Manchester peace activist Thomas Hurndall, 21, lost his fight for survival in January. Tom was shot in the head last April while acting as a human shield with the International Solidarity Movement in Gaza and had been comatose ever since (see #47). The traumatic nature of his injuries meant that at any time Tom was vulnerable to serious infection and his death came after his body was unsuccessful in overcoming an episode of Pneumonia.
Although it is little consulation, an Israeli soldier has been arrested in connection with the shooting of Tom Hurndall and indicted on six charges: aggravated assault; two counts of obstruction of justice; incitement to false testimony; false testimony; and improper conduct. The decision of the court to prosecute the soldier on a charge of aggravated assault rather than attempted murder is based on the assumption that the soldier did not intend to murder Tom. Tom’s family believes that based on its own extensive investigation and the soldier’s testimony that he shot Tom using an advanced telescopic lens, it is improbable that the shot which entered Tom’s forehead was intended to do anything other than kill.
The family will be pressing its lawyers to ensure that the appropriate charge – murder – is applied in this case. Tom’s family have made it clear that they will be satisfied with nothing less than the full prosecution for the person responsible for murdering Tom and they expect the imposition of the maximum penalty in this respect. It is very much the case that if it were not for the ceaseless campaigning and lobbying on the part of Tom Hurndall’s family and friends and in particular the family’s own investigation (which amassed 14 independent eye witness statements along with photographic and ballistic evidence) a military police investigation is not likely to have been instigated and the truth would have remained uncovered.
They are calling on the Israeli Army to radically examine the current rules of engagement and to take steps to eradicate the existing culture of impunity which exists in the Occupied Territories. The family hope that the prosecution of those responsible for the shooting of Tom Hurndall and the prosecution of those responsible for the deliberate fabrication of evidence, will send the strongest message to all soldiers on the ground in the Occupied Territories that the shooting or killing of innocent civilians and breaches in basic human rights will not be tolerated.
Carl Arrindell, family spokesperson (07799 768768, 07956 997 497, carl@tomhurndall.co.uk)