Peaceful March from Ramallah to Birzeit to protest the latest blockade

Over 1000 people, amongst them politicians, officials, academics, staff and students of Birzeit University marched from Ramallah to the trenches on the Ramallah - Birzeit Road today, calling for the removal of the roadblocks and trenches that were dug up by the Israeli occupation forces last week. Once they reached the second trench, Dr. Hanna Nasir, President of Birzeit University, addressed the marchers. Mr. Yaser Abed Rabbo, Palestinian Minister of Culture, stressed the fact that these trenches, the roadblocks and the continuation of the siege are a collective punishment on the Palestinian people living in a large prison.

After the speeches were over, people started to fill up the trenches by hand and a few garden tools with the help of a bulldozer that was sent from Ramallah, the people filled the first trench under the close surveillance of the Israeli occupation army, who were stationed on a hilltop close by.

While busy filling up the trenches with their bare hands and just a few garden tools, the Israeli soldiers started to fire tear gas bombs at the marchers to try to disperse them. The clashes continued, with the Israeli army firing rubber bullets and tear gas bombs, and some of the Palestinian youth started to throw stones at the soldiers.

More clashes took place when the Israeli occupation forces were quick to retaliate by sending in their bulldozer to re-open the trenches and impose a stricter siege on the Palestinians. One man was killed and scores were injured and transported to hospitals.