Internationals shot by Israeli Occupation Force in Nablus ,West Bank

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Saturday October 25, 2003 01:23

by Aron Baker

baker_aron at hotmail dot com

Balata Refugee Camp, Palestine

087 2895036

This evening friday 24th, Oct, 2 internationals were shot and injured by the Israeli occupation force in Balata refuggee camp.

This evening the Isreali Occupation Force came to the refugee camp and we went down to help protect the boys as best we may. The internatioals were mainly near the entrance (about 6 of them) but I hung back with a more nervous hesitant girl, as I was also nervous, although am getting used to it. We are sure the army knew of the presence of internationals in this immediate area. The army did some shooting, then somehow cut the power. The girl I was with wanted to go to the toilet so I walked her back, while I was away the soldiers reentered the camp. They were again shooting. 2 of the internationals, friends of mine called Mark from the USA and Jeremy from Australia, were shot. They were standing beside a thin concrete block wall and a bullet or several punched through the wall. Mark was hit in 1 leg in the upper section, knocking him off his feet. Jeremy was hit in both upper legs and the bullet lodged in his right leg. I watched the doctor pull it out in the hospital. Neither wounds are life threatening and hopefully Mark will be up and around in a few days, Jeremy may have muscle damage in atleast 1 leg but I'm not a doctor and I think it is too early to tell. We left them both in high spirits in the hospital. I volunteered to contact their chosen contact people or next of kin to inform them of the situation. Full details will follow, possibly their own accounts as well as an update on their conditions.