On Wednesday, February 25, 2004, I was in al-Bea’neh when I heard that the police were coming to the village to demolish houses belonging to the Titi family, so I headed towards their houses. I parked my car far away from the site and moved closer on foot. When I arrived, I saw bulldozers demolishing the houses and uprooting olive trees.

I decided to go to the municipal council to see what I could do because I was a former member of that council. After taking various roads to avoid encountering the police, I arrived at the council where I saw many people congregating inside and outside the building. I went inside to see the Head of the Municipal Council but the people were pushing and jostling in a panicked way to get away from the teargas bombs that were being fired in our direction by the police. People were packed inside and almost suffocating.

When I found the Head of the Council, I told him: "How dare they allow themselves to attack people and the council, a government institution? I ask you to go to the commanding officers, ask them to calm the situation and demand their withdrawal.” The Head of the Council agreed with me and so a group of us ventured outside.

After walking for a few meters, we were confronted by a large police vehicle that was indiscriminately spraying yellow liquid. We were sprayed, too. The Head of the Council demanded that the police stop using the water cannon on us. The police vehicle desisted. Then, our group approached the police commanders, each of us addressing a different officer at the site. I requested from one that he withdraw along with his colleagues and stop firing teargas bombs because people were being hurt. In return, I promised to calm down the young men in the village, to make them draw back and maintain order. But the police officer refused to listen. Instead, he pushed me towards a group of policemen and ordered: "Arrest him.” Four policemen attacked me and started beating me up with their clubs, rifle butts and boots. They beat me up all over my body.  At that moment, I felt sick and nauseous, and I almost fainted.

Then they took me in a police car to the medical clinic in the village, and from there I was taken to the hospital. The medical report diagnosed the following: A blow on the back of the head, a blow on the left eyebrow (seven stitches), internal bleeding in the eye, a blow under the right eye along with bruises and bleeding, a strong blow to the right side of the face (probably a fracture), a fracture of the nose, blows and bruises all over the body (including the fingers, hands, legs, thighs, abdomen and the back), and a fractured left rib .

25/2/2004