AROUND 150 people packed the Brierfield Community Centre to hear six young visitors to Pendle give their accounts of growing up in Palestine.

Their country is occupied by the Israeli army and this summer, the latest in a string of conflicts between the two sides caused the death of 2,100 Palestinians most of them civilians.

Those who attended said that their stories made for uncomfortable, if gripping, listening.

Adam Halabiya, 17, from East Jerusalem, talked of his experience in January when he was hit by three bullets fired by an Israeli sniper, after which he was held in prison for three months.

He was released without charge, but injuries to his leg meant the end of his burgeoning footballing career. He had been a member of the Palestinian national youth team.

Fifteen year-old Qais Al Shalaldeh spoke of the disruption to their education when schools regularly had to be closed because of the activities of the Israeli army.

This was in addition to the restrictions to movement caused by the construction of the huge wall built through the middle of their area and which prevents Palestinians from going into Jerusalem.

The event was organised by the Pendle Palestine Twinning Group which had brought the group of six teenagers from Beit Leed in the West Bank to Pendle along with the Mayor of their town.

One of the organisers, Sabia Khan said: ‘It was great to have such a good turnout to welcome these youngsters and to hear their stories.

“It shows how supportive the people of Pendle are of the Palestinian cause, just like the protests by local people in the summer against the Israeli attack on Gaza.”

Last week, British MPs voted to back the recognition of the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel. The vote was supported by 274 MPs with only 12 voting against.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson was one of those who voted for the state of Palestine to be recognised.

Speaking in the Commons, he said: “We need to support the vast majority of Palestinians who believe in peaceful co-existence with Israel, and face down the violent minority by showing them that non-violence and a willingness to negotiate can help get them somewhere.”