Troops invade Nablus and Beit Ilma refugee camp , kills one and injuries two,

Israeli troops killed a Palestinian resistance fighter early Wednesday morning in a gunfight in the Ain Bait Ilma refugee camp that injured two others.
Daud Katumi, 25, a member of al-Aqsa Brigades, an armed wing of the Fatah movement, was shot in the head after soldiers came under fire while searching homes in the camp. The army claims that Katumi was armed.
One Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades operative was killed in Nablus this morning during an exchange of fire with an army unit operating in the Ayn Bayt al-Ma refugee camp near the city. Another two members Al Aqsa were injured.

Three children dead and ten wounded in Israeli air strike in crowded refugee camp Tuesday.

Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a car in the crowded Jebaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza Tuesday afternoon, killing a five year old boy, and his seven year old sister, another 16 year old girl traveling in the vehicle died later in hospital. Ten more people were wounded, including seven children.
Israel confirmed the strike, claiming the car was carrying armed men from the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, affiliated with the Fatah movement.
Witnesses said the men jumped out of the car before the explosion.
The children killed were listed by Maan News Agency as Muhammad Jamal Ruqah, 5, Nida’ Ruqah, 7, and Bilal Jasim Al- Hassi, 16.
Aljazeera reported the injured children ranged in age from 2 to 12 years old and three were considered in serious condition.
Hundreds of protesters surrounded the charred vehicle in a narrow street the al-Aqsa Martyr’s Brigades has already vowed retaliation.


Al Quds Brigades launches projectiles at Sderot and Nahal Oz Tuesday evening

The Al Quds Brigades, the military wing affiliated to the Islamic Jihad Movement, fired three homemade projectiles into the Israeli towns of Sderot and Nahal Oz Tuesday evening, Maan News Agency reports.
The Brigades said in a statement that the launch was in retaliation for the Israeli air strike in Jebaliya refugee camp that left three children dead and ten more wounded.
The Brigade said they will continue launching projectiles to resist the Israeli occupation.

Rafah crossing closed after European observers failed to come to work.

European monitors required to observe Rafah border crossings between Egypt and the Gaza Strip did not show up for work, forcing the crossing to be closed indefinitely.
Palestinian sources told the Maan News Agency that a representative for the monitors came to the crossing and informed the Palestinian workers that they are withdrawing without saying if they will return to work.
Saeb Erekat, the head Palestinian negotiator, said the monitors sent him a letter saying they could not continue their job as long as large sums of money continue to be transported through the crossing.
Last week Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar crossed from Egypt into the Gaza Strip with US $20 million in cash from Asian countries he visited to receive financial support. Palestinian Information Minister Yousef Ruzqa also crossed into Gaza with a reported sum of US $4 million.
Army intensifies its presence in Tubas and its surroundings

Israeli army intensified its presence, Wednesday morning in the northern West Bank city of Tubas, and the surrounding villages and towns
Local sources reported that the soldiers installed a number of portable military checkpoints on the roads that connect the city with its out lying areas.
The sources added that the army installed checkpoints near the towns of Aqaba and Tamoun, in Wadi Alfar’a area, and in Mazare’ Kishda area.
Army has repeatedly invaded the city of Tubas and its villages.

Army breaks into two Hebron charitable societies, confiscates and destroys contents.

Isareli army raided two charitable societies, in the West Bank city of Hebron Wednesday at dawn, damaged their contents and confiscated documents and appliances.
Local sources in Al-Ehsan charitable society located in Bee’r Al-Mehjar neighborhood north west of the city reported that dozens of Israeli armored vehicles broke into the building on Wednesday at dawn and conducted searches that destroyed the cupboards and beds of the residents and people with special needs residing in the building. The Army also confiscated four computers.
Dr Asem Al Tamimi head of the society denounced the attack and said that, the society is taking care of a total of 120 elderly residents and handicapped children.
Al Tamimi called for Human rights organizations to intervene to protect the handicapped children and the elderly residents “this the fourth time the Israeli army invaded the society, despite of the fact that its is a humane society and does not have any political motives.”
Meanwhile, Israeli army broke into the building of the Islamic charitable society located in Al-Haouz Al Awal neighborhood in Hebron and damaged the inside doors of the building and confiscated five of its computers in addition to documents and files. This society was invaded and closed by military orders more than once during the Intifada.

And that’s just some of the news for today in Palestine. For constant updates, check out the International Middle East Media Center website, www.IMEMC.org. As always, thanks for joining us. From Occupied Bethlehem, this is Palestine today, brought to you by Pennie Quinton and Seth Porcello