Today, Tuesday 8 May, 2003 the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested over forty International and Palestinian peace activists who had erected a tent on the private land of Hany Amir in the village of Misha Qalqilia to prevent the Israel from building the Separation Wall on this portion of land.
The incident happened in spite of the wide international condemnation of Israel for the construction of the Separation Wall, which will result in disastrous political and economic effects in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
It should be mentioned that the IOF has already confiscated thousands of dunams of agricultural land owned by Palestinians in order to build this wall.
Al Mezan sees the targeting of peace activists by Israel as an attempt to conceal from the international community the human rights violation it perpetrates in the OPT.
During the current year, the IOF escalated their measures against International Solidarity Movement (ISM) members and journalists.
Below is a list of the attacks against international citizens, based on figures collected by Al Mezan fieldworkers: On 5 March 2003 , Israeli soldiers killed 24-year-old American citizen, Brian Avery, in Jenin .
Avery died from a heavy live bullet in the face.
On 16 March 2003, an Israeli bulldozer ran over American peace activist, Rachel Corrie, in Rafah.
Corrie was protesting against home demolitions in the southern Gaza town.
On 11 April 2003, IOF opened fire and killed British citizen, Tom Horn Dull, near the border in Rafah .
Horn Dull was among a group of ISM members protesting against arbitrary firing on civilians near the borderline in the refugee camp of Rafah.
On 2 May 2003, Israeli soldiers fired on a British, 34-year-old photographer, James Miller, who was working on a documentary for Frostbit Films.
Miller died on the same day.
On 18 May 2003, Israel issued a new order prohibiting the movement of foreigners in and out of the Gaza Strip.
A number of ISM members were detained while tens of  other activists were sent back to their respective countries.
On 28 July 2003, five ISM members were wounded by Israeli fire while protesting against the construction of the Separation Wall at the entrance of Aneen village, west of the West Bank town of Jenin.
On 1 August 2003, the IOF opened fire on a group of international peace activists and Palestinian citizens who were demonstrating against the construction of the Separation Wall in the village of Deir Al Ghsoun, near Tulkarem.
Four internationals and three Palestinians were wounded.
Al Mezan appreciates the efforts and assistance of international peace activists who play a significant role in witnessing the human rights situation in the OPT.
The Center condemns the crimes perpetrated against peace activists and the restrictions imposed on their movement to, from and within the Gaza Strip.
Al Mezan calls for effective international intervention to end the detention and restrictions imposed on peace activists by the IOF.
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