Residents of Shofat Refugee Camp Demonstrate for Freedom of Movement and Religion
Residents of the Shofat refugee camp will demonstrate at the checkpoint at the camp's entrance, protesting the brutal
behavior against the residents by the Border Police stationed there and particularly against Palestinians attempting to
pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque on Fridays.
Residents of the camp have been complaining for many months about the behavior of the Border Police in the camp, which
included cursing, pushing, beating and throwing concussion grenades. These are common procedures at the checkpoint at
the entrance to the camp. The situation deteriorates in particular on Fridays when many worshipers try to go to the
Al-Aqsa Mosque and Border Police attack those waiting in line with particularly harsh violence. The violence of the
Border Police in the camp is not limited only to the checkpoint. In the previous months Border Policemen have injured
dozens of residents, mostly children. Among them is Abdel Malek Zalbani, an 8 year old child, who was critically wounded
by a concussion grenade thrown during a demonstration against the wall.
The violent behavior of the Border Police in the Jerusalem area is not a new phenomenon. In East Jerusalem the last year
alone, Samir Dhari from Essawiya and Mahmood Swara from Noaaman have been murdered by Border Policemen. This violence
would not be possible without the agreement of silence by all the parties involved, primarily Marhash (the department
for investigating Police), which is not attempting even to pretend to have an investigation in response to the many
complaints that have been filed in the last year.
In the demonstration, Israeli and international activists that have been invited by the Camp will also participate.