At least 11 Palestinians were killed Monday by Israeli fire in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In the latest incident, at least two Palestinians were shot dead in Ramalllah. Throughout the day, at least nine Palestinians were killed during the on-going Israeli attack on Gaza Strip.
Ramallah
Two Palestinians, members of Force 17, the Palestinian presidential guard, were killed late Monday during firefights with raiding Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Ramallah. An Israeli soldier sustained serious head wounds and later died in hospital, Israeli press reports said.
Gaza Strip
An Israeli air raid on the Jabalya refugee camp in north of Gaza Strip killed at least five Palestinians, including a senior Hamas activist, early Monday, witnesses and medics said.
Medics at Kamal Edwan hospital of the camp told WAFA that the five were identified as Fares al-Masry, Rumel al-Birawy, Ismael Dahman, Mohammed al-Baba and Mohammed al-Hissy, 24. The bodies were turned into pieces due to the missile attack.
The Israeli army said the attack had targeted a group of Palestinians caught planting a bomb. Hamas confirmed Al-Birawi, Al-Masri and Dahman were members of Ezzeddin al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Movement.
Shortly after midnight Sunday, an Israeli helicopter fired two missiles at a group of Palestinians in Gaza City, witnesses said. Residents said the target was apparently a local Hamas commander, who was seriously wounded, along with another man and a woman.
Israeli troops also killed a Palestinian civilian in Beit Lahiya while he was standing outside his house, Palestinian witnesses said.
Later in Jabalya, Islam Nader Dweidar, 14, was shot dead by Israeli gunfire as she baked bread in her garden with her mother, according to hospital officials and witnesses.
Israeli troops also killed a Palestinian child in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, Palestinian witnesses said. The 4-year old victim was identified as Luay Ayman al-Najjar.
In the latest incident, a Palestinian fighter who opened fire on an Israeli car near the "Kissufim" checkpoint was killed by Israeli troops Monday night.
Despite the on-going Israeli raid, Palestinian gunners fired two more rockets Monday morning at the Israeli town of Sderot, lightly wounding one person, according to rescue workers.
UNSC
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Monday afternoon to discuss Israel's attack on the northern Gaza Strip, it was decided Sunday.
Algeria requested the meeting Sunday, in accordance to the Arab League's demand that the Security Council hold a special meeting on the operation.
More than 70 Palestinians have been killed during the so-called Operation Days of Penitence, which began last Tuesday.
The 22-member Arab League decided on Sunday to ask the UN General Assembly to discuss "the grave Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people."
In a statement issued after an emergency meeting, Arab League representatives called on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to prepare a report on the Israeli "crimes" against the Palestinian people and asked governments and relief agencies to send humanitarian aid. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
