Two Israeli peace activists and a French journalist were injured, Thursday evening Aug 22, in an attack by Israeli settlers on a peaceful procession against the illegal annexation of Palestinian land marked as a UNESCO heritage site in the Al-Makhrour area in the city of Beit Jala, west of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank.

Two leading members of the Communist Party of Israel, MKs Aida Touma-Sliman and Ofer Cassif (Hadash) attended the procession along with activists from Combatants for Peace (CfP) and Palestinian residents. The participants peacefully marched from the “steadfastness tent” in the Al-Makhrour area, reaching the land of the Kisiya family, which was illegally occupied by settlers three weeks ago, on July 30.

Israeli and Palestinian activists, among them MK Ofer Cassif, peacefully marching from the “steadfastness tent” in the Al-Makhrour area to the land of the Kisiya family near Beit Jala in the occupied Palestinian territories, Thursday, August 22, 2024 (Photo: Zo Haderech)

In a press conference held after the march, MK Cassif saluted the steadfastness of the Palestinian citizens on their land, emphasizing that the conflict is not between Israelis and Palestinians, but between those who seek justice and those who seek evil and oppression. Activist Jamil Qassas from the CfP movement of both Israelis and Palestinians, said: “We are present inside the steadfastness tent, which was established by the Wall and Colonization Resistance Commission, for the 23rd consecutive day, to support the steadfastness of the locals against colonization, and we thank all the activists and supporters of the landowners’ steadfastness.”

Carly Rosenthal, an activist from CfP shared, “The experience of being there with the family and our CfP community was really comforting. I love how the

Al-Makhrour campaign is truly a nonviolent women-led initiative that is full of joy – it is so important when dealing with the violence of the occupation. Everyone was so welcoming and being there gave me hope because it was such a beautiful representation of what could be here in this land.”