February 3, 2008

Egypt and Hamas complete resealing of the Rafah border. Egyptian border police allow Palestinians still in Egypt to return to Gaza but do not allow any Palestinians into Egypt. The Israeli navy fires on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Bayt Lahiya, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Qabatya to ambush 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. in an apparent assassination attempt, killing Islamic Jihad’s Ahmad Abu Zaid and Ammar Zakarna, wounding Naji Nazzal; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, in Balata r.c., nr. Bethlehem. (NYT, WP 2/4; OCHA 2/6; PCHR 2/7)