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--- Begin Message --- From: "hearpalestine" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Thursday, 13 December 2001
** WIDE-SCALE ISRAELI MILITARY ATTACKS AND INCURSIONS INTO OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES
** TWO CHILDREN KILLED THIS EVENING, RAISING DEATH TOLL SINCE LAST NIGHT TO
5. SIX OTHERS KILLED ON TUESDAY
** OCCUPATION FORCES OPEN FIRE AT CHILDREN IN RAFAH
** OCCUPATION FORCES DESTROY PALESTINE RADIO AND TELEVISION
TRANSMISSION TOWERS IN RAMALLAH
**********************************************************************
Ariel Sharon's tanks are currently standing 200 metres from
Yasser Arafat's presidential office in Ramallah with their machine guns
pointed at his residence. American-made Israeli Apache helicopters
flew over all night last night and have resumed again this
evening, as have the louder no-pilot reconnaissance aircraft. The aim
is clearly to wage severe psychological warfare, not just on the
Palestinian leader but on the population as a whole.
*WIDE SCALE MILITARY ATTACKS AND INCURSIONS INTO OCCUPIED TERRITORIES*
The Israeli government is currently waging a wide-scale military
attack on the occupied Palestinian territories, with helicopter and F-
16 fighter-jets constantly circling overhead, punctuated by bursts of
shelling on their selected targets. In conjunction with this,
occupation tanks have made audacious incursions inside the cities,
towns and villages in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, where they
remain nestled between civilian homes, their cannons moving
menacingly between targets.
Last night's shelling was described as the most intense Israeli
military attack on the occupied territories to date. Several
buildings were flattened in the aerial bombardments, and explosions
were heard throughout the Gaza Strip and West Bank. At the time of
writing, helicopters are still droning over Ramallah and in the past
hour there has been a burst of heavy shelling, destroying the
Palestinian police station in the centre of Ramallah and other
targets. Palestinian establishments and security locations are also
being shelled and destroyed in other areas of the occupied
territories. Last night was spent in fear and panic due to the
intensity of the shelling and the continuous movement of warplanes
breaking the sound barrier.
THE GAZA STRIP
Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip last night resulted in the death of
one Palestinian woman, 40-year-old Hayat al-Haitham, and dozens of
injuries. The attack, which started at 10:00 p.m. and continued for
five consecutive hours near various residential areas in the Gaza
Strip, placed inhabitants in a state of panic, with dozens of people,
mainly children, suffering severe shock. Witnesses reported that
Israeli warplanes conducted `fake' attacks at a low altitude
alongside the actual air strikes, in a blatant attempt to add to the
fear of the already heavily terrorised population.
The shelling targeted most Palestinian Authority security locations
in the Gaza Strip, as well as Gaza International Airport. Dozens of
homes, schools and universities also suffered severe material damage
in the onslaught.
Israeli F-16 warplanes targeted a number of PA locations in the
vicinity of President Arafat's Gaza City headquarters. At least
10 rockets were fired at the naval police headquarters, Arafat's
private airport, a Force-17 location and other security locations in the
area. Palestinian security sources reported that each of the rockets
fired weighed 1000-1500 pounds.
After midnight last night F-16 warplanes attacked the naval police
headquarters in Beit Lahya (al-Soudaniya), destroying it completely
with five heavy rockets. Nearby homes and civilian establishments
also suffered severe material damage, and warplanes shelled radar
equipment and storage rooms in Gaza International Airport.
The Gaza Strip has once again been divided into three separated and
isolated areas. Israeli tanks are deployed at all major junctions and
main roads, while bulldozers dig ditches in the roads and place sand
piles and cement blocks to prevent Palestinian movement.
KHAN YOUNIS
Two Palestinian children were shot dead by occupation forces this
evening: 13 year-old Rami was shot in the eye by occupation soldiers
based around the `Neveh Dkalim' settlement, and 15 year-old
Ahmad al-Masri was killed when soldiers opened fire at civilians in al-Amal
quarter.
Israeli tanks have completely isolated Khan Younis from its
surroundings.
Another curfew has been imposed on the inhabitants of al-Mawasi area,
west of Khan Younis. Over 7000 people are being prevented from
leaving their homes, while occupation forces raid and search.
Witnesses report that military reinforcements have been deployed in
the area. Ten tanks are now standing at the entrances to al-Mawasi,
while al-Tuffah military roadblock is completely sealed. Witnesses
also report dozens of occupation soldiers stationed throughout the
areas' fields.
A 15 year-old boy, Nidhal Sadeq, was injured by shrapnel today when
the occupation soldiers based around `Neveh Dkalim' fired
missiles and machine guns towards civilians near al-Namsawi quarter, west of
Khan Younis.
The same forces based around `Neveh Dkalim' also opened
machine gun fire at Palestinian workers in al-Namsawi residential quarter
today. No injuries were reported, but the attack resulted in the destruction
of the area's water generators.
Al-Namsawi residential quarter was also attacked with heavy machine
gun fire last night in what is rapidly becoming a nightly occurrence.
A number of children were injured by live ammunition fired by Israeli
soldiers, including 16 year-old Sa'id Abu Samra and 10 year-old
Ibrahim Zu'rub.
RAFAH
Six Palestinian children from Tel al-Sultan refugee camp (west of
Rafah) were wounded today, one critically, when occupation soldiers
stationed on the Tel Zu'rub tower south of the refugee camp
opened machine gun fire at a group of children. Medical sources reported
that the six children had to undergo surgery due to injuries by
shrapnel and live ammunition.
