It only crucifies the civilians

Marcus Armstrong in Nablus 5 July 2002

Dear all

Thank you so much for all your mails of support, they have really helped. There is a lot to report, I'll try to be as brief as possible.

It's just so insane out here - some of the things I'm seeing part of me can't believe, and I'm here.

After I emailed last on wed, a group of us went to the funeral of two suspected Hamas members who had been killed by the Israeli army. One had more than 50 bullit holes in his body and the other had been burned to a crisp. There was no evidence produced, no arrest, hearing or trial, they just "believed" them to be terrorists. Either way these are obscene ways to die.

The curfew had been lifted until around 4pm so 5 of us decided to visit an occupied house. These are houses, usually high on hillsides, that offer strategic views of the town. The israeli army occupies the roof and top floor as a lookout and locks the families in the ground floor or basement and doesn't allow them out. So we try to get in and see them and take supplies and check they are okay. We took a taxi some of the way until we turned a corner and saw a tank and then had to go on by foot. There was a tank, an armoured patrol car (apc) and some troops there. When we had gotten half way up the road the tank and apc started up and drove straight at us. We jumped into the bushes and they drove straight past and into town. I think we just turned up when they were going somewhere. We talked with the troops for ages but they would not let us go near the house, it was very upsetting, we could see the children peeking out of the windows, they have been locked in for nearly two weeks. Eventually we had to give up and leave as the curfew was on again and the troops were threatening us with arrest. We did manage to wave to them, I hope it meant something that we had tried.

On the way back we came across a patrol who shot over our heads and around us and drove on laughing, they didn't even stop to check our id or ask who we were. I never feared they would shoot us, but the gunshots were shocking, and emotionally it was upsetting to think that people would do this to scare us and have a laugh.

What with so much to do when the curfew was lifted most of us forgot to stock up on things especially food and water. I had my first proper meal today since monday and there is no more bottled water so we are having to drink tap water, some of us are sick, I only have the runs. The Palestinians are having to live with this permanently.

Later that evening I went to join an ambulance team for their night shift, to accompany them for security, I have no medical experience at all! It was an amazing experience, and I think the only good thing about the curfew is that as the streets are empty we could get to people and get them to hospital in no time. It seemed like a long night but the crews were fun and we had a good laugh in among all the sadness. They were so grateful at us being there, that someone cared and they were not totally forgotten. I felt so ashamed at what our government is not doing, and our support for the US. They asked me why the eyes of the world are closed, all I could say was that I didn't know, I was so very sorry, and we are trying to open them.

Well, we had a few broken limbs, two heart attacks/hypertensions, two mums in labour and one guy with gallstones who we took to three hospitals who all sent him away because they said it was not serious enough.

Luckily I didn't see too much blood because most times when I do I tend to find myself thinking "shouldn't that be on the inside" before passing out. The scariest bit was going to get one mum and coming up against a tank in the way just before the house. So we slowly got out and went to talk with the soldiers, eventually they came out told us to put our hands up and marched us up to the tank with guns at our backs, I did wonder if this is where it would all end. But when I said I was British it all changed and they had a chat with me about where I was from in England and and why I was there. I guess it felt more scary because of the dark. The buggers didn't move their bloody tank though, we had to go around it and nearly got stuck. Anyway, mum got to hospital okay and before giving birth, which was good as it was very late and I'm not sure I could have coped.

I slept most of Thursday and did another night with the ambulance teams on Thu night. I have been holding back the tears a lot here in order to function, although I can feel them building up. I can't make sense of these things at all and have largely given up. I just want to do as much as I can as well as I can and get through this in one piece.

Nablus seems pretty quiet right now, I only heard a few gunshots and one incident of shelling last night. However, the bush caught fire next to the ambulance station and the fire brigade had to come and quickly put it out before it got the whole hillside which they did thank goodness, and one mbulance broke it's engine on some large rocks which was not good news as there are not enough anyways. My driver has been living at the station in Nablus for months, he cannot get home to see his family because of the checkpoints.

This morning, Friday, we had organised a demo from the old town to be led by women. There must have been about about 30 internationals and 70 Palestinians. We didn't know what the army would do, If anything, they are so unpredictable. I have never met such brave women, men and children who joined us, they were literally risking their lives to come and hold banners with us and march. It was a great success, the press got some good stuff and we didn't see the army at all.

After the demo I was asked to go to a refugee camp called Al Fara about 2 hours from Nablus as there was only 1 international left there today as the others had to leave. I felt a bit nervous to say yes but did. Half of us left Nablus today to go home which felt sad.

Me and a guy called Oliver set out for the refugee camp where I think I will be now until I leave. It all seems a bit daunting, but I guess the three of us are better than nothing. The walk there felt very painful. The Israelis have dug up the road in eight places between Nablus and the refugee camp, surely once would have been enough? and where they did it near houses they took the time to rupture the drains and water supplies to the estates, so these people are locked in their houses under curfew, with raw sewage spilling out down their roads and no clean water supply. Why? It's not like the Palestinians have an army for the Israelis to stop. It will take so long to make this good and it only crucifies the civilians.

I don't know how to describe the situation here at all. It's so absurd. There are 5,000 people in the camp, a generator and a sports club which used to be a British prison, and the three of us are trying to protect it all from the Israeli army. It feels a bit isolated.

Tonight we will camp outside the prison near the generator and main entrance to the camp and try to stop the army shelling the prison and generator by our presence, and confront any patrols who try to enter the camp. It's so hysterical. We have one torch each. The British guy who was already here is a scream. We brought a loudhailer for him. He is a retired ex public school teacher and he shouts at the Israeli troops through it and talks to them like children, and they seem to be a little scared of him, and he seems to be having a grand time. I really don't know whether to laugh or weep a lot of the time. It's like a world gone mad. But the Palestinians insist the attacks have more or less stopped since internationals have been here. I never thought I would see the inside of a British prison over here! Still, it does feel familiar. And the children are so special.

During the day we will be mainly going to surrounding villages and documenting the human rights abuses, photographing the damage and taking witness accounts for the UN etc. There are no internationals in any of the villages so they have suffered badly, many have been totally flattened and their people have come to the camp. There are also plenty of roads to repair and we have a bulldozer which I hope to get to drive. The camp is not under curfew and is bustling, and there is food and water.

So, there it is. I don't know what else to say, except please circulate this anywhere you like. What else can you do? Well, write to your Mp, Blair and the Israeli consulate expressing your feelings about the human rights abuses going on here. Boycott all isreali and US goods, say prayers and send love across our sad and wondrous planet to these brave people living here.

Sending my love and best wishes to you all

In peace

Marcus

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Vredessite | Palestina alert 2002 Ooggetuigen