Taken Away

At the Qitoun checkpoint, CPTers witnessed Israeli Border Police arresting a girl. CPTers approached the scene too late to ask the girl her name and Israeli Border Police would not give information about the arrest. A subsequent report by a local activist identified her as Diana Ismail Rajabi and said the soldiers accused her of having a knife. As of this publication, she has not been released.

(1/12/2015)

Trying to Worship

As people were going to Friday prayers at the Ibrahimi Mosque, Israeli soldiers randomly stopped young men, made them throw their IDs on the ground (rather than hand them over), motioned for them to lift their shirts and pant legs, and lower their socks. In some cases, soldiers also patted them down. There are four checkpoints between where many people come to and from the mosque, each about thirty seconds to a minute apart. Imagine trying to get to your place of worship and possibly being stopped and checked four times.
(4/12/2015)

Collection

CPTers visited a school near the Qitoun checkpoint. The director of the school not only shared the struggles and successes of the school, but also showed his collection of spent teargas grenades and stun grenades that Israeli forces have shot near the school.
(3/12/2015)

“Better for Everyone”

Checkpoint 56, which marks a division between the H1 and H2 areas of Hebron, is currently closed. According to an Israeli soldier guarding the checkpoint, it will be closed for two weeks as they work on it to make it “better for everyone.” Arguably, removing the checkpoint completely would be better for everyone. In the meantime, anyone trying to get from one side to the other will have to take a much longer and more difficult route around.
(7/12/2015)

Even When It’s “Calm”

Even though it was calm and quiet at the Qitoun/209 checkpoint, Israeli border police left the checkpoint, going well beyond it towards school children who were nowhere near, or not even approaching, the checkpoint. While out they stopped these boys and searched their bags.

(7/12/2015)

Fully Stocked

On the same day as the previous photo, although no children were throwing stones, Israeli border police, fully stocked with teargas and other weapons, went out into the area where school children were making their way to classes. Border police stayed in the area for about fifteen minutes, before returning to their station at the checkpoint.
(7/12/2015)

Palestinian Hospitality

This young man decided to practice his English with CPTers. When asked where he went to school, he proudly took them there and then patiently waited until after they talked to some of the staff at the school before then escorting them back out.
(2/12/2015)