The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained on Monday five Palestinian workmen and opened fire at others near a separation fence in the west of Ramallah City.
According to local sources Israeli soldiers guarding the separation fence in the west of al-Midya village captured five workers as they were trying to reach workplaces in 1948 occupied Palestine (Israel).
They also chased other workers and opened fire at them near the same fence. No one was reportedly hurt.
Palestinian workers usually use holes in barriers separating the West Bank from 1948 occupied Palestine to go to work but following recent resistance operations now these gaps have been closed and the entire barriers have been placed under constant military surveillance.
According to Israeli human rights group B’Tselem many Palestinian workmen have no choice but to risk entering Israel without permits.
“They are caught between a rock and hard place: On one hand Israel issues permits sparingly based on arbitrarily chosen stringent criteria. On the other hand it prevents the development of an independent Palestinian economy by restricting imports exports industrial development and movement and by taking over land reserves and other Palestinian resources. This leaves Palestinians with no possibility to make a substantial living within the West Bank. This reality serves Israeli interests as it guarantees cheap [and] disempowered labor” B’Tselem says.
