Detained and blindfolded... then released

As we were wrapping up our patrol on the areas of Hebron where we work, we ran into a sight that is depressingly familiar in this city. A group of Israeli soldiers were standing around a teenage Palestinian boy, who was blindfolded.

We walked up to the soldiers, and asked them why they were detaining the boy. Upon seeing us, they immediately pulled him into a military base, and tried to shut the gate. We kept asking the soldiers what the boy had done, and what his name is. Many of them were very unhappy, and were glaring at us.

A few minutes later, however, they came out of the gate with the boy. He was no longer blindfolded, and a man in uniform had his hand on his back and almost gently guiding him. The teenager was walked to a gate where other Palestinians were waiting, and released.

According to one of the soldiers, the boy threw a stone at them. When asked where this took place, he got quite flustered and couldn't answer the question.

I have no idea whether or not the boy threw stones. If he had, it would have made him no more guilty than settlers or even soldiers. The fact that the soldiers detaining him were unable to answer a simple question about his alleged crime, and the fact that they let him go almost immediately after our cameras came out, suggests to me he could have been innocent.

I believe there is a strong possibility that our filming of the events could have played a role in him being released. A camera can at times be a very powerful and effective weapon, especially against human rights violators.

Ephesians 5:11 states:
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

I find it interesting that exposing evil is one of the things that Scripture calls on people to do. It is very important.

I am glad the boy was released. May there one day be peace and justice in Hebron, and all of Palestine.

Soldiers detaining a Palestinian boy whom they had blindfolded.

Entering the base.

Trying to close the gate.

The teenage boy being released. Notice he is not blindfolded anymore, and the behaviour of the soldiers towards him is now completely different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCARerlyrGs&feature=youtu.be

The boy being walked out the gate, where other Palestinians are waiting.

Soldiers and settlers mingle after the boy had been released.