Mahmoud Bawatneh, student

Around 17:00 on Saturday (5.5.2007), I was on my way home to ‘Ajjul from my work in Ramallah. I work in construction during after studying at the university and during vacations. I was in a Ford with seven other passengers. When we arrived at a side road about two kilometers south of my village, we saw a flying checkpoint with 2 police officers. I don't know what they wanted since that area between 'Atara and ‘Ajjul is not even inhabited.

We waited in line at the checkpoint. It was very hot and the heat inside the car was unbearable. Some of the people were getting out of their cars to stand outside and smoke. About half an hour later, I also got out of the car. I later saw the police officers telling everyone to get back into the cars so we all went back in.

Five minutes later, the two police officers approached the line of cars and took out Aiman Mkhalfeh (21 years old) from the car in front of me and took me and Amjad Mfaleh (35 years old) from the car I was in.

I remember the two officers. One had a full figure and was of medium height. He had dark skin and was in his twenties. The other one was also of medium height and build and in his twenties, but he had lighter skin.

After they took us out of the cars, they didn't ask to see our identification cards; they just ordered us to go behind their jeep. The dark skinned policeman ordered us to stand facing the jeep and to lift our hands. He spoke good Arabic. He screamed at and cursed us. He then beat us with a heavy police club . He started with Aiman and moved on to us, one right after the other. Every time I received a beating I screamed from the pain, and any time someone screamed or complained he got another beating. He beat me mostly in the neck, the head, and the back.

Ten minutes later, he ordered Aiman to sit on the ground and beat him with the police club on his head. Aiman was injured in his left eye and he bled intensely. He continued beating Aiman for a few more minutes. He then ordered him to get out and kicked and pushed him.

The police officer approached me, stood behind me, and placed his police club around my neck and pulled back very hard. I fell to the ground. I felt the whole world darkening around me, but I did not completely lose consciousness. He continued beating me and stepped on my head and neck with a lot of force. He kicked and beat me with his club. He screamed and cursed at me like a madman. I screamed and cried. I don't know how much time passed because I was feeling so awful.

He then put my left hand between his legs and pushed on it with his club in an attempt to break it. He then stepped on my hand and kicked me in the testicles. He finally pushed me and told me to get lost.

I went back to the taxi. I felt nauseated. It was difficult to walk and I felt pains all over my body. The passengers helped me to get inside. I waited in the car for ten minutes and then the soldiers opened the checkpoint. When the car started to move, I saw two Border Police jeeps coming from the direction of the mountains.

I got to my village around 18:20 and then the ambulance came and took me, Aiman, and Amjad to Sheikh Zeyad hospital. We arrived there around 19:30 and were taken to the emergency room. I went through tests and x-rays. I was told that I had very bad bruises in my left arm and my back and neck. They took care of me and gave me pain-killers. I was released from the hospital around 22:00 and continued to experience a lot of pain.

Because the pains continued, I went yesterday to the orthopedic clinic of Dr. Ahmad Al-Bitawi. He examined my arm and said it was broken and that I would need to have surgery that would cost over 12,000 shekels. My financial situation is not good and I don't know where I will get the money from. The doctor told me that if I don't go through with the surgery, however, my situation will only get worse.

am a goal keeper in the “Al-Quds Open University” soccer team. I don't know when I will be able to participate in games again.

Mahmoud Malek Mahmoud Bawatneh, 21, is a university student and a resident of ‘Ajjul Village in Ramallah district. His testimony was taken by Iyad Khadad in the witness's home on 8 May 2007.