IN PICTURES: Palestinian women march on Qalandia to protest Israeli occupation

Hundreds of Palestinian women from various parts of the West Bank gather one day before International Women Day to protest against the occupation (MEE/Anne Paq and Ahmad Al-Bazz)

Palestinian women shout ‘Occupation go home’ and ‘Viva the 8th of March’ while marching to the Qalandiya checkpoint (MEE/Anne Paq and Ahmad Al-Bazz)

The demonstration was organized by various Palestinian women organizations (MEE/Anne Paq and Ahmad Al-Bazz)

When they arrived at the Qalandiya checkpoint, Palestinian women tried to climb over a fence closed by Israeli soldiers (MEE/Anne Paq and Ahmad Al-Bazz)

According to human rights organization Adameer, over the last 45 years, an estimated 10,000 Palestinian women have been arrested and/or detained under Israeli military orders (MEE/Anne Paq and Ahmad Al-Bazz)

A Palestinian woman confronts Israeli soldiers who prevented the march from continuing (MEE/Anne Paq and Ahmad Al-Bazz)

Demonstrators were attacked by tear gas, pepper spray, stun grenades. Several women were evacuated to hospitals (MEE/Anne Paq and Ahmad Al-Bazz)

Palestinian woman fell unconscious when she inhaled tear gas (MEE/Anne Paq and Ahmad Al-Bazz)

“People outside must see that Palestinian women suffer both from the occupation, and from restrictions in our society. We must defend our rights,” said Rahma, a 58-year-old who demonstrated (MEE/Anne Paq and Ahmad Al-Bazz)

Israeli soldiers advance into Qalandiya refugee camp to prevent demonstrators from returning (MEE/Anne Paq and Ahmad Al-Bazz)

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