IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fatally shoot a Palestinian nr. the border, claiming that he attempted to fire on them. The Israeli navy diverts a Lebanese cargo ship (organized by Lebanese politicians and human rights groups) en route to Gaza to an Israeli port and detains the crew of 20, including an al-Jazeera reporter. After confirming that the cargo contained only food, medicine, bedding, and toys, Israel agrees to transport the aid to Gaza. Israel, which has been allowing only very limited amounts of cooking gas and fuel for Gaza’s electricity plant into Gaza, cuts off fuel deliveries without comment but allows 114 truckloads of humanitarian aid and commercial goods into Gaza. In the West Bank, IDF undercover units make an early morning raid on a home in Qabatya, fatally shooting Islamic Jihad mbr. Ala’ Abu al-Rub in an apparent assassination. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., in Qabatya, and nr. Nablus. (MM 2/5; MM, NYT, SFR, WT 2/6; PCHR 2/12)
Thursday, February 5, 2009