July 6, 2004

In continuing operations in Nablus, the IDF makes a predawn raid on a residential building, orders residents to evacuate, and immediately shoots the 1st 2 Palestinians who emerge—a Nablus University professor and his 16-yr.-old son—in an apparent botched assassination attempt. Later during the same maneuver, the IDF fatally shoots PFLP West Bank military cmdr. Yamun Faraj, senior PFLP cmdr. Amjad Hanani in an exchange of gunfire, in which an IDF officer is also killed, 3 IDF soldiers are wounded. In nearby Balata r.c., wanted Palestinian Wail Araysha is killed in a mysterious explosion in his car. In Gaza, 2 armed Palestinians open fire on, throw grenades at an IDF jeep, wounding 2 IDF soldiers; the soldiers return fire, killing both Palestinians. In Bayt Hanun, the IDF bulldozes at least 400 dunams of citrus trees, 1 Palestinian home, part of a cement factory; fires on stone-throwing youths; conducts arrest raids. The IDF also demolishes 4 Palestinian homes and a shop in Brazil r.c., 1 home in Wadi al-Silqa; conducts arrest raids in and around Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah; fires on residential areas of Rafah. (HA, PCHR, WT 7/6; VOI, VOP 7/6, 7/7 in WNC 7/9; NYT, PR, WP 7/7; PCHR 7/8; MEI 7/9; HA 7/23; PR 8/4)