Five Palestinians killed including a 85- year old woman, three houses demolished, expulsion continues
Palestine-Israel, Military, 8/3/2002

Scores of Israeli tanks, backed by helicopters on Friday broke into al-Qasaba district in Nablus in a large attack that resulted in killing three Palestinians. Other two Palestinians were killed in Gaza while the Israeli forces expanded repression operations against the families of the Palestinian (who carried out operations against Israel) from the West Bank to Gaza.

The Israeli army radio said that the Israeli military court decided on Friday to resume its deliberations on expelling two Palestinian into Gaza. The Palestinians are Kifah Ajouri ( 28 year old) from Askar camp, and Abdul Naser Asidi ( 34 year old ) from al-Tel village. They are the brothers of the two Palestinians from Nablus district who took part in an ambush against a bus that provides transport to the Jewish Emanuel settlement on July 16, and resulted in killing nine persons.

The court's legal advisor for the government Elakim Robinshtine approved their expulsion for a period of two years. They can appeal this decision to the "supreme court" if the decision to expel them is confirmed.

Five Palestinians were shot on Friday at dawn: three in the West Bank during reoccupation of the old city in Nablus which was mopped up by the Israeli army, and two in Gaza one of them is a 85- year old woman.

Troops, backed by striking helicopters and 80 tanks and armored vehicles, broke into al-Qasaba area in the downtown of Nablus from different entrances.

The spokesman for the Israeli army said that this is a large scale operation.

A colonel in the Israeli army told the Israeli radio we "will carry out a mopping up operation for al- Qasaba and if we feel it is necessary we will stay there for days and weeks." Gunfire was exchanged, during which two Palestinians were killed and other three wounded, including one woman and her child, according to Palestinian medical sources.

The Israeli forces assassinated the activist in the Hamas movement Amjad Jabbour in Salem village after he had surrendered, according to witnesses. One of his neighbors said that Amjad Jabbour ( 28 year old ) "was shot from very near by Israeli military men after he had surrendered." The witness said that the Israeli military men ordered me to head for Jabbour's house to tell him he is cordoned and he has to surrender," adding "I obeyed the orders and Jabbour accepted to surrender himself. He went into the street and immediately the soldiers opened fire on him just from two meters distance." But the Israeli army said he was killed while trying to escape.

Witnesses said the Israeli army blew off a four apartment building, and carried out a campaign of arrest in the old town of Nablus. The Israeli military spokesman confirmed that the building was blown off. He said that "members of the Israeli army found al-Qassam missile and two M-16 guns and pistols and two booby trapped gas cylinders." The witnesses said the Israeli army arrested Hiba al- Atari who lives in the first floor of the building, the Israeli police searching for her husband Ibrahim al-Attari, one of the activists of the Fatah movement who was not in the house.

The witnesses said that the "army took out four families from the building before it was blown off and that 6 buildings adjoining the building were damaged as a result. On Wednesday, the Israeli army imposed curfew on Nablus following the operation in the Hebrew university in East Jerusalem which resulted in seven killings. On the other hand, the Israeli army demolished in Toulkarem and Hebron two houses for members in Islamic Palestinian movements who were killed in attacks against Israeli targets.

On the other hand, the Israeli army announced the detention of a Palestinian activist in Rafah "before he carried out a suicide operation." Arafat denounced the demolishing of houses and described it as a crime against humanity. In a press conference he held in Ramullah, Arafat called for a rapid international interference by the UN and asked for sending observers if it is not possible to send military units.

Previous Stories:
  UN report on Israel's attack of Palestinian town of Jenin- Part 1   (8/2/2002)
  Amnesty International says UN report on Jenin underscores need for investigation in Israel's human rights   (8/2/2002)
  Two Palestinians homes demolished by Israeli forces   (8/2/2002)
  Seven Israeli settlers, 100 wounded in a Palestinian attack   (8/1/2002)
  Islamic resistance rejects cease fire, Palestinian operations continue   (7/31/2002)
  Palestinian national forces call for cutting all ties with Israel   (7/31/2002)

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