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Latest Developments No. 49 - Sunday 5 November 2000 Web posted 8:30pm (GMT+2)), Ramallah, West Bank


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 2 Palestinians killed and at least 80 Palestinians injured. Israeli se ttler attacks on Palestinian residents either travelling on major roads, attempting to harvest olive orchards, or in residential areas continue, in addition to bulldozing of Palestinian agricultural lands and uprooting of olive and fruit trees.

In a frightening development, a new Palestinian refugee camp, "Shepherds 2000", was created in Bethlehem to shelter over 120 Palestinian families whose homes were destroyed in the area as a result of Israeli shelling. At least 9 of these residents' homes were completely destroyed as a result of the attacks.

Maher Mohammad Al Sa'eedi, 16 years old from Breij Refugee Camp, Gaza, was shot and killed today by live ammunition today to his head.

Marwan Khalil Al Ghamari, 28 years old from Shuja'iyeh, Gaza was shot and killed today by live ammunition to his chest.

Hebron
Residents of Hebron spent a night in terror as the Israeli military shelled with tanks and heavy machine gun fire, in addition to 4 missiles from attack helicopters, residential areas beginning late in the evening and con tinuing until the early hours of this morning. Severe damage to homes in the area was reported. Clashes erupted this afternoon throughout the city of Hebron and surrounding villages, with the heaviest clashes reported in the Beit 'Anoun junction near the village of Sa'ir, the site of yesterday's attacks. At least 6 Palestinians were injured by live ammunition as a result of today's clashes.

Samir Ghaith, 5 years old from Hebron, was run over by an Israeli settler from Qiryat Arba, who fled after hitting the child. The Israeli military detained the ambulance that was trying to transport Samir to the hospital . He remains in critical condition in hospital.

Jawdat Jamil Taha, 10 years old from Hebron, was severely beaten by Israeli soldiers this afternoon, breaking both of his arms, for breaking an Israeli imposed curfew on Israeli controlled areas of Hebron. At least 50,00 0 Palestinians live in areas that remain under Israeli imposed curfew for over a month, 15,000 of these school children who have been prevented from attending school for over a month.

Ghazaleh Jawdat Issa Ahmad Jarradat, 13 years old from Sa'ir, Hebron, who was reported yesterday to be clinically dead as a result of live ammunition to her head, was today reported to be in extremely critical condition, and not clinically dead.

Bethlehem area
Clashes erupted this afternoon in the village of Tqu' on the outskirts of the village where the majority of schools are, after provocation by Israeli settlers. At least 30 Palestinians were injured, including Mohammad Al Sha'ir, 16 years old, who was shot by live ammunition to his chest, and Morad Abu Mifreh, 16 years old, who was shot by live ammunition to his pelvis and thighs. Both are reported to be in critical condition.

Ramallah
Clashes erupted this afternoon at the northern entrance of Al Bireh following a peaceful march including Christian and Muslim leaders. At least 2 Palestinians were injured as a result of live ammunition.

Late last night, the Israeli military attacked residential areas of Betunia, Al Bireh and the Masyoun neighborhood in Ramallah with tanks and heavy machine gun fire. Attacks continued until at least 5 am this morning. S evere damage was reported to a number of homes in the area.

Gaza
Clashes erupted throughout Gaza this afternoon, with at least 40 Palestinians injured as a result of live ammunition, a number of which are in critical condition, and 2 Palestinians killed. Maher Mohammad Al Sa'eedi, 16 y ears old from Breij Refugee Camp, Gaza, was shot and killed today by live ammunition today to his head. Marwan Khalil Al Ghamari, 28 years old from Shuja'iyeh, Gaza was shot and killed today by live ammunition to his che st at Mentar Crossing.

Nahed Al Louh, 22 years old from Deir Al Balah Refugee Camp, was buried this afternoon in Gaza. Nahed was shot and killed two days ago in by live ammunition to his chest in the West Bank city of Tulkarem, where he and hi s father were working. The Israeli authorities refused to allow the transfer of his corpse to Gaza for burial for two days. After finally permitting his body to be transported to Gaza, Nahed's father was refused entry i nto Gaza to attend the funeral of his son.

Late last night, the Israeli military shelled with tanks and heavy machine gun fire residential areas in Rafah and Khan Younis. Many houses were damaged as a result of the attacks, with a number of families losing their homes. This morning, in the areas of Rafah and Khan Younis, the Israeli authorities bulldozed Palestinian agricultural lands and uprooted olive trees. A new Israeli military installation has been deployed near Rafah.

Nablus
Israeli settler attacks were reported throughout the Nablus area. Bulldozing of Agricultural lands and uprooting of olive trees and fruit trees continued in a number of areas in Nablus. The village of Huwarra remains un der Israeli imposed curfew for the 29th day.

Jenin
Clashes erupted this afternoon in areas of Jenin, Ya'bad, and 'Arrabi, with a number of Palestinians injured. The Israeli military threw gas into schools in the Jenin area while pupils were in class, forcing the children to evacuate and the schools to shut down. Ya'bad High School has been closed for over a month as a result of Israeli settler and soldier attacks.

Qalqilya
The Israeli military attacked for the first time residential areas in Qalqilya with tanks and heavy machine gun fire.

Jerusalem
A general strike was observed throughout East Jerusalem in mourning over the murders of three residents of Hizmah in the past two days. Brief clashes were reported in a number of areas in Jerusalem.


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