Large numbers of Israeli forces supported by tanks, armored personnel carriers and war planes besieged the village of Tel south west of Nablus city and attacked it on November .11.2001 under the pretext of arresting wanted people. Many violations and atrocities took place against the Palestinian inhabitants and their properties during the invasion of the village.
Background to the village
Tel Village is located 5 kilometers south west of the city of Nablus in Zone A which is completely under the Palestinian rule. The population of the village are estimated at 4 000, mostly work in agriculture. The village is famous of fig and olive trees which both are considered the most important source of economic income for local people.
Details of the Israeli aggression
At about 2 AM, Monday 12th, 2001, large numbers of Israeli forces stormed the village of Tel after they had surrounded it from all directions. Israeli troops broke into many village houses to arrest people. The attacking force used a number of tanks, armored personnel carriers. Helicopers were also used to land soldiers in many locations around the village. During the besiege of one of the houses, a youth with the name of Mohammed Yusif Rihan waked out of his house surrendering himself to the Israeli forces who opened fire and killed him on the spot without any warning. The killers didn't allow any one to approach his body, even his wife and family, and the body remained laying to the ground until the end of the military operation which lasted for 18 hours.
Violations in the agricultural field caused by the attack
- Building a road with 10 meters width and 1.5 kilometer length for the use of a military observation post set up during the attack. 15 dunums of land owned by Said Hamza were leveled and 30 olive trees and 20 fig trees were uprooted as well. Another 20 olive trees and 10 fig trees belonging to farmer Khader Mustafa Asa'ad were uprooted. In addition, 15 olive trees owned by farmer Mohammed Asa'ad Ramadan were also uprooted.
- Excavating a 2- dunum piece of land owned by farmer Moahmmed Asa'ad Ramadan to establish a military post overlooking the village houses. This location is only 400 meters from the boys' school which creates an atmosphere of tension and panic amongst pupils.
- Preventing farmers from reaching their agricultural fields situated in the vicinity of the village.
Other violations caused by the attack
1. The martyrdom of the village citizen, Mohammed Yusif Rihan;
2. The detention of 45 youths;
3. The destruction of the house of martyr Mohammed Rihan;
4. The closure of all schools in the village during the invasion period which lasted 18 hours;
5. The imposition of curfew on the village inhabitants throughout the operation;
6. Terrorizing the village inhabitants by firing powerful sound bombs and constant shootings.
Pre- current Intifada violations
In 1994, the Israeli occupation authorities built a road bypassing the village from east and south. This project destroyed the total of 240 dunums of agricultural land cultivated with olive and fig trees, where more than 1500 olive trees and 1000 fig have been uprooted. The destroyed land is owned by more than 50 farmers from the village.
Violations in current Intifada
In March, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces seized three dunums of land in the area of Muraba'a owned by the family of Abu- Asida. The seized land became the site of a new military post which in a short time was changed to a military camp hosting several tanks, armored personnel carriers and other military equipment and ammunition dumps. Now, the camp serves as an advanced base for launching attacks and aggressions against Palestinian villages in the area such as Iraq Burin and Burin. After the establishment of this camp, the Israeli army managed to maintain control over the only entrance to Nablus city from south. So far, 4 Palestinians have been killed and 20 wounded by Israeli troops controlling this passage which is often remained closed in the face of Palestinians intending to go in or out of Nablus city.
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
