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Israeli shoot-to-kill policy against peace-activists national |
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news report
 Monday April 14, 2003 09:53 by kokomero
 Not content with bulldozing the Israelis shoot two peace activists in head in one week For all of Sharons talk there now appears to be an Israeli shoot-to-kill policy against peace-activists in addition to their shameful record of shooting Palestinian civilians as evidenced by the shooting in the head of two peace activists in the past week. A British peace activist was shot in the head yesterday as he tried to help a Palestinian woman and her children flee Israeli gunfire. Last week, Brian Avery, 24, another activist from New Mexico, was shot in the face by Israeli soldiers in Jenin. The Israelis refuse to comment on the "investigations" into these attempted murders as well as that of Rachel Corrie, no doubt in the hope of "managing" the release of the reports at an opportune time for Israel. British activist shot in head by Israeli troops Student peace worker suffers suspected brain damage in attack while protecting Palestinian family in Gaza Strip Conal Urquhart in Jerusalem A British peace activist was shot in the head yesterday as he tried to help a Palestinian woman and her children flee Israeli gunfire. According to doctors at Rafah Hospital, he is believed to have suffered brain damage. Alice Coy, 27, a peace activist from London, said that their group had been on their way to pitch a tent by a mosque yesterday afternoon. They planned to try to prevent an Israeli tank repeating its nightly routine of taking position at the mosque and firing down the street. "As we approached the mosque, several shots landed in the street around us," she said. "We took cover behind a mound of earth. "Most of the Palestinians around us had run away, but there was a woman with her two children stuck in front of us. I looked up and Tom was moving towards them in his orange vest. "I imagine he was trying to take them to safety. Then he was shot in the head by a single bullet, I believe from an Israeli watchtower." The Israeli army said that it could not comment because the incident was still under investigation. Last month a US activist, Rachel Corrie, 23, was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer. She too was wearing an orange vest when she knelt in front of the vehicle, but it kept going. The Israeli army is still investigating. Last week, Brian Avery, 24, another activist from New Mexico, was shot in the face by Israeli soldiers in Jenin. A spokesman for the International Solidarity Movement - the group which had trained Mr Hurndall in non-violent resistance - alleged that the Israeli army had embarked on a campaign against its activists. "It now seems like it is open season on international peace activists," he said. "They just want us out so they can get on with their business without international observation." Mr Hurndall, 21, from Tufnell Park, London, was studying photography at Manchester Metropolitan University. At the end of February he went to Iraq to join the human shields in Baghdad but left before the war. He arrived in the West Bank on April 4 and completed a training course at ISM's headquarters near Bethlehem. The ISM has activists operating all over the West Bank and Gaza who come to the region from around the world to try to act as a buffer between the Israeli army and settlers and Palestinians. Their activities range from protecting the olive harvest to escorting children to school. They often work with Israeli human rights groups. Their presence is a source of annoyance to the Israeli army and they are often arrested and beaten up. Last November an Irish activist, Ciaomhe Butterly, 23, was shot in the leg in Jenin after talking to soldiers. She was deported. Palestinians are regularly killed by gunfire in Rafah. It is situated next to the Israeli-controlled border with Egypt, through which Palestinian smugglers attempt to tunnel to import goods and weapons. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are active in the town. The Israeli army is widening the buffer zone between homes in Rafah and the security fence, a task that has involved the demolition of hundreds of homes. According to Tom Wallace of the ISM, Mr Hurndall was part of a group of activists on their way to set up a tent by a mosque in the Jibna area of Rafah. On Thursday morning, two brothers aged 19 and 15 had been shot by Israeli soldiers as they approached the mosque. Mr Wallace said the activists wanted to "challenge the army's nighttime terrorism". "In addition to preventing sporadic shooting, the activists hope to help the residents of Jibna to pray in peace," he said. Raphael Cohen, 37, a computer programmer from London who lives in Cairo, said he had met Mr Hurndall recently. "He is a fantastic person and a very passionate photographer," Mr Cohen said. "He was documenting the daily life of Rafah, not just the bad stuff. "He was very excited about being in Rafah. He came here to help people and that is what he was doing every day."
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Comments (5 of 5)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5Do you ever write anything that's NOT "Israel-bad"?
This description of events seems to be leaving one little detail out.
At what or at whom was the Israeli sniper firing at BEFORE Tom went out to bring back the children pinned down by this firing? The way this description reads there was no other target (besides the children) who was being shielded by Tom's action. The children are described as simply being bystanders, not the target of the shooting. So who ELSE was there? Or are we to believe this was simply an Israeli cooking off rounds at nothing for no reason in particular?
A single shot from a distance as reported by the Guardian, denotes an aimed shot. This is even more true when the shot hits the head which presents an even smaller target than the body. A single aimed shot indicates the intention to murder in my book!
We are no strangers to this kind of "accident" in Ireland, for instance Aidan McAnespie was shot "accidentally" from 300m range in Aughnacloy Co. Tyrone while on his way to play football by a single shot from a gun which apparently being "cleaned".
The soldier responsible was later acquitted of manslaughter ... surprise, surprise! His family still awaits justice 15 years on (http://www.relativesforjustice.com/victims/victims_state_mc.htm)!
In answer to the other question I post on more than Israel, however the apalling plight of the Palestinians is close to my heart and as long as the Israelis provide me with such a rich source of material by their murder and repression I shall continue to post, as is my right.
There will be a vigil outside the Israeli embassy on Wednesday (16th April) at 7.00pm to commemorate Rachel and the 21 Palestinians killed in the bulldozing or explosion of Palestinian homes by the Israeli occupation forces.
See link below for details.
A lot of interesting information on the whole issue of house demolitions in Palestine can be found on the website of the Israeli Campaign against House Demolitions http://www.icahd.org
The parents of the British peace activist critically wounded by Israeli troops last week while helping Palestinian children cross a Gaza street, yesterday visited the refugee camp where he was shot.
Tom Hurndall, 21, who has severe head injuries, is being treated in an Israeli hospital. He was working with the International Solidarity Movement, which places activists as "human shields" around the West Bank and Gaza.
"I feel enormously proud of Tom taking a stand," his mother, Jocelyn, said.