Photos of the week: Marching for return, solidarity with hunger strikers

Activestills By Activestills June 5, 2014 | Edit

This week: Hammering away at the wall, refugees march for return, Palestinians form a unity government, Gazan youth wave at the border, Palestinians burn tires, protests in solidarity with hunger-striking prisoners, protests against the occupation, and assessing the damage to private Palestinian land.

Palestinian activists try to destroy parts of the separation wall during the 'Return March" near Tulkarm, West Bank, May 31, 2014. Palestinians tried to cross the barrier while chanting for their destroyed villages and towns located inside Israel. By 1948, Zionist gangs ahd destroyed more than 500 Palestinian villages prior to the establishment of the State of Israel.
Palestinian activists try to destroy parts of the separation wall during the ‘Return March” near Tulkarm, West Bank, May 31, 2014. Palestinians tried to cross the barrier while chanting for their destroyed villages and towns located inside Israel. By 1948, Zionist militias had destroyed more than 500 Palestinian villages during the establishment of the State of Israel. (Activestills.org)

 

Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian man during the 'Return March,' held alongside the separation wall near Tulkarm, West Bank, May 31, 2014. Palestinians tried to cross the barrier while chanting for their destroyed villages and towns located inside Israel. By 1948, Zionist gangs ahd destroyed more than 500 Palestinian villages prior to the establishment of the State of Israel.
Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian man during the ‘Return March’ near the separation wall near Tulkarm, West Bank, May 31, 2014. Palestinians tried to cross the barrier while chanting for their destroyed villages and towns located inside Israel. (Activestills.org)

 

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (C) poses for a picture with the members of the new Palestinian unity government in the West Bank city of Ramallah June 2, 2014. Abbas hailed the 'end' of Palestinian division as a new government took its oath under a unity deal between leaders in the West Bank.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (center) poses for a picture with the members of the new Palestinian unity government in the West Bank city of Ramallah June 2, 2014. Abbas hailed the ‘end’ of Palestinian division as a new government took its oath under a unity deal between leaders in the West Bank. (Activestills.org)

 

Young Palestinians wave at an Israeli military tower in the 'No-go zone' area, near the border close to the Palestinian village of As Siafa in north Gaza, May 30, 2014. The Israeli army classified broad swaths of land adjacent to the Green Line, in which soldiers are allowed to open fire at anybody who enters, even if the person poses no threat. In early 2010, the army disseminated leaflets in the Gaza Strip warning residents it is forbidden to go within 300 meters of the fence, and that all means, including gunfire, will be used against those who violate the prohibition. The lax rules of engagement in these areas endanger farmers and residents who live nearby.
Young Palestinians wave at an Israeli military tower in the ‘no-go zone’ near the border close to the Palestinian village of as-Siafa in northern Gaza, May 30, 2014. The Israeli army classified broad swaths of land adjacent to the Green Line off limits, in which soldiers are allowed to open fire at anybody who enters, even if the person poses no threat. In early 2010, the army disseminated leaflets in the Gaza Strip warning residents it is forbidden to go within 300 meters of the fence, and that all means, including gunfire, will be used against those who violate the prohibition. The arbitrary rules of engagement in these areas endanger farmers and residents who live nearby. (Activestills.org)

 

Youth roll tires during the weekly demonstration in Kafr Qaddum, a West Bank village located east of Qalqiliya, May 30, 2014. Locals began to organize demonstrations in July 2011 to protest the blocking of the main road linking Kafr Qaddum to Nablus.
Youth roll tires during the weekly demonstration in Kafr Qaddum, a West Bank village located east of Qalqiliya, May 30, 2014. Locals began to organize demonstrations in July 2011 to protest the blocking of the main road linking Kafr Qaddum to Nablus. (Activestills.org)

 

Youth holding pictures of family members arrested and imprisoned by Israeli forces during a protest against the occupation, Kfar Qaddum, West Bank, May 30, 2014. Locals began to organize demonstrations in July 2011 to protest the blocking of the main road linking Kafr Qaddum to Nablus.
Youth hold pictures of family members arrested and imprisoned by Israeli forces during a protest against the occupation, Kfar Qaddum, West Bank, May 30, 2014. (Activestills.org)

 

People currying a protester shot by an Israeli soilders uring the weekly demonstration in Kafr Qaddum, a West Bank village located east of Qalqiliya, May 30, 2014. Locals began to organize demonstrations in July 2011 to protest the blocking of the main road linking Kafr Qaddum to Nablus.
People carry a protester shot by an Israeli soldiers during the weekly demonstration in Kafr Qaddum, a West Bank village located east of Qalqiliya, May 30, 2014. (Activestills.org)

 

