, and then followed by a speech by spokesman for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, Awad Abu Swai. It was again the turn of the children to take centre stage. As a local boy, no more than 11 years old read the names of those children killed by the Israeli military during the Gaza War last December and January, more children were assisted in climbing the small trees in the square, decorated still will lights from the Christmas festivities, to hang BDS movement stickers bearing the names that were simultaneously read out. Four of the children from the earlier performance piece sang songs, as others walked amongst the crowd handing out stickers and candles for the vigil. Dr. Abdul Fattah Abu Saror, director of Al-Ruwad Centre, gave the final speech, once again thanking all in attendance and wishing everyone a happy new year. As the music started to play five young men spontaneously broke out in dabka dancing to mark the end of the vigil. Thank you for you continued support, Iyad Burnat- Head of Popular Commitee in Bilin co-founder of Friends of Freedom and Justice - Bilin
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