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"I didn't do it," screamed the terrified youth at the top of his lungs. "I didn't," and added "I am human."
Passersby were shocked. Some thought they were witnessing the real thing. Others knowing it was staged were hostile. A shopkeeper threatened participants with violence. He called security guards. They called police.
Some showed up but didn't intervene. They let activists finish their performance and distribute leaflets to shoppers. They were only told not to touch shop windows or decorative statues and refrain from blocking shoppers.
Gur said the action was done to highlight gross mistreatment. Most Israelis don't know how Palestinian detainees are abused. "This day is significant," he said. "By getting in people's faces, we succeeded in raising awareness, even if many disagreed with us or even reacted with hostility."
Doing so also broke the silence about abusive Israeli torture. Gur called the event "much scarier" than he imagined. It made him aware of how differently Jews are treated.
"On the other hand," he said, "torture is part of everyday reality for Palestinians. It destroys bodies and souls. It is meant to dehumanize them."
He added that he always opposed abusive treatment. Participating in a simulation motivated him to become more outspoken.
For decades Palestinians have been ruthlessly persecuted and tortured in detention. International leaders stay silent. Israel gets away with practices no one should tolerate. Innocent people suffer grievously.
Courageous activists are doing their part to help. Many other are needed to help Palestinians gain freedom and justice they've been long denied.
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