Accusing the ISM.....the Israeli military invades ISM office
Jenin
ISM
27 Mar 03

Today the Israeli military has tried to accuse the ISM of "harboring terrorists" in our office in Jenin. The following is ISM’s statement:

Thursday March 2’ 2003
For Immediate Release

[JENIN] Jenin has been under 24-hour curfew for 5 consecutive days. During this time 4 children have been shot by the Israeli Occupation Force’ two of who’ age 14 and 15 have died. One 12-year-old is in critical condition and the other is hospitalized. Twenty-six houses in the Jenin camp and city have been occupied by soldiers for the positioning of snipers and other military purposes.

At approximately 4:30am on Thursday March 2’ individuals staying in the apartment of the ISM in Jenin’s town center were awakened by the sound of heavy gunfire. One hour later there was another blast. The people in the apartment went to the window to see what was going on. They spotted two military jeeps in the streets below. One of the volunteers went into the hallway to see what was happening and met a young man coming up the stairs. He looked terrifie’ was soaking wet and appeared to be in pain. Concerned about his welfare – under Israeli military curfe’ Palestinians spotted in the streets are shot on site – he was brought into the apartment. He spoke only Arabi’ which none of the ISM volunteers present understood. He was given a change of clothe’ a hot drink and a blanket. Some of the people in the apartment went down into the street to find out if there was anyone else at risk outside. They were subsequently prevented from re-entering the building by Israeli soldiers. Two women remained with the young man in the apartment. The women began to hear loud noises and banging down below and became frightened. They did not want to leave the apartment or risk the young man leaving – Palestinians found in the streets during Israeli military curfew are shot on site – so they stayed inside.

The Israeli Occupation Forces were breaking into offices in the buildin’ including that of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Medicines San Frontiers. Eventually the military knocked on the ISM door and 30 soldiers entered with their machine guns trained. They arrested the young ma’ claiming he was “wanted.” The two women were not able to prevent the soldiers from taking the young ma’ whose name they did not even kno’ but requested that he be treated humanely.

The Israeli Occupation Forces have labeled every Palestinian ma’ woman and child a terrorist to justify their widespread use of collective punishmen’ which include lockdown’ home demolitions and random mass arrests. ISM is concerned about the welfare of this young man and all Palestinian detainees being held in conditions that do not meet the minimal standards set by international human rights laws. They are held without charg’ denied medical and legal access and are frequently tortured.

For more information please call the ISM team in Jenin at: +972-57-836-527

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