Working With Farmers In Khoza'a (Gaza)

International Human Rights Workers To Accompany Farmers In Khoza'a

8am, Saturday 21st February 2009: Ten International Human Rights Workers will be accompanying Palestinian farmers in Khoza’a village, of eastern Khan Younis. Farmers and international accompaniers were last fired upon by Israeli forces on the 18th of February, causing a Palestinian farmer to be shot in the leg.

International Human Rights Workers will accompany Waled abu Arjela, a Palestinian farmer, in Am Almad of Khoza’a village. Arjela's land is approximately 550 metres from the 'Green Line'.

"We are accompanying these farmers to harvest their crops because they have a right to their land. Palestinians who live or have land within 1 kilometre of the Green Line are being driven out by Israeli military violence. We consider this to be a form of ethnic cleansing. With international accompaniment, these farmers are able to harvest their crops with a much greater degree of safety than if they were to come to these areas alone" Andrew Muncie (Scotland) - International Human Rights Worker

This action comes after farm worker Mohammad Il Ibrahim, 20, was shot in the right leg as the farmers, together with the international Human Rights Workers, attempted to leave the area having worked on their land for 2 hours in full view of the Israeli forces situated along the ‘Green Line’.

"Around 10.15am, the farmers were preparing to leave the area. They had loaded 2 trucks with produce and were ready to drive off, but one of the vehicles had broken down. As Mohammad, and several others, were trying to push the truck away, we heard several shots and Mohammad was hit in the right leg.

We are clearly civilian farmers and internationals with visible vests and a megaphone. The shots that caused the injury were not warning shots to signal to leave the area, because we were already leaving the area. They continued to fire at us, even after Mohammad was being evacuated. The shooting from Israeli forces was purely a show of aggression." Jenny Linnel (Britain) – International Human Rights Worker

On Tuesday 27th January 2009, in Al Faraheen, Israeli forces shot at several farmers, killing one.

ENDS

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