Soldier: There was this incident where an ambush was put up following a riot at Qalandiya on a Friday, in an abandoned house near the square. Soldiers got out with army clubs and beat people to a pulp. Finally the children who remained on the ground were arrested. The order was to run, make people fall to the ground. There was a 10-12 man team, 4 soldiers lighting up the area. People were made to fall to the ground, and then the soldiers with the clubs would go over to them and beat them. A slower runner was beaten, that was the rule.

 

Interviewer: What does such a club look like?

 

Soldier: It’s the simplest wooden club, straight, about 30 centimeters long. You stick it in the back of your ceramic bullet proof vest, like a sword on a 'Ninja-turtle,’ then you pull it out and pound it down.

 

Interviewer: You can kill a person.

 

Soldier: We were told not to use it on people’s heads. I don’t remember where we were told to hit, but as soon as a person on the ground is beaten with such a club, it’s difficult to be particular.

 

Interviewer: How many times did your platoon do this?

 

Soldier: I don’t know, quite a few. Certainly 4-5 times. Perhaps with different kids …

 

Interviewer: What did the company commander expect?

 

Soldier: That they would learn their lesson. I can only hope that the kids detained on the base or at the police station would not go back to throwing stones, but I can’t believe this was the effect.