Israel reoccupies Bethlehem, seven Palestinians killed, five Israeli soldiers wounded in confrontation
Palestine-Israel, Military, 12/27/2002

The Israeli forces have reoccupied the city of Bethlehem yesterday and imposed curfew and resumed its patrols in the surrounding of the Church of Nativity despite the appeal made by Pope John Paul II to lift the curfew imposed on the city in order to permit Christians to celebrate the Christmas.

The Israeli forces fired tear gas at the Palestinians who were shopping and ordered them by loudspeakers to return back to their houses, threatening to open fire at them.

Some 8 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli bullets during the breaking in operations carried out by the Israeli occupation forces yesterday in various parts of the West Bank and Gaza.

The Palestinian Hamza Abu al-Roub was killed and three Palestinians were wounded in a breaking in operation by the Israeli forces yesterday of Qabatya town near Jenin and imposed curfew on it.

Palestinian sources said that Israeli forces bombarded Abu al-Roub house by tanks shelling and heavy machine guns and this resulted in fire in the house before the Israeli forces demolished it.

The Israeli radio said that Palestinian demonstrations took the streets of Qabayta despite the curfew, after the Palestinians heard the loudspeakers and the news on killing Abu al-Roub.

Five Israeli soldiers were killed in confrontations that took place between the Palestinian citizens and the Israeli forces in Nablus and in Qabatya town, Jenin, in the West Bank.

The Israeli radio admitted that fire and mortars were opened at the Israeli forces and violent confrontations took place in Qabatya after breaking into it and the imposition of the curfew.

On the other hand, the Israeli forces arrested 20 Palestinians during breaking in operations and inspections acts in various villages of the West Bank and Gaza.

Two Palestinians belonging to the Palestinian national resistance movement Hamas were shot dead when the Israeli forces opened fire at them in the downtown of Ramullah. They are Mahdi Samir Abu Obeid (19 near old) and Osama al-Ashqar. The Israeli forces also arrested during breaking into the place another Palestinian citizen.

The Israeli forces arrested two key leader of the Hamas movement in Qalqilya, the West Bank. One of them is the leader of the military wing of the movement Nasser Nazal and the second is al-Sheikh Talal.

A Palestinian security source said that a Palestinian called Jamal Nader of al-Aqsa martyrs group of the Fatah movement was killed by the bullets of a special Israeli unit near Toulkarem to the north of the West Bank ( he is 26 year old.) Two Palestinians were killed after the Israeli soldiers opened fire against them near Natsareim settlement in Gaza. The Israeli radio said that the bodies of the two Palestinians were found during mopping up operations carried out by the Israeli forces in the said area.

Palestinian sources said that one of the two killed men is Issam al-Sweis of the military wing of Hamas. The Israeli forces also imposed a military siege against Beitonia town to the south of Ramullah and started mopping up operations in search of Palestinian resistance men.

The Israeli tanks bombarded several axes near Gaza and to the south of Gaza and Rafah and this random Israeli bombardment covered residential houses.

In retaliation to the Israeli attacks, the Palestinian youths bombarded several settlements in Ghoushe Katif and they also attacked an Israeli military position by mortars and explosives to the south of Rafah.

The Israeli radio admitted that observatory towers inside the said Israeli position was destroyed and the settlers were prevented from going off their settlements and were recommended to stay inside the shelters.

The Israeli forces also arrested 14 Palestinians during breaking in operation carried out yesterday in various parts of the West Bank.

The Israeli radio said that six Palestinians were arrested in Nahhalin and Housan towns to the west of Bethlehem and another Palestinian in Beit Sahour, as well as four members of Hamas in Nablus and two in Qatana village, Ramullah.

The director of Ramullah hospital in the West Bank Hosni al-Attari said a special force of the Israeli army opened fire yesterday at the hospital guarding room which is supervised by Palestinian policemen and arrested four of them after one of them was wounded seriously.

Al-Attari said that members of the Israeli special force detained the wounded Palestinian police man after they dragged him on the ground.

He added that the health condition of the said policeman was very serious because of blood-shed and the other four detained Palestinians are Khalil Ajwa; Adib Jawa;da; Muhammad Hijazi and Samir al-Shimali who died later because of his wounds.

Previous Stories:
  Israeli forces kill 297 students, wound 3690 during the Intifada   (12/26/2002)
  In Christmas, Israel continues killings and destruction, two Palestinians shot   (12/26/2002)
  On the fall of the Christmas, sadness prevails the city of peace, 21 Palestinian houses demolishes in Israeli attacks   (12/25/2002)
  Jewish groups seek to ban book on Middle East conflict   (12/23/2002)

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