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{{Short description|Internationalist non-violent protest organization that campaigns for Palestinian rights}} | |||
{{dablink|For information on the ] ], see ].}} | |||
{{pp-extended|small=yes}} | |||
The '''International Solidarity Movement''' ('''ISM''') was founded in ] by Ghassan Andoni, a ] activist, Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian-American, Adam Shapiro, a ]ish ]er, Neta Golan, an Israeli activist and others. The organisation recruits civilians from around the world to participate in accompaniment and acts of ] resistance against the ]i occupation of the ], the ] and ]. The group has attracted a great deal of criticism and controversy, as well as praise for its methods, some of which is explored below. | |||
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{{Infobox organization | |||
| name = International Solidarity Movement | |||
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| abbreviation = ISM | |||
| formation = {{start date and age|2001|08}} | |||
==Goals== | |||
| founder = ], Neta Golan, ], George Rishmawi | |||
The International Solidarity Movement considers the main obstacle to peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to be what they describe as the "Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory." To expose and counter Israeli activities in the ] and ], the ISM states its commitment to four goals: | |||
| volunteers = >3,500 {{small|()}} | |||
| website = https://palsolidarity.org/ | |||
*To dramatize the conditions under which Palestinians live and to protect them from physical violence by Israeli soldiers and settlers in alliance with Palestinian peace activists and through efforts at "creative resistance". | |||
}} | |||
The '''International Solidarity Movement''' ('''ISM'''; {{langx|ar|حركة التضامن العالمية}}) is a Palestinian-led movement focused on assisting the ] in the ]. ISM is dedicated to the use of ] ]s and methods only. The organization calls on civilians from around the world to participate in acts of nonviolent protests against the ] in the ] and the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Wounded man killed by Israeli sniper on camera identified |date=22 July 2014 |url=http://palsolidarity.org/2014/07/wounded-man-killed-by-israeli-sniper-on-camera-identified/|publisher=PAL Solidarity|access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref> The ISM participates in the ].<ref name='Haaretz 2008-07-28'>{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1006144.html |title=Israel concerned leftists plan to send ship from Cyprus to break Gaza blockade |access-date=2009-07-04 |last=Ravid |first=Barak |date=2008-07-28 |work=Haaretz }}</ref> | |||
*To pressure the international news media to provide coverage of "the illegality and brutality of the Occupation" in an effort to change public opinion regarding Israel's non-compliance with ] and U.S. foreign aid to Israel. | |||
==History== | |||
*To recruit volunteers from other nations to participate in non-violent resistance to the Israeli military activity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. | |||
It was founded in 2001 by ], a ] ]; Neta Golan, a third generation Israeli activist; ], a ]; and George N. Rishmawi, a Palestinian activist. ], an American, joined the movement shortly after its founding and is also often considered one of the founders.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/04/17/is-the-international-solidarity-movement-pro-terrorist/|title=Is the International Solidarity Movement "pro-terrorist?"|last=Bernstein|first=David|date=2015-04-15|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2019-12-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://palsolidarity.org/2007/05/3-ism-cofounders-celebrated/|title=Profiles of Peace: Faces of Hope campaign|last=Group|first=ISM Media|date=2007-05-10|website=International Solidarity Movement|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bethlehem.edu/employees/george-rishmawi/|title=George N. Rishmawi|website=Bethlehem University|access-date=2022-06-29}}</ref> | |||
] has also been described as a co-founder.<ref>{{cite news |title=En bøn for jorden |url=https://www.information.dk/2002/09/boen-jorden |work=] |date=16 September 2002 |access-date=19 February 2012 }}</ref> | |||
*To establish ] campaigns in the U.S. and Europe to put economic pressure on Israel in the same manner that international sanctions were applied against ] during the ] era. | |||
The group has been spied on by the British state with a ] member 'Rob Harrison' infiltrating the movement from 2004 till 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/nov/09/undercover-officer-rekindled-relationship-seven-years-later-inquiry-told|title=Undercover officer rekindled relationship seven years later, inquiry told|website=]|date=9 November 2020}}</ref> | |||
==Strategies== | |||
==Volunteer costs== | |||
Past ISM campaigns have used the following strategies: | |||
According to the ISM's website, international volunteers who join the ISM are responsible for paying their own way and covering all their expenses in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://palsolidarity.org/join/|title=Join us in Palestine|author=ISM Media Group|publisher=International Solidarity Movement|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> | |||
==Philosophy== | |||
*Acting as ]s to deter Israeli military operations. Some ISM volunteers object to the use of the term ''human shield'' to describe their work because, they argue, in a Palestinian context the expression more usually refers to forced use of captive Palestinians by the ] when searching Palestinian neighbourhoods. | |||
The organization calls on civilians from around the world to participate in acts of ] protests against the ] in the ] and the ]. It has been criticised for working alongside other groups to pressure Palestinian artists to boycott the ] and for helping to undermine the Summit by creating a competing event. ISM and affiliated groups critical of the Summit say that One Voice fails to fully support Palestinian rights guaranteed under ].{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} | |||
* Accompanying Palestinians to minimise harassment by Israeli settlers or soldiers, for example ensuring that queues at Israeli checkpoints are processed efficiently and providing witnesses and intermediaries during annual olive harvests, which are often disrupted by settlers. | |||
* Removing roadblocks. These are large unmanned mounds of earth and concrete on roads throughout the ], and sometimes placed at the entrances of Palestinian villages by the ], thereby isolating those villages' inhabitants. | |||
===ISM's position on violence=== | |||
The ISM's website describes the organization as a "Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles". It emphasizes international volunteers are not there to "teach nonviolent resistance" but to support resistance through nonviolent direct action, emergency mobilization and documentation.<ref> on ISM website.</ref> | |||
An article in the ] '']'' called ISM "the 'peace' group that embraces violence" because its mission statement recognises "armed struggle" as the "right" of Palestinians.<ref>{{cite news |last=Harnden |first=Toby |title=The 'peace' group that embraces violence |newspaper=] |location=London |date=2004-01-15 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/1451730/The-peace-group-that-embraces-violence.html |access-date=2010-08-04}}</ref> The statement in question is taken from the ISM Mission Statement: | |||
<blockquote>As enshrined in international law and UN resolutions, we recognize the Palestinian ] Israeli violence and occupation via legitimate armed struggle. However, we believe that nonviolence can be a powerful weapon in fighting oppression and we are committed to the principles of nonviolent resistance.</blockquote> | |||
ISM further explains on its website: | |||
<blockquote>The ISM does not support or condone any acts of terrorism – which is not legitimate armed struggle. The ISM does not associate, support, or have anything to do with armed or violent resistance to the occupation. The ISM does not assist or engage in any kind of armed resistance, no matter what form it may take.<br><br/>This right to resist occupation applies not only to the Palestinian people, but to all peoples who are faced with a military occupation. The ISM regards all people as equals with equal rights under international law. We believe that nonviolent action is a powerful weapon in fighting oppression and are committed to the principles of nonviolent resistance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Does the ISM support suicide bombers and terrorists? |publisher=International Solidarity Movement |url=http://palsolidarity.org/about/faq#support |format=]}}</ref></blockquote> | |||
During a ] interview, ] with Adam Shapiro and Huwaida Arraf asked about an article they had co-authored which stated: "Palestinian resistance must take on a variety of characteristics, both violent and nonviolent. But most importantly, it must develop a strategy involving both aspects. Nonviolent resistance is no less noble than carrying out a suicide operation." She noted that "some people could lead to the conclusion that you were promoting suicide bombing." Shapiro and Arraf replied: | |||
<blockquote> | |||
The article that we wrote was actually in response to another article written by a Palestinian, who said the Palestinians could not be nonviolent. And so we were addressing within the context of the debate over whether the Palestinians could use violence or could not use nonviolence or could use nonviolence. So it was, first of all, within that context...<br/> | |||
<br />There already is violence. We’re not advocating it. It's already there. It's on the ground. We’re working with people and with Palestinians who want to promote nonviolence, and that was the context of the whole article.<ref> (May 10, 2002)</ref></blockquote> | |||
===Activism tactics=== | |||
Past ISM campaigns have used the following tactics: | |||
* Acting to deter military operations. Some ISM volunteers object to the use of the term '']'' to describe their work because, they argue, in a Palestinian context the expression more usually refers to forced use of captive Palestinians by the ] (IDF) when searching Palestinian neighborhoods. They argue that the IDF is far more likely to shoot the darker skinned Palestinian civilians than white western looking activists, given the difference in international response. This tactic is colloquially referred to as the "white-face defense". | |||
* Accompanying Palestinians to minimize harassment perpetuated by ]s or soldiers, for example ensuring that queues at Israeli checkpoints are processed efficiently and providing witnesses and intermediaries during annual olive harvests, which are often disrupted by settlers and police.{{citation needed|date=March 2012}} | |||
* Removing roadblocks. These are large unmanned mounds of earth and concrete on roads throughout the ], and sometimes placed at the entrances of Palestinian villages by the IDF, thereby isolating those villages' inhabitants by preventing traffic in or out. | |||
* Attempting to block military vehicles such as ]s and ]s. | * Attempting to block military vehicles such as ]s and ]s. | ||
