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for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel News Archives - August 2007 Select News by subject: Conflict • Diplomacy • Government • Human Rights • Economy • People • International |
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Four residents, including three children killed in the Gaza Strip Saed Bannoura & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 8/29/2007 Palestinian medical sources in Gaza city reported on Wednesday at night that the number of residents who were killed in the Gaza Strip arrived to four, including one who died of earlier wounds. Earlier in the day, two children were killed when the army fired a surface-to-surface missile at a group of residents in Abu Safiyya area, in Jabalia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The two children were identified as Yahia Ramadan Abu Ghazala, and Mahmoud Mousa Abu Ghazala. A third child, identified as Sara Abu Ghazal suffered serious wounds and was moved to Kamal Adwan hospital. Moreover, a third child died of wounds sustained Thursday when the army fired a tank shell at a house in Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Dr. more.. The Israeli army continues its military invasion of Qalqilia injuring 34 so far Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 8/29/2007 The Israeli army continued its military offensive targeting the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia. Medical sources reported that 34 civilians have been injured due to army fire since the beginning of the invasion this morning, one of them critically. The medical sources identified Ibrahim Daoud, aged 17, who was shot in the head by the invading Israeli troops. Earlier today the Israeli army demolished two homes there. Palestinian media sources reported that a massive army force along with two military bulldozers invaded the city then surrounded the house of Adel Hassan, forcing the family out. They then destroyed the house and kidnapped Hassan, taking him to an unknown destination. Shortly thereafter troops attacked and demolished another nearby house. more.. Army demolishes two homes in Qalqilia city Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 8/29/2007 The Israeli army invaded the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia and demolished two homes there on Wednesday morning. Palestinian media sources reported that a massive army force along with two military bulldozers invaded the city then surrounded the house of Adel Hassan, troops destroyed the house after forcing the family out then took Hassan to unknown destination. Shortly there after troops attacked another nearby house and demolished it, local sources said that the house belongs to a local resident known as Qassem Al Hurop. As the time of this report the Israeli army is still in the city occupying homes and searching them, witnesses said. [end] Army invades Nablus city kidnaps two civilians, resistance destroy one military vehicle Ameen Abu Wardeh, International Middle East Media Center 8/29/2007 At least ten Israeli military jeeps invaded the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Wednesday morning; during the invasion Palestinian resistance destroyed one army vehicle. Witnesses said that during the invasion Israeli troops and jeeps attacked and searched homes in the city of Nablus and nearby Balata refugee camp, local resistance men attacked the invading force and managed to destroy one military jeep, witnesses said. After several hours the Israeli army left the city and the refugee camp and kidnapped two Palestinian civilians, local sources idntifed the two as Majdi Ishtawi, 39, and Islam Abu Amer, 24. The Israeli has yet to confirm the attack. [end] Two Palestinian civilians kidnapped as army invades Ithna village near Hebron Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 8/29/2007 Two Palestinian civilians were kidnapped by Israeli troops that invaded and searched homes in the village of Ithna located south east of Hebron city in the southern part of the West Bank. The two kidnapped were identified as Mohamed Awad, 18, Isma’el Ighbarah, 32. [end] Israeli army wounds a resident and takes prisoners two others in Bethlehem Rami Almeghari & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 8/29/2007 In a new fresh Israeli attack on the West Bank city of Bethlehem, a Palestinian resident was reportedly wounded and two others taken prisoners, after an Israeli special undercover unit stormed the Wad aL-Ma’ali quarter on Wednesday evening. Eyewitnesses said that 15 about armored vehicles cordoned off a commercial zone and that soldiers began shooting heavily, wounding in the head, a 17-year-old guy. Hospital sources confirmed that Mohammad Al-Ko’ali, 17 year-old, sustained a rubber-coated steel bullet in the head. The Israeli attack resulted in the arrest of two other residents; Nader aL-Mo’ty, 23 and Ibrahim Hassan, 23, who were taken by the Israeli soldiers to unknown destination, local sources confirmed. Israeli army takes prisoners several Palestinian residents from the various West Bank areas, almost on daily basis. more.. Haifa man dies of critical wounds sustained during Lebanon war Jack Khoury, Ha’aretz 8/30/2007 41-year-old Mohammed Salum died on Wednesday from critical wounds he sustained in a Katyusha rocket strike on Haifa during last summer’s war with Hezbollah. Salum is the 153rd person to have been killed in the Second Lebanon War. Salum was critically wounded when a Katyusha rocket hit his family’s home on Caesarea Street in the mostly Arab neighborhood of Wadi Nisnas. Salum suffered serious burns all over his body. The doctors fought for his life from the moment he arrived at the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, and he has been kept in the hospital’s intensive care unit since. Salum was not married. His sister Munira has been by his bedside since the incident. "There were weeks when we felt that his condition may be improving and he was beginning to recover. more.. Brigades launch projectiles at Sderot Ma’an News Agency 8/29/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - An Nasser Salah Ad Din brigades claimed responsibility for launching homemade projectiles at Sderot early on Wednesday morning. In a statement they said the "operation is part of the retaliation for the Israeli aggressions and attacks against Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip." Also, the Al-Quds Brigades announced they had launched two homemade projectiles at Sderot on Tuesday evening. In a statement they said the "operation was retaliation for the Israeli crimes against Palestinian people." Meanwhile, the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades and An Nasser Salah Ad Din brigades claimed joint responsibility for an armed attack on Special Israeli forces north west of Beit Lahia on Tuesday evening. In a joint statement the Brigades said that one An Nasser members was injured in the clash and was taken to hospital. more.. Israeli forces storm Qalqilia Ma’an News Agency 8/29/2007 Qalqilia - Ma’an -Thirty Palestinians were injured when Israeli forces stormed the city of Qalqilia in the northern West Bank on Wednesday morning. Medical sources have confirmed that 18-year-old Ibrahim Hassan Mohammad was shot in the head and is in a critical condition. He is being transferred from the UNRWA Hospital in the city to Rafidia hospital in Nablus. After storming into the city Israeli forces imposed a curfew on many neighbourhoods in the west and south of the city. Ma’an’s correspondent reported thatthe Israeli forces were re- enforced with military vehicles and bulldozers. Journalists were banned from approaching the area. He added frequent gunfire could be heard in the area and that the Israeli forces are besieging many houses. more.. IDF operation in Qalqilya ends without injuries Efrat Weiss, YNetNews 8/29/2007 Israeli troops enter West Bank city in search of terror suspects, detain one rioter; 24 Palestinians lightly wounded from crowd dispersal means - Israel Defense Forces, in cooperation with the Special Police Unit encountered great resistance from Palestinians in an operation in the West Bank city of Qalqilya on Wednesday. During the operation, 24 Palestinians were lightly injured by crowd dispersal weapons used by the Israeli troops. IDF soldiers and police officers entered Qalqilya early Wednesday morning in order to arrested terror suspects. Shortly after entering the city, three Palestinian gunmen opened fire at the forces. The troops were not injured and they fired back at the gunmen, who fled from the scene. IDF sources said the troops approached three buildings demanding the residents evacuate them. more.. Palestinian police unit attacked near Tulkarem Ma’an News Agency 8/29/2007 Tulkarem – Ma’an – A Palestinian police unit was attacked and shot at in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem on Wednesday as they tried to make arrests. The police vehicles were attacked as they tried to execute a court order to arrest the men. Ma’an’s correspondent reported that Palestinian security forces besieged the Iktaba neighbourhood, north east Tulkarem, and demanded the men surrender. However, several tried to resist, and they were joined by a group of women, who threw stones at the police vehicles and which enabled some of the men to run away. The director of Tulkarem police, Mohammad Ayyash explained that the neighbourhood was now under police control and three assailants had been arrested along with some of the women. Ayyash told our reporter that the men are alleged to have been involved in attacks on homes in the area in an old clan dispute. more.. Three Al-Aqsa Brigades members allegedly shot by Hamas Executive Force Ma’an News Agency 8/29/2007 Gaza – Ma’an – Al-Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of the Fatah movement said on Wednesday that three of their members have been injured by the Hamas-affiliated Executive Force in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. The