At Least 16 Wounded in Israeli Airstrikes In Gaza

Wednesday May 26, 2010 09:33 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported Wednesday morning that at least Gaza sixteen residents, mostly women and children, were wounded in a series of Israeli occupation forces airstrikes over northern and southern Gaza.

The strikes targeted homes and several facilities, including the former headquarters of the Civil Defense at the Gaza International Airport in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

At least four missiles were fired at the already destroyed Airport, local sources reported.

The Israeli Air Force also struck areas near the Egyptian border believed to contain underground tunnels.

Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli F-16 jets fired two missiles at a training base used by the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas. The base is in Beit Hanoun, in the northern portion of the Gaza Strip.

The attacks damaged several homes and gave several residents, mainly children, panic attacks.

The Emergency Unit at the Military Medical Services in the Gaza Strip reported that fifteen residents suffered mild injuries in Beit Hanoun.

The Unit has condemned the shelling and says that it targeted civilian areas in direct violation of International Law.

Gaza: 15 injured in Israeli airstrikes

Published today (updated) 26/05/2010 16:51 Gaza – Ma'an –

Fifteen Palestinians were injured on Wednesday morning as Israeli occupation forces F16 warplanes bombarded a training base belonging to Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.

Palestinian medical sources confirmed that some of the victims sustained critical wounds, with media coordinator for Gaza medical services Adham Abu Selmiyya saying injured were evacuated to hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip. He explained that several houses close to the training base sustained material damage.

Locals told Ma'an that Israeli warplanes fired at least two missiles and that Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque sustained serious damage.

Separately, Israeli fighter planes fired four missiles at Yasser Arafat National Airport east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

The recent escalation in Israel's response followed the firing of homemade projectiles and mortar shells toward Israeli towns on Tuesday.

A statement released by the Israeli army said that the airstrikes came in response to rocket fire from the coastal enclave, and targeted "terror tunnels" in the southern and northern Gaza Strip overnight.

"The tunnels were dug one kilometer from the security fence and were intended for infiltrating into Israel and executing terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF [Israeli army] soldiers. Direct hits were identified.The attack is in response to the firing of two mortar shells that hit the Ashkelon Shore Regional Council this afternoon."

The Israeli army said it "remains committed to protecting the citizens of Israel and will continue to act against terror. The IDF [Israeli army]holds Hamas solely responsible for terror emanating from the Gaza Strip," adding that four projectiles and mortars were fired from the Strip in the past week.

Three Farmers Wounded By Military Fire In Northern Gaza

Wednesday May 26, 2010 17:40 by IMEMC Staff - IMEMC News & Agencies

Three Palestinian farmers were injured on Wednesday afternoon by Israeli occupation army fire while working on their lands near the northern the Gaza Strip borders with Israel.

Witnesses said that the famers were harvesting crops near the town of Biet Lahyia when troops opened fire at them without any warning.

The three injure men were moved to a hospital nearby after sustaining moderate wounds due to being shot with live rounds, doctors reported.

Biet Lahyia residents say they often come under army fire as soon as they try to reach their lands at the borders with Israel.

3 injured by Israeli fire in Gaza

Published today (updated) 26/05/2010 16:42 Gaza – Ma'an –

Three Palestinians were injured by Israeli occupation forces fire in two separate incidents on Wednesday, medics told Ma'an.

Two Palestinian workers were shot at by Israeli occupation forces as they collected small stones east of Jabaliya, northern Gaza Strip, near the no-go zone, Gaza medical services' media coordinator Adham Abu Selmeiya said.

The workers, identified as Saqer Musbeh and Salameh Salim, sustained moderate to light injuries, Abu Selmeiya added.

The second incident occurred near the northernmost Erez crossing, sources said, when Israeli forces opened fire at 21-year-old Rafiq Sa'd Allah.

An Israeli military representative said the army was aware of a group approaching the no-go zone near the Erez crossing and that warning shots were fired with no injuries reported.

Concerning Jabaliya, the spokesperson said an Israeli force in Jabaliya "identified a number of suspects" approaching the border and fired warning shots to dissuade them from approaching further. When that failed to deter them, a force fired toward the lower body and "identified a hit," the representative added.

Israel imposed a buffer zone along its border with Gaza which it deems a combat zone, where Palestinian access is restricted. However, Gaza officials say the no-zone devours 20 percent of the Strip's arable land, and is the site of weekly protests over restricted Palestinian access to agricultural land.

The Israeli occupation forces kidnap 12 During Home Raids In the West Bank

Wednesday May 26, 2010 17:17 by IMEMC Staff - IMEMC News & Agencies

Israeli occupation forces kidnapped on Wednesday 12 Palestinian civilians during morning invasions targeting west Bank communities.

Local sources reported military invasions and home raids in the cities of Ramallah, central West Bank, Nablus in the north in addition to Hebron in the south.

The Israeli army radio said that all 12 men were in what the military calls its wanted list. The radio added that the men were taken to military detention camps for questioning.

Last week Israel’s military conducted at least 8 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Troops detained 15 Palestinian civilians, including a child.

Israeli army kidnaps 4 teenagers in Beit Ummar

Published today 12:56 Hebron- Ma'an –

Israeli occupation forces kidnapped four Palestinian teenagers overnight Tuesday from the Beit Ummar village, and one man from the Nuba village, both in the West Bank governorate of Hebron.

Palestine Solidarity Project spokesman Mohammad Awad said clashes had erupted earlier on Tuesday night in Beit Ummar's village center, after Israel forces entered the village.

An Israeli occupation army military jeep was set on fire after residents threw a burning car tire at it, he added.

An Israeli occupation army representative said during the detentions, fire bombs were hurled toward forces, and damaged a military vehicle.

Those detained were identified as:

Ibrahim Mohammad Ibrahim Muqbel, 17.

Amin Sa’di Mohammad bahar,19.

Ahmad Nasri Jamil Abu Maria,16.

Anes Mohammad Khader Jawabreh, 16.

In Nuba, west of Hebron, Israeli soldiers had detained Ibrahim Ash-Shruf , 25.

Israeli Occupation Army Raids Bil'in and Burns Olive Tree

Wednesday May 26, 2010 10:38 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Early Tuesday morning Israeli occupation soldiers raided the town of Bil'in in the central West Bank. Soldiers fired tear gas, sound bombs, and live ammunition at villagers, detained three journalists attempting to document the raid, and set fire to an ancient olive tree. Bil'in has been at the forefront of the non-violent resistance movement against the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Villagers voiced concern that the burning olive tree had been hit with white phosphorus because they were unable to put out the fire. The tree, responsible for much of the livelihood of the Palestinian farmer who owns the it, could not be saved.
Israeli forces have destroyed over 600,000 olive trees in the West Bank over the last ten years, depriving Palestinian farmers of their main source of income.

Leaders of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Bil'in called the Israeli invasion and arson a “pernicious act of economic warfare,” saying the action by the military deeply angered the villagers. Man of them are dependent on the sale of the olive oil from the trees. A single tree can yield up to 800 shekels (about 210 dollars) worth of olive oil annually.

Bil'in witnesses said that such incursions by Israeli soliders onto their land are a daily occurrence in the village.

In recent months, Israeli occupation forces have targeted non-violent organizers with the Popular Committee Against the Wall, including the town's main leadership in the movement, Abdullah Abu Rahma and Eyad Bornat, both of whom were later released without being charged.