Israeli Army Attacks Left-wing Activists on Solidarity Visit to Hawara
Hagar Shezaf and Jack Khoury - Mar 3, 2023 9:56 am IST - Haaretz
▻https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-03-03/ty-article/.premium/israeli-army-bans-left-wing-solidarity-visit-to-huwara-as-settlers-enter-freely/00000186-a642-de2a-a1ee-a65787ff0000
The IDF informed the left-wing groups that they would not be allowed through to the West Bank town despite the visit being coordinated with the local governing council ■ ’It is ridiculous that the army allows settlers to enter, but we, Israeli Jews and Arabs who wish to show our solidarity, are told that there is no entry’ one organization said in a statement.
The Israeli military threw stun grenades at hundreds of left-wing activists on Friday who were taking part in a solidarity visit to Hawara in the shadow of the deadly settler rampage through the town on Sunday.
Army officers had earlier met with representatives from left-wing groups Standing Together and Looking the Occupation in the Eyes to inform them that they would not be allowed through to the West Bank town of Hawara for their planned solidarity visit, despite the visit being coordinated with the town’s governing council and local residents.
We are hundreds of Israelis now on our way for a solidarity visit to #Huwara, in the Occupied West Bank, where Palestinian homes were set on fire by settlers, backed by the government.
Around 500 activists headed to Hawara despite the news. The IDF stopped the bus on the way to the northern West Bank town, declaring the area a “closed military zone,” a temporary order which legally allows the military to deny entry to civilians. According to the order, only private buses could be stopped, leading the crowd to cotninue towards Hawara by foot. (...)