Israeli Occupation Forces Detain 20 People From The West Bank

Thursday February 25, 2010 18:20 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Twenty Palestinian civilians were detained by Israeli occupation forces during military invasions targeting a number of West Bank communities on Thursday morning.

Local sources reported invasions in Hebron and Bethlehem cities in southern west Bank as well as Jenin in the north.

Eight residents were taken from Hebron while 12 other were taken during home searched in Bethlehem city, local sources added.

The Israeli occupation army radio announced that all those detained today were taken to military camps for questioning; the army also clamed that all 20 civilians are on its wanted list.

Medics: Man shot by Israeli forces east of Gaza City

Published today (updated) 25/02/2010 14:37

Gaza – Ma'an –

Israeli occupation forces operating east of the Al-Shuja'iyah neighborhood of Gaza City shot and wounded a Palestinian man, medics in the Ash-Shifa Hospital said.

Mu'awiya Hassanain, head of emergency and ambulance services in Gaza, said the unidentified man was moderately injured.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the report.

Union: Farmer beaten by Israeli occupation forces at Jubarah checkpoint

Published today (updated) 25/02/2010 14:51

Tulkarem – Ma'an –

A farmer on his way to agricultural lands near Tulkarem was told by Israeli occupation soldiers to lie on the floor of the Jubara checkpoint and was subsequently beaten while on the floor, the Agricultural Union said in a report released hours after the alleged event Thursday.

The man, identified as Said Walid, is a resident of Khirbet Jubara, a village in the West Bank but on the western side of the illegal Israeli Land-Grab, Apartheid Wall. Residents of the village must pass through the Jubarah checkpoint to reach the city of Tulkarem, and any other of the neighboring villages.

Shortly after the checkpoint opened at 5:30am, a statement said, Walid entered the military zone en route to his fields on the far side of the wall.

The union said he was badly beaten "without any explanation," adding that Walid was the fourth member of the Tulkarem Agricultural union to have been beaten by soldiers since the start of 2010.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said a preliminary investigation revealed no information on any such case, but noted the military welcomed complaints, which can be filed with the District Coordination Office.

Israeli occupation forces raid kindergarten, kidnap 5 in Beit Ummar

Published today (updated) 25/02/2010 14:47

Hebron – Ma'an –

 Israeli occupation forces kidnapped five Beit Ummar residents from their homes north of Hebron Thursday morning, and handed papers to nine others demanding that they appear in front of Israeli intelligence officials.

The Toyur Al-Jannah (Birds of Heaven) kindergarten building was also raided and ransacked, Palestinian Solidarity Project spokesman Muhammad Awad said.

Awad identified those detained as: Ibrahim Awad, 18, Iyad Za’aqiq, 34, Nader Bahar, 37, Muhamad Alami, 17, and Hasan Alami, 22. He said they were all taken to an unknown location.

Injuries reported as clashes erupt in Hebron

Published yesterday (updated) 25/02/2010 10:14

Hebron – Ma'an –

Clashes erupted between Palestinian schoolchildren and Israeli occupation forces in the southern West Bank city of Hebron on Wednesday, reportedly leaving several injured including a young boy and his mother.

Several girls fainted when Israeli forces fired tear gas at protesters assembled in the areas of Jabal Jouhar, Tareq bin Ziad square, and in Al-Takruri, on the southern end of the city.

An eight-year-old boy and his mother were beaten by soldiers, onlookers said. The two, identified only as members of the Al-Rajabi family, sustained mostly bruises when the mother tried to prevent her son's arrest.

Two young Palestinians were detained, although it was not immediately clear where they were taken. An Israeli military spokesman said they were arrested for questioning "during the violent and illegal riot that took place in Hebron today." They were not identified.

The spokesman said Palestinians hurled burning tires and rocks, and that riot-dispersal means were used.