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Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre imemc.org for Wednesday September 13th, 2006.
Israeli troops conducting an army offensive in the Gaza strip blew up a tunnel on Wednesday, while in the West Bank Israeli soldiers took fifteen residents prisoner.
These stories and more, coming up stay tuned.
The Gaza Update
Israeli troops conducting an offensive in the Gaza strip blew up a tunnel shaft on Wednesday that had been discovered during army operation the day before.
According to Israeli media sources the tunnel was 10 meters deep. While according to army reports, eight explosive devices, three machine guns and three bullet proof vests were found close to the area. The Israeli offensive in Gaza started two months ago and has resulted in more than 170 civilian deaths. Children have been among the victims killed by army fire and F-16 missiles fired and resident's houses.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and the Al Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, have claimed responsibility for the launching of a mortar at the Israeli military post at Kissufim, located to the southeast of the Gaza Strip, on Tuesday.
In a joint statement, the Brigades said that the fighters safely returned to their base. They added that this operation was part of the Palestinian resistance against quote "Israeli crimes".
The West Bank Update
Ehab Abu Salha, 18, from Sheikh Muslim neighborhood in Nablus, died in an explosion that took place in the area after midnight. Residents of the neighborhood said that a huge explosion rocked the area shortly after midnight, and that the explosion was caused by a detonation charge. Medical sources at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus reported that the body of the youth was severely mutilated as a result of the blast.
A resident of the neighborhood said that fighters have been placing explosive charges at the entrance of the neighborhood on daily basis in an attempt to prevent the Israeli army from invading it since several fighters are living in that area. The Al Aqsa Brigades, said that Abu Salha is one of its members and that its fighters destroyed two Israeli vehicles while invading the area on Tuesday.
Meanwhile Israeli soldiers took fifteen residents prisoners in several West Bank areas overnight, Palestinian sources reported. An Israeli army official said that the arrestees are members of Hamas, Fateh and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
An Israeli military official stated that five members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine were taken prisoner in an invasion in Qalqilia, in the northern part of the West Bank, while three members of Fateh and Hamas were taken prisoners in Ramallah, north of Jerusalem, and five were taken prisoner in Hebron city, in the southern part of the West Bank.
Also, Palestinian sources reported that two more residents were taken prisoner in an Israeli invasion in Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank. Moreover, three residents were taken prisoner in the northern plains, east of the West Bank city of Tubas, the Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, reported.
Eyewitnesses said that soldiers invaded Ein Al Baidha village, east of Tubas, searched several houses and took three prisoners. In addition to this, Israeli media sources reported that the Israeli army took one prisoner from the West Bank city of Bethlehem overnight on Wednesday.
Meanwhile Israel soldiers stationed at the Annexation Wall gate located at the entrance of Khribet Jabara and Kafer Sour villages near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, closed it on Wednesday, preventing any entry or exit. The two villages are encircled by the Wall and the closure of the gate barred the residents of from accessing their orchards.
Conclusion
Thank you for joining us from Occupied Bethlehem. You have been listening to Palestine Today of the International Middle East Media Centre, imemc.org brought to you by Lisa Simpson & Ghassan Bannoura.
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