* Violating Israeli ] orders enforced on Palestinian areas. | * Violating Israeli ] orders enforced on Palestinian areas in order to monitor Israeli military actions, deliver food and medicine to Palestinian homes, or escort medical personnel to help facilitate their work. | ||
* Interfering with the construction of the ] and |
* Interfering with the construction of the ] and placing political graffiti on the wall. | ||
* Entering areas |
* Entering areas designated as "closed military zones" by the Israeli military. This is not really a 'strategy' as such, but is a prerequisite for ISM being able to conduct many of the above activities as areas in which the ISM is active are often summarily designated as "closed military zones" by the IDF. | ||
* Attempting to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip by supporting and participating in initiatives to send vessels through the naval blockade to Gaza. | |||
==Noteworthy ISM events== | ==Noteworthy ISM events== | ||
* The ISM received extensive media coverage of its presence in ]'s compound in ] and at the ] in ]. | * The ISM received extensive media coverage of its presence in ]'s compound in ] and at the ] in ]. | ||
* On August 8, 2006, ISM activist ] announced that a group of ISM activists was traveling to southern ] to attempt to deliver aid and show solidarity with suffering residents.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818120706/http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/08082006/6/n-world-activists-trickle-lebanon-protest-israel-war.html |date=2006-08-18 }} (via ] News)</ref> | |||
* On ], ], Australian ISM volunteer Kate Edwards sustained severe internal injuries from shrapnel from rounds fired by Israeli forces during a peaceful protest in Beit Jala. | |||
* ISM was nominated for the 2004 ] by ], a former ] Member of the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Canadian MP nominates ISM for Nobel Peace Prize |date=2003-05-14 |url=http://pulsetc.com/article.php?sid=448 |work=Pulse of the Twin Cities |access-date=2012-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041020204024/http://pulsetc.com/article.php?sid=448 |archive-date=2004-10-20}}</ref> | |||
*On ], ], ISM volunteer ] was killed while trying to block an IDF armoured ] she believed was preparing to demolish the home of a Palestinian doctor. See ]. | |||
* Cofounder ] was nominated for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize along with ] of the ] by the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tikkun.org/rabbi_lerner/news_item.2006-02-10.9950394421 |title=Jeff Halper nominated for 2006 Nobel Peace Prize |work=Tikkun |access-date=2008-04-20 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929084150/http://tikkun.org/rabbi_lerner/news_item.2006-02-10.9950394421 |archive-date=2007-09-29 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.afsc.org/news/2006/nobel-nomination.htm |title=AFSC's nomination for 2006 Nobel Peace Prize: Ghassan Andoni and Jeff Halpern |publisher=American Friends Service Committee |date=15 February 2006 |quote=The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker social justice organization, has nominated two candidates for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize: Jeff Halper, an Israeli Jew and Ghassan Andoni, a Palestinian Christian from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. |access-date=2008-04-20 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429220650/http://www.afsc.org/news/2006/nobel-nomination.htm |archive-date=29 April 2008 }}</ref> | |||
* On ], 2003, ISM volunteer ] suffered severe facial injuries from debris kicked up by machine gun fire from an IDF armoured personnel carrier while he was outside in the street investigating the source of gunfire heard during an IDF enforced curfew. | |||
* On ], 2003, ISM member ] was left clinically ] after he was shot in the head by an IDF soldier whilst protecting children from Israeli gunfire during a protest at a ] in the ]. He died on ], ]. | |||
* ISM was nominated for the 2004 ] by ], a former ] Member of Parliament. . | |||
==ISM member casualties in Palestine and Israel== | |||
==Controversies regarding the ISM== | |||
===ISM |
===ISM member casualties timeline=== | ||
] in November 2006.]] | |||
The ISM's website describes the organization as a "non-violent movement"; however the same website carries a statement that says "As enshrined in international law and UN resolutions, we recognise the Palestinian right to resist Israeli violence and occupation via legitimate armed struggle. However, we believe that nonviolence can be a powerful weapon in fighting oppression and we are committed to the principles of nonviolent resistance. " This has led some to question the organisation's commitment to non-violence. For example an article in the UK's Telegraph newspaper asserts that ISM is "the 'peace' group that embraces violence". ISM disputes the accusations (see ISM links below). | |||
* On 2 April 2002, Australian ISM volunteer Kate Edwards sustained severe internal injuries from rounds fired by Israeli forces during a protest in ].{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}} The incident was captured on film and appears in the documentary by Palestinian film-maker ], '']''.<ref>'''' (documentary)</ref><ref>Archived at {{cbignore}} and the {{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfleAMfn2G4|title=Jeremy Hardy vs The Israeli Army Trailer|date=30 May 2010|access-date=18 April 2016|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> | |||
* On November 22, 2002 ], an Irish ISM volunteer was shot and injured by IDF in Jenin<ref></ref> minutes before UNRWA relief works project manager, Briton ] was killed nearby.<ref> BBC 12th December 2005.</ref> | |||
* On 16 March 2003, ] ISM volunteer ] was killed while trying to block an IDF ]. See ]. | |||
* On 5 April 2003, US ISM volunteer ] was shot in the face and permanently disfigured by machine gun fire from an IDF ] while he was escorting Palestinian medical personnel in the street. | |||
* On 11 April 2003, ] ISM volunteer ] was left clinically ] after he was shot in the head by an IDF soldier. Initially the soldier claimed the shooting occurred during an armed firefight between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants but the prosecuted soldier later admitted firing at him "as a deterrent".<ref> ''Guardian'' 10 January 2004.</ref> Hurndall died on 13 January 2004. In early 2009, the family is reported to have accepted a payout of £1.5m and said that "the settlement was the nearest they could get to an admission of guilt from Israel".<ref>{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''The Times'', 2nd Feb 2009.</ref> | |||
* On September 6, 2007, ISM activist Akram Ibrahim Abu Sba was killed by members of ] in northern ].<ref name="palsolidarity.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2007/09/07/ism-member-akram-killed-during-clashes-in-jenin|title=ISM-Member Akram killed during clashes in Jenin|author=ISM Media Group|date=7 September 2007 |publisher=International Solidarity Movement|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> | |||
* On March 13, 2009, American demonstrator Tristan Anderson was critically wounded near ] when shot with a tear gas canister during a clash between protesters and IDF troops over the West Bank security barrier.<ref>{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, '']'', March 13, 2009</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314115213/http://palsolidarity.org/2009/03/5324 |date=2009-03-14 }}</ref><ref name="insidebayarea.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/ci_11907109|title=Oakland man critically wounded in clash with Israeli military|author=Kristin Bender and Josh Richman Oakland Tribune|date=13 March 2009|work=East Bay Times|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="sfgate.com"></ref><ref name="mercurynews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11921373|title=Rally planned for Berkeley tree-sitter injured in West Bank protest|author=Bay City News Service|date=16 March 2009|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="dailycal.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailycal.org/article/104844/former_uc_berkeley_tree-sitter_injured_in_west_ban|title=Former UC Berkeley Tree-Sitter Injured in West Bank|access-date=18 April 2016|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725102435/http://www.dailycal.org/article/104844/former_uc_berkeley_tree-sitter_injured_in_west_ban|archive-date=25 July 2010}}</ref><ref name="google.com"></ref><ref name="democracynow.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.democracynow.org/2009/3/16/us_consul_general_says_awaiting_israeli|title=US Consul General Says Awaiting Israeli Report on IDF Shooting of American Citizen|work=Democracy Now!|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> | |||
* On April 24, 2010, Bianca Zammit, a 28-year-old activist from Malta, was shot in the thigh with live ammunition by IDF soldiers during a demonstration in the so-called "buffer zone" inside Gaza Strip. Two Palestinian demonstrators were also shot during the same demonstration in Al Maghazi Refugee Camp.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://palsolidarity.org/2010/04/two-palestinians-and-an-international-activist-shot-with-live-ammunition-at-a-non-violent-demonstration-against-the-buffer-zone-in-gaza/|title=Israeli forces shoot unarmed demonstrators in Gazan 'buffer zone'|date=24 April 2010 |publisher=International Solidarity Movement|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/malta-protests-to-israel-over-shooting-of-national-in-gaza-1.284847|title=Malta Protests to Israel Over Shooting of National in Gaza|work=Haaretz |access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> | |||
* On May 31, 2010, Emily Henochowicz, a 21-year-old art student from ], lost her left eye when she was struck by a ] while protesting near ] checkpoint. Another ISM volunteer at the scene claimed that the Israeli soldiers deliberately aimed at Henochowicz.<ref> ], June 1, 2010.</ref><ref> International Solidarity Movement, June 1, 2010.</ref> | |||
* On 14 April 2011, ] activist ] was abducted, tortured<ref name="theweek.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/6197/why-would-anyone-want-kill-vittorio-arrigoni|title=Why would anyone want to kill Vittorio Arrigoni?|work=The Week UK|access-date=18 April 2016|archive-date=4 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204110729/http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/6197/why-would-anyone-want-kill-vittorio-arrigoni|url-status=dead}}</ref> and killed in ] by the ] Palestinian ] group. The murder was condemned by various Palestinian factions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4057173,00.html |title=Hamas: Body of kidnapped activist found |newspaper=Ynetnews |publisher=Ynetnews.com |date=2009-08-23 |access-date=2012-11-25|last1=Agencies |first1=News }}</ref> | |||
====Killings==== | |||
Various sources attribute to ISM the statement that suicide bombing is "noble" . This assertion appears to arise from an article entitled "", in which Huwaida Arraf and Adam Shapiro state: | |||
=====Rachel Corrie===== | |||
{{Main|Rachel Corrie}} | |||
] stands before Israeli ] bulldozers]] | |||
