http://jerusalem.indymedia.org/news/2002/04/14675.php
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News from international observers in Nablus
by Andrew Gray * Wednesday April 17, 2002 at 01:35 AM
International observers were threatened and attacked in Nablus yesterday,
when returning from Balata refugee camp. IDF soldiers attempted to
separate the Internationals and the Palestinians.
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ATTACKED BY ISRAELI SOLDIERS IN NABLUS
British observer reports from Nablus, where his team were beaten
and threatened while trying to protect Palestinian medics.
Nablus still a military zone, main hospital being shelled.
An observer from North East England suffered cuts and grazes and one of
his British colleagues was badly beaten today, when they tried to protect
a group of Palestinians in Nablus, on the West Bank. The observers'
cameras and mobile phones were smashed and a stun grenade was used, while
Israeli soldiers tried to force the Internationals to leave behind a small
group of Palestinian medics.
Adam Conway, from Morpeth in Northumberland, UK, was returning from the
Balata refugee camp in Nablus, with about 24 other international
observers and 6 Palestinians, both women and men, when they were stopped
by soldiers and military police. The whole group had been allowed
through the checkpoint earlier in the day, to take food and medical
supplies into Balata. On being refused access to the nearby camp of
Askar, they were returning to the city centre when they were stopped.
Speaking over a poor telephone line this afternoon (Tuesday), Adam
explained how the soldiers had attempted to separate the Palestinians
and Internationals. Shots were fired in the air and a stun grenade was
used, but the observers refused to leave the Palestinians behind. While
some of them (including Adam) stood or lay with individual Palestinians,
others attempted to talk with the soldiers and negotiate a way through.
Eventually the group was allowed to proceed, with the Palestinians
accompanied by just three Internationals, and the rest of the observers
following at a distance. The whole group was accompanied by soldiers
and followed by a tank. A group of French observers was allowed to
leave to collect their bags and depart, but the other Internationals
were not prepared to leave the Palestinians behind, and a long stand-off
ensued, until they were allowed to return to the Union of Palestinian
Medical Relief Committees clinic, where they are now staying.
"We're very frightened to think what the soldiers might have done to
the Palestinians if international observers had not been with them, or
had agreed to leave them behind," said Adam. "They showed no respect
for the medical status or insignia of the Palestinians. We were all
threatened and one of the observers has been badly beaten and cut."
Adam confirmed that the whole group is now safe, but expects to be
forced to remain within the building until they can leave Nablus, as the
area is subject to curfew. Tanks were shelling outside the clinic at
the weekend, and empty shells were found just outside the gates on
Monday. Adam added that the army was shelling the main hospital in
Nablus today, and the military presence was still strong, despite
Israeli claims that Nablus is no longer a military zone. There were
five tanks, plus other armoured vehicles and sniper positions, at the
checkpoint where the group was stopped today.
Adam is urging people in the UK to write to their MPs. "We cannot
stop all the suffering and deaths, but the world must know what's going
on. We must all help in whatever way we can," he said.
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