A peace activist with deep ties to Grass Valley was in critical condition Sunday after being injured by Israeli troops during protests in the West Bank village of Ni’lin.

Tristan Anderson, 38, was hit in the head by a new type of high-velocity, extended-range tear gas projectile on Friday and was recovering from brain surgery in a Tel Aviv hospital.

His parents, who still live in Grass Valley, were en route to Israel and were expected to arrive this morning, said Sasha Solanas, a spokeswoman for the International Solidarity Movement, the group with which Anderson is affiliated.

Anderson, who was a student at Lyman Gilmore Middle School and a 1989 graduate of Nevada Union High School, was seriously injured during a protest over the separation barrier that Israel erected between it and the West Bank. An Israeli soldier fired the fist-sized canister during a clash with protesters and hit Anderson in the head, said Ulrika Jenson of Sweden, an activist with the International Solidarity Movement.

Jenson, who saw the incident, said in a statement released by the group that “the Israeli soldiers were standing on the hill looking over us, firing tear-gas canisters straight into the crowd.”

Israeli activist Jonathan Pollack told Israeli media, “There were clashes in the earlier hours, but he wasn’t part of them. He didn’t throw stones and wasn’t standing next to the stone throwers. There was really no reason to fire at them.”

The impact of the projectile caused numerous condensed fractures to Anderson’s forehead and right eye socket, said volunteers from Anarchists Against The Wall, who were present at the protest and have been at the hospital. Anderson reportedly has had surgery to remove bone fragments from his brain, and both his right eye and skin suffered extensive damage.

Anderson’s girlfriend, Gabrielle Silverman, 25, was keeping a vigil at the hospital, group members said.

On Sunday, Anderson had been transferred from emergency care to the neurological intensive care unit, said family members.

“Tristan’s girlfriend, Gaby, who has been tirelessly by his side, reports that he is doing much better,” Anderson’s sister wrote in a prepared statement. “When the doctor asked him to put up two fingers, he did so. Tristan recognizes Gaby and can squeeze her fingers in answer to different questions. He’s started moving his toes and his torso around a bit. This is welcome and wonderful news! We understand things can go up and down, however we are deeply hopeful that Tristan will recover. We are looking forward to when he is stable enough that he can return home to the care and comfort of his family and community.”

This is not the first time Anderson’s activism had placed him in a dangerous situation. He spent time in Iraq in 2004 and in Oaxaca in 2006 as an independent reporter for the San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center.

He has been involved in a variety of causes, including protesting the Iraq war and American reliance on oil, and saving a grove of oak trees on the UC Berkeley campus.

“We are deeply grateful for the love and support pouring in from Tristan’s friends and fellow activists around the world,” Anderson’s sister wrote. “It is moving to see how many people care for Tristan and are moved by his work championing social justice issues. We are proud of Tristan’s fierce courage, adventurous spirit, and his many travels to all corners of the globe.”

To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call 477-4229.