Saturday, December 18, 2004

The IDF continues operations in Khan Yunis until midday, killing another 2 Palestinian resistance mbrs., wounding around 23; sends troops into Bethlehem, arrests a 9-yr.-old Palestinian boy, takes him to Gilo checkpoint at the entrance to town, where troops question him for 4 hrs. before releasing him, leaving him to walk home; tightens Palestinian movement around Nablus; fires on residential areas of Rafah, injuring a 4-yr.-old and a 16-yr.-old Palestinian inside their homes; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Qalqilya. Palestinians fire 3 Qassam rockets toward Sederot, 2 land inside Israel and 1 in n. Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in Jabaliya r.c. on 10/1/04. (MENA, VOP 12/18 in WNC 12/21; WP, WT 12/19; CSM, PM 12/20; PCHR 12/23)