Hizma, Qalandiya
Out of the checkpoint in a tight row emerged two children who have not yet recovered from their operations, their chests bandaged, several children – each wearing a cap that hides a hairless scalp, a boy with an amputated leg, and with them women and men moving with the aid of crutches, a cane or human arms.
Forty-four they were, coming out of the fenced compound and hurrying to the three designated transport vehicles waiting for them at the Gaza-patient-transport platform. Before boarding one man said: look how they treat us, like prisoners, travelling to Gaza in a posta (prisoner police van).
***
I came to Hizma to find out whatever happened with Rami and his dad and his dad’s car after three weeks ago DCO officials and soldiers detained it and threatened to confiscate the vehicle and its cargo.
Acquaintances told me that the vehicle and the tires it was carrying were confiscated, that after a month Rami’s dad would receive his car back and be fined, and perhaps the car will not be returned.
I asked why it was confiscated and was told that perhaps they (the army) thought that they (Rami and his dad) were intending to set tires on fire.
When “perhaps” is proof sufficient for robbing and stealing and invading homes and arresting people, while the DCO-Civil Administration’s duty is supposed to be as follows, and I quote the official version:
“The essence of the Civil Administration
and its role were defined in the Military Government’s ordinance no. 947 [1] clause 2: The Civil Administration will manage the civil affairs in the region according to the present ordinance for the welfare and benefit of the local population and to provide public services, considering the need to manage functioning administration and public order.”
George Orwell could not have described any better the essence of the thought police.