DAY 5

I am telling everybody now that Israel is about to commit a new war crime with an American blessing described as Self Defense. You will be witnesses on this crime,

I do not know if we will be able to send you more reports now.

The Israeli air crafts have already started firing at Aida Refugees' camp.

This is a call for all of you to act NOW.

I am afraid there will not be enough time, but you still can act. Go to your congressmen, to your governments and ask that the International law and all the human rights conventions should be respected. Demand your governments to stop this aggression before it is too late. Otherwise, you will see our funerals on the TV, if

the International Media decides to broadcast it to you.

Today, the Israeli Nazi soldiers shot 8 people in the town of Beit Jala, we were NONVIOLENTLY protesting the re-occupation of the town. They wounded 7 internationals from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and one Palestinian journalist who works with the Associated Press agency.

The internationals are still in Bethlehem now, they are staying in the refugees' camps in Bethlehem area trying to provide a grassroots international protection for the Palestinians in a time when the Official International Protection for the Palestinian People is absent and even Blessed by the United States' Administration.

The Israeli soldiers do not care anymore at whom their guns are pointed, these are the symptom of their Nazi mentality that caused them pain one day. They want to cause it to the Palestinians.

Again my friends,

The new crime is about to be committed now, ACT NOW SO YOU CAN STOP

IT before it takes place.

1:30am: Israeli military shelling building in Ramallah with 400+ people inside.

April 2, 2002, www.jerusalem.indymedia.org

0130: The Occupation forces are shelling a local security building Al Ammen Al Weka'ai [Preventitive Security]. This is a government building and there are 400+ people inside, 60 of whom are women. People reporting from the inside say that it is on fire and Huwaida Arraf is reporting that they are still hearing constant shelling very close to where they live near the city's main hospitals. It seems to be coming fromthe area of Amaari Refugee camp.

Please phone Neta Golan in the Presidential compound at 972 (0) 55 385 257

2:30am: Israel invades Deheishe Refugee Camp

April 2, 2002, Palestine IMC

URGENT UPDATE BETHLEHEM: At the Ibda'a computer center we are experiencing massive fighting going on outside. We can hear clearly a tank rolling by the building and there is massive tank fire, mortar fire and gun clashes. It appears that the IDF have entered Dehaishe via the Ibda'a entrance. We are all on the floor as the very loud shots occur outside.

0145:Five tanks are coming into Beit Sahour led by a bulldozer past the YMCA. We are experiencing helicopter fire and Dehaishe refugee camp has soldiers conducting house to house searches.

Please phone IMC Palestine for more information 972 2 277 7558

6:00am: IDF Soldiers and Heavy Gunfire in Ayda Refugee Camp

URGENT UPDATE: Internationals in Ayda refugee camp are reporting heavy gunfire and IDF soldiers on the ground swarming throughout the camp. An Italian national, Ricardo, has just reported that the soldiers have taken over a house next to him and are firing from the roof.

The international civilians are again repeating their plea for representitives from their respective governments to please come to Bethlehem and help stop the atrocities that are occurring right now in Ayda refugee camp.

8:45am: Bethlehem Update...Tanks outside Bethlehem Star Hotel...journalist shot...troops in refugee camps

April 2, 2002, www.jerusalem.indymedia.org

URGENT: BethlehemUpdate 08.45 The whole Bethlehem area has been declared a closed military zone and no press are allowed admittance. There are fierce gunbattles raging and the Tanzim (Palestininan resistance fighters) are being pushed toward Manger Square. The Star Hotel, where some of our international delegation are staying, has 10 tanks stationed outside. Journalists are also with the group. An Al Jazeera journalist has been shot whilst on the 5th floor of the hotel. A bulldozer has just been sighted driving past Azza refugee camp. There are troops in all the refugee camps, as well as tanks. We fear for what is about to happen. These developments are extremely sinister. Please call your media and your politicians. Demand international action to stop a bloody slaughter. Witnesses on the ground in Bethlehem: (for international dialing drop the 0 before the phone number) English - Heather 00 972 (0) 67 270 398 English - Georgina 00 972 (0) 55 840 767/ 00 972 (0) 674 5459 English – IMC Palestine 00 972 (0) 2 277 7558 Arabic/English - Bilal 00 972 (0) 52 814 992 Italian - Francesca 00 39 3389 77 3899 There are French speakers available as well.

