Removal Of Bodies From Jenin Refugee Camp

The Palestine Monitor, A PNGO Information Clearinghouse

April 14th, 2002

Earlier today the Israeli High Court gave permission for the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent ambulances to enter Jenin refugee camp and remove the bodies of the scores of dead that witnesses said were lying in houses and the streets of the camp.

This ruling came about after Arab members of the Israeli Knesset petitioned the high court - but unfortunately the military on the ground refused to allow the ambulances and medical teams entry until 5:45 PM by which time it was dusk.

Jenin camp has not had electricity for the past nine days and to enter to begin to carry out such a massive operation would be difficult and dangerous with light and the presence of the Israeli military snipers and armed soldiers. Without light the Palestinian agencies were naturally reluctant to enter the camp, which in the past week, has been the scene of ferocious Israeli attacks.

Palestinian medical agencies are concerned about the delay.

They are concerned that the Israeli military and government will use this opportunity to say the Palestinians did not want to enter the camp - and use the event for their own propaganda purposes.

As one source who did not want to be identified exclaimed, "this appalling behaviour is typical of the Israeli army - to put Palestinians in front of an impossible situation, and then manipulate the facts to suit their own purposes".

This has occurred on numerous occasions recently - with one level of the military coordinating with Palestinians to implement certain initiatives, but on the ground the soldiers prevent them from occurring, for example repairs to water networks in Ramallah, and the collection of sick and wounded people by ambulances which have then come under attack.

We will provide you with more information as the situation unfolds.

For more information contact The Palestine Monitor
www.palestinemonitor.org

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