Photo: French aid convoy diplomat dragged on ground by Israeli soldiers

The Electronic Intifada received this photo from a diplomatic source, said to show French diplomat Marion Castaing on the ground as she is manhandled by armed Israeli occupation soldiers.

The incident occurred in the village of Khirbet al-Makhul in the occupied West Bank earlier today when Israeli occupation forces violently prevented European diplomats from delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians, as Reuters reported:

Israeli soldiers manhandled European diplomats on Friday and seized a truck full of tents and emergency aid they had been trying to deliver to Palestinians whose homes were demolished this week.

A Reuters reporter saw soldiers throw sound grenades at a group of diplomats, aid workers and locals in the occupied West Bank, and yank a French diplomat out of the truck before driving it away.

“They dragged me out of the truck and forced me to the ground with no regard for my diplomatic immunity,” French diplomat Marion Castaing said.

“This is how international law is being respected here,” she said, covered with dust.

Locals said Khirbet Al-Makhul was home to about 120 people. The army demolished their ramshackle houses, stables and a kindergarten on Monday after Israel’s high court ruled that they did not have proper building permits.

Filmmaker Enas Muthaffar posted a video on her YouTube channel on 18 September that shows Israeli soldiers demolishing tents with people still inside.

“Shocking and outrageous”

Israel has made a determined effort to stop aid reaching the Palestinians, as Reuters states:

Israeli soldiers stopped the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delivering emergency aid on Tuesday and on Wednesday ICRC staff managed to put up some tents but the army forced them to take the shelters down.

Diplomats from France, Britain, Spain, Ireland, Australia and the European Union’s political office, turned up on Friday with more supplies. As soon as they arrived, about a dozen Israeli army jeeps converged on them, and soldiers told them not to unload their truck.

“It’s shocking and outrageous. We will report these actions to our governments,” said one EU diplomat, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to talk to the media. In scuffles between soldiers and locals, several villagers were detained. An elderly Palestinian man fainted and was taken for medical treatment to a nearby ambulance.

The attack on the diplomats comes at a sensitive time, as the United States and Israel lobby groups are currently trying to strong-arm the EU into abandoning new guidelines which prohibit EU funding of projects that operate in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The same photograph sent to The Electronic Intifada was also tweeted by journalist Hugh Naylor earlier today:

Journalist live-tweets Israeli attack on aid convoy

#BREAKING: Clashes on-going between #Israeli soldiers and #UN/diplomat convoy in the occupied #Palestinian village of #Makhul
— Ediz Tiyanşan (@Ediz99) September 20, 2013

After 57 structures belonging to Makhul community was demolished on Monday, UN & other int agencies mobilized humanitarn aid for the village
— Ediz Tiyanşan (@Ediz99) September 20, 2013

A truck full of tents&water was escorted by a dipl. convoy of reps from france,ireland,uk,spain,greece,brazil,australia,sweden,echo,EU
— Ediz Tiyanşan (@Ediz99) September 20, 2013

Unlike #MaviMarmara, this time it's not just civil society, but with actual diplomats challenging the arbitrary Israeli occupation!
— Ediz Tiyanşan (@Ediz99) September 20, 2013

~8 #Israeli military jeeps on site. Sound grenades fired. Diplomats forcefully removed from the truck & the area. Humanitarian aid's blocked
— Ediz Tiyanşan (@Ediz99) September 20, 2013

A french diplomat is now sitting in the truck along w/ senior un official, trying to halt the confiscation. 35 soldiers present w/ riot gear
— Ediz Tiyanşan (@Ediz99) September 20, 2013

@haaretzcom @Jerusalem_Post @ynetnews I know it's Sukkot, but u might really want to check out what's going on in occupied village of Makhul
— Ediz Tiyanşan (@Ediz99) September 20, 2013

Aid for Makhul community was 5 tents (40m2) to provide shelter for ppl, >1500 livestock,now at risk due to 57 structures demolished on mondy
— Ediz Tiyanşan (@Ediz99) September 20, 2013

A French female diplomat, trying to prevent the confiscation of the aid truck, was physically removed and slightly injured in the process...
— Ediz Tiyanşan (@Ediz99) September 20, 2013

...apparently she's been told not to speak to media at this point. @emilie_baujard do you have anything on this?
— Ediz Tiyanşan (@Ediz99) September 20, 2013

A legal expert confirms that this latest incident is yet another violation of the 4th Geneva convention by #Israel, as Rule 55 calls for:
— Ediz Tiyanşan (@Ediz99) September 20, 2013

Rule 55: "The parties to the conflict must allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need..."
— Ediz Tiyanşan (@Ediz99) September 20, 2013

Comments

This should make it harder

Permalink Raimo Kangasniemi replied on Fri, 09/20/2013 - 23:24

This should make it harder even for Catherine Ashton to bow before Israel's and USA's demands when it comes to illegal settlement funding.

France, try more kissing up

Permalink Greg Bacon replied on Sat, 09/21/2013 - 05:04

If the USA, France and England had done Israel's bidding and bombed the hell out of Syria, then maybe this aid convoy would of gotten thru?

the reality

Permalink Carol Scheller replied on Sat, 09/21/2013 - 06:59

Something for the diplomats sitting in Brussels to absorb. Nothing beats a trip to see things how they are on the ground. How about the Christmas camp sponsored by the Alternative Information Center (http://www.alternativenews.org...) ?

EU is soft on Israel and their occupation and genocide

Permalink Miro replied on Sat, 09/21/2013 - 20:32

Germany needs to remove themselves from the EU -Israel equation, so we can overcome the Nazi guilt and start making concrete steps to punish Israeli occupation, war crimes and genocide!
Sometimes I'm wondering do we really care about other people?! We give billions to the Greeks so they can get richer, give Israel billions in aid, but have no power to stop this Israeli madness and stop the killing of women, children and and anybody they decide it should not live!
We care more about street dogs and brushes than for the Palestinians! I refuse to believe that we are not going to do more! We need to get the Palestinian question high on EU agenda and force Israel to stop the killings and the ocupation, and take concrete measures towards peace!