Noon: Update from Bethlehem...Are Bombs the Solution?

April 2, 2002, Holy Land Trust

Israeli army troops have continued their terror campaign on the Palestinian population by entering the Holy city of Bethlehem. The attack began at 4 o'clock this morning local time. Israeli tanks and soldiers are now on every street in the Bethlehem district and have parked their tanks in front of the Church of Nativity, the birthplace of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Gunfire and shelling can be heard throughout the city. We know it has begun, but it seems that no one knows how it will stop or when it will end, the circle of violence continuous to spin out of control.

Ariel Sharon has officially requested the United States to give him just a few more weeks to complete this campaign that will put an end to Palestinian suicide attacks on Israelis. A few more weeks of complete and absolute isolation of the Palestinians, a few more weeks of death and injuries, a few more weeks of no electricity, no food, no water and no safe shelter, a few more weeks of military orders illegally preventing the press from covering the situation, a few more weeks of preventing ambulances and humanitarian organizations from doing their job and sadly, a few more weeks of creating more hatred and anger towards Israel than at any other time prior to that.

Does Sharon actually believe that in a few weeks he will be able to reach a situation where he can prevent suicide attacks from ever happening again? Are these the actions that will end the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis? Has the U.S. again, bought into another Israeli lie? Do you believe that this policy will result in ending the violence that has for so long devastated families on both sides of the boarders?

The Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres has today made the statement that if the Palestinian President signs an Israeli "revised" version of the Tennet cease-fire agreement then they will begin to withdraw their forces. Is this how democracies work, put a gun on someone's head and tell them "sign or be killed?" What honor it is to be able to live as neighbors to the "only democracy in the Middle East?"

We will do our best to keep you updated on the situation in Bethlehem and Palestine. U.S. made Apache helicopters are now shooting heavy caliber bullets on buildings in Manger Square, meters from the Church of Nativity. Tanks are blindly shelling the refugee camps and some residential areas. There are reports of several Palestinians killed and wounded; absolute fear has taken over the entire city and people are now cramped in basements or in single rooms in their homes and buildings. You can hear the cries of children and women in the few seconds of silence between the rounds of gunfire. We are not able to travel outside of our homes and when theelectricity or telephone lines are cut off we will not be able to communicate with the outside world.

It will be up to you then to speak on our behalf.

In Peace (always and forever),

Sami Awad

For more information please contact:

Holy Land Trust
Email: Palestine@holylandtrust.org
www.holylandtrust.org
Tel: +972-2-276-5930
Fax: +972-2-276-5931

IDF Rolls Down Hebron Roa... IDF Soldiers On the Move ...

4/2/02: 2:10pm (Palestine Time) The armed clashes are taking place in the main roads of Dheishe. At first, two tanks appeared and Palestinian children of 13-14 years old attacked the tanks with homemade bombs. After this, 15 tanks came in to reinforce the IDF invasion. These tanks took up position around the Ibdaa social center, where Indymedia reporters are writing this. For about an hour, Palestinian fighters clashed with the IDF soldiers. Some IDF soldiers left their personnel carriers and clashed in the streets, while most stayed inside armored vehicles. The explosions are near and the gun shots are heard and felt by us also. Now the situation seems calm, but it is believed that the IDF troops have moved to higher ground in order to resume fighting from a better position. (Italy IndyMedia)

6:45pm: Foreign solidarity group forces open two Israeli military roadblocks
From The Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Gaza City Date: 2 April 2002

On 1 April, members of an international civil protection delegation visiting the Gaza strip in solidarity with the Palestinian people succeeded in forcing Israeli occupation forces to reopen two Israeli military checkpoints that had been closed for five days. The delegation, comprised of approximately 20 French and Swiss nationals, accompanied by PCHR staff, demonstrated at Netzarim junction, near Gaza city and Abu Houli checkpoint, near Khan Yunis, both while traveling to the south of the Gaza strip and upon their return to Gaza city.

