CPTnet
6 June 2012
AL-KHALIL (HEBRON): Violence mars end of peaceful Naksa Day demonstration
CPT monitored a demonstration to “Open Shuhada Street”
organized by the Hebron Defense Committee to commemorate the 45th
anniversary of Al-Naksa Day, when Israel gained control of most of the West
Bank on 5 June 1967.
The participants gathered from different parts of the city,
and planned their action to take place in the Old
City at Bab il Baledeyya plaza at 2:00 p.m. A metal gate at Bab il Baledeyya
blocks access to Shuhada Street.
However, the Israeli military blocked access to the area and the demonstration
took place about ten meters up one of the side streets. The bulk of the
demonstration was peaceful, involving chanting slogans and carrying flags and
signs. Soldiers detained three protesters who broke through the metal barrier.
The crowd announced they would leave if the military would
release the three. They did and the action began peacefully to disband around
3:15 p.m. A significant crowd remained about twenty meters above the barriers. Around
3:30 p.m., several young men began throwing rocks and sticks. The Israeli
military responded with tear gas and concussion grenades. The remaining crowd
then dispersed within several minutes. Also participating in the demonstration
were Youth Against Settlement and the International Solidarity Movement.
