UPDATE: Israeli forces continue military assault against Ramallah

31 March 2002

LAW--The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and The Environment (www.lawsociety.org)

For the third day, Israeli troops continue their military assault against Palestinian people including the siege imposed on the Palestinian Authority's headquarter in Ramallah and attempts to break into Arafat's office, in addition to indiscriminate fire and preventing medical personnel from evacuating the wounded, leaving injured lying in the streets.

Since Saturday evening, March 30, 2002, Israeli forces attempted tp enter the office of President Yasser Arafat, claiming the presence of a number of wanted persons. Those present are the advisors to the Palestinian president, presidential guard in addition to a number of members of the Palestinian security forces. Contrary to Israeli claims, an Israeli officer announced through loudspeakers an ultimatum of one hour to surrender. Moreover, the mayor of Ramallah and al-Bireh was informed by an Israeli military officer of the ultimatum.

This morning, Sunday, March 31, 2002, two attempts have been made to break into the office from the western entrance, but the Presidential Guard and members of the Palestinian security forces resisted.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces are shooting at any moving object including paramedics, firemen, and journalists. Fieldresearchers of LAW Society have been facing difficulty in recording violations in both Ramallah and Al Bireh.

Medical sources in Ramallah announced the killing of more than nine Palestinians in various areas in Ramallah and Al Bireh. Paramedics have managed to evacuate two bodies only and transferred them to Ramallah hospital due to Israeli gunfire at Palestinian ambulances and hindrance from movement. LAW Society fears the possibility of more victims whose bodies are not yet identified.

This morning, three Israeli military armed vehicles besieged Ramallah hospital during which soldiers broke into the building and searched it. At that time, Israeli forces broke into the Arabic Care Hospital. Both hospitals lack medicines and food supplies, as they have been prevented from receiving supplies.

Sources from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Ramallah stated that Israeli forces have arrested five PRCS paramedics while evacuating injured people. The ambulances have been confiscated and driven to an unknown destination. Those arrested were: Arkan Khader, Khaled Abu Ghosh, Zuhdi Abdul Hafeth, Firas Samara, and Lu'ay Ruwad.

Additionally, Israeli forces broke into a number of local, Arab and foreign press and media offices and closed fifteen broadcast, TV stations and media offices, including the Palestinian Broadcast Corporation (PBC), Amwaj Radio and TV, Al Naser Radio and TV, Al Sharq Radio and TV, Al Manara Radio and TV, Watan TV, WAFA Palestinian News Agency offices, Abu Dhabi Satellite Channel office, Al Jazeerah Satellite Channel office, Yemen Satellite Channel office, Reuters News Agency office, ABC News office, and the Turkish Anatolia Agency office.

LAW urgently calls on the international community to take effective measures in order to protect the rights and lives of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and specifically to immediately send an independent, effective protection force to the area.

LAW calls on the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with their obligations to ensure respect for the Convention, by taking urgent action to prosecute Israel's grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention (war crimes).

LAW also calls upon the European Union, a vital trading partner for Israel, to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel and renew its arms embargo against Israel as a means to pressure Israel into compliance with basic norms of human rights and international humanitarian law.