Protester death shows IDF may be using most dangerous type of tear gas
Jawaher Abu Rahmah died Saturday as a result of tear gas shot by IDF soldiers during demonstrations against the separation fence on Friday.
By Avi Issacharoff and Anshel PfefferQuestions are surfacing about Israel's use of tear-gas grenades, as security officials investigate the recent death of a protester at the weekly demonstration near the separation fence at the West Bank village of Bil'in. A 36-year-old woman, Jawaher Abu Rahmah, died on Saturday morning.
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A Palestinian protester hurling a tear gas container back at Israeli troops during demonstrations near Bil'in on December 31, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
The medical report filed in the Ramallah hospital where Abu Rahmah was taken shows that her death was caused by respiratory failure resulting from the inhalation of tear gas.
Haaretz obtained the medical report on Sunday from Jawaher's brother, Ahmed Abu Rahmah.
Jawaher Abu Rahmah was the sister of Bassem Abu Rahmah, who was killed in April 2009 when Israeli soldiers fired a tear-gas grenade at his chest at a demonstration at the fence in Bil'in. Ahmed Abu Rahmah has three surviving brothers; their father died five years ago.
"My entire family is ruined," he said on Sunday. "The whole house feels a sense of catastrophe." He said he bears no hatred toward Israelis. "They are people just like myself. We don't seek vengeance against Israel. We want the return of our lands, and the struggle won't end until our property is restored."
The Israel Defense Forces uses crowd-dispersal tear gas known as CS, which was developed half a century ago in Britain and the United States. It is used by armies and police forces around the world. In recent years, a number of studies have cast doubts about this type of gas; there have been reports of several deaths caused by the inhalation CS tear gas.
"One of the main factors influencing the extent of damage caused by CS gas is the amount of particles in the air," said Daniel Argo, an Israeli doctor who regularly takes part in the demonstrations against the separation fence. He also trains activists to tend to injuries caused by police and soldiers using crowd-dispersal techniques.
Eye and lung injuries from gas
Argo says recent eye and lung injuries, as well as skin diseases, can be associated with the use of CS tear gas.
"There are other types of tear gas that are not as dangerous as CS; why the defense establishment insists on continuing its use is not clear," Argo said. "In addition, since no studies have been conducted to identify the long-term effects of the gas, security personnel who use it frequently should be worrying about their own health."
An Israeli security official said Sunday that "many Western countries use this type of gas."
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CS_gas In trying to justify the Gaza boycott, Israel's position was that they are in a state of war with the "nation" of Palestine. So which is it Israel? Are you in a state of war, in which case you used a prohibited chemical weapon, or are you not in a state of war, giving yet one more reason why the blockade is illegal?
knowing that they invest in death more than life. Where are the hospitals in gaza or 'the west bank' Judea? How much spent on arms? How little spent for basic care?.....
other than laughing gas?
Rioting may be met with all means to scatter the crowd when, as this one, it turns violent.
The picture at the top of this page shows a BIG no-no. CS is used in preference to the older CN tear gas because it is both more effective and LESS toxic, still picking up a thermal canister may not only cause burns, it gives one a chance to inhale a dangerous concentration of the agent. The guys shooting it have masks on and are not going to be badly affected, but the person showing bravado by throwing the canister back IS drastically increasing their risk of harm.
A very interesting point is lying behind this article, I wonder, what is the cumulative long term effect of small amounts of these chemicals on small children, pregnant women or those with immune systems already weakened by illness or malnourishment. Perhaps it’s past time for all those countries and regimes willing to use such methods to donate a small fraction of the cost of them to a study of the long term effects of them.
most civilized societies would provide medical care for them which, the pals do not. They use women as shields and pawns, this is but one of the results.
Excuse me BUT what are pregnant women and children doing in a protest march.The parents of those arabs purposefully put them in harms way, as though we had to be reminded of their usual motive that THAT THEY ALWAYS use them as HUMAN shields .Since the method used is done by the USA and other countries,then by all means form a group to stop using those weapons.Taking the high moral high ground by you is fine,but blame NOT Israel alone. Tell it to the rest who equally have to resort to put a STOP to those terrorists.YES terrorists who's only aim was:To displace Jews from their own HOMELAND and they have said it CLEARLY.
