HEAR PALESTINE ***************** Sunday, 15 September 2002 Palestinians Killed: Subhi Zinno (23 years old), Rafah (Friday, 13 September 2002) Military Attacks **Occupation Army Invades Jenin Under Fire; 1 Critically Wounded **Israeli Army Wages Attacks in Gaza Strip Sunday Morning **Occupation Army Invades Qalqilya City Saturday **1 Killed and 7 Wounded during Israeli Invasion of Rafah Friday **Occupation Army Invades Toubas, Arrests Residents Friday Land Confiscation and Demolition **Israeli Forces Demolish Trees in Deir al-Balah Sunday **Agricultural Land Destroyed in Jabalya Sunday **Israeli Bulldozers Demolish more Land in Tulkarem Saturday **Residents of Qalqilya Protest Confiscation of their Land Collective Punishment **Israeli Army Tightens Strangling Measures in Gaza Strip **3 Million Palestinians in West Bank Under Curfew ********************************************************************** Over 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank are placed under a 2-day curfew (Sunday-Monday) by the Israeli occupation army. Palestinian cities, towns and villages are also besieged and isolated from one another. At the same time, daily wide-scale military attacks on Palestinian residential areas and demolition of vast areas of agricultural fields continue. On Sunday (15 September), the Israeli army invaded the city of Jenin under intense fire to re-impose a curfew on the residents. One civilian was critically wounded. On the same day, the occupation army invaded and attacked areas in the Gaza Strip (Jabalya, Beit Lahya and Deir al-Balah). On Saturday, the West Bank city of Qalqilya was brutally invaded and a curfew imposed on the residents. On Friday, Rafah witnessed a severe attack at dawn when a large number of Israeli tanks supported by helicopters invaded the city. One Palestinian resident who attempted to resist the Israeli invasion was killed and at least 7 others were wounded, 2 critically. Dozens of factories, workshops and homes were demolished and cars, electricity and telephone poles destroyed during the invasion. The occupation army also invaded Toubas, north Jenin, on Friday and terrorized the residents. ********************************************************************** Military Attacks ************** *Occupation Army Invades Jenin Under Fire; 1 Critically Wounded* The Israeli army this afternoon invaded the city of Jenin under intense random heavy fire. The invasion came only a few hours after declaring that the curfew was lifted. Medical sources reported that one person (Muhammad Abu Sharar) was critically wounded in the attack. *********************************** *Israeli Army Wages Attacks in Gaza Strip Sunday Morning* The Israeli occupation army invaded Jabalya area, north Gaza Strip, at dawn today using 9 tanks and a number of bulldozers and armored vehicles. Witnesses reported that occupation military forces demolished several green houses in the area during the invasion. Severe destruction was also done to the infrastructure in Jabalya. The main eastern road was completely destroyed and Abu Safya Road was bulldozed and closed with sand piles. At dawn today, Israeli occupation soldiers based in `Kfar Darom' settlement opened fire randomly towards residential areas in Deir al- Balah. The Israeli army late last night invaded Palestinian land to the north of Beit Lahya and opened machine gun fire randomly towards homes in the area. The area was also attacked the night before. ************************************ *Occupation Army Invades Qalqilya City Saturday* The Israeli occupation army at dawn Saturday invaded the West Bank city of Qalqilya under random and intense heavy fire. A curfew was imposed on the residents of the city. ************************************ *1 Killed, 7 Wounded during Israeli Invasion of Rafah Friday* Subhi Zinno, 23 years old, was killed Friday morning while resisting an Israeli military invasion of al-Salam quarter and al-Barazil refugee camp, on the borders between Palestine and Egypt, south of Rafah. 7 others were wounded in the attack, 2 critically. Over 40 tanks and armoured vehicles under the cover of attack helicopters invaded Rafah, south of Gaza Strip, at dawn on Friday. During the invasion, Apache helicopters were used to attack al-Salam residential quarter and al-Barazil refugee camp, southeast of the city. Israeli bulldozers demolished 7 civilian establishments (Factories and workshops), damaging dozens of neighbouring homes in the process. The families of these homes were forced out in the open without their belongings. A number of homes were confiscated and transferred into military bases and their residents held hostage. Israeli bulldozers also demolished electricity poles and telephone cables. Fateh movement headquarters in the area was raided and vandalized. Several people were also arrested during the invasion. ************************************ *Occupation Army Invades Toubas, Arrests Residents Friday* The residents of Toubas, south Jenin, were awakened at 4:00 am on Friday by the sound of Israeli tanks, armoured vehicles and soldier carriers invading their town under intense random fire. A curfew was imposed on the residents, while Israeli soldiers carried out house-to-house searches. At least 15 residents were arrested and 1 residential building occupied. The building was brutally confiscated and its residents forced out under the threat of weapons. Israeli soldiers also occupied the roofs of several buildings. The occupation army also caused severe destruction to the infrastructure in the area. ********************************************************************** Land