Khan Younis: Israeli Forces Kill Nine-Year-Old Child

Israeli Forces Kill Nine-Year-Old Child in Khan Younis, Another Civilian Dies of Wounds

RAFAH, Palestine, October 28, 2004 (IPC + WAFA) - - Israeli occupation forces killed a child in the city of Khan Younis, as another civilian died of wounds he sustained earlier. This came concurrent with attacks on olive harvesters and international activists in the West Bank.

Medical sources in the city of Khan Younis, south of Gaza Strip, told WAFA news agency that Rania Arram, 9, was killed when Israeli forces stationed in military posts west of the city opened heavy gunfire at Al Amal neighborhood. The doctors added that Arram was shot in the neck and bled to death before she was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Israeli forces near the illegal settlement 'Neveh Dkalim' have commenced the shelling of nearby Palestinian residential quarters in Khan Younis, inflicting massive damages to civilians' houses there, and spreading fear and horror among the local population.

Meanwhile, doctors at the European Hospital in Khan Younis declared today that a civilian died of wounds he sustained two days ago in the city of Rafah.

The doctors told IPC correspondent that Abdul Aziz Abu Moammar, 28, sustained critical wounds in Rafah on October 26, and he was rushed to the European Hospital where he was pronounced dead today.

Also, two civilians including a child were wounded when Israeli forces shelled civilians' houses near the borderline with Egypt.

Medical and security sources reported that Yasser Siyam, 33, and Hussam Madhi, 10, were both wounded near the Egyptian borderline when Israeli forces stationed nearby opened heavy gunfire at civilians' houses. Doctors described both civilians' conditions as moderate.

Internationals Attacked
In the West Bank, Israeli troops attacked civilians and international peace activists while they were harvesting their olive crops in the city of Bethlehem, WAFA reported.

WAFA quoted local sources in the town of Taqqoua, south of Bethlehem, as saying that Israeli soldiers intercepted a congregation of civilians and international peace activists while going to the olive groves near the illegal Israeli settlement 'Taqqoua'.

The sources pointed out that the soldiers along with Israeli settlers attacked the congregation, as the settlers hurled stones and attacked them with rifle butts, while soldiers demanded the civilians to show their 'Civil Administration' permits.

The civilians complained that they haven't been able to reach their groves for more than five years now, due to the Israeli obstacles put in their way.

Nearby, Israeli forces arrested seven civilians in the city of Bethlehem, security sources said.

The sources added that a large force of Israeli troops stormed the Wadi Shahin neighborhood in the city and conducted a house-to-house search campaign, during which seven civilians were arrested and taken to an undisclosed location.

In the meantime, Israeli forces continued surrounding the Khalil Suleiman Hospital in the city of Jenin, banning ambulances from moving in or out of it.

Israeli forces have imposed early this morning a curfew on the city of Jenin and its refugee camp after storming them with large forces last night.

In Hebron, Israeli forces arrested at least six civilians after raiding and searching houses across the province.

Our correspondent said that more than 30 Israeli soldiers backed by armored vehicles stormed several neighborhoods in Hebron City and arrested several civilians, while another force stormed the town of Taffouh and arrested other civilians and led them to an undisclosed location.