The protesters confronted Israeli occupying forces at both checkpoints with slogans and banners. At Netzarim junction, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition in the air without warning and threatened to arrest the protesters. At Abu Houli checkpoint, soldiers repeatedly threatened to shoot the delegation. After tense exchanges, the Israeli forces agreed to open the checkpoints. The delegation crossed the roadblocks after Palestinian traffic, including civilians who been waiting at checkpoints
for five days, managed to pass through.

The delegation also visited al-Tuffah checkpoint in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza strip, an area of mass house demolition and indiscriminate shelling by Israeli occupying forces. They then moved to the Rafah refugee camp on the border with Egypt, where they visited demolished houses in Block O area, where a Palestinian child had been killed one hour earlier by Israeli snipers. The delegation met with owners of houses demolished by the Israeli army.

This morning, the delegation met with mothers and wives of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. They also inspected the office of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, partially destroyed by Israeli warplanes, and met with Tayeb Abdul Rahim, chef de cabinet of the presidents office. The delegation also visited other PNA civil sites destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Gaza city.

On the same day, the delegation met with representatives of nationalistic and Islamic movements, who briefed them on their standpoint on developments in the region

The delegation initiated their visit to the Gaza Strip on Sunday, 31 March, with a tour of Beit Lahia village and Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, accompanied by PCHR staff. At PCHRs office, the delegation met with Palestinian civil society leaders, who briefed them on Israeli practices and violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The delegation will depart on Wednesday, 3 April. According the program of the visit, prepared by PCHR, the delegation will meet with some Palestinian public and women activists, as well as representatives of the fishermens union, who are subjected to continuous Israeli violations. They will also visit the offices of the ICRC and Gaza Community and Mental Health Programme.

6:00pm: Eyewitness Report from Azzeh Refugee Camp near Bethlehem

April 2, 2002, From a telephoned report from Kristren Schurr, U.S. based global justice activist, part of the delegation in Bethlehem.

At 1am the siege or Bethlehem began, with tanks entering the Al Azzeh / Beit Jabrir refugee camps from four different direction (the four entrances to the camps). At 2am these same tanks began shelling the camp. U.S. made F-16s occasionally fly overhead, dropping shells into the camps as well. U.S. made and donated Apache helicopters have continued to make repeated flybys, about every 10 minutes. Israeli tanks have fully occupied Manger Square, legendary birth place of Jesus Christ. From this location the tanks fire rounds into Bethlehem University, which is incidentally adjacent to the Beit Jala hospital.

Equally as frightening is the Israeli sniper fire coming from the Paradise Hotel, targeted strait into the camp. Beit Jala and Beit Jabrir are occupied and the shelling continues in the Aida refugee camp as well, as the siege of the Deheisha refugee camp continues.

19 Internationals are currently in Al Azzeh refugee camp, spread throughout in different houses. Of the US citizens, 7 are from New York City, one from Philadelphia.

I stayed up all night with the Akka family. Sat and waited. The 21 year old son and I sat out on the patio, against a wall for protection from the bullets, and watched as the Apaches circled and passed overhead, and listened to the shelling. We waited in fear of the inevitable roundup of Palestinian men.

The father of this family we are staying with was asked what we, as the international observers, should do if called outside by the Israelis. He advised us to stay inside. If Palestinian men were called out (as they usually are when the Israelis come), he said that we should go outside with them, acting as human shields, a presence that would add an element of protection, if only in the eyes of the Israeli soldiers. At least we would be witnesses to the takings.

As the dark night sky peels away to a deep shade of blue, the US made Apaches pass over, continuing the threat of death. And we wait.

