Qalqilya
In the village of Azoun near Qalqilya, clashes that began last night
after the attack of settlers and soldiers on the village are continuing. Ali
Sweidan was shot in the head with live ammunition during these clashes and surrounded
by Israeli soldiers until the morning. The soldiers prevented Palestinians from
reaching him and in the morning he had bled to death from his injuries. Six
injuries were reported from these clashes - two of these injuries were live
injuries to the head and they are in extremely critical condition.
In the village of Umm Safa near Ramallah, a Palestinian resident Issam Judeh, 40, left his house at 4:30pm last night in his car. Eyewitnesses saw settlers in an Israeli military car follow him, stop his car and take him to an unknown location. In the morning his body was discovered on the side of a road near his house. He was taken to Ramallah Hospital where doctors revealed that he had been severely tortured with both his arms and legs broken and his skull smashed with a sharp object. He had burns all over his body and his car was also found burnt, outside of the village. During the time of his disappearance the village was raided and attacked by settlers.
In Nablus area, settlers last night isolated and surrounded the villages of Salem, Beit Fouriq and Beit Dajan. They attacked these villages and prevented anyone from entering or leaving. No further details available at this point. Also in Nablus city, thousands of Palestinians marched to the offices of UNRWA and handed the Director of the Nablus office a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan demanding the intervention of the UN to protect Palestinians from Israeli settlers and attacks by soldiers. In the Northern entrance of Nablus near the village of Beit Eba, clashes erupted and Israeli soldiers and at least 5 injuries have been reported from live ammunition. In Hiwara, a village to the south of Nablus, a curfew continues for the second day.
Marches today in all of the major Palestinian towns and villages were held in support of Palestinians in Nazareth who have been under attack by Israeli citizens for the last two days. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of two Palestinians. In Nazereth today, funerals were held for Issam Yazbaq and Omar Akkawi who were killed last night by Israeli citizens. Nazareth is still closed by Israeli police who are preventing people from entering or leaving the city. More attacks have been carried out by Israeli citizens with no intervention by Israeli police.
In Ramallah, the funeral of Abdul Hameed Taya Abdul Hammed who died yesterday from earlier clashes was held today. During this funeral the news about the kidnapping and brutal murder of Issam Judeh from Umm Safa was announced after which those participating in the funeral headed towards the Israeli military headquarters in Beit El to protest against the continuation of these murders. Clashes erupted between protestors and the Israeli army who started shooting at protestors. Forty five injuries have been reported and the clashes are continuing at the moment.
In Gaza, the funeral of Yusef Khaled, killed yesterday, was held today. Protest marches followed the funeral.
In Hebron,
the Israeli-imposed curfew within the Israeli-controlled areas continues. The
Palestinian Red Crescent Society has reported 54 injuries in Gaza and the West
Bank including Jerusalem from today. Many of these have been sustained from
live ammunition. The number is expected to rise and reports of clashes are coming
in from all around the West Bank and settlers for the third day in the row under
the protection of Israeli soldiers are cutting off roads and attacking Palestinians.
In 1948 areas a general strike is currently underway in protest against the
murders last night in Nazareth. There is a demand from Follow-Up Committee for
Arab Affairs in Israel addressing the UN and the international community to
call for UN and international protection of Palestinian citizens both in the
Occupied Territories and Israel itself.