Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Ramallah took control of the PA Culture Ministry building, Palestinian sources reported on Thursday.
They said Israeli soldiers took over the top floor of the building, which is located just south of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters compound, forcing all of the officials working there to leave.
Before dawn Thursday, Israeli infantry forces in the area of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip destroyed around 15 abandoned homes.
The Israeli army said those structures were used for cover by Palestinian "gunmen", claiming they were used by Palestinians to fire rifles, anti-tank missiles and grenades at Israeli positions.
During the operation, two Israeli soldiers were lightly injured when two bombs were detonated near a group of troops.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops also blew up two West Bank houses early Thursday, including a three-story apartment building belonging to Mohammed Musleh, a Palestinian prisoner held in Israel, and another house in the Ramallah suburb of Beitunia.
Elsewhere, in Hebron early Thursday, Israeli troops demolished the home of Abdullah Qawasme, formerly the head of the Hamas military wing in this West Bank city, who was killed by the army several months ago. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
