Late this evening, the Israeli military attacked with tanks, heavy machine gun fire and linked automatic 40mm 'launched' grenades residential areas in Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Al Khader, Tulkarem, Mentar Crossing in Gaza, Jericho, Al Bireh and Betunia. Israeli attack helicopters also attacked the cities of Jericho, Al Khader. and Beit Jala with LAW rockets.
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 6 Palestinians killed and 170 injured . Intensified Israeli settler attacks on Palestinian residents either travelling on major roads, attempting to harvest olive orchards, or in residential areas have become a daily and nightly occurrence. More alarmingly, Israeli settlers shooting at protesters alongside the Israeli military has become a common phenomena.
Ahmad Salman Tayeh, 15 years old from Shate' (Beach) Refugee Camp, was shot and killed today by live ammunition to his head at Mentar Crossing, Gaza.
Ibrahim Riziq Marzouk Omar, 15 years old from Shate' (Beach) Refugee Camp, was shot and killed today by live ammunition to his chest at Mentar Crossing, Gaza.
Mohammad Ibrahim Hajaj, 17 years old from Shuja'iyeh, Gaza City, was shot and killed today by 50mm ammunition to his face at Mentar Crossing, Gaza.
Mohammad Mahmoud Al Hroub, 27 years old an officer from the Palestinian Force 17, from Deir Samet, Hebron was killed this afternoon in Al Khader, Bethlehem.
Wa'el Mohammad Shu'aib Ghneim, 28 years old from Al Khader, was killed today after being shot in the chest by an Israeli attack helicopter while standing in front of his home.
Marwan Tay'eh Joum'a Assaf, 21 years old from Wadi Kofin, Bethlehem, was killed this evening in Al Khader.
Ramallah
Clashes erupted this afternoon at the northern entrance of Al Bireh,
at the entrance of Jalazoune Refugee Camp and in the village of
Deir Nitham, after the funeral of 17 year old Tha'er Ibrahim Zaid from
Jalazoune Refugee Camp, who was shot and killed yesterday as a
result of live ammunition to his abdomen. At least 40 Palestinians
were injured in the clashes. Late this evening, heavy machine gun
fire and linked automatic 40mm 'launched' grenades were randomly
directed at residential areas of Al Bireh, near the Pisgot
settlement.
At the time of writing, Israeli attacks from the nearby military base of Ofra on residential areas of Betunia continue from heavy machine gun fire and linked automatic 40mm 'launched' grenades. Israeli attack helicopters continue to hover over the city of Ramallah.
At approximately 8:30 PM, Israeli settlers from Bet El and soldiers surrounded the Jalazoune Refugee Camp and attacked residents.
Gaza
Clashes erupted this afternoon at the Mentar Crossing following the
funerals for Mahmoud Ahmad Ghali Abu Al Khair, Mohammad
Hillis, Hazem Moussa Abu Daf, Shadi Awwad Odeh, all killed
yesterday. Three Palestinians were killed this afternoon as a
result of the clashes. Ahmad Salman Tayeh, 15 years old from
Shate' (Beach) Refugee Camp, was shot and killed by live
ammunition to his head. Ibrahim Riziq Marzouk Omar, 15 years
old from Shate' (Beach) Refugee Camp, was shot and killed by live
ammunition to his chest. Mohammad Ibrahim Hajaj, 17 years old
from Shuja'iyeh, Gaza City, was shot and killed by 50mm
ammunition to his face. At least 40 Palestinians were injured, 8 of
which are in extremely critical condition. Brief exchange of fire
occurred afterwards at Mentar Crossing, followed by tank and
artillery shelling of the area by the Israeli military.
In Rafah, clashes erupted during the day, with several Palestinians injured, including 13 year old Abdel Aziz Ali Shaheen, who was shot twice by rubber coated steel bullets to his chest. After being shot, Abdel Aziz was abducted by Israeli soldiers and held for several hours, before being handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross. No medical care was administered while he was taken by the Israeli authorities, leaving him in critical condition.
In Deir Al Balah, near the Israeli settlement of Kfar Darom, a Palestinian pedestrian was shot by Israeli soldiers with live ammunition and remains in critical condition. No clashes occurred in the area.
Clashes erupted this evening at the Tufah Junction in Khan Younis, with at least 8 Palestinians injured from live ammunition, and 8 from rubber coated steel bullets.
Nablus
No clashes were reported today in Nablus. Israeli settlers attacked
Palestinian farmers in the villages of Orif, Deir Al Hattab, Salem
and Huwarra, which remains under Israeli imposed curfew for the
25th day. In Huwarra, 18 year old Sa'id Al Safadi and 37 year old
Saleh Al Safadi were shot by Israeli settlers, both in extremely
critical condition. Sa'id was shot in the neck by live ammunition
and Saleh was shot in the chest by live ammunition. At least 8
Palestinians were injured while driving in their cars as a result of
Israeli settler attacks outside of the village of Huwarra, on the main
Ramallah-Nablus road.
