http://www.imemc.org/article/48406
Army detains five Israeli peace activists and injures a number of Palestinians
Wednesday May 16, 2007 16:16 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News ghassanb at imemc dot org

In a protest organized by local Palestinian peace groups against Israeli road blocks and checkpoints, Israeli troops detained five Israeli peace activists and injured a number of Palestinians on Wednesday in the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

The protest was organized at an Israeli road block located in the southern part of Hebron city. After some time, soldiers arrived at the location of the protest and attacked the peaceful demonstrators with batons and rifle butts, inuring a number of Palestinians.



Palestinian security sources reported that five Israeli peace activists were detained by the Israeli troops during the protest, and that three Palestinian residents were injured after they were severely beaten by the soldiers.

The three injured residents were identified as Sameer Al hadmy, 47, Ali Al Hoor, 25, and Tahseen Al Ja’bary, 48.

http://www.imemc.org/article/48405
16 killed in infighting in Gaza bringing the death toll to 33 this week
Wednesday May 16, 2007 16:12 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies ghassanb at imemc dot org

Palestinian sources have reported the arrival of seven new dead bodies to several hospitals as the clashes in the Gaza Strip intensify.

The number of people killed on Wednesday now stands at 16, with infighting between Fatah and Hamas having claimed the lives of a total of 33 people so far this week.

There is still no concrete figure on the number of injuries due to the difficulty that ambulances are facing in reaching certain areas of the region, but medical sources have stated that at least 100 hundred injured people currently lie injured in hospitals across Gaza.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, six Palestinian security guards were killed as internal clashes renewed in several parts of Gaza city, the deadliest being in the Tal Al Hawa neighborhood where gunmen surrounded the house of Rashid Abu Shubak, the director of the internal security forces in the Palestinian Authority.

Witnesses told Palestinian media that the gunmen showered the house of Shubak with mortar shells and live rounds, killing four of his bodyguards and injuring another 12. Local sources reported that Al Shubak’s guards managed to help his family escape before the gunmen stormed the house. Medical sources reported that among those killed were Al Abd Rabuh and Ahmad Hamida.

Later in the day, a nurse traveling in an ambulance was shot in the head after being caught in the crossfire, hospital officials said. The officials reported that she had died, but the woman's family later said she was brain dead and being kept alive by a respirator. Shortly after this, a Palestinian security officer from was shot and killed while standing at his post near the UNRWA building in Gaza city. Several others were injured in this attack.

Also on Wednesday, medical sources reported the death of Hassan Swedan after he was hit by sniper fire from the Al Noor tower in Gaza.

The streets of central Gaza City still echoed with the rattle of machine gun fire, even after the Palestinian Prime Minister Isma'l Hannia met with different Palestinian factional leaders and declared a truce in the clash.

http://www.imemc.org/article/48404
Israeli warplanes bombard a buildling in Rafah, killing seven
Wednesday May 16, 2007 14:39 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies rami at imemc dot org

illustration photo

Israeli warplanes bombarded Wednesday a building, belonging to the executive force of Hamas, formed by the former interior minister, Saed Siyam of Hamas, killing seven executive force members and wounding 30 others.

Local medical sources confirmed that three people were killed and 30 others wounded some critically in a deadly Israeli attack on a building in Rafah city.

The sources identified at least one of the killed as Najeh Abu Sakher, as the remaining two remain unknown. Four others were prounuonced dead shortly after, bringing the death toll to Seven.

Witnesses said that the building, close to Palestinian Authority's forces compound, has been completely destroyed due to the shelling Israeli shelling.

Hundreds of locals headed for the Abu Yousef Alnajjar hospital, as some of them donated blood, witnesses added.

Crowds of Rafah chanted slogans against underway Hamas-Fatah infghting in Gaza, calling upn the rival parties to halt their bloody shootouts.

The Israeli army attack on Rafah had further complicated an already deteriorated situation, as a barrage of homemade shells have been fired on nearby Israeli town since yesterday evening.

This attack comes amidst fierce street gun battles between the rival Hamas and Fatah since Friday in Gaza, where at least 30 Palestinians have been killed and more than 60 others injured.

Witnesses said that masked gunmen drag people out of the cars and check their identities, while some of those checked are taken hostages.

Witnesses added that streets are vacated of passersby as shops, institutions and stores are closed, while the population is locked down in their houses for fear of being attacked or harmed.

In addition, masked gunmen broke into residential buildings and began searching apartments, forcing tens of families to seek safe heavens in downstairs.

Current infighting in Gaza is the deadliest since the two factions agreed to a national unity government in March, in a bid to lift the internationally- imposed siege as well as months of clashes that have claimed the lives of at least 150 people.

Despite repeated ceasefire agreements, the latest was late on Tuesday night, both parties' gunmen are spread widely in streets, while shootouts are audible in different parts of the 450,000-populated city.

In the meantime, Palestinian deputy-PM of Fatah, Azzam Al-Ahmad, called on President Mahmoud Abbas to declare a state of emergency in order to contain the increasing violence.

Some Fatah MPs voiced the same position, while the chief of Rafah police department resigned due to the uncontrollable situation.

The Palestinian monetary authority ordered closure of local banks for the same reason.

The deteriorated security situation across the Gaza Strip has doubled the populations’ hardship amidst a crippling economic embargo; the international Quartet has imposed on a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority since last March.

