Click Here to Download MP3 file || 3.57 MB || Time 4m 0sPalestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org, for Thursday March 1st, 2007.
The Israeli army continued on Thursday its military offensive in the West Bank city of Nablus, and in the Gaza strip Palestinian resistance fired home-made shells at Israeli targets. These stories and more coming up, stay tuned.
West Bank Update
The Israeli army continued on Thursday its military offensive nicknamed as ‘Hot Winter’ for the fifth consecutive day, targeting the northern West Bank city of Nablus. The offensive has so far claimed the life of one civilian and injured 31.
Today the city witnessed more military activities. During the early dawn hours an Israeli army force attacked Al Rafadia refugee camp and searched and ransacked houses. They then abducted four Palestinian men. Later, a man the Israeli army claimed was a Palestinian resistance fighter was injured when he was targeted by a sharpshooter in downtown Nablus, Israeli sources reported.
However, Palestinian sources stated that a massive Israeli force surrounded two residential buildings in Rafadia neighborhood in the western side of the city. The Israeli army claims that there are ‘wanted’ Palestinians inside; eyewitnesses stated that families and their children are trapped inside, and that no armed men are in the building.
Moreover, the city of Nablus has seen a massive abduction campaign since Thursday morning. All abductees were moved to the interrogation and detention center that the Israeli army set up in a local school in the city.
Also on Thursday morning, the Israeli army invaded Al Far’a refugee camp south of Tubass city in the northern part of the West Bank. During the invasion, Israeli troops attacked and searched residents’ homes. Soldiers fired sound and tear gas bombs into residents’ homes and injured four, all were moved to hospitals in Nablus city. No names of casualties were issued. Ahmad Sawalmah and his brother Firas were abducted when Israeli soldiers searched and ransacked their family home, the family reported.
Elsewhere in the northern part of the West Bank, Israeli forces abducted seven Palestinian civilians: two from Tulkarem, one from Al Yamoun village, four from Salfit.
The Gaza Update
Palestinian resistance groups in the Gaza strip launched five home-made shells at Israeli targets in the northern part of Israel on Thursday morning.
The attack targeted Israeli military instillations near the Israeli town of Ashkilon and the nearby settlement of Birri, located in the Negev desert. Al Quds Brigades, an off-shoot of the Islamic Jihad movement in Palestine, claimed responsibility for the attack. It stated that it comes in response to the assassination of three of its members in the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday.
On Wednesday undercover Israeli troops entered Jenin refugee camp in a civilian car with Palestinian license plates and chased Ashraf Al-Saadi aged 25, a leader of Al-Quds Brigades.
Al-Sa’adi attempted to escape and Palestinian resistance fighters clashed with the Israeli army unit. Al-Sadi, who has been ‘wanted’ by the Israeli army for two years was killed, along with Mohammad Abu Na’feh and Ala’ Breikeh who were also operatives of the Islamic Jihad movement. One Israeli undercover soldier and a 12 year old female Palestinian bystander were injured during the operation.
Israeli sources reported that the shells landed in open space and cased no injuries, but reported damage.
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 Polly Bangoriad and Ghassan Bannoura.
