Nablus Incursion, ISMer Injured w/ Nerve Toxin

Nablus Incursion, ISMer Injured w/ Nerve Toxin, ISMer detained,

Israeli Army Kills 1, Injures 7 During Incursion Into Nablus - Israeli Army Injures ISM Activist With Liquid Nerve Toxin - ISM Activist Detained by the Israeli Army

Israeli Army Kills 1, Injures 7 During Incursion Into Nablus Nablus April 26. 2003 On Saturday, April 26, 2003, the Israeli army moved into the Balata refugee camp in Nablus and killed one unarmed civilian and injured seven others. At approximately 11:00 AM, two tanks, one APC, one hummer, and three jeeps parked on Jerusalem St.

Kids began throwing stones at the vehicles, which were shooting at them.

The army had come to issue a demolition order for the home of the family of the shaheed responsible for the Kfar Saba bombing. The Israeli government has a policy of destroying the homes of suicide bombers contrary to the Geneva Conventions. It is a form of collective punishment.

On their way to the site, nine members of the International Solidarity Movement from US, France, So. Africa, Switzerland and Palestine saw two people carried out to taxis after being shot and learned that there were already 4 injuries.

They split up to approach the area from both sides and to help the UPMRC (United Palestinian Medical Relief Committee) and UHCC (Union of Health Care Committees) medics in the area. ISM members in Nablus have a policy of escorting local medics and thereby providing some level of protection for the medics to do their jobs.

One group crouched to where they could see the tanks, which were 30 meters away and pointed in their direction.

They slowly crossed the street with their hands out and joined the UPMRC medics behind their ambulance on the other side of the street and out of sight of Israeli guns. Kids were crowded in the mouths of alleyways and were throwing stones and shouting obscenities at the soldiers.

They tried to keep the children by the side of the road, as they are fearless and run into the streets to where the tanks can see them.

Within about 20 minutes, it seemed that the military vehicles had set out to leave. According to Laura, both groups decided to escort girls who were trying to get home from school. Both groups were also shot at while doing this.

Following the initiative of local medic teams, the first group began to escort some of the girls down the street. Unfortunately this meant heading towards the tanks. When the group got within 15 meters of the military, the army fired a canister of tear gas. Laura's group of 20 girls, 3 internationals, and 2 UPMRC workers were overcome by the gas and ran into a nearby stairwell to recover. The girls were incredibly shaken and began crying.

After a few minutes the group ventured out with the girls at the initiation of the UPMRC. They had walked only a few feet when the tank began shooting live rounds very near them, hitting at least one person with shrapnel.

Everyone dove to the side of the street and into the stairwell to avoid fire. After a minute, the group attempted the same thing and was fired at again. The medics were desperate to get the girls out of this area and home. So a third attempt was made. This time the group managed to successfully get the girls safely to their homes.

The second group had basically the same experience as Laura's. Both groups met up again a few blocks down from Jerusalem Street. Several of the activists decided to go escort more schoolchildren home. The remainder went back to continue supporting the medics.

For more information contact: Laura 054 635 622

Israeli Army Injures ISM Activist with Liquid Nerve Toxin

Tulkaram Radhika 26 Apr 03 [Tulkaram Refugee Camp, TULKARAM] Israeli soldiers fired an unidentified liquid nerve toxin on ISM volunteers late Saturday night as they attempted to reach a Palestinian home occupied by Israeli forces, lightly injuring one volunteer. At approximately 10:30PM Saturday night seven ISM volunteers (American, British, Irish, Italian, and Palestinian) arrived on the scene of Israeli military harassment of Palestinian civilians in the Tulkaram refugee camp.

A civilian home had been occupied by Israeli forces, which forced ten people, four of whom are children, into a room. The ISM volunteers witnessed, through a keyhole, numerous soldiers instructing the families to keep quiet and leading them into another room.

The volunteers asked the army to open the door so they could check if the family was alright. Volunteers also reminded the soldiers that their actions were in violation of international law.

While the ISM volunteers attempted to reach the family, an army jeep pulled up to the narrow alleyway where they were standing. The soldiers fired an unidentified substance at them, which hit one of the activists in the eye causing him to lose consciousness several times.

An ambulance arrived on the scene and took him to the Thabt Thabt hospital where doctors said he had been injured by a liquid nerve toxin. As of today, he has not regained the use of his eye.

Soldiers eventually left the occupied house at 4AM, after forcing the three families living there to stay in one room for six hours. The family members include a one and a half year old baby, and two senior citizens aged 65 and 75, one of whom is afflicted with a bladder ailment.

Because the soldiers limit bathroom visits the elderly man reported being forced to wet himself repeatedly. This was the fourth time in two weeks that the Israeli Army has occupied the house. For more information call: Radhika 00 972 475 663

ISM Activist Detained by the Israeli Army

Asira Checkpoint near Nablus April 27, 2003 At 1:00 PM today April 27, 2003, the Israeli army detained Jerome, an activist with the International Solidarity Movement. Jerome was with a group from ISM who were monitoring the Asira checkpoint near Nablus.

The army was shouting and shooting at people who were avoiding the checkpoint by crossing a nearby valley. There were also 20 to 25 people detained at the checkpoint for at least two hours, after which they were given back their ID's and told to go home.

Jerome attempted to investigate the situation by engaging the soldiers in dialogue. The military response was hostile.

One soldier threatened Jerome with arrest if he did not go away. When he did not move, he was handcuffed and made to sit with the Palestinians who were not being allowed to pass through the checkpoint.

Fifteen minutes later, a jeep pulled up carrying a captain who then took Jerome into custody without allowing other activists to accompany him. They did allow him to pass his camera off to one of the other activists and also promised not to beat him.

The army then released him by dropping him off approximately 2 km down the road, allowing him to walk back.

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