http://www.imemc.org/content/view/22850/1/
Army claims arresting four Islamic Jihad members who planned suicide bombing
Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies - Thursday, 23 November 2006, 14:34

Israeli security sources reported that soldiers took four residents prisoner, near Jenin in the northern part of the West Bank. The four according to the Israeli security are Islamic Jihad members and were planning a suicide bombing in Israel.

The army, and the Shin Bet security services, took four residents prisoner on Wednesday at night, and claimed that the four were in the final stages of planning an attack inside Israel.

The four residents were taken prisoner in Qabatia town, near Jenin, after exchanging fore with the army, military sources reported.

According to the Israeli security, the attack was planned to be carried out inside Israel in the “immediate future”.

During the search, soldiers reported uncovering an explosive device, two AK-47 assault rifles, M16 assault rifle, and protective gear.

Elsewhere in the West Bank, at least ten residents were taken prisoner in separate invasions.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli army helicopters fired a missile at a group of residents and killed one while invading ground troops shot and injured eight school boys east of Beit Lahia, on Thursday morning.

http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=17402
Gazans just want to protect their homes, say rights activists
Date: 22 / 11 / 2006 Time: 18:50


Gazans barricade themselves on the roof
of a targeted home (MaanImages)
GAZA CITY, 22 November (IRIN) - Palestinian human rights activists have said that using citizens as human shields to protect the homes of suspected militants is wrong, but said Gazans are simply protecting each other and their houses because they believe no one else will.

The comments came after the US-based watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a statement on Wednesday condemning Palestinian armed factions for encouraging civilians to gather in and around suspected militants' homes targeted by the Israeli military.

HRW said calling civilians to a location that has been identified for an attack is at worst human shielding and at best failing to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians from the effects of an attack. Both are violations of international humanitarian law, the group said.

"There is no excuse for calling civilians to the scene of a planned attack," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at HRW. "Whether or not the home is a legitimate military target, knowingly asking civilians to stand in harm's way is unlawful."

Jaber Oshaah of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza told IRIN that he agreed with HRW's statement but could understand why this strategy was being used.

"Using people as human shields is not good and we denounce it. It is not good for the people of any side and they should not be used in that way, no matter what pressure they are under," Oshaah said.

"But the Gazans are also doing this to protect their own homes because when Israel fires at a house here they often damage or destroy others nearby," added Oshaah. "So the people are standing together to support each other because they do not believe the rest of the world will do anything for them. But it is a negative way of doing it."

Israel frequently launches air and artillery strikes on the houses of militants, sometimes telephoning the house minutes beforehand to warn those inside to get out.

According to the Israeli human rights organisation B'tselem, between July and 15 November this year, the IDF destroyed 251 homes in Gaza, leaving 1,577 people homeless.

In 105 of these cases the IDF destroyed homes by air strike after warning the inhabitants to leave. While the IDF generally claims that militants used those homes to store weapons, they have not presented any concrete evidence in individual cases, HRW said.

On 18 November, a new tactic emerged to prevent Israel destroying homes. Mohammedweil Baroud, a commander of the Popular Resistance Committees, reportedly summoned neighbours and friends to protect his house. Soon a crowd of hundreds of Palestinians gathered in, around, and on the roof of the house.

Television pictures showed the roof of the house crowded with people and journalists and illuminated with bright lights.

It was the first time a Palestinian had taken such a step. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said that they called off the attack after they saw the large number of civilians around the house.

HRW said that Israel made the right decision not to fire on the Baroud home. "While civilians placing themselves in the way of military actions take on heightened risks, they cannot be considered legitimate targets by the opposing force, and parties to the conflict should cancel or suspend attacks where excessive civilian damage is anticipated," the rights group said.

Faction leaders in Gaza have hailed Palestinians' move to guard homes. "It is necessary for our citizens to support those Palestinians who are fighting against Israel," said Dr Nizar Rayan, a Hamas leader in Gaza.

Hamas said in a statement that the tactic was forcing the Israelis to rethink their strategy in Gaza. "This is an important step in the struggle which is making Israel think. The people protecting houses are breaking Israel's policy," read the statement.

In a statement on Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, Israel said it had to take military action in Gaza because since its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip last summer, Palestinian terrorist organisations had increased their rocket attacks on Israeli communities in the Western Negev, firing more than 1,000 Qassam rockets at Israeli civilians.

The ministry added that Palestinians had stepped up their arms smuggling operations via tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip, bringing in more than 30 tons of high explosives. (supposition and accusation)

http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=17379
November in Gaza: 105 killed, 353 injured, 52 left handicapped for life
Date: 22 / 11 / 2006 Time: 11:07


Funeral of Athamneh family
members (MaanImages)
Gaza - Ma'an - 105 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of November, Palestinian medical sources have reported.

The emergency and first aid department in the Palestinian ministry of health reports that 31 percent of the victims were children. Of the 105 killed, 14 were women.

In addition, since the start of November, 353 Palestinians have been injured, of whom 32 were children.

With these numbers, the Palestinian death toll since the start of the Israeli military campaign to release the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, reaches 400, just in the Gaza Strip. In addition 1,853 Gazans have been injured. Of this number, 742 were treated in the field and 750 will be handicapped for life as a result of their injuries. 133 of the 750 handicapped cases have lost a limb.

52 Gazans have been rendered handicapped for live since the start of November.

At the end of June 2006, armed Palestinian factions captured Cpl Shalit in a raid on an Israeli military base south of the Gaza Strip. In retaliation, the Israeli army launched a brutal campaign code-named 'Operation Summer Rains' on the Gaza Strip, during which the army bombarded and destroyed much of Gaza's infrastructure including Gaza's main electricity plant.

