Finally, forced by the lack of water, the Palestinians had to give up. After the surrender the International Red Cross, which was to give a safe passage for the population to West-Beirut, was not able to prevent the murder by the militias of over 1000 civilians. What happened in Tell al-Zaater became widely known in Lebanon. The Israelis too were well aware of the hate the Phalangists harboured against Palestinians. Now with their charismatic and ruthless leader dead, the Phalangists would want revenge. This was the reason why during the rest of my nightshift the atmosphere was tense and rather sombre.
At around 6-7 a.m. there was a sudden roar outside. Israeli warplanes swooped low over the camps. This was repeated several times. Civilians in a state of panic came rushing into the hospital's underground shelter. There were no bombs however, just a show of intimidation.
At about 8 a.m. I left Akka-hospital and walked northward through the main street of Sabra and Shatila. The street was bustling with people doing their shopping. In Fakhani, a Lebanese neighbourhood north of Sabra I took a service-taxi to Hamra in the northern part of West-Beirut, where the MECC-team had it's residence. As we drove off I saw young Lebanese men standing on the streetcorners. They were armed and peering towards the south.
At around 6-7 a.m. there was a sudden roar outside. Israeli warplanes swooped low over the camps. This was repeated several times. Civilians in a state of panic came rushing into the hospital's underground shelter. There were no bombs however, just a show of intimidation.
At about 8 a.m. I left Akka-hospital and walked northward through the main street of Sabra and Shatila. The street was bustling with people doing their shopping. In Fakhani, a Lebanese neighbourhood north of Sabra I took a service-taxi to Hamra in the northern part of West-Beirut, where the MECC-team had it's residence. As we drove off I saw young Lebanese men standing on the streetcorners. They were armed and peering towards the south.