Diaries: Live from Palestine

The Israeli occupation forces invaded the women’s dormitory, Qasr El-Hamra, in Ramallah today, March 30, breaking windows, doors, and causing major destruction to the furniture while claiming that they were looking for weapons.

This has been the second day of the appalling war against the Palestinian civilian population in the West Bank and the first day of attacks, siege and curfews also in areas located in the Be [sic]. Throughout the whole day, thousands of new soldiers were deployed inside Ramallah and, as we write, even more are heading towards the already besieged and occupied city.

Today at 5:00am I was awakened by what sounded like huge trunks, when I looked out the window I saw several tanks. 1/2 hr later the Israeli soldiers rang the bell - we did not answer - then I heard them coming up the steps (obviously broke in the main door). The pounded the door to the house, My husband opened the door, to find endless huge guns pointed at us.

Reports from Hebron say that Israeli forces have entered Palestinian-controlled areas in Hebron, also known as “H1”. This area covers residential sectors as well as the commercial areas of Bab Al-Zawiya and Wadi Al-Tuffah, situated west of the Old City.

Further reports from Ramallah state that, in addition to those being rounded up in Al Bireh, Israeli soldiers have been calling for males, in some areas between the age of 14 - 40, to ‘surrender’ themselves in other areas of Ramallah. House to house raids continue, and those detained are also being held in classrooms in nearby schools and, in one instance, a bakery in lower Ramallah. None of those detained from yesterday or today have been released, so it is unclear what their current situation is. The number of detainees is yet not known.

Reports from Ramallah indicate that Israeli forces have started to round up all men between the age of 16 and 40 years old. They are currently rounding up Palestinian men and teens at the square of al-Omari Mosque near El-Bireh Municipality.

At 1.30 Israeli forces surrounded and entered al-Ra’ya Hospital. Six Israeli soldiers with dogs entered the hospital and demolished the entrance to the health insurance room and tried to enter a room with injured persons to arrest them. Doctors and staff prevented them, because the staff feared infections from the dogs. After 15 minutes the Israeli soldiers left the hospital. There are now six tanks opposite the hospital.

This morning we received several reports of Israeli assaults on medical personnel and the wounded. At 11 o’clock this morning, Israeli forces stopped two ambulances near the Arab Bank in the old city of Ramallah. One ambulance belongs to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and the other belongs to the Ministry of Health. The crew, including paramedics, has been arrested. At this moment, Israeli forces in Ramallah are using the ambulance to move around in the city. Additionally, a few minutes later, another ambulance, belonging to the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees has been confiscated near the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority. The driver and the injured have been arrested.

‘Oh, there, there, look, I see them, soldiers walking down the street. Shit, I hope they won’t enter this building. What? Yes, I’m fine, but look at this, oh shit, this is aweful ! It will be definitely worse then last time. Yes, I will go away from the window.’

I too woke up this morning in Geneva to a slew of reports of the Israeli offensive against Palestinians in Ramallah. After trying unsuccessfully to reach family and friends, I met with two Palestinian friends who have been in Geneva this past week, traveling from the West Bank at great personal risk to themsleves, to conduct advocacy work to protect Palestinian children. When they heard the news this morning, they packed their bags and made their way to the airport to try and get a flight back home, fearing for their families alone in the West Bank and of the possibility that they may not be able to return. We spent a tense day trying to fill the time from news report to news report, shocked at the images of tanks rolling down familiar streets.