Before dawn, the IDF raids Khan Yunis, demolishes 30 Palestinian homes, severely damages 10 others. During the day in Bayt Hanun, the IDF exchanges heavy gunfire with Palestinians, leaving 5 Palestinian gunmen (including Hamas local cmdr. Nahid Abu Odeh, 3 AMB mbrs.) and 2 Palestinian bystanders dead, several wounded; 7 IDF soldiers are also injured, 1 seriously. The IDF raids Nablus, surrounds a residential building nr. al-Najah University, detains all residents, posts snipers on surrounding buildings, fires on residential areas, throws percussion grenades at journalists who arrive on the scene. The IDF raids the PA Religious Affairs Min. offices in Jenin and a religious organization in Qalqilya, causing heavy damage to the buildings, confiscating documents, sealing the offices for 2 yrs. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Bayt Furik nr. Nablus, 1 nr. Jenin. Islamic Jihad detonates a roadside bomb nr. an IDF jeep outside Gaza’s Morag settlement, injuring 5 IDF soldiers. (HA, MM 7/8; VOI, VOP, XIN 7/8 in WNC 7/9; MM, WP 7/9; PR 7/14; PCHR 7/15)
Thursday, July 8, 2004