Return to Hebron

Yesterday afternoon, some of us ISMers who were in Susya returned to Hebron. There were clashes in the city while we were away, and as we were coming back, in most parts they were dying down.

Hamas called on that Friday to be "A Day of Rage" across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and in many parts there were clashes between rock throwing Palestinians and heavily armed Israeli soldiers and police. We heard loud explosions in an area of the city called Qeitun and some members briefly went, but it was decided, due to safety considerations, it was best to not have a presence. In addition to the intensity of the clashes, the Palestinians there did not want internationals present and made it very clear to those who were briefly there, to leave.  Being present at such a situation would have been foolish and senseless.

I definitely do not support Hamas. In their response to the Israeli military occupation of their people and the war crimes that are committed daily by the Israeli military, they have responded at times with war crimes of their own, like suicide bombings and rocket attacks. While it is true that the number of Palestinian civilians killed by Israelis has always greatly overshadowed the number of Israeli civilians killed by Palestinians, one crime does not justify another. Like the Palestinian Authority, Hamas also has committed human rights violations against Palestinian people, including executions and torture, and even home demolitions, in Gaza. Their proposed solution to the conflict- the expulsion of all or most Israelis to Europe, does not differ that much from the proposed solution of several right wing Israeli politicians- expelling all the Palestinians to Jordan. Either of these actions would constitute ethnic cleansing on a large scale, if not genocide.

However, Hamas does have a large following among many Palestinians in the West Bank, especially Hebron. Part of this is because they are far less corrupt than their rivals, the Palestinian Authority. I believe however that an even larger reason that Hamas gets support from the Palestinian people, is caused by the actions of the Israeli government. 

When people are deprived of their rights on a daily basis- facing humiliating searches and detentions, water shortages, harassment, home demolitions, random violence from settlers- many of them will cast their lot with anyone who says they will take up arms against the oppressors who do this to them... and then follows through. While I have no respect for the political leaders of Hamas, I can understand why many of my Palestinian friends see them differently.

On our way back to our apartment, we noticed Israeli soldiers stopping two men at Checkpoint 56. One of them was allowed through, the other held back. After about 15 minutes of observation and getting permission from his family who were observing, we talked to the soldiers and asked why he was being detained.

One of the soldiers said he isn't obliged to tell us.

We asked that if he wouldn't tell us, could he at least tell the man's family, who were just a few metres away. 

The answer was no.

We asked them if the man being detained even knew why he was stopped. We received no answer.

One of the soldiers then said something to me that I found shocking. He told me that even he had no idea why the man was stopped, and neither did his other friends. They just had an order to stop him and hold him. The soldier said he didn't know whether they would let the man go, or arrest him. 

They kept him standing for over thirty minutes, while they held his ID. While he was waiting, they joked around a short distance away.

After a while, a police car pulled up. The police officer spoke to the soldiers, then to the man. He gave him back his ID, then let him go. 

A man who clearly was not violent (if he would have been, he would have been arrested), was humiliated by being detained and made to stand for 30 minutes, for no reason. Neither he or even his family were given the minimal decency to be informed as to why he was stopped. Not even the soldiers who stopped him seemed to have any idea why. The fact that he was a Palestinian seemed to be reason enough.

As I stated before, I am opposed to any political group that promotes or uses violence, and this certainly includes Hamas. However, when people are being treated like this man was- and in so many cases, it is far worse- who can blame people for supporting them? What would you do if you were in their situation?

 

Israeli soldiers in H1, a violation of the Oslo Agreement, which confines the Israeli military to H2, and Palestinian Authority forces to H1.

The Palestinian boy covered up by the umbrella, in Bab E Zawiya, just threw a stone towards the soldiers at Checkpoint 56. This is all the clashes we witnessed in Hebron yesterday. In Qeitun, they were far more intense.

As Israeli soldiers stand on the roof above, Palestinian Authority officers on the street (in H1) observe the situation. The PA and Israeli Government have a very close "working relationship".

PA military police hanging out in H1, observing the scene where clashes earlier took place, in Bab E Zawiye.

Israeli soldiers at Checkpoint 56 searching the bags of Palestinian women.

The man in the white shirt was detained by soldiers for thirty minutes.

While he stands just a few steps away, not even knowing why he is being detained, the men holding him enjoy some laughs.

After about 30 minutes, a police car drove by and after a chat with an officer, the man was let go. The man in the black shirt and hat was detained also, but let go earlier.

Both men walk away, after 30 minutes of an unexplained detention.

After having detained someone who was clearly innocent for half an hour, the soldiers decided to pose for a picture.