Al-Nasser Brigades clash with Israeli occupation forces in northern Gaza

Published today 12:54

Gaza – Ma’an –

 Al-Nasser Salahuddin Brigades said fighters clashed with Israeli occupation forces in northern Gaza for three hours Thursday morning.

The brigades, affiliated with the Popular Resistance Committees, said Israeli occupation troops were "sneaking onto Al-Ghoul land northwest of Beit Lahia" and were surprised by an attack that lasted from 5am to 8am, when the troops withdrew.

There were no injuries reported with the brigades.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said three armed gunmen opened fire on an Israeli patrol operating in the border area next to the Gaza shore in the northern Strip. She said a naval ship fired on the men in addition to the ground soldiers, but noted that neither force "confirmed a direct hit." She said there were no damages to Israeli equipment or injuries to soldiers.

The brigades said they were ready to block access of Israeli soldiers to the Gaza Strip at any time.

Israeli occupation forces detain 5 including PA security officer in raids

Published today (updated) 31/12/2009 13:45

Nablus – Ma’an –

Israeli occupation forces detained five young men including an officer with the PA security forces overnight after storming their homes in Barqa village south of Nablus in the early morning on Thursday.

Local Palestinian sources in the village told Ma’an that Israeli military vehicles stormed the area after midnight and raided a number of houses before detaining the young men.

The detainees were identified as: Shabib Shabib, 20, Amr Ahmad Shabib, 17, Ali Muhammad Salah, 16, Ameen Taysir Salah, 16, and Samer Safe, 20, a guard in the Palestinian National Security forces.

Locals said Israeli forces withdrew from the village at 5 am and took the detainees to the Huwara investigations center.

According to Israeli sources, a total of 11 Palestinians were detained in overnight raids, including five from the Nablus area. Three others were reportedly detained east of Qalqiliya.

Witnesses: Israeli occupation soldiers assault cab driver, mock beard

Published yesterday (updated) 31/12/2009 11:40 [MaanImages] Bethlehem – Ma’an –

A Jerusalemite cab driver was stopped at the Bethlehem DCO on Thursday by Israeli occupation soldiers who audibly mocked his beard, witnesses told Ma'an.

The man, 37-year-old Nasser Muhammad Aton from Sur Baher, was beaten with rifle butts at the top of the Beit Jala hill where the Israeli District Coordination Office stands.

Witnesses said Aton yelled at soldiers who mocked him, and the soldiers responded by physically beating the man.

Following the incident Aton called the police, and was transferred by ambulance to the Sha`arey Tsedeq Hospital in Jerusalem where medics said he was moderately injured.

The Israeli military kidnaps four Palestinian civilians from the West Bank

Wednesday December 30, 2009 15:43 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

Israeli occupation troops kidnapped on Wednesday four Palestinian civilians during pre dawn military invasions targeting a number of West Bank communities.

Local sources reported invasions in Ramallah city, central West Bank, as well as Hebron in the south, and Nablus city in the north.

The Israeli occupation army radio announced that all four kidnapped were taken to detention camps for questioning.

Since the start of this week, Israeli occupation troops kidnapped 14 Palestinian civilians from various parts of the West Bank during pre dawn invasions.

Last week Israeli forces conducted at least 20 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those attacks soldiers kidnapped 23 civilians, including 7 children.

Troops Violently Attack Four Palestinian Workers

Wednesday December 30, 2009 06:38 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli soldiers attacked on Tuesday at night four Palestinian workers, broke the legs of three of them and took the fourth to an unknown destination. The attack took place near Al Walaja village, near Jerusalem.

Local sources reported that the soldiers chased the four workers and started kicking and punching them without any apparent cause.

Three of them suffered broken legs and the fourth, whose condition remains unknown, was taken to an unknown destination.

The sources added that the four were attacked in a land close to the village, and that the villagers rushed the three wounded workers to a local Beit Jala Governmental Hospital.

The Maan News Agency reported that one of the workers was identified as Anis Kabha from the northern part of the West Bank. The names of the remaining three workers remained unknown.