Israeli security forces on Tuesday were searching for two Palestinians who escaped from the Ofer detention camp near the West Bank city of Ramallah. The two, identified as Bilal Yassin and Muhana Shabanah, are believed to be members of Islamic Jihad. According to another report, however, one of the two is a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Israeli forces have imposed a curfew on Ramallah and were conducting comprehensive searches of the camp.
Palestinians at the Ofer camp have rioted in recent weeks, and attempted to tear down a fence and escape. More than 700 Palestinians are held at this facility.
Following the release of some of the detainees from this camp, Israeli human rights organizations began to receive information about the difficult conditions there and about the violent treatment of Palestinian detainees on the way to the camp and during detention.
Among other things, detainees reported overcrowding in the tents where they were held. They reported that they were denied food for many hours and that some of them were forced to sleep outdoors. On April 5, 2002, B'Tselem received information from an Israeli source about torture during interrogations in the camp. According to the information, investigators broke detainees’ toes.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops arrested 13 Palestinians in the West Bank. Some of the arrested are Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists. The arrests were made in Hebron, Jericho, Nablus and the Ramallah area.
Additionally, Israeli forces overnight demolished the Hebron-area home of a Tanzim activist, Israel Radio reported Tuesday.
In a related development, Israel razed 62 shops and market stalls in a Palestinian village as troops clashed with protesters, residents said.
Israel said the shops were built illegally. The mayor of the village accused Israel of waging war on the Palestinian economy. Seven bulldozers, guarded by some 300 troops, began tearing down shops in the village of Nazlat Issa early Tuesday. By midmorning, 62 shops were demolished, the mayor said.
Dozens of protesters threw stones at troops who fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel pellets. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
