Heavy clashes took place today throughout the West Bank and Gaza, with at least 250 Palestinians injured and 4 Palestinians killed. A strict internal Israeli-imposed closure remains in place throughout the West Bank and Gaza. The Israeli military attacked Palestinian residential areas in Beit Sahour and Ramallah with tanks, heavy machine gun ammunition, and linked automatic 40mm 'launched' grenades.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, a total of 126 Palestinians have been killed and 5499 injured in the West Bank and Gaza since 28 September 2000.
Ghassan Youssef Ahmad Salem 'Aweissah, 22 years old, from Ramallah, was shot and killed today as a result of live ammunition to his heart.
Ahmad Mohammad Qassem, 15 years old from Tulkarem, was shot and killed today as a result of live ammunition to his chest.
Bashir Saleh Moussa Shallawit, 15 years old from Qalqilya, was shot and killed today as a result of live ammunition to his chest.
Jaber Ahmad Jaber Al Mishal, 23 years old from Beach Camp, was shot and killed today near Beit Hanoun as a result of live ammunition to his chest.
Ramallah
Heavy clashes took place this afternoon at the northern entrance of
Ramallah/Al Bireh, with at least 107 injuries from live ammunition.
Ghassan Youssef Ahmad Salem 'Aweissah, 22 years old, from Ramallah, was shot
and kill
ed today as a result of live ammunition to his heart. This evening,
the Israeli military attacked residential areas of Al Bireh from Beit El
settlement, using tanks, heavy machine guns and linked automatic 40mm
'launche
d' grenades. At least one home was damaged, with no reports of
injuries.
Tulkarem
Heavy clashes took place in Tulkarem this afternoon, with at least 13
Palestinians injured, 8 from live ammunition, with one in critical
condition. Ahmad Mohammad Qassem, 15 years old from Tulkarem, was shot and
killed t
oday by live ammunition to his chest.
Near the village of Anabta, Maha Rashid, 29 years old, and 3 months pregnant, was attacked in her car by stone throwing Israeli settlers while travelling from the Jordanian border after picking up her children. Maha suff ered serious injuries to her head.
Qalqilya
Clashes erupted this afternoon at the northern entrance of Qalqilya,
with at least 2 Palestinians injured. Bashir Saleh Moussa Shallawit, 15
years old from Qalqilya, was shot and killed today as a result of live
ammuniti
on to his chest. He was buried this afternoon. The Israeli military
opened fire on ambulances attempting to reach those injured.
Gaza
Clashes erupted this afternoon throughout the Gaza Strip. Jaber Ahmad
Jaber Al Mishal, 23 years old from Beach Refugee Camp, was shot and
killed today near Beit Hanoun as a result of live ammunition to his chest.
At le
ast 60 Palestinians were injured in clashes at Beit Hanoun, 18 of which
are from live ammunition, with 3 in critical condition. Heavy clashes
reportedly resumed again in the area this evening. Intermittent clashes
were
reported in Rafah, with at least 6 Palestinians injured. In Khan
Younis, 35 Palestinians were injured, with eyewitnesses reporting that the
Israeli military used weapons with silencers to shoot at protesters.
In Deir A
l Balah, 13 year old Shadi Hamdan is in critical condition as a result
of live ammunition.
Jerusalem
Hundreds of worshippers were prevented again this week from entering Al
Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers. Reports of arrest campaigns by the
Israeli authorities continue in Jerusalem areas. Heavy clashes erupted
this afte
rnoon near Qalandia Refugee Camp, continuing late into the evening.
Jenin
Clashes erupted this afternoon in the Jenin area, with at least 51
Palestinians injured, including 15 year old Fadi Amin, from Harboush,
reported to be in critical condition as a result of live ammunition to his
head. A
t least 3 Palestinians were injured today in Salfit.
Bethlehem area
Clashes erupted this afternoon throughout the Bethlehem area, with 22
Palestinians injured, including an 11-year-old child reported to be in
critical condition. Early this evening, the Israeli military attacked
residenti
al areas in Beit Sahour with heavy machine gun fire. No injuries were
reported. Israeli tanks and heavy machine guns were also used in
attacks against Palestinian National Security offices in Bethlehem. Clashes
were re
portedly resumed following the attacks.
Two Israeli attack helicopters fired missiles into residential areas of
the village of Beit Jala late this evening. Reports state that the
attacks took place near St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and the Orthodox
Club, causi
ng damage to a number of homes in the area. No injuries have been
reported as of yet.
Jericho
Palestinian security sources stated late this evening that the Israeli
military attacked the Palestinian General Intelligence Headquarters in
Jericho. A nearby restaurant was destroyed from shells fired from
Israeli tank
s.
Hebron
Clashes erupted this afternoon in areas in Hebron. At least 16
Palestinians were injured in Halhoul, with Osamma Mohammad, 23 years old, in
critical condition as a result of live ammunition.
**Note** We apologize for not issuing an update yesterday. These
updates and the website are being maintained on a voluntary basis. Those
of us who have been working on the updates for a month now were
somewhat overwh
elmed by some of the horrifying incidents that we have witnessed during
this month, leaving us at a loss for words yesterday. The following is
the update from 26 October 2000.
Clashes took place in a number of areas in the West Bank and Gaza
yesterday, with at least 100 Palestinians injured. Large scale arrest
campaigns continued yesterday within 1948 Palestinian areas and the West
Bank and
Gaza.
'Ala Mohammad Mahmoud Jawabreh, 14 years old, from 'Arroub Refugee
Camp, died yesterday afternoon as a result of injuries sustained on 11
October, when he was shot in the head by an exploding Dum-Dum bullet. He
was first
given medical treatment in Hebron, then transferred to Saudi Arabia
for emergency medical care. He died in hospital in Saudi Arabia
yesterday.
Ahmad Abdel Qader Sbeitan, 64 years old from Hebron, died at an Israeli
checkpoint while being transported from Hebron to Ramallah Hospital for
emergency heart surgery last night. The ambulance transporting him was
detai
ned at the checkpoint near Beit Jala for over an hour, prevented from
returning or moving forward. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society
reported on 24 October that "after 25 days of clashes, Live ammunition,
Rubber bulle
ts, and/or stones thrown by Israeli settlers in 63 separate attacks
have hit to date 34 ambulances. 40 Emergency Medical Technicians have
been injured, and one killed. PRCS has logged 57 incidents of denial of
access to
ambulances at roadblocks. EMS continues to utilize vehicles now in
desperate need of repair due to lack of replacements and personnel"
In Hebron, a strict curfew in place for 28 consecutive days on Israeli
controlled areas of Hebron was briefly lifted during the afternoon.
However, the curfew was re-imposed shortly afterwards, with residents
forced back
into their homes. At approximately 3:00 AM, the Israeli military
shelled with tanks the center of Hebron. Heavy machine gun fire was also
directed towards local television station Al Amal. No injuries were
reported.
A suicide bombing occurred yesterday near Kfar Darom settlement
in which 2 soldiers were lightly wounded. The body of the suicide
bomber was identified as Nabil Farraj 'Arrayil, 22 years old from
Shuja'iyeh, Gaza. All entrances to Gaza were sealed off, dividing
Palestinian areas into 3 isolated regions. Hundreds of dunums of
agricultural lands were bulldozed and confiscated by the Israeli
authorities throughout Gaza. Clashes erupted early in the
afternoon in Khan Younis, Deir Al Balah, Rafah and Beit Hanoun.
Settler attacks on Palestinian cars traveling on main roads in the
West Bank and Gaza were reported throughout the day.