UPDATES
Friday, January 16, 2004
PALESTINIAN CHILDREN HONOR TOM HURNDALL
[Rafah, GAZA] Today at 11am about 150 children from the Children's Parliament along side Palestinians and Internationals working with the ISM and a member of the Madison / Rafah Sister City Project joined together today to commemorate the life and passing of Thomas Hurndall.
Thomas Hurndall at the age of 22 succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday, January 13 in a London hospital, nine months after he was shot in the head from an Israeli sniper tower on the border of Rafah, whilst attempting to remove children from the line of Israeli fire.
Children and Internationals carried signs protesting the war crimes committed by the Israeli military against unarmed Palestinian civilians and children. Chants in Arabic celebrated "the life and heroic death of the martyr Thomas Hurndall". Mourners then placed flowers on the site where Tom had been shot, beside a roadblock about 100 meters away from an Israeli military sniper tower on the occupation wall that divides Rafah Palestine from Rafah Sinai.
Two days ago the Israeli Army invaded this area and demolished the Towhead Mosque just 20 meters away from the site. This mosque had been rendered impossible to congregate in for months, due to the sniper fire directed into it and a tank that was regularly parked next to it, shooting down the street.
Arafat gives "martyr" honour to British peace activist
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/mideast_britain_activist
Thursday, January 15, 2004
THE PEOPLE OF BUDRUS MARCH
And pay their respects to Tom Hurndall
[Budrus, RAMALLAH] Hundreds of people marched against the planned Wall in Budrus today, despite the intimidation tactics of the Israeli military,
including the abduction of two Palestinian organizers, Ayed and Na'im Morrar from their homes in the early hours of the morning.
Approximately 30 Internationals and Israelis joined over 250 Palestinian villagers from Budrus in a march to the site of the planned construction of the Wall, where over the past few weeks bulldozers managed to uproot close to 100 olive trees before halting their work - perhaps in response to the ongoing protest actions in Budrus, the increased international visibility that resulted, and the fact that at this time the international community is gathering evidence to be submitted to the International Criminal Court against Israel's construction of the Wall.
Though soldiers arrived to break up the demonstration, telling the people they had 15 minutes to disperse or else, the villagers held their ground and planted 6 olive trees on the site of uprooted trees before deciding to retreat. The new olive trees planted stand as a symbol of life amidst plans to suffocate
and kill with a Wall of Apartheid. The villagers of Budrus reaffirmed their determination to continue their resistance to the erection of the Wall and call
on peace-seeking Israelis and internationals to join them.
After the demonstration the villagers set up a tent in the village (in front of the home of Ayed Morrar) where people gathered in memorial for Tom Hurndall and
all the victims of Israeli occupation. "Tom is a martyr who will never be forgotten. Thank you Tom, and thank you to all the internationals who are aware
enough to be with us" said one local villager.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
http://www.palsolidarity.org
TOM HURNDALL DIES AS FAMILY RECEIVE NEWS OF THE INDICTMENT OF HIS KILLER
REMINDER:
Emergency Vigil to demand that Tony Blair makes a statement and calls for assault charges against Israeli soldier to be increased to murder: Wednesday 14 January (this evening) 5.30pm outside 10 Downing Street
Bring candles, placards, media.
For further info contact info@ ism-london.org or visit:
http://www.ism-london.org/tom-action.html
(for action information and also to download posters, leaflets and press release) http://www.tomhurndall.co.uk/press-release-14-1-04.asp
Tom Hurndall, the British Photographer shot in Gaza while shepherding young children out of the line of fire, died last night at 7.45pm . His death came nine months after an incident in which he was shot in the head by an IDF soldier which left him in a vegetative state. The traumatic nature of his injuries has meant that at any time Tom has been vulnerable to serious infection and his death came after his body was unsuccessful in overcoming an episode of Pneumonia.
At a hearing on Monday, a soldier arrested last week in connection with the shooting of Tom Hurndall, has finally been indicted on six charges : Aggravated Assault; two counts of Obstruction of Justice; Incitement to False Testimony; False Testimony; Improper Conduct.
