Arafat al-Khawaja: The First West Bank Palestinian to Die During Demonstrations in Bili’in and Nili’in in solidarity with the People of Gaza

Every Friday, residents of the West Bank villages of Bili’in and Nili’in conduct demonstrations against the Separation Wall and the Israeli occupation with their international and Israeli partners. Over the past three years the residents of these villages have become a tangible and strong example of the popular struggle against the Wall, which was built on their land and limits their life. However, yesterday was Sunday, not Friday, during which the village residents were shocked, as were Palestinians and people throughout the world, from the ongoing Israeli massacre in Gaza.  

Activists possessing important and rich experience in the popular resistance struggle gathered from the morning in the centers of the two villages. No one asked the organizers why then, and not on Friday—it was understood (like others all throughout Palestine) that they must do something against the Israeli attacks on Gaza and to express their solidarity. 

As usual, the march—in which almost all the village residents participated—led to the gates of the Separation Wall, where the Israeli solders are permanently based. Almost immediately the soldiers opened the fire on these civilians, using both live and rubber-coated bullets, in addition to tear gas bombs. 

Arafat al-Khawaja, 20 years old, was shot dead by the Israeli soldiers. His cousin Mohammed al-Khawaja was shot in the head and is now in critical condition. An additional 15 Palestinians were injured in Nili’in while approximately 40 demonstrators were injured in nearby Bili’in.  

A family member of al-Khawaja noted that “through our weekly protests we are accustomed to Israeli military violence, but this time the soldiers were very nervous, angry and were prepared to kill. They paid no heed to the old people who participated in the protest, walking in the front lines. Right from the beginning the soldiers opened fire directly on us.”  

Arafat is the first Palestinian who died in the West Bank solidarity actions with Gaza. His relative noted that “our slogans at this demonstration were against the occupation. We not only protested against the Wall that was build on our land and put us in prison, but we also used our rare experience in the popular resistance to defend our people everywhere.".

Bili’in and Nili’in have become nationally and internationally renowned for their ongoing resistance. Arafat's relative ended his talk with the Alternative information Center, stating, “We have the honor that the first martyr in solidarity and the protests to stop the massacre in Gaza is from our village. We are so sad to lose Arafat or any one, but this is the occupation policy.”