brigades named those injured as Wael Majayda, Rafiq Majayda and Hani Majayda, who were allegedly shot in their legs at point-blank range. A statement by Al-Aqsa Brigades read, "The EF sent warrants summoning four other members of the Majayda family, claiming that they raised Fatah flags and the late Yasser Arafat’s pictures in a wedding party for a member of Al-Aqsa Brigades." [end] aL-Aqsa Brigades: three members wounded by Hamas’s executive force Rami Almeghari & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 8/29/2007 The aL-Aqsa brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, announced on Wednesday that three members of which have been shot and wounded by the executive force, a Hamas-affiliated police force, run by the Hamas-led government in Gaza. The aL-Aqsa brigades said that Wa’el aL-Majayda, Said aL-Majayda and Hani aL-Majayda, were shot and wounded in their legs from a very close destination in the aL-Majayda quarter in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis. Following the Hamas takeover of Gaza in mid June, the executive force has been operating largely in the costal region, maintaining order and law; after all Fatah-linked Palestinian Authority’s forces abandoned their security posts. Prior to June’s takeover, both Hamas and Fatah engaged in an internecine power struggle in the backdrop of an international community... more.. Undercover Israeli forces invade Bethlehem Ma’an News Agency 8/29/2007 Bethlehem – Ma’an – A Palestinian citizen was injured and two others were abducted after Israeli military forces invaded the Wadi Ma’ali neighbourhood in the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem on Wednesday evening. Ma’an’s reporter stated that over 15 Israeli military vehicles entered the area, besieging shops and an internet café. They also fired gunshots towards Palestinian citizens, injuring Muhammad Ku’ali 17 with a rubber-coated steel bullet to the head. He was transferred to Beit Jala hospital for treatment. An undercover Israeli force besieged the area and abducted two alleged operatives of the Islamic Jihad movement; Nadir Mu’ti, 23, and Ibrahim Hassan, 23. The two were released from Israeli jails just two months ago. [end] SOS Israel to award citations to refuseniks Efrat Weiss, YNetNews 8/29/2007 Right-wing movement to hold event honoring soldiers who disobeyed orders to evacuate Jewish squatters from Hebron market. Event timed to coincide with IDF ceremony honoring soldiers for bravery during last summer’s war with Hizbullah - The SOS Israel movement will distribute on Sunday citations to the IDF soldiers who refused to take part in the evacuation of Jewish squatters from the Hebron wholesale market three weeks ago. The movement timed the event to coincide with an IDF ceremony to honor soldiers who carried out brave acts during last summer’s war with Hizbullah. "It is time that politicians stop destroying the army and prepare it for what it is really meant to do," said the mother of a soldier who was sentenced to solitary confinement by a military court over his refusal to carry out the Hebron evacuation. more.. IDF officer rescued from Jenin sentenced to jail Efrat Weiss, YNetNews 8/29/2007 Court-martial finds Major Razi Raveh violated military procedure when driving to Mevo Dotan, sentences him to 28 days in brig Major Razi Raveh, the IDF officer who was rescued by Palestinian security forces after entering the West Bank city of Jenin by mistake on Monday, was sentenced Wednesday to 28 days in a military prison. Raveh was on his way to the Mevo Dotan settlement in the northern West Bank when he accidentally drove into Jenin. Local Palestinian residents, who spotted the officer, stoned his car, forced him out and began beating him. At this point, a Palestinian policeman saw the mob and called for backup. The security officers managed to extract Raveh from the crowd moments before his vehicle was set on fire. The IDF Central Command’s investigation of the incident found that Raveh failed... more.. Three Palestinian children killed in IDF strike in northern Gaza Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harels and Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 8/30/2007 Three Palestinian children were killed on Wednesday afternoon in a blast in the northern Gaza Strip, when an Israel Defense Forces tank fired on a Qassam rocket launcher. Dr. Moaiya Hassanain of the Palestinian Health Ministry said 10-year-old Mahmoud Ghazal and his 12-year-old cousin Yehiya Ghazal were killed immediately. Their 10-year-old cousin Sara Ghazal was critically injured, and died later from her wounds. The IDF said it fired on the Qassam launcher after it detected unidentified figures next to it. A relative of the children, Wasfi Ghazal, said he heard the sound of an explosion and then children screaming. He held both Israel and the militant rocket squads responsible." We are victims of the occupation and victims of the misbehavior of some of the fighters who are randomly choosing our area to target Israel," he told The Associated Press. more.. Two children dead and two seriously injured in Israeli artillery attack in Gaza Strip Ma’an News Agency 8/29/2007 Gaza - Ma’an – Two children were killed and two others were seriously injured in an Israeli artillery attack as they walked close to a rocket launcher in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Palestinian medical sources named the two dead children as Yahya Abu Ghazala and Mahmoud Abu Ghazala. Mahmoud’s sister, Sara, was seriously injured in the attack. The fourth child has not yet been identified. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, has announced that one of their leaders, Samih Sawafeiri from the Zaytoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, succumbed to wounds sustained in an earlier Israeli strike. [end] Launch sites are war zones, IDF source says Hanan Greenberg, YNetNews 8/29/2007 Hours after three Palestinian children killed in IDF attack in Gaza, military source explains terror organization use civilians, says ’army makes every effort not to harm civilians; Palestinians must make sure to keep children out of battle zone’ - "The fact that Palestinian civilians, especially children, are killed, is unfortunate, does not serve our interests and does not promote a solution to the terror problem," a military source told Ynet Wednesday night, following the IDF attack on rocket launchers which left three children dead in Gaza. Nonetheless, the source stressed that "the army makes every effort - sometimes beyond proportion - so as not to hurt civilians, but the terror organizations are using all means at their disposal. more.. High court allows Modi’in Ilit residents to remain in Heftsiba apartments Yuval Yoaz, Ha’aretz 8/29/2007 The Modi’in Ilit residents who broke into Heftsiba-built apartments in the settlement’s Matitiyahu East neighborhood will not be forced out at this stage despite an existing High Court of Justice order forbidding them to move into the neighborhood. Tuesday’s High Court ruling, however, stated that even though the temporary injunction against moving into the new buildings built on Palestinian-owned land remained in force, residents would not be evacuated for now. The decision came in response to a petition filed by Peace Now and the council of the West Bank village of Bil’in. The State Prosecutor’s Office had also asked for clarification on the matter." At this stage, and for as long as all the matters concerning the situation of Heftsiba remain unclear, as well as the chances of residents to receive the apartments... more.. Palestine Today 082907 Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center 8/29/2007 Click on Link below to download or play MP3 file - Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www. imemc. org, for Wednesday August 29th, 2007 The Israeli Army attacks the West Bank city of Qalqilia and injures 34 civilians, meanwhile in the Gaza strip the deposed Palestinian cabinet claims it’s working hard to end the sanctions, these stories and more coming up – stay tuned. The News Cast - The Israeli army continued its military offensive targeting the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia. Medical sources reported that 34 civilians have been injured due to army fire since the beginning of the invasion this morning, one of them critically. The medical sources identified Ibrahim Daoud, aged 17, who was shot in the head by the invading Israeli troops. -- See also: || File 2.74MB || Time 3m 0s || more.. 8 Palestinians injured in armed confrontation between Hamas’ EF and the Zo’rob family in Gaza Ma’an News Agency 8/28/2007 Khan Younis – Ma’an – At least eight Palestinian citizens were injured, including a Fatah leader, in violent clashes between Hamas’ Executive Force and members of the Zo’rob family in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Monday. Armed confrontations erupted when members of the EF attempted to arrest a member of the Zo’rob family. One eyewitness told Ma’an "more than eight of the family were injured, including Kamal Zo’rob, who is a Fatah leader." Eyewitnesses said that Kamal was injured in the hand and that all of the wounded were evacuated to the European Hospital in Khan Younis. Spokesperson of the EF, Islam Shahwan, told Ma’an, "The Executive Force opened fire after one of its patrols was shot at by the family members." He added that "while one of our patrols was on its way to return someone who... more.. One injured as Qassam hits home in Sderot Mijal Grinberg, Ha’aretz 8/28/2007 A Qassam rocket scored a direct hit on a home in Sderot yesterday, lightly injuring one person who was walking by at the time. The rocket was fired at Sderot in the morning hours, and hit a home in the Neot Rabin neighborhood. This neighborhood has suffered numerous rocket attacks in recent months. At the time of the attack, the family was in the house. They heard the alarm and entered their secure room before the rocket struck. A passerby was injured by