They beat, clubbed, rifle-butted, and pepper-sprayed the two brothers. All four were then taken to a military checkpoint, told to sit and wait, then ordered "to sign a paper claiming....we were not beaten or mistreated."
They refused, then taken to "the investigation offices near Qubbit Raheel (Rachel's tomb), (and) locked up in a metal container." Hours later, they were interrogated individually, asked, but refused, to sign other papers. Painfully handcuffed, they were returned to the container.
Next on to Talpiot police station to be fingerprinted and photographed. "It was now nearly 5:30 and we were starving....Finally they br(ought) us some bread, each a slice of cheese and a small packet of jam." Together they were "dragged in front of a new investigator who asked us to sign a release form that says we are told to stay away from the wall....for 15 days and if we don't we will (each) have to pay" about $1,200. They signed, were released, but not given their ID cards. Later they got them. "Life goes on in the land of Apartheid. Stay tuned."
As coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Apartheid Wall and Settlements in Beit Sahour, Qumsiyeh leads Palestinian grassroots resistance against "Israeli occupation and colonization" as well as "stopping and dismantling" what the International Court of Justice (ICJ) called illegal, ordering the Wall's demolition and for Israel "to make reparation for all damage caused by the construction....including in and around East Jerusalem."
As the "main national grassroots body mobilizing and organizing resistance against" the Wall, the Campaign "coordinates the work of 54 popular committees in communities" targeted for (or now being) destroyed by its construction.
Strategies against it include raising awareness internationally; national and community resistance; mobilizing solidarity among affected communities, the Arab world, civil society, and unions; calling for global boycott, divestment and sanctions; and enlisting international popular support for justice.
Attacking Disabled Palestinians in Gaza
Besides the occupation, siege, regular incursions, and overall reign of terror against 1.5 million people, Israel targets the disabled, explained by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) in a December 2009 report titled, "Israeli Attacks on Palestinian Disabled Persons in the Gaza Strip," from September 1, 2003 - November 30 2009.
It covers willful assaults against disabled civilians, and others incapacitated by attacks. Of most concern was Operation Cast Lead's 23-day assault from December 27, 2008 - January 18, 2009, inflicting massive numbers of deaths and injuries, as well as widespread destruction, mostly against civilians, their homes, mosques, businesses, factories, farms, schools, and hospitals - clear non-military targets. The siege's effect on health, education, and other vital services was also addressed.
During the reporting period, 31 disabled Palestinians were killed, including four women, and six children. Another 600 sustained permanent disabilities, mostly physical. In addition, because of inadequate or unavailable food, medicines, medical equipment, fuel, clean water, sanitation, and the ability to leave or enter freely, the negative impact has been enormous.
"At the same time, foreign medical and technical personnel have not been able to enter (Gaza) to help the disabled and provide them with necessary medical and rehabilitation services." As for the overall effect of the siege, the longer it continues the more harm it inflicts on those least able to cope. Precisely Israel's strategic aim - to strangle and smother all Gazans, the elderly, infirm and disabled the most vulnerable.
Amnesty International (AI) on Israeli War Crimes
In its 2010 annual report, AI accused Western nations of shielding Israel from accountability during the Gaza war and for nearly three years of siege, depriving the population of vital essentials to survive and endure. At the same time, it praised the Goldstone Commission for heroically telling the truth.
In documenting Israeli crimes of war and against humanity, AI said:
"Among other things, (Israel) carried out indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks against civilians, targeted and killed medical staff, used Palestinian civilians as 'human shields,' and indiscriminately (used) white phosphorous (and other illegal weapons) over densely populated residential areas." As a result, the toll was devastating.
In response, the US State Department downplayed the accusations, saying it "supports the need for accountability for any violations that may have occurred in relation to the Gaza conflict by any party," ignoring Israel's premeditated aggression, willfully attacking civilians and committing horrendous war crimes.
