October 7, 2000

Below is an eyewitness account by Walid, a fifteen year old boy from Shatila refugee camp, of the clashes on the Lebanese-Israeli border between Israeli forces, and Palestinian and Lebanese demonstrators. Two protestors were killed by Israeli forces, and more than twenty injured. Walid participated in the protests.

The account was dictated in Arabic to a supporter in Beirut, and translated into English. Otherwise it is unedited, though I have added explanatory notes between square brackets. I met Walid during my visit to Shatila Camp last June and have been corresponding with him since then. Walid insisted that his witness be disseminated in full, with his name attached.

Ali Abunimah

ali@abunimah.org
http://www.abunimah.org

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October 7, 2000

As we watched the news in Palestine, sitting in the refugee camp, we wished we could go to Palestine to confront our enemy. But all we could do is demonstrate every day in the camp, and twice outside Beirut.

The biggest demonstration in Beirut was after the death of Rami [12 year-old Muhammad al-Dura whose killing by Israeli soldiers was shown on TV]. When I saw Rami killed I felt angry and outraged. I knew the Israelis are cruel, but not to that extent. How could they kill a child in cold blood?

I dreamt that night that all the Palestinians are one person who was lost in a forest, surrounded by frightening monsters. So I started to think we should do something and we all started to talk about going to the south [to the border].

I woke up early in the morning, I prayed, and I told my mother that I might become a martyr or I might come back wounded. What made me go is the feeling that this should be the end. Either we all die--as Palestinians--or we live together free and with dignity in our land, Palestine. I felt I should participate in the liberation of Palestine. We should help our people there in Palestine. It is time for us to be together.

I kissed my mother and went to the south. Most of those who went did not have their parents' approval. We are young, but we are strong, and we can fight for Palestine.

On our way to Palestine, we were chanting for Palestine and for return. We shouted, "With blood, with soul we will sacrifice for you, Palestine." When we saw Palestine we started to say that it is only a wire fence separating us from our people. We said it is so unfair, we should be together. It is time for us to be together.

I can't tell you how beautiful Palestine is. How can we be Palestinians, and have such a beautiful country and yet we live in Shatila? Is it fair that other people are enjoying the beauty of Palestine and we live in very humiliating conditions in the camp?

Then we reached Zarit [an Israeli settlement], where the Israelis have many outposts. We could see them so clearly behind the fence. We were only about twenty meters from them. We started to throw stones at them. While I was throwing stones, I was thinking of my friends in Dheisheh refugee camp [near Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank], and all the children of Palestine. I threw a stone for Motassim, one for Manar, one for Zeid, and I threw stones for Karmel, Hanan, Muhammad, Sanabel and all the others. I threw stones for my friends in Shatila who could not come with us. As I threw the stones, I shouted, "this is from Muhammad, and this one is from Sammoura, and this one is from al-assfoura Muna, so she can go back and be free in Palestine."

Then they started to fire tear gas at us. I fainted, and so did Ibrahim and many others, but we got up and started to throw stones at them again.

Around one o'clock, Hasan Hassanein threw molotovs at the Israelis. He threw five of them, and while he was throwing the last one, two helicopters came over us. They fired tear gas, and we couldn't see each other. The Israeli soldiers who were facing us fired two shots at him. He was hit in the chest and the stomach. He was carried away while making a victory sign and chanting for Palestine. [It was later reported by the media, that Hasan Hassanein, 23, from Shatila Camp died of his injuries in Bint Jbail hospital].

We continued throwing stones, and after about half an hour, Shadi Anas from Bourj al-Barajneh camp threw a molotov cocktail at the Israelis, burning one of their vehicles and a watchtower. Then they shot him in his heart and fired more tear gas at us.

We went on throwing stones until three o'clock and then we heard that Hasan and Shadi had died in hospital. We started to chant for them and sing the songs that Palestinians sing for grooms. We headed back to Shatila. We were so sad, and then we heard that the news that Hizbullah captured three Israeli soldiers and fired fifty Katyushas from Fatma Gate in retaliation for Hasan and Shadi and the twenty two injured. We were jubilant and started to sing.

When I came back to the camp, my mother and friends were waiting for me. They all hugged and kissed me. I was so happy because I had lived what our people in Palestine are living. We should all be living there. I wished I had come back to Shatila a martyr for Palestine. Oh how I love Palestine. I love it more now than ever.

Walid Balkis, 15
Shatila Camp
Lebanon