Ashraf Abu Rahme shot by Israeli army while handcuffed and blindfolded

July 20th, 2008

In video footage released (see below) on the 20th July by B'Tselem, Ashraf Abu Rahme of Bil'in village, can be seen being handcuffed, blindfolded and then shot at close range by the Israeli army.

Ashraf was taking part in a solidarity demonstration attempting to break the siege of Ni'lin when he was detained by the army. While clearly handcuffed and unable to see, an Israeli soldier can be seen shooting Ashraf in the foot with a rubber-coated steel bullet from extremely close range, while another soldier holds him by the arm.

The footage was filmed by a resident of Ni'lin who showed it to international solidarity activists living in Ni'lin on the 19th July. The ISM activists were shocked by the footage and quickly passed it on to B'Tselem who have released it to the local, Israeli and international media. They came upon the video by chance, after paying a social visit to the home of the resident who shot the footage.

Click on the ugliness first hand. It only lasts one minute. It is not the exception. Incidents like this one happen everyday.

Thanks to the International Solidarity Movement for permission to publish today's atrocity. What will happen tomorrow?

While it is doubtful that this film will ever reach the international or American press, at least we here on left wing blogs can understand what is really happening over there as Israel pursues its military occupation and war against Israeli and Palestinian peace activists.