Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. Rafah, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, seriously injuring 1 fisherman and destroying his boat. Meanwhile, Israeli forces level land nr. the border fence e. of Bayt Lahiya. In the West Bank, Israeli troops detain a senior Fatah official at a checkpoint e. of Bethlehem. Two Israeli settlers report to local IDF troops that they are being assaulted by 4 Palestinians nr. the Itamar settlement, prompting the soldiers and private settlement security guards to arrest the alleged assailants. The arrest sparks clashes between around 50 settlers and Palestinians from a nearby village; 2 of the Palestinians are shot and injured. (An internal IDF investigation will conclude that the initial call was erroneous.) (MNA, TOI, WAFA 1/3; OCHA 1/15; TOI, 1/20; WAFA 1/22)
Saturday, January 3, 2015