Confiscation and Demolition ***************************** *Israeli Forces Demolish Trees in Deir al-Balah Sunday* Israeli occupation military forces destroyed vast areas of land today in the central Gaza Strip area. Israeli bulldozers under tight military protection demolished areas cultivated with palm and olive trees and several green houses. ************************************ *Agricultural Land Destroyed in Jabalya Sunday* The Israeli occupation army demolished agricultural land during a military invasion of Jabalya at dawn today. ************************************ *Israeli Bulldozers Demolish more Land in Tulkarem Saturday* Israeli bulldozers under the protection of military forces demolished vast areas of agricultural land on Friday south of Far'on village and east of al-Kufrayat junction, Tulkarem. Far'on village lost 5000 dunums (1 dunum=1000m2) of agricultural land during the bulldozing activities. Dozens of olive trees were demolished only 10 meters away from the homes of the owners. (The property belongs to the families of Al- Atir, Al-Omar and Al-Farekh). Activities continue and head quickly towards Khirbat Jbara villages and al-Ras, which the occupation authorities declared the confiscation of 95% of its agricultural land for the establishment of the "isolation fence". At the same time, other areas of land are surveyed under heavy Israeli military protection. ************************************ *Residents of Qalqilya Protest Confiscation of their Land* Hundreds of farmers, landowners and foreign solidarity groups demonstrated on Saturday in the southern villages of Qalqilya against the confiscation and demolition of their land. Thousands of dunums of agricultural land were destroyed and confiscated recently by the Israeli occupation army. ********************************************************************** Collective Punishment ******************* *Israeli Army Tightens Strangling Measures in Gaza Strip* The occupation army this morning closed the only entrance to al- Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis. No one is allowed in or out of the area. Israeli occupation soldiers also prevented fishermen in the Gaza Strip from using the sea on Saturday and Sunday. The Israeli occupation army also declared al-Shuhada junction, south of Gaza City, completely closed on Friday. Israeli soldiers ordered the evacuation of Palestinian security locations on either side of the junction. ************************************ *3 Million Palestinians in West Bank Under Curfew* Over 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank are placed under curfew Sunday and Monday amidst continuous Israeli attacks and provocations. Tulkarem ------------ In Tulkarem, the curfew has been imposed on the residents for 4 consecutive days. A 16-year old female, Roula Mansour, was wounded this morning in Tulkarem refugee camp during a random shooting by Israeli occupation soldiers. Yesterday, Israeli soldiers and armoured vehicles spread intensively throughout the city. Roadblocks were set up at al-Kufrayat junction to isolate Far'on and neighbouring villages, where bulldozing activities are taking place. Other Tulakrem villages were also placed under tight military closure. Ramallah ------------ A curfew was imposed on the residents of Ramallah and its western villages today until further notice. The villages of Na'lin, Aboud, Rantis, Butrus and Shiqya were invaded this morning by Israeli military forces and a curfew imposed on the residents. In al-Jalazone refugee camp, north of Ramallah, Israeli occupation soldiers fired live ammunition and gas bombs towards the residents who resisted using stones and empty bottles. A tight military closure was imposed on the refugee camp on Friday. No one is allowed in or out. Yesterday, Palestinian civilians were physically attacked at entrances of the city while the curfew was lifted. Salfeet --------- A curfew was imposed today on Salfeet and surrounding villages, which were also closed by sand piles. More Israeli soldiers were brought in to the area and spread throughout overlooking hills. A number of people were arrested in the area today. Nablus --------- Several residents were moderately wounded Friday in Nablus in random Israeli military attacks in the city. Israeli soldiers opened fire randomly towards people challenging the curfew, which has been enforced for over 73 days. On another front, Israeli soldiers invaded Salim village and opened fire randomly towards homes. At least one resident was wounded in the attack. Israeli soldiers also opened fire randomly in Balata refugee camp wounding at least 3 people seriously. Jenin ------- The Israeli army forced a curfew on the residents of Jenin today during a military invasion of the city. A tight military siege has been imposed on Jenin and surrounding villages since Friday. Qalqilya ----------- A curfew was imposed on Qalqilya this morning following an invasion of the city with tanks and armoured vehicles. All surrounding villages inhabited by thousands of people were also placed under curfew. A home in Jayous village was raided by occupation soldiers. Hebron ---------- Israeli occupation soldiers at dawn today raided a number of homes in Beni N'im residential quarter, east of Hebron. A curfew continues to be imposed for the fourth day running on the Old City and market areas. A tight military siege is imposed on the city. Bethlehem ------------- Bethlehem has been placed under tight military closure for over 4 days. No one is allowed in or out of the city. Al-Khader village in Bethlehem is also placed under tight military siege.