Last night PRCS headquarters and central ambulance dispatch in Ramallah were fired upon and hit several times with heavy & explosive cannon fire causing the top floor to catch fire. Israeli army gunners from the nearby hilltop settlement of Psagot fired continuously into the area for over 3 hours. Ambulance dispatch was paralyzed during this period. However, during this period, paramedics managed to respond to a call from a nearby home that was on fire. The crew evacuated the residents, extinguished the fire (fire trucks could not reach the area due to heavy shelling) and provided first aid.
All telephone lines and the central 101 telephone for ambulance dispatch were also hit and cut for the Ramallah region. Other damages included 3 water tanks on the roof top, and the PRCS mini-bus for the disabled. PRCS HQ was also hit and damaged on Dec 31, 2000. No injuries were reported.
PRCS is dismayed at this pattern of behavior by the Israeli army showing complete lack of respect for our medical humanitarian mission and activities. However, as we have always stated, we will continue to provide emergency medical services to all in need, both Israeli and Palestinian.
We again ask Red Cross/Red Crescent societies, the movement, and the ICRC to protest these actions in the strongest of terms.
PRCS President Younis Al-Khatib
On Wednesday 7 February Israeli soldiers opened fire at the pupils of Al Nahda and Al Mutanabi primary schools in Hebron, wounding Murad Amru, 13, in the head, Jihad Amru, 12, in the left leg and Mustafa Bayumi, 12, in the right leg.
Second: Bombing civilian quarters
On 1 February 2001, Israeli forces bombed the Central Vegetable Market in Khan Younis, Al Barazil residential quarter, a Palestinian National Forces post in Rafah and the town of Al Zababdi in Jenin. The bombing wounded 16 year-old Nadi Al Fathawi and 14 year-old Ahmad Al Awadi, both from Khan Younis. Hiba Shabana, 3, and Itaf Abdul Jabar were wounded when Israeli forces bombed downtown Hebron.
The bombing damaged the houses of the following Palestinians:
1. Nayif Al Takruri
2. Majid Al Zaru
3. Ibrahim Jalal
4. Abas Amru
On 5 February 2001, Israeli forces bombed Deir Al Balah and wounded Haniyi Abu Azim, 29.
Third: House demolition and ethnic cleansing
On 3-4 February 2001, Israeli forces knocked down several Palestinian houses near the Netsarim junction in Gaza;
1. The 150 m² house of Rachid Haraz, which accommodated a family of 15
2. The 150 m² house of Ata Thahir, which accommodated a family of 14
3. A brick factory belonging to Usama Al Khadri was partially destroyed
4. An electronics factory belonging to Waseem Al Khizindar was damaged
On 5 February 2001, they knocked down four more Palestinian houses near the Netsarim junction in Gaza;
1. Two houses belonging to Hamad Thabet
2. A house belonging to Waheed Thabet
3. A house belonging to Jihad Thabet
Fourth: Settlement expansion, uprooting trees, harassment by settlers
On 5 February 2001, Israeli troops and armed settlers bulldozed 40 dunums of land belonging to the Al Alami and Ayash families in Beit Umar, Hebron, with a view to building a new settlement for the settlers of ‘Gush Izion’. Moreover, on 6 February armed settlers from Ma’on placed caravans on the western hill of Yata, Hebron, with the protection of the Israeli army.
At 3.55 pm on Thursday 8 February, a 7-passenger Palestinian service taxi was travelling from Ramallah to Nablus when an Israeli Egged Bus coming out of the Israeli ‘Yitzhar’ settlement overtook them. As the bus went by, settlers inside it opened their windows and threw stones on taxi, breaking several of its windows and damaging the car itself. Fortunately, none of the passengers was hit. Neta Golan, a Canadian peace activist married to a Palestinian, was in the taxi at the time. She described the experience as frightening and dangerous.
Fifth: Detainees
At 11 pm on 5 February, a group of Israeli military, including several masked men, broke into the home of Aisha Suleiman in Beit Hanina, Jerusalem. They forced the residents out and arrested 29 year-old Yasser Suleiman.
60-year-old Aisha told LAW that she, her son Shadi and his pregnant wife were made to stand outside in the cold for two hours as the masked agents physically assaulted Yasser. In the process, they also smashed the furniture in the family’s kitchen and bedrooms.
An Israeli court placed two Palestinians under house arrest: Saliba and Luay Khuri. Thair Halahla, detained at Nafha prison, informed LAW that ten Palestinian prisoners have gone on hunger strike in protest at being locked up with common criminals.
Sixth: Siege
41-year-old Musdik Al Sanuri, administrator at the Patients’ Friends Society in Jenin, told LAW that on 3 February he received a call from Dr. Abdul Razik Stati from Nazareth, general physician at the Patients’ Friends Society clinic, saying that Israeli soldiers at Al Jalami checkpoint had prevented him arriving at Jenin. The doctor tried to convince the Israeli soldiers to let him through, but in vain.
Seventh: Harassment and Intimidation
On Thursday 8 February at 12.30 am, 10 Israeli army jeeps and a carrier ambushed Marda, a village in the Salfit district near Nablus, throwing sound bombs and using their vehicles’ amplifiers. The soldiers forced entry to several houses; when people opened their doors the soldiers threw sound bombs inside, saying, “You are not supposed to sleep quietly while your neighbours are having stones thrown at them from here!”
1. Hasan Said and four sons were interrogated by soldiers, who then photographed his son Muneer, who works with the Palestinian National Guards.
2. Fateen Khufash, the village councillor, was brought out of his house with his two young children into the ain to be informed that the village would be attacked if stones continued to be thrown at nearby Israeli settlements.
3. Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs into the house of Jabr Ahmad Khufash, terrorising his small children. His young daughter was severely traumatised by the noise and cannot stop crying.
4. Nasr Ja’afar Khufash and his 3 sons were dragged out into the rain.
5. Farouk Shakeeb Khufash was brought outside with his daughters.
6. Ryad Abdel-Rahma Khufash was brought out side with his five sons.
7. Soldiers broke down the door and threw sound bombs into the house of Ra’ ed Faisal Khuffash.
8. Shaher Khaffash, his 3 sons and his sick brother were made to leave their home for almost ½ hour. The soldiers took pictures to one of the sons, saying that they thought he looked like a ‘terrorist’.
Nasfat Abu Hassan from Marda and secretary of the Land Defence committee told LAW that the ambush lasted 2 hours, during which time the soldiers fired more than 60 bombs.
LAW Society reiterates the following:
1. Israeli forces are committing increased crimes against Palestinian civilians.
2. They are using the Israeli war arsenal against unarmed Palestinian civilians.
3. They continue to bomb and shell Palestinian residential areas.
4. They continue to use collective punishment against Palestinians and deprive them of their basic human rights.
5. Israeli forces use settlements as bases from which to bomb Palestinian areas
LAW demands:
1. The Israeli government to immediately stop its crimes and collective punishment against Palestinians.
2. An international investigation committee to be set up, working according to UN Resolution 1322.
3. The Contracting Parties to the 4th Geneva Convention to ensure Israel’s compliance with the Convention.
4. Placing Palestinians under international protection. 5. The international community to put an end to these crimes and the Israeli occupation.