shrapnel that hit his eye. He was evacuated to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon for treatment. A few minutes after the attack, Minister of Social Affairs Isaac Herzog arrived at the scene. Herzog had been touring communities surrounding the Gaza Strip to deal with pending issues related to the welfare of the citizens suffering from the rocket attacks. more.. Gaza officials: Palestinians bomb two Hamas buildings in Gaza City Reuters, Ha’aretz 8/29/2007 Palestinian gunmen set off two bombs in Gaza City on Tuesday at separate locations belonging to forces of the Islamist group Hamas, causing damage but no casualties, local security officials said. No group claimed responsibility for the simultaneous explosions, and an Israel Defense Forces spokesman ruled out any Israeli involvement. Attacks on Hamas have been relatively rare since it seized control of the coastal Gaza Strip after a bloody battle with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ secular Fatah faction in June. Earlier on Tuesday, a Hamas security officer and eight armed members of a Gaza clan were wounded in a clash in the town of Khan Yunis. When members of the Hamas Executive Force tried to arrest a clan member, other clansmen opened fire and threw pipe bombs at the Hamas force, who fought back. more.. Hamas says Fateh gunmen fired rounds at one of Ramallah city council member International Middle East Media Center 8/28/2007 Hamas sources stated on Tuesday at night that Fateh gunmen fired at Rabee’ Rabee’, member of Ramallah Municipality Council as he was leaving the City Hall after a meeting held on Tuesday evening. [end] Executive Force issues a statement on Khan Younis Tuesday clashes International Middle East Media Center 8/29/2007 The Hamas-formed Executive Force, under the authority of the Ministry of Interior in Gaza, issued a press release regarding the internal clashes that took place on Tuesday evening between members of the force and members of Zo’rob family, in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The Force stated that its members were carrying "routine activities" in Khan Younis and received information about certain family disputes in the city. The Force added that after its members arrived at the house of Zo’rob family, they had a verbal dispute with family members and that one of the family members punched a member of the Force, while other members insulted force members, according to the statement. Later on, members of the Force decided to call for backup after one member was shot and injured by gunfire shot by a member of Zo’rob family. more.. Hamas says Fateh gunmen shot and injured one of its supporters in Nablus International Middle East Media Center 8/28/2007 Hamas movement stated on Tuesday that gunmen of Fateh movement in the northern West Bank city of Nablus shot and injured one supporter of Hamas after kidnapping him on Monday evening. In a press release, Hamas stated that Fateh gunmen abducted Firas Al Qotob, 30, from a horse ranch he own, east of Nablus city, and shot him in his legs. Media sources reported that an anonymous caller phoned Firas and asked to meet him in the horse ranch after claiming that he wants to buy some horses from him. But when Firas arrived to his ranch, gunmen abducted him to another area and tortured him before firing four rounds of live ammunition at his legs. After shooting him, the gunmen phoned his father informing him come over and transfer his injured son to a hospital. more.. PRC combatants prevent infiltration of Israeli forces into northern Gaza Ma’an News Agency 8/28/2007 Gaza – Ma’an – The military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, the An Nasser Salah Addin Brigades, on Tuesday claimed responsibility for frustrating the infiltration of Israeli undercover forces into the northern Gaza Strip. The brigades issued a statement reporting that intensive crossfire erupted between invading Israeli forces and their fighters. [end] Several near-lynchings in past week, officials say Ronny Sofer, YNetNews 8/28/2007 Despite lack of media coverage at the time, Palestinian police prevented several incidents of mob violence against Israelis who accidentally entered Palestinian towns - The near-lynching of an IDF officer in Jenin that made headlines Monday night is the latest of a string of similar, but unreported, occurrences, according to the defense establishment and Palestinian officials. In recent weeks, there were four incidents in which Israelis accidentally drove into Palestinian towns, encountered mobs of civilians and were evacuated by Palestinian police. The Monday night beating and the recent incident of a family who ended up in Jericho on their way to Tiberias received widespread media coverage. But there were many other instances of Israelis who lost their way and ended up in hostile Palestinian territory, including a number in the past two weeks, Palestinian sources said. more.. 2 Qassams land near Sderot; no injuries Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 8/28/2007 Rockets fired by Palestinans from north Gaza land outside western Negev town just hours after Olmert-Abbas meeting in Jerusalem Palestinians in north Gaza fired two Qassams towards Sderot Tuesday evening. The rockets landed in open areas outside the western Negev city, and no injuries or damage were reported. The al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack came just a few hours after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem, during which the two leaders agreed to draft a joint declaration of principles to resolve the core issues of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Earlier on Tuesday, a Sderot resident was lightly to moderately wounded by shrapnel and several other people suffered shock after a Qassam rocket hit a house in the town. more.. Frazzled in Sderot Haaretz Editorial, Ha’aretz 8/28/2007 The parents of Sderot feel that they are sending their children to schools that are not completely reinforced, and this feeling is justified. Although the Home Front approved the means of reinforcement for each individual institution - and announced that the existing means do provide the children with reasonable security, the parents asked the defense minister to authorize the reinforcement and state that it was in keeping with his policy. The deputy defense minister, Matan Vilnai, saw this demand as placing too much responsibility on his ministry. The debate between the education and defense ministries certainly does not contribute to a sense of security for the people in Sderot. Sderot’s houses, streets and educational institutions cannot be completely protected from Qassams. more.. Palestine Today 082807 Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center 8/28/2007 Click on Link below to download or play MP3 file - Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www. imemc. org, for Tuesday August 28th, 2007. In the West Bank, the Israeli army launches a number of invasions in various towns and cities. In the Gaza Strip meanwhile, one resident of Sderot is lightly injured by a home-made missile fired from the coastal region. These stories and more coming up. Stay tuned. The West Bank - The Israeli army implemented a series of military operations in different areas of the West Bank in the early hours of Tuesday morning. In Nablus, security sources reported that troops invaded the city and the Balata refugee camp, kidnapping four Palestinians. In a separate operation, the army invaded the Ein Beit Al Ma refugee camp near Nablus, and Al Bathan, located north of Nablus. -- See also: || File 2.74MB || Time 3m 0s || more.. Israel launches air raid in northern Gaza Middle East Online 8/27/2007 The Israeli soldiers did not find any explosive device - Israeli troops kill Palestinian farmer as Israeli minister accuses Egypt of letting arms into Gaza. - GAZA CITY - Israeli warplanes carried out an air raid near the northern town of Beit Hanun without causing casualties, the army and witnesses said. Meanwhile, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian on Monday in the central Gaza Strip near the border with the Jewish state, medics and witnesses said. The 40-something man, whose identity was not immediately known, was a farmer working his lands located near the barrier between Gaza and Israel when he was shot, they said. The army said it had shot at a man intending to place a bomb in the border area. "An army patrol identified a Palestinian suspected of deposing an explosive device. more.. Army invades Al Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza strip Ghassan Bannoura news, International Middle East Media Center 8/27/2007 An Israeli army force backed with tanks and bulldozers invaded the Al Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza strip on Monday. Eyewitnesses said that tanks opened heavy fire at residents’ homes, so far no injures has been reported. [end] Two Palestinians kidnapped near Bethlehem Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 8/27/2007 The Israeli army invaded the village of Artas, south of Bethlehem city in the southern part of the West Bank, and kidnapped one civilian and his father on Monday afternoon. Khaled Al Azza, the head of the popular land defense committee, said that soldiers invaded the village then surrounded the house of Awad Abu Soway, the coordinator of the committee in the village, and kidnapped him and his father. Soway’s land was confiscated by the army several months ago to make way for a sewage system for a nearby Israeli settlement, after which he began to organize nonviolent protests against this practice. [end] Israeli troops reinforce presence in northern Gaza Rami Almeghari & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 8/27/2007 Israeli army troops reinforced Sunday their presence in northern and eastern Gaza Strip by moving numerous tanks and armored vehicles into army posts in the areas, Palestinian media sources reported. Eyewitness said that the army reinforcement has been coincided with Israeli warplanes gunfire towards nearby Palestinian houses, causing a state of panic to residents. Israeli army has stepped up recently its attacks on targets in the costal region, killing several Palestinians including children, in what Israel called a crackdown on Palestinian homemade rockets attacks on nearby Israeli towns. Concurrently, some Israeli officials were reportedly calling for a massive Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, in a bid to undermine Palestinian resistance groups involving the deposed governing Hamas in Gaza. more.. Israeli missiles demolish Palestinian projectile launch-pad in Gaza Ma’an News Agency 8/27/2007 Gaza – Ma’an – Israeli fighter jets on Monday morning launched at least one missile at a Palestinian projectile launch-pad in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli missiles demolished a Palestinian launch-pad to the northeast of Gaza City. