Nonviolent demonstrator killed in Bil'in by Israeli forces

For Immediate Release:

Friday, 17 April 2009: Demonstrator killed in Bil’in by Israeli forces.

A resident has been killed by Israeli forces during a demonstration. Basem Abu Rahme, 29 years of age, was shot in the stomach with a high-velocity tear gas projectile. He was evacuated to Ramallah hospital in critical condition, where he died of his injury. According to eyewitnesses, Basem was on a hill with several journalists to the side of other demonstrators. Soldiers opened fire from 40 meters, aiming directly with the tear-gas projectiles.

The tear-gas projectile, labeled “40 mm bullet, special/long range” in Hebrew has also critically injured American national, Tristan Anderson at a demonstration in Ni’lin on 13 March 2009 when he was shot in the head from 60 meters.

According Michael Sfard, the lawyer representing the village of Bil’in “The Israeli supreme court has ruled 3 times that the route of the Wall is illegal and needs to be moved. However, to date not a meter of the Wall has been rerouted. ”

Please Contact:
Mohammad Khatib (Arabic, Hebrew & English) 059- 891-4541
Abedallah Abu Rahma (Arabic & English) 059-910-7069
Michael Sfard (Hebrew & English) 054-471-3930 or 03-620-6947

For general information:
ISM Media office: 02-297-1824Sasha Solanas (Russian & English) 054-903-2981

Basem Abu Rahme is the 18th individual to be killed by Israeli forces during a demonstration against the Wall.

List of fatalities:

February 26th, 2004:Muhammad Fadel Hashem Rian, age 25 and Zakaria Mahmoud 'Eid Salem, age 28Shot dead during a demonstration against the wall in Biddu.

February 26th, 2004:Abdal Rahman Abu 'Eid, age 17 Died of a heart attack after teargas projectiles were shot into his home during a demonstration against the wall in Biddu.

February 26th, 2004:Muhammad Da'ud Saleh Badwan, age 21Shot during a demonstration against the wall in Biddu. Muhammad died of his wounds on March 3rd 2004.

April 16th, 2004:Hussein Mahmoud 'Awad 'Alian, age 17 Shot dead during a demonstration against the wall in Betunya.

April 18th, 2004:Diaa' A-Din 'Abd al-Karim Ibrahim Abu 'Eid, age 23 Shot dead during a demonstration against the wall in Biddu.

April 18th, 2004:Islam Hashem Rizik Zhahran, age 14 Shot during a demonstration against the wall in Deir Abu Mash'al. Islam died of his wounds April 28th.

February 15th, 2005:'Alaa' Muhammad 'Abd a-Rahman Khalil, age 14 shot dead while throwing stones at an Israeli vehicle driven by private security guards near the wall in Betunya.

May 4th, 2005:Jamal Jaber Ibrahim 'Asi, age 15 and U'dai Mufid Mahmoud 'Asi, age 14 Shot dead during a demonstration against the wall in Beit Liqya.

February 2nd, 2007:Taha Muhammad Subhi al-Quljawi, age 16 Shot dead when he and two friends tried to cut the razor wire portion of the wall in the Qalandiya Refugee Camp. He was wounded in the thigh and died from loss of blood after remaining a long time in the field without being treated.

March 28th, 2007:Muhammad Elias Mahmoud 'Aweideh, age 15 Shot dead during a demonstration against the wall in Um a-Sharayet - Samiramis.

March 2nd, 2008:Mahmoud Muhammad Ahmad Masalmeh, age 15 Shot when trying to cut the razor wire portion of the wall in Beit Awwa.July 29th, 2008:Ahmed Husan Youssef Mousa, age 10Killed while he and several friends tried to remove coils of razor wire from land belonging to the village.

July 30th, 2008:Youssef Ahmed Younes Amirah, age 17 Shot in the head with rubber coated bullets during a demonstration against the wall in Ni'lin. Youssef died of his wounds August 4th 2008.

December 28th, 2008:Arafat Khawaja, age 22 Shot in the back with live ammunition in Ni’lin during a demonstration against Israel's assault on Gaza.

December 28th, 2008:Mohammad Khawaja, age 20: Shot in the head with live ammunition during a demonstration in Ni’lin against Israel's assault on Gaza. Mohammad died in the hospital on December 31st 2009.