Israeli troops raided early Thursday on the Gaza Strip town of Deir al-Balah, wounding and arresting a number of Palestinians, as well as demolishing three homes, witnesses and Palestinian security sources said.
On Wednesday, Amnesty International in its 2004 report on the state of human rights around the globe harshly criticized as "collective punishment" Israel's destruction of homes during raids into Palestinian areas.
Witnesses told WAFA that Israeli forces, including bulldozers broke into Abu ‘Reif street of the town and arrested a number of Palestinians after storming their houses.
Palestinian security sources confirmed that Israeli soldiers also seized several houses amid intensive shooting. They positioned themselves atop the houses, turning them into military posts.
Elsewhere, Israeli soldiers arrested Thursday five civilians in the West Bank city Bethlehem, witnesses said.
Witnesses told WAFA that Israeli undercover units broke into the building of "al-Salah Charity Society," arresting the five. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
