Palestine: Dozens wounded by Israeli army in Silwan

Palestinian medical sources in occupied East Jerusalem reported Friday that dozens of residents were injured after Israeli soldiers and policemen attacked a protest in Silwan, in occupied East Jerusalem. Two homes caught fire after soldiers fired teargas bombs into them.

Jawad Siyam, head of the Wadi Hilwa Information center, reported that the protest started following Friday Prayers, near the protest tent in Silwan.

The tent was installed months ago to protest Israeli illegal home demolition policy and settlers’ takeover of Palestinian homes.

Local youth placed trash cans in the streets, and burnt tires to prevent the army and the police from reaching them.

Some youth also hurled stones at settlers’ vehicles causing damage to the front windshield of one of the vehicles.

Clashes also took place in Al Ein Street, while some protestors torched a warehouse used by the settlers. Soldiers fired dozens of gas bombs causing fire to a home that belongs to Asaliyya family.

Clashes also took place in Al Thoury, Ras Al Amoud, and Batn Al Hawa; sixteen residents were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets fired by the Police, while dozens of residents were treated for the effects of teargas inhalation.

Also, the home of Eid Haddad was burnt when the police fired teargas bombs into it, and his family received treatment for teargas inhalation.

Local youth responded by hurling a Molotov cocktail at a military post installed on the rooftop of a residential building in Batn Al Hawa.

Furthermore, an Israeli court decided to keep Suad Shiokhy in detention until next Monday after the prosecution claimed “having a secret file against her”.

Shiokhy, a local resident of Wadi Hilwa, was kidnapped last Monday at dawn after she was violently beaten and attacked by the soldiers.

Her family said they intend to file an appeal to the Israeli High Court as charges were never filed against her.

In Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, soldiers and policemen attacked the weekly nonviolent protest as the residents, Israeli and international peace activists marched and chanted against the Israeli occupation, settlements and the Annexation Wall.