ISM volunteer ] was killed as she attempted to block an ] (IDF) ] conducting military operations in ] in the ] on March 16, 2003. An internal ] investigation concluded that Corrie's death was an accident but ISM eyewitnesses dispute this account, contending that the bulldozer driver deliberately struck Corrie as she was protesting in plain view. The IDF says that tapes of the event show Corrie below the driver's eye level, and also say that the noise level was too loud for Ms. Corrie to be heard. The activities of the bulldozer she was blocking are also subject to disagreement — ISM claim it was preparing to demolish the home of a Palestinian pharmacist. Other accounts backed by the film footage claim that the bulldozer was not near the house but was removing shrubbery covering a structure that could be used as an arms smuggling tunnel or to cover terrorists shooting at the IDF.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19395651|title=Profile: Rachel Corrie|work=BBC News|date=28 August 2012|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="motherjones">Hammer, Joshua. '']''. September/October 2003.</ref> | |||
George Rishmawi of the ISM told the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' that: "When Palestinians get shot by Israeli soldiers, no one is interested anymore. But if some of these foreign volunteers get shot or even killed, then the international media will sit up and take notice."<ref> (via '']'')</ref> | |||
:''The Geneva Conventions accept that armed resistance is legitimate for an occupied people, and there is no doubt that this right cannot be denied. But that does not mean that this right must be utilized... Hamas claims it has many men ready to be suicide bombers – we advocate that these men offer themselves as martyrs by standing on a settler road and blocking it from traffic. This is no less of a jihad. This is no less noble than carrying out a suicide operation...'' | |||
:''The Palestinian resistance must take on a variety of characteristics, both non-violent and violent. But most importantly it must develop a strategy involving both aspects. No other successful nonviolent movement was able to achieve what it did without a concurrent violent movement – in India militants attacked British outposts and interests while Gandhi conducted his campaign, while the Black Panther Movement and its earlier incarnations existed side-by-side with the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.'' | |||
Corrie's parents brought lawsuits in the United States and in Israel, but in both cases, they lost the suit. In Israel, in August 2012, the court said that Corrie could have avoided danger. The court ruled that Israel was not at fault for Corrie's death, and there was neither intent nor negligence involved in her death.<ref name="Haifa verdict">{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/rachel-corries-death-ruled-accidental-by-haifa-high-court/ |title=Haifa District Court rejects damages claim in Rachel Corrie case |work=The Times of Israel |date=August 28, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |author=Friedman, Matti}}</ref> The judge also said that Israel's investigation was appropriate and did not contain mistakes. The judge also criticized the U.S. for failing to send a diplomatic representative to observe Corrie's autopsy.<ref name="JPost Court verdict">{{cite web |url=http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=282862 |title=Haifa court rules against Rachel Corrie family in suit |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=August 28, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |author=Bob, Yonah Jeremy}}</ref> | |||
===The 'ISM suicide bombers'=== | |||
ISM has been accused of 'forging links with' the ]s that attacked the ] bar in Israel on ], ], killing three people. | |||
=====Tom Hurndall===== | |||
There appear to be two primary sources behind this accusation. The first is an article that appeared in a ], ] article in the ] ] newspaper '']'' under the heading "Bombers posed as peace activists" . In a ], ] article in ]'s world edition, which included parts of an interview with ISM volunteer Raphael Cohen, Cohen stated that the two bombers were among a group of about 15 people who visited an International Solidarity Movement apartment in ], Gaza, on ], 2003. According to Cohen, after spending about 15 minutes in the apartment with the bombers, he, his colleagues and the 15 visitors (including the bombers), went to the site where ] was killed and placed a flower there. Following this, Cohen stated, the people "that visited us went their own way." | |||
{{Main|Tom Hurndall|Taysir Hayb}} | |||
On April 11, 2003 ] (IDF) soldier Sergeant ] shot International Solidarity Movement (ISM) volunteer ] in the head. Hurndall, who had been aiding Palestinians in ], died of his wound in January 2004. Hurndall was unarmed, dressed in the bright orange jacket of the ISM, and steering two Palestinian children away from an Israeli tank-mounted machine gun shooting in their direction.<ref> (11 April 2003)</ref><ref> (12 April 2003)</ref><ref>. '']'' Obituary, January 22, 2004.</ref><ref name="BBC">, ], August 11, 2005.</ref><ref name=Atkinson>Simon Atkinson, , '']'', April 10, 2006.</ref> | |||
Hayb claimed he had shot at a man in ] who was firing at the soldiers with a pistol, in the no-go security zone. This was at odds with the ISM's account, confirmed by photographic evidence.<ref>{{cite news|title=Parents fight to learn why Israeli sniper shot their son|work=], 30 January 2005|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1401737,00.html|access-date=27 May 2007 |location=London |first=Mark |last=Townsend |date=2005-01-30}}</ref> | |||
The second source is a press release issued by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs which states "The two terrorists were careful to establish their presence in Judea and Samaria by forging links with foreign left wing activists and members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM)". The release makes various other negative claims about ISM, but this is the only reference to the group in relation to the Mike's Place bombing. However, ISM states that the two did not contact ISM in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) at all (see ISM press releases below). | |||
Subsequently, Hayb admitted to fabricating his account of events. On 10 May 2004, Hayb's trial commenced on one charge of manslaughter in the death of Tom Hurndall, two counts of obstruction of justice, one count each of submitting false testimony, obtaining false testimony, and unbecoming behavior. Hurndall's family pressed for a murder charge through the Israeli courts.<ref name=Atkinson/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2003/04/11/statement-tom-hurndall-shooting/|title=Israeli soldier shoots British ISM activist Tom Hurndall in Gaza|date=11 April 2003 |publisher=International Solidarity Movement|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2003/04/12/ism-rafah-statement-hurndall/|title=ISM Rafah Statement on the Shooting of Thomas Hurndall|date=12 April 2003 |publisher=International Solidarity Movement|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> In August 2005, Taysir Hayb was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to a total of eight years imprisonment, seven years for the manslaughter of Hurndall and one year for obstruction of justice.<ref> (11 August 2005)</ref> | |||
In the wake of the bombing, the ISM issued 2 press releases: and . | |||
=== |
===== Aysenur Eygi ===== | ||
{{Main|Killing of Aysenur Eygi|Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi}} | |||
On 6 September 2024, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi a 26-year-old American-Turkish woman was attending a weekly protest held near the Israeli settlement of Evyatar, and allegedly shot and killed by IDF snipers. The protest was against the continued expansion of Israeli settlements and had attracted violence prior to the incident. Witnesses reported that IDF forces had confronted the activists and shot at them with tear gas and live ammunition to force them to disperse. About thirty minutes after the confrontation, protestors reported that two IDF snipers on a roof about 200 yards away opened fire, killing Eygi and wounding a Palestinian teenager in the leg.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Tufana |first1=Aref |last2=Frankel |first2=Julia |date=2024-09-06 |title=Israeli soldiers fatally shot an American woman at a West Bank protest, a witness says |url=https://apnews.com/article/american-shot-killed-west-bank-israel-palestinians-b2f1c741cea3d56eb1a339240dbf036e |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2024 |title=Family of US activist said killed by IDF in West Bank demands independent probe |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/family-of-us-activist-said-killed-by-idf-in-west-bank-demands-independent-probe/ |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=The Times of Israel}}</ref> | |||
After the fatal shooting of ISM volunteer ] by an IDF soldier, IDF sources initially claimed that "at the time of his injury, Tom Hurndall was armed, wearing tiger fatigues, and shooting at a Israeli Defense Force outpost, taking cover behind a nearby building between shots." This was considerably at odds with the ISM's account, in which Hurndall was unarmed, dressed in the bright orange jacket of the International Solidarity Movement, and steering two Palestinian children away from a firing Israeli tank-mounted machine gun . | |||
====Injuries==== | |||
Subsequently IDF Sergeant Idier Wahid Taysir, a Bedouin scout, admitted to fabricating his account of events. On ] ], Taysir's trial commenced on one charge of manslaughter in the death of Tom Hurndall, two counts of obstruction of justice, one count each of submitting false testimony, obtaining false testimony, and unbecoming behaviour. Hurndall's family are currently (August 2004) pressing for a murder charge through the Israeli courts . | |||
=====Kate Edwards===== | |||
]n ISM volunteer Kate Edwards sustained internal injuries from a bullet in ]. She and other volunteers marched on Israeli lines. After the event, Kate Edwards was quoted as stating "We were walking up the hill from Bethlehem when a tank came down the hill towards us. I could see a man in the tank and he was shouting at us to go back. We carried on going."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/apr/03/israel2|title=I never thought they would fire live rounds|author=Peter Beaumont|work=The Guardian|date=3 April 2002|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> | |||
=====Caoimhe Butterly===== | |||
ISM statement on the killing of Tom Hurndall | |||
{{Main|Caoimhe Butterly}} | |||
] ISM volunteer and human rights activist ] was shot in the thigh by an Israeli soldier during the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/europe/hero/caoimhebutterly.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030421035013/http://www.time.com/time/europe/hero/caoimhebutterly.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 21, 2003 |magazine=Time |title=TIME magazine – The Heroes Issue 2003 |date=2003-04-28 |access-date=2010-05-05}}</ref> | |||
=====Brian Avery===== | |||
In August 2005 Sgt. Taysir was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to a total of 8 years imprisonment, 7 years for the manslaughter of Hurndall and 1 year for obstruction of justice. | |||
{{Main|Brian Avery (activist)}} | |||
