Source: ISM Web Site

 Yebna, Rafah

Israeli soldiers shoot another ISM activist in the head

12 Apr 03 - Wake Up Israelis!
12 Apr 03 - Not Again
12 Apr A03 - Tom's Group Speaks on His shooting
12 Apr Article in The Guardian

British peace activist Thomas Hurndall, left, sits on the floor of a home with fellow activists Joseph Smith, center, and Nicola Arboscelli, minutes before the three left to participate in a protest at which Hurndall suffered a gunshot wound to the head, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip (news - web sites), Friday, April 11, 2003. Hurndall, age 21, from Manchester, England, had been standing between Israeli troops and Palestinian children when Israeli soldiers opened fire, according to a fellow activist from the International Solidarity Movement who witnessed the scene. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Between  4:30 and 5:00 PM  today Israeli snipers shot another ISM activist in the head. Tom Hurndall from Manchester Britain is currently in critical condition in a helicopter on his way from  Europa Hospital in Khan Younis to a hospital in Bir Sheva. He is 22 years old.

According to Laura, the activists were being shot at while protecting some children from Israeli gunfire. Tom was in plain view of the sniper towers and was wearing a bright orange fluorescent jacket with reflective stripes. The nine ISM activists and many children were in the process of leaving the area.

The IDF tower from which a sniper shot Tom Hardall as he tried to protect unarmed women and children who had come under Israeli fire.

  Sniper fire from the tower was hitting the wall close beside the children, who were afraid to move.  Tom was attempting to bring them to safety when he was shot.  There was no shooting or resistance coming from the Palestinian side at all.

According to Laura, the plan had been to put up a tent where a tank parks itself every night in front of a Mosque. The soldiers in the tank shoot down the street, terrorizing people who come to pray.  The group had discovered earlier that the tank was already in place and had begun firing into the air. The Palestinian organizers felt the plan had become unworkeable, and the action was abandoned.

Laura and two Palestinians decided to go assess the situation. She soon realized that the tank had moved from where it had been.  It was now possible to set up the tent. She spoke to Tom by phone and they decided to meet at the roadblock.  The Israeli snipers in the eastern tower began shooting in Laura’s path.

When they arrived at the roadblock, the rest of the group was already there. The snipers  began  firing again: this time at the wall of the building next to the activists. As a result, the group began the process of leaving.

Tom saw a little boy in an open space, clearly visible to the tower.  Tom went to get him out of the way. He looked back and saw two more girls whom he also went to retrieve. As he went to get them, he was shot in the back of the head.  He fell to the ground in a pool of blood. The ambulance arrived quickly, after about two minutes. 

British peace activist Thomas Hurndall sits on the floor of a home in Rafah, minutes before he left to participate in a protest at which he suffered a gunshot wound to the head, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, April 11, 2003. Hurndall, age 21, from Manchester, England, had been standing between Israeli troops and Palestinian children when Israeli soldiers opened fire, according to a fellow activist from the International Solidarity Movement who witnessed the scene. ( AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

A British peace activist going only by the name Alice cries for help as she holds her hand over the headwound of British peace activist Thomas Hurndall, who had been shot in the head moments earlier, at the start of a protest, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, April 11, 2003. Hurndall, age 21, from Machester, England, had been standing between Israeli troops and Palestinian children when Israeli soldiers opened fire, according to a fellow activist from the International Solidarity Movement who witnessed the scene. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

We ask the world community to stand up and demand that Israel honor international agreements protecting civilians, whether they are internationals or Palestinians, and hold Israel accountable for these crimes against humanity.  And we demand an end to the illegal and brutal occupation that these murders defend.