Wed, 3 Nov 2004 07:04:21 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Assassinations in Nablus
From: kelly@riseup.net
To: kelly@riseup.netAssasinations in Nablus
Our first week back in Balata, despite being filled with the undertones of loss and helplessness, was comparatively fairly festive. Every night we ate gorgeous 'fatour' (breaking fast) dinners and stayed awake until 3:00 a.m. visiting old friends, drinking tea and catching up on seven months away from the camp. We were only visited three times by soldiers; twice during the night and once during the day. One day, two jeeps and a bulldozer drove partially into the camp, shebab threw stones at them, and the soldiers shot back. It was all as I remembered it, except that the children seem to be less afraid and more willing to risk their lives to resist.
After this week of relative 'peace' we were jolted into reality Monday morning (November 1st). We simultaneously learned that there was a bomb in Tel Aviv and that soldiers were invading Askar Refugee Camp.
The bomber, 16-year old Amr Alfar was from Askar. Many people were speaking about the fact that Amr's uncle that was killed by the IOF a year ago. In retaliation to the bombing (or, just because the IOF was given an excuse to do so), the 15,000 residents of Askar were put under curfew the entire day. During this day-long invasion, the camp was held under siege; no one was allowed in or out while the army jeeps patrolled the streets. Early in the afternoon, 12 year-old Bashar Zabara was killed as he stood on the street with other children.
Later in the evening after fatour a small street fight broke out in downtown Nablus. It is still unconfirmed exactly how or why, but three fighters who were hiding in the old city approached the scene. Ten Israeli soldiers (special forces), dressed as Palestinian women, pulled out guns from their clothing and opened fire upon the group of men, killing three immediately. The three victims, Majdi Muarai, 25-year-old Wajdi Abu Salha, and 20 year old Fadi Asaruan were members of Kita'ab, Fateh's armed resistance wing. Two other men were also injured in the attack.
Monday night, at 3:00 a.m. the IOF demolished Amr's family home in Askar. The family, anticipating this action, had already removed all furniture and belongings from the home. With the exception of the father, the other 11 people from the home were sleeping at a cousin's house in the camp. Internationals stayed with the father in his home that night to help to protect him from any brutality. The same night, at the same time, two other homes were also destroyed; one in Rujeib (a village inside of Nablus) and one in Beit Furik (a village outside of Nablus). The army stated that members of the armed resistance of PFLP lived in these homes.
The next morning Israeli soldiers invaded the Red Crescent (the Arab equivalent of a national Red Cross) office in Nablus, stating they were looking for the two other men injured in the assassination the night before. Later in the day on Tuesday Israeli armed forces invaded Rafidiya hospital, the largest hospital in Nablus. They detained and interrogated medical volunteers and doctors. From Tuesday evening until now (Wednesday evening) the hospital is being held under siege.
In solidarity,
Kelly