The regular clashes here came more sharply into the international spotlight when a U.S. citizen named Tristan Anderson, of Oakland, California was struck in the head by a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces on 13 March 2009, during demonstrations against the barrier.
De tilbagevendende sammenstød kom for alvor i det internationale søgelys da en amerikansk statsborger, Tristan Anderson fra Oakland Californien, blev ramt i hovedet af en tåregasgranat affyret af israelske besættelsesstyrker under en demonstration d. 13. marts 2009.