A FARNHAM couple say they will remain in a village on the outskirts of Bethlehem to continue with voluntary work, despite witnessing first hand the Israeli military incursions in the area.

Jono and Debi Rettallick are part of a seven-strong team of Surrey-based artists who are in the Palestinian village of Wadi Foquin just 12 kilometres south-west of Bethlehem, where there has been sustained fighting over the past few days.

Herald reporter Chris Buratta spoke to the team on Tuesday and they insisted they are safe and well and will remain for as long as possible.

Jono confirmed that they had seen the Israeli military build-up in the area over the weekend: "We saw tanks being rolled in on lorries."

On Monday evening he said they were "chatting away and saw helicopters launch rockets into Bethlehem".

He said they could hear planes and helicopter gunships throughout the night.

Linda Ramsden, the project co-ordinator in Wadi Foquin, said: "We can hear and see Apache and F16 fighters going over" and she described events as "very scary".

"The situation is horrendous, what we are seeing is horrendous."

She said that ambulances were unable to get through to the injured.

"Electricity has been cut at times and water tanks have been shot at."

Because of the continued military offensive, the team are being restricted to the village of Wadi Foquin.

However, they did visit Jerusalem on Easter Sunday.

Linda said: "We were the only international people their, it was very, very empty."

The team are part of the MAGMA Arts Initiative and are holding creative workshops in the village to help Palestinian children and teenagers deal with their experiences.

Jono was positive about the work they have carried out so far and was hopeful that they could continue.

"The village is fantastic, they are really responding to the workshops.

"We want to help build some hope and give them an opportunity to tell their story."

Linda confirmed that the team are determined to continue with their work: "As long as the village is not attacked we will remain and continue to hold workshops."

"We are listening to people - they thought nobody cared."

Steve Clifford is monitoring the team from the UK and spoke with them late on Tuesday evening.

He said: "We are very concerned at the moment. We will be assessing the situation on an hourly basis.

"They have gunships going overhead and tanks in the vicinity.

"They are very committed to the project and will be very reluctant to leave."

Debi and Jono are co-directors of MAGMA which is a voluntary organisation and since 1999 the couple have worked for Creative Response, a charity that helps people with mental health problems, based in West Street, Farnham.

The MAGMA team left for Wadi Foquin on March 28 and are due to return on April 14.

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