A report back from the Easton Cowgirls and Cowboys trip to the occupied territories of the West Bank in May this year.
The Easton Cowgirls and Cowboys sports club travelled to the occupied territories of the West Bank in May this year to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.

We met and played sport with people living in Zone C of the West Bank. Israel has complete administrative and military control of Zone C and people living in these areas have a particularly difficult time as a result.

The Palestinians we visited were generally living in tents or temporary structures with no mains electricity or running water. No Palestinian in Zone C is allowed to build anything without permission from the Israeli government and this is rarely given. Structures built without a permit are demolished. We visited one village where a school had been built and destroyed several times.

All of the places we visited were within spitting distance of illegal Israeli settlements. The settlements were built to modern standards with electricity, street lighting and running water. Building work in the settlements continued whilst we were there despite a freeze on building.

We stayed at a village called Susiya for a few days. The location of the village had changed a number of times over recent decades. This was not through choice. Villagers were forced to move when a site of Jewish historical interest was discovered underneath them. They were forced to move again when their village was burned as punishment for an attack on an Israeli settler by a Palestinian. The perpetrator did not come from the village.

In a village close to Susiya we were told about the problems encountered by children walking to and from school every day. The children were being attacked by settlers on their journey to the school in the next village. Soldiers from the IDF were ordered to accompany them to prevent this from happening but generally only escorted them half way. An international peacekeeping organisation had consequently settled in the area to escort the children.

The message we got from the people we met was that Palestinians feel isolated. There is a sense that there is little support from the international community and that nothing is being done to challenge the illegal occupation. We found that playing sport with people was a great way to show solidarity and to experience the reality of day to day life under an illegal occupation. We were asked to tell people our experience to try to galvanise opposition to the occupation.

We are giving a talk about the trip at Easton community centre on Wednesday 3rd November 7.30pm. We hope to discuss ways forward and practical action we can all take to try to end the occupation.