May 3, 2012

Israeli naval vessels fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the s. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in Jericho and 3 villages nr. Ramallah. In the afternoon, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and Jenin; patrols in Kafr Qaddum and 1 village nr. Ramallah. Late at night, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin; patrols in 4 villages nr. Tulkarm (2 synchronized), and 2 nr. Jericho. In Ramallah, 300 Palestinian women hold a rally in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails; IDF troops fire live ammunition and tear gas at them wounding 1 and arresting 1. (NYT 5/4; PCHR 5/10; OCHA 5/11)