Israeli Forces Attack School, PSP Activists in Another Invasion Following Funeral

Israeli Forces Attack School, PSP Activists in Another Invasion Following Funeral

Palestine Solidarity Project

December 29, 2012 For the third time in 4 days, Israeli forces attacked residents of Beit Ommar after a funeral. On Wednesday, December 26, over 100 soldiers and the "skunk" truck were used in a prolonged attack on the residents of Beit Ommar that lasted over two hours. Soldiers began by firing on the the youth who had gathered near the entrance to the cemetery during the funeral of a man who died suddenly at the age of 37. Soldiers immediately began using rubber-coated steel bullets and live ammunition, as they had on December 22 when they wounded two young men with live ammunition. On Wednesday, the Israeli forces entered the village, and spotted three Palestinian activists with PSP and two youth with them standing on a nearby roof taking pictures. The Israeli forces rushed the home, blocking the entrance to it with the three men and two boys inside. They then threw at least 4 tear gas canisters into the house. The activists, including PSP co-founder Mousa Abu Maria and boys aged 10 and 13, were forced onto the roof, where they could not escape the tear gas. The two youth lost consciousness and all five were captive in the house for over 45 minutes until the Israeli soldiers left the entrance. During the same invasion, Israeli forces used the "skunk"–a toxic, foul-smelling liquid that is sprayed from a truck and remains on anything it touches for days–onto a girl’s elementary school. In related incidents, Israeli forces have arrested at least 5 youth from their homes over night in the last 5 days. Some of them were released after two days of interrogation. Others are still being held. Source