The decision of the court to prosecute the soldier on a charge of Aggravated Assault rather than attempted murder is based on the assumption that the soldier did not intend to murder Tom. The family believes that based on its own extensive investigation and the soldiers testimony that he shot Tom using an advanced telescopic lens, it is improbable that the shot which entered Tom's forehead was intended to do anything other than kill.
The family will be pressing its lawyers to ensure that the appropriate charge - murder, is applied in this case. The family lawyers were advised by the prosecuting judge yesterday afternoon that in the event of Tom's death, the charges are likely to be changed. The new charges shall be either manslaughter or murder. The maximum penalty for Manslaughter is 20 years imprisonment and for Murder there is only one penalty - life imprisonment.
Tom's family have made it clear that they will be satisfied with nothing less than the full prosecution for the person responsible for murdering Tom and they expect the imposition of the maximum penalty in this respect. They additionally expect that the harshest penalties should be imposed on all those involved in the obstruction of justice.
NB: A second soldier has been detained and is expected to be indicted on charges of Obstructing Justice and False Testimony.
The indictment of this soldier and his testimony have totally destroyed the credibility of the initial IDF investigation and Field Report. It was this Field Report - presented to the British Embassy in Tel Aviv and later to the family of Tom Hurndall last May, that totally exonerated the soldier(s) responsible in the shooting of Tom Hurndall. It is very much the case that if it were not for the ceaseless campaigning and lobbying on the part of Tom Hurndall's family and friends and in particular the family's own investigation (which amassed 14 independent eye witness statements along with photographic and ballistic evidence) a military police investigation is not likely to have been instigated and the truth would have remained uncovered. The family now assert that the existing initial inquiry procedure is by its nature flawed and prone to abuse and they ask that the IDF immediately review its initial inquiry procedure with a view to replacing it with an independent inquiry.
They further call on the Israeli Army to radically examine the current rules of engagement and to take steps to eradicate the existing culture of impunity which exists in the Occupied Territories. The family hope that the prosecution of those responsible for the shooting of Tom Hurndall and the prosecution of those responsible for the deliberate fabrication of evidence, will send the strongest message to all soldiers on the ground in the Occupied Territories 'that the shooting or killing of innocent civilians and breaches in basic human rights will not be tolerated.'
END
For further information please contact Carl Arrindell - Family spokesperson on 07799 768768 or 07956 997 497. Email carl@tomhurndall.co.uk
-- ISM London
A Vigil for Tom Hurndall
January 14, 2004
Palestinian General Delegation
Dear All,
A life has ended but the light goes on.
With great regret and deep sorrow, we report the death of Tom Hurndall - the wonderful young man shot by an Israeli soldier while attempting to save a Palestinian child.
Tom's family and supporters have called for a vigil. Bring candles, placards, media etc.
It is from 5:30-7:30pm tonight, in front of Downing Street.
Please be there.
Afif Safieh
Palestinian General Delegate to the
United Kingdom and to the Holy See
http://www.palestinianuk.org
Photo courtesy of:
The Thomas Hurndall Fund Please visit:
http://www.tomhurndall.co.uk/donate.asp
More About Tom Hurndall
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/Activism/Thomas_Hundall.htm
Condolences
Thank you to all who have sent in condolences for Thomas Hurndall, our friend and colleague, whose compassion and sacrifice will never be forgotten and whose light inspires us in our continued efforts to fight and beat this occupation that has already taken so many innocent lives. Please be sure that we will forward all of your notes to the Hurndall family.
Below we include a small sample of the condolences. Since we did not obtain
permission to post these notes, we have deleted the names of the authors, but at the end include the country of origin in parentheses.
I am really sorry I was not able to join you in this march but know that my
sentiments are with you and his family. What happened is unforgivable and I as a Jewish Israeli feel ashamed of the behaviour of "our" soldiers..
(Israel)
-------------------
Just a couple of minutes I've been reading your message on my mail, then I turned on to see some news from the Israeli press sites, and to my great sorrow and deep shock, I found the news about our Palestinian-British Victim TOM.
