[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Bethlehem Under Israeli Attack

[Al Kagan]

>Delivered-To: akagan at alexia.lis.uiuc.edu
>From: "PMC" <pr at palestine-pmc.com>
>To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:@linux.palestine-pmc.com;>
>Subject: Bethlehem Under Israeli Attack
>Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2002 18:02:56 +0200
>X-Priority: 3
>Status:  
>
>Bethlehem Under Israeli Attack
>
>
>
>08 March 2002
>Palestine Media Center- PMC
><http://www.palestine-pmc.com>http://www.palestine-pmc.com
>
>Five dead and tens injured are the result of a new and still ongoing 
>offensive against the towns of Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, and 
>Al-Khadher, as well as Bethlehem city, in which Israeli occupation 
>forces reoccupied wide parts of the towns. Palestinian security 
>sources report that Israeli tanks invaded the towns after three 
>continuous days of air raids and shelling, which spread fear among 
>the residents.
>
>The Israeli offensive started at the early hours of dawn when 
>Israeli Apache helicopters launched air-to-surface missiles at a 
>number of civilian and security targets in Bethlehem City. 
>Palestinian security sources revealed that sever damage was caused 
>to a number of homes in the A'aydah refugee camp, which was 
>intensively shelled by Israeli tanks, positioned near the illegal 
>Israeli settlement of "Gilo". The sources further said that 30 
>year-old Sulaiman Al-Dibes and 42 year-old Ibrahim Al-A'raj were 
>killed during the continuous Israeli offensive against the A'ydah 
>refugee camp.
>
>Moreover, 35 year-old Huda Al-Khawaja, a mother of five, was 
>murdered in front of her husband and children in A'ydah, when an 
>Israeli sniper shot her while she was inside her home. Palestinian 
>medical sources reported that the delay the Israeli occupation 
>soldiers caused in reaching Huda resulted in her death, which could 
>have evaded had medical crews been able to bring to the hospital 
>immediately.
>
>In the town of Beit Jala, Israeli occupation forces spread 
>destruction in almost every street as its tanks occupied the town 
>completely. Eyewitnesses confirmed that Israeli occupation forces 
>opened fire towards the civilians' homes, causing them severe damage 
>and an as of yet accounted for number of injuries. 
>
>Medical sources also confirm that the director of Al-Yamamah 
>Hospital, 38 year-old Dr. Ahmad Othman, was killed as he was trying 
>to rescue the injured civilians from a neighborhood in the town of 
>Al-Khader. That brings to five the number of Palestinian medical 
>workers killed in the past two days, confirming the Israeli 
>occupation forces' intentional targeting of ambulances, medical 
>crewmembers, and doctors.
>
>Furthermore, at least one person is reported killed and tens others 
>injured as a result of the Israeli brutal attacks on Al-Dheisheh 
>refugee camp in Bethlehem. Thirty-five year-old Saed Eid was killed 
>during air raids, which Israeli Apaches carried out against civilian 
>targets in the camp.
>
>According to medical sources in the area, that the Israeli 
>occupation forces are preventing the medical teams from carrying out 
>their duties of rescuing and evacuating the injured. Consequently, 
>it is feared that the number of reported casualties in the Bethlehem 
>District will rise in the coming hours. 
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Israeli Peace Group Condemns Israeli Writer's Incitement of War Crimes
>
>
>
>
>
>7 March 2002
>Palestine Media Center - PMC
><http://www.palestine-pmc.com/>http://www.palestine-pmc.com
>
>
>
>The Israeli peace group, "Gush Shalom", condemned a renowned Israeli 
>military analyst for calling on the Israeli government to harm the 
>families of Palestinian activists. In a press release issued on 6 
>March, Gush Shalom, accused Ze'ev Schiff of recommending to the 
>Israeli government that it commits a war crime.
>
>Below is the transcript of the press release:
>
>Ze'ev Schiff, who is known for his close relations with the army 
>high command, wrote the following words at the end of his article 
>"How to fight against people ready to die" (Ha'aretz 5.3.02) (The 
>article appeared in the Hebrew and English printed versions of 
>yesterday's Ha'aretz, but we couldn't find it in the Internet 
>edition.)
>
>"Perhaps the voices calling for physically harming the families of 
>the suicide terrorists will drown out the voices that reject this 
>idea out of hand as unethical. The terrorists, those who send them, 
>and their families are liable to find out that a terror-battered 
>Israel is being drawn into merciless responses."
>
>Killing (or otherwise physically harming) the innocent families of 
>those who commit hostile acts is a mark of the most barbaric regimes 
>in history, including the most barbaric of all. It is, of course, a 
>war crime, and those who order, execute, or recommend it may find 
>themselves one day before the International Criminal Court at The 
>Hague.
>
>It should be noted that Ze'ev Schiff, often described abroad as "the 
>respected military commentator", cites this idea without voicing any 
>objection of his own.