On April 5, 2003, Israeli Defense Force soldiers on a military convoy shot Brian Avery (born 1979) in the face, seriously disfiguring him, while he was volunteering for the ISM in the ] city of ]. He was wearing red reflector vests with the word "doctor" in English and Arabic. The IDF refused to order an investigation, saying there was no proof its soldiers had shot at anyone that day.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120708084657/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411452761&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |date=2012-07-08 }}. '']'', Sept 20, 2007.</ref><ref name="settlement">Dan Izenberg, {{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ], November 19, 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/25/1455249 |title=U.S. Peace Activist Brian Avery Returns to Israel Two Years After Being Shot in the Face |publisher=Democracynow.org |access-date=2012-11-25 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114153820/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05%2F02%2F25%2F1455249 |archive-date=2007-11-14 }}</ref> Avery sued and in November 2008 accepted a $150,000 settlement from the Israeli government in exchange for dropping the lawsuit.<ref name="settlement" /> | |||
=====Tristan Anderson===== | |||
===The 'terrorist' in the office=== | |||
On March 13, 2009, American ISM volunteer Tristan Anderson was critically injured after being hit in the head by a ] canister fired by Israeli troops attempting to disperse a demonstration. Anderson was taken to a hospital in ], where he underwent brain surgery, and had to have a portion of his frontal lobe and fragments of shattered bone removed.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="insidebayarea.com"/><ref name="sfgate.com"/><ref name="mercurynews.com"/><ref name="dailycal.org"/><ref name="google.com"/><ref name="democracynow.org"/> ISM volunteer and Tristan's girlfriend Gabrielle Silverman (Israeli-American), who witnessed to his injury: | |||
<blockquote> | |||
On ], ], ], who Israel claimed was an ] member, was arrested in a building in ] where the ISM, the ], and ] rent offices. See the ] page for more details. | |||
"We were at a demonstration against the wall, against the Israeli apartheid wall in the West Bank village of ], which is about twenty-six kilometers west of Ramallah. I was very close to him when he was shot. I was only a few feet away. The demonstration had been going for several hours. It was wrapping up; it was almost over. Most people had already gone home. We were standing on some grass nearby a village mosque, and Tristan was taking pictures he was shot in the head with the extended range tear gas canister."<ref>, ], March 16, 2009.</ref> | |||
</blockquote> | |||
=====Bianca Zammit===== | |||
For details on ISM's version of events, please see | |||
On April 24, 2010, Bianca Zammit, a 28 year old activist from Malta, was shot in the thigh with live ammunition by IDF soldiers during a demonstration in the so-called "buffer zone" inside Gaza Strip. Two Palestinian demonstrators were also shot during the same demonstration in Al Maghazi Refugee Camp. | |||
=====April 2012===== | |||
===Deceiving Israeli border officials=== | |||
On April 14, a group of at least 200 pro-Palestinian activists were travelling on bicycles,<ref>{{cite web|last=Goldman |first=Yoel |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-shot-to-the-jaw-heard-round-the-world/ |title=The blow heard 'round the world |publisher=The Times of Israel |date=2012-04-16 |access-date=2012-11-25}}</ref> and several buses<ref name="y4216424">{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4216424,00.html |title=IDF officer who beat activist suspended – Israel News, Ynetnews |newspaper=Ynetnews |date=15 April 2012 |publisher=Ynetnews.com |access-date=2012-11-25|last1=Zitun |first1=Yoav }}</ref> in a silent{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} protest. They were stopped by Israeli soldiers before entering onto ],<ref name="jpost1"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423081701/http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=266322 |date=2012-04-23 }}, Jpost</ref><ref name="cbn">{{cite web|author=Tzippe Barrow |url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2012/April/IDF-Investigates-Incident-with-ISM-Protester/ |title=IDF Investigates Incident with ISM Protester |publisher=CBN.com |date=2012-04-17 |access-date=2012-11-25}}</ref> and asked not to continue for their own safety. The legality of the protesters action is unclear as some news agencies state the cyclists got permission to protest<ref name="y4216424"/> but others state no permit was given.<ref name="Occupation_magazine_news_report">Occupation Magazine, 2012, http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=52608</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://palsolidarity.org/2012/04/palestinians-and-internationals-attacked-during-biking-trip-in-jordan-valley/ |title=Palestinians and internationals attacked during biking trip in Jordan Valley |publisher=Palsolidarity.org |date=2012-04-15 |access-date=2012-11-25}}</ref> During the ensuing hour, the activists refused and blocked an entrance to a highway,<ref name="cbn"/> a "scuffle" broke out. In an interview given by one of the members he stated "''בשלב מסויים החלטנו לאתגר את החיילים ולנסות להמשיך בנסיעה''" ("... at some point we decided to test the soldiers and continue to move")<ref name="Occupation_magazine_news_report"/><ref name="walla_interview">בצבא הכיבוש כל אלימות מוצדקת, walla news </ref> and after a few moments they had been assaulted.<ref name="walla_interview"/> In an interview for JPost "After about half-an-hour, he said, the cyclists decided to push past the IDF, and that is when the violence began."<ref name="jpost1"/> Four activists sustained face and back injuries and had to be evacuated to a hospital in ], ]. The next day, ISM posted a video showing an IDF officer hitting a ] protester in the face with his assault rifle. The IDF officer said that he was attacked by one of the activists in the incident with a stick, breaking two fingers. The IDF said it was a "grave incident" and was suspending the officer and investigating the incident. Israeli Prime Minister ], President ], and IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. ] all condemned the incident. ] said that ISM "has a long record of encouraging activists to take 'direct action' that often places them in danger and in direct confrontations with the IDF."<ref>{{cite news|author=Gili Cohen|title=VIDEO / Senior IDF officer beats pro-Palestinian activist with rifle|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/video-senior-idf-officer-beats-pro-palestinian-activist-with-rifle-1.424454|date=2012-04-15|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=266212|title=Peres slams IDF officer for attack on activist|work=The Jerusalem Post |date=9 October 2011 |access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-officer-suspended-for-beating-activist/|title=IDF officer suspended for hitting activist in face with rifle|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> | |||
Access to Palestinian areas is controlled by Israel, and it is Israeli policy to deny access to ISM activists. ISM volunteers can only gain access to the occupied territories by deceiving Israeli border officials. In ] Israel's Foreign Ministry’s Information Chief Gideon Meir pointed out that precise instructions on its website on how to hoodwink Israeli border officials. "… you have to have a really good story about why you are coming, and must not mention anything about ISM or knowing, liking or planning to visit Palestinians," the website advises. "You must play it as though your visit is for other Israel-based reasons, like tourism, religion, visiting an Israeli friend, etc. So do a little research and put together a story... For example, if you say you are visiting a friend in Jerusalem, you should have the name and phone number of a real Israeli person…" Until late January of 2005 the ISM website's FAQ section had (on its page "http://www.palsolidarity.org/about/lies.php") as a response to the question "On your web-site, you give advice to volunteers on how to lie to the Israeli authorities so you can get into the country and the occupied areas. Why tell lies?" the justification that "Under both Israeli and International law, we should have the right, as international observers, to visit both Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories." The explicit advice on how to lie to Israeli officials, and the justification for doing so, have since been removed from the website, though the group's Information Pack still advises activists to "have a good story prepared about why you are coming to ISRAEL" and to "have a good story when you arrive." | |||
=====Fred Ekblad===== | |||
===ISM conduct in the death of Rachel Corrie=== | |||
On July 25, 2014, Swedish activist Fred Ekblad had a moderate injury in his head from an Israeli tank shelling Beit Hanoun hospital in the Gaza Strip. | |||
''Main article: ]'' | |||
] in protest of US foreign policy]] | |||
Great controversy surrounds the circumstances of ]'s death. She was killed after she attempted to block an ] (IDF) ] conducting military operations in ] in the ] on ], ]. An internal ] investigation concluded that Corrie's death was an accident but ISM eyewitnesses vehemently dispute this account, contending that the bulldozer driver deliberately struck Rachel as she was protesting in plain view. The activities of the bulldozer she was blocking are also subject to disagreement - ISM claim it was preparing to demolish the home of a Palestinian pharmacist. Israeli accounts claimed either that the house contained a tunnel for smuggling arms, drugs and other contraband from ] into the ], or that the bulldozer was simply clearing dirt, rubble and/or shrubbery which, in some accounts, was suspected of concealing a smuggling tunnel. According to an article in 'Mother Jones' magazine, hotly disputed by the ISM | |||
, Israeli authorities claimed that the crew's assignment was to sweep the area for booby traps planted by militants . The IDF itself never explicitly claimed that the house contained a tunnel and no tunnels or booby traps were found when the home was eventually demolished 9 months later or at any time prior to its demolition. | |||
===ISM casualties by Palestinian militants=== | |||
According to the same article in "Mother Jones"; the ISM released photos allegedly showing Rachel Corrie just before the incident, standing in clear view with her microphone, and released these to the press. Soon after, however; Mother Jones reports that the photos were dismissed as misleading because they actually showed Corrie and the protesters several hours before the incident. For its' part, the ISM said that the Reuters story running with the photos had given a misleading impression of the group's claims. | |||
====Deaths==== | |||
The "Mother Jones" piece reports that this incident damaged the ISM's image and its' relationship with the media. | |||
=====Akram Ibrahim Abu Sba'===== | |||
A similar account of the incident is listed by the Pro-Israel media watchdog "'''Honest Reporting'''", which focuses on the testimony of ISM member Joseph Smith. | |||
