The IDF assassinates Islamic Jihad mbrs. ‘Abd al-Ra’uf Abu ‘Assi, Hazim Irhayim, firing missiles at their car as they drive through Gaza City, injuring 1 bystander; sends troops into Nablus, sparking stone throwing, then firing on protesters, wounding 5; demolishes a Palestinian home in Yatta; bulldozes a Palestinian home, 6 dunams of land nr. Khan Yunis; fires on residential areas nr. Nablus and in Ramallah, Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayt ‘Umar nr. Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah. In ongoing operations in Bayt Hanun, the IDF raids the offices of an agricultural cooperative society, demolishes a factory, bulldozes more than 6 dunams of land. Some 10,000 Palestinians (including a significant number of armed, masked men, likely AMB) hold a pro-reform rally outside the PC headquarters in Gaza. (REU 7/22; JAZ, VOP 7/22 in WNC 7/24; MM, WP, WT 7/23; YA 7/23 in WNC 7/27; WT 7/24; PCHR 7/29)
Thursday, July 22, 2004