Encounter with Israeli soldiers in H1

On Tuesday August 9, soon after returning from Umm Al Khaeyr, we received news from our Hebron co-ordinator of a concerning development. A group of four Israeli soldiers left H2 (Israeli controlled territory in Hebron) and went on a patrol in H1 (Palestinian controlled territory in Hebron). Although the presence of Israeli military and settlers in any part of Hebron is illegal and against international law, in H1 in particular it is a very serious violation.
According to an agreement between the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority, Palestinian police do not enter H2 and the Israeli Army does not enter H1, unless under a Palestinian escort.

I believe it is very likely that the arrival of these soldiers could have been a provocation. Earlier this year, Israeli Border Police had been documented by Haaretz (an Israeli newspaper) as entering Palestinian municipalities in the hope of sparking clashes that would then justify deadly use of force. The soldiers were in a small group and did not look too sure of themselves, so some of us ISMSers decided to step in.
We began to follow them with our video cameras, loudly telling them they are violating even the laws of their government. We kept reminding them again and again that they should not be in H1 (they should not be in H2 either but that was beside the point), and that their presence here is illegal. One of the soldiers mumbled "ok ok" and even "shalom" but I told him it is not ok and no shalom and they need to get out. We asked them if they are aware that their presence could spark a major clash. The soldiers began to get more and more annoyed and their commander ordered them to go back. We kept following them until they went back into checkpoint 56.
One of them looked looked at us furiously from behind the checkpoint.

I don't usually speak rudely to soldiers, since I don't feel doing so accomplishes anything positive, and I am not in Palestine to be a "hero" or make a spectacle.
However, in this case I think that we did was very justified. The soldiers were definitely in the wrong place, and their presence could have kicked off a clash in which many Palestinians but also possibly the soldiers themselves could be placed in danger.
We hounded them without mercy (we did not swear at them or insult them but did loudly repeat to them again and again they need to leave) until they left the area.
Interestingly, as they were turning to leave, a small crowd of Palestinian youth began forming in Bab E Zawiyeh and some of the boys began to whistle at them. From experience from previous years, I know that this often can be a prelude to clashes.
For everyone's safety, it was essential that they get out.

Thanks be to God they did, and no fights broke out that day. When they were out of H1 we also went back to our apartment.



We later learned that while we were in Umm Al Khaeyr, a group of soldiers went to the Souq and began pushing people around, as well as filming shopkeepers. Also, this is not the first time that a patrol entered H1.

It is possible they may be trying to provoke the people in order to justify another potential crackdown. I really hope I am wrong.

The videos below are of us following the soldiers and encouraging them to leave. Usually I do not confront soldiers like this, but we felt that their presence could have sparked a clash and thus doing everything (peacefully and verbally) possible to get them to leave was the right course of action to take.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qWeWhS9OG4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JQTIB00dAU

We ran into the soldiers as they coming down the steps in a Palestinian neighbourhood in H1.

Neither the commander or his men looked happy to see us.

The soldiers cross the street. We kept following and filming.

His annoyance showing, one of the soldiers begins to realize that perhaps his superiors made a bad decision by sending them here.

Taking a short break by the side of the road.

The commander says something to his men as they head back to H2, as Palestinian cars drive by.

A youth sticks his head out of the car to get a better look at the soldiers who have illegally entered his part of the city.

A very unhappy soldier listening to us telling him and his friends they need to get out of here.

Another activist follows and films as they head to the gate. We didn't leave them alone until they were gone.

One of the Palestinian shopkeepers took out his camera and began filming also.

Almost out of H1.

Heading closer and closer to the gate.

Leaving, alhamdullilah (praise God).

One of the soldiers angrily stares out at us from behind the checkpoint. Luckily for him and his friends, as well as the Palestinians in H1, he has left.