Palestine Monitor, 16 March 2011

After four days under siege by the Israeli army, villagers of Awarta announced today that Israeli troops evacuated the village this morning at 9:00 am. According to Awarta resident, Imad Qawariq, for the past four days troops have terrorized the village after five members of the Fogel family were murdered in the neighboring settlement, Itamar.

Investigators have yet to reveal any evidence indicating that a Palestinian from Awarta committed the crime. Nevertheless, the army has inflicted a harsh collective punishment on the village, cutting them off from medical services, food and daily work. Since the murder, residents of Awarta have been barred from leaving the village.

Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, stated that Israel’s treatment of Awarta is a gross violation of international and humanitarian law which prohibits collective punishment on an occupied population.

Qawariq reported that most houses were searched: their belongings broken and members of the family were beaten. Qawariq described how the army forced one family to leave their house and proceeded to violently beat the father in front of the family.

Many shops and stores have been ransacked by the army, and by the fourth night of closure the village was reportedly running out of groceries and bread.

Children, ages three to four, have been particularly frightened by the army’s use of search dogs. Maan News reported that one child was attacked by a sniffer dog, but medical attention was delayed due to the closure of the city.

For now, Qawariq said it is unclear whether or not the army will return.