>
>
>
>
>Israeli War Crimes Continue in Tulkarem
>
>
>
>
>
>7 March 2002
>Palestine Media Center - PMC
><http://www.palestine-pmc.com/>http://www.palestine-pmc.com 
>
>
>Three victims, including a 9 year-old boy, are the recent victims of 
>the continuous Israeli aggression against Tulkarem City and its 
>refugee camps. The Israeli occupation forces, which completely 
>reoccupied the city on 7 March, are now surrounding Nour Shams and 
>Tulkarem refugee camps and shelling the civilians' homes brutally.
>
>The Israeli occupation forces used Apache helicopters in its 
>shelling of the two camp, causing severe damage to at least tens 
>homes. Israeli tanks also participated in the shelling that 
>continued up to 6 O'clock this morning. Palestinian security sources 
>revealed that an air-to-ground missile hit a civilian's home but 
>fortunately did not explode. The sources said that a miracle 
>prevented a massacre from occurring for had the missile exploded in 
>the house, it would have killed the entire Al-Zendeik family present 
>at the time.
>
>In another incident, 36 year-old Ziyad Al-Jarar and 30 year-old 
>Khaled Kheirallah were killed during the Israeli offensive against 
>Nour Shams refugee camp. Medical sources confirmed that an Israeli 
>sniper shot and killed 9 year-old Mahmoud Fayez. Fayez was on his 
>way home from the grocery store after having purchased ice cream 
>nearby shop.
>
>Israeli occupation forces also targeted Palestinian medical teams 
>and ambulances. Medical sources confirmed that a nurse and an 
>ambulance driver, working for the Palestine Red Crescent Society 
>(PRCS), were killed when Israeli occupation forces opened fire 
>directly at their ambulance, which was on its way to evacuate some 
>of the injured in the Nour Shams refugee camp. The victims, 37 
>year-old Kamal Salem and 25 year-old Ibrahim 'Ass'ad, were two of 
>the at least five medical crewmembers and doctors killed in the past 
>two days. PRCS confirm that three of their ambulances have been 
>totally destroyed by the invading forces in addition to an UNRWA 
>ambulance. Only one ambulance remains functional in the city.
>
>Eyewitnesses said that Israeli occupation soldiers mounted the body 
>of one of the Palestinian victims, who has yet to be identified, on 
>a tank, using his body as a shield from the resistance fighters' 
>fire. In fact, Palestinian security sources confirm that this brutal 
>act has been perpetrated repeatedly throughout Tulkarem with a 
>number of the Palestinian victims.
>
>Furthermore, a 14 year-old boy was killed in Al-Tamon town, near 
>Tulkarem City. Palestinian security sources said that the victim, 
>Sayid Abu Sfeen, was killed when Israeli occupation forces raided 
>the town and opened fire discriminately at the civilians' homes.
>
>The unprecedented Israeli offensive against Tulkarem City, 
>particularly Nour Shams and Tulkarem refugee camps, has left at lest 
>16 dead and tens others injured. Mostly civilians, Palestinian 
>casualties are increasing each hour as Israeli occupation forces 
>continue to prevent the medical teams from reaching the devastated 
>camps to evacuate the injured. A number of Palestinian civilians 
>have bled to death and Palestinian medical sources fear that the 
>number of Palestinian casualties is likely to increase dramatically.
>
>
>
>
>
>                                     27 Palestinians Slaughtered 
>Within 5 hours in the Gaza Strip
>
>
>
>
>08 March 2002
>Palestine Media Center - PMC
><http://www.palestine-pmc.com/>http://www.palestine-pmc.com
>
>
>
>In an atrocious and unprecedented predawn attack on the Gaza Strip, 
>Israeli occupation forces massacred at least 27 Palestinians, mostly 
>civilians, within the period of five hours. Aggravating the 
>situation, Israeli occupation Special Forces confiscated Red 
>Crescent ambulances and used them to assassinate a number of 
>Palestinians, including PNA National Security Commander in the 
>Southern Gaza Strip, General Ahmed Mifrej - known as Abu Humeid - 
>and his bodyguards.
>
>Shortly after midnight Friday 8 March, Israeli occupation forces 
>launched an evidently premeditated and bloody incursion into Khuza'a 
>Village in Khan Younis, murdering at least 16 Palestinian civilians 
>and National Security Officers and injuring dozens others.
>
>The village residents told reporters that Israeli death squads 
>sneaked into the village overnight and occupied a residential 
>building, imprisoning all its residents in one room. They added that 
>around 4:30 am, dozens of Israeli tanks and armored personnel 
>carriers, accompanied by Apache gunships, carried out an incursion 
>from all sides of the village and opened heavy machinegun fire 
>towards civilians and homes, killing and injuring scores of 
>Palestinians.
>
>The residents reported that dead bodies were scattered on the 
>streets and between the olive groves and orange orchards. Meanwhile, 
>Israeli occupation Special Forces prohibited Red Crescent ambulances 
>from entering the village to reach the remaining bleeding victims of 
>the Israeli mass murder.
