Israeli forces rethrusted into Nablus late Tuesday after an earlier delusive withdrawal. Shooting broke out between the occupation soldiers and Palestinian resistance fighters and reports on Wednesday said at least two Palestinians were killed. One of the dead Palestinians was unarmed the Israeli army acknowledged. Later, witnesses identified the two as Ibrahim Radwan al Atari, 32, and Abd al Afu al Qasas, 27.
Hamas website quoted eyewitnesses as saying that the two were arrested by Israeli troops, but later were executed in "cold blood." The site said al Atari was a member of Fatah's Return Brigades, an armed group that carried out many attacks against Israelis in the past three years.
An Israeli army spokesman said troops in Nablus shot and killed one Palestinian who drew a pistol and threatened to fire on them and a second who refused repeated commands to give himself up.
During overnight raids in the area of Nablus and the nearby town of Jenin, Israeli forces arrested 19 Palestinians, the army said.
Over the past 20 days the Israeli occupying forces have escalated their attacks against civilians, killing nearly 18, wounding further 200, arresting scores, imposing a strict curfew on the old city of Nablus as well as demolishing and dynamiting historical buildings which are home to dozens of Palestinian families.
Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli troops have shot dead an activist of Hamas movement early on Wednesday, during clashes in the Tulkarem refugee camp. Palestinian security sources said Hisham Khrewesh, 20, was killed during a shootout in the camp between Israeli troops and Palestinian fighters, which started after some 10 Israeli military vehicles moved into the area. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
