Israeli army invades Gaza, kills one civilian, and kidnaps 20 others, while in the West Bank troops attack a peaceful protest and kidnap two activists. These stories and more coming up, stay tuned.

The News Cast

Palestinians sources reported that the Israeli army has kidnapped 20 Palestinians civilians so far during an ongoing military operation targeting the town of Beit Hannon in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Witnesses said that soldiers have taken a number of houses and are using them as military posts. They added that troops rounded up at least 20 men and took them to an unknown location.

A elder Palestinian man from the northern Gaza Strip was killed earlier on Thursday morning after Israeli army tanks rolled into the area and began shooting heavily. Witnesses said that more than 30 Israeli armored vehicles, including tanks, thrust a few hundred meters into Beit Hanoun as accompanying bulldozers began razing vast areas of Palestinian-owned farm lands in the area.

In response to the Israeli incursion, the aL-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, opened heavy fire at a number of tanks, while the brigade's fighters engaged in gun battles with the invading forces, Al-Qassam brigades announced in a statement faxed to press.

A group of Palestinian, Israeli, and international peace activists reclaimed an evacuated Israeli military post near the central West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday.

The post is located at the main road that connects the village of Ein-Qinyah with the nearby city of Ramallah, several years ago the army installed a checkpoint and a military post there, separating the village from Ramallah. The land on which the military post is located is privately owned by farmers from the village of Ein-Qinyah.

Today, nonviolent activists came and opened the road and then took over the military post. The army evacuated this military post two months ago, and then settlers came and installed caravans in it in preparation to take over the land and make a settlement.

A witness told IMEMC that as soon as the army knew about their presence there they opened fire. He added that a car that belonging to the Reuters news Agency was hit with live ammunition rounds and sustained damage.

Several hours later Israeli troops and Settlers attacked the peace activists with rifle buts and batons. Two activists were kidnapped by the Israeli soldiers and taken to a nearby Israeli settlement. Troops forced the protesters out then closed the road again and retook the military post.

Conclusion

Thank you for joining us from occupied Bethlehem. You have been listening to Palestine Today, from the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org. This report has been brought to you by Aaron Lakoff and Ghassan Bannoura.