Internationals in Nablus witness a young boy shot in
the neck;
Homes ransacked and occupied by Israeli Army;
City under curfew while incursion continues
The Israeli Army has continued it's invasion and attacks on homes and families for the past six days. At the time of this report curfew has been imposed on the old city of Nablus and attacks by Israeli soldiers continue.
At 2:00a.m. this morning the Israeli Army invaded, once
again, Nablus and occupied over fifteen homes with the families inside.
The Israeli Army is conducting house to house searches and destroying
the contents of people's homes as they move from home to home. They
are traveling between, and entering homes, by blowing
holes in the walls of each home. Numerous injuries have been reported.
International activists have organized into three groups
in an attempt to witness and document the violence by the Israeli Army
during confrontations; to secure the safety and well-being of the families
in the occupied homes and provide food; and to prevent or de-escalate
the violence by the Israeli Army when it enters the
homes.
A group of internationals is moving from home to home in front of the line of houses that are being blasted into by the Israeli Army in an attempt to protect the families and lessen the extent of the damage to the home.
Another group of internationals is traveling on foot with a group of Palestinian medics in an attempt to assess the health conditions of the families whose homes are occupied and to deliver any necessary first aid or vital medications. They are attempting to transfer those who need more advanced medical attention.
A third group is at the locations of confrontations with the Israeli Army thus providing international presence and witness in order to document and attempt to reduce the lethal impact of Israeli Army actions. At 1:00am internationals witnessed a young boy, approximately six years old, shot in the neck by an Israeli soldier. His condition is unconfirmed at the time of this report.
For photos of international actions in Nablus
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/ismphotos.php
On Wednesday, August 18, the Israeli Army also invaded and imposed curfew in El Ein refugee camp. The Israeli soldiers conducted house to house searches while ransacking and destroying property. They ordered all men between the ages 16 and 40 to the school at the edge of the camp. Close to 200 men were held in detention, hands tied behind their backs, hooded and with their shirts removed. ISM activists were barred from entering the school to check on their condition. However, they were able to witness and photograph (see links) the abuse of the detainees as they were held for over 24 hours. The men were finally released Friday morning, August 20. International activists will be obtaining testimonies from the detained men.
For photos of the school and detained Palestinians see:
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/ismphotos.php
Palestinian Political Prisoners have been on hunger strike since Sunday, August 15 demanding they and their families be treated according to the law and basic human rights. Thousands more have been and continue to detained under abusive and violent conditions, as was witnessed by internationals in El Ein Camp.
There are ongoing activities and demonstrations, in solidarity
with the striking prisoners, in the occupied Palestinian Territories,
Israel and around the world. It is crucial that we put pressure on the
Israeli Government to abide by International and Israeli law concerning
the treatment of prisoners and their rights as well as
condemn the detention of thousands of Palestinian men, women and children.
Please call, fax or e-mail the following Government officials. Also call the DCO (District Coordination Office) of the Israeli Army and pressure them to halt the assault on Nablus homes and the killing and injuring of Palestinians.
Please Call the Israeli Government and Military now:
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon,
Fax: +972 2 6705475
Telex: 25279 MPRES IL
E-mail: pm_eng@pmo.gov.il
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister
Spokesperson of the Prime Minister dover@pmo.gov.il
Foreign Minister Silwan Shalom sar@mofa.gov.il
Fax: 011-972-2-530-3367
Email: sar@mfa.gov.il
Minister of Interior: Avraham Poraz
(fax: +972-2-5666376)(fax: 972-2-6701628)(fax: 972-2-6701585)
Email: sar@moin.gov.il
Minister of Justice: Enav Golomb
State Attorney's Office
Fax: 011-972-2-646-6655
url for nearest Israeli Embassy:
http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/israel.htm
In addition, please contact your local Israeli mission and inform them that the world is watching and demand that the Israeli Government end the invasion of Nalbus and attacks on civilians. The contact details for Israeli Missions around the world are as follows:
. Australia: 02 6273 1309 / 1300
. Austria: 01 476 46 0
. Canada: 613 567 6450
. France: 01 40 76 55 00
. Germany: 030-8904 5500
. Ireland: 01 668 0303
. Netherlands: 070 376 0500
. New Zealand: 04 472 2362 / 8
. UK: 020 7957 9500
. USA: 202 364 5500
Israeli Army Telephone Numbers:
country code: 972
IDF DCO Nablus 2 5486301 and 2 5486302 and Ofer Mey 56-234017
IDF DCL Nablus 2 5486218 fax 2 5486218 and David Glass 56 23 4181
Raeid Mantzor 2 9400086 mobile 51 785482
Itay Lipkovitz 2 5486218 mobile 56 234167
HQ GA in Territories
3 6977621 or 3 6977622 or 3 6977623
(if calling within the Occupied Palestinian Territories
or within
Israel you must put a "0" before the number)