At the time of writing, Israeli attack helicopters are attacking areas in Al Bireh, Nablus, Khan Younis, Jericho and Rafah.
A strict Israeli imposed closure remains in place throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Clashes erupted in a number of areas this afternoon, with at least 100 Palestinians injured today. Intensified Israeli settler attacks on Palestinian residents either travelling on major roads, attempting to harvest olive orchards, or in residential areas have become daily phenomena. Eyewitnesses also report that Israeli settlers are firing on Palestinian protesters during clashes, alongside the Israeli military, in a number of areas in the North. Large areas of agricultural land throughout the West Bank and Gaza were bulldozed and trees uprooted by Israeli settlers and military.
Ramallah
Clashes erupted this afternoon at the northern entrance of Al Bireh, with at least 23 Palestinians injured. Late this evening, the Israeli military stationed at the military base of Ofra opened fire with heavy machine guns and linked automatic 40mm 'launched' grenades on residential areas at the southern entrance of Betunia. No injuries were reported. Tanks have been deployed in front of the military base in the direction of Betuniya. Heavy machine gun fire was also reported from the area of Pisgot settlement. At the time of writing, Israeli attack helicopters have fired at least 3 missiles at areas in Al Bireh. Reports state that the office of Fateh has been completely destroyed as a result of the attacks. No furthe information is available.
Gaza
Funerals took place this afternoon for 31 year old Samir Moussa Hamid 'Aleywa, who was shot and killed yesterday by live ammunition to his chest and 15 year old Hosni Hassan Al Najjar, was shot and killed yesterday by live ammunition to his forehead. Clashes erupted this afternoon at Mentar Crossing, with 50 Palestinians injured as a result of live ammunition and rubber coated steel bullets. Hazem Fathi and Ala Soubhi Jarro from Gaza City are reported to be in extremely critical condition. In Deir Al Balah, at least 3 Palestinians were injured during confrontations. In Khan Younis, 20 Palestinians were injured as a result of live ammunition during clashes, with Mohammad Al Sheikh Deeb in extremely critical condition. Violent clashes erupted in Rafah this afternoon, with 25 Palestinians injured from live ammunition, with at least two in extremely critical condition. A large number of olive orchards were bulldozed and olive trees uprooted, green houses and agricultural equipment and homes were destroyed by the Israeli military on the main road of Rafah, near the Israeli settlement of Morag.
At the time of writing, Israeli attack helicopters have fired 3 missiles at Palestinian security posts in Khan Younis. Attacks from heavy machine gun fire and tanks have been reported in the Rafah area. No further information is available.
Nablus
Funeral processions took place this afternoon for 'Esmat Khalil Mohammad Al Saber, 34 years old, shot and killed yesterday by live ammunition to his chest and Shadi Hassan Abdullah Ashuli, 23 years old, shot and killed yesterday by live ammunition to his chest. Clashes erupted later in the afternoon, with a number of injuries, two of which are in extremely critical condition. The two are Tayseer Hassan Ahmad Suleiman, from Huwarra, who was shot by Israeli settlers while harvesting olives in his orchard and Walid Kareem Salameh, 20 years old from Beit Sahour, who was attacked while driving his car near the village of Bita, resulting in serious injuries to his head. A strict Israeli imposed internal closure remains in place, isolating villages in the Nablus area from one another. The village of Huwarra remains under Israeli imposed curfew for the 23rd day.
At the time of writing, the Israeli military is attacking with helicopters, tanks, and heavy machine gun fire from the two surrounding mountains of Nablus City. At least five missiles landed near the Itihad Hospital. No further information is available.
Jenin
Funeral processions took place today for two brothers, Bilal Nimr Abu Salah and Hilal Nimr Abu Salah from Ya'bad, Jenin, both shot and killed yesterday by live ammunition to the head. Clashes erupted in the afternoon in the city of Jenin, with at least 11 Palestinians injured. Clashes also took place in Ya'bad and 'Arrabi, where Israeli settlers were reported to be attacking Palestinian protesters alongside Israeli military.
Hebron
Clashes erupted this afternoon in the Hebron area, with at least 30 Palestinians injured, two of which are in critical condition. The funeral for Ala Mahfouz, who died last Thursday in Saudi Arabia after receiving unsuccessful medical treatment for injuries sustained, took place this afternoon. Israeli settlers attacked the town of Beit Ummar, shooting at residents and destroying property. Israeli controlled areas in Hebron remain under Isreali imposed curfew for the 32nd day.
Bethlehem area
In the village of Al Khader, Israeli military and settlers prevented school children from entering their school. In Tqu', Israeli settlers and military attacked schools while they were in session, forcing pupils to flee the area. In Hossan village, Israeli settlers attacked residents, preventing farmers and families from reaching their orchards to harvest olives. Heavy machine gun fire was used to attack the town of Beit Sahour, causing damage to homes. No injuries were reported.
Tulkarem
Brief clashes erupted this afternoon, with at least 5 Palestinians injured by live ammunition, 2 of which are in extremely critical condition: Baha' Samih Abu Baker, 18 years old and Amjad Zaki, 17 years old. In the village of Nazlit Issa, Israeli settlers attacked residents, shooting at houses and destroying property.
Jerusalem
Early this afternoon, two Israeli police officers were shot in front of the East Jerusalem Branch of Israeli government National Insurance Institute, killing one of the officers and injuring the other. The area was declared a closed military zone. Clashes erupted in areas in Jerusalem, including Shufat Refugee Camp, Qalandia Refugee Camp and Al Ram. Several injuries were reported. An 8 year old child, 'Amira Mohammad Shehadeh, was severely beaten by Israeli soldiers in Shufat Refugee Camp.
Jericho
At the time of writing, the Israeli military attacked the refugee camp of 'Aqbet Jaber and the Palestinian General Intelligence headquarters in Jericho by heavy machine gun fire from the settlement of Vered Yeriho. Attack helicopters have also attacked areas in Jericho.
***Apologies, yesterday was another one of those days in which reality proved too difficult to comprehend and articulate. The following is yesterday's update:
Latest Developments from Sunday 29 October 2000
Heavy clashes erupted throughout the West Bank and Gaza today. A total of 8 Palestinians were killed and at least 100 Palestinians were injured, 10 of which in critical condition. Heavy machine gun fire attacks were reported by the Israeli military last night in Ya'bad, Jenin, and Yatta, Hebron.
Fadi Amin Dabayah, 22 years old from Jenin Refugee Camp, died of injuries sustained from live ammunition to his head. Fadi was initially reported on Friday 27 October in critical condition as a result of live ammunition to his head, declared clinically dead on Saturday, and died today in hospital.
Shadi Hassan Abdullah Ashuli, 23 years old from Aseera Al Shaliyeh, Nablus, was shot and killed by live ammunition to his chest.
'Esmat Khalil Mohammad Al Saber, 34 years old from Nablus, was shot and killed by live ammunition to his chest.
Bilal Nimr Abu Salah, 20 years old from Ya'bad, Jenin, was shot and killed by live ammunition to his head.
Hilal Nimr Abu Salah, 20 years old from Ya'bad, Jenin, was shot and killed by live ammunition to his head.
Samir Moussa Hamid 'Aleywa, 31 years old from Zaytoun Neighborhood, Gaza City, was shot and killed by live ammunition to his chest.
Hosni Hassan Al Najjar, 15 years old from Rafah, Gaza, was shot and killed by live ammunition to his forehead.
Riad Youssef Awwad, 26 years old, died yesterday at the Jordanian border, after spending two days trying to reach Beit Jala. He suffered from cancer and was attempting to visit his family. He died at the checkpoint.