On September 6, 2007, ISM Jenin regional committee member and "co-founder of one of ISM's first permanent presences" Akram Ibrahim Abu Sba’ was killed on duty by ] militants, while trying to "smooth tensions between Palestinian security forces and Islamic Jihad members", in the Palestinian city of ]. Akram was buried in the ] refugee camp graveyard.<ref>, ISM website, September 7, 2007.</ref><ref>, ISM website, September 11, 2007.</ref> | |||
=====Vittorio Arrigoni===== | |||
Eyewitness accounts and ISM press releases can be found here | |||
On April 14, 2011, ] ISM activist ] was abducted, tortured<ref name="theweek.co.uk"/> and executed by hanging by a ] group in the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/2011414194735306181.html |title=Italian peace activist killed in Gaza – Middle East |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=14 April 2011 |access-date=2012-11-25}}</ref> | |||
==ISM member casualties in Syria== | |||
The Honest Reporting Article is found here | |||
===Kayla Mueller=== | |||
Mueller was a native of ], where she graduated from ]. She attended ] in ] in 2007. She volunteered for three years with the ]. Her human rights activism included working in ] and with ]. Her work in the ] included working for ] rights with the International Solidarity Movement and helping ] in ] with the African Refugee Development Center.<ref name="haaretz">{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/.premium-1.641876|title=U.S. idealist Kayla Mueller's road to ISIS captivity went through West Bank|work=Haaretz|access-date=February 10, 2015}}</ref> | |||
Mueller started working in southern ] in December 2012, where she was assisting Syrian refugees. On August 3, 2013, she drove to the northern Syrian city of ] with a coworker/friend who was traveling to the ] Doctors Without Borders hospital in ] to work for a day.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/07/world/middleeast/isis-claims-american-hostage-killed-by-jordanian-retaliation-bombings.html?_r=0|title=ISIS Claims American Hostage Killed by Jordanian Retaliation Bombings|work=New York Times|date=6 February 2015|access-date=February 10, 2015|last1=Callimachi|first1=Rukmini|last2=Gladstone|first2=Rick}}</ref> She worked with international aid agency Support to Life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hayatadestek.org/en/about-us|title=About Us|publisher=hayatadestek.org|access-date=February 10, 2015|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209090213/http://www.hayatadestek.org/en/about-us/|archive-date=February 9, 2015}}</ref> On her departure from Aleppo to return to Turkey, militants abducted her.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shoebat.com/2015/02/06/story-american-hostage-kayla-jean-mueller-isis-claims-killed-latest-jordanian-air-raids-isis|title=The Story Of American Hostage (Kayla Jean Mueller) That ISIS Claims Was Killed In The Latest Jordanian Air Raids On ISIS|author=Walid Shoebat|date=6 February 2015|access-date=February 10, 2015}}</ref> | |||
==Legal Action against ISM== | |||
According to anonymous sources of ], the location of Mueller and other US hostages was known by the White House in May 2014, but a decision on a rescue mission was not made for seven weeks. By that time, the hostages had been dispersed.<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff|title=Herridge: WH Knew Location of ISIS Hostages, Delayed Rescue Attempt |url=http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/02/10/catherine-herridge-white-house-knew-location-isis-hostages-delayed-rescue-attempt |publisher=]|date=2015-02-10|access-date=2015-02-11}}</ref> | |||
Huwaida Arraf and French ISM activist Angela Coppin were charged with violating a court order barring them from the area of Bidou, near ] where the ] was under construction. According to reports in Israeli newspapers, Bidou and its environs have been the site of numerous violent attacks resulting in hospitalization of some workers constructing the barrier and some police personnel. Bidou is also the site of various protests.The two were arrested in April ] and ordered by the court at that time to distance themselves from the area of Bidou. | |||
A media account affiliated with the ] (ISIL) released a statement on February 6, 2015, claiming that a female American hostage held by the group was killed by one of around a dozen Jordanian airstrikes in ]. The statement came just days after the release of a video showing the murder of Jordanian fighter pilot Lt. ] by the militant group and the subsequent execution of ] and other prisoners of Jordan. The statement was later translated by the ], identifying the hostage as Mueller.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/06/kayla-jean-mueller-dead-isis_n_6630996.html|title=ISIS Claims Female American Hostage Kayla Jean Mueller Was Killed In Jordanian Airstrike|work=The Huffington Post|date=6 February 2015|access-date=February 10, 2015}}</ref> | |||
== Alleged quotes== | |||
ISM media co-ordinator Kristin (Flo) Razowsky has been quoted as saying ''"Israel" is an illegal entity that should not exist'' . This quotation originated from the open comments section of the indymedia website, and were made by someone using the name "Flo Rosovski". A later post by someone using the name "the real flo razowsky" stated the original posting was posted on a date when Flo was "actually in detention and had no access to email." Note, the real spelling of Flo's name is "Razowsky". | |||
On February 6, 2015, ISIL published a photo of a damaged building, named Mueller and her home town and alleged she had been killed in a Jordanian airstrike in the building where she was left alone with no guards, but no proof of death was provided. The Pentagon agreed the building was one hit in the bombings, but disputed that Mueller, or any civilian, was inside. The site had been bombed by the coalition twice before, and was targeted again because ISIS soldiers sometimes return to bombed sites, thinking the coalition won't return, according to Pentagon spokesman ]. After this, Mueller's name was released by American and other media with the family's consent.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> | |||
==Further Reading== | |||
* C. Seitz, ISM at the crossroads: the evolution of the International Solidarity Movement, ''Journal of Palestine Studies'' 22, 4 (Summer 2003), 50-62. | |||
On February 10, 2015, Mueller's family announced ISIS had confirmed her death to them in an e-mail, with three photographs of her dead body, bruised on the face and wearing a black ].<ref></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kayla-jean-mueller-american-isis-hostage-is-dead-family-confirms/|title=Kayla Jean Mueller, American ISIS hostage, is dead, family confirms|date=February 10, 2015|work=CBS News|access-date=February 10, 2015}}</ref> ] spokeswoman ] said this message was authenticated by the intelligence community. President ] offered his condolences to Mueller's family.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/10/world/isis-hostage-mueller/index.html|title=American ISIS hostage Kayla Mueller dead, family says|author=Ashley Fantz, Pamela Brown and Jason Hanna |date=February 10, 2015|publisher=CNN|access-date=February 10, 2015}}</ref> | |||
* Peace Under Fire: Israel/Palestine and the International Solidarity Movement. Edited by Josie Sandercock, Radhika Sainath, Marissa McLaughlin, Hussein Khalili, Nicholas Blincoe, Huwaida Arraf and Ghassan Andoni. 2004; Verso:London | |||
On October 26–27, 2019, U.S. ] members found the hideout of ISIS leader ] in ], northern Syria, ]. The operation was named '''Operation Kayla Mueller''' by President ]. | |||
==Criticism and controversies== | |||
===Position of Israeli Foreign Ministry=== | |||
The Israeli ] reported that two terrorists involved in the ] forged "links with foreign left wing activists and members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM)." The MFA also says that "ISM members take an active part in illegal and violent actions against IDF soldiers. At times, their activity in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip is under the auspices of Palestinian terrorist organizations, and that sometimes, "ISM members, who seek entry into Israel, often do so under false pretenses, via cover stories – entry for matrimonial, tourist, religious and other purposes – which they coordinate prior to arriving in Israel."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2003/Details+of+April+30-+2003+Tel+Aviv+suicide+bombing.htm|title=Details of April 30- 2003 Tel Aviv suicide bombing-3-Jun-2003|work=GxMSDev|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> However, ISM reports that visitors at the border who identify as ISM volunteers, almost always will be denied entry by the Israeli border control.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://palsolidarity.org/join/travel/|title=Travel Information & Tips|author=ISM Media Group|publisher=International Solidarity Movement|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> | |||
===Shadi Sukiya case=== | |||
On March 27, 2003, ] ] was arrested in by the ] in ISM ]. The Israeli government claimed that Sukiya was a senior ] member, and that he was aided by two ISM activists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2003/Senior%20Islamic%20Jihad%20terrorist%20arrested%20while%20hidi |title=2BackToHomePage3|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2525513,00.html |title=ynet ג'נין: המבוקש נעצר כשהסתתר במשרד של ארגון בינלאומי – חדשות |newspaper=Ynet |publisher=Ynet.co.il |date=1995-06-20 |access-date=2012-11-25}}</ref> | |||
Both parties stated that Sukiya arrived at the ISM's office as he was being pursued through the streets of Jenin by IDF soldiers during an Israeli-imposed curfew. According to the ISM's account, he had been going door to door looking for a place to go, arrived at the building (which is also used by the ] and ]) cold and wet, and was offered a chance to dry and warm up by an ISM volunteer. | |||
The ] originally suggested that two ] ]s and a handgun were found on the premises, but subsequently backtracked on the allegation. | |||
In May 2003, ] from ISM stated that Sukiya was not named a "senior Islamic Jihad terrorist" by any official Israeli military or government source, and was being held in administrative detention in Israel without any charge. | |||
===Ties with Palestinian militants=== | |||
The Israeli government asserted ISM activist Susan Barclay had "ties with Palestinian terrorist groups". She stated she worked with representatives of ] and ] in organising a nonviolent protest.<ref>Sam Skolnik, , '']'', March 20, 2003</ref> | |||
According to Israeli sources ISM activist maintain ties with "Palestinian terrorists", aiding them, disrupting IDF activities and in some instance even attacked IDF soldiers.<ref>Amit Cohen, , ], June 10, 2010 (Hebrew)</ref> | |||
: "Israel says that the connection between ISM activists to Palestinian terrorists is not merely sleeping in terrorists' houses. According to Israel Security Service (]), some of the activists maintain connections with terrorists, and act to disrupt IDF operations in the territories. In one case ISM activists exposed an ambush set by the IDF after lighting on it with flashlights. In July, two ISM activists attacked soldiers in Beit-Pourik checkpoint. IDF officer tells that in several cases ISM activists opened routes to Palestinians by going first to check if there is a military checkpoint in the way."<ref>The Hebrew source: בישראל אומרים שהקשר בין אנשי ה-ISM לגורמי טרור פלשתיניים אינו מסתכם בלינה בבתי מחבלים. לטענת השב"כ, חלק מאנשי הארגון מקיימים קשרים עם פעילי טרור, ופועלים לשיבוש פעילות צה"ל בשטחים. באחד המקרים חשפו פעילי ISM מארב של צה"ל, לאחר שהאירו עליו בפנסים. בחודש יולי תקפו שני פעילים חיילים של צה"ל במחסום בית-פוריק. קצין צה"ל מספר שבמספר מקרים פעילי ISM "פתחו ציר" בשביל הפלשתינים, כלומר: הלכו ראשונים ובדקו אם יש מחסומי צבא בהמשך הדרך. , ''Maariv'' 2010</ref> | |||
