News, August 2003, www.aljazeerah.info
Human Price of the Israeli Occupation of Palestine
Israeli daily aggression on the Palestinian people
Mission and meaning of Al-Jazeerah
Cities, localities, and tourist attractions
Israel Steps Up Attacks Despite Palestinian Efforts to Restore Calm
Israeli Occupation Forces Extra-judicially Kill Activist in Gaza Air Raid
30/08/2003
Palestine Media Center- (PMC)
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) extra judicially killed a Palestinian activist when an Israeli helicopter gunship struck a donkey cart in southern Gaza, just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon instructed the IOF to “take all necessary steps” against Palestinian anti-occupation groups as the Palestine National Authority (PNA) increased its efforts to restore the rule of law and public order in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
According to witnesses, a Hamas member was traveling alone on the cart when it was struck by three rockets fired from an Israeli helicopter.
They said the man was killed instantly. Three other people near the cart were wounded, witnesses and hospital sources said.
Palestinian security sources identified the man killed as Hamdi Khalaq, a member of Hamas’ military wing, Izzedine al Qassam.
The latest Israeli strike came shortly after the PNA announced it had frozen the bank accounts of charities run by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Islamic organizations.
Mohammed Dahlan, the Palestinian Minister of Security Affairs, said most of the 39 charities that had their assets frozen were administered by Hamas. The PNA said it will now administer the funds.
The Palestinian Monetary Authority spokesman Abdel Maguid Mashrawi said the aim was to “monitor the money that is coming from outside, and to make sure that this money is used by these institutions for service purposes.”
Palestinian officials said the government is trying to find a way to monitor the money transfers so that the welfare payments can resume.
According to a copy of the order, obtained by The Associated Press, the nine charities are: Al Jamiya Al Islamiya, the Islamic Young Women's Association, As-Salah Association, the Social Care Committee, the Palestinian Student Friends Association, the Islamic Charity for Zakat, Al Mujamma Al Islami, Al Nour Charity Association and Al Aqsa Charity Association.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials said its security forces in northern Gaza Strip detained Hamas activists accused of firing Qassam rockets into Israel.
Separately, the Palestinian security forces destroyed tunnels leading from Egypt to Gaza used to smuggle arms and drugs.
Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Minister of Information Nabil Amre said on Thursday that the PNA security forces are operating to prevent any Israeli excuse to carry out widespread military raids in the Gaza Strip and other Palestinian territories.
Amre told reporters that the PNA is exerting efforts to stop any violations of the Palestinian hudna, or truce, referring to the Palestinian security forces’ attempt to stop the firing of Al Qassam rockets at Israel.
“It seems that Israel is insisting to continue its aggression and carry out military actions in the Palestinian territories regardless of the calls not to do so,” said Amre.
He called for an immediate international intervention to end the Israeli threats to carry out military attacks against the Palestinians.
“External powers must use its influence on Israel to stop the current deterioration in the region,” the PNA official urged.
Despite the Palestinian efforts, IOF seemed persistent on carrying out more incursions into the Palestinian territories as IOF vehicles raided the Beit Hanun area, in the northern Gaza Strip, demolishing a farm on Thursday.
In the West Bank, mass IOF forces raided the northern town of Jenin.
Eight Israeli tanks and armored vehicles opened fire at Palestinian houses.
Israeli occupation troops also raided the Balata refugee camp on the edge of Nablus on Friday, which is the West Bank’s largest city.
IOF troops broke through walls to move from house to house, witnesses said.
In their raids, IOF soldiers caused considerable damage to several homes, demolishing walls, overturning furniture and breaking household goods, residents said.
A Palestinian legislator from Balata, Kamal Afghani, was trapped in his home after troops took it over as a lookout, a neighbor said.
 |
| Earth, a planet hungry for peace |
 |
| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03). |
 |
| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03). |
 |