Israeli tanks early Friday streamed into the Palestinian towns of Nablus and El Bireh, near Ramallah, Palestinian security officials said. They said some 15 tanks had moved into Nablus.
Israeli soldiers opened fire, but no casualties were reported, after the tanks entered the town from two directions, the officials added.
Several Israeli tanks, as well as armored vehicles, also entered the town of El Bireh, near Ramallah, reaching the center of the town, the security officials said. There were no injuries.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army has reoccupied the West Bank town of Jenin and its refugee camp, witnesses and a Palestinian security source told AFP.
Early Friday, the Palestinian source said dozens of Israeli tanks, backed by helicopters, had rolled into the Palestinian town and the refugee camp, opening fire on several targets, and that fighting with Palestinians was continuing one hour after the operation started.
The Israeli army said that as soon as it had finished the operation it would pull out of the refugee camp. "It is a poinpoint operation in the refugee camp. Arrests have been made. When we are done, we will get out," a military spokeswoman said.
Palestinians said that two activists had been arrested, including Jamal abu-Alwafa, a member of Fatah’s Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade.
The witnesses said that in the refugee camp, Israeli forces surrounded the house of a leader of Hamas and ordered him outside. The leader, Jamal Abu al-Hija, did not appear, but his wife and children left the house. Soldiers then threw hand grenades inside and the house caught fire, the witnesses said.
Overnight Thursday, according to Israeli sources, an Israeli patrol killed an armed Palestinian who approached the northern Gaza Strip settlement of Dugit. (Albawaba.com)
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