The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) views with serious concern and dismay the latest Israeli assaults against Palestinian refugees in Nablus, Jenin, and Bethlehem in the West Bank, and calls for immediate international protection to the Palestinian people. The situation is extremely critical with a pressing urgency that requires decisive action to put an end to Israeli atrocities against the defenseless Palestinian people under occupation, in particular in the refugee camps of Balata, Jenin, and Aida.

Since the early hours of Thursday, February 28th, 2002, Israeli troops have carried out a massive military campaign in Balata, Jenin, and Aida refugee camps in the West Bank, killing a total of 21 Palestinians (in addition to 3 pronounced clinically dead) and wounding more than 150, around 40 of whom are suffering from critical and irrecoverable injuries.

Israeli troops continue to occupy Balata refugee camp in Nablus, after launching an aggressive wave of military assaults and incursions into the camp. Reports, and primary witnesses, confirm that Israeli troops are invading homes inside the camp and terrorizing families, destroying their homes and systematically targeting civilians.

In Jenin, Israeli tanks and Apache helicopters shelled Jenin refugee camp, killing scores of civilians, including two children (7 and 8 years old, who were killed inside their own homes). Israeli troops continue to launch heavy military assaults against the camp, and the number of casualties continues to grow.

Israeli forces also launched a heavy campaign of tank shelling against Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem. The strikes started in the late afternoon yesterday, and continued for hours throughout the night.

MIFTAH urges the international community to take a firm stance to stop Israel’s atrocities against the Palestinian people.

We call on the Arab states to:

-to press the gravity of the situation on the USA administration, the UN, and the EU, and all other concerned and effective parties,

-to send immediate assistance to the besieged Palestinian people,

-to ensure the participation of Palestinian President Arafat in the upcoming Arab summit which requires lifting the siege imposed by Israel on the Palestinian people and their elected president,

MIFTAH calls upon the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution that would immediately end Israel’s military escalation against a captive Palestinian population, and to ensure effective protection for the Palestinian people.

MIFTAH calls on the international community to put an end to Israel’s siege of Balata, Jenin, and Aida refugee camps, and to immediately stop Israel from shelling civilian homes and destroying schools, clinics, and civilian infrastructure.

MIFTAH calls upon the international community to take all necessary political, economic, and other measures against Israel that would ensure its compliance with international humanitarian law, mainly the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, and the norms of civilized behavior.