newspalestine-Besieged Gaza
According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) Weekly Report, in the week of the 29th of November to 5th of December, 20 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces, 22 were wounded, and 56 were abducted by Israeli forces.
18 of the victims are members of the military wing of Hamas and were killed by missiles and tanks shells. In addition to the killed and wounded, Israeli forces have continued to impose a total siege on the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza, and have cut off fuel supplies and electricity to Gaza. The number of patients who died due to the denial of their access to medical treatment increased to 13.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli Forces conducted 19 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Israeli troops positioned at checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children. 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded Israeli Forces used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized in protest of the construction of the Wall.
On December 2nd, Israeli Forces killed a Palestinian civilian near Ramallah, when they deliberately fired at him when he was having a picnic together with 2 of his relatives.
On 5 December 2007, an Israeli undercover unit shot dead a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Bethlehem. An Israeli spokesman claimed that the Israeli military operation in Bethlehem was “aimed at arresting wanted Palestinians, but Israeli Forces troops were fired at by militants and they returned fire.” He further claimed that Israeli Forces initiated an investigation into the incident.
But according to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 16:15, a vehicle of the Palestinin Customs Department was patrolling on Hebron – Bethlehem road, southeast of Bethlehem. A civilian van with a Palestinian registration plate chased the vehicle and demanded the driver to stop, but he proceeded towards the Palestinian security compound. Members of the Palestinian National Security Forces positioned in the area attempted to stop the suspicious van. Immediately, Israeli troops inside the van opened fire at members of the National Security Forces, wounding Mohammed Khalil Suleiman Salah, 36, with 4 gunshots to the head, the abdomen and the right thigh. He died at Beit Jala Hospital an hour later. Soon after, Israeli military vehicles moved into the town, and Israeli troops opened fire at Palestinian security sites, houses and shops. They withdrew from the town at approximately 17:30 that same evening.
During the reporting period, Israeli Forces conducted at least 19 military incursion
