Telegraph, Tests have revealed that a British peace activist shot in the head by an Israeli soldier is in a persistent vegetative state from which he is unlikely to recover.
Six months after Tom Hurndall, 22, was shot while trying to protect Palestinian children on the Gaza strip, his family are still waiting to hear whether an Israeli military police investigation will take place. They are considering taking legal action should an investigation not proceed.
The Manchester Metropolitan University student, a photo-journalism student, had been in Rafah for a week when he was shot on April 11. Other activists said he was wearing a fluorescent jacket as he went to help three children but was shot from a watchtower.
Mr Hundall's father Anthony, a lawyer, and mother Jocelyn, a teacher, of Tufnell Park, north London, have put their careers on hold to set up a fund in their son's name with their daughter Sophie, 24, who works full-time for the organisation. With their younger son Freddy, 13, they visit Tom twice a week at the hospital in Putney, south-west London.
Miss Hurndall said of the diagnosis of her brother's condition: “He's not aware of anything at any level. It was a blow to us, but not such a blow as what happened in the first place. In one way it was quite a relief because we were terrified that he might be conscious of what was going on, but couldn't tell us.
“Most of the time he's relatively stable and could continue like that indefinitely. He's young and very strong and has pulled through so much that we've come to expect him to survive.
“What to do in the long term is something that we're trying to discuss as a family at the moment, but it's very difficult to bring the topic up.
“There's no closure with this, there's always a worry that he might be suffering. He makes facial expressions that we've been told are reflex reactions, although it still looks very much like he's in pain.
“It's a twilight zone, he's in a limbo state. It's pointless and undignified for him. We're having to think very seriously about what we're going to do about leaving him in this condition. I feel it wouldn't be right.”
The parents of Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist crushed to death by an Israeli armoured bulldozer weeks before Tom was shot, flew from Olympia, Washington, to stay with the Hurndalls two weeks ago.
“Meeting them was very emotional. The connection was immense, like they were the only other people who could understand,” said Miss Hurndall.
The Hurndall family have compiled their own report, which includes 14 witness statements and 50 photographs showing Tom before and after the shooting. They presented it to the Israeli authorities three months ago and have been assured by Tony Blair and Jack Straw that they have discussed it with Ariel Sharon.
The report was passed to Israel's Advocate General, who is expected to make an announcement shortly about whether and when an investigation will take place.
On Friday, Miss Hurndall and Freddy presented a letter to the Israeli embassy, expressing “deep disappointment” at the lack of response to the family's document.
Mrs Hurndall said: “It's very disturbing that we still haven't heard. It seems to be dragging on and on and makes you feel that it's not being taken seriously. Tom's shooting has brought the family to a complete standstill, but we're putting all our energies into the legal campaign.”
