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 Monday April 16th, 2007.
The Israeli army injures a civilian in the Gaza Strip, and abducts at least 13 civilians from the West Bank. These stories and more coming up, stay tuned.
The Gaza Update
One Palestinian civilian was injured on Monday morning when Israeli troops opened fire at him in Beit Lahia town in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Palestinian medical sources identified the man as Ziad Ashour, 52. The man described by local sources as mentally challenged, sustained moderate wounds in his leg.
A group of unknown gunmen blew up a house in Jabalia refugee camp located in the northern region of the Gaza Strip on Monday morning. The house belongs to Kamal Balata, aged 50. Local sources stated that Balata has no political affiliation and has been unemployed for several years.
On Monday midday a group of unknown gunmen detonated a bomb near a police car that was guarding the house of ex-Palestinian foreign Minster Dr. Mahmod Al Zahar, in Gaza City. No injures were reported but the police car was completely destroyed.
The West Bank Update
The Israeli army invaded several parts of the West Bank and abducted eight civilians on Monday morning.
Five of those abducted are from the city of Tulkarem in the northern part of the West Bank. In the early morning hours of the day an Israeli army force stormed the city of Tulkarem and the nearby Tulkarem refugee camp; troops searched and ransacked scores of residents’ homes then took the five men to unknown detention camps. Among those abducted were Amier Jizmawi, 16, Mo’amer Ali, 32, and Tha’er Abu Salah, 22.
Meanwhile, two civilians were abducted at an Israeli military checkpoint located near the northern West Bank city of Tubass. Local sources reported that soldiers stationed at the checkpoint stopped and searched Palestinian civilians’ cars. Troops forced the two men out of the car they were traveling in then forced them into a military jeep and took them to an unknown location. The names of the two men remain unknown.
In the southern part of the West Bank, Israeli troops searched and ransacked Palestinian homes in downtown Hebron city and took Khalil Al Natsha, 27, to an unknown detention camp. Witnesses stated that soldiers forced families outside during the house to house search and also damaged some of the families’ belongings.
Israeli forces invaded Jenin refugee camp located in the northern West Bank city of Jenin and the nearby Al Mothalath village on Monday at dawn. Fierce clashes erupted between local youth and the invading troops. The invasion started when a massive Israeli army force with one army bulldozer stormed Jenin refugee camp. Local resistance fighters clashed with the invading troops, who responded by firing randomly at residents’ homes.
At the same time, another Israeli force with two bulldozers invaded Al Mothalath village located to the west of Jenin city. Soldiers conducted a wide scale search campaign that lasted for several hours. During the search, soldiers used roof tops as shot-out posts, eyewitnesses reported.
Local youths took to the streets and clashed with the army, throwing rocks and empty glass bottles at them. Israeli forces responded by firing live rounds and tear gas bombs. Later, the Israeli troops surrounded the house of the Samer As’assa, claiming that he is ‘wanted’ by the Israeli authorities. Samer’s father lost consciousness during the army’s attack on the house and was moved to a nearby hospital.
The Israeli army stated that the invasion of Jenin district today was aimed at targeting and abducting what the army calls ‘wanted’ Palestinians. Palestinian sources stated that the army did not manage to abduct any of the ‘wanted’ people. Instead, soldiers abducted five civilians and took them to unknown detention camps.
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.
