Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Kafr Qaddum (temporarily occupying 1 house as an observation post) and 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; patrols in Kafr Qaddum, Tulkarm. The IDF units patrolling nr. Jenin, nr. Qalqilya, and in Tulkarm fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at Palestinian youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; protests in Bil’in and Ni’lin also call for solidarity with prisoners, while the Bil’in protest additionally calls for national unity. IDF soldiers beat and fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 3 Palestinians in Nabi Salih. (PCHR 4/12; OCHA 4/13)
Friday, April 6, 2012