Three days ago, we were called down in the morning to Al Fawwar refugee camp, and spent 8 hours there witnessing a massive military invasion of the place. Soldiers going from door to door (with a dog in some cases), entering homes and destroying things, using people's homes as military vantage points and putting entire families there are at risk, even denying entry to a UN vehicle (but letting me and my fellow activist in since we said we are tourists and they believed us, but not before telling us "be careful"). All cars denied entry, snipers stationed in the hills surrounding the place, drones flying overhead. Massive clashes between Palestinian young men and teenagers and kids with slingshots facing off soldiers and specially trained Border Police who used rubber bullets and live ammo, as well as of course teargas and stun grenades. By the time we left the camp (we arrived at 9 AM and left around 5 PM) there were were 15 wounded people, all Palestinian. By the time we left, the number of wounded had risen to 40 and there was a fatality, a 17 year old Palestinian kid who was shot through the heart with a live round.
For my first time in Palestine, I think I may have been actually shot at. I was filming from a side totally opposite to the rock throwers and there was a loud "thud" noise by the plastic trash can beside me, it turns out it was a rubber bullet. Many of the soldiers in the camp that day were from Hebron and we definitely recognized each other. They swore at a Palestinian family who hosted us on their rooftop, and one of them aimed his rifle at us. It could have been a ricochet or bad aim but part of me can't help wondering... lol for the sanity of my parents who follow my blog also, I am not including that part until after I get home
The official reason given for the raid was searching for weapons. I kind of feel that if the people there had weapons they would have used them at the time, not rocks.
I have seen many terrible things happen in Palestine during my last 4 times here, never something like this. A completely co-ordinated, professional assault, involving hundreds of soldiers, against a population of civilians.
It was so completely evil and disgusting, I will never be able to forget it. Wrote an article as well as included videos and photos on the blog, please share and distribute if you can and would be willing, I think people should know about this...
http://workingforjustice123.blogspot.com/2016/08/its-not-very-quiet-there-invasion-of-al.html
http://workingforjustice123.blogspot.com/2016/08/it-is-very-unpleasant-there-invasion-of_17.html
http://workingforjustice123.blogspot.com/2016/08/it-is-very-unpleasant-there-invasion-of_69.html
For my first time in Palestine, I think I may have been actually shot at. I was filming from a side totally opposite to the rock throwers and there was a loud "thud" noise by the plastic trash can beside me, it turns out it was a rubber bullet. Many of the soldiers in the camp that day were from Hebron and we definitely recognized each other. They swore at a Palestinian family who hosted us on their rooftop, and one of them aimed his rifle at us. It could have been a ricochet or bad aim but part of me can't help wondering... lol for the sanity of my parents who follow my blog also, I am not including that part until after I get home
The official reason given for the raid was searching for weapons. I kind of feel that if the people there had weapons they would have used them at the time, not rocks.
I have seen many terrible things happen in Palestine during my last 4 times here, never something like this. A completely co-ordinated, professional assault, involving hundreds of soldiers, against a population of civilians.
It was so completely evil and disgusting, I will never be able to forget it. Wrote an article as well as included videos and photos on the blog, please share and distribute if you can and would be willing, I think people should know about this...
http://workingforjustice123.blogspot.com/2016/08/its-not-very-quiet-there-invasion-of-al.html
http://workingforjustice123.blogspot.com/2016/08/it-is-very-unpleasant-there-invasion-of_17.html
http://workingforjustice123.blogspot.com/2016/08/it-is-very-unpleasant-there-invasion-of_69.html