Armoured occupation bulldozers entered 200 metres into the refugee
camp at dawn today and uprooted dozens of olive trees owned by local
Palestinian residents.
Occupation tanks withdrew from Tel Zu'rub and based themselves
between Rafah and al-Mawasi.
GAZA CITY
Israeli tanks conducted military incursions into al-Soudaniya area,
Beit Lahya and Beit Hanoun. This morning saw a military incursion
into al-Zahra, south of Gaza, when Israeli forces occupied two
residential buildings and imposed a curfew on local residents. The
families living in the two occupied buildings were forced out by the
army, which has placed its tanks in front of them.
Witnesses reported that the Israeli army opened random machine gun
fire at nearby residential buildings in the area this morning,
inflicting material damage.
DEIR AL-BALAH
Before noon today, Israeli warships fired heavy rockets at a naval
police location in Deir al-Balah. The building had already been
shelled and severely damaged at dawn.
RAMALLAH
Ramallah came under attack last night from Israeli Apache helicopters
and tanks based at the entrances to the West Bank town. Several
rockets were fired at al-Irsal area and al-Am'ari refugee camp.
Helicopters continued to roam in the sky until this morning, causing
severe panic among inhabitants.
Occupation tanks also invaded Ramallah from all sides, occupying al-
Irsal area and destroying the Palestinian radio and communications
transmission station. Occupation tanks remain stationed in
al-Balou' and al-Irsal.
Occupation forces occupied the al-Irsal transmission building that
belongs to Palestine television and radio, before blowing up the
transmission tower. Witnesses reported that they also blew up several
buildings around the transmission location. Armoured Israeli
bulldozers have spent the day today levelling the ground around the
destroyed tower and blocking access to the area with piles of rubble.
Occupation forces also entered Ramallah through al-Tireh suburb
(west), Betounia town (south) and Um al-Sharayit, and established
military observation bases in the areas. In addition, they carried
out military attacks on various residential areas in Ramallah.
Palestinian security locations in al-Tireh were shelled and attacked
with heavy machine gun fire, causing the death of two Palestinians:
26 year-old Ahmad Dmeisi, a policeman living in al-Tireh, and 24 year-
old Moussa al-Farra, from the Gaza Strip.
At dawn today, occupation forces shelled a Force-17 location near the
Grand Park hotel at the entrance to Ramallah.
NABLUS
Occupation warplanes attacked Jneid prison and Arafat's private
airport last night. A curfew was imposed on inhabitants of the Asira,
al-Qabaliya and Madama villages to the south of Nablus, while Israeli
soldiers raided homes and carried out wide searching activities in
the area.
These measures followed yesterday's attack on a bus carrying
Israeli settlers at the entrance to the illegal `Emanuel' settlement,
which was established on confiscated Palestinian land between Nablus and
Qalqilya.
The Israeli army carried out military incursions into all areas
around Nablus and imposed a tight military closure on the city,
preventing anyone from entering or leaving.
At 11:30 a.m. today, a large number of occupation troops raided
Sabastiya town and imposed a curfew on its inhabitants. Several homes
were raided and vandalised and a number of inhabitants arrested.
Yesterday evening, occupation forces conducted a military incursion
into Jenin under intense shelling, during which 30 Palestinians
standing in the way of occupation tanks were injured. The tanks were
forced to withdraw following confrontations.
TULKAREM
Occupation forces carried out a military incursion west of Tulkarem
at dawn today under intense fire.
------------------
*FOUR PALESTINIANS KILLED IN KHAN YOUNIS ATTACK TUESDAY*
At 11:55 pm Tuesday, Israeli tanks and helicopters attacked al-
Namsawi residential quarter and its surroundings in the south of the
Gaza Strip, targeting security locations in residential areas. Two
people were killed and nine others injured, two critically.
At 12:45 after midnight, Israeli tanks and helicopters attacked al-
Maslakh residential area near al-Namsawi quarter. Two more
Palestinians were killed and several others injured, one critically.
Eight Palestinian security officers were injured, three critically.
The injured included 25 year-old Fadh Abu Ubeida, 21 year-old Yasser
Abu Namous, 31 year old Sa'id Abu Sitta, and 18 year-old Ibrahim
al-Assar.
Fourteen others were injured, five critically.
Witnesses reported that Apache helicopters fired three rockets at a
block of flats under construction in al-Namsawi quarter, before
striking the Force-17 location in al-Maslakh.
A number of homes and cars were also damaged in the attack.
------------------
*TWO PALESTINIANS KILLED IN TULKAREM TUESDAY*
Two Palestinian youths were shot dead in their car on Tuesday by
occupation forces based at the military roadblock north of Tulkarem.
The victims were 26 year-old Mohammed Abu Marahil and 25 year-old
Mohammed Jmi' an. Palestinian sources reported that the Israeli
occupation army prevented an ambulance from reaching the location for
over one-and-a-half hours. The sources also stated that occupation
forces had opened fire at the car for no apparent reason.
Israeli sources claimed that the car had not stopped stop while
heading towards the roadblock, despite warning shots being fired in
the air and at the car wheels. No weapons were found in the car and
an investigation has reportedly been opened.
----------------------------------
Hear Palestine is a free press service offering daily mailings from the
occupied Palestinian territories. Material is analysed and compiled from the
Arabic press, radio and television transmissions, and direct interviews by
Karma Abu-Sharif.
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