Here a very short and interesting summary of a primary care Physician studies on tear gaz: http://972mag.com/demonstrators-return-tear-gas-canisters-to-us-ambassador-home/#comment-2182 Recently learned that my Life insurance wouldn't work if I was killed in a demo. But anyway, Ms Jawaher family surely has no such? I was told that people living in the occupied Palestinian territories simply have no access to life-insurances... BTW what about the settlers?
CN is nowhere near as effective as CS.
IDF knew the specs before buying the tear gas. No manufacturer would hide it's dangers. It cannot. And if IDF is using it anyway... it just shows how much IDF respects human life.
Jawaher was not even taking part in the protest, even though she is fully entitled to stand up against the theft of her land on which settlements and an ugly concrete wall are built. She was at approximately 500 meters of the fence, at her family house.
I remember reading in an early report of the incident that the woman had asthma.Such a person should not participate in demonstrations where it is known that tear gas will be used.. I wonder if she was sent on purpose!
As an excuse. But an excuse is not really necessary. Thermal CS takes very high concentrations for protracted periods to be lethal. In cases of unusually high exposure, pulmonary edema IS often a consequences of exposure. Research shows that o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) metabolizes very quickly to o-chlorobenzyl malononitrile (CSH2), which is far less toxic and irritating. The half-life of CS and CSH2 in blood is 5.5 and 9 seconds respectively. Which means that recovery starts almost instantly after removal from exposure and effects should not persist for a long period of time. Of importance to this case might be the fact that lipoic acid, important for the metabolism of the surface active agent (surfactant) covering the alveoli, reacts rapidly with CS. This case seems to be an extreme individual reaction to the agent which under the circumstances used should not be lethal or even of other than transitory effect.
actually, the hospital and her family said " she had no respiratory diseases or any history of her having any"
You remembered it right Concerned.Good memory too.No sick or any suffering from any illness should take part in such foolish demonstration.But then these lot do not put too much care so long as they try to pursue their agenda by using their sick,and the very young as human shields.They have done it for years.
On mondoweiss there is a picture of a canister that was used at said demonstration. It was produced in 2000, with a shelf life of 5 years. Does anybody know about the effects of expired CS? Will they use Zyklon B next?
Protestor death only shows that when a protestor resorts to violence, all in the group of protestors risk death. They are really united in the risk. But is it smart to use violence? A dead protestor can only complain to his friends.
The Israel Defense Forces uses crowd-dispersal tear gas known as CS, which was developed half a century ago in Britain and the United States. It is used by armies and police forces around the world. In recent years, a number of studies have cast doubts about this type of gas; there have been reports of several deaths caused by the inhalation CS tear gas.
after all, when you live under an undemocratic, repressive government, the rights you expect in civilized countries (free speech and free assembly) aren't to be taken for granted. wait, isn't israel supposed to be a democratic government?
Is there more to this story than facile repetition of PA claims? Note the use of the term "martyr".Are the "secular" PA looking for another Mohammed Al Dura??
the PA after Araft has changed. Abas's and Fayad's PA is(might be) a different PA now. The "new" PA seems to stick to its commitements of security, the number or terrorist attacks has decreased very significantly. Ah, and btw, you are quick to defend the IDF without waiting for the investigation to conclude. One more thing, in Europe we have "peaceful" demonstrations almost weekly too and they get dispersed with tear gas every time, yet the main difference is, nobody gets to die. Last thing, before opening your mouth and say stupid things, wait for the investigation to conclude. Idiot
Quote; An Israeli security official said Sunday that "many Western countries use this type of gas." Let's be clear that Israel with it's religious fanatic regime can not be counted as what is normally considered "western countries". Also, "western countries" have no need to for using tear gas such as CS on a daily basis towards it's own citizens and towards citizens of a neighbouring nation that they occupy. May be because the afore mentioned "western countries" are not controlled by religious fanatics.
