Cambridge based activist Mika who is working with the International Solidarity Movement in Palestine has sent us the following report...
This morning the Israeli military surrounded Balata Camp, setting up further roadblocks with bulldozers. After the bulldozers left, two jeeps and a tank remained at the entrance. We tried to stop the jeeps from shooting at passing Palestinians or schoolchildren throwing stones at the armoured vehicles.
As the soldiers didn't appear deterred by our presence next to the Palestinians, we approached them whenever the door opened. (the soldiers needed to open their door to shoot). At one point I saw a soldier aiming at several children and walked into his line of fire. He could see me pretty clearly, as he was 5 or 6 metres away, but pulled the trigger anyway. Luckily he wasn't shooting live ammo, but a strange explosive projectile which caught me on the elbow before exploding further back (never seen the thing before, that's why bad description). For some reason I only received a light bruise. Another international (a woman from the US) was hit with the same ammunition later.
Later on the soldiers were shooting live ammunition at the entrance of the camp and two of us (Ray Davis and m) were hit by small peaces of shrapnel. At one point the tank was trying to drive towards the camp, so we decided to block it, standing in front of it. Rather than brake, it accelerated into us, catching me and a Swede (Mani Asghari) on our chests. It continued to drive - we were only not crushed because we ran backwards until we could jump out of its path.
None of us were injured seriously, we only sustained cuts. There were no major Palestinian injuries either. The tank and jeeps remained near the camp froM round 7am until noon. Probably have some photos, definitely have some of us blocking a bulldozer in Balata on Friday.
I can be reached on either +972 59737118 or +972 66387331 or +972 65237229
Last Tuesday another international, Ulrika from Sweden, was shot in the
chest with a rubber bullet here in Balata Camp. 15 Palestinians were shot the same day in the camp, one died later that week.
This week we've had 3 Palestinians killed in Balata camp alone.
As the soldiers didn't appear deterred by our presence next to the Palestinians, we approached them whenever the door opened. (the soldiers needed to open their door to shoot). At one point I saw a soldier aiming at several children and walked into his line of fire. He could see me pretty clearly, as he was 5 or 6 metres away, but pulled the trigger anyway. Luckily he wasn't shooting live ammo, but a strange explosive projectile which caught me on the elbow before exploding further back (never seen the thing before, that's why bad description). For some reason I only received a light bruise. Another international (a woman from the US) was hit with the same ammunition later.
Later on the soldiers were shooting live ammunition at the entrance of the camp and two of us (Ray Davis and m) were hit by small peaces of shrapnel. At one point the tank was trying to drive towards the camp, so we decided to block it, standing in front of it. Rather than brake, it accelerated into us, catching me and a Swede (Mani Asghari) on our chests. It continued to drive - we were only not crushed because we ran backwards until we could jump out of its path.
None of us were injured seriously, we only sustained cuts. There were no major Palestinian injuries either. The tank and jeeps remained near the camp froM round 7am until noon. Probably have some photos, definitely have some of us blocking a bulldozer in Balata on Friday.
I can be reached on either +972 59737118 or +972 66387331 or +972 65237229
Last Tuesday another international, Ulrika from Sweden, was shot in the
chest with a rubber bullet here in Balata Camp. 15 Palestinians were shot the same day in the camp, one died later that week.
This week we've had 3 Palestinians killed in Balata camp alone.
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