DAY 1: Eyewitness Reports of Israeli Invasion in Ramallah

March 29, 2002

(All Times Local-Palestine)

3:15pm: 200 Tanks Have Invaded Ramallah, 24 hour curfew

3:30pm: Internationals Come Under Fire Assisting Red Crescent Ambulances

4:00pm: Urgent from Palestine: Call to the World
4:05pm: Israeli Occupation Army Ransacks Ramallah, Troops Shoot at Everything Moving

9:45pm: Into the Evening Israeli Forces Continue their Offensive on the Palestinian People

10:00pm: Israelis took over my house

Midnight:  Palestinian Doctors Held at Gunpoint

Yassar Arafat's Headquarters Come Under Israeli AttackØ

3:15pm: 200 Tanks Have Invaded Ramallah

March 29, 2002, Ramallah

The Palestine Monitor, A PNGO Information Clearinghouse

URGENT UPDATE

At this time the Israeli military occupies Ramallah and el-Bireh with over 200 tanks and military armaments and have imposed a 24-hour curfew over all areas of the two cities. Residents are locked in their homes, unable to leave for food supplies or medical care. The Israeli army has shot those who have tried to leave their homes at.

The Israeli army has also closed down all local radio and television stations, and is shooting at press vehicles, attempting to cause a total information blackout. One journalist has already been shot in the face, as was documented by his cameraman.

Our reports indicate that so far four Palestinians have been killed and that 35 have been injured. We fear this number may soon rise significantly as the Israeli army is now shelling the Palestinian Authority headquarters from inside the walls of the compound, threatening the life of those inside including Chairman Yasser Arafat

and other Palestinian leaders. 

Furthermore, Israeli soldiers are preventing ambulances from reaching those wounded inside the compound. Once again we call on the international community to exercise the utmost pressure on the Israeli government to withdraw their tanks from Ramallah and to stop this aggression against the Palestinian people. Sharon is

attempting to reconstitute occupation which is the cancer that is eating the lives of both Palestinians and Israelis, and which may lead to a regional disaster. We urge you to take action to stop Sharon's criminal behavior.

For more information please contact The Palestine Monitor, +972-59- 208-258

3:30pm: Internationals Come Under Fire Assisting Red Crescent Ambulances

March 29, 2002, Ramallah

International civilians are trying to assist ambulance teams in Ramallah as they attempt to get to wounded and dying people. The ambulances of the International Red Cross, Red Crescent and U.N. have been prevented from moving in the city. The ambulances are now coming under fire and international civilians have been trying to act as human shields on board since 1400 today. Internationals will continue to ride aboard the ambulances in the hope that this may increase the chances of getting to those in need.

The muka'ta has been under constant tank shelling and the electricity has been cut in the city since early this morning.

For more information contact:

In Ramallah - Huwaida 972 2 052 642 709

In Bethleham - Heather 972 2 067 270 398

4:00pm: Urgent from Palestine: Call to the World
March 29, 2002, Ramallah

Friends as you may be hearing, seeing or reading the situation in Palestine is desperate. Israeli forces have invaded almost every area of Ramallah and we are under heavy tank shelling and gun fire. An unidentified number of people are dead and scores are injured. Ambulances have been prevented access and soldiers are opening fire on them.

There are international civilians in the areas under fire witnessing the carnage of the Israeli soldiers wreaked on the Palestinian people.

Other internationals have been beaten down for trying to get into Ramallah to help Palestinians.

We extend a plea from the Palestinians and the international witnesses to all of our friends abroad to immediately phone and/or fax your representatives and respective governments to demand urgent and decisive action to stop Israel’s brutal offensive on the Palestinian people

Gather, march, and protest in the streets!
We need the voices of all good people around the world!

PLEASE ACT NOW

For more information contact:
Witnesses on the ground in Ramallah:
Arabic / English - Huwaida 972 2 052 642 709
French - Claude 972 2 055 559 145
There are German and Italian speakers available as well
 

4:05pm: Israeli Occupation Army Ransacks Ramallah, Troops Shoot at Everything Moving

Occupied Jerusalem: 29 March, 2002 (IAP News)

More than 200 Israeli tanks and over 20,000 troops have invaded the Palestinian town of Ramallah Friday morning as part of a far-reaching Israeli operation aimed at crushing Palestinian resistance to Israeli military occupation and apartheid.

