(MENAFN - Arab News) After A long night of suffering, Jawaher Abu-Rahmeh, who was evacuated to hospital Friday after inhaling tear gas during an anti-separation wall protest in the West Bank city of Bil'in, died Saturday.
Palestinian hospital sources said 36-year-old Abu Rahmeh inhaled large amounts of gas used by Israeli forces to disperse the protesters.
The rally was attended by some 1,000 demonstrators. Among the protesters were Israeli, Palestinian and foreign activists including Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. The protesters said Israeli soldiers used massive amounts of tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators.
Hosni Al-Atari, director of Ramallah hospital where Abu Rahmeh was admitted suffering from gas poisoning, said she did not respond to treatment.
Jawaher Abu Rahmeh was the sister of Basim Abu Rahmeh who was killed in April 2009 when he was hit with a tear gas canister during a protest in the same village. Their brother Ahsref was once shot by an Israeli soldier in an anti-separation wall rally in the nearby village of Ni'lin.
Mohammed Al-Khatib, a member of the Bil'in Popular Committee Against the Wall, said: "We are shocked and furious over Israel's brutality, which once again cost the life of a peaceful demonstrator."
"Israel's lethal and inhumane response to our struggle will not pass. In the dawn of a new decade, it is time for the world to ask Israel for accountability and to bring about an end to the occupation," Al-Khatib added.
The Palestinian Minister of Labor Ahmed Majdalani said that "Israel's use of brutal power against Palestinians will not deter us from continuing our struggle." He called it another Israeli crime against the Palestinian people and "another blatant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention" which prohibits signatories from committing any grave breaches against civilians in occupied territories.
Palestinian legislator Mustafa Al-Barghouthi called for an international campaign pressuring Israel to stop using tear gas against Palestinian civilians.
Al-Barghouthi also called on Palestinians and doctors to document "the crimes committed by Israel" and pursue international legal action.
The Israeli Army said its soldiers used tear gas in a routine manner during Friday's anti-wall protest.
By Mohammed Mar'i
