There was an armed Israeli settler standing close to the troops, with a weapon slung over his shoulder that looked like it was an M-16, talking to the soldiers. I walked over and asked Ahmed why he was being detained. He told me that the armed settler walked out to confront them as they were walking up the hill, and he threatened to shoot them with his gun. Upon being threatened, Ahmed turned to one of the soldiers at the checkpoint, and asked him for help. The soldier responded by ordering him and his friends to sit down, and other soldiers came to guard them. The men began arguing that it was the settler, not they, who threatened violence. Some Palestinian neighbours came out to see what was happening. One of them a woman claimed she had also seen what happened, and came with a camera, to confirm their story. The soldiers told everyone to move back.
Some TIPH (Temporary International Presence in Hebron) observers happened to be walking by. TIPH is a civilian observer mission in Hebron, working for several European governments, whose job it is to monitor the human rights situation, and document what they see. Many Palestinians and international activists alike who I spoke to, dislike TIPH. The organization never intervenes, and simply writes reports to the Israeli and some European governments; reports which are and stay confidential. TIPH members drive around in large and expensive vehicles, and according to many, they live extravagantly and aren't effective.
I did call the TIPH over to speak to the soldiers, and they asked a few questions and resumed walking. One of the men stated that he saw the incident, and that it was the fault of the settler, who pointed his gun at the Palestinians. He refused to give his name or talk to the soldiers and tell them what he told me, when I asked him to. He simply said this will be in his "report".
I saw a soldier grab each of the Palestinian men roughly, by one arm, and began marching them uphill. I and the other Palestinians there began asking the soldiers are they taking them, and they replied "just to talk". The soldiers said they are not arresting them, but just want to ask them some questions at the police station. I asked them if they will detain the settler also, and told them that TIPH observers also said that the settler was the one to blame. I was told menacingly to move back, or I may be arrested. I moved back, as did others.
After about an hour, Ahmad, Anas and Muhammad were released. Izzat was not with them. At that time the soldiers we were with got either bored or annoyed with the pictures people were taking, so they began to take pictures of us with their Iphones. An Israeli settler appeared, and began shining a green laser beam into people's eyes. Some of the soldiers thought this was funny.
After the three men were released, they told us that Izzat is still being held in the station. The settler accused him of assault. I spent a few hours with the men and some of the Palestinian neighbours who witnessed what happened, in their house, drinking tea and black coffee and eating biscuits that the woman and a small girl generously provided for us, waiting for word of what happened to Izzat. At around 1:30 AM, Izzat's friends went to their flat, and we went back to the ISM apartment. We don't know when Izzat will be released. On the way to the police station, a soldier must have gotten annoyed with him, so according to what Ahmad told me, he hit him in the back.
In most countries, if a person points a gun at you and threatens to kill you, he or she will be arrested by the police. In the occupied West Bank, Palestinians who find themselves in such a situation with settlers or soldiers risk being the ones facing detention, not the people who are pointing automatic weapons at them.
Some pictures from the incident. I had some problems with my camera when Ahmed and his friends were being arrested, the photos were taken shortly after three of the detained were released.
Some of the soldiers who were holding people back
Green laser being shined by a settler into my camera
Ahmed, Anas, and Muhammad, after being released from the station.
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