Posted on 10/13/2003 5:09:25 AM PDT by Colosis
Tests have revealed that a British peace activist shot in the head by an Israeli soldier is in a persistent vegetative state from which he is unlikely to recover.
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Six months after Tom Hurndall, 22, was shot while trying to protect Palestinian children on the Gaza strip, his family are still waiting to hear whether an Israeli military police investigation will take place. They are considering taking legal action should an investigation not proceed.
The Manchester Metropolitan University student, a photo-journalism student, had been in Rafah for a week when he was shot on April 11. Other activists said he was wearing a fluorescent jacket as he went to help three children but was shot from a watchtower.
Mr Hundall's father Anthony, a lawyer, and mother Jocelyn, a teacher, of Tufnell Park, north London, have put their careers on hold to set up a fund in their son's name with their daughter Sophie, 24, who works full-time for the organisation. With their younger son Freddy, 13, they visit Tom twice a week at the hospital in Putney, south-west London.
Miss Hurndall said of the diagnosis of her brother's condition: "He's not aware of anything at any level. It was a blow to us, but not such a blow as what happened in the first place. In one way it was quite a relief because we were terrified that he might be conscious of what was going on, but couldn't tell us.
"Most of the time he's relatively stable and could continue like that indefinitely. He's young and very strong and has pulled through so much that we've come to expect him to survive.
"What to do in the long term is something that we're trying to discuss as a family at the moment, but it's very difficult to bring the topic up.
"There's no closure with this, there's always a worry that he might be suffering. He makes facial expressions that we've been told are reflex reactions, although it still looks very much like he's in pain.
"It's a twilight zone, he's in a limbo state. It's pointless and undignified for him. We're having to think very seriously about what we're going to do about leaving him in this condition. I feel it wouldn't be right."
The parents of Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist crushed to death by an Israeli armoured bulldozer weeks before Tom was shot, flew from Olympia, Washington, to stay with the Hurndalls two weeks ago.
"Meeting them was very emotional. The connection was immense, like they were the only other people who could understand," said Miss Hurndall.
The Hurndall family have compiled their own report, which includes 14 witness statements and 50 photographs showing Tom before and after the shooting. They presented it to the Israeli authorities three months ago and have been assured by Tony Blair and Jack Straw that they have discussed it with Ariel Sharon.
The report was passed to Israel's Advocate General, who is expected to make an announcement shortly about whether and when an investigation will take place.
On Friday, Miss Hurndall and Freddy presented a letter to the Israeli embassy, expressing "deep disappointment" at the lack of response to the family's document.
Mrs Hurndall said: "It's very disturbing that we still haven't heard. It seems to be dragging on and on and makes you feel that it's not being taken seriously. Tom's shooting has brought the family to a complete standstill, but we're putting all our energies into the legal campaign."
How could they tell?
Let's keep the Dem's on the run!
Click the Pic!
I thought that was a requirement to be a "Peace Activist"
Sorry being in a vergetable state is "undignified". God forbide! Maybe it's time to just shoot him and put him out of his misery - like a an animal.
That's what I like about liberals and their families - they're so compassionate and concerned about the individual - LOL!
You just gotta love the media lies... The sentence should have read: "was shot in the act of interfering with israeli defense forces pursuing active terrorists. Hurndall was directly aiding terrorist forces in Gaza."
Before or after?
Not only that. In their eyes they look like martyrs. Fellow brain dead people can give them nonstop pity. People get off on it.
"It is no different than rolling Jim Brady into the congress before every gun control vote even tho Jim Brady can walk with the aid of a cane."
Yup! Great example. Pity me silly. I'm the wife of the vegetable. Coming to congress in an event for me since I am a bitter old woman who wishes others to join my bitterness. Prior to ber husband being shot I'd bet she could care less about guns. These kinds of people sicken me.
DON'T INTENTIONALLY STAND IN FRONT OF A TANK IF YOU DON"T WANT TO BE RUN OVER. A TANK MAY NOT SEE YOU OR EXPECT SOMEONE TO BE SO BRAIN DEAD AS TO WANT TO BE RUN OVER.
Ah. The brainless Stalinist spin of the news media. They've already "revised" this story. At first, he was "protecting the children" from the evil IDF. Now? He merely "went to help" them in his flourescent jacket and pumps!
And the entire episode is based upon reports from anti-Israeli Leftist fruitcakes? How reassuring! I'm sure the Leftist swine aren't finished "revising" this bit of idiotic political propaganda.
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