Click on Link to download or play MP3 file || 3.66MB || Time 4m 0sWelcome to Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org, for Thursday April 12th, 2007.
Two Palestinian civilians killed in the Gaza strip and another five abducted by the Israeli army from several parts of the West Bank, those stories and more coming up stay tuned.
The Gaza strip
Two Palestinian men were killed in Rafah city, in the southern part of the Gaza strip, due to armed clashes between rival families in the city, on Thursday midday.
Palestinian sources in the city stated that two rival families clashed with each other in Rafah city center, causing the death of two men. Medical sources stated that the two killed were known as Younis Al Abd, 47, and Akram Al Abd, 30.
Both men sustained critical wounds in the upper part of their bodies and died in the hospital shortly thereafter, the medical sources added.
Local sources stated that the clashes between the families in Rafah city are linked to family rivalry. The recent clashes come amidst increasing fears among residents of the Gaza strip that internal clashes between families or political parties will be renewed.
Family clashes have recently escalates in different parts of the Gaza Strip, clashes that some commentators attribute to high unemployment and poverty rates that have increased since last March.
The West Bank
Israeli forces abducted five Palestinian civilians from several parts of the West Bank on Thursday morning.
In Jenin refugee camp, near Jenin city in the northern part of the West Bank, a massive Israeli force attacked and searched the house of Baha Al Ziued, said to be a member of the Al Qudes brigades of Islamic Jihad. Soldiers opened fire at Ziued’s house then stormed. The force abducted Ziued then left the camp.
During the military operation, Israeli forces clashed with local residents fighters; damage was reported to military jeeps no injuries were reported from both sides.
In the meantime Israeli troops stationed at Qalandia checkpoint near the central West Bank abducted two Palestinian civilians while crossing the checkpoint.
Also on Thursday morning, Israeli troops searched and ransacked a number of houses in the southern West Bank city of Hebron and abducted two civilians and took them to an unknown detention camp.
Israeli forces destroyed the home of the Zaqout family in southeast of Nablus in the southern part of the West Bank, after an eight-hour stand off started Wednesday afternoon and finished on Thursday at dawn.
Israeli army bulldozers damaged much of the home during a failed arrest attempt. The target was a member of the Al Aqsa Brigade in the near by village Kafr Kalil. The target was not at home during the attack.
At least 10 military vehicles came from Huwara military checkpoint on Wednesday and besieged a three story house. Bulldozers pounded the walls while soldiers opened fire. Two residents were hit, including a 16 year old. Both are now in hospital.
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 Jane Smith and Ghassan Bannoura.