The Quartet (United States, United Nations, European Union, Russia) has demanded the Hamas-Fatah coalition government to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept past signed agreements with Israel before it wins recognition.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L16351195.htm
Israel attacks in Gaza amid factional violence
16 May 2007 12:33:53 GMT
Source: Reuters
Alert Me | Printable view | Email this article | RSS [-] Text [+]

Previous | Next Palestinians watch Israeli soldiers during a military operation in the West Bank village of Ateel near Tulkarm May 16, 2007. At least 16 Palestinians were killed in factional fighting in Gaza on Wednesday and Israel entered the fray with an air strike on a Hamas position that killed at least four people.
REUTERS/MOHAMAD TOROKMAN
Previous | Next Palestinians watch Israeli soldiers during a military operation in the West Bank village of Ateel near Tulkarm May 16, 2007. At least 16 Palestinians were killed in factional fighting in Gaza on Wednesday and Israel entered the fray with an air strike on a Hamas position that killed at least four people.
REUTERS/MOHAMAD TOROKMAN
Previous | Next An Israeli police officer surveys the scene of a rocket attack in the southern Israeli town of Sderot May 16, 2007. At least 16 Palestinians were killed in factional fighting in Gaza on Wednesday and Israel entered the fray with an air strike on a Hamas position that killed at least four people. Israel has said it would remain on the sidelines of the deadliest Palestinian infighting in months but reserved the right to respond to rocket fire from Gaza by Hamas and other militant groups.
REUTERS/STRINGER/ISRAEL
Previous | Next Israeli soldiers take position during a military operation in the West Bank village of Ateel near Tulkarm May 16, 2007. At least 16 Palestinians were killed in factional fighting in Gaza on Wednesday and Israel entered the fray with an air strike on a Hamas position that killed at least four people.
REUTERS/MOHAMAD TOROKMAN
Background
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
More (Adds details, Peretz comment)

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA, May 16 (Reuters) - At least 16 Palestinians were killed in fierce factional fighting in Gaza on Wednesday and Israel entered the fray with an air strike on a Hamas position that killed at least four gunmen.

The Israeli army confirmed targeting a building used by Hamas in the narrow coastal strip, where fighting between ruling Hamas Islamists and President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah faction has pushed Palestinians closer to all-out civil war.

Israel said it would stay on the sidelines of the deadliest Palestinian infighting in months but reserved the right to respond to rocket fire by Hamas and other Gaza militants.

Factional fighting since Friday has killed at least 40 Palestinians, including 16 on Wednesday.

Hamas gunmen stormed the home of President Mahmoud Abbas's top security chief, Rashid Abu Shbak, and fired mortars at Abbas's Gaza compound.

Palestinian officials said the widening hostilities could bring down a two-month-old unity government formed between Hamas and Fatah. Palestinians have warned that the government's collapse could lead to further violence and spell the end of the Palestinian Authority.

Some Western officials say the government's collapse could allow Abbas to assert more control, leading to an end to a Western aid embargo, ahead of possible early elections.

Some Fatah leaders have urged Abbas to immediately declare a state of emergency, a move that could allow him to rule by decree for a limited period of time.

A Palestinian official said Abbas had cancelled a planned trip to Jordan and would instead travel to Gaza to try to restore calm.

In the deadliest single attack, five detained Hamas gunmen, a Fatah escort and the Fatah driver were killed when their vehicle, travelling to a detention centre, came under fire.

Security officials said the vehicle was attacked by Hamas fighters, but a spokesman for Hamas's Executive Force said they were "executed ... in cold blood" by Fatah.

Hamas said another of its members was "executed" earlier in the day by Fatah gunmen at a checkpoint.

Fatah said it suffered at least nine deaths, including four guards at Abu Shbak's home, a member of Abbas's Presidential Guard and two member of pro-Fatah Preventive Security.

Terrified Gaza residents hid indoors as masked gunmen fought running battles street-to-street. Witnesses said militants were grabbing some civilians out of their cars to hold as hostages.

In one panicked call to a local radio station, a woman appealed to Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas to act. "Do not leave us to die here," she pleaded.

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE

Hamas sources said four members of its Executive Force were killed in the Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza town of Rafah and 18 Palestinians were injured.

"In response to the continued terror activities of the Hamas and other terror organisations, a short while ago the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) carried out an aerial attack against Hamas terror command centre in Rafah," an army statement said.

Earlier on Wednesday, militant groups fired several rockets at the nearby Israeli town of Sderot, causing no injuries. Four Israelis were injured by rockets on Tuesday.

"Israel will not be a part of the internal Palestinian power struggle but Israel will respond with severity to the continued firing of Qassam rockets," Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz said in remarks a few minutes after the Gaza air strike.

For many Palestinians, the factional fighting came as little surprise. The Saudi-brokered unity government deal failed to resolve the crucial issue of control over security forces, and left armed groups fighting deadly turf wars.

Fatah's forces are larger in number. But many analysts believe Hamas's Executive Force and armed wing are better equipped and organised. (Additional reporting by Mohammed Assadi in Ramallah; and Ori Lewis, Jeffrey Heller and Adam Entous in Jerusalem)

http://www.imemc.org/article/48401
Five Palestinian civilians kidnapped as army invades Nablus
Wednesday May 16, 2007 12:09 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies ghassanb at imemc dot org

A massive Israeli force invaded the northern West Bank city of Nablus and a nearby refugee camp on Wednesday morning, kidnapping five civilians.

Witnessed reported that troops attacked and searched homes in downtown Nablus and the nearby Balata refugee camp, forcing residents from their homes and firing sound bombs.

During the invasion local resistance men clashed with the invading troops in several parts of the city. No injures were reported on either side, but five civilians were kidnapped during the attack.

Local sources stated that among the five kidnapped were Mohamed Al Assi, 16, Ala Miskawi, 17, and Saleh Hashash, 29.