Israeli soldiers attack non-violent protest near Ramallah

PNN- Israeli soldiers attacked on Wednesday a non-violent protest organized by the villagers of Deir Qadis, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah.

At midday on Wednesday, villagers, along with Israeli and international supporters and joined by a group from the nearby Budrus village, marched to local farmers' lands where Israel is expanding the illegal settlement of Nilli.

Nilli settlement was constructed in 1984 by the State of Israel, on land that belongs to local farmers from Deir Qadis. Recently, the Israeli state decided to confiscate 125 acres of land from local farmers to expand Nilli.

Today, protesters managed to stop bulldozers from working, at which point a private security guard fired live rounds at them while Israeli soldiers fired tear gas. Many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation, while tear gas bombs caused a fire that damaged nearby olive crops and farmlands.

People decided to walk back to the village as soldiers continued to follow them, firing tear gas.

Anwar Ktousah, local coordinator for the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, told PNN, "We will continue our activities. We have a programme to resist the settlements and to enforce the steadfastness of the farmers on their land."

Yesterday, villagers of Deir Qadis held a similar protest at the same location which the Israeli troops attacked with tear gas, causing fires that almost reached people's homes. Palestinian fire brigades from nearby villages managed to stop the fire before it reached people's homes.