Israeli occupation forces, warships fire on Gaza workers, kidnap 10 civilians in Tulkarem

Israeli occupation forces, warships fire on Gaza workers in north

Published today (updated) 24/02/2010 15:05

Gaza – Ma'an –

 Palestinians collecting small stones and concrete rubble in the Al-Saifa area, part of the northern 'no-go zone' at the western tip of the Strip, were targeted by Israeli fire from a military patrol and warships on Wednesday morning, locals said.

The workers, reportedly collecting fragments for construction projects in Gaza City, were able to escape the fire unharmed, locals added.

Israeli occupation forces gunboats were also reported to have opened fire on the northern Gaza Strip in the early morning, fishermen in the Al-Waha area of the coast reported. The zone, north of Beit Lahiya, is adjacent to the area where workers were collecting construction materials.

It was not immediately clear if the incidents were related.

In the southern Strip, witnesses said an Israeli military patrol entered 100 meters beyond the buffer area into civilian areas.

An Israeli military spokesman said there were no reports of Israeli military or naval activity in the area.

A weekly report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted an escalation in violence "in areas along the Gaza-Israel border" last week, which killed one and injured six. According to the the UN office, "Since the beginning of 2010, Israeli forces have killed nine Palestinians and injured 13 others in Gaza; no Israeli casualties have been reported."

Tulkarem radio host among 10 detained overnight

Published today (updated) 24/02/2010 15:09

Tulkarem – Ma'an –

During a series of raids targeting West Bank cities, Israeli occupation forces kidnapped a Tulkarem radio host and took him to an unknown location for questioning, locals said.

Omar Bleidy, owner and sometimes host of the local Tulkarem station Kul An-Nas (All the People) had his home surrounded by several military vehicles overnight, witnesses said, before he was removed and detained.

The local station broadcasts a variety of general interest programs, news and music.

Bleidy was among ten detained overnight, according to Israeli media, with one detained from Jenin, two from the Ramallah area and six from the Bethlehem municipality.

Israeli media said all ten were "wanted" by Israeli officials.

Reports from the Bethlehem suburb of Ad-Doha and the Duheisha Refugee Camp confirmed the reported six detentions from the area.

Witnesses said several Israeli military vehicles surrounded a home in the neighborhood as neighbors heard the blast of stun grenades. Loudspeakers demanded citizens leave their homes in the early morning, as Israeli forces took a number of young men.

Israeli sources fired on residents of Duheisha, after they reported the launch of a small pipe bomb at troops performing an arrest raid int he camp.