Source: supportibrahim.com

By:Saeed Amireh

Another Attempt To Silence Us – Night Raid At My Family House

I have spent the last 3 months in Europe, travelling to speak at numerous events about Palestine, about our suffering, about our dreams and our hopes. I have learned so much and I have seen wonderful things. But the most important thing that I have experienced was how it is to sleep in safety and without fear and stress for 3 months. It was the most amazing experience of my life.

Last Friday, 9.12.2011 after a long and arduous trip, I managed to come back to Palestine – to my lovely village Ni’lin. My family and my friends were waiting for me, they welcomed me back home. I really missed them a lot.

Two days later, on Sunday, 11.12.2011 at 1am, while I was sleeping at my family house, the Israeli occupation soldiers invaded my uncle’s house, which is close to my family house. Another group of the Israeli Occupation forces invaded the house of my other uncle and they forced him to come  with them to my family house – I have no idea why?!? Then, they started bashing the door of my family house and shouting at us to open the door. I was sleeping when my elder brother woke me up: “The soldiers are trying to break the door!” At first I didn’t understand. It all felt so strange. Half asleep, I told my brother: “What are you talking about? What the hell is going on? How could the Israeli soldiers come to Sweden? Did they follow me here?? And since when are they allowed to make nightraids in Sweden?” My brother shook me: “Are you crazy? Wake up! We’re in Ni’lin, at home, get ready because the door is about to break!”

It didn’t take long until about 25 soldiers, who came from the side of the Apartheid wall (which is very close to my family house), opened the door by force and raided our house. I felt very nervous, since I was sure that they were coming to arrest me. They put all of us in one room, as they always do when they invade a house in a night raid. After 5 minutes they came for my younger brother Muhammed Amireh, who is 18 years old. They pushed him into another room, where they took pictures of him. After that they gave him interrogation papers, stating that he has to present himself at the Ofer military prison on thursday, 15.12.2011 at 10:30am, where they will interrogate him. They left the house after about 30 minutes.

We are very worried, since it would not be for the first time that someone is summoned to an interrogation and does not come back. In december 2009, for example, Ibrahim Srour, an 18 year old from my village was requested to come for an interrogation. Once he presented himself, they arrested him for 22 month and a fine of 3500$ (instead of spending an additional 12 month in jail). Ibrahim was set free only one month ago.

Until now, the situation is very stressful because we don’t know what is going to happen to my brother Muhammed. Currently, he is currently studying at the Birzeit University. It was very hard for us to find money to pay the fees for the University. He is in his first year. In case he will get arrested, he will lose this year. I really wish and hope so much and pray that nothing bad will happen to my brother. Please pray for him.