Richard David Hupper, an ISM activist, was convicted in a ] court of illegally funding ] while working with the ISM. Hupper donated money which he intended to be used to aid the families of Palestinians who had been detained or killed.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004234429/http://archive.adl.org/main_Terrorism/richard_hupper_sentenced.htm |date=2013-10-04 }}, August 22, 2008</ref> | |||
===Israeli court ruling=== | |||
In 2012, Israeli ] Oded Gershon ruled about the ISM that "In fact, the organization abuses human rights and morals discourse to blur the severity of its actions which manifested de facto as violence."<ref>Hebrew source (Ynet, 28.8.2012): "למעשה, הארגון מנצל לרעה את השימוש בשיח זכויות האדם והמוסריות כדי לטשטש את חומרת מעשיו המתבטאים באלימות בפועל".</ref> He also ruled that ISM activists provided financial, logistic and moral aid to terrorists.<ref> (in Hebrew), 28.8.2012</ref><ref> (in English), 28.8.2012</ref> | |||
==See also== | |||
* ] | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist|2}} | |||
==Further reading== | |||
* {{cite book|title=Peace Under Fire: Israel, Palestine and the International Solidarity Movement|year=2004|publisher=Verso|isbn=9781844675012|editor=Ghassan Andoni|editor-link=Ghassan Andoni|editor2=Huwaida Arraf|editor2-link=Huwaida Arraf|editor3=Nicholas Blincoe |editor3-link=Nicholas Blincoe |editor4=Hussein Khalili |editor5=Marissa McLaughlin |editor6=Radhika Sainath |editor7=Josie Sandercock}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{Commons category}} | |||
* (official) | |||
* {{Official website|http://www.palsolidarity.org}} | |||
* | |||
* | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
* - website dedicated to ISM volunteer ] who died as a result of being shot by an ] sniper | |||
* - website dedicated to Rachel Corrie, who died as a result of being struck by an IDF bulldozer | |||
* about ], his wife ] and the ISM | |||
* from the Israeli ] newspaper | |||
* Jewish Action Taskforce - | |||
* Jewish Action Taskforce - | |||
* - (Israeli website promoting 'accountability of human rights NGOs' in Palestine) on the International Solidarity Movement. | |||
* by senior Israeli columnist Nahum Barnea, original published in ]. | |||
* - ISM member Adam Shapiro (often referred to as a founder of ISM) responds to "terrorist" accusations. | |||
* | |||
] | ] | ||
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Latest revision as of 11:13, 26 December 2024
Internationalist non-violent protest organization that campaigns for Palestinian rights
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Abbreviation | ISM |
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Formation | August 2001; 23 years ago (2001-08) |
Founder | Ghassan Andoni, Neta Golan, Huwaida Arraf, George Rishmawi |
Volunteers | >3,500 (2007) |
Website | https://palsolidarity.org/ |
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM; Arabic: حركة التضامن العالمية) is a Palestinian-led movement focused on assisting the Palestinian cause in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. ISM is dedicated to the use of nonviolent protests and methods only. The organization calls on civilians from around the world to participate in acts of nonviolent protests against the Israeli military in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The ISM participates in the Free Gaza Movement.
History
It was founded in 2001 by Ghassan Andoni, a Palestinian activist; Neta Golan, a third generation Israeli activist; Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian-American; and George N. Rishmawi, a Palestinian activist. Adam Shapiro, an American, joined the movement shortly after its founding and is also often considered one of the founders.
Osama Qashoo has also been described as a co-founder.
The group has been spied on by the British state with a Special Demonstration Squad member 'Rob Harrison' infiltrating the movement from 2004 till 2007.
Volunteer costs
According to the ISM's website, international volunteers who join the ISM are responsible for paying their own way and covering all their expenses in Palestine.
Philosophy
The organization calls on civilians from around the world to participate in acts of non-violent protests against the Israeli military in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It has been criticised for working alongside other groups to pressure Palestinian artists to boycott the One Voice Peace Summit and for helping to undermine the Summit by creating a competing event. ISM and affiliated groups critical of the Summit say that One Voice fails to fully support Palestinian rights guaranteed under international law.
ISM's position on violence
The ISM's website describes the organization as a "Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles". It emphasizes international volunteers are not there to "teach nonviolent resistance" but to support resistance through nonviolent direct action, emergency mobilization and documentation.
An article in the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph called ISM "the 'peace' group that embraces violence" because its mission statement recognises "armed struggle" as the "right" of Palestinians. The statement in question is taken from the ISM Mission Statement:
As enshrined in international law and UN resolutions, we recognize the Palestinian right to resist Israeli violence and occupation via legitimate armed struggle. However, we believe that nonviolence can be a powerful weapon in fighting oppression and we are committed to the principles of nonviolent resistance.
ISM further explains on its website:
The ISM does not support or condone any acts of terrorism – which is not legitimate armed struggle. The ISM does not associate, support, or have anything to do with armed or violent resistance to the occupation. The ISM does not assist or engage in any kind of armed resistance, no matter what form it may take.
This right to resist occupation applies not only to the Palestinian people, but to all peoples who are faced with a military occupation. The ISM regards all people as equals with equal rights under international law. We believe that nonviolent action is a powerful weapon in fighting oppression and are committed to the principles of nonviolent resistance.
During a CNN interview, Paula Zahn with Adam Shapiro and Huwaida Arraf asked about an article they had co-authored which stated: "Palestinian resistance must take on a variety of characteristics, both violent and nonviolent. But most importantly, it must develop a strategy involving both aspects. Nonviolent resistance is no less noble than carrying out a suicide operation." She noted that "some people could lead to the conclusion that you were promoting suicide bombing." Shapiro and Arraf replied:
The article that we wrote was actually in response to another article written by a Palestinian, who said the Palestinians could not be nonviolent. And so we were addressing within the context of the debate over whether the Palestinians could use violence or could not use nonviolence or could use nonviolence. So it was, first of all, within that context...
There already is violence. We’re not advocating it. It's already there. It's on the ground. We’re working with people and with Palestinians who want to promote nonviolence, and that was the context of the whole article.
Activism tactics
Past ISM campaigns have used the following tactics:
- Acting to deter military operations. Some ISM volunteers object to the use of the term human shield to describe their work because, they argue, in a Palestinian context the expression more usually refers to forced use of captive Palestinians by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) when searching Palestinian neighborhoods. They argue that the IDF is far more likely to shoot the darker skinned Palestinian civilians than white western looking activists, given the difference in international response. This tactic is colloquially referred to as the "white-face defense".
- Accompanying Palestinians to minimize harassment perpetuated by Israeli settlers or soldiers, for example ensuring that queues at Israeli checkpoints are processed efficiently and providing witnesses and intermediaries during annual olive harvests, which are often disrupted by settlers and police.
- Removing roadblocks. These are large unmanned mounds of earth and concrete on roads throughout the West Bank, and sometimes placed at the entrances of Palestinian villages by the IDF, thereby isolating those villages' inhabitants by preventing traffic in or out.
- Attempting to block military vehicles such as tanks and bulldozers.
- Violating Israeli curfew orders enforced on Palestinian areas in order to monitor Israeli military actions, deliver food and medicine to Palestinian homes, or escort medical personnel to help facilitate their work.
- Interfering with the construction of the West Bank barrier and placing political graffiti on the wall.
- Entering areas designated as "closed military zones" by the Israeli military. This is not really a 'strategy' as such, but is a prerequisite for ISM being able to conduct many of the above activities as areas in which the ISM is active are often summarily designated as "closed military zones" by the IDF.
- Attempting to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip by supporting and participating in initiatives to send vessels through the naval blockade to Gaza.
Noteworthy ISM events
- The ISM received extensive media coverage of its presence in Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah and at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
- On August 8, 2006, ISM activist Adam Shapiro announced that a group of ISM activists was traveling to southern Lebanon to attempt to deliver aid and show solidarity with suffering residents.
- ISM was nominated for the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize by Svend Robinson, a former New Democratic Party Member of the Parliament of Canada.
- Cofounder Ghassan Andoni was nominated for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize along with Jeff Halper of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions by the American Friends Service Committee.
ISM member casualties in Palestine and Israel
ISM member casualties timeline
- On 2 April 2002, Australian ISM volunteer Kate Edwards sustained severe internal injuries from rounds fired by Israeli forces during a protest in Beit Jala. The incident was captured on film and appears in the documentary by Palestinian film-maker Leila Sansour, Jeremy Hardy vs the Israeli Army.
- On November 22, 2002 Caoimhe Butterly, an Irish ISM volunteer was shot and injured by IDF in Jenin minutes before UNRWA relief works project manager, Briton Iain Hook was killed nearby.
- On 16 March 2003, United States ISM volunteer Rachel Corrie was killed while trying to block an IDF armoured bulldozer. See below.