In the villages of Orif, Deir Al Hattab and Salem, Israeli settlers chased and shot at Palestinian farmers harvesting olives in their olive orchards. The farmers were subsequently prevented from entering the orchards. Residents in the area report that the settlers gathered the olives picked by the farmers and then proceeded to destroy all the olive trees.
Bethlehem area
Clashes erupted this afternoon near Al Bilal Mosque in Bethlehem,
resulting in the injury of 5 Palestinians. In the morning, Israeli
settlers alongside Israeli soldiers, attacked the village of Al Khader.
Four schools were closed down as Israeli settlers prevented
children from reaching their schools. Mohammad Mahmoud Al
Hroub, 27 years old and an officer in the Palestinian Force 17, was
killed this afternoon in Al Khader, and 12 Palestinians injured, after
which exchange of fire was reported between Palestinian police
and Israeli soldiers. An Israeli officer and a soldier were killed in
the confrontation, with four Israeli soldiers lightly wounded. The
Israeli military then used tanks and heavy artillery fire in random
attacks against the village, destroying at least 10 homes and
injuring 20 Palestinians. Later in the afternoon, at least 2 Israeli
attack helicopters randomly shelled residential areas in the village,
killing Wa'el Mohammad Shu'aib Ghneim, 26 years old from Al
Khader, who was shot in the chest by an Israeli attack helicopter
while standing in front of his home. At least 10 other homes were
damaged, and 2 homes burnt completely. Attacks continued for
several hours. Ambulances were also subjected to direct heavy
machine gun fire, preventing them from reaching the village to reach
those injured, forcing residents to use private vehicles to transport
the injured. At least 7 Palestinians are reported to be in extremely
critical condition. Late this evening, Marwan Tay'eh Joum'a Assaf,
21 years old from Wadi Kofin, Bethlehem, was reported killed as a
result of the attacks.
Early in the evening, heavy artillery, tanks and attack helicopters were used by the Israeli military to shell the towns of Beit Jala, Beit Sahour and Aida Refugee Camp. Several homes were damaged and many residents reported injured. Attacks continued late into the evening.
Jenin
Beginning at 3AM this morning, the villages of Silt Al Thaher and Al
Fandoukomiyeh were raided by hundreds of Israeli soldiers, with
tanks, armored cars and heavy artillery deployed throughout the
area. An Israeli imposed curfew was placed on the area, houses
were raided, and tens of residents were arrested and transferred by
bus to the nearby settlement of Hormish. Later on in the day, the
Israeli military ordered residents over the age of 30 to gather at the
schools in the area. The Girl's school of Silt Al Thaher was
converted into an Israeli military base, with tanks and armored cars
deployed in the area, along with bulldozers which placed cement
blocks throughout the road, closing off all streets in the area of
both villages. Palestinian residents refused to abide by the orders
to gather in the schools and the curfew imposed on the area, with a
number of Palestinian youth attempting to flee the area to avoid
arrest. Residents of Al Fandoukomiyeh made emergency calls to
Jenin for ambulances to be sent to the area as there are no
ambulances in the village. However, any ambulance attempting to
approach the two villages was subjected to Israeli military fire, and
prevented from reaching either of the villages.
Hebron
At approximately 11:30 PM this evening, the Israeli military called
on residents of the Sheikh and Abu Sneineh neighborhoods to
evacuate the area immediately. No further information is available.
At least 13 Palestinians were injured earlier this evening, with one
in critical condition.
Salfit
Clashes erupted in Salfit late this evening, with Israeli soldiers and
settlers shooting at residents. No further information is available.
Tulkarem
Israeli settlers attacked this afternoon the villages of Qabalan and
Nazlit Issa, causing damage to property and shooting at residents.
Later, the Israeli military raided the two villages, launching an
arrest
campaign, searching homes and damaging property in the
process. Outside the city of Tulkarem, near Khadoureh College,
the Israeli military shot from a nearby military post with heavy
machine gun fire and linked automatic 40mm 'launched' grenades
into the area and in the direction of the college, which only
resumed classes two days ago after previous Israeli attacks. Fires
started around the college as a result of the assault. Heavy
artillery and tanks also shelled residential areas in the city of
Tulkarem, causing damage to tens of houses and one school, with
electricity and phone lines subsequently cut. Fires were also
reported at the Fadliyeh School and the office of the Regional
Agricultural Affairs, affiliated to the Palestinian Ministry of
Agriculture, after being subjected to direct heavy machine gun fire.
Tawfik Hassan Abu Thareef, a Palestinian in his late 40s, was
directly hit by heavy machine gun fire while attempting to evacuate
a family from their nearby home. He is reported to be in extremely
critical condition and is presently undergoing surgery. The total
number of Palestinians injured in Tulkarem is not known as of yet.
Jericho
Armed confrontations took place this afternoon in Jericho, with one
Israeli officer killed. The Israeli military shelled late in the
evening
Aqbat Jaber Refugee Camp with heavy artillery, tanks and at least
two LAW missiles from attack helicopters. No information on
injuries and damage is available.
Jerusalem
Clashes erupted this afternoon in Qalandia Refugee Camp, Al Ram
and Shufat. No information on injuries is available. An intense
arrest campaign by the Israeli authorities continues throughout
areas in Jerusalem.