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli air strike began just after Palestinian resistance fighters launched homemade projectiles towards Israel from the launch-pad. No casualties were reported in the Gaza Strip or Israel. [end] Palestinian fighters launch projectiles into Israel Ma’an News Agency 8/27/2007 Gaza – Ma’an – The military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, the An Nasser Salah Addin Brigades, claimed responsibility on Sunday evening for launching a homemade projectile at the Israeli Western Negev town of Sderot. The brigades also conducted a joint operation with the Al Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad and launched a second projectile at Sderot on Sunday evening. Two further projectiles were claimed to have been launched into Israel on Sunday evening in a united operation of the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades of the PFLP, the Al Aqsa Brigades of Fatah and the independent Army of Muhammad. The An Nasser Brigades also claimed responsibility for launching a homemade projectile at the Israeli military post of Nahal Oz, near the border of the Gaza Strip, on Monday morning. more.. Palestinian fighters force invading Israeli military in Gaza to retreat Ma’an News Agency 8/27/2007 Gaza – Ma’an – The An Nasser Addin Brigades of the PRC and the Al Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad claimed joint responsibility for an armed confrontation with Special Israeli Forces, east of Al Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, on Monday morning. The brigades issued a statement: "The Special Forces were driven back after 20 minutes of fierce clashes." The statement also affirmed that the brigades reject all Israeli plans and will continue resistance. [end] Israeli soldiers create huge traffic jam at Huwwara checkpoint Ma’an News Agency 8/27/2007 Nablus – Ma’an – Several Palestinian citizens collapsed on Monday as a result of an extensive traffic jam at Huwwara checkpoint, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Eyewitnesses at the checkpoint said that the Israeli soldiers deliberately inspected the Palestinian passengers slowly, resulting in a huge tail-backs in the extreme heat. As a result many citizens fainted. [end] Brigades claim responsibility for attacks Ma’an News Agency 8/27/2007 Gaza - Ma’an – The Abu Ali Mustafa brigades said that they launched two mortars at an Israeli military post in Nahal Oz on Monday afternoon. They issued a statement saying they had also launched two homemade projectiles at Sderot. The statement confirmed that both operations were in "retaliation for Israeli aggression and attacks against Palestinian people". [end] Brigades say they clashed with Israeli unit near Nahal Oz Ma’an News Agency 8/27/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - National Resistance Brigades (NRB) who are affiliated to the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), and An Nasser Salah Al-Din brigades on Monday said they took part inn armed clashes with an Israeli engineering unit near the electronic fence opposite the Nahal Oz near the Gaza Strip. A statement issued by the brigades aid that the "fighters used machine guns and Rocket Propelled Grenades against the unit and managed to withdraw safely to their base." The statement added that the operation was in "retaliation for Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people." [end] Palestine Today 082707 Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 8/27/2007 Click on Link below to download or play MP3 file - Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre for Monday August 27th, 2007. In the West Bank, the Israeli army invades the city of Nablus and the nearby refugee camp of Askar. In the Gaza Strip meanwhile, a Palestinian man is killed after Israeli forces open fire on him near the Gaza-Israel border. These stories and more coming up. Stay tuned. The West Bank - The Israeli army invaded the northern West Bank city of Nablus and the nearby refugee camp of Askar in the early hours of Monday morning. Security sources reported that more than 20 Israeli military vehicles, backed by bulldozers, invaded the city from several directions and opened fire on residents. -- See also: || File 3.66MB || Time 4m 0s || more.. IOF troops storm Nablus, Palestinian youth wounded Palestinian Information Center 8/26/2007 NABLUS, (PIC)-- IOF soldiers stormed the West Bank city of Nablus at dawn Sunday from all axes in line with their daily incursions into the city where a Palestinian young man had his hand amputated when an explosive device blasted near him. Local sources said that the IOF troops infiltrated the Asker refugee camp east of Nablus and areas west of Nablus firing sonic bombs and gas canisters on citizens. They said that a young man was carried to hospital after an explosive device blasted near him and had his hand cut off. The IOF command on Sunday acknowledged that two of its soldiers were wounded Saturday in the Palestinian resistance joint attack north of the Gaza Strip. Two Palestinian fighters were killed in the attempt after successfully crossing the separation fence erected by the IOF troops between the Strip and the 1948 occupied lands. more.. Settlers, state discuss legalizing some outposts, removing others Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz 8/26/2007 The Yesha Council of Settlements is negotiating illegal outposts with Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s bureau. The main points of the agreement being hammered out are to evacuate outposts to which no legal solution can be found, while legalizing some and moving others. According to unconfirmed reports in the Hebrew daily Makor Rishon, the Yesha Council has agreed to move the largest of the outposts, Migron near Beit El, after no way of legalizing the community could be found, including attempts to show that at least some of the land was purchased over the past year by Jews. In a flyer distributed to synagogues on Shabbat, the Yesha Council reported on the meetings underway with the Defense Ministry, and attempted to explain its stand, saying, "Dialogue with the Defense Ministry will be conducted with complete transparency vis-a-vis the residents of the outposts. more.. Peace Now: W. Bank roads being paved to tune of NIS 315 million Jonathan Lis, Ha’aretz 8/26/2007 At least six roads or parts of roads are currently being paved in the West Bank for the benefit of settlers, at a cost of at least NIS 315 million, according to a new report by Peace Now. All of these roads, covering 33 kilometers in total, lie east of the separation fence - i. e. , in land Israel does not seek to keep under a peace agreement. Since they serve only a small number of inhabitants, and do not serve the Palestinians at all, the state is spending what amounts to about NIS 50,000 per car on these roads, the report claims. One new highway will connect four settlements east of Jerusalem - 2,500 residents and less than 500 cars - with the capital. One of these settlements is Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s hometown, Nokdim, the 10-kilometer road was approved when he was transit minister. more.. Peace Now report: Settlers enjoy luxury roads Efrat Weiss, YNetNews 8/26/2007 Organization says State invests large sums in constructing highways for settlers in West Bank, while shortage in funds leaves infrastructure within Green Line lacking - While the State of Israel invests millions in constructing roads in the West Bank, it neglects infrastructure development within the Green Line, thus contributing to the increase in road accidents in the country, the Peace Now organization claimed Sunday. According to a report compiled by the group, 33 kilometers of roads are currently under construction in the area east of the separation fence, with an investment of some NIS 315 million. "The State spends at least NIS 50,000 for each settler’s vehicle, on infrastructure and new roads. While people in Israel get killed on a daily basis due to a shortage in funds for infrastructure, the... more.. Islamic Jihad in violent exchange of fire with Israeli forces near Jenin Ma’an News Agency 8/26/2007 Jenin – Ma’an – The military wing of Islamic Jihad, the Al Quds Brigades, claimed responsibility on Sunday morning for armed clashes with invading Israeli forces in Qabatiya, near the northern occupied Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jenin. The brigades issued a statement announcing that "one of our groups of fighters confronted the Israeli forces when they stormed the town of Qabatiya, southern Jenin, and detonated many bombing devices, in addition to exchanging fire with the Israeli soldiers; hitting many of them." The statement added, "The operation was part of the retaliation for Israeli assaults and crimes against Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip." [end] Israeli forces abduct brother of fighter killed on Saturday in Jenin Ma’an News Agency 8/26/2007 Jenin – Ma’an – The Israeli occupying forces on Sunday abducted the brother of the ’Martyr’ Alaa Abu Surour, who was assassinated