Skip to content or view screen version

Update Ramallah and Bethleham 22.34

Amanda IMC Ireland | 31.03.2002 22:26

In Ramallah full military martial law has been declared. The order is that all non Israeli personell on the streets will be shot.

Latest update from palestine

In Ramallah full military martial law has been declared. The order is that all non Israeli personell on the streets will be shot.
Despite reports to the contrary there are still 33 international citizens inside Arafat's compound. Caoimhe Butterly is still amoung them. This was confirmed by a Palestian imc reporter I spoke to minutes ago.
10 of the internationals and 3 Palestinian medics were arrested earlier. They were originally taken to Beit El, an Israeli military compound, but have been moved in the last hour to the Israeli Ofra settlement. This means they are now legally in Israeli territory and it makes their legal situation worse.
Israeli soldiers have also being targeting American reporters. They have shot at a CNN news vehicle which was clearly mark. They have also shot a reporter from the Boston Globe. It has not been confirmed how serious her injuries are or if she is alive.
On a positive note there has in the last few hours been some restoration of electricity in Ramallah. This means that the people inside the compound have been able to communicate with the outside world to try and rally more support.
In Bethleham the Israeli's are still amassing tanks at the checkpoints around the area. Reports are that members of the press who try to enter the area are being refused entry at gun point. I was told by imc reporters that the Israelis were shelling and firing into the Ayda and Azza refugee camps.
At present the area still has electricity and there is some freedom of movement apart from where curfew has been imposed around Bilal Mosque & Carritas Street in north Bethleham since 19.30 local time.
There will be a protest beginning at the US embassey in Dublin at 15.00 tomorrow. It will protest US support for Israel and will the move to the Israeli embassey to call for the safety of Caoimhe and Mary Kelly, the other Irish woman in Ramallah, and for an end to Israeli aggression in Palestine.

Amanda IMC Ireland