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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Israel criminals intensifies War crimes in occupied Palestine |
Current rating: 0 |
by Nazir Majally
(No verified email address) |
03 Aug 2002
Modified: 06:09:52 PM |
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Israeli troops have launched a massive military attack on the civilians in West Bank city of Nablus. The attack was seen as a form of turture of the Nablus residents for defying a military curfew imposed by the Israeli army following its invasion of the city, a month and a half ago. |
For the past few weeks, Israeli troops had been positioned around the outskirts of Nablus as they imposed a curfew on the city and its inhabitants. But Nablus residents, out of their despair and frustration broke the curfew and flooded markets to stock up on food and other necessities.
In the early morning hours Friday, however, the soldiers, backed by armored vehicles and more than 100 tanks moved toward the city center. Their destination was the old part of the city, the Casbah.
Witnesses reported clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian fighters in the town. They also reported that many homes were demolished. Dozens of Palestinians are reported to have been detained for questioning.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat condemned the Israeli action as a crime against humanity and has called on the United Nations to intervene.
"Nablus is the terrorist capital, the departure point for suicide bombers and other would-be attackers of Israel," said Defence Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer, as he defended the assault on the city on Israeli public radio.
More than 20 people were rounded up in the incursion and three Palestinians were killed in exchanges of fire as they tried to defend their city.
The Israelis reimposed a curfew which local residents had been largely ignoring in recent days.
"We are going to go through the old city with a fine-tooth comb and are ready to stay days or weeks if necessary," an unidentified infantry colonel in the occupation army told the radio.
Shot at Point-Blank
In the West Bank village of Salem, a Hamas activist was executed in his home. Local residents say Amjad Jabur was killed after being handcuffed and detained. The Israeli however claim that he was shot while trying to flee, a claim often made in such cases.
Amjad Jabur, 28, was "shot at point-blank range by soldiers after having surrendered," a neighbor told AFP.
Attack on Gaza Strip
One Palestinian was killed when Israeli tanks and bulldozers made an incursion into Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security sources said.
And an 85-year-old Palestinian woman wounded by Israeli fire died later, her son told AFP.
Late Thursday in the Gaza Strip, a nine-year-old Palestinian girl was shot dead in a taxi by fire from Israeli troops near the Gush Katif bloc of illegal Jewish ‘settlements‘, Palestinian security sources said.
But an aide to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Nabil Abu Rudeina, said: "The assassinations, the demolition of houses and the policy of expulsions can only lead to more violence."
More Homes Destroyed
Israeli forces are also reported to have blown up and destroyed the homes of Palestinian activists in Hebron and Tulkarm in the West Bank.
Israel has long used the destruction of Palestinian homes as a tool of collective punishment.
Expulsion Policy of Relatives Approved
Israeli authorities also signed expulsion orders for the brothers of two Palestinian activists.
Israeli officials also say they hope deportation of family members will deter potential attackers by making them realize their families will also pay a price for such attacks. Palestinian groups however said that the Israeli government will pay a heavy price for such a policy.
The two brothers are to be taken from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip. Both have said they would appeal the decision.
Palestinians and human rights advocates criticize the Israeli policies, calling them collective punishment that is neither acceptable nor legal. In particular, Israel's deportation plans have drawn widespread international criticism, including from the United States.
The two potential deportees were among 21 Palestinians arrested in mid-July because they were related to accused Palestinian activists.
Adjuri and Assidi appealed Friday to a military tribunal and were to take their plea to the Supreme Court if rejected.
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