Army helicopters open fire at residents north of the Gaza Strip
IMEMC & Agencies - Tuesday, 21 November 2006, 11:39

Israeli military helicopters opened fire on people and their homes in the town of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday at noon.

Residents reported that the helicopters have been circling the area since morning firing at anything that moves; no injuries have yet been reported.
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15 residents injured in an Israeli air strike in the northern part of the Gaza Strip
IMEMC & Agencies - Tuesday, 21 November 2006, 15:32

Palestinian sources reported that 15 residents were injured in the northern part of the Gaza Strip after the Israeli air force fired two missiles at residents in Jabal Al Kashef area.

Some of the injured residents are in serious conditions. Several children are among the casualties.
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Troops Abduct an Imam, and his son, in Beit Jala
IMEMC & Agencies - Tuesday, 21 November 2006, 16:06

Israeli troops took prisoner Saleh Jawareesh, the Imam of Ahmad Bin Hanbal mosque in Beit Jala city, near Bethlehem, and his son Azzam, after breaking into their home in the city.

Local sources reported that soldiers searched and ransacked the house of Jawareesh before taken the two prisoner.
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Dozens of residents detained near Hebron
IMEMC & Agencies - Tuesday, 21 November 2006, 16:10

Israeli troops detained dozens of residents and vehicles at the main entrance of Ithna village, west of Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank.

Local sources reported that soldiers stationed at a military checkpoint at the northern entrance of the town installed a checkpoint, searched dozens of vehicles and interrogated the residents.
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Palestinian badly injured by soldiers violence in Nablus
IMEMC & Agencies - Tuesday, 21 November 2006, 16:13

Palestinian source reported on Tuesday that one Palestinian resident was badly injured in Nablus city, in the northern part of the West Bank, after he was violently attacked and beaten by Israeli troops.

The resident, Suleiman Salahat, 28, was transferred to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.
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Troops invade Beit Hanoun
IMEMC & Agencies - Wednesday, 22 November 2006, 01:22

Israeli soldiers invaded on Tuesday night after midnight Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and fired rounds of live ammunition.

Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers, backed by a several armored vehicles and a military bulldozer, invaded the eastern and northern parts of Beit Hanoun and stationed near the Agricultural College before bulldozing several farmlands and property.
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Army invades Nablus, takes prisoner five residents
IMEMC & Agencies - Wednesday, 22 November 2006, 10:00

The Israeli forces took prisoner five residents during a dawn invasion to the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank on Wednesday.

Troops entered the city of Nablus from several directions, opened fire randomly at residents' homes using live rounds and sound bombs. Soldiers searched scores of houses and took five prisoners to unknown locations.

Local sources identified the five as: Imad Al Nobani, 17, Ramiz Al Dawaiah, 20, Assem Al Lifdawi, Bilal Duwikat, 16, and Nader Nasser.
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Naval boats injure a fisherman near Rafah
IMEMC & Agencies - Wednesday, 22 November 2006, 10:07

Israeli army naval boats opened fire at Palestinian fishermen boats near the coast of Rafah beach, in southern Gaza and injured one on Wednesday at dawn.

The fishermen reported that the naval boats opened heavy fire on them while they were fishing and injured one, who was moved to Abu Yousif Al Najar Hospital in Rafah after receiving medium range wounds. Boats sustained some damage, the fishermen added.
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Fighter killed in Jenin
Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies - Thursday, 23 November 2006, 23:22

Israeli soldiers shot and killed on Wednesday at night one fighter of the Al Quds brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad in Jenin. A senior leader of the brigades was shot and injured in the attack. Israeli military sources confirmed the attack.

The sources added that soldiers spotted the two fighters and opened fire at them.

Local sources in Jenin reported that the fighter was killed by under-cover forces of the Israeli army operating in the Jenin refugee camp, in the northern West Bank city of city of Jenin.

The sources added that a Dovadim under-covered military unit ambushed Amro Al damj, 24, and shot him dead.

The other fighter, Ahsraf Al sa'ady was injured in the attack; He suffered wounds in his arm and head, and managed to flee.

Earlier on Wednesday, one resident was taken prisoner from the West Bank city of Jenin after the army invaded the city and its refugee camp; five residents were injured.

Local youth hurled stones at the soldiers who fired rounds of live ammunition, sound bombs and tear gas at the youth, injuring five, medical sources in the city reported.

Soldiers broke into dozens of houses, and searched them.

During the search Israeli forces took Firass Mir'eb, 20, prisoner after searching and ransacking his family's house.

http://www.imemc.org/content/view/22834/1/
Child, woman killed in the Gaza Strip
Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies - Wednesday, 22 November 2006, 22:23

Palestinian medical sources reported on Wednesday evening that one child was shot and killed by Israeli military fire in Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. One woman was killed by a shell fragment fired by the army at Abraj Al Nada area.

The sources identified the child Adham Khaled Al Sahbani, 14, from Beit Hanoun town. The child seriously injured after the army shelled several Palestinian houses in the area, and died of his wounds later on at the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City.

In a separate attack, a Palestinian woman was killed after she was hit a shell fragment when the army fired artillery shells at several houses in Abraj Al Nada area, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

The woman was identified as Asma' Abu Marsa, 45; at least two more residents were injured in the shelling.

Dr. Hassanen, head of the Emergency Unit at the Palestinian Ministry of Health, reported that three of the injured residents are in serious conditions, and seven are women and children.

On Wednesday evening, at least one resident was seriously injured after the army shelled several areas and houses in Skeikh Zayid city, north of Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

The resident was identified as Nour Ed Deen Abu Jabal.

Wednesday's death toll in the Gaza Strip arrived to four, and at least eighteen residents, including women and children, were injured.