On Sunday 1 October at 3:30 p.m. bullets fired by Israeli soldiers hit the YMCA Rehabilitation Center in Beit Sahour in the building where persons with disabilities reside. One of the high velocity bullets penetrated a window where 17 beneficiaries gathered and burst into small fragments. It caused no physical injuries but created a state of fear and anxiety among innocent beneficiaries living in a civil organization. Consequently, the YMCA evacuated the building and sent the beneficiaries home.

This aggressive act was repeated on Monday and more bullets hit the building. Numerous bullets were gathered from the surrounding area, which became one of the hottest areas in the Bethlehem district. The YMCA which is located close to the C zone that is still fully under Israeli control, became a target for the Israeli soldiers.

This Israeli aggressive act came as part of the official Israeli policy towards the Palestinian people, who protested against Ariel Sharon provocative visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque last Thursday. The Palestinians were faced by extensive force and aggression from the Israeli party including the use of rockets and bombs fired by helicopters . So far 55 Palestinians have been killed and 2500 injured. According to Dr. Riad Za’noun, the Minister of Health, 56% of the injuries were among children and 68% were made by high velocity bullets.

The YMCA Rehabilitation Program has responded to this situation by developing an emergency plan to pay visits to the injured at the hospitals and help those who have developed trauma and psychological disturbances and assess their needs for further rehabilitation.

The YMCA was a target for the Israeli soldiers again, this time with high velocity bullets, that could have caused casualties among innocent people in a civil organization.

We consider this act, and the whole Israeli reaction in the Palestinian Territories, a very dangerous, aggressive and brutal acts that left many casualties among the Palestinian people and will lead to more violence in the area.

We do urge our partners, the human rights organizations and all the peace loving groups all over the world to use much pressure on the Israeli Government, to respect the international law and the Geneva conventions and to immediately stop these act of aggression. We think that the whole world community must feel responsible for taking measure against Israel who is violating all the international conventions and killing innocent people in cold blood.