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Friday 18-march-2011-Five locals injured and a dozen suffocated by tear gas in Bil'in's weekly demonstration The slogan of this week's demonstration was 'End the Division and Occupation' Five local residents were injured in various parts of the body and a dozen people fainted due to inhalation of concentrated and poisonous tear gas. Many also suffered from colored and foul chemical liquid that was sprayed over the protestors by the Israeli Defense Force during the peaceful demonstration demanding an end to the division and occupation organized by the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Bil'in. The demonstration started after the Friday prayers where the crowd processed from the village's mosque towards the apartheid wall. Many international and Israeli activists participated alongside local residents of Bil'in and neighboring villages. Joining them were also the hunger strikers of the 15/March movement currently staying in Al- Manara Square, Ramallah. The protestors were holding Palestinian flags, banners of the leader, Marwan Al Bargoti, as well as posters of the martyrs Bassem and Jawaher Abu Rahmah whilst chanting "End the division and occupation". When the protestors arrived to the east gate of the wall the soldiers attacked the protesters with tear gas canisters, rubber coated bullets, sound bombs and chemical spray. As a result, five locals were wounded; Nashmi Abu Rahmah, 16 years old, a rubber bullet was shot at his right hand; Iyad Burnat, head of the Popular Committee, 38 years old, tear gas canister was shot at his head; Mohamad Al Khatib, 17 years old, a tear gas canister was shot at his leg; Mohamad Burnat, 20 years old, a tear gas canister was also shot at his leg; Asia, a 22 year old Italian activist, twisted her left ankle whilst running from the attack. The victims were treated on the location of the protest in Bil'in. Tear gas canisters were being shot directly at the protesters' heads rather than up in the air, provoking violent acts by protestors. Iyad Burnat |