Ofer

In march 2013, I was at a demonstration held in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike at Ofer prison, near Ramallah on the Westbank. Check my pics and texts (oh, and by the way, you're not allowed to reproduce them without my consent).

 

On our way to the checkpoint. There was a feeling of expectation, although everybody knew more or less what was going to happen.

 

Preparing for prayers.

Friday prayers with Israeli soldiers in the background. Behind the checkpoint is Ofer prison, where around 1000 Palestinians are detained.

Israeli military preparing themselves for what in the last ten years has become a weekly ritual, a tango of hate, a deadly festival, almost a way of life.

A fiery sermon...

Meanwhile, the Shabab ('youth'), endowed with the task of stone-throwing, were gathering in the hills.

Prayers...

...more prayers...

And then it starts.

Picking up stones.

Teargas. Loads of it. Your eyes and lungs burn, you choke, you want to throw up, you may faint if you're unlucky. My first experience with the stuff was 12 years ago in Gaza, but it's become meaner since. I seriously considered jumping in a nearby pond to escape from it.

Rubber bullets followed. This guy was seriously hit by some. Live ammunition would also be used on this day, as everybody knew in advance.

"I tell you one thing about teargas. It helps against influenza," this man joked with his eyes burning.

 



Time for some tire-burning.

Shabab.

Stone slinging, teargas, bullets.

Time for some relaxation.



And for a little song and dance. Spot the guy on the right with his sling.

When this wounded man was lifted in an ambulance, it was sprayed with rubber-coated metal bullets. Saw it, heard it, was lucky not to feel it. From the viewpoint of the Israeli Defence Forces, I can understand to a certain extent the use of teargas to disperse a hostile crowd, although it's a rough method. But firing on an ambulance?

It was like a tug of war. Moving foward....

..untill you catch a bullet and have to be carried away.

Back to the frontline. See the separation fence in the distance. 

Wounded but not defeated.

Too much 'rhaz'.

Recovering...

Stoneslingers brigade.

Some 70 people needed treatment for their injuries.

Another teargas attack...

...and its effects.

Time for a fag. This is Hamde Abu Rahma, an excellent young Palestinian photographer. ''I got a bullet in my ass", he complained jokingly. Check his facebook page.

Burning tires, mayhem, injuries, and you know what? On both sides there are individuals who really seem to get a kick out of this. And you wanna know some more? I can, at least partly, understand why.

The man with the flag, who constantly called on the crowd to move forward, may get killed someday.

Fleeing with your merchandise from live fire...

...and prudently but steadfastedly going back to business after the crackle has died down

This picture sums it up.

Injuries, injuries, injuries...

Amidst all the chaos and danger: two intrepid and good-humoured young entrepreneurs.

Sweet corn...

....with some salt...

...some pepper and lemon...

...and there you go! We deserved it.