American in Nablus: This is the Intifada of Killing
by Kristen Schurr in Nablus, Palestine

15 April, 2002


Here in Nablus the Israeli military have cut the phone lines and destroyed
the water supply. As in Jenin, the Israeli military not only bulldozes
houses, tortures and kills Palestinians, but also targets the
infrastructure, bringing more death, terror, and starvation. Access to
medical care is nearly impossible for many, especially those on the east
side of Nablus and those living in the refugee camps. Of the four camps in
Nablus, at least two- Balata and Askar- have been without food, water, and
electricity for 13 days. The camps are sealed off by Israeli soldiers and
tanks, which, as of last night, have been shelling into the camps. Twelve
French activists are arriving today to try to get into Balata camp. This may
prove impossible. Certainly no ambulances are allowed in.

On my first night here, we tried to get to a man who had been bleeding for
four hours after being shot in the head by Israeli soldiers. We were unable
to reach him. Information out of the camps is shared only via cell phone, and
not often at that. The cell phones cannot be recharged without electricity,
but some have been able to call the ambulances and are crying, requesting
food, milk, and water.

I am told that 1,500 cars have been destroyed throughout Nablus by grenades
and tanks. I have seen countless cars crushed nearly beyond recognition,
many burned and half smashed. The streets are clouded in dust from the
crumbling and crushed buildings.

A doctor told me that they have lost their future, the children, and in the
process, have lost their heritage because all they can do is try to survive
the present. I was told by another doctor that this is the Intifada of
killing. There are few patients in the hospital, not because there are few
injuries or deaths, but because ambulances are not allowed by the Israeli
military to reach the dead and dying.

A Red Crescent ambulance driver told
me that he has been arrested four times in a week just for driving his
ambulance, and yesterday he and several others, including the doctor, were
arrested again. He and others have similar stories of what the soldiers do
to them. First the driver and passengers are forced to take off their
clothes and are then handcuffed and sometimes blindfolded. They are made to
stand in the sun for between 2 and 3 hours while the soldiers shoot their
guns around them. The driver showed me the bullet holes and broken windows
in the ambulance as he drove off in a bullet proof vest to try to save
another life. He was visibly shaken up when he returned to the UPMRC last
night. He hasn't seen his wife and two young children in thirteen days.

Throughout the city of Nablus a water truck sneaks through the streets
making deliveries. Last night I spent an hour making clandestine bread
deliveries out of the back of a Red Crescent ambulance. The Old City of
Nablus is in ruins. Piles of rubble from F-16 bombings, tank shellings, and
bulldozing hide numerous dead.

While I was in the Old City yesterday, a boy encountered an unused tank
shell. It exploded and left his eyes burned shut, his body blackened, and
blood pouring from his stomach. His cries revealed a voice in the process
of changing. He could not have been more than 12 years old.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said yesterday that Nablus is no longer
a military zone. There are F-16s flying over head, last night as we made
bread deliveries we ducked from tanks, getting into Nablus we had to hike
through the mountains and hide from tanks behind trees, and the UPMRC (Union
of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees) clinic, where eight internationals
are staying, was shot at. We found empty shells just outside the gates, and
we could hear the tanks were shelling just down the street. The curfew was
lifted for a few hours on the west side of Nablus yesterday. And although
children were playing near the open sewage that runs down the sides of the
streets, Israeli soldiers still shot from their tanks and APCs. The
internationals intend to continue escorting ambulances, delivering food, and
attempting to enter the camps to help in any way we possibly can.

We are:

Jordan Flaherty and Kristen Schurr (this is the new number: 011 972 67 341
268) from New York City.

Adam Conway (+44 7714 200 895), Philip Griffin (+44 777 92 55 924), Mika
Minio-Paluello, Jenny (972 67 345 972), and Dave Rolstone (972 67 336 829),
from Britain.

Mary Kelly from Ireland.

You can also reach Jordan or me at 011 972 9 238 7 174 today, Monday 15
April.

Thanks for your interest,

Kristen Schurr


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