Jericho
Aqbet Jaber Refugee Camp was attacked this
evening by heavy machine gun fire from the nearby
Israeli settlement of Vered Yeriho. Heavy
machine gun fire at the Palestinian waiting area
('Istirahah') on the border crossing to Jordan
was also reported.
Bethlehem
Israeli tanks fired missiles this evening on
residential areas in Beit Sahour, damaging at
least 3 homes. A number of light injuries were
reported.
Nablus
In the village of Huwarra, an Israeli imposed
curfew was lifted briefly after 17 consecutive
days. Residents attempted to reach their olive
orchards to harvest olive crops, at which point
Israeli settlers attacked the farmers.
Palestinian residents were forced back to their
homes and the curfew was re-imposed.
Jenin
Clashes erupted this afternoon in Jenin, with a
number of Palestinians reported injured.
Eyewitnesses state that the Israeli authorities
did not use tear gas or rubber coated steel
bullets to fire on protesters. Only live
ammunition was used. A state of emergency was
announced in all hospitals in Jenin this
afternoon.
Gaza
Clashes erupted this afternoon in Beit Hanoun,
Khan Younis, Deir Al Balah and Rafah, with at
least 53 Palestinians reported injured, 6 in
critical condition. Mohammad Abu Taha, 13 years
old from Khan Younis, is reported to be in
extremely critial condition.
Tulkarem
The Israeli military launched 4 tank missiles at
residential areas in Tulkarem late this evening,
injuring at least 1 Palestinian.
Restriction of movement of medical vehicles Ambulances continued to be denied freedom of movement throughout the West Bank and Gaza this afternoon. In areas in the north, ambulances were prevented from transporting injured Palestinians to hospitals. As a result of the strict Israeli imposed internal closure, ambulances were prevented from tranferring needed medical equipment and medicines from hospitals throughout the West Bank and Gaza. Palestinian residents in villages are denied access to hospitals within main cities for regular medical treatment. In addition to restrictions on movement within Palestinian areas, ambulances have also been restricted from transferring critical injuries for immediate medical treatment outside of the country.
Destruction of agricultural lands
The Israeli Authorities today continued to
destroy Palestinian agricultural lands throughout
the West Bank and Gaza. At least 4 dunums of
olive orchards were bulldozed this afternoon near
Netzarim Junction in Gaza, uprooting hundreds of
olive trees. Olive orchards were bulldozed in the
village of Hossan, Bethlehem, Salfit, Nablus, in
addition to a banana plantation in Jericho. The
destruction of olive orchards and agricultural
lands comes at a time when Palestinian farmers
harvest crops tended to over the year, a form of
income sustaining a great majority of the
Palestinian population. The destruction of olive
crops holds serious economic ramifications for
the majority of Palestinian villages whose main
economic production is dependent on olives and
olive by products.