10:40pm: Crisis Situation Continues as Israeli Army Expands Military Aggression Throughout the West Bank
April 2, 2002, The Palestine Monitor, A PNGO Information Clearinghouse
URGENT UPDATE

For the fifth consecutive day the Israeli army continues to assault the West Bank city of Ramallah, deepening the humanitarian crisis, attacking civilians, maintaining a 24-hour curfew and total siege on the city. No one can move in the city – no one can get in, or out.

Water, electricity and telephone lines have been cut, people are unable to get food, medical workers come under attack when attempting to gain access to the sick and wounded, hospitals report shortages of oxygen, blood, IV solutions, antibiotics, and blood spectrum antibiotics. The Ramallah hospital buried 25 bodies on their premises as they were forbidden from taking them to the cemetery; there are fears that many more bodies remain scattered around the town, inaccessible to medical personnel. A photojournalist was arrested and 10 Palestinian Red Crescent workers traveling in three ambulances were arrested on the way to treat people
wounded in the Israeli attacks on Beitounia; forced out of the ambulances at gun point they were then made to strip and wait at the side of the street.

The same treatment was meted out to a UPMRC ambulance driver, who was stopped, stripped in the rain and then had the final humiliation of soldiers throwing mud on him.

The army informed local human rights organizations that it was going to lift the curfew between 2-6 PM this evening, however when people were told this, and attempted to leave their homes, the soldiers in the city opened fire on a number of them. A 14-year-old boy, Kindi Amin Qutamey was shot in the leg in downtown Ramallah, a victim of another Israeli lie.

This situation is mirrored throughout the West Bank; the Israeli army now has re-occupied the cities of Qalqiliya, Tulkaram Beit Jala and Bethlehem. It is reported that tanks and other military vehicles are making their way to Jenin and Nablus.

Near Bethlehem, Mar Shaba monastery came under Israeli attack. When soldiers demanded the nuns and monks open the door to the church, they refused. The
soldiers proceeded to open fire at the door wounding one sister in the attack.

In Bethlehem, a father of 3 children moved to his mothers’ house in the old city – as it was in an area less vulnerable to an Israeli attack, or so he thought. His 64-year-old mother, Sumaya, was shot dead with two bullets to her chest, when an Israeli tank invaded the area; at the same time shelling from the tank killed his brother, Khaled. The children in the house, eight in total, are cowering in the bathroom – the safest place, and away from the corpses that remain in their home as no ambulance or other vehicle can come to remove them.

Tanks in the grounds of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem surround over one hundred people inside. Some of the wounded have received medical treatment, but are unable to leave the church. At the time of writing the Israeli army is once again firing on the church and the surrounding areas.

The situation has gone beyond dire. With foreigners and journalists being forced to leave, and communication difficult from the besieged towns, Sharon ’s army has carte blanche to act without restraint against the civilian Palestinian population.

For more information contact Juliana at the Palestine Monitor +972 (0)2 5834021 or +972 (0)2 5833510

11:20PM: Mosque in Bethlehem Bombed, 5 Palestinians dead, 30 wounded.

April 2, 2002, www.jerusalem.indymedia.org

Bethlehem, Palestine: IDF has bombed the mosque at Manger Square, 5 dead, atleast 30 wounded - all civilians. IDF is preventing ambulances from entering the scene. 300 people, including families, fighters and journalists, are being held prisoners in the three churches of the square. IDF threatens to bomb them if they do not surrender.

11:30pm: Palestinians and Internationals fired upon in Ramallah...25 Palestinians buried in parking lot

April 2, 2002, International Solidarity Movement, Huwaida Arraf in Ramallah

Friends,

I apologize for not being able to send out these reports as often as needed. Again, please refer to the website that we are trying to keep updated as to what we are witnessing here on the ground in besieged Palestine - www.jerusalem.indymedia.org. If you are trying to reach us by phone, keep in mind that are lines are very busy and keep trying or leave a message when possible. My main number 972-52-642-709.

Quick update:

The presidential compound in Ramallah is currently being fired upon. We still have 34 foreign peace activists inside. There is a dire shortage of food and no water. They urgently need medical supplies. Please see the appeal below. Also posted on website.

