14 year old Mahmoud Al-Masalmeh after being killed by Israeli troops as he marched in a non-violent protest against Israel's murders in Gaza

March 4, 2008


For those paying any attention, the events of the last few days in Gaza have shed light (once again) on Israel’s brutality, particularly towards civilians and children. That brutality, of course, is not limited to the Palestinians of Gaza. Palestinian citizens of Israel, Lebanese, and of course the Palestinians of the West Bank are no strangers to Zionist murders.

Yesterday, every city in the West Bank and many villages saw widespread demonstrations against the Shoah being unleashed on Gaza. Every single one of those demonstrations was non-violent. Hebron, the most populous city in the West Bank, was the site of the largest demonstration. Hebron is unique in that it is the only West Bank city (save for Jerusalem) with Israeli settlements in its center rather than its surroundings, meaning there is a constant Israeli military presence in the town meant to keep the local citizens in check while protecting the illegal settlers. Naturally, a mass gathering of Palestinians in the area would annoy the settlers who would rather the Palestinians whose homes they have stolen simply disappear. Accordingly, the Israeli Occupation Forces opened fire on the protestors, wounding tens of the unarmed civilians. In Beit 'Awa, southwest of Hebron, 14year old Mahmoud Al-Masalmeh was shot in the heart byIsraeli troops as he joined others from his village in marching against the Gaza massacre.

This morning, 18 year old Mohammad Shreiteh, a high school senior from the village of Almazra’a Alqibliya just outside Ramallah, was marching with others against Israel’s rampage in Gaza. The marchers, mostly school kids, were walking towards the settlement of Talmon which is built on land stolen from the village when a settler fired on the crowd, hitting Mohammad in the head. He died on the way to hospital.

Naturally, the Israeli Occupation Forces are sorry for the deaths of the two protestors, but when Palestinians engage in non-violent protests in solidarity with their slaughtered countrymen, it presents a direct security threat to the heavily armed troops. It isn’t surprising that nobody seems to care much about Mahmoud or Mohammad. The world looked on silently as 39 other children were murdered by Israel this week. Let’s keep in mind that no rockets have been fired by Palestinians in the West Bank against Israel, and that the two youths were killed while engaging in active non-violent resistance. I know plenty will rush to explain away their deaths as collateral damage, or perhaps invent a story whereby the two were sent out to die by their mothers. It’s disgusting that anyone will stoop low enough to defend an occupying power for anything it does against those it occupies, let alone when it targets and kills children.