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Gaza conflict stirs anger and violence in West Bank Gaza conflict stirs anger and violence in West Bank
(about 4 hours later)
The main street through the village of Husan, just outside Bethlehem, is still littered with rocks and the black, burned patches of tarmac that mark the impact of molotov cocktails.The main street through the village of Husan, just outside Bethlehem, is still littered with rocks and the black, burned patches of tarmac that mark the impact of molotov cocktails.
Ibrahim Hamamra stands outside a shuttered grocery store where less than 24 hours earlier his brother Mohammed was shot dead by an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) sniper, his family claim, as a riot raged nearby. The IDF told the AFP news agency that Mohammed was shot with a rubber bullet.Ibrahim Hamamra stands outside a shuttered grocery store where less than 24 hours earlier his brother Mohammed was shot dead by an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) sniper, his family claim, as a riot raged nearby. The IDF told the AFP news agency that Mohammed was shot with a rubber bullet.
There were violent clashes with Israeli troops on Tuesday night as thousands of people across the West Bank took to the streets to protest over the deaths of scores of civilians in fierce fighting between Israel and Hamas fighters at Shujai'iya, in Gaza City.There were violent clashes with Israeli troops on Tuesday night as thousands of people across the West Bank took to the streets to protest over the deaths of scores of civilians in fierce fighting between Israel and Hamas fighters at Shujai'iya, in Gaza City.
The protest followed weeks of violence in the West Bank, including clashes in Hebron 10 days ago in which a man was killed. A mass rally is planned in Ramallah on Thursday evening when Palestinians will march from the city to the Qalandia checkpoint and on through Jerusalem to al-Aqsa mosque. The protest followed weeks of violence in the West Bank, including clashes in Hebron 10 days ago in which a man was killed. A mass rally is planned in Ramallah on Thursday evening when Palestinians will march from the city to the Qalandia checkpoint and on through Jerusalem to the al-Aqsa mosque.
Although there is often a gulf between Palestinians in the West Bank and those in Gaza, the scale of death and devastation in the Gaza conflict is having a significant impact here. A general strike called the day after the battle in Shujai'iya was widely observed, and the Palestinian Authority ordered three days of mourning for the casualties.Although there is often a gulf between Palestinians in the West Bank and those in Gaza, the scale of death and devastation in the Gaza conflict is having a significant impact here. A general strike called the day after the battle in Shujai'iya was widely observed, and the Palestinian Authority ordered three days of mourning for the casualties.
Ibrahim, his eyes red and face pale, says feelings were running high on the day of the protest in Husan, "because of the scene of the massacre in Gaza. People's emotion erupted and they wanted to express that. [Israeli] settlers often come here, they shop here and nobody bothers them." The clashes happened "just because of the incident that happened in Gaza". Ibrahim, his eyes red and face pale, says feelings were running high on the day of the protest in Husan, "because of the scene of the massacre in Gaza. People's emotion erupted and they wanted to express that. [Israeli] settlers often come here, they shop here and nobody bothers them". The clashes happened "just because of the incident that happened in Gaza".
Ibrahim says the violence began, as so often during Ramadan, after evening prayers when a group of Israeli soldiers stationed themselves at the entrance to the village outside the mosque. A couple of dozen young men began throwing stones, and the violence escalated.Ibrahim says the violence began, as so often during Ramadan, after evening prayers when a group of Israeli soldiers stationed themselves at the entrance to the village outside the mosque. A couple of dozen young men began throwing stones, and the violence escalated.
He says his brother, a father of three, had not been involved in protests before. "[Mohammed] is a store owner. He has no time for this nonsense."He says his brother, a father of three, had not been involved in protests before. "[Mohammed] is a store owner. He has no time for this nonsense."
Hostility towards the Palestinian Authority, and particularly the president, Mahmoud Abbas, runs deep in Husan, as elsewhere in the West Bank. Residents see the man known as Abu Mazen as a collaborator with Israel.Hostility towards the Palestinian Authority, and particularly the president, Mahmoud Abbas, runs deep in Husan, as elsewhere in the West Bank. Residents see the man known as Abu Mazen as a collaborator with Israel.
"For us, Abu Mazen does not represent the Palestinians, he is a partner of Sisi [the Egyptian president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi] and Israel in the crime that is being committed against us," says Mohammed's cousin, also called Mohammed, 50."For us, Abu Mazen does not represent the Palestinians, he is a partner of Sisi [the Egyptian president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi] and Israel in the crime that is being committed against us," says Mohammed's cousin, also called Mohammed, 50.
It is not only the West Bank that has seen violent unrest since the beginning of the Gaza war, or indeed earlier. The riots that engulfed Shuafat, in East Jerusalem, in the wake of the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir in July were some of the worst in the city since the second intifada. Clashes in Silwan, a stone's throw from the walls of the Old City, have intensified since the beginning of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. It is not only the West Bank that has seen violent unrest since the beginning of the Gaza war, or indeed earlier. The riots that engulfed Shuafat, in East Jerusalem, in the wake of the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, 16, in July were some of the worst in the city since the second intifada. Clashes in Silwan, a stone's throw from the walls of the Old City, have intensified since the beginning of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
Sitting in a barbershop, Mohammed Qaraeen, 29, says the young men – shabab – who lead the violent protests against Israel are fulfilling a role that the Palestinian leadership has shunned. "Abu Mazen and the PA don't want to see clashes, they don't want to see Hamas throwing rockets. Here in Jerusalem we support Gaza and we don't want to see Hamas negotiate with Israel," he says.Sitting in a barbershop, Mohammed Qaraeen, 29, says the young men – shabab – who lead the violent protests against Israel are fulfilling a role that the Palestinian leadership has shunned. "Abu Mazen and the PA don't want to see clashes, they don't want to see Hamas throwing rockets. Here in Jerusalem we support Gaza and we don't want to see Hamas negotiate with Israel," he says.
Outside his grocery store a few doors down, Sameer Sarhan agrees, even though the clashes regularly take place outside his shop. "Our businesses are impacted, but let's not forget the people in Gaza. They have no food, no water, they are seeing whole families wiped out. I wish I could take all of my merchandise and give it to the people in Gaza."Outside his grocery store a few doors down, Sameer Sarhan agrees, even though the clashes regularly take place outside his shop. "Our businesses are impacted, but let's not forget the people in Gaza. They have no food, no water, they are seeing whole families wiped out. I wish I could take all of my merchandise and give it to the people in Gaza."
In Husan, close to the funeral tent that has been erected outside the Hamamra family home, Mohammed and Ibrahim are far less supportive of the clashes between villagers and the Israelis than they are of the Palestinian militants' battle with Israel in Gaza.In Husan, close to the funeral tent that has been erected outside the Hamamra family home, Mohammed and Ibrahim are far less supportive of the clashes between villagers and the Israelis than they are of the Palestinian militants' battle with Israel in Gaza.
"[My cousin] was killed to send a message to the whole town – that this is what will happen to you if you let your kids throw rocks. But this will make people violent. It will make people eager to seek revenge," says Mohammed."[My cousin] was killed to send a message to the whole town – that this is what will happen to you if you let your kids throw rocks. But this will make people violent. It will make people eager to seek revenge," says Mohammed.
"We hope this situation will calm down," says Ibrahim, "We don't want to lose our children or our loved ones. Mohammed was our youngest brother. Everyone loved him. Everyone is devastated. It was so unnecessary.""We hope this situation will calm down," says Ibrahim, "We don't want to lose our children or our loved ones. Mohammed was our youngest brother. Everyone loved him. Everyone is devastated. It was so unnecessary."