Israeli Occupation Forces Escalate Aggression on Gaza, Injure 7 Palestinians and a French Journalist, Kidnap 2 Men, Impose Curfew on Azzoun

IOF troops escalate aggression on Gaza Strip; wound more civilians

[ 02/11/2007 - 06:44 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

At least five Palestinian citizens were wounded by Israeli tank shell fired during an IOF troops incursion in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah Thursday, local sources and eyewitnesses confirmed.

In the north, Israeli apache choppers unleashed six air-to-surface missiles at Palestinian targets in Beit Hanoun city, including the agriculture school and the Azba area in the city, wounding a number of Palestinian citizens and cutting electricity in the city.

Another surface-to-surface projectile was unleashed by Israeli tank at the Shaima district in Beit Lahia city, apparently targeting locally-made missile launching pads in the area.

In a related matter, special units of the IOF troops kidnapped mother and sister of Palestinian resistance martyr Yousef Al-Walaydah, and seized them for few hours before releasing them Thursday morning.

Walaydah, who was a Qassam Brigade fighter, carried out the qualitative armed operation dubbed as "Snake Hunting 1" that killed and wounded a number of IOF servicemen east of Jabalya city, north of the Gaza Strip few days ago.

Documented IOF crimes: Meanwhile, a report issued by a human rights foundation in occupied Palestine revealed that at least 44 Palestinians, including a minor, a woman, and a captive, among other Palestinian citizens were killed by the IOF, and more than 350 others were wounded over the past month of October.

The report that was issued by the international Tadamun (solidarity) for human rights also confirmed that 32 of the martyrs were killed in Gaza Strip, explaining that 31 of them were killed in Israeli air raids and military incursions.

"This is a clear evidence that the IOF troops were escalating their aggressions against the Palestinian people.", the report charged.

The report, furthermore, accused the Israeli occupation government of deceiving the international community by talking about peace while in fact it is committing the most abhorrent crimes against innocent Palestinian civilians.

According to the report, the IOF troops desecrated Muslim holy shrines, raided and ransacked Palestinian schools and charities, demolished homes, assaulted journalists, and uprooted vast areas of Palestinian agricultural lands among other heinous crimes in clear undermining of international laws and conventions on human rights.

French journalist shot at Bil'in demonstration

Date: 02 / 11 / 2007 Time: 17:04

Ramallah – Ma'an – Two people were injured, including a French journalist, in Friday's demonstration against the separation wall in Bil'in, near Ramallah in the central West Bank.

Local residents and foreign activists from France, Belgium and Ireland participated in the demonstration against the wall and the continued building of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

When the demonstrators reached the wall Israeli soldiers attacked them with tear gas and rubber-coated metal bullets. Many of the demonstrators suffered from the effects of tear gas and two demonstrators were injured by rubber bullets. A French journalist who works for a Saudi television channel was hit in the leg. He was treated at the scene.

The Bil'in committee, who organize non-violent resistance action, called on people to take part in a march to be held on Sunday against Israeli discriminatory policies against Palestinians.

Azzoun under curfew for the second time in 24 hours

Date: 02 / 11 / 2007 Time: 19:55

Qalqilia – Ma'an –

Israeli occupation forces imposed a curfew in the town of Azzoun, east of Qalqilia on Friday evening for the second time in 24 hours.

Eyewitnesses said that military vehicles stormed into the town and announced the curfew.

Israeli sources said that an Israeli car was bombarded with stones and empty bottles while driving along a main road near Azzoun.

The entrances and exits to the town have been closed.

Jaysh-Al-Buraq clash with Israeli forces in Nablus

Date: 02 / 11 / 2007 Time: 12:56

Nablus - Ma'an -

The Jaysh Al-Buraq, part of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades affiliated to Fatah, claimed responsibility for setting off an explosive device near an Israeli patrol and clashing with Israeli forces in the city of Nablus on Friday morning.

The Jaysh Al-Baraq said in a statement that the operation was in response to crimes committed by the Israeli forces and their continued incursions into the cities of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces kidnap Palestinian citizens in Qalqiliya and Nablus

Date: 02 / 11 / 2007 Time: 12:43

Bethlehem - Ma'an -

Israeli forces kidnapped two Palestinian citizens on Friday at dawn in the cities of Qalqiliya and Nablus in the northern West Bank.

Israeli sources claim that the detainees were 'wanted' by the Israeli authorities.

They added that they were taken to a nearby interrogation centre for questioning.

Two injured in the weekly Bil'in protest

Friday November 02, 2007 17:33 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News ghassanb at imemc dot org

On Friday a number of International and Israeli peace activists joined the villagers of Bil'in near the central west Bank city of Ramallah, in their weekly protest against the illegal wall. The main theme of Friday's protest was the 90th anniversary Balfour Agreement promised to the Jewish movement of an independent Jewish country in Palestine.

Protestors walked through the streets of the town and attempted to go to the olive orchards behind the annexation wall. However, they were stopped by the Israeli soldiers who placed barricades on the way to prevent the villagers from reaching their olive trees. Troops threatened to shoot anyone who attempted to go through the barricade. Troops fired several gas and sound bombs, as well as, rubber-coated metal bullets as the protestors attempted to walk through. Two protestors were injured and many suffered from inhaling the tear gas.

On Tuesday the Israeli army invaded the village of Bil'in, kidnapping one international worker. Troops entered the village at around 1:00 am, surrounded the house of Iyad Bornat, head of the local Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, forced the residents out, and then ransacked the home. During the search, a Polish activist from the International Solidarity Movement was abducted after he attempted to prevent Israeli soldiers from attacking Bornat's family.

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