Today
soldiers began to round up all of the men and boys between the
ages of 15 and 50 at the Amaari refugee camp in Ramallah. I accompanied
around 20 international peace activists into the camp in an attempt
to lower the level of violence being implemented against the population.
I observed
many small pockets of men being held at different locations around
the refugee camp. In one large field there were around 200 men
being held.
Our group
decided to split up in order to be able to cover more territory
and myself along with three other activists began to navigate
the narrow alleyways observing soldiers going home to home with
several soldiers entering each, often having to sledge hammer
in the doors. Occasional explosions in the area made the tense
situation worse. Women and children looked out of their homes
and were very grateful for our presence, sometimes inviting us
in to look at the damage done by the soldiers, offering us beverages.
Even
in this situation hospitality was the rule. We witnessed one home
that had been taken over by Israeli Soldiers who were enjoying
the World Cup game in their confiscated living room. We observed
several homes the soldiers had taken over at least one with a
Palestinian man and we were informed, a baby girl that we believe
were being held hostage inside. At one point an elderly man was
being forced to walk ahead of the soldiers as a shield but was
released when I informed the soldiers they were in flagrant violation
of international law. In this same area a small baby was made
to be out in the narrow alleyway along with her grandmother while
the Soldiers occupied the house. There were approximately 12 soldiers
guns at the ready, pointed in all directions with this small baby
sitting in the street.
A few
meters away there was a young girl about 4 years of age obviously
terrified wanting her mother but the soldiers were in her home
and all around it's entrance. She held my hand and hid behind
my leg until a young woman from the neighborhood also obviously
frightened came and escorted her away.
Throughout
the day soldiers forced all of the international observers to
leave. Soon after the incident with the little girl those same
soldiers chose to forcibly remove myself and the other three international
observers from the area. When we challenged the authority they
had to do this my arm was taken and twisted behind my back and
another soldier attempted to put plastic handcuffs on me. I managed
to squirm free but one of my companions was put in handcuffs and
we seemed to have no choice but to get in the military jeep or
be physically forced in. We were driven out of the refugee camp
to the outskirts of Ramallah where some boys through rocks at
the jeep and the soldiers jumped out and promptly responded with
gunfire. We were unable to see if any of the children were wounded.
We were dropped off just outside Ramallah and warned not to return.