by Israeli soldiers on Saturday in Jenin. The Israeli troops launched a search campaign in Jenin refugee camp and Qabatiya, both in the northern occupied Palestinian West Bank. The military wing of Islamic Jihad, the Al Quds Brigades, clashed with Israeli soldiers and exchanged fire during an incursion into Qabatiya early on Sunday morning. The brigades said that they used machine guns and hand-grenades during the clashes. Local sources informed Ma’an’s correspondent that the Israeli forces arrested 19-year-old Mustafa Abu Surour, the brother of an Al Quds Brigades fighter killed in Jenin on Saturday. The soldiers were deployed outside the Abu Surour home and ordered the... more.. Palestinian brigades launch projectiles at Israeli targets Ma’an News Agency 8/26/2007 Gaza – Ma’an – The military wing of Fatah, the Al Aqsa Brigades, claimed responsibility for launching two homemade projectiles at the Israeli Western Negev town of Sderot on Sunday afternoon. The brigades issued a statement announcing that "the operation was part of the retaliation for Israeli aggression against Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip." The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) claimed responsibility for launching two homemade projectiles at the Israeli-controlled Erez Crossing, between Israel and Gaza, on Sunday afternoon. The brigades issued a statement: "the launching of the projectiles was part of the retaliation for Israeli aggression against Palestinians." more.. Kfar Sava Court rules entering ruins of Homesh is not illegal Yuval Azoulay, Ha’aretz 8/26/2007 The Kfar Sava Juvenile Court ruled that entering the ruins of the evacuated settlement of Homesh is not a criminal offense. The ruling can no longer be appealed as more than 30 days have passed since the ruling was made. Justice David Gadol rejected the state’s position and ruled that a girl who had been arrested for attempting to enter the ruins of Homesh did not violate any law and, therefore, could not be remanded. The judge ruled that the Disengagement Law, on which the state bases its prohibition on entering the ruins of Homesh, was legislated in order to enable the evacuation of the settlement as part of the disengagement two years ago, and must not be utilized for a different purpose. The prosecution presented the court with an additional legal basis for banning entry to the Homesh ruins - an... more.. Judge rules: Visiting Homesh no longer a crime Efrat Weiss, YNetNews 8/26/2007 Juvenile court judge states Disengagement Law no longer valid, and therefore prohibition on visiting former settlement is null - "The penal chapter of the Disengagement Law has completed its role, and therefore suspects cannot be brought before a court based on it," Judge David Gadol of the Juvenile Court in Kfar Saba ruled recently. Gadol, who presided in a hearing on the remand extension of a teenage girl who was arrested after visiting the evacuated settlement of Homesh, said that the girl did not commit a criminal offense because the law in question - which bars Israelis from visiting the former settlement - was no longer valid. Ever since the evacuation of the West Bank settlement during the disengagement in summer of 2005, thousands of right-wing activists and settlers have tried marching to Homesh and visiting there. more.. State requests 5 life sentences for driver of suicide bomber Yuval Azoulay, Ha’aretz 8/26/2007 The state requested on Sunday that the Tel Aviv District Court hand down five consecutive life sentences to an Israeli Arab who drove a suicide bomber to the location of an attack in 2005. 28-year-old Ashraf Keisi, from Baka al-Garbiyeh transported a Palestinian suicide bomber to a Tel Aviv nightclub, where he blew himself up, killing five people and wounding 50. The police representative at Tel Aviv District Court said of Keisi on Sunday morning, "To our disgust he is Israeli, was born and grew up here, and has Jewish friends. He worked for Jews and for a spent a large part of his life in Israeli society. Maybe this why he refused for the terror attack to be perpetrated in Hadera, where he has friends and relatives." "He decided who would live and who would die, he decided when and where the attack would take... more.. 6 Palestinians arrested near border fence Hanan Greenberg, YNetNews 8/26/2007 IDF continues to investigate Saturday’s infiltration, considers enhancing fence. Meanwhile, six Gazans believed to be seeking information for terror groups caught trying to cross the fence yet againIDF forces arrested six Palestinian youths trying to cross the border fence from the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday. The youths were taken in for questioning and IDF sources believe the six were sent to gather information for terror organizations. The incident occurred just one day after two gunmen carrying an explosive device managed to infiltrate into Israel. A military source said on Sunday, "Yesterday’s infiltration would not have been possible if information had not been collected in advance. The Palestinians know that the border fence is military territory and that anyone hanging around there is taking a huge risk. more.. Leftist Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades members survive an assassination attempt in Beit Hanoun International Middle East Media Center 8/27/2007 The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the armed wing of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), reported on Sunday afternoon that one of its groups survived an assassination attempt by the Israeli army in Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The Brigades issued a press release stating that one of its groups fired homemade shells at Eretz Crossing, and the Israeli towns of Ashkelon and Sderot, and that shortly after that an Israeli military helicopter targeted them with several missiles and opened fire at a number of houses. The fighters escaped the shelling unharmed, the brigades stated. The Brigades added that on the anniversary of the assassination of its secretary-general, Abu Ali Mustafa, it reaffirms its commitment to resistance and steadfastness. more.. IOF acknowledges injury of 4 soldiers in resistance attack Palestinian Information Center 8/26/2007 GAZA, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation forces on Saturday evening acknowledged that four soldiers were injured in the blast near a Hummer military jeep at the gate of Karm Abu Salem crossing east of Rafah district. The Hebrew radio said that the four were wounded when an explosive device was blasted in their jeep near the security fence separating the Gaza Strip from the 1948 occupied Palestinian lands. The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas Movement, had taken the credit for that operation that was coupled with firing a number of mortar shells at the IOF military positions near the crossing. The armed wing said that the operation was videotaped and would be soon distributed to reporters, stressing that the raid was in reprisal to the continued IOF aggression on the Palestinian people. more.. IDF: Hamas targets troops, civilians near Gaza Avi Issacharoff Amos Harel Yuval Azoulay and Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 8/26/2007 Hamas is stepping up efforts to carry out attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers near the Gaza perimeter security fence, army sources said yesterday, after Israeli forces killed eight Palestinians and an Arab-Israeli boy in the West Bank and Gaza over the weekend. Palestinian sources told Haaretz that the organization was using other Gaza militant groups to escalate hostilities with Israel and close down the Erez Crossing. Israel Defense Forces troops pursued and shot dead two armed militants yesterday after the men got past the security fence around the Gaza Strip and opened fire on an IDF post. One soldier was lightly wounded in the ensuing shootout, the IDF Spokesman said. Both militants, who were carrying weapons and explosives, apparently belonged to the Popular Resistance Committees, an independent militant group inspired by Lebanon’s Hezbollah. more.. Students fleeing Sderot schools Matan Tzuri, YNetNews 8/26/2007 Number of children attending coming school year in rocket-battered town continues to drop as parents send children to other towns in protest of gov’t’s failure to fortify schools - Some 700 out of 4,100 Sderot students have decided not to attend school in the town this year in protest of the continued rocket attacks and the government’s failure to fortify the schools. Over the past few months, many parents have been doing everything in their power to transfer their children to other schools, and while some parents filed applications to the municipality, others simply changed their addresses on their IDs in order to have their children placed in other schools. According to the town’s data, only 3,400 students will be attending local schools this year compared to 4,100 in 2006, and only 750 children have been registered for kindergarten compared to 900 last year. more.. Rahat mayor: IDF killing of Israeli Arab boy may spark violence Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 8/26/2007 "If the rumors about Mahmoud’s death turn out to be true, it might inflame the public," Rahat’s mayor Talal al-Karnawi warned Saturday, referring to the killing of an 11-year-old Arab-Israeli boy by security forces in the West Bank town of Tul Karm on Friday. Mahmoud al-Karnawi was visiting his mother’s family near Tul Karm when Border Police officers stormed the building in pursuit of a wanted militant. Mahmoud, who lives in the southern Bedouin town of Rahat with his parents, was killed in the crossfire. Rahat’s mayor, Talal al-Karnawi, demanded the Israel Defense Forces explain the incident and provide information on how the boy was killed. The IDF’s statement on the case expressed sorrow at the boy’s death. "It is unclear whether the boy was shot by the troops or by terrorists," the army added. more.. Israel