Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org, for Tuesday December 19th 2006.|| Click here to Download MP3 file 5.41MB|| time:5m 54s
Five Palestinian men killed on Tuesday in the Gaza strip due to the Hamas – Fatah infighting while the Israeli army assassinates two in the northern part of the West Bank, these stories and more coming up stay tuned.
The Gaza Update
Two Palestinian security officers were killed in the Gaza strip on Tuesday afternoon as a result of ongoing Fatah – Hamas clashes. Medical sources reported that the bodies of Mohamed Al Harazin and Mohamed Kasab, both officers in the Palestinian Authority General Intelligence Service were found near the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza city.
Local sources reported that both officers were abducted earlier during the day at dawn from Gaza city when unknown gunmen stopped their car, grabbed the men and fled the scene. On Tuesday midday two officers of the Palestinian Authority National Forces were killed and five residents injured in two separate clashes between Hamas and Fatah in the Gaza strip.
Dr. Mou'awiah Hassanin, the Director of the Ambulance and Emergency Department in the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that Shadi Thahier 25, and Amer Al Wahidi, 20, were dead on arrival to a Gaza city hospital after sustaining live round hits all over their bodies.
Eyewitnesses said that the two officers were ambushed by the executive force troops who opened fire at their car and killed the two. Dr. Hassanin also added that five children were injured in this attack while going back home after school on the same street that the attack had occurred.
Ismael Abu Al-Kheir 24, a member of the executive forces that was formed by the Ministry of the Interior, after Hamas took office in March of 2006, was killed in the exchange of fire. Medical sources in Gaza city said the clashes erupted on the campus of Al-Shifa hospital in the city on Tuesday morning.
Later at around 9:30 am on Tuesday Palestinian sources reported that unknown gunmen kidnapped Hamudah Al Saqa, high ranking officer in the Palestinian General Intelligence forces, the sources stated that Al Saqa was kidnapped from his home near Al Shifa hospital in Gaza city. The death toll in the Gaza strip has now reached five, with no end in sight.
Moreover, local sources in central Gaza city reported that at least five residents were injured and transported to several hospitals in the city during fierce clashes between Hamas and Fatah fighters in several different parts of Gaza city midday, on Tuesday. The clashes have been ongoing since the morning and medical sources reported more than 20 injuries among residents and fighters since the fighting started.
Clashes between Fatah and Hamas supporters escalated after the call by the Palestinian President Mahmod Abbas for early presidential and legislative elections.
The call for elections was met with fury and rejection by Hamas and both factions called for their supporters to protest or support the call. However, both groups decided to call their supporters to stop the protest after clashes erupted between the two groups a few days ago. However, the two factions have clashed again, despite the truce agreement.
The West Bank Update
The Israeli army killed two resistance fighters in the northern West Bank cities of Nablus and Tulkarem on Tuesday while a third one died of wounds he sustained last week.
Undercover Israeli armed forces infiltrated the village of Alar near the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem and killed one Palestinian man, injured one and abducted two others on Tuesday afternoon. Mohamed Hamad, a leader for the Al Aqsa brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, was ambushed by undercover Israeli soldiers in Alar village. Soldiers stopped Hamad's car, then showered it with live rounds killing him and injuring Ahmad Ajaj, 19, a bystander, eyewitnesses reported.
A convoy of Israeli army jeeps invaded the village and surrounded the area where the attack took place to secure a safe retreat for the undercover soldiers. Vehicles and troops left the village shortly after the attack taking with them two prisoners. No names were released at the time of this report.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, other Israeli undercover special agents killed one Palestinian and abducted two others in the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian Sources stated that Rami Innab, 25, a leader of the Aqsa brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, was killed and his two companions Imad Abu Mussallam and Talal Abu Lail were wounded and taken prisoner near Al-Ittihad hospital in the city.
Eyewitnesses reported that the three were attacked by an Israeli army unit who were traveling in a white civilian car that resembled an ambulance. Witnesses added that the troops of the undercover unit opened fire after Innab was killed and the other two were wounded, which prevented medics from providing the needed medical treatment for the wounded although they were technically inside the hospital.
The Innab family said Rami is the fourth family member to be killed by the Israeli troops and they have vowed revenge. Moreover in the Al Eein refugee camp in the western side of Nablus, medical sources reported that Amar Zaqzuk, 24, died on Tuesday morning due to wounds he sustained last week after being shot by invading Israeli troops into the refugee camp.
Conclusion
Thank you for joining us from Occupied Bethlehem. You have been listening to Palestine Today for the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org brought to you by Jane Smith and Ghassan Bannoura.
