Three minors among nine kidnapped in Ni'lin

Date: 11 / 09 / 2008  Time:  10:06
Bethlehem – Ma’an –

Israeli occupation forces reportedly kidnapped nine Palestinians near Ramallah on Thursday.

Eight of the six men and three children lived in the village of Ni’lin, west of the city. One other detainee is from Ramallah. All were taken for investigation, according to Israeli and Palestinian sources.

Witnesses said Israeli forces took two of the minors when they could not locate those they intended to arrest.

The father of Mohammed Salah Khawaja, 12, told reporters that Israeli occupation soldiers used the boy as a human shield against rocks thrown by Palestinian youths.

The two other minors kidnapped in the raid are Mohammed Loi Khawaja, 13, and Sofian Nawaf Khawaje, 17.

Israeli forces also took Arafat 'Amira, Imad Azzam Khawaja, 18, Mustafa Khawaja, 20, Milhim 'Amira, 22, Yousuf 'Amira, 34 and Salah 'Amira, 36.

Israeli occupation forces kidnap two Palestinians during raids in Tulkarem area

Date: 11 / 09 / 2008  Time:  10:58
Tulkarem – Ma’an –

Israeli occupation forces kidnapped two Palestinians during a dawn raid in the West Bank city of Tulkarem and the nearby town of Anbata.

Palestinian security sources said that Israeli occupation forces their way into a number of private homes, ultimately detaining 21 year-old Muhammad Omar Ashqar from Tulkarem and 20-year-old Ghassan Abu Rayya from Anabta.

Israeli occupation forces withdrew in the early morning. It is not known where Ashqar and Abu Rayya are being held.

Israeli occupation forces invade a West Bank village

Thursday September 11, 2008 10:15 by IMEMC Staff - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli occupation forces  invaded early on Thursday morning the West Bank village of Abu Nujaim, to the south of Bethlehem city in the occupied West Bank. 

Palestinian security sources told media outlets that an Israeli occupation army contingent stormed the village, through its main entrance and then enforced tightened security measures, preventing access of local residents in and out of the village.

Witnesses said that the Israeli soldiers broke into the residents' houses, vandalizing furniture and then arresting an inhabitant.

Israeli occupation army invasions of Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps in the West Bank take place on daily basis, where the Israeli occupation of Palestine continues for more than four decades now.

Israeli occupation navy fires on Palestinian fishing boat, causing damage but no injuries

Date: 11 / 09 / 2008  Time:  15:25
Gaza – Ma’an –

Israeli occupation gunboats opened fire on a Palestinian fishing boat in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday night, causing 70,000 dollars of damage but no injuries, fishermen in Gaza said on Thursday.

Murad Al-Hessi, the boat’s owner, said the eight people on board the boat were rescued by nearby fishing vessels.

The head of the fishermen’s professional association, Muhammad Al-Assi, held a press conference in front of the destroyed boat, which is now docked in Gaza, to condemn the Israeli attack.

Al-Assi urged Arab states in particular to wake up to the severe conditions faced by Gazan fishermen. He said that Israel’s blockade of Gaza has harmed the fishing industry. In addition to the physical danger posed by the Israeli navy, Gazan fishermen lack adequate fuel and other supplies do to the closure of Gaza’s borders.

An Israeli naval vessel crashes a Palestinian fishing boat

Thursday September 11, 2008 09:58 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian sources said yesterday night that an Israeli naval vessel crashed a Palestinian fishing boat while on board on Gaza shores.

Nezzar Ayesh, head of fishermen syndicate, told media outlets that the Israeli vessel hit the fishing boat severely , causing the light injury of fisherman Ahmad Al-Hessi.

At the Al-Shifa hospital of Gaza city, wounded Al-Hessi told media outlets that he was surprised by the collision with the Israeli vessel.

" Me and my colleague were on board , trying to earn a living, when the Israeli naval vessel crashed our boat, damaging it badly".

Local estimates suggest that there are 5,000 Palestinian families depend on fishing in the coastal region.

Fishing industry has been badly impacted due to the ongoing Israeli blockade on Gaza as well as the frequent Israeli navy harassments of fishermen, human rights groups say.