Occupation Army Bars Hundreds of Israeli Peace Activists from Entering Hebron

The Israeli occupation army issued a military exclusion zone order for Hebron on Friday, preventing the entry to the Palestinian city to hundreds of Israeli peace activists, among them Hadash members, coordinated by several human rights organizations. About 300 people were meant to participate in the tour organized by several human rights and peace organizations. Among the organizations that led the tour are Breaking the Silence, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Yesh Gvul, Peace Now, B’Tselem, Yesh Din and others.

The rally against Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories held in Hebron on December 2, 2022 (Photo: Breaking the Silence)

Issa Amro, a Palestinian activist in Hebron, said the crowd that he believes the racist ideology of the income Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir and others will spread further in Israeli society. “The settlers here are celebrating the election of their fascist representatives in the government,” he said. “What happens in Hebron will end in Tel Aviv.” Later he was arrested by Israeli soldiers.

An occupation court, on Wednesday, banned Amro, from returning to his home for one week, after he was detained earlier this week. He was arrested on Monday after filming an Israeli soldier assaulting an Israeli activist while claiming that far-right lawmaker, Ben Gvir, was going to restore order in the occupied West Bank city. The assault took place during a solidarity visit by 15 Israeli peace activists with Palestinian residents near the Old City of Hebron.

Following the incident, Amro was interrogated at the Israeli police station, near Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron and remained in detention until appearing before the Ofer Military Court, during which the Military court judge, Dvir Wiesel, ruled Amro to be released but banned him from his home in Tel Rumeida for a week. According to the activist’s lawyer, Riham Nasra, Amro was also charged with obstruction.

Hadash MK, Ofer Cassif, who attended the hearing, said it is clear that this is a revenge arrest whose goal is to deter and persecute Amro, reported Zo Haderech. He described Amro as “a human rights activist who is unwilling to bow to the brutal occupation and even dares to join forces with peace activists from Israel. Not Issa, not the Palestinians and not the peace activists are disrupting the peace but the Israeli occupation. The settlers and their guards in uniform are those disturbing the Palestinians. They are the ones who must be removed and distanced from Hebron!” The soldier’s attack comes amid a noticeable increase in attacks by settlers and soldiers on vulnerable Palestinian communities across the Occupied West Bank.

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=30632

Source: Communist Party of Israel