- On 5 April 2003, US ISM volunteer Brian Avery was shot in the face and permanently disfigured by machine gun fire from an IDF armoured personnel carrier while he was escorting Palestinian medical personnel in the street.
- On 11 April 2003, British ISM volunteer Thomas Hurndall was left clinically brain dead after he was shot in the head by an IDF soldier. Initially the soldier claimed the shooting occurred during an armed firefight between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants but the prosecuted soldier later admitted firing at him "as a deterrent". Hurndall died on 13 January 2004. In early 2009, the family is reported to have accepted a payout of £1.5m and said that "the settlement was the nearest they could get to an admission of guilt from Israel".
- On September 6, 2007, ISM activist Akram Ibrahim Abu Sba was killed by members of Islamic Jihad in northern Jenin.
- On March 13, 2009, American demonstrator Tristan Anderson was critically wounded near Nil'in when shot with a tear gas canister during a clash between protesters and IDF troops over the West Bank security barrier.
- On April 24, 2010, Bianca Zammit, a 28-year-old activist from Malta, was shot in the thigh with live ammunition by IDF soldiers during a demonstration in the so-called "buffer zone" inside Gaza Strip. Two Palestinian demonstrators were also shot during the same demonstration in Al Maghazi Refugee Camp.
- On May 31, 2010, Emily Henochowicz, a 21-year-old art student from Maryland, lost her left eye when she was struck by a tear gas canister while protesting near Qalandiya checkpoint. Another ISM volunteer at the scene claimed that the Israeli soldiers deliberately aimed at Henochowicz.
- On 14 April 2011, Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni was abducted, tortured and killed in Gaza by the Jahafil Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad fi Filastin Palestinian Salafist group. The murder was condemned by various Palestinian factions.
Killings
Rachel Corrie
Main article: Rachel CorrieISM volunteer Rachel Corrie was killed as she attempted to block an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bulldozer conducting military operations in Rafah in the Gaza Strip on March 16, 2003. An internal IDF investigation concluded that Corrie's death was an accident but ISM eyewitnesses dispute this account, contending that the bulldozer driver deliberately struck Corrie as she was protesting in plain view. The IDF says that tapes of the event show Corrie below the driver's eye level, and also say that the noise level was too loud for Ms. Corrie to be heard. The activities of the bulldozer she was blocking are also subject to disagreement — ISM claim it was preparing to demolish the home of a Palestinian pharmacist. Other accounts backed by the film footage claim that the bulldozer was not near the house but was removing shrubbery covering a structure that could be used as an arms smuggling tunnel or to cover terrorists shooting at the IDF.
George Rishmawi of the ISM told the San Francisco Chronicle that: "When Palestinians get shot by Israeli soldiers, no one is interested anymore. But if some of these foreign volunteers get shot or even killed, then the international media will sit up and take notice."
Corrie's parents brought lawsuits in the United States and in Israel, but in both cases, they lost the suit. In Israel, in August 2012, the court said that Corrie could have avoided danger. The court ruled that Israel was not at fault for Corrie's death, and there was neither intent nor negligence involved in her death. The judge also said that Israel's investigation was appropriate and did not contain mistakes. The judge also criticized the U.S. for failing to send a diplomatic representative to observe Corrie's autopsy.
Tom Hurndall
Main articles: Tom Hurndall and Taysir HaybOn April 11, 2003 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier Sergeant Taysir Hayb shot International Solidarity Movement (ISM) volunteer Tom Hurndall in the head. Hurndall, who had been aiding Palestinians in Gaza, died of his wound in January 2004. Hurndall was unarmed, dressed in the bright orange jacket of the ISM, and steering two Palestinian children away from an Israeli tank-mounted machine gun shooting in their direction.
Hayb claimed he had shot at a man in military fatigues who was firing at the soldiers with a pistol, in the no-go security zone. This was at odds with the ISM's account, confirmed by photographic evidence.
Subsequently, Hayb admitted to fabricating his account of events. On 10 May 2004, Hayb's trial commenced on one charge of manslaughter in the death of Tom Hurndall, two counts of obstruction of justice, one count each of submitting false testimony, obtaining false testimony, and unbecoming behavior. Hurndall's family pressed for a murder charge through the Israeli courts. In August 2005, Taysir Hayb was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to a total of eight years imprisonment, seven years for the manslaughter of Hurndall and one year for obstruction of justice.
Aysenur Eygi
Main articles: Killing of Aysenur Eygi and Ayşenur Ezgi EygiOn 6 September 2024, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi a 26-year-old American-Turkish woman was attending a weekly protest held near the Israeli settlement of Evyatar, and allegedly shot and killed by IDF snipers. The protest was against the continued expansion of Israeli settlements and had attracted violence prior to the incident. Witnesses reported that IDF forces had confronted the activists and shot at them with tear gas and live ammunition to force them to disperse. About thirty minutes after the confrontation, protestors reported that two IDF snipers on a roof about 200 yards away opened fire, killing Eygi and wounding a Palestinian teenager in the leg.
Injuries
Kate Edwards
Australian ISM volunteer Kate Edwards sustained internal injuries from a bullet in Beit Jala. She and other volunteers marched on Israeli lines. After the event, Kate Edwards was quoted as stating "We were walking up the hill from Bethlehem when a tank came down the hill towards us. I could see a man in the tank and he was shouting at us to go back. We carried on going."
Caoimhe Butterly
Main article: Caoimhe ButterlyIrish ISM volunteer and human rights activist Caoimhe Butterly was shot in the thigh by an Israeli soldier during the Battle of Jenin.
Brian Avery
Main article: Brian Avery (activist)On April 5, 2003, Israeli Defense Force soldiers on a military convoy shot Brian Avery (born 1979) in the face, seriously disfiguring him, while he was volunteering for the ISM in the West Bank city of Jenin. He was wearing red reflector vests with the word "doctor" in English and Arabic. The IDF refused to order an investigation, saying there was no proof its soldiers had shot at anyone that day. Avery sued and in November 2008 accepted a $150,000 settlement from the Israeli government in exchange for dropping the lawsuit.
Tristan Anderson
On March 13, 2009, American ISM volunteer Tristan Anderson was critically injured after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops attempting to disperse a demonstration. Anderson was taken to a hospital in Israel, where he underwent brain surgery, and had to have a portion of his frontal lobe and fragments of shattered bone removed. ISM volunteer and Tristan's girlfriend Gabrielle Silverman (Israeli-American), who witnessed to his injury:
"We were at a demonstration against the wall, against the Israeli apartheid wall in the West Bank village of Ni'lin, which is about twenty-six kilometers west of Ramallah. I was very close to him when he was shot. I was only a few feet away. The demonstration had been going for several hours. It was wrapping up; it was almost over. Most people had already gone home. We were standing on some grass nearby a village mosque, and Tristan was taking pictures he was shot in the head with the extended range tear gas canister."
Bianca Zammit
On April 24, 2010, Bianca Zammit, a 28 year old activist from Malta, was shot in the thigh with live ammunition by IDF soldiers during a demonstration in the so-called "buffer zone" inside Gaza Strip. Two Palestinian demonstrators were also shot during the same demonstration in Al Maghazi Refugee Camp.
April 2012
On April 14, a group of at least 200 pro-Palestinian activists were travelling on bicycles, and several buses in a silent protest. They were stopped by Israeli soldiers before entering onto Highway 90, and asked not to continue for their own safety. The legality of the protesters action is unclear as some news agencies state the cyclists got permission to protest but others state no permit was given. During the ensuing hour, the activists refused and blocked an entrance to a highway, a "scuffle" broke out. In an interview given by one of the members he stated "בשלב מסויים החלטנו לאתגר את החיילים ולנסות להמשיך בנסיעה" ("... at some point we decided to test the soldiers and continue to move") and after a few moments they had been assaulted. In an interview for JPost "After about half-an-hour, he said, the cyclists decided to push past the IDF, and that is when the violence began." Four activists sustained face and back injuries and had to be evacuated to a hospital in Jericho, West Bank. The next day, ISM posted a video showing an IDF officer hitting a Danish protester in the face with his assault rifle. The IDF officer said that he was attacked by one of the activists in the incident with a stick, breaking two fingers. The IDF said it was a "grave incident" and was suspending the officer and investigating the incident. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, and IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz all condemned the incident. NGO Monitor said that ISM "has a long record of encouraging activists to take 'direct action' that often places them in danger and in direct confrontations with the IDF."
Fred Ekblad
On July 25, 2014, Swedish activist Fred Ekblad had a moderate injury in his head from an Israeli tank shelling Beit Hanoun hospital in the Gaza Strip.
ISM casualties by Palestinian militants
Deaths
Akram Ibrahim Abu Sba'
On September 6, 2007, ISM Jenin regional committee member and "co-founder of one of ISM's first permanent presences" Akram Ibrahim Abu Sba’ was killed on duty by Islamic Jihad militants, while trying to "smooth tensions between Palestinian security forces and Islamic Jihad members", in the Palestinian city of Jenin. Akram was buried in the Jenin refugee camp graveyard.
Vittorio Arrigoni
On April 14, 2011, Italian ISM activist Vittorio Arrigoni was abducted, tortured and executed by hanging by a Salafist group in the Gaza Strip.
ISM member casualties in Syria
Kayla Mueller
Mueller was a native of Prescott, Arizona, where she graduated from Tri-city College Prep High School. She attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in 2007. She volunteered for three years with the Save Darfur Coalition. Her human rights activism included working in India and with Tibetan refugees. Her work in the Middle East included working for Palestinian rights with the International Solidarity Movement and helping African refugees in Israel with the African Refugee Development Center.
