March in Biddu Dispersed with Excessive Force

Nonviolent Women's March in Biddu Dispersed with Excessive Force

Earlier this afternoon the IDF dispersed a nonviolent joint Palestinian, International and Israeli Women's march against the Apartheid Wall with extreme violence. The protesters were walking towards the construction site when, without warning, the border police fired tear gas into the crowd. This was quickly followed by sounds bombs, which were aimed at particular nonviolent protesters and hit at least two of the demonstrators. This initial attack was followed by border police in full riot gear riding galloping horses into the crowd while wielding clubs. One particularly brutal young female soldier was seen repeatedly beating an Israeli woman around the head and torso while trying to rear her horse in a position to land on her victim. Injuries have been reported. The Women demonstrators remained completely peaceful even in the face of such violence.

After trying to enter into a dialogue with the soldiers and urging them to hold their fire several protesters were taken into custody with extreme force. One Palestinian woman, Deema Hamdan from Al-Isawiya was reportedly beaten by the soldiers while in custody. The internationals in custody taken into custody were French citizen Angela Coppin, British citizen Angela Julian from the IWPS and Huwaida Arras a US citizen from the ISM.

As she was being violently dragged away by the border police Julian heard shouting, "This is a nonviolent demonstration why are you being violent". There was no cause for this use of excessive force. The detainees were removed from the area and later held in Givet Z'ev. Two of the women, the Palestinian and British nationals, have been released. The Palestinian national was released with unknown conditions and the British national with the condition that she not enter the Biddu area for 15 days.

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