Israeli Army Attacks Palestinians with Tear Gas in Hebron, Suffocation Cases Reported

A number of Palestinian students and locals Sunday suffocated after inhaling tear gas fired at them by Israeli armed soldiers during clashes in the southern part of Hebron city, according to local sources.

Clashes reportedly broke out between Palestinian locals and soldiers in the vicinity of the school zone in the southern part of Hebron city, where the latter used tear gas canisters against locals and students, causing several suffocation cases among them. They were all treated at the scene.

An increasing number of unarmed and peaceful Palestinians were either killed or seriously injured as a result of Israel’s constant use of tear gas against Palestinians.

 B'Tselem, the Israeli human rights information center, stated that “[Israeli] soldiers and Border Police often fire tear­gas grenades directly at demonstrators with the aim of hitting them, or fire carelessly, without ensuring that demonstrators are not in the direct line of fire, in direct contravention of regulations.”

Nevertheless, security forces frequently aim and fire tear­gas grenades directly at demonstrators, or fire them carelessly, stressed the center.

The legal center, in a summary report published in 2013, demanded that Israeli security forces “completely prohibit the firing of 40mm tear­gas canisters either directly at individuals or horizontally, in a way that could cause result in injuries.”

Tear gas is a chemical irritant that severely affects the eyes, respiratory system and mucous membranes of the nose and throat. If fired directly at demonstrators, their impact can result in severe injuries and even death.

 Early December 2014, Palestinian minister without portfolio Zeyad Abu Ein died due to tear gas inhalation and after being directly hit in the chest by an Israeli soldier during a peaceful protest marking the United Nations International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. He was transferred to hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

On December 2011, Mustafa Tamimi, 28 from Ramallah’s village of Nabi Saleh, died from critical wounds he sustained when an Israeli soldier fired a tear gas canister directly at his head from a short distance.

Source: WAFA