Gaza protesters were physically attacked – the police report the incident – NRK Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio

– I was restless and shaken, said Asmaa Jama.

On Saturday afternoon, she was attacked when she was in front of a demonstration train in the center of Stavanger in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

– It happened so fast. Suddenly I see a man coming towards me. He grabs the flagpole and is aggressive, Jama tells NRK.

The event was filmed and posted on the Palestinian Committee’s Instagram account in the city.

The video shows a young man trying to snatch a large Palestinian flag from the woman in front of the demonstration train.

In addition, the man shouts “this is Europe”, and on the way he shows the Nazi salute and the victory “Sieg Heil”.

He goes on with a woman, and both shout obscenities on the train, the video shows.

He apparently hit a woman in the head

Jama said she refused to let go of the flagpole.

– I was surprised. My five-year-old son was very scared, she says.

It is also said that the woman who accompanied the man attacked demonstrators and hit Sandra Pedersen in the head with a metal thermos.

This is not caught on video, but NRK is told about this Zaher Hammoudeh, who filmed the flag event. Asmaa Jama, who carried the flag, and Pedersen himself say the same thing.

Pedersen sits on the board of the Palestine Committee in Stavanger.

Jama said Pedersen came over to help her when the man attacked her.

– Then his friend comes and hits her on the head with a thermos, says Jama.

Police are investigating possible bodily harm

Pedersen felt nauseous and sick afterwards. She was first at the emergency room, and then at the hospital’s emergency department to be checked out.

– I don’t feel well, said Pedersen to NRK at 8.45pm.

Hammoudeh is with Pedersen in the hospital, and he says that he has reported the matter to the police.

Operations manager Helen Rygg Ims in the Sørvest police district tells NRK that they have received a police report about the case.

They have interviewed Hammoudeh, and will question Pedersen later.

– We are opening a case about possible bodily harm, and we have received the videos, says Ims.

– inappropriate physical attacks

– It was scary to get to know, says Hammoudeh.

He said Pedersen had other plans tonight.

– But it looks like she will have to stay in the hospital for a long time. It’s very stupid, he says.

– We are walking peacefully to show our protest against the genocide in Gaza, and I don’t think it is right that this is happening. I’m a little proud that none of the protesters did anything to them, but let them go, says Hammoudeh.

The head of the Palestinian Committee in Stavanger, Ingebreth Forus, is upset.

– Physical attacks against a peaceful demonstration are unacceptable, he says.

Forus didn’t see what happened, because he was left in the square to clean up after a signal there before the train.

Neither he nor Hammoudeh know who the man and woman are who allegedly attacked the demonstrators. In the video they speak English.

Now they hope the police will find out who it is.

The Ims operations manager does not currently know who the two suspects are, but says there is hope because you can clearly see their faces on the videos.

NRK also does not know the identity of the two, and has not contacted them.

Such a thing had never been experienced before

The Palestine Committee has organized demonstrations to support the Palestinians in Gaza since last autumn, but they have not experienced similar physical attacks before, says Forus.

– We have received bad words from some. We accept that very well, but physical attacks and personal injuries, there is a limit, he says.

Forus believes that they will need more police guards in the future.

– We organize peaceful demonstrations. We need to talk to the police and talk our way to more relevant police protection. Today we did not see the police. They are usually present, says Forus.

The manager of Ims operations in the South West police area says that she does not know if they were present at the demonstration on Saturday, but that they are considering from time to time whether they will be there.