THE Newport-born charity worker living in Bethlehem told the Argus innocent people were being targeted by Israeli soldiers just yards from her home.

Sarah Gibby, 31, runs a home for children with special needs in Beitsahour (Shepherd's Field), less than a mile from the centre of Bethlehem, where fierce fighting still rages.

The Argus revealed Sarah and her Palestinian husband's plight last week.

But she believes it is safer to stay in her home with their children, aged five and one, rather than risk fleeing the country.

Sarah - whose parents, John and Pauline, live in Abercarn - said: "If I could be guaranteed a safe journey I would take my children away.

"But it is a lot to leave behind and snipers are targeting innocent civilians.

"We heard of one man lying injured in a hospital doorway and the nurses could not get to him because they were shot at.

"Snipers shoot at people taking dead bodies to be buried as well, so the situation is quite dangerous, but we are in constant touch with the British consulate."

This week, US Secretary of State Colin Powell is due to arrive in Israel on a peace-making mission after visiting leaders in Morocco, Egypt, Spain and Jordan.