I was playing with some friends and relatives while our goats grazed in a field near the military watchtower across the road from the refugee camp where I live. It was around 5:00 p.m. 

 

We weren’t paying much attention when the goats started to graze near a group of soldiers. Suddenly about five soldiers approached and accused us of throwing stones at them. They did not listen to us when we explained to them what we were doing; I don’t think their Arabic was very good. 

 

One of my relatives saw that the soldiers had detained us and tried to convince them to release us but they refused. The soldiers separated me from the rest of the boys and made me sit on thorn bushes. A soldier kicked me on the side and I was in pain for two days. He also pushed my head down and my face was scratched on the thorn bush. I was scared and just wanted to go home. 

 

A short time later I was taken to a military vehicle and I sat on the floor. A soldier covered my eyes with his hand. The vehicle drove to the police station in Etzion settlement. 

 

When we arrived at Etzion a commander asked me who was throwing stones and I told him we were playing and watching the goats and no one was throwing stones. The commander questioned me without informing me of any rights. Then he told me he had photographs of the incident and I asked him to show me the photographs but he refused.

 

At around 11:00 p.m. I was handed over with the other boys to the Palestinian police who asked us to tell them what had happened and told us not to go to that area anymore. Then my uncle took us all home. I was very happy to see my mother who was very worried. I was very tired and I went to bed.