It's no use to shed even a tear, but it's my obligation and personal feeling to say I feel as if I had lost one of my sons, so, please Huwaida, would you be kind enough to send my feelings of loss, sorrow and pain for Tom's family, friends and All Peace Activists in Occupied Palestine, the feelings of a simple Palestinian citizen who suffered a lot from the Israeli occupation.
May God Bless Our Palestinian-British victim, the late Tom.
And, Palestinian people will never forget you Dear Tom, you have turned out to be one of our Sons, May Peace Be with You and your memory will never die.. (Palestine)
--------------------
Our condolences to the Family and friends of Tom Hurndal and all the innocent victims of this terrible occupation.
We extend our deepest sympathy and respect.
We wish you the courage and strength to persevere in these hard days ahead. Our hearts and our home are open to you all. . (Israel)
--------------------
Thank you for the (sad) information. We all mourn Thomas Hurndall, a true humanitarian and freedom fighter, and abhore his murderers. Please convey our condolences to his bereaved family. . (Israeli in Jerusalem)
-------------------
Dear friends,
I have just read the news of Tom's sad death. I wish to express to you my deep sorrow for the final voyage of such courageous, generous young man, who could have given so much to all of us in the path of life. He gave indeed all - he arose and went, light and calm got up and went in search of what we had lost. .(Brussels)
------------------
Dear friends
AFPS (Association France Palestine Solidarity) has heard with sorrow of the passing of Tom after those long months of suffering.
We want to assure you of our deepest sympathy and solidarity in this ordeal you¹ve been going through since Tom was shot by the Israeli army.
We respect and admire Tom¹s determination in the fight for justice that we share with him, with Rachel and all the Internationals present in Occupied
Palestine.
We believe that this gallant fight helps the Palestinians in their resistance to a cruel occupation by raising their moral. It also helps the Israelis opposing the colonisation in their difficult struggle against their own authorities.
It helps all people of conscience to keep fighting for justice and for peace. .(France)
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
http://www.palsolidarity.org
Friday, January 16, 2004
PALESTINIAN CHILDREN HONOR TOM HURNDALL
[Rafah, GAZA] Today at 11am about 150 children from the Children's Parliament along side Palestinians and Internationals working with the ISM and a member of the Madison / Rafah Sister City Project joined together today to commemorate the life and passing of Thomas Hurndall.
Thomas Hurndall at the age of 22 succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday, January 13 in a London hospital, nine months after he was shot in the head from an Israeli sniper tower on the border of Rafah, whilst attempting to remove children from the line of Israeli fire.
Children and Internationals carried signs protesting the war crimes committed by the Israeli military against unarmed Palestinian civilians and children. Chants in Arabic celebrated "the life and heroic death of the martyr Thomas Hurndall". Mourners then placed flowers on the site where Tom had been shot, beside a roadblock about 100 meters away from an Israeli military sniper tower on the occupation wall that divides Rafah Palestine from Rafah Sinai.
Two days ago the Israeli Army invaded this area and demolished the Towhead Mosque just 20 meters away from the site. This mosque had been rendered impossible to congregate in for months, due to the sniper fire directed into it and a tank that was regularly parked next to it, shooting down the street.
Arafat gives "martyr" honour to British peace activist
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/mideast_britain_activist
Thursday, January 15, 2004
THE PEOPLE OF BUDRUS MARCH
And pay their respects to Tom Hurndall
[Budrus, RAMALLAH] Hundreds of people marched against the planned Wall in Budrus today, despite the intimidation tactics of the Israeli military,
including the abduction of two Palestinian organizers, Ayed and Na'im Morrar from their homes in the early hours of the morning.
Approximately 30 Internationals and Israelis joined over 250 Palestinian villagers from Budrus in a march to the site of the planned construction of the Wall, where over the past few weeks bulldozers managed to uproot close to 100 olive trees before halting their work - perhaps in response to the ongoing protest actions in Budrus, the increased international visibility that resulted, and the fact that at this time the international community is gathering evidence to be submitted to the International Criminal Court against Israel's construction of the Wall.
