Update on Nablus Alert! We Need Your Help!
British, Austrian, United States and German Arrested by Israeli Army:
Hooded, Hand-cuffed and Threatened with Beatings by Israeli Soldiers
"You won't recognize your own faces," warned an Israeli soldier
In Balata refugee camp, Saturday evening approximately 7:00pm, four internationals, from Germany, the United Kingdom,
the United States and Austria entered a home that had been occupied by the Israeli Army last week. The had come to bring
water, food and medicine for the Walweel family. They were accompanied by a Palestinian medic. The four were immediately
grabbed by Israeli soldiers occupying the home.
Tom Greenwood, from Manningtree, United Kingdom, Uwe Claussnitzer, from Germany, Aaron Kuller from the United States and
Franz Bortenschager, from Sensftenbach, Austria, had hoods placed over their heads and their hands tied behind their
backs. The Israeli soldiers then forced the three internationals to kneel with their heads against a wall of the house.
They remained in this position for an hour. When they tried to speak the Israeli soldiers told them "to shut-up" and if
they spoke they would bash their heads into the wall and wouldn't recognize their own faces.
After one hour of being forced to kneel with their hands tied and heads hooded, Israeli jeeps arrived, threw teargas and
concussion grenades toward the house and then took Tom, Uve and Franz away in a military jeep. It is not known as to
where they have been taken.
Aaron, from the United States, was released. The Israeli soldiers told him that he was "the lucky one." He was ordered
to go to Huwara police station and if he did not show-up, the soldier told Aaron, "we will find you and beat the ….out
of you." After the three were taken away a 13 year-old boy was shot in the mouth by an Israeli soldier and an UMPRC
ambulance was fired upon with live ammunition. A medic was shot in the chest at close range with a rubber bullet. At
least eight have been injured today.
Balata Camp has been invaded and occupied by the Israeli Army, houses have been occupied and ransacked and civilians
killed and injured in the past week. The old city in Nablus was also invaded at 2:00am this morning where internationals
are witnessing the violence and attempting to secure the safety of the numerous families with homes occupied and
property destroyed.
Please call the Israeli Army: Demand they release the three internationals and end the killing and injuring of civilians
and destruction of Palestinian homes in Nablus and surrounding refugee camps.
Israeli Army Telephone Numbers:
country code: 972
IDF DCO Nablus 2 5486301 and 2 5486302 and Ofer Mey 56-234017 IDF DCL Nablus 2 5486218 fax 2 5486218 and David Glass 56
23 4181 Raeid Mantzor 2 9400086 mobile 51 785482 Itay Lipkovitz 2 5486218 mobile 56 234167 HQ GA in Territories 3
6977621 or 3 6977622 or 3 6977623
(if calling within the Occupied Palestinian Territories or within Israel you must put a "0" before the number)
For eyewitness reports and additional information:
Saif: 972-54-439-2184 or 972-59-280-418 (Arabic, Spanish and English) Kole: 972-59-737-118 Aaron: 972-59-276-065
(detained and released) ISM Media Office: 972-277-4602 or 972-547-358-579