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Palestine: timeline of events 01/04/2002 Monday 01 Apr 2002
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IDF shot international activists
1/4 18:30 The Israeli broadcasting company and MSNBC report that a car bomb exploded at a checkpoint in West-Jerusalem this evening. One killed.
1/4 18:15 Israeli soldiers are using a Palestinian doctor as a human shield to carry out a search in the building that houses the Palestinian NGO "Medical Relief" in Ramallah. According to Dr. Barghuti-the managing director of "Medical Relief"- Israeli soldiers "have captured Dr.Mohammad Scalfi and are forcing him to get into the building first to protect themselves from possible Palestian shots". The builiding in the town centre is apparently empty.
1/4 15:00 A group of international activists from the UK, Canada, Italy, France, and Switzerland headed for Bethlem today at 3pm to bring food and medical aid to the village of Bet Jala-currently under siege. The 100-strong demonstration started off peacefully with jogglers and music. The activists unfurled banners and chanted slogans demanding the immediate cessation of the Israeli war against Palestinian civilians. Once approached the area occupied by Israeli tanks, a small delegation of activists moved towards israeli soldiers to negotiate the delivery of food and medical aid to Palestinan families. As soon as the activists started to talk, Israeli soldiers opened fire. A journalist and a woman were immediately hit. Any other attempt to negotiate was unsuccessful and the soldiers kept firing at least 30 more shots injuring 6 other people who are currently in hospital. A British woman has been hit in the stomach and, at the time of writing, she was undergoing surgery in Al Huissen hospital, Bethlem. The other 6 activists have been admitted to hospital with minor injuries.
1/4 14.28 Bombing nearby Arafat's office in Ramallah
Palestinian sources report that the IDF is bombing a building nearby Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah
1/4 13.22 Action4Peace coaches stopped at the checkpoint in Bethelem.
Two coaches that were driving Action4Peace activists to Bethlem have been firmly stopped and driven back by the Israeli army at the checkpoint in Bethlem. The activists are trying to find alternative routes to Bethlem in order to reach Beit Jala where an action is to take place later in the afternoon. At the time of writing 50 tanks were gaining access to the checkpoint.
1/4 12.36 International observers arrested in East-Jerusalem
Some of the international activists lodging at the Imperial Hotel in Jerusalem are being arrested. The activists are probably French and Belgian citizens.
1/4 12.25 Action against tanks in Beit Jala
International observers are calling for an action against tanks that are surrounding the village of Bel Jala. The activists from Action for Peace and other pacifist groups aim at getting into the village to protect Palestinian civilians in their houses. Beit jala is currently under siege. The area is controlled by 50 tanks and several troops. The pacifists will try to go through the tanks to gain access to the village.
Backgrounds on Palestine | PGA