In the past few hours, street battles between lightly-armed Palestinian defendants and the Israeli army resulted in at least 50 casualties on both sides.

Palestinian hospital sources said at least four defendants and a civilian were killed and over 30 people, mostly innocent civilians, injured by Israeli bullets.

And in a gruesome scene, the Abu-Dhabi satellite television showed Israeli snipers kill a Palestinian civilian in a cold-blooded manner as he was walking outside his home.

The Israeli army said an Israeli officer was killed and four soldiers injured by the Palestinian defendants' fire. In mid-morning Friday, Israeli tanks and bulldozers stormed PA chairman Yasser Arafat's headquarters, knocking down the perimeter wall.

Palestinian officials besieged in the building said parts of it were on fire.

Palestinian spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said "the President is under siege," adding that "the situation here is very dangerous, this is a declaration of war."

Palestinian sources said the Israeli army was shooting at everything moving and sabotaging Palestinian private and public property. "They are crushing private cars, they shooting at water containers on rooftops…it seems they want us to die of thirst," said a local resident who was reached by telephone.

The Israelis are also reportedly shooting at journalists and foreign cameramen.

Hospital sources in Ramallah said an Egyptian cameraman working for the Egyptian satellite channel, Nilesat, was moderately injured after an Israeli sniper's bullet hit him in the chin.

Later reports said the Israeli occupation army placed Ramallah under curfew and threatened to shoot and kill any Palestinian seen in the streets.

9:45pm: Into the Evening Israeli Forces Continue their Offensive on the Palestinian People

March 29, 2002, Ramallah

- After heavy shelling of the Presidential compound all day Israeli forces entered the compound with tanks and ground troops. The Palestinian police have reported that no one has been taken but there has been office to office break ins and searches and resistance from the compound.
 

- Two Palestinian Red Crescent ambulances carrying a doctor and two foreign international volunteers American citizen Adam Shapiro and Irish national Caoimhe Butterly have been held up for over 3 hours trying to reach the injured in the compound

Adam reported the ambulances being stopped and completely search and everybody was being forced out of the ambulances.

- At the time of this writing one ambulance carrying the doctor and the two foreign civilian volunteers have been let in. One ambulance was turned back. Two injured are being removed from the compound now.

- Al-Jazeera satellite channel was showing people bleeding and lying dead on the floor of the compound as the ambulances were held at the gate and the volunteers waiting to be let in to assist the injured could see smoke rising from the compound

- Electricity throughout Ramallah has been cut in all neighborhoods and water tanks have been shot up causing them to leak precious water. Israeli forces have been shooting at anything moving in the streets as their tanks are positioned throughout Palestinian neighborhoods.

- The Shabak and Israeli police entered a hotel in Jerusalem where an international solidarity delegation of French and Swiss are staying. The Israeli forces demanded all the passports of the 50 internationals. After the intervention of embassies and lawyers the passports were returned. It is unknown whether they will attempt to forcibly remove international witnesses in the area.

- Despite this form of intimidation by the Israeli authorities and army internationals are intent on staying and expressing their solidarity with the Palestinian people.

We urge everyone again to please keep working to stop the continued atrocities being perpetrated by Sharon and his government.

For more information contact:
Witnesses on the ground in Ramallah:
Arabic / English - Huwaida 972 2 052 642 709
French - Claude 972 2 055 559 145
There are German and Italian speakers available as well
 

Witnesses on the ground in Bethleham:
(for international dialing drop the 0 before the phone number)
English - Heather 972 2 067 270 398
English - Georgina 972 2 055 840 767
Arabic/English - Bilal 972 2 052 814 992
Italian - Francesca 00 39 3389 77 3899
There are French and Swedish speakers available as well.
 

