Gaza: Two Civilians Killed and Others Arrested

Two Civilians Killed and Others Arrested Throughout oPt

GAZA, Palestine, November 10, 2004 (IPC + WAFA) - - Israeli occupation forces killed two civilians in the Gaza Strip and arrested several others in different parts of the West Bank, along with intensifying their military campaign throughout the occupied Palestinian territories.

WAFA news agency reported that Israeli forces stationed near the eastern part of Gaza City opened fire at Mohammed Al Mabhouh, 22, and Ibrahim Abu Salama, 20, few hours before the fast-breaking meal, killing them instantly.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces expanded their land razing operations in the eastern part of Khuzaa Town, near the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis.

Local sources told our correspondent today that Israeli forces reinforced their presence in the town and then stormed it early this morning, firing heavily towards civilians' homes and the local school.

Abdullah Qudeih, one of the razed land owners, said armored Israeli bulldozers razed more than 15 greenhouses planted with tomatoes, as well as 80 dunums of vegetables and uprooted 100 olive trees, not to mention destroying three poultry farms.

West Bank Offensive
Israeli forces arrested four civilians from the city of Salfeet, IPC correspondent confirmed.

Eyewitnesses further added that about 10 Israeli military jeeps and an Armored Personnel Carrier stormed the city amidst heavy gunfire and raided the house of Alaa Al Ghazzawi, arresting him and three other civilians who were guests at his home.

On the other hand, security sources in the city of Nablus said the number of civilians arrested so far by Israeli forces reached 13.

Israeli forces had invaded several neighborhoods in Nablus earlier this morning and arrested 13 civilians, including three brothers and several university students. They were all led to an undisclosed location.

In Jenin, medical sources mentioned that Israeli forces opened heavy gunfire at a group of children in the eastern part of the city, wounding Murad Al Disi, 14, in the leg. Murad was evacuated to Khalil Suleiman Hospital in the city for additional treatment, and his condition was described as moderate.

In the meantime, Israeli troops manning the Barid suburb military checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, closed it for several hours, banning hundreds of civilians and dozens of vehicles from moving between both sides of the checkpoint.

The troops have also set up a number of mobile roadblocks on main road junctions throughout the West Bank, concentrating mostly on the Nablus-Ramallah road near the illegal Israeli settlement 'Ariel', in addition to the road between Nablus and Tulkarem.

Concurrently, Israeli forces detained early this morning scores of civilians on a checkpoint near the village of Ein Shibli, southeast of Tubas City.

Eyewitnesses pointed out that Israeli troops set up a roadblock suddenly on the main road connecting the village with the rest of the central Jordan Valley area, and started turning civilians and vehicles back from where they came.

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