Arrest and Detention
On 31 March, the BBC reported that over 700 Palestinians have been arrested in the area inter alia in result of house to house search conducted by military forces in many areas of Ramallah/al-Bireh. A number of foreign peace activists were reportedly also arrested and some deported.
Freedom of Movement
Movement in all the areas of military operations (Ramallah. Beit Jala, Qalqilya and Tulkarem, Bethlehem) is extremely dangerous. Residents are unable to move about in the streets.
The ICRC, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and other medical personnel, human rights defenders and journalists have all been restricted from carrying out their duties. Some of these personnel have been fired upon and others have been arrested.
I have just received a call from Dr. Hannan Ashrawi who wanted me to refute any allegation that ambulances or hospitals are used to harbour gunmen. She maintains that is not a shred of evidence of this.
Humanitarian Assistance
UNRWA is facing extreme difficulties in operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and responding to the current crisis. UNRWA staff from outside East Jerusalem cannot access the UNRWA field headquarters in Jerusalem, as they do not have permits, creating a severe staff shortage.
On 31 March, the BBC reported that over 700 Palestinians have been arrested in the area inter alia in result of house to house search conducted by military forces in many areas of Ramallah/al-Bireh. A number of foreign peace activists were reportedly also arrested and some deported.
Freedom of Movement
Movement in all the areas of military operations (Ramallah. Beit Jala, Qalqilya and Tulkarem, Bethlehem) is extremely dangerous. Residents are unable to move about in the streets.
The ICRC, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and other medical personnel, human rights defenders and journalists have all been restricted from carrying out their duties. Some of these personnel have been fired upon and others have been arrested.
I have just received a call from Dr. Hannan Ashrawi who wanted me to refute any allegation that ambulances or hospitals are used to harbour gunmen. She maintains that is not a shred of evidence of this.
Humanitarian Assistance
UNRWA is facing extreme difficulties in operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and responding to the current crisis. UNRWA staff from outside East Jerusalem cannot access the UNRWA field headquarters in Jerusalem, as they do not have permits, creating a severe staff shortage.