In an alarming escalation of tensions, Israeli occupation forces launched a ferocious assault on the funeral procession of a 19-year-old Palestinian martyr, Labib Dhamidi, in the town of Hawara, situated to the south of Nablus, a city which is presently experiencing a comprehensive lockdown implemented by the occupation forces.
The deceased, Labib Dhamidi, met his tragic demise at the hands of a settler’s bullet during a significant overnight raid by settlers on the town, extending into the early hours of Friday. His funeral, resonating with mournful yet resolute chants and furious slogans, was transformed into a chaotic battlefield when Israeli soldiers unleashed live and rubber bullets, alongside tear gas and sound grenades, upon the grieving attendees. In defiance, thousands of mourners carried the martyr aloft in a poignant scene, expressing profound grief intermingled with seething anger.
Simultaneously, a blatant onslaught against journalistic freedom was observed as Israeli forces vehemently attacked press crews, unleashing sound bombs and toxic gas to obstruct media coverage, thereby shrouding their actions in a veil of enforced obscurity.
Amidst this turmoil, Israeli occupation forces further inflamed tensions by closing the “Za’tara” military checkpoint, south of the Nablus governorate, and all entrances to the Palestinian town of Hawara on Friday. This followed a tumultuous night of aggression from settlers and occupation forces, which sorrowfully culminated in the martyrdom of two young Palestinians, one fatally struck by a settler’s bullet.
Palestinian sources detail that Palestinian vehicles were barred passage, amidst clashes between Nablus residents and the invasive Israeli forces and settlers. The entire governorate pulsates with intense unrest and agitation.
The beleaguered town of Hawara, subjected to a vicious attack by settlers, under the watchful and protective eyes of occupation forces until the early dawn hours, witnessed extensive damage to citizens’ properties. However, it is crucial to note that Hawara is no stranger to such aggressive settler invasions. It is a nexus of confrontation between Palestinian inhabitants and Israeli settlers, who reside in expansively spreading, and internationally considered illegal, settlements encompassing the aforementioned governorate.
This episode of violence, thus, not only underscores the perpetual struggle of the Palestinian people under occupation but also stands testament to the stark infringement on freedom of press and expression, as media personnel were unabatedly obstructed from conveying the on-ground reality. The continual encroachment of illegal settlements only serves to fuel the already simmering tensions in the region, highlighting the paramount necessity for immediate, decisive international intervention and mediation.
