Two Palestinians Killed by Israeli Troops in W. Bank
2006-02-19 21:32:03
CRIENGLISH.com
Two Palestinian youths were killed and some 13 others wounded by Israeli troops' gunfire on Sunday in the refugee camp of Balata, east of the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian security and medical sources said.
The sources said that Israeli troops backed by a large number of army jeeps and armored vehicles stormed the refugee camp at predawn to search for wanted Palestinian militants.
Israeli soldiers opened fire at dozens of Palestinian youths who threw stones at the Israeli troops to prevent their advance, and two of the youths were shot dead, the sources added.
Meanwhile, medics at the Rafidia hospital in the city confirmed that Mohammed Natour and Ibrahim Issa, both 17, were killed, adding that some 13 Palestinian youths were also wounded by Israeli gunfire.
Local residents said that the Israeli troops demolished a Palestinian house where one of the wanted militants was hiding. They also said that the Israeli army imposed a curfew on the refugee camp.
At least five Palestinians, including two militants affiliated with the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades which is an armed wing of the Fatah movement, were arrested during the Israeli raid.
Sunday's violence came one day after the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) formally took over the Palestinian parliament as the majority faction, the first time in Palestinian history.
The group, nominating Gaza-based leader Ismail Haneya as prime minister, will form a new government in the coming weeks.
In response, the Israeli cabinet approved a set of sanctions on the Palestinian government, including a halt of monthly transfer of tax revenues Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian National Authority.
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Producer: Xie Qiao