Israeli authorities find 2 explosive devices washed up on Israeli beaches; no injuries are reported. Islamic Jihad says that, in cooperation with the AMB and PRCs, it released a total of 8 devices in Gaza’s waters in retaliation for Israel’s alleged assassination of Hamas cmdr. Mabhuh. The IDF says 2 explosions off the coast on 1/29 may be related. IDF troops on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire into the Erez industrial zone to drive away Palestinians searching the rubble for scrap metal. Later in the afternoon, IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Gaza City fire on residential areas inside the Strip for no apparent reason, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem and nr. Jenin. (NYT, WP, WT 2/3; OCHA, PCHR 2/4)
Monday, February 1, 2010