Israeli occupation helicopters drop soldiers into West Bank town of Bala'a, troops storm several homes 

Date: 07 / 06 / 2007 Time: 11:35

Tulkarem - Jenin - Ma'an - 

Early on Thursday morning, Israeli forces dropped troops from a helicopter into the northern West Bank town of Bala'a, located east of Tulkarem. Israeli troops also ransacked a number of homes in both the Tulkarem and Jenin districts; no arrests were reported in either location.

A Palestinian security source told our Tulkarem correspondent that an Israeli helicopter dropped troops in the Wadi An-Neis area at 2:00 am, but the goals of the operation remain unknown.

In another incident, the Israeli forces also invaded the village of Kafr Al Labad, located south of Bala'a, where dozens of troops ransacked Palestinian homes amidst heavy gunfire. No injuries were reported.

Among the houses that were ransacked were houses belonging to Tawfiq Abu Khamis, and to Kayid Thulthin, who is an Islamic Jihad activist.

The incursion extended northward to include the village of Zeita, located north of Tulkarem, where 4 Israeli military jeeps entered the town searching for allegedly wanted Palestinians.

The Israeli forces also ransacked several homes in the town of Qabatiya, located south of Jenin in the north of the occupied West Bank, very early on Thursday morning. No arrests were reported.

Local sources told our Jenin correspondent that around 50 Israeli military vehicles invaded Qabatiya at 1:00 am, supported by a bulldozer and intelligence agents. The troops were deployed in several parts of the town and they closed the main entrances, preventing residents from going in or out.

The sources added that the Israeli forces ransacked homes belonging to members of the Fatah-affiliated Al-Aqsa Brigades, the Islamic Jihad-affiliated Al-Quds Brigades, and the Popular Resistance Committees' An-Nasser Salah Addin Brigades. They also interrogated residents about the activists' whereabouts. No arrests or casualties were reported.

according to Palestinian security sources, among the homes that were ransacked were those belonging to Zeid Zakarna from the Al-Aqsa Brigades in Qabatiya; Abd As-Salam Hanaysha; Muhammad Kameel; Ahmad Nazzal; Tayseer Zakarna; Rabi' Turkman; Bilal Kameel; Ala' Zakarna and Mahir Kameel.