7 Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, 7 activists kidnapped in the West Bank

7 Palestinians killed in Gaza in intensified Israeli occupation forces operations, 7 activists kidnapped in the West Bank

7 Palestinians killed in Gaza since Wednesday evening
Date: 07 / 02 / 2008 Time: 10:14

Gaza – Ma'an –

Seven Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air raids in several parts of the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and Thursday.

Five of the victims were activists affiliated to Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades, one was affiliated to the military wing of Islamic Jihad, the Al-Quds Brigades. All six were killed on Wednesday evening.

Palestinian medical sources named Wednesday's victims as Mahmoud Al-Mutawwaq, Saed Nabhan and his brother Jawdat. They were killed as Israeli warplanes launched an attack on Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.

Muawiya Hassanein, the director of ambulance and emergency services in the Palestinian health ministry said that four people injured in the attack were taken to local hospitals. He named them as Nihad Abu Sido, 'Omar Al-Hasanat, Mahir Ta'alsa and Salih An-Nabhan.

Hammuda Ash-Sharafa, Ahmad Abu Hmaid and Jamal Assaf were killed in a separate Israeli raid on the northern Gaza Strip also on Wednesday evening.

On Thursday morning, a school teacher from the Agricultural School in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip was killed when Israeli artillery fired a missile at the school. He was taken to hospital in Beit Hanoun where he was pronounced dead. The director of the hospital, Jamil Sulaiman, named the teacher as Hani Na'im. Five other people were injured in the attack on the school.

The Israeli air force launched two other raids at Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip and An-Nuseirat refugee camp in the centre. As a result, three Palestinians were injured.

Ma'an's reporter said that one of the targets was a car in Khan Younis in which Palestinian activists were traveling. They survived the attack but a woman bystander was injured.

The other raid was against a blacksmith workshop in the middle of an orange grove in in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, in which a man and his son were injured.

Hamas' spokesperson in Khan Younis Hammad Ar-Ruqab threatened on Wednesday to conduct more bombing operations inside Israel as long as Israeli forces continue to commit atrocities against the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

"The Israeli occupation should await messages everywhere similar to the Dimona bombing," he said.

Israeli occupation army intensifies its military operation on Gaza
Thursday February 07, 2008 17:16 by Manar Jibrin - IMEMC News manarjibrin at gmail dot com

During a visit to an Israeli military base in the south of Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Thursday that the Israeli army will intensify its military operations in the Gaza Strip, while Palestinian home made shells continue to be launched from the Gaza Strip at Israeli targets. He said that Israel will eventually put an end to by continuing its military operation, by imposing punishments and fortifying the nearby Israeli communities surrounding Gaza Strip.

While Israeli radio reported that the Israeli army will continue carrying out its military operations in the Gaza Strip Palestinian home made shells were being launched from the Gaza strip at Israeli targets. Since early hours of Thursday, more than 15 home made shells have hit Israeli targets.

Israeli Foreign Minister Ztsipi Livni met with the American security coordinator James Johnson and discussed with him the ongoing attacks of Palestinian home made shells from the Gaza Strip and the security situation at the borders with Egypt.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Abu al Gheit said Egyptian Foreign Minister confirmed once again that Egypt will not allow the breaking of its eastern borders again clarifying that allowing the Palestinians to pass through the Rafah border was for humane reasons.

In a televised interview transmitted on the Egyptian TV, Abu al Gheit warned that "anyone who breaks into the Egyptian borders, his leg will be broken". He criticized the on going shelling of the home made shells on Israeli targets noting that these shells are falling near electricity plants and fuel storehouses inside Israel which provide the Gaza strip with fuel and electricity.

Egypt closed the borders with the Gaza strip last Sunday after allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to pass into Sinai last month. One day after closing the borders one was killed, dozens of others were injured in clashes that erupted between Egyptian border guards and Palestinians. Egypt said that it will make thousands of Palestinians who are still on its lands return to the Gaza strip in regulated groups.

translated by Manar jibrin-IMEMC News

Israeli occupation forces raid Qabatiya kidnapping 6 Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists
Date: 07 / 02 / 2008 Time: 13:48

Jenin – Ma'an –

Israeli occupation forces launched a major incursion the West Bank town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin, shooting one civilian and kidnapping six Islamic Jihad and Hamas activists.

Witnesses said that at least 20 Israeli military vehicles, including a bulldozer, invaded the town with a helicopter hovering overhead. Israeli troops forcibly searched the houses belonging to the six activists.

Local sources named the arrestees as: 20-old Husam Abu Ar-Rub, 24-year-old Iyad Abdul-Latif Abu Ar-Rub, 22-year-old Muhammad Zakarna, 23-year-old Adnan Kameel, 21-year-old Mu'adh Abu zeid and 22-year-old Awni Kameel.

Local residents also told Ma'an's reporter that Israeli soldiers shot and injured 51-year-old Tayseer Nazzal, who is mentally disabled. He received a gunshot to his foot and was evacuated to the government hospital in Jenin.

Separately, Israeli forces raided Jenin on Wednesday evening, firing in the air and detonating sonic bombs. No arrests or casualties were reported.

Israeli occupation forces kidnap Fatah activist in Tulkarem; damage several homes
Date: 07 / 02 / 2008 Time: 11:09
Tulkarem – Ma'an –

Israeli occupation forces kidnapped a Fatah activist from his home in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem on Thursday morning.

Ma'an's reporter said that Israeli forces surrounded a building in the centre of Tulkarem, firing sonic bombs at residents and telling them to leave their homes.

They then imprisoned the residents in one house, before questioning nineteen-year-old Tariq Abu Lemon, a Fatah activist.

He was handcuffed and taken to an unknown destination.

When the residents returned to their homes, they found out the Israeli soldiers had ransacked their property.

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.