Israeli soldiers fire on women demonstrating for International Women's Day

In honor of International Women’s Day today, women from Israel planned to join forces with Palestinian women in a demonstration at the separation wall at Qalandiya checkpoint, which links Jerusalem and Ramallah in the West Bank. As about 1000 Palestinian women neared the checkpoint, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas, stun grenades, pepper spray and rubber bullets at the women to prevent them from reaching the checkpoint. Thirty women were injured.

Sitata reminds travellers to minimize safety risk by avoiding public and political gatherings and demonstrations since even peaceful protests can quickly and unexpectedly escalate and become violent.