Mueller started working in southern Turkey in December 2012, where she was assisting Syrian refugees. On August 3, 2013, she drove to the northern Syrian city of Aleppo with a coworker/friend who was traveling to the Spanish Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo to work for a day. She worked with international aid agency Support to Life. On her departure from Aleppo to return to Turkey, militants abducted her.
According to anonymous sources of Catherine Herridge, the location of Mueller and other US hostages was known by the White House in May 2014, but a decision on a rescue mission was not made for seven weeks. By that time, the hostages had been dispersed.
A media account affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) released a statement on February 6, 2015, claiming that a female American hostage held by the group was killed by one of around a dozen Jordanian airstrikes in Raqqa, Syria. The statement came just days after the release of a video showing the murder of Jordanian fighter pilot Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh by the militant group and the subsequent execution of Sajida al-Rishawi and other prisoners of Jordan. The statement was later translated by the SITE Intelligence Group, identifying the hostage as Mueller.
On February 6, 2015, ISIL published a photo of a damaged building, named Mueller and her home town and alleged she had been killed in a Jordanian airstrike in the building where she was left alone with no guards, but no proof of death was provided. The Pentagon agreed the building was one hit in the bombings, but disputed that Mueller, or any civilian, was inside. The site had been bombed by the coalition twice before, and was targeted again because ISIS soldiers sometimes return to bombed sites, thinking the coalition won't return, according to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. After this, Mueller's name was released by American and other media with the family's consent.
On February 10, 2015, Mueller's family announced ISIS had confirmed her death to them in an e-mail, with three photographs of her dead body, bruised on the face and wearing a black hijab. National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said this message was authenticated by the intelligence community. President Barack Obama offered his condolences to Mueller's family.
On October 26–27, 2019, U.S. Joint Special Operations Command members found the hideout of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Idlib Governorate, northern Syria, before he died from suicide vest blast. The operation was named Operation Kayla Mueller by President Donald J. Trump.
Criticism and controversies
Position of Israeli Foreign Ministry
The Israeli Foreign Ministry reported that two terrorists involved in the Mike's Place suicide bombing forged "links with foreign left wing activists and members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM)." The MFA also says that "ISM members take an active part in illegal and violent actions against IDF soldiers. At times, their activity in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip is under the auspices of Palestinian terrorist organizations, and that sometimes, "ISM members, who seek entry into Israel, often do so under false pretenses, via cover stories – entry for matrimonial, tourist, religious and other purposes – which they coordinate prior to arriving in Israel." However, ISM reports that visitors at the border who identify as ISM volunteers, almost always will be denied entry by the Israeli border control.
Shadi Sukiya case
On March 27, 2003, Palestinian Shadi Sukiya was arrested in by the Israel Defense Forces in ISM Jenin. The Israeli government claimed that Sukiya was a senior Islamic Jihad member, and that he was aided by two ISM activists.
Both parties stated that Sukiya arrived at the ISM's office as he was being pursued through the streets of Jenin by IDF soldiers during an Israeli-imposed curfew. According to the ISM's account, he had been going door to door looking for a place to go, arrived at the building (which is also used by the Red Cross and Medecins Sans Frontieres) cold and wet, and was offered a chance to dry and warm up by an ISM volunteer.
The IDF originally suggested that two Kalashnikov assault rifles and a handgun were found on the premises, but subsequently backtracked on the allegation.
In May 2003, Adam Shapiro from ISM stated that Sukiya was not named a "senior Islamic Jihad terrorist" by any official Israeli military or government source, and was being held in administrative detention in Israel without any charge.
Ties with Palestinian militants
The Israeli government asserted ISM activist Susan Barclay had "ties with Palestinian terrorist groups". She stated she worked with representatives of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in organising a nonviolent protest.
According to Israeli sources ISM activist maintain ties with "Palestinian terrorists", aiding them, disrupting IDF activities and in some instance even attacked IDF soldiers.
- "Israel says that the connection between ISM activists to Palestinian terrorists is not merely sleeping in terrorists' houses. According to Israel Security Service (Shin-Bet), some of the activists maintain connections with terrorists, and act to disrupt IDF operations in the territories. In one case ISM activists exposed an ambush set by the IDF after lighting on it with flashlights. In July, two ISM activists attacked soldiers in Beit-Pourik checkpoint. IDF officer tells that in several cases ISM activists opened routes to Palestinians by going first to check if there is a military checkpoint in the way."
Richard David Hupper, an ISM activist, was convicted in a USA court of illegally funding Hamas while working with the ISM. Hupper donated money which he intended to be used to aid the families of Palestinians who had been detained or killed.
Israeli court ruling
In 2012, Israeli judge Oded Gershon ruled about the ISM that "In fact, the organization abuses human rights and morals discourse to blur the severity of its actions which manifested de facto as violence." He also ruled that ISM activists provided financial, logistic and moral aid to terrorists.
See also
References
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- Bernstein, David (2015-04-15). "Is the International Solidarity Movement "pro-terrorist?"". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
- Group, ISM Media (2007-05-10). "Profiles of Peace: Faces of Hope campaign". International Solidarity Movement. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
{{cite web}}
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- Goldman, Yoel (2012-04-16). "The blow heard 'round the world". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ^ Zitun, Yoav (15 April 2012). "IDF officer who beat activist suspended – Israel News, Ynetnews". Ynetnews. Ynetnews.com. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ^ They had meant to travel down Route 90 in the Jordan Valley but the IDF blocked their path. Archived 2012-04-23 at the Wayback Machine, Jpost
- ^ Tzippe Barrow (2012-04-17). "IDF Investigates Incident with ISM Protester". CBN.com. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ^ Occupation Magazine, 2012, http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=52608
- "Palestinians and internationals attacked during biking trip in Jordan Valley". Palsolidarity.org. 2012-04-15. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ^ בצבא הכיבוש כל אלימות מוצדקת, walla news 16 April 2012
- Gili Cohen (2012-04-15). "VIDEO / Senior IDF officer beats pro-Palestinian activist with rifle". Haaretz.
- "Peres slams IDF officer for attack on activist". The Jerusalem Post. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- "IDF officer suspended for hitting activist in face with rifle". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ISM-Member Akram killed during clashes in Jenin, ISM website, September 7, 2007.
- Salamat Sahbi Akram, ISM website, September 11, 2007.
- "Italian peace activist killed in Gaza – Middle East". Al Jazeera English. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
- "U.S. idealist Kayla Mueller's road to ISIS captivity went through West Bank". Haaretz. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ Callimachi, Rukmini; Gladstone, Rick (6 February 2015). "ISIS Claims American Hostage Killed by Jordanian Retaliation Bombings". New York Times. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- "About Us". hayatadestek.org. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- Walid Shoebat (6 February 2015). "The Story Of American Hostage (Kayla Jean Mueller) That ISIS Claims Was Killed In The Latest Jordanian Air Raids On ISIS". Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- Staff (2015-02-10). "Herridge: WH Knew Location of ISIS Hostages, Delayed Rescue Attempt". Fox News. Retrieved 2015-02-11.
- "ISIS Claims Female American Hostage Kayla Jean Mueller Was Killed In Jordanian Airstrike". The Huffington Post. 6 February 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- "Proof of Death in Hand, Family Honors Hostage", New York Times
- "Kayla Jean Mueller, American ISIS hostage, is dead, family confirms". CBS News. February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- Ashley Fantz, Pamela Brown and Jason Hanna (February 10, 2015). "American ISIS hostage Kayla Mueller dead, family says". CNN. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- "Details of April 30- 2003 Tel Aviv suicide bombing-3-Jun-2003". GxMSDev. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ISM Media Group. "Travel Information & Tips". International Solidarity Movement. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- "2BackToHomePage3". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- "ynet ג'נין: המבוקש נעצר כשהסתתר במשרד של ארגון בינלאומי – חדשות". Ynet. Ynet.co.il. 1995-06-20. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
- Sam Skolnik, Activist's death focuses spotlight on Mideast struggle, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 20, 2003
- Amit Cohen, ממערב תיפתח הרעה, nrg Maariv, June 10, 2010 (Hebrew)
- The Hebrew source: בישראל אומרים שהקשר בין אנשי ה-ISM לגורמי טרור פלשתיניים אינו מסתכם בלינה בבתי מחבלים. לטענת השב"כ, חלק מאנשי הארגון מקיימים קשרים עם פעילי טרור, ופועלים לשיבוש פעילות צה"ל בשטחים. באחד המקרים חשפו פעילי ISM מארב של צה"ל, לאחר שהאירו עליו בפנסים. בחודש יולי תקפו שני פעילים חיילים של צה"ל במחסום בית-פוריק. קצין צה"ל מספר שבמספר מקרים פעילי ISM "פתחו ציר" בשביל הפלשתינים, כלומר: הלכו ראשונים ובדקו אם יש מחסומי צבא בהמשך הדרך. ממערב תיפתח הרעה, Maariv 2010
- Pennsylvania Man Sentenced for Aiding Hamas Archived 2013-10-04 at the Wayback Machine, August 22, 2008
- Hebrew source (Ynet, 28.8.2012): "למעשה, הארגון מנצל לרעה את השימוש בשיח זכויות האדם והמוסריות כדי לטשטש את חומרת מעשיו המתבטאים באלימות בפועל".
- Report in Ynet (in Hebrew), 28.8.2012
- Report in Ynet (in English), 28.8.2012
Further reading
- Ghassan Andoni; Huwaida Arraf; Nicholas Blincoe; Hussein Khalili; Marissa McLaughlin; Radhika Sainath; Josie Sandercock, eds. (2004). Peace Under Fire: Israel, Palestine and the International Solidarity Movement. Verso. ISBN 9781844675012.