March 2, 2004

The IDF announces plans to “intensify our antiterror operations” in Gaza, saying the aim is to “eliminate as many terrorists as possible” before a unilateral Israeli pullout fr. the Strip. IDF troops raid Yatta, fatally shoot an unarmed Palestinian outside his home when he allegedly fails to obey orders to halt, begin to bulldozes his house, then suddenly leave, raising suspicions that the man killed was not the man the soldiers intended to target. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c., Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, Tulkarm; conducts house searches in Bayt Hanun; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. Jewish settlers install 6 mobile homes at Einav e. of Tulkarm. (HA, WT 3/3; VOP 3/2 in WNC 3/4; PCHR 3/4)