To:
Major Yair Naveh
Commander of IDF Forces in Judea and Samaria
Colonel Yair Lotstein
Military Legal Counsel for the West Bank
Re: Humanitarian violations in the village of Bita during military operations
As a result of statements made by the head of the Bita village council, Mr. Arav Alshurffa, it became clear that over the last few days the village residents have been subjected to severe and grave violations by the Israeli army, we are therefore sending you this urgent written appeal.
Since 19.3.06 the army has held the village of Bita under total closure, and a result it has been completely cut off from its immediate surroundings. The army has prohibited all entry and exit from the village, and has even declared that the closure will be open-ended. The residents were given no opportunity to stock up on food and other essential items, and the village’‘s council head has already expressed his concern that basic foodstuffs and other vital necessities are running out.
The army, as previously mentioned, cut the village off from all directions by placing physical barriers made up of rocks and dirt hills in the residents path, and did not leave even one passage point open for vehicles. This situation also blocks access to emergency and rescue vehicles, which clearly represents a danger to the lives and health of the residents.
In addition to the above, Mr. Alshurffa also stated that during the military operations that were carried out in the village, the soldiers vandalized and destroyed electric pylons, water pipes, and a number of roads. It was also reported that when the soldiers entered the village they wrecked the vegetable market, overturned stalls, and attacked the market’‘s merchants.
The soldiers also took over 8 homes in the village, which they have remained in since their initial entry on 19.3.06, and have converted into lookout posts. The soldiers also forced the inhabitants of these houses into one room and prohibited them from leaving the rooms while the soldiers are using the rest of the house. This system of imprisonment has been imposed upon the Ravhi Sadahi family, the Khalad Abu Mazen family, the Mahmud Adili family, the Kiri Halil family, and the Lotfi Alactash family.
The aforementioned claims raise a real fear that the security forces carried out the following criminal violations of the residents’‘ rights:
We therefore respectfully request you pay urgent and practical attention to this issue
Yours sincerely,
Firas Alami
last updated : 30/05/06
