More Palestinians killed, Israeli forces besiege Nativity church, burns Omar mosque
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/4/2002

Hundreds of Israeli tanks and armored vehicles completed their occupation of Jenin, Bethlehem and Beit jala, Qalqilya and Selfeit in the West Bank and that other Israeli military amassing are stationed at the entrances of Nablus in preparation to break into it.

Strong clashes took place, during which the Palestinians hurried to defend their lands and properties against the invading forces.

News reports said that the Palestinian" bravely confronted the Israelis and that several Israeli soldiers dropped their weapons and that two tanks and three soldiers vehicles were destroyed."

The clashes resulted in killing five Palestinians including one nurse working in a clinic and one leading figure of al-Aqsa groups and that one Israeli soldier was killed and other three strongly wounded. The confrontation in Selfet village resulted in wounding several palestinians while the Israeli forces carried out a large scale inspection and detention campaign in the areas which they re-occupied.

In Bethlehem, one Palestinian was killed during the clashes with the Israeli invading forces while another citizen was killed when the Israeli forces opened their bullet fire at him near al-Mahd ( Nativity) church which is besieged by huge number of Israeli soldiers. Inside the church some 200 Palestinians are hidden without any food supply, according to the German Monk Johan Simon, who described the situation as very grave, while the Israeli forces prevented 200 persons representing various Christian churches from entering into Bethlehem to express their solidarity with the besieged Palestinians.

One Palestinian national security officer and one official for al-Aqsa martyr groups were killed by the Israeli fire in Bethlehem when the Israeli forces broke into the headquarters of their municipalities after blowing off the gate of the building which includes a local TV station and a telecommunication center.

Jenin camp was stormed by the Apache and F-16 planes missiles and the Israeli bombardment resulted in destroying the electricity generator and this by its turn resulted in cutting electricity from 70,000 Palestinians living in the camp and other neighboring villages. The bombardment also destroyed Ariel cables and the water station while the Palestinian civilians clashes with the Israeli forces which invaded the camp.

A statement by al-Aqsa groups said that the "Israeli forces will only enter the camp on our corpses."

One Palestinian was killed by the Israeli bullets as he approached one of the Israeli military check point in Baqet al-Sharqeyah, adjoining Toulkarem while the Israeli ranks resumed bombardment the headquarters of the Palestinian general security in Beitonia town near ramullah and destroyed most of its buildings besides arresting 12 Palestinians from the headquarters.

As news reports said that total devastation is made against the public establishments and the infrastructure in Ramullah, including water and electricity stations, preventing ambulances from reaching the wounded to be admitted to hospitals; the Israeli army tanks broke into al-Jalazoun camp to the north of Ramullah and carried out a large scale detention and inspection campaign amid strong bombardment for the houses in the camp.

Meantime. Ten peace advocates were wounded as a result of the violent repression they received by the Israeli police during a demonstration at al-Raam check point between Ramullah and Jerusalem. Some 2000 persons took part in the demonstration. They called for ending the occupation and releasing the Palestinian prisoners.

Witnesses said that the Israeli police men used tear gas and sound bombs to disperse the demonstrators in which the chairman of al-Nasera municipality was wounded and also members of the Arab members at the Israeli Knesset Muhammad Barakeh, Talab al-Sane and Hashim Mahameed.

The US soldiers also opened fire at a vehicle for the UN carrying medical supplies for Ramullah hospital.

The Israeli forces expanded its brutal attacks to cover the Palestinians in Gaza where the Israeli tanks fired their shells at the Palestinian houses and citizens in Rafah and broke into the Palestinian houses to the north of al-Qarrar in Khan Younis.

Meanwhile, the resistance men opened and threw mortars at several positions for the Israeli army and as a result was killed by the Israelis at Beit Hanoun crossing and another died to the south of Gaza after the Israeli forces prevented the ambulance from admitting him to hospital.

Previous Stories:
  Concerned over crisis in occupied Palestinian territories, UN sends in relief aid   (4/3/2002)
  UN's top human rights official urges mission to occupied Palestinian territories   (4/3/2002)
  Sharon looms to expel Arafat   (4/3/2002)

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