Overnight, the IDF makes a ground incursion into n. Gaza, killing 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. in Bayt Hanun, conducting arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Lahiya. During the day, the IDF makes an air strike on a car carrying suspected Islamic Jihad mbrs. in Gaza City, missing the target, causing damage but no injuries; bulldozes Palestinian land along the border n. of Bayt Lahiya. Later Islamic Jihad fires 3 rockets on Sederot, lightly injuring 1 Israeli, otherwise causing no damage; the IDF fires surface-to-surface missiles at the n. Gaza launch site, killing 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, Hebron. Jewish settlers marching to the abandoned Homesh settlement site vandalize a Palestinian home, set fire to 5 d. of Palestinian crops nr. Nablus. In a separate incident, Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar set fire to 100 Palestinian olive trees nr. Nablus. In Gaza City, suspected Fatah gunmen fire on an ESF patrol, wounding 1 ESF officer. A PA presidential guardsman dies of injuries received during Gaza’s 6/07 internal clashes. (NYT, WP 7/23; OCHA 7/25; PCHR 7/26)
Sunday, July 22, 2007