The Israeli navy fires 7 shells at Palestinian fishing boats off the Bayt Lahiya coast, causing no injuries, but forcing the boats to return to shore. Palestinian militants fire mortars at Qarni crossing, lightly injuring an Israeli truck driver. In Bayt Lahiya, a Hamas mbr. dies, 1 is wounded when a bomb he is handling explodes prematurely. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Tulkarm in a vehicle with Palestinian license pates to arrest a wanted Palestinian; sends undercover units into Balata in 2 vehicles with Palestinian license plates to arrest a wanted Palestinian, exchanging fire with the suspect, wounding him and a 2d Palestinian; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Tubas. Fatah, Hamas mbrs. in Jabaliya r.c. release all remaining mbrs. kidnapped on 1/1. Fatah, Hamas mbrs. exchange fire in Bayt Lahiya, wounding 2 Palestinians. (MM 1/2; OCHA, WP 1/3; PCHR 1/11)
Tuesday, January 2, 2007