Israeli Terrorism

Israeli Army Wages Attacks in Gaza Strip; Imposes Tight Closure Measures

Israeli Army Invades Jericho and Kidnaps High-Ranking Presidential Guard

Occupation Authorities Demolish Home in Jerusalem

Curfew Imposed on Residents of Occupied West Bank Amidst Military Measures

Israeli Forces Break into Palestinian Internet Provider

Palestinian Resistance

7 Settlers Killed in Attack by Palestinian Resistance Fighters in Occupied West Bank

The Israeli occupation army yesterday (15 July 2002) invaded PALNET (Palestinian Internet server provider) offices in Ramallah and shut down its services for over 24 hours (See LAW Press release below). 

As a result, we were unable to release the weekend and yesterday's editions of `Hear Palestine'. However, these could be sent to our readers by email upon request.

Israeli Terrorism

Israeli Army Wages Attacks in Gaza Strip; Imposes Tight Closure Measures

Military Invasions and Attacks

The Israeli army late last night invaded the southern part of Deir al-Balah, center of the Gaza Strip. An Israeli tank, bulldozer and a number of armored vehicles advanced towards Abu Holi military roadblock and remained in the area for a number of hours before withdrawing this morning

Israeli occupation soldiers late last night waged an attack with heavy machine gun fire on residential areas in Rafah. Israeli military forces based near Salah al-Din Gate opened machine gun fire intensively and randomly towards homes in Qashta and al-Sha'ir residential areas, inflicting severe material damage and placing the residents in a state of fear and panic for several hours.

Closure Measures and Arrests

Over 20 Palestinians were arrested today on Salah al-Din road that links southern and northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli army closed the strip between al-Matahin and Abu Holi junctions, held dozens of cars and searched hundreds of civilians provocatively.

Among the arrested are 6 students from the industrial UNRWA school. The UN Relief Agency car was stopped near Abu Holi military roadblock and the students inside ordered to give themselves up with their hand over their heads. These were handcuffed and placed under the sun for two hours. Witnesses reported that Israeli soldiers suddenly closed the military roadblock, besieged a number of public cars heading to Gaza City and searched them.

Witnesses reported that the Israeli occupation army tightened internal closure measures in the Gaza Strip to the extent that it now takes at least 5 hours to cross a distance of 500 meters due to Israeli occupation measures and provocations.

This morning, the Israeli army prevented a Red Cross delegation headed by Itan Anthonios, the International Red Cross representative in the Gaza Strip, from reaching Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip. The International Red Cross in Gaza condemned Israel's strangling closure measures within the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army also reportedly held an ambulance carrying a dead woman for over 6 hours at al-Matahin military roadblock, north of Khan Younis.

Israeli Army Invades Jericho and Kidnaps High-Ranking Presidential Guard

The Israeli army invaded the city of Jericho today, the only West Bank city not under direct military occupation. 8 armored vehicles invaded the city provocatively, besieged the home of Captain Abdel Rahman Saleh of the (Force 17) Presidential guards, kidnapped him and then withdrew from the city.

Occupation Authorities Demolish Home in Jerusalem

The Israeli occupation authorities demolished at noon today a home in Jerusalem under the known pretext of `no construction permit'. Witnesses reported that major military reinforcements were carried out during the demolition activities.

According to Palestinian human rights organizations, the Israeli occupation authorities since the beginning of this year demolished 34 Palestinian buildings in Jerusalem compared with 17 homes demolished last year.

Curfew Imposed on Residents of Occupied West Bank Amidst Military Measures

The occupying Israeli army continues to impose a curfew on around 2 million Palestinians in the West Bank, while carrying out military measures in the occupied cities, towns, villages and refugee camps. More villages were invaded and a curfew imposed on the residents. Medical institutions and hospitals have also been targets of Israeli military operations in occupied West Bank.

Bethlehem

The occupation army continued to impose a curfew on Bethlehem today, while soldiers raided several homes in various areas and wondered the streets of the city and its suburbs with armored vehicles. 

The Israeli army yesterday invaded Beit Jala Hospital and brutally searched the building and its medical staff. Sources in the hospital reported that several of the hospital's belongings and equipment were destroyed during the provocative search.

Ramallah

The Israeli army this morning imposed a curfew on Ein Arik village, west of Ramallah. Israeli tanks and armored vehicles invaded the village, raided homes and arrested residents randomly as well as destroyed several cars and civilian property.

The Israeli army confiscated several public cars today (and yesterday) on the Ramallah-Jerusalem road and near al-Ram military roadblock. Around 120 public cars were confiscated for no apparent reason and their drivers taken to the nearby `Atarot' police station.

Drivers also reported that they were fined large amounts of money. Additionally, Israeli soldiers smashed front screens and tore the wheels of dozens of cars near Qalandya military roadblock at the entrance of Ramallah.

Palestinian human tights organizations expressed concern that Israeli forces may use the confiscated public cars for military purposes as had been done previously.

At the same time, the Israeli army continues to place the residents of Ramallah under curfew for the 3rd day running.

Jenin

The Israeli occupation army this morning besieged Khalil Suleiman Hospital with two tanks and 4 armored vehicles, preventing movement in and out of the hospital.

Israeli Forces Break into Palestinian Internet provider

LAW- Yesterday, Monday July 15, Israeli forces invaded the offices of the main Palestinian Internet service provider, PALNET, in Ramallah. They shut down its services to the West Bank and Gaza Strip for 24 hours and arrested six employees.

Mr. Raja'ee Is'eed of PALNET told LAW that Israeli forces stormed the offices of PALNET at 01:30 using a Palestinian as a human shield. PALNET staff who were at the offices that hour were forced out of the building. Israeli forces used Ghasan Al Jamal of PALNET as a human shield during their search in the offices. Israeli troops also destroyed the doors of other offices in the building including Al Masruji Company. Is'eed added that Israeli forces arrested six staff members, including Is'eed, and transferred them to Ofer detention center were they underwent interrogation. The staff were freed except for a Jordanian national, who will be deported to Jordan.

PALNET provides Internet services to some 10,000 Palestinian subscribers, including various institutions and individuals, who account for 70 percent of the Palestinians who have access to the Internet.

The Internet is an essential means of communications for Palestinians trapped in the Occupied Palestinian Territories by Israeli military blockades and, except for the telephone, largely cut off from the outside world. Most Palestinians, living in the major towns of the West Bank are confined to their homes and placed under long curfews for more than three weeks.

Palestinian Resistance

7 Settlers Killed in Attack by Palestinian Resistance Fighters in Occupied West Bank

At least 7 Israeli settlers were killed and around 30 wounded in an ambush near the illegal settlement of `Emanuel', between Nablus and Qalqilya, occupied West Bank. According to Israeli sources, 3 Palestinians disguised as Israeli soldiers ambushed the bus near the entrance of the settlement. The attack took place despite heightened Israeli security measures and a complete curfew imposed on 7 of the 8 major Palestinian cities for the past month.

Israeli army helicopters and armored vehicles are currently conducting a wide-scale search for the resistance fighters.