Palestinian death toll climbs to 118 as popular protests held in West Bank

Al Bawaba,
Monday, March 3, 2008

Israeli forces on Monday killed seven Palestinians and wounded dozens in al-Shijaeya neighborhood, al-Nusaerat refugee camp and Jabalya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian security sources said that Israeli warplanes fired a missile against a group of Hamas activists in Baghdad street, eastern al-Shijaeya neighborhood, killing one and wounding others, some critically. Medics affirmed to WAFA that Ramzi Khwayter was killed. His dead body was shattered into pieces, reports said. Shortly later, Israeli warplanes targeted another group of activists at al-Sika street in the neighbourhood, killing three. Also in the Gaza Strip, another military raid was launched in al-Tufah neighborhood, killing twoPalestinians and wounding two others, one critically. In al-Nusaerat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, an Israeli raid was launched killing a man and wounding three others, one critically. In Jabalya refugee camp, after Israeli ground forces withdrew from the area, rescue teams managed to get three dead bodies from under the wreckage. Later, medics declared that a man died of wounds he sustained during the recent Israeli assault against Jabalya refugee camp. Thus, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH) the death toll following the Israeli assault against Gaza Strip since last Wednesday has mounted to 118, a third of which are children while more than 350 were wounded. In the West Bank, Israeli occupation troops on Monday shot dead a Palestinian teenager north of Ramallah during a demonstration protesting the killings in the Gaza Strip. Local sources said that students of the Mazra Al-Gharbia village organized a protest rally that headed towards a nearby settlement but were met with live bullets by soldiers and guards of that settlement. The demonstrators threw stones at the soldiers and the Israelis retaliated by firing bullets that hit and killed Mohammed Saleh Shreiteh, 18. Similar demonstrations were organized in Hebron city. © 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)