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Two Palestinians Killed in Clashes With Israeli Forces Two Palestinians Killed in Clashes With Israeli Forces
(5 days later)
JERUSALEM — Two young Palestinian men were killed Thursday in clashes with Israeli security forces during a demonstration for Nakba Day, which commemorates the destruction of Arab villages in battles that led to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.JERUSALEM — Two young Palestinian men were killed Thursday in clashes with Israeli security forces during a demonstration for Nakba Day, which commemorates the destruction of Arab villages in battles that led to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
Palestinian health officials said that Muhammad Odeh Abu al Daher, 20, and Nadeem Siam Nawara, 17, were fatally shot in the chest during a demonstration in Beitunia, a West Bank town outside Ramallah. A spokeswoman for the Israeli military said that the matter was still under investigation, but that no live bullets had been fired — an assertion disputed by Palestinian officials. Palestinian health officials said the youths, Mohammad Mahmoud Odeh Salameh, 16, and Nadeem Siam Nawara, 17, were fatally shot in the chest during a demonstration in Beitunia, a West Bank town outside Ramallah. A spokeswoman for the Israeli military said the matter was still under investigation but no live bullets had been fired — an assertion disputed by Palestinian officials.
Libby Weiss, the military spokeswoman, said that about 150 people had gathered outside Israel’s Ofer Prison, where more than 100 Palestinians have been on a hunger strike for weeks to protest their detention. She said that the demonstrators threw stones and firebombs, burned tires and ignored orders from soldiers and border police officers, who fired rubber bullets and released tear gas. Libby Weiss, the military spokeswoman, said about 150 people had gathered outside Ofer Prison, an Israeli institution where more than 100 Palestinians have been on a hunger strike for weeks to protest their detention. She said the demonstrators threw stones and firebombs, burned tires and ignored orders from soldiers and border police officers, who fired rubber bullets and released tear gas.
“They used nonviolent means to try and disperse the crowd,” Ms. Weiss said. Asked how the two men died, she said, “This is what we’re looking into right now.”“They used nonviolent means to try and disperse the crowd,” Ms. Weiss said. Asked how the two men died, she said, “This is what we’re looking into right now.”
Ahmad Badwan of the Palestinian Medical Relief Committee, whose ambulances attended to the victims, disputed Ms. Weiss’s account in an interview, saying the protest “began peacefully” and “turned into violence when the Israeli Army used live fire to disperse stone-throwers.” Mr. Badwan said that Mr. Nawara died at the scene and Mr. Abu al Daher at the hospital; a nurse there said that one of four other protesters who were wounded was in the intensive care unit. Ahmad Badwan of the Palestinian Medical Relief Committee, whose ambulances attended to the victims, disputed Ms. Weiss’s account in an interview, saying the protest “began peacefully” and “turned into violence when the Israeli Army used live fire to disperse stone throwers.” Mr. Badwan said Mr. Nawara died at the scene and Mr. Salameh at a local hospital; a nurse there said one of four other protesters who were wounded was in the intensive-care unit.
Amnesty International condemned the episode as “alarming” and called for a “prompt, independent and transparent investigation.” Amnesty International condemned the episode as “alarming” and called for a “prompt, independent and transparent” investigation.
“Israeli forces have repeatedly resorted to extreme violence to respond to Palestinian protests against Israel’s occupation, discriminatory policies, confiscation of land and construction of unlawful settlements,” Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East director, said in a statement. “The Israeli authorities must ensure that their forces act in a manner that respects and upholds human rights.”“Israeli forces have repeatedly resorted to extreme violence to respond to Palestinian protests against Israel’s occupation, discriminatory policies, confiscation of land and construction of unlawful settlements,” Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East director, said in a statement. “The Israeli authorities must ensure that their forces act in a manner that respects and upholds human rights.”
Israel Radio said Thursday night that the Palestinian government had declared Friday a day of mourning for the two young men who were killed, and that a spokesman for Palestinian security forces, Adnan Damiri, said the matter could lead the Palestinians to halt security coordination with Israel.Israel Radio said Thursday night that the Palestinian government had declared Friday a day of mourning for the two young men who were killed, and that a spokesman for Palestinian security forces, Adnan Damiri, said the matter could lead the Palestinians to halt security coordination with Israel.
Nakba Day is marked each year on the day after the May 14 anniversary of Israel’s establishment with protests and ceremonies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and in Israel, where Palestinian citizens make up about a fifth of the population. While Palestinian leaders made speeches about never relinquishing the rights of millions of refugees and their descendants to return to the land where the destroyed villages stood, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel used the occasion to reiterate his call for new legislation that would underscore Israel’s Jewish identity. Nakba Day is marked each year on the day after the May 14 anniversary of Israel’s establishment with protests and ceremonies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and in Israel, where Palestinian citizens make up about a fifth of the population. While Palestinian leaders made speeches saying they would never relinquish the rights of millions of refugees and their descendants to return to the land where the destroyed villages stood, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel used the occasion to reiterate his call for new legislation that would underscore Israel’s Jewish identity.
“They stand to attention in order to mark the tragedy of the establishment of the State of Israel, the state of the Jewish people,” Mr. Netanyahu said of Palestinians. “We shall pass the nationality law, which is a law that makes it utterly clear to the entire world that Israel is the state of the Jewish people.”“They stand to attention in order to mark the tragedy of the establishment of the State of Israel, the state of the Jewish people,” Mr. Netanyahu said of Palestinians. “We shall pass the nationality law, which is a law that makes it utterly clear to the entire world that Israel is the state of the Jewish people.”