The Humanitarian Crisis in Jenin Escalates
Tomorrow, 11:00AM: joint press conference of leading international human rights organizations Tomorrow, 11:30AM: hearing regarding petition against torture at Ofer military camp.Over the past 24 hours, there has been in increase in calls to B’Tselem and other human rights organizations regarding the escalating humanitarian crisis in Jenin.* The IDF is not allowing Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulances to move on the streets and evacuate the wounded to hospital. An unknown number of wounded are scattered around the city without access to medical care. In at least one case, an injured man died after having bled for five hours with no possibility of receiving medical treatment. Yesterday, in at least one case, shots were fired at a Red Crescent ambulance attempting to evacuate an injured person.
* Over the past 24 hours, at least seven women in labor were unable to reach the hospital. * At least seven kidney patients in need of urgent dialysis treatment are unable to reach the hospital.B’Tselem urges the IDF to immediately allow ambulances to reach the sick and wounded.———————Tomorrow, Sunday April 7th, at 11:00AM, a press conference will be held at the Ambassador Hotel (Sheikh Jarah, East Jerusalem) by representatives from leading international human rights organizations:Amnesty International; International Commission of Jurists (ICJ); Human Rights Watch; Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network; International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH); Reporters Without Borders (RSF); Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF); World Organization against Torture (OMCT)The press conference will be introduced by Jessica Montell, Executive Director of B’Tselem and Hader Shkirat, Executive Director of LAW: the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment.——————–The hearing on the urgent petition to the High Court of Justice, filed by B’Tselem and three other Israeli human rights organizations is scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, April 7th, at 11:30AM. The petition was filed after B’Tselem received information from an Israeli source at Ofer military camp that Palestinian detainees are being tortured. The petitioners are also demanding the cancellation of the collective incommunicado detention order at Ofer. For further information call Lior Yavne: 050-387230, 03-6106666 – pager 31146————————— B’Tselem: The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories is the leading Israeli organization monitoring, documenting and advocating to improve human rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Founded in 1989, B’Tselem publishes reports, engages in advocacy and serves as a resource center.8 HaTa’asiya St. (4th Floor),Talpiot, Jerusalem 93420, IsraelTelephone: 02-6735599, Fax: 02-6749111lyavne@btselem.orghttp://www.btselem.org