Adam Hanieh and Hanan Elmasu from Palestinian human rights organisation Addameer report the following from the Palestian West Bank town of Ramallah, which is currently under attack by Israeli Cobra helicopters with rockets.
The Addameer office was evacuated prior to the attack and its Web server (including the local site of the September 2000 Clashes Information Center) and e-mail server are currently down.
(All references are to events in Ramallah unless otherwise stated, and are time-stamped in London time, GMT+1)
Last night, 24 year old Khalil Samour (Lawrence), the head of the Ramallah Patrol for Force 17 was killed with live ammunition to the heart during clashes in Ein Ereek, Ramallah. Khalil is 24 years old and is married with 2 children. This morning Israeli settlers burnt a mosque in Howara, Nablus.
11:10 am. Three Israelis, it is not known if undercover units or settlers were apprehended by Palestinian police in center of Ramallah near the Ramallah Boys Friends School. They were carrying explosives. The three were beaten by protestors and their car was burnt. Palestinian police have advised residents to evacuate the center of Ramallah and four Israeli Cobra helicopters are currently circling low over the centre of the city.
The Israeli PM's Office has stated that the events of this morning are extremely dangerous and the Israeli government knows how to respond. They have threatened to bomb PA military posts. Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, is currently meeting with high ranking Israeli Defence Force officials.
The PA has said it will not evacuate military posts and is ready to defend against any attacks.
The situation in Ramallah is currently extremely tense, the streets are completely emptied of people who are staying in their homes.
1.57 pm. Two rockets fired from Cobra helicopters near the Muqata (PA Headquarters in Ramallah), and another one near the central police station, totaling six altogether. One rocket has definitely hit the central police station, which was reported to be completely destroyed.
1.59 pm. Two more rockets heard, totalling 8 rockets altogether.
2:01 pm. The electricity grid is out near the Muqata.
2:02 pm. Another rocket.
3:00 pm. Sixteen people reported injured in Ramallah: 12 civilians, 4 members of Palestinian security forces. Three attacks have been reported in Gaza on Palestinian security force offices, close to President Arafat's office. Attack ships are reportedly positioned in the ocean. More attacks are expected. A demonstration is currently underway in Ramallah with thousands participating. Two more rockets have been heard.
3:02 pm. Planes and helicopters can be heard. More rockets strikes. Ambulance sirens fill the air. More attacks reported in Gaza. Injuries reported above were not from the police station but from attacks on the heavily populated residential area of al-Tireh, a suburb east of Ramallah.
3:06 pm. Attacks can be heard on al-Tireh. More rocket strikes have been heard. There is a police station in al-Tireh that may be the target. The majority of strikes from the current wave of attacks are on al-Tireh. The Israeli attack is being coordinated by reconnassiance planes and carried out by Cobra helicopters.
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