Video: Palestinian woman "takes over" Israeli military vehicle at Ofer protest for hunger strikers

This video shows a Palestinian woman mounting an Israeli military vehicle amid protests near Ofer Prison in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on 1 May, in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners. The video also shows Israeli occupation forces attacking female protestors with pepper spray directed into their eyes from close range as they lie on the ground.

Ten women and a man required medical treatment, according to witnesses, after being hit with pepper spray, beating and rubber-coated steel bullets.

The protests at Ofer, which continued today, came as two human rights organizations issued urgent appeals for intervention on behalf of Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh, two Palestinian prisoners whom doctors say are at immediate risk of death after more than two months without food.

Both men are being held by Israel without charge or trial and, according to Physicians for Human Rights - Israel, being denied urgently needed medical treatment. Some 2000 Palestinian prisoners have been on hunger strike since 17 April.

Electronic Intifada blogger Linah Alsaafin was among those pepper-sprayed in the face:

Girls told shabab to stop throwing rocks, then advanced where israeli soldiers are, screaming chants in their faces. Feels f-ing great #ofer
— لينة (@LinahAlsaafin) May 1, 2012

I got pepper sprayed twice in 10 sec, 1st in my face then 2nd directly in my eyes. I died a few times but now I'm well, fuck the occupation
— لينة (@LinahAlsaafin) May 1, 2012

This is what happened AFTER at #Ofer. Human pile to protect Palestinian flagwoman from Israeli arrest, pepper sprayed. http://t.co/E6WeVuzU
— لينة (@LinahAlsaafin) May 1, 2012

After I got pepper sprayed and went blind, my mama calls my phone and says, ENOUGH. Go home now! We saw it all on TV! ooooppss...;)
— لينة (@LinahAlsaafin) May 1, 2012

Protest @ #Ofer prison today mayve been "exciting" but don't forget why we were protesting. Hunger striking Palestinian prisoners #PalHunger
— لينة (@LinahAlsaafin) May 1, 2012

Protestors forced back from attempt to reach prison gate

The following text, accompanying this video, is provided by the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee:

Video: Palestinian Protesters Took Over Military Vehicle; Tried Breaking Into Ofer Prison

Protester holding a Palestinian flag scaled an Israeli military water-cannon yesterday, in solidarity with the prisoners’ hunger strike. Others managed to breach the prison fence.

After hours of clashes between Israeli Border Police officers and some 200 protesters who demonstrated in support of the Palestinian political prisoners’ hunger strike yesterday, a group of women marched towards the checkpoint at the entrance to the Israeli Ofer prison and military court.

After the women, chanting and waving flags, were prevented by the Israeli forces from reaching the gate, one activist managed to climb over the military water cannon. While waving the Palestinian flag atop the vehicle, the woman effectively neutralized it for long minutes.

As soldiers tried to arrest the woman, a group of activists gathered around her to prevent her detention. Despite being attacked with blows and large amounts of pepper-spray, the activists managed to trample the arrest.

At least ten women and a man required medical treatment following the event. More than ten others were injured by rubber-coated bullets and tear-gas projectiles shot directly at them during the four hours of the demonstration, including an elderly woman and a 70 year-old man who was shot in both legs.

Meanwhile, another group of demonstrators who tried to enter the prison itself, manged to breach prison’s fence using bolt cutters. They were eventually forced to retreat.