Irish National Trapped in Presidential Compound in Ramallah

Saturday March 30, 2002 13:38

by amanda

Irish national Caoimhe Butterly is amoung those trapped in the presidential compound in Ramallah. I have posted this information here just incase the .org websites go down again.

Two foreign civilians, U.S. citizen Adam Shapiro and Irish national, Caoimhe Butterly are trapped in Ramallah in the Presidential compound. Israeli military have cut the phone lines in compound.
The foreign civilians have related through mobile text message that the Red Cross is urgently needed in the compound. Despite the best efforts of the foreign civilians to negotiate the Israeli army is still denying access to the Red Cross.

The Israeli Defense Forces are shelling a commercial building called Natscheh with 30 people trapped inside in Ramallah.

For more information contact
Witnesses on the ground in Ramallah:
Mustafa Barghouti - 00 972 (0) 50 254 218
Arabic / English - Huwaida 00 972 (0) 52 642 709
French - Claude 00 972 (0) 55 559 145
There are German and Italian speakers available as wellForeign Civilians Will Attempt to Reach Ramallah Hospital
50 Foreign civilians including Americans, Canadians, Italians and French are now going to attempt to reach the Ramallah hospital to give blood and deliver medical aid. They will be moving through the streets of Ramallah still under siege. IMC-Palestine can not stress how dangerous this situation is.
They have just reached the hospital despite heavy gunfire 1105

IMMEDIATE INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION REQUESTED
American citizen Adam Shapiro is pleading for immediate international intervention to help him and the others who are trapped in the Presidential compound in Ramallah.
The Israeli military in not allowing UN ambulances onto the compound to help the injured.
We have faxed American diplomat Aaron Miller and various news services including Reuters, AP, CNN, ABC, CBS and the New York Times.

To all American Citizens: Please Contact Your Representatives and Demand Help!

Tanks in Beit Jalla
There are currently tanks moving through the upper areas of Beit Jalla. Israeli military claims that an anti-tank missile was fired at them last night and has used this as an excuse to cut electricity in areas of Beit Jalla and to mobilise the tanks. Close to Beit Jalla all night I heard no gunfire or missiles of that nature.

Witnesses on the ground in Bethlehem:
(for international dialing drop the 0 before the phone number)
English - Heather 00 972 (0) 67 270 398
English - Georgina 00 972 (0) 55 840 767
Arabic/English - Bilal 00 972 (0) 52 814 992
Italian - Francesca 00 39 3389 77 3899
There are French and Swedish speakers available as well.

Ramallah Update 2
The ambulance that was allowed into the Mukat'a and was trying to leave with two injured Palestinian civilians was held up by Israeli soldiers.
The doctors and paramedics were held at gunpoint with their hands against the wall and searched
As of 10 minutes ago Caoimhe Butterly was allowed back into the Mukat'a but the two Palestinian Red Crescent and Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees doctors, four paramedics, two injured Palestinian civilians were arrested and taken to unknown location.
For more information contact
Witnesses on the ground in Ramallah:
Mustafa Barghouti - 00 972 (0) 50 254 218
Arabic / English - Huwaida 00 972 (0) 52 642 709
French - Claude 00 972 (0) 55 559 145
There are German and Italian speakers available as well

*
URGENT FROM PALESTINE

Friends as you may be hearing, seeing or reading the situation in Palestine is desperate. Israeli forces have invaded almost every area of Ramallah and we are under heavy tank shelling and gun fire. An unidentified number of people are dead and scores are injured. Ambulances have been prevented access and soldiers are opening fire on them.

There are international civilians in the areas under fire witnessing the carnage of the Israeli soldiers wreaked on the Palestinian people. Other internationals have been beaten down for trying to get into Ramallah to help Palestinians.

We extend a plea from the Palestinians and the international witnesses to all of our friends abroad to immediately phone and/or fax your representatives and respective governments to demand urgent and decisive action to stop Israel's brutal offensive on the Palestinian people

Gather, march, and protest in the streets!
We need the voices of all good people around the world!

PLEASE ACT NOW!

For more information contact:
(for international dialing drop the 0 before the phone number)
Witnesses on the ground in Ramallah:
Arabic / English - Huwaida 972 052 642 709
French - Claude 972 055 559 145
There are German and Italian speakers available as well

Wintesses on the ground in Bethleham:
(for international dialing drop the 0 before the phone number)
English - Heather 972 067 270 398
English - Georgina 972 2055 840 767
Arabic/English - Bilal 972 052 814 992
Italian - Francesca 00 39 3389 77 3899
There are French and Swedish speakers available as well.

International Civilians in Dehaishe Refugee Camp
March 29, 2002
We fear imminent reprisals against Dehaishe Refugee Camp in Bethleham. International civilians have spread themselves throughout the camp to act as human shields.
For more information contact the Bethleham contacts listed above.

International Civilians come under Fire in Ambulances
March 29, 2002
[Ramallah]

International civilians are trying to assist ambulance teams in Ramallah as they attempt to get to wounded and dying people. The ambulances of the International Red Cross, Red Crescent and U.N. have been prevented from moving in the city. The ambulances are now coming under fire and international civilians have been trying to act as human shields on board since 1400 today. Internationals will continue to ride aboard the ambulances in the hope that this may increase the chances of getting to those in need.

The muka'ta has been under constant tank shelling and the electricity has been cut in the city since early this morning.

For more information contact:

In Ramallah - Huwaida 00 972 (0) 52 642 709
In Bethleham - Heather 00 972 (0) 67 270 398