Immediate intervention required:
Appeal for help from the siege of Ramallah
(30 March 2002, Easter Weekend)

We are members of the international and Palestinian community trapped in 
the Siege of Ramallah.

On early Friday morning, 29 March 2002, Israeli forces re-invaded the city 
of Ramallah. The Israeli forces have occupied Ramallah completely and have 
established tank positions throughout the city, in all civilian areas. We 
can hear explosions, tank shelling and heavy caliber gunfire throughout the 
night and day.

Israeli snipers are shooting regularly in civilian neighborhoods at times 
when they are not under any form of fire.

As we write this, there are US-made Apache attack helicopters overhead 
firing on the city. Israeli bulldozers are creating permanent positions for 
the tanks in and around private houses. There is the constant sound of tank 
movements throughout residential areas.

Israeli forces have attacked the Presidential compound, and are now holding 
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat hostage with no electricity, water or 
phone lines.

Members of President Arafat's bodyguards have been killed, and others are 
still injured and being denied medical care. Conditions in the city are now 
deteriorating rapidly.

Some of us have had experience in other sieges, in Sarajevo, Dili, and 
elsewhere. There is a familiar pattern of emergency rapidly developing. 
This is the beginning of a humanitarian crisis. Immediate intervention is 
required to prevent a disaster.

No Movement Possible: Inhabitants of the city are under complete 
curfew. There is absolutely no freedom of movement, even for ambulances, 
doctors or international agencies, such as the International Committee of 
the Red Cross (ICRC)

There is no medical access. Palestine Red Crescent medical relief workers 
have not been permitted to provide medical services to the local 
population. Israeli forces are firing on anyone walking out on the streets.

On Thursday, based on fears of an Israeli re-invasion, more than 500 
inhabitants, including foreign nationals, lined up in the mud and rain at 
the Qalandiya checkpoint — the only exit point from the city allowed by 
Israel — begging Israeli soldiers to allow them to escape.

In response, Israeli soldiers fired over their heads, exacerbating the 
panic and causing most to simply return to Ramallah.

Israeli Forces Using Human Shields: Israeli soldiers are occupying 
an increasing number of private residences and detaining the residents 
collectively in single rooms, with little or no access to telephone lines, 
news coverage or even food and water.

In some cases, tens of civilians (including entire families) are being held 
in one room. Meanwhile, Israeli occupation soldiers have taken up armed 
positions in the houses or apartments of these residents. Civilian 
detainees include foreign nationals.

No Access to the City: The ICRC, the UN and other humanitarian agencies are 
unable to access the city or to access the civilian detainees and other 
prisoners.

Food Resources Limited: There is no food entering Ramallah and no 
one is allowed to restock. There will shortly be a food and drinking water 
crisis.

Some parts of Ramallah are already without water altogether. Israeli 
soldiers are also eating the food of residents while taking up positions in 
their houses.

Electricity Being Cut: Large parts of Ramallah are without 
electricity and heat. The weather has been raining and unseasonably cold — 
residents have been struggling to keep warm.

The lack of electricity also means that residents are without television 
and any news reporting of the situation outside their homes.

Many residents of the city rely on cellular phones for communication and 
without electricity they are unable to recharge their phones.

Therefore, the population is being held in isolation and there is 
increasing fear and confusion. Also, some telephone landlines have been 
cut.

Prisoners Being Taken: Israeli forces are taking Palestinians 
prisoner, in the streets and in house-to-house searches.

Israeli troops are calling upon all male residents between the ages of 16 
and 40 in some neighbourhoods to "surrender". The wounded are being treated 
roughly and being denied medical access.

Now, their fate is unknown. There are reports of summary execution of some 
prisoners. The ICRC does not have access to them to ensure adherence to 
international law, and specifically the Geneva Conventions.

Gratuitous Vandalism and Destruction: There are on-going spiteful 
acts of destruction. Most commonly, Israeli tanks are driving over and 
flattening cars whether on the streets or parked on pavements in front of 
residences. Personal property inside houses is being destroyed in house-to-
house searches.

We, the besieged people of Ramallah, appeal to all people of good 
conscience around the world to mobilize immediately.

We particularly appeal to the people of Israel, in whose name these actions 
are being taken, for help. To keep the option of peace alive, we appeal to 
you to ask your Government to immediately lift the siege.

We appeal for the safety of all individuals.

We appeal for freedom of movement within the city and outside access to the 
city.

We appeal for food, medical supplies and access to medical treatment, 
electricity, water, phone lines and other necessary facilities.

We appeal for access of humanitarian agencies,including the ICRC, to all 
detainees, prisoners and hostages, including Palestinian President Yasser 
Arafat, to ensure their well-being.

WE APPEAL FOR THE SIEGE TO BE LIFTED.

This appeal has been made to you by Palestinians, as well as nationals of 
the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jordan and other 
nationalities.