10:00pm: Israelis took over my house

March 29, 2002, Ramallah

Live Report from Ramallah, Palestine:

Today at 5:00am I was awakened by what sounded like huge trunks, when I looked out the window I saw several tanks. ½ hr later the Israeli soldiers rang the bell - we did not answer - then I heard them coming up the steps (obviously broke in the main door). The pounded the door to the house, My husband opened the door, to find endless huge guns pointed at us. They pushed the door open and distributed themselves throughout the house and office. Over 50 heavily armed soldiers were now in the office and home (which are adjacent). We asked what they wanted and they told us to shut up and sit down. I explained that I was American they said that they did not care what I was. I insisted that they leave the house and told them as an American I protest to what they are doing. The said "this in no worse than what your country is doing in Afghanistan." I told them to use the steps and the roof if they insist on staying and to get out of the house and office. They said "shut up and sit down, we do what we want wherever we want." I got my passport out and asked for the commanding officer.

The officer said that they are thinking about leaving. I asked when he said soon. They started to rip the curtains and breaking things. I asked them not to do that and gave them an ashtray to put out their cigarettes instead of the floor. One took the ashtray from me and threw it in the hallway. At that point I realized they are out of control. I went to the phone to call the American Consul. 3 soldiers attacked me one pushing one twisting my arm and the other taking the phone away from me.

I went to the office to get my computer they kept on pushing me, poking me with the guns and telling me to get back in the house. I started screaming "I cannot believe you are doing this don't you realize I am American" the commanding officer asked them to leave me alone and gave permission for me to get my laptop. They started laughing and calling me Bush.

As I was getting my laptop I heard a crashing noise, I ran to the house and found my husband on the floor with 3 guns pointed at him. I screamed for the commanding officer that came and pushed them away. They were everywhere and doing what they felt like doing, including urinating on the floor.

I went to the kitchen to get coffee and found Olive oil spilled all over the place. They were just being vulgar and uncivilized, and became extremely annoyed when I complained about the barbaric behavior.

The commanding officer took me in my bedroom where 4 soldiers were sitting and asked me about some buildings. I told him that most of the houses around us are full of children. One said, "Area A has no children".

I kept on trying to make phone calls from different phones only to get more physically abused and have the phone taken away from me and immediately taking the battery out. Then I asked to go to the bathroom and had a mobile in my robe pocket. I called some officials while the soldiers broke in the bathroom and tried to take the phone. Within a ½ hr. they got a phone order to clear out of the house and office, leaving the places in shambles.

As soon as they left I tried to talk to the Consul General, his mobile was picked up voice mail I left a message informing him of what has taken place. I also called his office and insisted that I talk to him personally. They put me on the phone with the American Citizens Services section, Ms. Victoria Coffineau (Chief of section) She told me I was one of dozens of American citizens making such complaints. The details of the disturbing phone call and response will follow soon to help other Americans in understanding what our offices abroad are about and what we actually get for our tax dollars. And how we allow ourselves to be treated by so called allies.

That number of tanks is growing by the second. I have to get the message to you while I can. I will try to write later. They are trying to kill Yasser Arafat. I can see it from my window. I will try to send the film clips that I have been able to capture.

God help the innocent. And help Americans in seeing the truth.

Maha Sbitani

An American in Ramallah next to Yasser Arafat's compound

Midnight:  Palestinian Doctors Held at Gunpoint

March 29, 2002, Ramallah

The ambulance that was allowed into the Mukat'a (Arafat Headquarters) and was trying to leave with two injured Palestinian civilians was held up by Israeli soldiers.

The doctors and paramedics were held at gunpoint with their hands against the wall and searched

As of 10 minutes ago Caoimhe Butterly was allowed back into the Mukat'a but the two Palestinian Red Crescent and Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees doctors, four paramedics, two injured Palestinian civilians were arrested and taken to unknown location.

For more information contact

Witnesses on the ground in Ramallah:

Mustafa Barghouti - 00 972 (0) 50 254 218

Arabic / English - Huwaida 00 972 (0) 52 642 709

French - Claude 00 972 (0) 55 559 145

There are German and Italian speakers available as well

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

Arabic/English - Bilal 00 972 (0) 52 814 992

Italian - Francesca 00 39 3389 77 3899

There are French and Swedish speakers available as well.

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