As a photojournalist i have been exposed to tear gas several times. They are designed to paralyze your respiratory system, you can't breathe, your lungs are dead, you cannot catch up any air you think you are dying of suffocation. It is horrible.This is the most vicious weapon used by fascist regimes against civilians. My advice put a scarf over your mouth soaked with lemon juice.
Why put yourself in situations where you know that tear gas will be used.
it may be horrible but, as a journalist, you knew that going in. And, to point out the obvious, you are alive. Your life, your choice. Her life, her choice. Protests are dangerous places.
not to play chicken with a bulldozer whose operator couldn't see her. Not too smart these protesters, are they?
I'd say you're being dramatic and not telling the truth. Getting tear gas is not fun, but it doesn't "paralyze your respiratory system" at least not mine. I started sneezing uncontrollably and tears streamed from my eyes. I never felt in danger and you know what it happened in Jru by some police breaking up a bar fight. Tear gas "the most vicious weapon used by fascist regimes", haha, someone lives in wonderful world!
Protests are dangerous places only in undemocratic societies, it should not be the case here
Why stay and breathe it in ?Leave immediately with respiratory problems,do not go there if the demonstration is likely to lead to this. Contributory negligence. 1. Photos Disprove Claims of ’Non-Violent’ Fence Protest by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu Photos of Friday’s Arab Bil’in fence protest, which Palestinian Authority PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad attended, disprove claims that the demonstration was "non-violent.” Pro-Arab activists claim the IDF shot tear gas before the violence began. Fayyad addressed the rally and left before the violence began. He later accused Israel of a “war crime” for the death of 36-year-old Jawaher Abu Rahma, who died a day after the protests from what Palestinian Authority sources claimed was poison gas. However, Arab sources changed the story of her medical treatment, first reporting that she and one other were treated at the hospital and released. After she died, they reported that she had remained in the hospital in Ramallah. The IDF has raised doubts concerning the circumstances of her death because the Palestinian Authority has refused to release medical reports, which the military wants in order to complete its own investigation and to determine if the tear gas canister was the direct cause of her death or if other causes, such as a heart attack, were the cause. The PA also refused to join Israel in a probe of the incident. Foreign and local media highlighted the use of tear gas by the Israeli army and police but did not mention the rock throwing attacks. Several months ago, a security officer lost an eye after being struck by a rock. Israel’s Ynet published a video of Friday’s protest that was posted on YouTube by Kaitham Khatib, media coordinator of Bil'in, who films the protests every week. The video omits all evidence of Arab and leftist violence, which was photographed by Israeli authorities. Also attending the protest was Haggai Matar, a contributing writer for the Hebrew-language Maariv newspaper, and a member of the left-wing Gush Shalom [Peace Bloc]. He has refused to enlist in the IDF. “Contrary to Palestinian claims that yesterday’s riot in Bil’in was non-violent…approximately 250 rioters had gathered in Bil’in, hurling rocks at security forces, who responded with riot dispersal means,” IDF spokesmen said. “The village area was declared a closed military zone in order to prevent the violent riot from escalating and the entry and exit of the village for residents continued as usual. “Similar violent riots occurred this weekend in [five other villages], in which rioters hurled rocks at security forces.” One soldier was lightly wounded from a rock that was hurled at his face.” Left-wing activists, anarchists and Arabs have staged weekly protests at Bil’in for six years. The village is near the route of the security fence that stretches from the northern Jordan Valley to the northern Negev and which is aimed at making it more difficult for terrorists to reach Israeli urban centers.
those who like yourself, willingly advocate ILLEGAL activities have no credibiliythose like yourself who willingly advocate ILLEGAL activities, also have no credibility. YOU are the problem.
That's what the IDF are, right Peter? why don't you stop writing for a minute and search "IDF abuse" on Youtube, the truth hurts but at least it's the truth, stop living in your rosy fantasy land and see things for what they are,The occupation has corrupted Israel.
Ilegal to return after Arab armies ethnic cleansing Jews out in 1948? The Arabs put the UN aside from day one in this comnflict.Illegal when there are borders Complain to the Arabs,no recognised bordxers was at their insistence. PS do not bother to refer to your website as "factual evidence", its not.. PPS shouting does not make it factual either.