ignores plight of former teen ’agent’ Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 8/26/2007 In perfect Hebrew, Jackie (not his real name) recounts the story of how he lost his identity in a perilous game of international intelligence. As a Lebanese Druze boy of 14, Jackie would cross the border to meet his Israeli contacts. Eventually Jackie fled Lebanon and settled in Tel Aviv. However, he says the state he once served now refuses to acknowledge his existence. Jackie, 31, has lived in Israel since 1992 - half of his life. Some of that time he spent as a homeless person, sleeping on the beach. He would use the beach faucets for water. "I can get by wherever you put me," he says. He is now trying to do just that, by preparing a law suit against the state for refusing his request for Israeli citizenship. In 2000, he became active in the community of Lebanese exiles living in Israel - predominantly Christian... more.. Israelis kill seven Palestinians BBC Online 8/25/2007 Seven Palestinians - at least five of them militants - have been killed by Israeli troops. Two of the dead breached the tightly guarded northern Gaza Strip border and were in Israel when they were shot. In the West Bank city of Jenin, three militants were killed. One of the dead is thought to be a leader of the militant group Islamic Jihad. Palestinian officials said two teenage boys were also killed by Israeli troops in an unrelated incident in Gaza. Medical officials said the two were civilians aged 15 and 16, who were shot close to an Israeli observation post near the town of Beit Lahiya. ’Martyrdom operation’ - Troops were sent to the Erez border crossing after two gunmen scaled an eight metre (25ft) wall using a ladder, the Israeli military said. more.. Brigades launch ambush against Israeli troops invading refugee camp in Nablus Ma’an News Agency 8/25/2007 Nablus - Ma’an – The Hamas-affiliated Al Qasam Brigades and the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) have declared that they have killed and injured many Israeli soldiers in an ambush in Ein Beit el Ma refugee camp, west of Nablus city centre. In a phone call to Ma’an, the groups stated that threw a hand grenade at an Israeli force, patrolling the streets of the camp on Saturday morning. The Brigades then shot intensively at the force, "resulted in the deaths of two, and injuring many others". Eyewitnesses said that they heard a series of explosions and exchanges of fire between Palestinian fighters and Israeli forces in the camp. During the same incursion, the Fatah-affiliated Al Aqsa Brigades and the Islamic Jihad-affiliated Al Quds Brigades have revealed... more.. Israeli boy killed in Border Police raid in West Bank Yuval Azoulay and News Agencies, Ha’aretz 8/25/2007 An 11-year-old Israeli boy from Rahat who was visiting his mother’s family near Tul Karm was killed on Friday during a Border Police arrest raid. A wanted Islamic Jihad militant was also killed in the arrest raid in Kafr Saida, northeast of Tul Karm, and a second was seriously wounded. The boy, Mahmoud Ibrahim Karnawi, lived in Rahat with his parents - a divorced Palestinian woman who remarried an Israeli Arab, according to relatives. Palestinian witnesses said the boy was killed in a gunfight that broke out as the troops approached the family’s home in order to arrest his older half-brother, a wanted Islamic Jihad militant. Neighbors said the boy was inside the home at the time of the shooting and hit in the crossfire. Hospital officials in the nearby town of Tul Karm confirmed the death. more.. Rivals battle at Gaza protest Al Jazeera 8/24/2007 Hamas security forces have broken up a demonstration by hundreds of Gaza residents loyal to the Fatah faction of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president. Members of the Executive Force fired shots into the air and briefly detained a number of journalists on Friday in Gaza City. The protesters chanted pro-Fatah slogans as they marched along the streets, applauding as others smashed an unmanned Hamas post at the side on the road. Rocks were thrown at a security compound commandeered by Hamas when they took full control of the territory after street battles in June. Fatah had called for its supporters to assemble at the Unknown Soldier square as a peaceful protest against Hamas’s control of the Gaza Strip, but the gathering turned into a rally. more.. Fighter, child killed by Israeli troops near Tulkarem International Middle East Media Center 8/24/2007 On Friday evening, Israeli soldiers shot and killed one leader of the Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, after the army invaded Saida village, north of Tulkarem in the northern part of the West Bank. During the military offensive, soldiers also shot and killed a 13-year old child. Local sources in the village reported that the killed fighter is identified as Ziad Milhim, 22, one of the leaders of the Al Quds Brigades. Milhim was shot dead during an exchange of fire with the invading forces after troops surrounded the house of another fighter identified as Sadeeq Odah. During the same offensive, soldiers shot and killed Mahmoud Ibrahim Al Qareenai, 13, from Rahat village in the Negev. Al Qareenawi is the half-brother of Odah, and his mother if from Rahat in the Negev; the mother and the child were visiting the village when the invasion took place. more.. Fighters killed at Gaza crossing Al Jazeera 8/25/2007 Two Palestinian fighters have been shot dead while attempting to cross into Israel from the Gaza Strip. An Israeli soldier was also wounded when fighting broke out on Saturday after the two fighters opened fire on an Israeli office at the Erez border crossing in the north of the territory. A Israeli spokesman confirmed that soldiers from the Golani regiment shot the two Palestinians. The Popular Resistance Committees and a group linked to the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) claimed responsibility for what they call a "joint attack on Israeli territory". The dead men were identified as Khader Aokal, 22, a fighter from the Popular Resistance Committees, and Mohammed Saker, 22, from the DFLP. A spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza said that the fighters had intended... more.. IDF: Gaza gunmen highly skilled Hanan Greenberg, YNetNews 8/25/2007 Palestinian infiltrators used sophisticated device to cross Gaza border wall, army says - The device used by Palestinian infiltrators Saturday morning to cross the wall separating Gaza from Israel is professional and sophisticated, IDF Northern Gaza Brigade Commander Moni Katz said Saturday afternoon. "This device may have been built with the help of information that came from outside the Gaza Strip," he said. Saturday morning, IDF soldiers killed two heavily armed Palestinian gunmen who crossed into Israel near Gaza’s Erez crossing. Colonel Katz estimated that the two terrorists were assisted by two other people as they crossed the nine meter (roughly 30 feet) fence. Later, the collaborators went back into the Strip as the two gunmen headed north in the direction of the Coordination and Liaison Administration at the Erez crossing. more.. Islamic Jihad combatants launch projectiles at Israeli town of Sderot Ma’an News Agency 8/25/2007 Gaza – Ma’an – The military wing of Islamic Jihad, the Al Quds Brigades, on Saturday evening claimed responsibility for launching two homemade projectiles at the Israeli Western Negev town of Sderot. The brigades issued a statement revealing that the operation is retaliation for the assassination of leader in Jenin, Mustafa Barbari. Israeli announced that a vehicle was damaged in the attack, but there were no injuries reported. [end] Qassam hits Sderot vehicle Tova Dadon, YNetNews 8/25/2007 Color Red alert sends residents to take cover as rocket hits parked car. ’We are aware of the importance of taking cover,’ says municipality’s security chief - A Qassam rocket fired from northern Gaza towards Israel hit a Sderot vehicle Saturday, destroying it completely. No injuries were reported. The car was quickly towed away, leaving the residents grateful that no lives were lost, as was the case in previous incidents of rockets hitting cars. "We are very lucky only a car was hit"¦ the city’s residents are aware of the importance of taking cover when the Color Red alert is sounded," Yehuda Ben-Mamman, Sderot Municipality’s security chief told Ynet. The city was lucky on Thursday as well, when a Qassam rocket hit a house, causing only property damage and anxiety injuries. [end] Eight Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in last 12 hours, across oPt Ma’an News Agency 8/25/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - Eight Palestinians have been killed in the occupied territories in the last 12 hours. Ma’an’s correspondent in Jenin reported that Alaa Surour, 25, from the Al Quds Brigades, was killed, and four others injured, in Jenin. One of those injured in the Jenin attack has subsequently died from his injuries. Mustafa ’Ateeq, 23, also from the Al Quds Brigades, received a gunshot to his neck. In the Gaza Strip, the National Resistance Brigades of the DFLP announced that two of their members were killed during a guerilla operation near the Erez Crossing on the northern borders of the Strip early on Saturday morning. The deceased were named as Khadir ’Ukal and Muhammad Sakir. The PRC-affiliated An Nasser Salah Ad Din Brigades announced that armed clashes erupted between a group of their fighters,... more.. Al Quds Brigades leader and one other operative assassinated by Israeli forces in Jenin; four others injured Ma’an News Agency 8/25/2007 Jenin- Ma’an- A leader of the Islamic Jihad-affiliated Al Quds Brigades, Alaa Salah Mohammad Surour, has been killed in Jenin, while four others were injured, when Israeli Special Forces launched a military operation in the city, early on Saturday morning. One of those injured, Mustafa ’Ateeq, 23, also an Al Quds operative, has now died from his injuries sustained this morning. He received a