Though soldiers arrived to break up the demonstration, telling the people they had 15 minutes to disperse or else, the villagers held their ground and planted 6 olive trees on the site of uprooted trees before deciding to retreat. The new olive trees planted stand as a symbol of life amidst plans to suffocate
and kill with a Wall of Apartheid. The villagers of Budrus reaffirmed their determination to continue their resistance to the erection of the Wall and call
on peace-seeking Israelis and internationals to join them.
After the demonstration the villagers set up a tent in the village (in front of the home of Ayed Morrar) where people gathered in memorial for Tom Hurndall and
all the victims of Israeli occupation. "Tom is a martyr who will never be forgotten. Thank you Tom, and thank you to all the internationals who are aware
enough to be with us" said one local villager.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
http://www.palsolidarity.org
TOM HURNDALL DIES AS FAMILY RECEIVE NEWS OF THE INDICTMENT OF HIS KILLER
REMINDER:
Emergency Vigil to demand that Tony Blair makes a statement and calls for assault charges against Israeli soldier to be increased to murder: Wednesday 14 January (this evening) 5.30pm outside 10 Downing Street
Bring candles, placards, media.
For further info contact info@ ism-london.org or visit:
http://www.ism-london.org/tom-action.html
(for action information and also to download posters, leaflets and press release) http://www.tomhurndall.co.uk/press-release-14-1-04.asp
Tom Hurndall, the British Photographer shot in Gaza while shepherding young children out of the line of fire, died last night at 7.45pm . His death came nine months after an incident in which he was shot in the head by an IDF soldier which left him in a vegetative state. The traumatic nature of his injuries has meant that at any time Tom has been vulnerable to serious infection and his death came after his body was unsuccessful in overcoming an episode of Pneumonia.
At a hearing on Monday, a soldier arrested last week in connection with the shooting of Tom Hurndall, has finally been indicted on six charges : Aggravated Assault; two counts of Obstruction of Justice; Incitement to False Testimony; False Testimony; Improper Conduct.
The decision of the court to prosecute the soldier on a charge of Aggravated Assault rather than attempted murder is based on the assumption that the soldier did not intend to murder Tom. The family believes that based on its own extensive investigation and the soldiers testimony that he shot Tom using an advanced telescopic lens, it is improbable that the shot which entered Tom's forehead was intended to do anything other than kill.
The family will be pressing its lawyers to ensure that the appropriate charge - murder, is applied in this case. The family lawyers were advised by the prosecuting judge yesterday afternoon that in the event of Tom's death, the charges are likely to be changed. The new charges shall be either manslaughter or murder. The maximum penalty for Manslaughter is 20 years imprisonment and for Murder there is only one penalty - life imprisonment.
Tom's family have made it clear that they will be satisfied with nothing less than the full prosecution for the person responsible for murdering Tom and they expect the imposition of the maximum penalty in this respect. They additionally expect that the harshest penalties should be imposed on all those involved in the obstruction of justice.
NB: A second soldier has been detained and is expected to be indicted on charges of Obstructing Justice and False Testimony.
The indictment of this soldier and his testimony have totally destroyed the credibility of the initial IDF investigation and Field Report. It was this Field Report - presented to the British Embassy in Tel Aviv and later to the family of Tom Hurndall last May, that totally exonerated the soldier(s) responsible in the shooting of Tom Hurndall. It is very much the case that if it were not for the ceaseless campaigning and lobbying on the part of Tom Hurndall's family and friends and in particular the family's own investigation (which amassed 14 independent eye witness statements along with photographic and ballistic evidence) a military police investigation is not likely to have been instigated and the truth would have remained uncovered. The family now assert that the existing initial inquiry procedure is by its nature flawed and prone to abuse and they ask that the IDF immediately review its initial inquiry procedure with a view to replacing it with an independent inquiry.
