Israel Condemned For Gaza Shootings and Teen Interrogation

FEATURING HUWAIDA ARRAF – A week after more than 700 Palestinians were shot – at least 22 of them fatally – by Israeli soldiers at a border protest in Gaza, there was a second wave of Israeli violence. Palestinians gathered last Friday near the same fence that has penned in Gaza residents. This time at least 9 Palestinians were killed, including two teenagers, and one journalist named Yaser Murtaja. Hundreds were wounded.

The Israeli government has defended its soldiers’ actions, claiming that the Palestinian protests at the Gaza border were violent. But videos show unarmed Palestinians being shot in the back while they ran and while they prayed. Now a new video has emerged, taken by an Israeli soldier at that same border some months ago, showing IDF forces rejoicing as they shoot unarmed Palestinians from afar.

Another video has also emerged of an interrogation of the prominent 17-year old Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi who has been in Israeli custody for months after she was arrested for slapping an Israeli soldier who shot her cousin. Soldiers are seen yelling at Tamimi while she remains stoically silent.

Huwaida Arraf, Palestinian American human rights activist, lawyer and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement. She is also the former Chair of the Free Gaza Movement and currently the Palestine and Refugees correspondent for Rising Up With Sonali.