NEWS: Palestinian boy killed in latest Israeli attack 8-7-04

Ten-year-old boy among the dead in face of brutal Israeli military assaults
Thursday August 5, 2004
The Palestine Monitor/A PNGO Information Clearinghouse

(RAMALLAH, Palestine) -- The Israeli army may have pulled briefly out of Beit Hanoun this morningbut it came after another night of heavy bombardment of the heavily populated northern Gaza Strip along with a general escalation ofoperations throughout the territories that left five dead and dozensinjured.

Ten year old Ali Abdul Rahim Abu Elba was among the dead the Israeli army left behind as they withdrew from their night of raids on thePalestinian communities in the north of Gaza.

Yesterday Israeli tanks and bulldozers invaded the heavily populated areas of Beit Lahiya and Jebaliya, tearing up agricultural land, demolishing shops and workshops, firing randomly into houses and digging up the towns' streets, restricting movement further with barriers before establishing a new military post in the area.

Dozens were injured in the attack as Apache helicopters began shelling the area and immense damage was caused toPalestinian infrastructure. Three Palestinians were killed and 35 were injured in the clashes which broke out between soldiers and resistance within the community.

Many children who joined in throwing stones at their aggressors were alsoinjured.

Along with Ali Abdul Rahim, two other young men were killed. Qasam Atouq, age 19m and Wahil Abu Ajidian who was 17 or 18. All three suffered live bullets in the upper part of their bodies. Five of the injured remain in serious conditions in Al Awda and Kamal Adwan Hospitals.

The Israeli troops have apparently now redeployed on the outskirts ofJebalya, sparking fears of a renewed operation in this area.

* Also in Rafah yesterday Jihad Sami Al Bis, 19 was killed and 3 injured during the heavy shelling which accompanied the Israeli invasionof Yibna refugee camp on the Palestinian/Egyptian border. Israeli forcesblew up two houses on the southern outskirts of the refugee camp. Theexplosions caused substantial damage to other nearby properties. A medical centre belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency was reportedly targeted and Israeli forces also shot at the Al Amal centre for rehabilitation.

* In Nablus - Awad Mousa Hashesh was killed when Israeli troops invaded the city centre. Having entered the Anabtawi building they tried to impose an ambush but were discovered. Awad was in the street close bywhen he was shot in the face and killed. Three others were injured.

* In the Qalqilya district about 30 military vehicles invaded the village of Azoun Etma to the south of Qalqilya city and imposed a curfew. They then demolished 8 houses, 4 shops and around 20 tents ofthe Bedouins - apparently pitched without permission.

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