They further call on the Israeli Army to radically examine the current rules of engagement and to take steps to eradicate the existing culture of impunity which exists in the Occupied Territories. The family hope that the prosecution of those responsible for the shooting of Tom Hurndall and the prosecution of those responsible for the deliberate fabrication of evidence, will send the strongest message to all soldiers on the ground in the Occupied Territories 'that the shooting or killing of innocent civilians and breaches in basic human rights will not be tolerated.'
END
For further information please contact Carl Arrindell - Family spokesperson on 07799 768768 or 07956 997 497. Email carl@tomhurndall.co.uk
-- ISM London
A Vigil for Tom Hurndall
January 14, 2004
Palestinian General Delegation
Dear All,
A life has ended but the light goes on.
With great regret and deep sorrow, we report the death of Tom Hurndall - the wonderful young man shot by an Israeli soldier while attempting to save a Palestinian child.
Tom's family and supporters have called for a vigil. Bring candles, placards, media etc.
It is from 5:30-7:30pm tonight, in front of Downing Street.
Please be there.
Afif Safieh
Palestinian General Delegate to the
United Kingdom and to the Holy See
http://www.palestinianuk.org
Photo courtesy of:
The Thomas Hurndall Fund Please visit:
http://www.tomhurndall.co.uk/donate.asp
More About Tom Hurndall
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/Activism/Thomas_Hundall.htm
Condolences
Thank you to all who have sent in condolences for Thomas Hurndall, our friend and colleague, whose compassion and sacrifice will never be forgotten and whose light inspires us in our continued efforts to fight and beat this occupation that has already taken so many innocent lives. Please be sure that we will forward all of your notes to the Hurndall family.
Below we include a small sample of the condolences. Since we did not obtain
permission to post these notes, we have deleted the names of the authors, but at the end include the country of origin in parentheses.
I am really sorry I was not able to join you in this march but know that my
sentiments are with you and his family. What happened is unforgivable and I as a Jewish Israeli feel ashamed of the behaviour of "our" soldiers..
(Israel)
-------------------
Just a couple of minutes I've been reading your message on my mail, then I turned on to see some news from the Israeli press sites, and to my great sorrow and deep shock, I found the news about our Palestinian-British Victim TOM.
It's no use to shed even a tear, but it's my obligation and personal feeling to say I feel as if I had lost one of my sons, so, please Huwaida, would you be kind enough to send my feelings of loss, sorrow and pain for Tom's family, friends and All Peace Activists in Occupied Palestine, the feelings of a simple Palestinian citizen who suffered a lot from the Israeli occupation.
May God Bless Our Palestinian-British victim, the late Tom.
And, Palestinian people will never forget you Dear Tom, you have turned out to be one of our Sons, May Peace Be with You and your memory will never die.. (Palestine)
--------------------
Our condolences to the Family and friends of Tom Hurndal and all the innocent victims of this terrible occupation.
We extend our deepest sympathy and respect.
We wish you the courage and strength to persevere in these hard days ahead. Our hearts and our home are open to you all. . (Israel)
--------------------
Thank you for the (sad) information. We all mourn Thomas Hurndall, a true humanitarian and freedom fighter, and abhore his murderers. Please convey our condolences to his bereaved family. . (Israeli in Jerusalem)
-------------------
Dear friends,
I have just read the news of Tom's sad death. I wish to express to you my deep sorrow for the final voyage of such courageous, generous young man, who could have given so much to all of us in the path of life. He gave indeed all - he arose and went, light and calm got up and went in search of what we had lost. .(Brussels)
------------------
Dear friends
AFPS (Association France Palestine Solidarity) has heard with sorrow of the passing of Tom after those long months of suffering.
We want to assure you of our deepest sympathy and solidarity in this ordeal you¹ve been going through since Tom was shot by the Israeli army.
We respect and admire Tom¹s determination in the fight for justice that we share with him, with Rachel and all the Internationals present in Occupied
Palestine.
We believe that this gallant fight helps the Palestinians in their resistance to a cruel occupation by raising their moral. It also helps the Israelis opposing the colonisation in their difficult struggle against their own authorities.
It helps all people of conscience to keep fighting for justice and for peace. .(France)
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
http://www.palsolidarity.org