4-26-05, 9:02 am
From International Press Center
NABLUS, Palestine (IPC + WAFA) - - Israeli occupation forces continued imposing a tight siege on the occupied Palestinian territories, and escalated their military aggression against Palestinian people, as many civilians were wounded or arrested.
In Nablus province, IPC correspondent reported that Israeli forces deployed a large number of troops early this morning and spread military patrols in the area between the two military checkpoints 'Beit Eba' and 'Shafi Shamron', west of Nablus City.
On the other hand, Israeli forces arrested Maarouf Nasasra, 17, at the military checkpoint of Beit Foreek, east of Nablus, and led him to an undisclosed location. Israeli military sources claimed Nasasra was transporting four explosive charges across the checkpoint.
In addition, Israeli troops manning Howwara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested another civilian, claiming he was smuggling pistol bullets. He was also led to an undisclosed location.
Israeli special forces have infiltrated Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, early on Friday morning and surrounded a house there, in an attempt to arrest or extra-judicially execute two members of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fateh movement.
Both members; Alaa Sanakreh and Ahmad Abu Saltah, managed to escape the grip of the Israeli soldiers, but Abu Saltah sustained an injury in his foot during an exchange of gunfire with the invading Israeli unit.
Eyewitnesses affirmed that Israeli troops fired indiscriminately at civilians' homes, causing many damages.
In the meantime, Israeli forces tightened their military grip against civilians at Zaatara military checkpoint near the town of Howwara in Nablus. Eyewitnesses asserted that Israeli troops manning the checkpoint prevented thousands of civilians and cars from reaching the city of Ramallah, under the pretext of the closure imposed on Palestinian territories during the Jewish Holidays.
In Hebron, Israeli forces arrested five civilians from the town of Thaheriyya, south of the province, and closed two new roads leading to the holy Ibrahimi Mosque.
Witnesses told our correspondent that Israeli forces stormed Al Thaheriyya Town and arrested five civilians, all aged between 19 and 23 years. The soldiers forced dozens of civilians to come out of their houses in the open, before searching the houses thoroughly.
Israeli forces also sealed two new roads leading to the holy Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron City with cement blocks, as well as tightening their siege of the old town part of Hebron.
Local sources also mentioned that armed Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Ramat Yishai attacked civilians' homes in the city, throwing rocks and empty bottles in front of the Israeli soldiers, who didn't step in to prevent them.
In Tulkarem, Israeli forces arrested yesterday Loay Ashqar, 31, from the village of Saida, north of Tulkarem, after raiding the village and searching several houses.
Furthermore, Israeli forces stormed the city of Jenin and nearby town of Arraba, arresting five civilians, as local sources mentioned that more than 20 military vehicles invaded the city amidst heavy gunfire, before raiding several houses and searching them.
Among the arrested civilians were three brothers from Al Sammoudi family, the sources added, while the fourth was arrested by Israeli forces before and imprisoned for 18 months.
Elsewhere, Israeli forces set up a military roadblock in the town of Al Khadr, south of Bethlehem province. WAFA news agency reported that Israeli soldiers manned the roadblock and detained dozens of passing civilians after withholding their ID cards.
In Gaza Srip, Israeli forces opened heavy gunfire at the civilians waiting to cross Abu Holi checkpoint on Thursday evening, leading to the injury of Abdul Qader Abu Libdeh, 48, in his knee, as several others suffocated due to the firing of gas canisters.
Israeli forces have closed on Thursday both Abu Holi and Al Matahen checkpoints, which control the road connecting northern and southern Gaza Strip. The sudden closure prevented hundreds of civilians from reaching their homes or businesses.
