Three Palestinians die in Gaza and the army kidnaps 16 civilians from the West Bank. These stories and more coming up - stay tuned.

The News Cast

Two Palestinians who were injured during the Israeli offensive on Gaza died of their wounds at an Egyptian hospital on Tuesday.

The Palestinian Ministry of Heath, reported that the bodies of the two patients were transferred back to Gaza via the Rafah terminal.

Also on Tuesday, the Egyptian Authorities allowed the transfer of 22 patients back to Gaza after receiving medical treatment. Palestinian sources at the Rafah terminal reported that Egypt informed the Palestinian side of the crossing that the terminal will be opened in both directions for three days next week.

On Monday night a Palestinian patient from Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip died after Israel barred him from leaving the Gaza Strip for medical treatment abroad.

Israeli jet fighters have conducted several bombing raids in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah along the borders with Egypt on Tuesday afternoon, Witnesses said that jet fired several missiles at open areas along the border line. The Israeli army says that this area has underground tunnels which Israel claims that Palestinian factions use to smuggle weapons into Gaza.

Palestinian medical sources said that ambulances rushed to the bombarded areas but no injures were reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli tanks at the borders near Khan Younis town in central Gaza opened fire on farmers while working on their land nearby; medical sources reported no injures.

At least 16 Palestinian civilians were reported to have been kidnapped by the Israeli military during early morning invasions, targeting several communities all over the West Bank on Tuesday. Eight civilians were kidnapped from Nablus; seven from Ramallah and one from Hebron, local sources reported.


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 Mary Arthur and Ghassan Bannoura.