Overnight, the IDF sends bulldozers into Khuza to level 45 d. of agricultural land and a poultry farm; sends undercover units into Gaza City, where they fire on a group of Palestinian resistance mbrs. in what may be an assassination attempt, wounding several, then fatally shooting a Palestinian bystander who comes to their aid. During the day, the IDF levels land along the border fence inside Gaza nr. Rafah. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches nr. Hebron. Some 300 Palestinian, Israeli, and international peace activists take part in the weekly nonviolent protest in Bil‘in against the separation wall; many demonstrators were participants at a wk.-long conference held in Bil‘in on Palestinian nonviolent resistance that ended today; several, including European Parliament VP Luisa Morgantini, Irish Nobel laureate Mairead Corrigan, and Italian judge Julio Toscano are among those injured when the IDF fires tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets to disperse the crowd, lightly injuring 13. The IDF also fires tear gas, percussion grenades at a similar protest al-Ma‘sara (no injuries reported). Jewish settlers fr. Hashmonim fire live ammunition at Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, causing no reported injuries. In Gaza City, Hamas-affiliated police attempt to arrest suspected drug dealers, sparking an exchange of gunfire that leaves 4 Palestinains dead (3 suspects, 1 policeman), 10 policemen wounded. (BBC 6/6; OCHA 6/11; PCHR 6/12)
Friday, June 6, 2008