[Nettime-bold] Appeal from Siege of Ramallah & LAW report

Appeal from Siege of Ramallah & LAW report

APPEAL FOR HELP FROM THE SIEGE OF RAMALLAH
30 March 2002, Easter Weekend

We are members of the international and Palestinian
community trapped in the Siege of Ramallah.

On early Friday morning, 29 March 2002, Israeli forces
re-invaded the city of Ramallah. The Israeli forces
have occupied Ramallah completely and have established
tank positions throughout the city, in all civilian
areas. We can hear explosions, tank shelling and heavy
caliber gunfire throughout the night and day. Israeli
snipers are shooting regularly in civilian
neighborhoods at times when they are not under any
form of fire. As we write this, there are US-made
Apache attack helicopters overhead firing on the city.
Israeli bulldozers are creating permanent positions
for the tanks in and around private houses. There is
the constant sound of tank movements throughout
residential areas.

Israeli forces have attacked the Presidential
compound, and are now holding Palestinian President
Yasser Arafat hostage with no electricity, water or
phone lines. Members of President Arafat's bodyguards
have been killed, and others are still injured and
being denied medical care. Conditions in the city are
now deteriorating rapidly.

Some of us have had experience in other sieges, in
Sarajevo, Dili, and elsewhere. There is a familiar
pattern of emergency rapidly developing. This is the
beginning of a humanitarian crisis. Immediate
intervention is required to prevent a disaster.

No Movement Possible: Inhabitants of the city are
under complete curfew. There is absolutely no freedom
of movement, even for ambulances, doctors or
international agencies, such as the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). There is no medical
access. Palestine Red Crescent medical relief workers
have not been permitted to provide medical services to
the local population. Israeli forces are firing on
anyone walking out on the streets.

On Thursday, based on fears of an Israeli re-invasion,
more than 500 inhabitants, including foreign
nationals, lined up in the mud and rain at the
Qalandiya checkpoint-the only exit point from the city
allowed by Israel-begging Israeli soldiers to allow
them to escape. In response, Israeli soldiers fired
over their heads, exacerbating the panic and causing
most to simply return to Ramallah.

Israeli Forces Using Human Shields: Israeli soldiers
are occupying an increasing number of private
residences and detaining the residents collectively in
single rooms, with little or no access to telephone
lines, news coverage or even food and water. In some
cases, tens of civilians (including entire families)
are being held in one room. Meanwhile, Israeli
occupation soldiers have taken up armed positions in
the houses or apartments of these residents. Civilian
detainees include foreign nationals.

No Access to the City: The ICRC, the UN and other
humanitarian agencies are unable to access the city or
to access the civilian detainees and other prisoners.

Food Resources Limited: There is no food entering
Ramallah and no one is allowed to restock. There will
shortly be a food and drinking water crislis. Some
parts of Ramallah are already without water
altogether. Israeli soldiers are also eating the food

of residents while taking up positions in their
houses.

Electricity Being Cut: Large parts of Ramallah are
without electricity and heat. The weather has been
raining and unseasonably cold - residents have been
struggling to keep warm. The lack of electricity also
means that residents are without television and any
news reporting of the situation outside their homes.
Many residents of the city rely on cellular phones for
communication and without electricity they are unable
to recharge their phones. Therefore, the population is
being held in isolation and there is increasing fear
and confusion. Also, some telephone landlines have
been cut.

Prisoners Being Taken: Israeli forces are taking
Palestinians prisoner, in the streets and in
house-to-house searches. Israeli troops are calling
upon all male residents between the ages of 16 and 40
in some neighborhoods to "surrender". The wounded are
being treated roughly and being denied medical access.
Now, their fate is unknown. There are reports of
summary execution of some prisoners. The ICRC does not
have access to them to ensure adherence to
international law, and specifically the Geneva
Conventions.

Gratuitous Vandalism and Destruction: There are
on-going spiteful acts of destruction. Most commonly,
Israeli tanks are driving over and flattening cars
whether on the streets or parked on pavements in front
of residences. Personal property inside houses is
being destroyed in house-to-house searches.

We, the besieged people of Ramallah, appeal to all
people of good conscience around the world to mobilize
immediately.

We particularly appeal to the people of Israel, in
whose name these actions are being taken, for help. To
keep the option of peace alive, we appeal to you to
ask your Government to immediately lift the siege.

We appeal for the safety of all individuals.

We appeal for freedom of movement within the city and
outside access to the city.

We appeal for food, medical supplies and access to
medical treatment, electricity, water, phone lines and
other necessary facilities.

We appeal for access of humanitarian agencies,
including the ICRC, to all detainees, prisoners and
hostages, including Palestinian President Yasser
Arafat, to ensure their well-being.

WE APPEAL FOR THE SIEGE TO BE LIFTED.

This appeal has been made to you by Palestinians, as
well as nationals of the United States, the United
Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jordan and other
nationalities.

For More Information:

Due to fear of retribution, the names and contact
information of those authoring this appeal have not
been included. For their contact information, please
contact Michael (972-52-266-208).

International Committee of the Red Cross: Jer. (972-2)
582-8845, Tel Aviv (972-3) 524-5286

UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
(UNRWA): (972-2) 589-0401