>
>Committing an unforgivable war crime, Israeli death squads 
>confiscated two PRCS ambulances and used them to assassinate General 
>Abu Humeid and his bodyguards as well as other civilians and 
>National Security Officers.
>
>Sixty-four year-old General Abu Humeid, the Commander of the 
>National Forces' Southern Commander, was father of six, the eldest, 
>Usama, is 26 years old. Abu Humeid had lost a daughter fourteen 
>years ago to cancer.
>
>Confirming its criminal intentions towards the Palestinian 
>leadership, Israeli occupation forces fired four air-to-surface 
>missiles at the National Security Forces' Headquarters in Khan 
>Younis as General Abdel Razeq Al-Majaydeh was meeting with other top 
>security officials to arrange for General Mifrej's funeral, in an 
>unmistakable mass assassination attempt. Moreover, Israeli 
>occupation forces fired five air-to-surface missiles at General 
>AL-Majaydeh's Deir Al-Balah office shortly after General Mifrej's 
>funeral.
>
>Nasser Hospital's Dr. Mohamed Abu Dalal confirmed that the victims 
>of the Israeli massacre are General Abu Humeid, Musa Al-Najjar, 
>Baker Al-Najjar, Ashraf Al-Najjar, Aref Harazallah, Riyadh 
>Al-Qassass, Ayman Abu Teir, Marwan Abu Muttlaq, Ibrahim Abu Daqqa, 
>Khaled Qdeih, Hussam Abu Teir, Riyadh Abu Raida, Mohamed Abu Raida, 
>Walid Abu Rjeileh, Moahmed Abu Rjeileh, and Ihab Al-Thalathini.
>
>The doctor further asserted that the Israeli massacre was planned, 
>as all victims were sniped in sensitive areas such as the waist and 
>head.
>
>Moreover, Israeli occupation forces launched another dawn attack 
>against Al-Soudaniyeh area, north of Gaza City, killing four 
>Palestinians and injuring at least eight others. Palestinian 
>official sources stated that Israeli gunboats fired three missiles 
>at a police post in the area, killing two civilians, including an 
>ambulance driver, and two police officers. Another PRCS crewmember 
>was seriously injured.
>
>Dr. Mu'awiyeh Hassanain in Gaza City's Al-Shifaa' Hospital confirmed 
>that 26 year-old Sa'id Shalayel, an ambulance driver, 26 year-old 
>Samer Younis, Abed Abu Ubeid, and 28 year-old Hani A'ashour were 
>shot dead. In addition, 25 Year-old Mohamed Al-Hissi, a PRCS 
>crewmember, was seriously injured.
>
>The doctor added that two other police officers were previously 
>injured in the attack; 26 year-old Shadi Al-Arini received a bullet 
>in the chest, which penetrated into his abdomen, and is in very 
>critical condition whereas 23 year-old Samer Sha'ban received a 
>bullet in the leg.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>PRCS and ICRC Condemn Israeli War Crimes
>
>
>
>08 March 2002
>Palestine Media Center- PMC
><http://www.palestine-pmc.com/>http://www.palestine-pmc.com
>
>
>
>The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the International 
>Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) condemned today 8 March the 
>Israeli aggression against the medical teams and ambulances, which 
>operate in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
>
>In a joint statement, the PRCS and ICRC described the Israeli 
>attacks against the Palestinian medical teams, which left 9 PRCS 
>members dead or injured during the past week alone. Furthermore, 
>they accused the Israeli occupation army of giving misleading 
>information regarding the death of the PRCS director in Jenin, Dr. 
>Khalil Sulieman. They confirmed, "The details surrounding the death 
>of Dr. Khalil Sulieman, Head of our ambulance station in Jenin, on 
>Mar 4th in Jenin refugee camp and the severe burns sustained by 
>three paramedics now in hospital have the making of a clear criminal 
>case.  What makes the events worse, is that the Israeli army 
>attempts to cover up what really happened with false statements and 
>lies to the media".
>
>The PRCS further stressed that its members were always exposed to 
>Israeli attacks since the beginning of the Israeli aggression in 
>October 2001. It added, "Since the onset of the Intifada, 3 PRCS 
>ambulance staff have been killed, over 130 injured, and 71 
>ambulances attacked by the army. And in the same time frame, PRCS 
>has responded to treat 43 Israeli soldiers and civilians throughout 
>the West Bank. PRCS has treated over 18,000 injured persons, and 
>reported over 1,100 Intifada related Palestinian deaths".
>
>"We have a message for the Israeli occupation Army: We will not rest 
>until your commanders who are responsible for the death and injury 
>of our ambulance teams are prosecuted as war criminals", the PRCS 
>and the ICRC statement warned.
>
>To read the full statemnt of the PRCS and the ICRC, please visit:
>
><http://www.palestinercs.org/Mar 8 PRCS Press 
>Conference.htm>http://www.palestinercs.org/Mar%208%20PRCS%20Press%20Conference.htm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/mailman/archive/peace-discuss/attachments/20020308/5fa6171c/attachment.html