The Israeli army kills a Palestinian farmer in Gaza, and kidnaps civilians from the West Bank, these stories and more coming up. Stay tuned.

The News Cast

A Palestinian farmer was killed near the Israeli Gaza border when he was fired on by Israeli tanks on Tuesday. Witnesses said that Israeli tanks shelled civilian homes and farms, in the village of al-Faraheen at borders with Israel, located near the southern Gaza strip city of Khan Younis, Medics said that Anwar Al Bareem, age 27, was dead on arrival at the hospital in Khan Younis.

Israeli media sources said that Israeli troops near the border opened fire and clashed with local fighters before shelling nearby areas. The Israeli Army also said that a road side bomb was detonated by Palestinian fighters close to Israeli military vehicles.

Media sources said that an Israeli soldier was killed by the road side bomb which exploded near the southern Gaza – Israel border. Army sources reported that an Israeli soldier was killed and three others were injured in the blast. Last week Israeli naval boats violated the declared ceasefire in Gaza on a number of occasions.

On Thursday of last week, Israeli Navy forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen just off the shore of Gaza City, injuring seven civilians. A day earlier, the boats fired shells at the coast line, causing damage but no injuries.

Israel announced the unilateral ceasefire on Sunday January 17th, 2009 after the Israeli Army embarked on a 22-day military offensive which began on Saturday, December 27th, 2008. Homes, schools, mosques, UN centers, and media agencies were attacked by Israeli air, sea, and ground forces leaving at least 1,330 Palestinians dead.

In the West Bank, medical sources reported that Israeli troops shot and injured two Palestinian youths on Tuesday morning at al-Far'a refugee camp, in Tubas city in the northern West Bank. Local sources reported that Israeli soldiers stormed the refugee camp on Tuesday morning and opened fire on local residents and their homes, injuring the two young men.

Meanwhile at least 10 Palestinian civilians were kidnapped by the Israeli military during pre dawn invasions targeting several parts of the West Bank on Tuesday.

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 Ghassan Bannoura.