Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || File 3.66 MB|| Time 4m0s ||Welcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org, for Tuesday May 22nd, 2007.
The Israeli army air force has continued to shell Gaza, injuring seven Palestinian officers and in the West Bank, Israeli troops have continued to kidnap civilians. These stories and more coming up. Stay tuned.
The Gaza strip
The latest round of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has continued after an Israeli woman died from injuries incurred in a rocket attack on Sderot. The woman, the first Israeli casualty from a Palestinian rocket since November, was traveling in a car when the rocket landed nearby. Another person traveling in the car was also injured. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad have claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack came after many days of constant shelling of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military. In the last week alone, approximately 35 Palestinians have been killed, many of whom were civilians. Scores more have been injured by the unrelenting strikes. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Israeli warplanes continued their aerial bombardment of the Gaza region, striking two buildings in the central Gaza area. While one of the buildings sustained extensive damage, no deaths were reported.
Seven Palestinian intelligence officers were injured as the Israeli air force shelled their Gaza headquarters on Tuesday midday. Palestinian sources reported that the injured were moved to nearby hospitals with light to moderate wounds. The sources added that the building sustained collateral damage.
Also on Tuesday midday, Israeli war planes targeted an executive force location in Gaza city. While damage to the building was reported, there were no injuries. The executive force reported that the shelled location was evacuated several days ago after Israel resumed its air strike policy.
On Tuesday afternoon Palestinian sources reported that a senior leader of the Al Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, was announced dead on Tuesday after succumbing to wounds sustained during last week’s Hamas-Fatah infighting.
The West Bank
The Israeli army invaded the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem and nearby towns and villages in the early hours of Tuesday morning, searching homes and kidnapping 10 people. The attacks took place in downtown Bethlehem city, in the nearby Aida and Deisha refugee camp, in Beit Sahour to the east of the city and in Obadiah town. Witnesses reported that soldiers searched and ransacked homes after forcing families out. The Israeli army clamed that those kidnapped are Islamic Jihad and Hamas activists.
The Israeli army invaded the West Bank City of Qalqilia in the early hours of Tuesday morning, searching homes, kidnapping civilians, and confiscating the property of local residents and organizations. Israeli sources reported that a Palestinian civilian in possession of an explosive belt was kidnapped near the southern tunnel of Qalqilia City. At the same time, the Israeli army stormed a number of societies and organizations, including charitable societies, rehabilitation organizations, an Islamic society organization, the Al Huda TV station and a Mosque. The properties were ransacked and many of their contents were confiscated.
Conclusion
Thank you for joining us from occupied Bethlehem. You have been listening to Palestine Today from the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org, brought to you by John Smith and Ghassan Bannoura.