Palestinan, Israeli, and international activists march during the weekly demonstration against the Israeli separation barrier in the West Bank village of Al Ma'sara, May 30, 2014. If constructed as planned, the separation barrier would cut off the village from its agricultural lands.
Palestinan, Israeli, and international activists march during the weekly demonstration against the Israeli separation barrier in the West Bank village of Al Ma’sara, May 30, 2014. If constructed as planned, the separation barrier would cut off the village from its agricultural lands. (Activestills.org)

 

Fires broke out on Palestinian agricultural after Israeli soldiers fired gas canisters at a demonstration held in solidarity with Palestinian administrative prisoners, Huwwara checkpoint, Nablus, West Bank, May 30 ,2014. More than 120 Palestinian administrative prisoners in Israeli prisons launched a mass, open-ended hunger strike on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Israel detains the prisoners without charges, some for more than five years.
Fires break out on Palestinian agricultural after Israeli soldiers fire tear gas canisters at a demonstration held in solidarity with Palestinian administrative detainees, Huwwara Checkpoint, Nablus, West Bank, May 30 ,2014. More than 120 Palestinian administrative detainees in Israeli prisons launched a mass, open-ended hunger strike on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Israel detains the prisoners without charges, some for more than five years. (Activestills.org)

 

Palestinians participate in the 'Return March" alongside the separation wall near Tulkarm, West Bank, May 31, 2014. Palestinians tried to cross the barrier while chanting for their destroyed villages and towns located inside Israel. By 1948, Zionist gangs ahd destroyed more than 500 Palestinian villages prior to the establishment of the State of Israel.
Palestinians participate in the ‘Return March” alongside the separation wall near Tulkarm, West Bank, May 31, 2014.  (Activestills.org)

 

An Israeli soldier stands near the separation wall as hundreds of Palestinians participate in the 'Return March" near Tulkarm, West Bank, May 31, 2014. Palestinians tried to cross the barrier while chanting for their destroyed villages and towns located inside Israel. By 1948, Zionist gangs ahd destroyed more than 500 Palestinian villages prior to the establishment of the State of Israel.
An Israeli soldier stands near the separation wall as hundreds of Palestinians participate in the ‘Return March” near Tulkarm, West Bank, May 31, 2014.  (Activestills.org)

 

Ibtisam El Amir holds portraits of her sons Mohammad (left, age 24), who was arrested in the early morning hours of June 2, 2014, and Samir (right, age 30) who has served 11 years of a 19-year sentence in Israeli prison. Aida Refugee Camp, Bethlehem, West Bank.
Ibtisam El Amir holds portraits of her sons Mohammad (left, age 24), who was arrested in the early morning hours of June 2, 2014, and Samir (right, age 30) who has served 11 years of a 19-year sentence in Israeli prison. Aida Refugee Camp, Bethlehem, West Bank. (Activestills.org)

 

Daoud Nassar inspects a mature grape vine destroyed when Israeli authorities bulldozed his family's grove of some 1,500 fruit trees near the West Bank village of Nahalin, June 3, 2014. On May 19, Israeli forces bulldozed the family's groves, which contained mature apricot, apple, grape, almond, and fig trees planted 10 years previous. The army claims that it is state land, but the Nassar family has documents proving ownership of their land, also known as "Tent of Nations" dating back to the Ottoman period. The family's land is virtually surrounded by the Gush Etzion settlement bloc which, like all settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, is illegal under international law. Daoud Nassar inspects a mature grape vine destroyed when Israeli authorities bulldozed his family's grove of some 1,500 fruit trees near the West Bank village of Nahalin, June 3, 2014. On May 19, Israeli forces bulldozed the family's groves, which contained mature apricot, apple, grape, almond, and fig trees planted 10 years previous. The army claims that it is state land, but the Nassar family has documents proving ownership of their land, also known as "Tent of Nations" dating back to the Ottoman period. The family's land is virtually surrounded by the Gush Etzion settlement bloc which, like all settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, is illegal under international law.
Daoud Nassar inspects a mature grape vine destroyed when Israeli authorities bulldozed his family’s grove of some 1,500 fruit trees near the West Bank village of Nahalin, June 3, 2014. On May 19, Israeli forces bulldozed the family’s groves, which contained mature apricot, apple, grape, almond, and fig trees planted 10 years previous. The army claims that it is state land, but the Nassar family has documents proving ownership of their land, also known as “Tent of Nations” dating back to the Ottoman period. The family’s land is virtually surrounded by the Gush Etzion settlement bloc which, like all settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, is illegal under international law. (Activestills.org)

 

Children walk past murals on the walls of Aida Refugee Camp in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, June 2, 2014.
Children walk past murals on the walls of Aida Refugee Camp in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, June 2, 2014. One mural lists the villages of origin that the camp’s residents were expelled from by Zionist forces in 1948. (Activestills.org)
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