15 Palestinians arrested; Palestinians attack Ghoushe katif

The Israeli occupation forces yesterday continued aggression against the Palestinians and incurred in several area in the West Bank and Gaza and arrested more than 15 Palestinians on charges of resisting occupation.

The Israeli forces arrested 13 Palestinians in the city of Qalqilya including Raed al-Masri, one of the activists of the Palestinian Hamas movement and arrested two in Ramullah including Majid Hassan one of the Hamas activists.

In retaliation to the Israeli aggression, the Palestinians fired one mortar at one of the Israeli settlements in Ghoushe Katif in Gaza.

The Israeli radio said the Israeli forces carried out a mopping up operation in the area and gave no mention about hits or damages. No information were reported on damages.

Thousands of Palestinians, on the other hand, demonstrated in several cities denouncing the Israeli occupation and the American aggression against Iraq. The demonstrators stressed continued resistance until the Israeli occupation forces are expelled.

On the other hand, Israel has rejected the French initiative to convene an international conference on the Middle East. The Israeli radio quoted an official source at the Israeli foreign ministry as saying that Israel wants to have the US as the only sponsor for the ME peace and will reject any initiative from any sides, describing such initiatives as futile.