During the Pope’s visit, the occupation turns Jerusalem into a military barracks and arrests 8 young men and injures others
The Israeli authorities turned the city of Jerusalem on Sunday the 26th of May, 2014 into a military barracks under the pretext of “maintaining security and order and securing the Pope Francis’s visit to the city. The Israeli forces deployed thousands of its troops in the streets of the city and were stationed in Al-Sowaneh east of the walls of the Old City where the Pope resided in the Apostolic Nuncio. They also deployed their forces in the neighbourhoods of Al-Tur and Wadi Al-Joz and around Herod’s and Damascus Gates up until New and Jaffa Gates. Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the Israeli restrictions were enforced in Al-Sowaneh since Saturday afternoon as the forces were deployed in all the streets and established iron barriers and tape and prevented cars from parking on the sides of the streets. The procedures were tightened even more on Sunday morning as the forces went on top of the roofs of the residential buildings in the area and prevented the cars from moving from one side to another. Clashes broke out during the Israeli restrictions between the locals and the Israeli forces especially after the departure of the convoy of the Apostolic Nuncio, where rubber bullets were fired towards the young men in addition to assaulting them with batons. The forces arrested Raed Ammouri, Anas Al-Imam, Ali Abu Gharbyeh and Ihab Abu Gharbyeh while they were standing in front of their houses in Al-Sowaneh. The forces also assaulted and severely beat Ahmad Ammouri, Tamer Abu Gharbyeh, Ihab Abu Gharbyeh and the child Ahmad Abu Gharbyeh with their hands and the butts of their guns. More than 300 Christians tried to greet the Pope near Damascus Gate while his convoy was passing by, but the Israeli forces prevented them and forced them to leave the area; they also arrested 4 young Christian men and assaulted and pushed the women. Tags: Arrest
