Comedian Describes Moment Troops Opened Fire On Protesters
Guardian, April 2, 2002
Comedian Describes Moment Troops Opened Fire On Protesters
Ananova
Tuesday April 2, 2002 8:12 AM
Comedian and writer Jeremy Hardy has described how four Britons were
wounded while marching with a group of multi-national peace campaigners
in the West Bank.
Israeli soldiers opened fire on them in the town
of Beit Jala after about 200 protesters arrived there from Bethlehem.
They found their way blocked by troops who fired
live rounds into the ground and walls of buildings sending bullet shrapnel
into the group, sending seven foreign nationals to hospital for treatment.
Mr Hardy said: "It was a peace march, just a gesture
of solidarity with the Palestinians because Israeli soldiers have invaded
Beit Jala and occupied some of their homes.
"As we approached a tank blocking the road, we all
went quiet to show them it was a calm march."
He added that two members of the march, one of whom
was Kunle Ibidun, a Glaswegian now living Bristol, approached the soldiers
to try and negotiate but "they responded with live ammunition".
"The Israeli soldiers fired live rounds into the
ground in front of them and the fragments came up and hit Kunle injuring
him in the chin, left elbow and right arm," Mr Hardy said.
Other Britons hurt were James Budd from Ipswich
who was hit in the head, Chris Dunham, from London, who was also wounded
in the hand and Bradford University student Aisa Kiuosue who was hit in
the foot.
Americans Paul Larudee and Said Khalil were both
hit in a foot and Australian Kate Irvin was wounded in the stomach and
detained in hospital, Mr Hardy said.
The Israeli army had no immediate comment about
the shootings.
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