Al-Shuhada Street
Shuhada Street, the main road leading to the Tomb of the Patriarchs, used to be the central wholesale market of the Hebron region, as its central location to the tomb, and the location of the bus station and police station, made it a natural gathering place.
The first settlement, being Kiryat Arba, was started in 1968 near the Cave of the Patriarchs, which is located a few hundred meters (yards) north of the Shuhada Street.
[11][12] In 2005, after the ACRI had petitioned the state, Israel presented to the High Court a "plan for protection of the Jewish community in Hebron", according to which Palestinians would be allowed to walk on the street, but the prohibition on opening shops and on vehicular traffic on the street would remain in force.
[13] In February 2007, Haaretz reported that six settler families had been living in caravans in an IDF camp in Shuhada Street for more than ten years.
[14] Dror Etkes of Peace Now described the situation as an "unhealthy coupling" that reflected the "growing distortion in the relations between the IDF and settlers".
[14] In April 2007, under public pressure, and the night before the Supreme Court would hear the case, the Civil Administration issued temporary permits to some Palestinian occupants to re-use their main entrance on the street.
[citation needed] Palestinian pedestrians are subject to frequent rigorous control by Israeli soldiers at the many checkpoints in and around the street, and in some parts completely banned from entering.
In April 2014, as reported by Ma'an, Jewish settlers invaded the home of Palestinian inhabitants of Shuhada Street, beat the family, and wounded Zidan Sharbati.
[15] Israeli photojournalist Rina Castelnuovo's photo for The New York Times showing a teenage settler throwing wine at a passing Palestinian woman before a Purim parade in Shuhada Street won 3rd prize in the General News category of the 2009 World Press Photo annual press photography contest.
[19][20] At the first demonstration on 25 February 2010, Hebron residents, Israeli activists and international volunteer groups were gathered, accompanied by press and political leaders.
After just a few minutes, about 150 meters (yards) from the Shuhada Street checkpoint, the IDF reportedly attacked the peaceful demonstration with sound bombs and tear gas.
[21] At the second demonstration on 25 February 2011, the non-violent protestors were met with tear gas, sound grenades, and rubber bullets.
[26] A cameraman for B’Tselem and a Palmedia journalist were, according to the organizers, shot in the head with rubber-coated steel bullets.
[28] On 10 August 2010, the Israeli army responded to the peaceful weekly demonstrations with collective punishment by closure of Palestinian shops near the start location and sealing the doors, after earlier threats.
They declared the area a “closed military zone” and threw, before leaving, a sound grenade amid the bystanders.