Things do look different from a comfortable chair in a Melbourne Suburb. You present the totally biased i see nothing wrong with killing innocent civilians as long as they are fighting Israel to fee their lands and achieve their rights.
until you can prove otherwise, you are just making his point that this case is being cynically used by the Pals for political means, with no actual consideration of justice
The process of choosing the right tear gas an organization such as the police or the army go through tirals and studies of the chemical compounds of the gas, it is no secret that israel use the nastiest Gas on the market. Im not surprised , it is another inhumane treatment of civilains. are you?
Why doesn't the doctor quoted in the article check the participants for respiratory issues and advise them not to expose themselves to tear gas if they might be harmed? Sadly, even if the IDF threw flowers at the rioting crowd, there might be someone who had respiratory problems due to a pollen allergy.
Well! Now the doctor can really say that the dead protestor has respiratory problems and advise him not to protest violently again.
Israeli authority should be brought under charge of using chemical weapons against civilians.
Shows your limited outlook, B'Galil. Israel should stop attacking demonstrators, defuse situations like the ones at the fence, stop the blockade of Gaza and get out of the West Bank altogether. You've heard about peace?
"...a number of studies have cast doubts about this type of gas..." Hardly conclusive. That being said, I feel horrible for the family and hope that all this madness can come to a peaceful end.
Not that the Israeli Government will dare admit. Seems it would rather keep LYING to the Israeli public, putting them in danger by having them unwittingly and illegally settling "territories occupied" protected by the IDF
The problem is that except for Egypt, every time we pull out of territory, the response is an increase in missiles and terror. We pulled out of Gaza - which by the way was ALWAYS part of Egypt - never Palestine - and we got thousands of missiles. We pulled out of Lebanon and we got the same. So tell me why the hell would we just pull out of the West Bank and give it to people with that kind of track record???
Negotiated borders do. You cant have it both ways. Not very original with your quotes,just quoting another Arab. Crying UN,the Arabs set the UN aside in this dispute on day one. You cant have it both ways.
excellent response. !! Happy New Year.
Why should we leave when every time we do we get rockets in return? We learned after the 3th time. Go suck a lemon.
The UN Partition Plan clearly envisioned two successor states, one it called the "Jewish state" and the other it called the "Arab state". There is no question that this territory belongs to that "Arab state", and it is merely a question of asking *who* is putting their hand up and claiming to represent that state. It ain't "Israel". It ain't "Jordan". Indeed, there is UNIVERSAL acceptance that the only entity that is capable of laying a claim to represent that "Arab state" is the PLO. You are simply in a minority of One in claiming otherwise.
Israel is still the occupying power with respect to the Gaza Strip. It has been (continuously) since 1967. Likewise the West Bank. Likewise the Golan Heights. It has been the occupying power in all those territories since 1967, which is why (and this may shock you) the UN still refers to them all as "the occupied territories" to this very day.
And summarily change the subject to distort the Truth. Wonder how our police force in the US would deal on such an occasion,let alone they do the same when trying to catch and subdue a CRIMINAL. A load of bull is spoken here merely to besmirch the IDF and Israel.This is a world wide phenomenon and I fear it will continue to be used.Particularely when dealing with dangerous crimininals.Ane these lot acted like CRIMINALS by attending (1000 i believe) among them the sick and very young.Why? To dissaminate more hate AND THEIR WISH IS to OUST Israel and take over the WHOLE COUNTRY.They said it,so the proof is up there in the article,not only todays but same as yesterday. Nuff said
Who dont keep diving down the whirlpool of disregard for whatever humanity stands for
Obviously nothing came of them
This country is for its citizens, who have certain obligations, including heeding police instructions. Why should we pay attention at all, at those who do not obey the law?
palestinians in the west bank aren't citizens of israel, and yet israel exercises absolute power over them. that's the very definition of an illegitimate regime, and in any other case, you'd probably insist that anybody being oppressed by a government they didn't elect has the right to resist by whatever means necessary. but when palestinians resist the illegal occupation of their land by an illegitimate government that takes from them but gives them no rights in return, they're the bad guys all of a sudden?