Palestinian police attack CNN crew, beat prisoners’ mothers in Hebron

Palestinian demonstrators in Hebron argue with PA riot police during a 20 June rally in solidarity with hunger strikers in Israeli jails.

Mamoun Wazwaz APA images

Palestinian Authority police forces violently attacked the mothers and wives of hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron today.

They also attacked a CNN crew, breaking their camera. Lama Khater, a writer, told Wattan TV in a video report that people had gathered at a mosque after Friday prayers to rally in support of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails as well as against the violent Israeli assault on Hebron over the past week.

“We were surprised by large numbers of uniformed Palestinian Authority forces from different apparatuses,” Khater said.

“As soon as the march started, and although not with large numbers, after just a few meters, the attack started and men and women were beaten. A number of young men were arrested and cameras were smashed and mobile phones confiscated,” she added.

Some 125 Palestinian political prisoners remain on hunger strike in Israeli jails, protesting their detention without charge or trial.

Safa Abu Hussein, the wife of prisoner Said Abu Hussein, said: “Women police officers attacked us with clubs in a savage manner, injuring my one-year-old daughter and causing me bruises. A large number of Palestinian security forces beat us and the youths taking part and prevented us from carrying banners and flags.”

Khater confirmed to Wattan TV that Safa Abu Hussein was beaten, as well as the mother of prisoner Tarik Deis among dozens of others.

The mother of prisoner Mazen al-Natshe expressed shock at the brutality of Palestinian Authority police.

The elderly mother of prisoner Mazen al-Natshe, interviewed by Wattan TV, expressed shock at what happened. “We came down to say we want our men, we want our prisoners who have been 58 days without food,” she said.

“We thought they would be with us, but instead they came and beat us,” rally participant Israa Karama told Wattan TV of the Palestinian Authority forces. “We don’t want them with us, but at least don’t let them be against us.”

This cell phone video posted on YouTube shows rally participants trying to advance through the street and being pushed back by Palestinian Authority forces in riot gear:

Palestinian Authority security forces are financed by and trained under the auspices of the European Union and the United States.

CNN camera smashed

Veteran CNN reporter Ben Wedeman tweeted: “Palestinian Authority police attack CNN crew in Hebron, break camera.”

He posted a photo of his cameraman with the broken camera:
Ma’an News Agency quoted an unnamed journalist saying that for a time, “Journalists were prevented from taking pictures of the march.”

Israeli-PA crackdown

This latest PA attack on Palestinians and journalists comes after similar brutality in Ramallah on 11 June.

It also comes after more than a week of an ongoing Israeli military assault in the West Bank. Acting in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, Israeli forces have killed three Palestinians, arrested more than 300 people and ransacked hundreds of homes, educational and social organizations.

Israel claims the assault is aimed at locating three settlers who went missing on 12 June, but Israeli officials have instead engaged in a wide-scale crackdown and collective punishment.

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Comments

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Funny you don't mention Hamas attacking journalists like they did after they illegally closed the banks in Gaza recently. Your pro-Hamas propaganda stinks. You are no voice for Palestine.

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I don't understand what you're trying to say. So, if Hamas attacked demonstrating civilians, then that somehow legitimizes the attacks by the Palestinian Authority's thugs against the demonstrators? Especially against those coming out in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike? What kind of logic is this? It's ridiculous. Sure, it seems that all those with authority (Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli occupation, and the rest) are just there to crush the Palestinian spirit. So, congrats, you made it. Is that what you need to hear? Is that the logic that justifies what I saw happened in al-Khalil today?

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Give us dates so we can research it, if your statement is true. But what does "Hamas" have to do with this?

"Pro-Hamas"? Where is "Hamas" in this article?

Compared to what Israel is doing, "Hamas" are probably saints.

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Al Mezan Condemns Continuous Closure of Banks in Gaza, Assaults against Citizens; Calls for Prompt Resolution 9-6-14 when will EI condemn Hamas?

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Some background---The latest Presbyterian Church Vote supporting divestment regarding three companies supporting Israel will not work. Neither will BDS efforts in Europe. Israel is stronger than ever now and will easily survive these misguided and inadequate efforts. Although I don't agree with settlements, punishing the whole country for the behavior of Netanyahu's and the Israeli right's efforts will only strengthen Israel's resolve. In their eyes, we as well as Europe, Muslims and most non Jews are against them (a few exceptions- Southern Babtist, etc.). History is their guide. A two state solution is untenable now for obvious reasons. There was a chance years ago, but it died with the assassination of Rabin and bad decisions by Arafat.

Result--- Another Intifada will mean allot of dead Palestinians and a lot less dead Jews and Israeli's. Furthermore, with what is going on in the Arab world, Intifada folks will not get the headlines they need and will have failed in their efforts to get world sympathy. Right now and for the forseeable future, time is on the Side of the Israeli's.

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Came across this article and thought 'this too weird, they're slagging off the PA', instead of Israel (which is what this noble site is all about surely) but then a poster made me realise that what we're meant to take from this is that, yet again, arabs aren't really responsible for anything they do, and were, in fact, "doing the bidding of the occupiers".
You must never, never, NEVER blame arabs for anything.