Israeli soldiers assault Hebron family; detain members

19/12/2009 16:15
Hebron – Ma’an – Israeli forces raided the home of the Abu Heikal family in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood of Hebron on Friday afternoon, detaining five of the men, one family member said.

Firyal Abu Heikal, who was in the home during the Israeli raid, said soldiers beat the men and women of the family. She identified those beaten as sisters Samah and Majd, noting that their aunt Ghadir was also beaten. Male relatives Mohamed and Murad were also injured, she said.

After several rooms were ransacked, Firyal said soldiers took 66-year-old Abdul-Aziz, 48-year-old Imad, 48-year-old Ratib, 24-year-old Fahd, and 19-year-old Sami. They were also beaten and removed from the home without explanation as to their alleged crimes or notification as to where they were being taken.

The Abu Heikal home is in an area of Hebron blocked off from the main street by several settler trailers housing large families of aggressive youth. The trailer-homes are guarded by dozens of Israeli soldiers, who have in many instances protected the settlers as they attacked the Abu Heikal family.

The neighborhood can only be accessed by the few Palestinian families who have not been driven out by settler violence, and members face constant harassment from soldiers as well as settlers.