I was asleep when I heard someone kicking our front door. It was around 3:30 a.m.  I jumped out of bed and opened the door. A large number of Israeli soldiers, including 4 female soldiers, entered our home. 

 

The soldiers were accompanied by someone wearing a mask who I suspected of being the informant who led the soldiers to our house. Outside there were about 15 military jeeps and dozens more soldiers all around the house. 

 

I immediately knew what was likely to happen as this was not the first time that soldiers had raided our home. I knew from previous experiences that it does not pay to confront or resist the military. 

 

After I opened the door I went to the living room and said nothing. Meanwhile the soldiers stormed into the house like a herd of cattle. I no longer felt like this was my home.

 

One of the soldiers asked for my husband and I told him my husband was dead but he did not believe me. My grandson, who is 10, was spending the night over and the soldier asked who he was and I explained. Then they stormed into the bedroom of my 21-year-old son. He had heard the commotion and was getting dressed. They asked to see his identity card and immediately told him he was under arrest. 

 

When I heard this I nearly collapsed as I suffer from diabetes. My blood sugar dropped and I felt dizzy. Then they took my son outside where they blindfolded him and tied his hands behind his back and took him away without any explanation. It felt like my entire universe had disappeared.

 

I miss my son a lot especially at meal times. My eyes haven’t dried since his arrest. I cry when I walk into his bedroom and I cry when I need help. He is the only support I have. 

 

This is the third time that soldiers had raided my home. We live very close to highway 90 and a Jewish shrine which settlers visit all the time. This is the cause of our troubles.