gunshot to his neck. Eyewitnesses reported that "the man and his comrades were in a car in the city center, when they stopped to drink coffee in one of the cafes. They did not leave their car, but stopped for a little while. In the meantime, a Volkswagen car suddenly arrived. Several Israeli soldiers jumped out and started shooting at the car and its immediate vicinity. more.. Palestinian resistance claim killing two Israeli soldiers, army denies Amin Abu Wardah, International Middle East Media Center 8/25/2007 Palestinian resistance groups in the northern West Bank city of Nablus reported on Saturday morning that they attacked an invading Israeli army force, in Ein Beit Al Ma’ refugee camp, in Nablus, and killed two soldiers. In a joint press release, the Abau Ali Mustafa brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and the Al Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said that resistance fighters of two resistance groups hurled homemade bombs at the Israeli forces invading teh area, killing two soldiers. Meanhwile, the Israeli military stated that its invading forces were attacked, but did not report any casualties. Eyewitnesses in the city said that army ambulances and additional troops were brought to the location of the attack. [end] Undercover Israeli troops kill one Palestinian and injure another four in Jenin Ali Samudi, International Middle East Media Center 8/25/2007 An undercover Israeli army force has killed one Palestinian resistance fighter and injured three of his comrades after ambushing them in the city of Jenin located in the northern part of the West Bank. At around 6:30 of Saturday morning a group of undercover Israeli soldiers infiltrated the city of Jenin, in the city center the undercover troops spotted a car that belongs to resistance men from Al Qudes brigades the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad. The Israeli soldiers showered the car with live rounds, killing the leader of the Al Qudes brigades in Jenin city Ala Abu Suror, 30, and injuring three of his comrades, one critically , a bystander was injured during the attack. The undercover force left the city shortly after the attack; Palestinian ambulances moved the injured and the killed to the local city hospital sources told IMEMC. more.. Islamic Jihad fighter dies of earlier wounds sustained during Israeli army invasion to Jenin International Middle East Media Center 8/26/2007 The Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, reported on Saturday evening that one of its fighters died of wounds sustained on Saturday morning during an Israeli military invasion to Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank. The fighter was identified as Mustafa Mahmoud Ateeq, 22. A senior source at the Brigades stated that Ateeq was shot and injured by the under-cover forces of the Israeli army after these forces opened fire at a vehicle transporting several fighters in Jenin. Leader of the Brigades, Ala’ Abu Sa’id was killed during the attack, and Ateeq was injured by two rounds of live ammunition, one in his face and one is his shoulder. He was moved to Jenin governmental hospital then to another Arab hospital within Israel where he died of his wounds. more.. Brigades launch projectiles at Sderot, Kafa ’Aza Ma’an News Agency 8/25/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - The Fatah-affiliated Al Aqsa Brigades have announced that they launched a homemade projectile at the Israeli town of Sderot on Saturday morning. The An Nasser Salah Ad Din Brigades of the Popular Resistance Committees, and the National Resistance Brigades of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, also announced the launching of three mortars at Kfar ’Aza on Saturday morning. Statements issued by the Brigades all agreed that the operations came as "part of the retaliation against the Israeli crimes and aggressions against Palestinian people in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip." [end] Female Fatah members protest desecration of man’s grave, killed by Hamas members in June Ma’an News Agency 8/25/2007 Bethlehem – Ma’an – Female Fatah members have organized a march in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahia, to the tomb of Samih Al Madhoun, killed by Hamas activists during the confrontations last June between Fatah-loyal PA security services and gunmen of the Hamas movement. The marchers raised Fatah flags and posters, shouted slogans supporting Fatah, and condemned recent attacks on cemeteries. One of Al Madhoun’s relatives told Ma’an, "Hamas killed Samih and mutilated the body. They have also shot at his grave many times, and are continuing their attacks on his grave." more.. Hamas fighters launch mortars at Israeli crossings in Gaza Ma’an News Agency 8/25/2007 Gaza – Ma’an – The military wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for launching eight mortars at the Israeli-controlled Erez and Kerem Shalom Crossings on Saturday. The brigades issued a statement announcing that "a group of fighters detonated a roadside bomb when an Israeli jeep passed Kerem Shalom Crossing and launched four other mortars at the Israeli forces at the same post." The statement added "we will continue launching projectiles at Israeli towns and troops, and that is part of the retaliation for Israeli crimes against Palestinian people." [end] Arab group: We’re behind Galilee murder Roee Nahmias, YNetNews 8/25/2007 Free People of the Galilee claims man shot in Jerusalem after snatching security guard’s weapon also killed Upper Nazareth resident six weeks ago - Ahmad Khatib, who was shot to death by a security guard in Jerusalem two weeks ago after seizing another guard’s weapon, was behind another attack - the killing of an Upper Nazareth resident some six weeks ago - the Arab-Israeli Free People of the Galilee organization said Saturday. Palestinian news agency Ma’an published the organization’s statement, saying that Khatib murdered 68-years old Michael Ronkin outside his home. Ronkin was found by Magen David Adom emergency services paramedics, suffering from multiple stab wounds. The investigation into Ronkin’s murder was placed under a gag order leaving many questions unanswered, but his son said he believed his father’s killing was a nationalist one. more.. War damaged 90 percent of South’s vegetation - report Hesham Shawish Special to The Daily Star, Daily Star 8/25/2007 BEIRUT: More than 90 percent of the vegetation covering Southern villages was damaged by last year’s war with Israel, according to a report published on Friday by the Association for Forests, Development and Conservation (AFDC). "Damage from last year’s war has touched most of the Southern villages, as well as 94. 6 percent of vegetation covering there, as a result of direct bombing, especially during the last days of the war," the report said. It said that a total area of 1,021. 3 hectares (712. 5 hectares of forests and 308. 8 of olives groves) were damaged. AFDC found that 37 percent of total damaged vegetation consisted of oak trees, 3 percent were pine trees and 60 percent were mixed forests. According to the report, the largest affected area was in Tyre, followed by Nabatiyeh, then Bint Jbeil. more.. Officer’s lawyers say probe into W. Bank op was flawed Yuval Azoulay, Ha’aretz 8/24/2007 Attorneys defending the platoon commander being investigated by the Military Police for violations during an operation in a Palestinian village claim that the investigation’s integrity has been violated and field security has been breached. The defense team for Lieutenant G. are also demanding a criminal investigation against officers in Central Command suspected of violating the integrity of a separate operational investigation carried out after the incident. In a letter to the military advocate general, Brigadier General Avihai Mandelblit, the defense attorneys say evidence in the investigation carried out by the Israel Defense Forces was made available to the Military Police, and this constitutes a breach of regulations and undermines the integrity of the process. more.. This Week In Palestine – Week 34 2007 Ghassan Bannoura - Audio dept, International Middle East Media Center 8/24/2007 Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || File 11. 9MB || Time 13m 0s || This Week In Palestine, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www. IMEMC. org, for August 18th through August 24th, 2007. Tony Blair announced his intention to visit the region next week to revive the peace process while the Israeli army attack the Gaza strip and the west Bank, killing 14 Palestinians this week, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. Nonviolent Resistance in Palestine Let’s begin our weekly report with news of nonviolent action in the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem against the wall and settlements. IMEMC’s George Rishmawi has more: Bethlehem On Friday midday, some 100 unarmed protestors congregated in the village of Al Walaja, near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem. more.. Israeli army starts demolishing Palestinian homes in Tubas Nisreen Qumsieh, International Middle East Media Center 8/23/2007 Israeli military bulldozers started to demolish homes and residencies in Krebet Homsa in the Jordan valley to the east of Tubas in the West Bank on Thursday morning. Mohammad Bisharat, the Mayor of Tamoon village reported that Israeli military vehicles besieged Tubas area, and then demolishing the village. The Mayor added that this was to forcibly evacuate Kherbet Homsa, the way they did months ago with the residents of nearby Kherbet Al Hadidia It’s noticed that the Jordan valley has witnessed more and more forced evacuations of various areas by Israelis in the last six years. Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli army demolished an unfinished house belonging to Palestinian civilian from Qarrawa Bani Hassan village to the west of Salfit in the West Bank, claiming that the man was not in possession of a valid construction license. more.. Israeli soldiers kidnap 10 Palestinian civilians, while settlers attack homes in Hebron district. Ghassan Bannoura & agencies, International Middle East Media Center 8/23/2007 Palestinian media sources reported that Israeli troops have invaded the Al Fowar refugee camp, located south of Hebron city in the southern West Bank. Soldiers searched and ransacked homes, kidnapping 10 civilians. Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers forced families out of their homes during the search, adding that the 10 kidnapped men were rounded up and taken to an unknown detention camp. Among those kidnapped are Tha’er al-Tite, 20, Rasmi al-Khateeb, 18, paralyzed in his right hand, and his brother, Rosstom al-Khateeb, 19, who was released just a few months ago after serving in an Israeli detention camp. On Thursday at dawn, a group of Jewish settlers, living illegally in an old-city settlement within Hebron city, attacked Palestinian homes using empty glass bottles, stones and batons, causing damage and terrorizing the unarmed families inside. more.. Al-Qassam Brigades members injured in Khan Younis Ma’an News Agency 8/23/2007 Khan Younis - Ma’an – Three members of the Al-Qassam Brigades were injured when an Israeli reconnaissance plane attacked them in Khuza’ah, an area east of Khan Younis, on Thursday at dawn. Medical sources said that the men were moderately injured and that they were admitted to Nasser hospital in the city. [end] Cluster bombs kill de-mining specialist, wound three others Agence France Presse - AFP, Daily Star 8/24/2007 TYRE: Cluster bombs killed one de-mining specialist and wounded three others on Thursday as the experts were continuing efforts to clear the unexploded munitions dropped by Israel during last summer’s war. The casualties occurred in two separate incidents, one in the village of Kfar Rumman, in the Nabatiyah region where the British Mine Advisory Group is working. MAG official Andy Gleeson told AFP that one man was killed and two seriously wounded in the blast. All three were Lebanese. A Swedish man, working to clear munitions in Qaaqaiyat al-Jisr village, in the same region, was wounded in similar circumstances, Lebanese police said. Nabatiyah is one of the most heavily munitions-polluted districts in Lebanon. An estimated one million cluster bomblets dropped by Israel failed to explode during its 34-day war. more.. Three Israeli soldiers injured in Nablus Ameen Abu Warda, International Middle East Media Center 8/23/2007 Three Israeli soldiers injured during a joint attack carried out by Palestinian resistance fighters who targeted Israeli forces when they invaded the Ein Beit Ma’ refugee camp in Nablus in the early hours of Thursday morning. Local sources confirmed that resistance fighters of Abu Ali Mustafa brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Al Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, Al Aqsa brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, Al Quds brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad claims the responsibility of targeting an Israeli force while trying attack homes in the refugee camp and opened heavy fire on them, causing the injury of three Israeli soldiers, including one with moderate wounds. The Palestinian resistance fighters also targeted the Israeli force with an explosive device. more.. Seven arrested in Hebron and Ramallah Ma’an News Agency 8/23/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - Seven Palestinians were arrested by Israeli forces on Thursday in dawn raids in Ramallah and Hebron in the West Bank. Israeli sources said that the seven were" wanted" by Israel. The sources confirmed that the men were taken to interrogation centres. [end] Ten arrested in Gaza Strip Ma’an News Agency 8/23/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - Israeli forces arrested ten Palestinians during an incursions east of Khan Younis on Thursday. A spokesman for former prisoners, Mahmoud Abu Hasira, said that this area is frequently being stormed by Israeli forces. [end] Qassam hits Sderot house; 2 women suffer from anxiety Shmulik Hadad, YNetNews 8/23/2007 Palestinians fire two Qassam rockets at Sderot, one hits house, other rocket still not found. Jihad’s al-Quds Brigades claim responsibility - Two Qassam rockets fired from northern Gaza Thursday landed in Sderot, bringing the total number of rockets fired on the city and the Negev area since the morning hours to eight. One of the rockets hit a house; two women suffered from anxiety. The injured were treated on site by Magen David Adom emergency services. IDF forces are trying to locate the second rocket’s landing site. Al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad’s military wing claimed responsibility. The house hit belongs to Meir Timsit. Family members, who heard the Color Red, were in the secure room when the rocket smashed through the living room’s ceiling, and were not harmed. more.. UNDP’s early recovery program continues to repair damage caused by Israel Hesham Shawish, Daily Star 8/24/2007 Interview - BEIRUT: The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) undertook an extensive work agenda in the past year, as it tried to restore some of the damages caused by the 2006 summer war with Israel. Fishermen grants, rubble-clearing projects, oil-spill treatment, repairing of public buildings, electricity and water services restoration, were just some of the projects accomplished by the agency in the last 12 months. Following the war and the massive destruction resulting from it, the UNDP prepared a package of early recovery projects to respond to urgent recovery and rehabilitation needs in South Lebanon, the Bekaa region and Beirut’s southern suburbs. The two-phase recovery project was mainly funded through UNDP’s own resources as well as generous contributions from Japan, SIDA (Sweden), CIDA, ECHO,... more.. Brigades claim responsibility for attacks Ma’an News Agency 8/23/2007 Gaza- Ma’an – The National Resistance Brigades (NRB) claimed responsibility on Thursday for launching two mortars at an Israeli military post at the Nahal Oz Crossing into the Gaza Strip. In a statement the Brigades said that the operation was "retaliation for Israeli aggression, assassinations and incursions." Also the Al-Quds Brigades said that they launched a homemade projectile at the Israeli town of Sderot late on Wednesday evening. They issued a statement saying that "the operation was in retaliation for Israeli aggression against Palestinians." [end] Al-Quds Brigades say will continue to launch projectiles against Israel Ma’an News Agency 8/23/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an – A spokesman for the Al-Quds Brigades said on Thursday resistance against Israel would continue despite the Israeli siege on the Palestinian Territories. Abu Ahmad said in a statement, "Resistance will continue and Israel will not be able to stop it or to stop the projectiles regardless of all the threats to strengthen the siege or to cut off the electricity." He added that the "projectiles will continue against Israel. The problem is not the Palestinian people. It is the siege imposed on us. Let them lift the siege first and stop their aggression, assassinations and arrests against us." [end] Israel to buy advanced anti-aircraft missiles Arieh Egozy, YNetNews 8/23/2007 IAF to upgrade current Patriot missile system, acquire PAC-3 missiles capable of intercepting Syria’s long-range missiles, aircraft - The Israeli Air Force will buy advanced US-made Patriot PAC-3 missiles from Lockheed Martin, capable of intercepting aircraft and long-range ballistic missiles, including the type used by Syria. The IAF is currently using the PAC-2 system, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. In the new system, each launcher is equipped with 16 missiles instead of four; each missile weighs 320 kilograms and is 5 meters in length. The advanced PAC-3 system is capable of intercepting aircraft, rockets and cruise missiles. The decision to acquire the new system was based on the progress made by Syria and Iran in the field of fighter jets, and on the fact the Syrian army has recently obtained longer-range missiles. more.. Palestine Today 082307 Ghassan Bannoura - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center 8/23/2007 || File 3. 66MB || Time 4m 0s || - Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www. imemc. org, for Thursday August 23ed, 2007. The Israelis open fire at Palestinian farmers in Gaza and in the West Bank Israeli settlers attack Palestinian homes in Hebron city, these stories and more coming up stay tuned. The Gaza strip - Israeli troops, positioned on the borders of Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip, have opened heavy gunfire on Palestinian farmers while they were tilling the ground on Thursday at midday. Medical sources in the area stated that no injuries were reported. In the wake of this attack, Israeli aircraft intensified their operations in the northern areas of the Strip. Residents also witnessed unusual movements of Israeli military vehicles during this time in the eastern areas of Beit Hanoun. -- See also: Click on Link to download or play MP3 file more.. Israeli air strike kills one and injures two in Gaza Ma’an News Agency 8/22/2007 Gaza - Ma’an- Palestinian medical sources have announced that one Palestinian was killed and two others injured in an Israeli air strike at dawn on Wednesday morning, east of Gaza City. Dr Muawiya Hasanein, Director of Emergency and First Aid at Ash Shifaa Hospital said that Yahya Habib of the Qassam brigades was dead on arrival at hospital. Two other men were seriously injured after a rocket attack by Israeli planes. Eyewitnesses said that Israeli war planes launched the dawn raid near the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip. This Palestinian death toll over the past 24 hours has now risen to 13, including two children. [end] 36 Palestinians arrested near Jerusalem Ma | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