Palestinian doctors were forced to dig a mass grave in the parking lot of the Ramallah hospital today to bury 25 of the dead bodies that have been retrieved over the past 4 days. Though it is difficult to get an accurate count of the dead due to the Israeli military preventing medical workers from operating, doctors were forced to make room in the hospital morgue. We have been unable to bury the dead properly due to the Israeli siege and their open shoot policy. Pictures available on website.

A 55-year old woman by the name of Widad Majed Nimr Safwan was shot dead by Israeli snipers as she left the Ramallah hospital this morning where she came for treatment of her broken leg. Widad left the Shiekh Khaled bin Zayed hospital at approximately 11am this morning, to have her dead body carried back by an Italian peace worker at 11:15am. Snipers shot Widad in the cheek and back of the neck.

PLEASE keep up the pressure on your respective governments. We really need help here.

Huwaida
=================================================
SEND HELP NOW

As members of the international civilian peace force on the ground in the besieged Palestinian towns of Ramallah and Bethlehem, we are sending out an urgent call for help.

First of all we'd like to confirm that there are 34 foreign civilians still inside the Presidential compound, under siege by Israeli forces. They are 27 French, 2 Germans, 1 British, 1 Belgian, 1 Brazilian, 1 Israeli/Canadian and 1 Irish. They have been in there since Sunday, March 31, 2002. They are reporting to us a severe shortage of food, no water and a desperate need for medical supplies. We have repeatedly attempted to deliver food, water and medicine via a Red Crescent ambulance but the Israeli military is not allowing the aid through. The foreign peace activists inside the compound are calling for immediate international intervention. They have issued an urgent call to their respective ambassadors. In addition to the ambassadors, we are calling upon UN Secretary General Kofi Anan, EU Foreign Minister Javier Solana, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, General Anthony Zinni, and EU Special Envoy Miguel Moratinos to come immediately to Ramallah and intervene to stop the Israeli assault on all Palestinian cities and people.

Up until now unarmed foreign civilians have been doing the work that our governments and the international community should be doing and MUST START DOING NOW. We have now also become purposeful targets of the Israeli military. Yesterday Israeli soldiers opened fire on a large group foreign peace activists in Beit Jala, wounding six (2 Americans, 3 British and 1 Australian). Now international peace activists are in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron, the Dhaishe refugee camp, Aida refugee camp, and Azza refugee camp, serving as human shields to protect the Palestinian people. The Israeli government has declared martial law in Ramallah and Bethlehem and has ordered all of us out. We refuse to leave. Some of us have already been arrested and deported for our solidarity work with the Palestinian people.

We need help NOW. The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross are being prevented from working inside the besieged Palestinian towns. The Palestinian Red Crescent society and aid workers are being detained by Israeli forces and their ambulances are denied passage to deliver humanitarian aid and to pick up wounded and the dead. Ambulances are also being shot at and medics and doctors forced to sit on their knees at gunpoint in the streets.

We appeal to the world not to remain silent and to come to the Occupied Palestinian Territories to help protect the Palestinian people. WE are witnessing war crimes and must work to stop this! We will continue our attempts to help the Palestinian people, despite the danger on our lives. The United Nations and our respective governments must intervene now, decisively and unconditionally.

WE NEED HELP! SEND HELP NOW! PLEASE.

11:30pm: IDF bombed mosque...300 people held prisoner in Church of the Nativity

April 2, 2002, www.jerusalem.indymedia.org

URGENT Update: Israeli Occupation Forces are staging a major confrontation at Manger Square in Bethlehem proper. They have bombed the sacred mosque that is found here (the birthplace of Jesus and a holy site for Muslims and Christians alike). At least 5 people are dead and at least 30 wounded so far. In addition, IDF is preventing any ambulances from arriving on the scene, allowing innocent people to bleed to death. 300 people, including families, fighters and journalists, are being held prisoners in the three churches of the square. IDF threatens to bomb them if they do not surrender.

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