Tear gas death
On New Year’s Eve 2010, 1,000 Palestinians, Israelis and international activists participated in the weekly Friday demonstration against the Israeli separation wall at the Palestinian village of Bil’in.
After speeches, including by the Palestinian prime minister, a march towards the wall was tear gassed. Small groups of protesters still removed a chunk of the wall using bolt-cutters. One man was seriously injured after being shot by a tear gas canister and a woman, Jawaher Abu Rahma, died of asphyxiation from the gas.
Since 2005, more than 20 people have been killed – many by so-called “non-lethal” weapons – during protests against the wall and settlements. Jawaher’s brother Bassem was killed in 2007 by a tear gas canister.
On New Year’s Day, hundreds reacted by blockading the Israeli ministry of defence in Tel Aviv. Protesters also threw spent tear gas canisters from Bil’in into the US ambassador’s front yard. 11 people were arrested for illegal arms possession and were detained in jail until bailed on 4 January.
The next Bil’in protest on 7 January was again showered with tear gas, knocking out two people. (Tear gas supplied by Combined Systems International (US) and by BAE Systems (UK).)