Siege of Nablus' security compound continues; a sixth Palestinian killed as walls collapse

Israeli bulldozers demolish a building of the Palestinian security forces during an on going military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus July 21, 2006. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES)

July 21, 2006

Nablus- Ma'an- The death toll in Nablus over the last two days has now risen to six.

A Palestinian male nurse, Ahmed Annab, 40, was killed in Mu'atah Street in the city of Nablus on Friday as the Israeli forces' continued to destroy the city's governmental and security headquarters, Al Muqata'a.

The Israeli forces invaded the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Wednesday morning and laid siege to the Muqata'a compound, which houses the local headquarters for the Palestinian security forces and governmental representatives, as well as Nablus' central criminal jail.

The Ma'an correspondent reported that Annab, who is from Balata refugee camp in the east of Nablus city, is a male nurse at Rafidya hospital in the city. He was killed when the Israeli army bombarded the Al Muqata'a with artillery and one of the walls collapsed on top of him, killing him instantaneously.

Another five Palestinians are reported to have been injured in confrontations with Israeli forces in several areas of Nablus city on Friday including near the Al Muqata'a, in the city centre, and in the suburbs.

This is the third day in of the Israeli siege of the Al Muqata'a in Nablus. Israeli troops continue to bombard the compound with artillery and occasionally Israeli air strikes also target the building. Much of the compound has now been destroyed but the Israeli siege continues as the Israeli army claims there are up to twenty "wanted" Palestinians still inside.

It is also believed that approximately 110 Palestinian criminal prisoners are still being held inside the jail in the remains of the Al Muqata'a. The female prisoners, numbering thirteen in total, were allowed out by the Israeli forces on Thursday evening.

150 members of the Palestinian security forces, who were inside the Al Muqata'a at the start of the siege on Wednesday, were arrested by the Israeli forces. It is also estimated that at least 30 Palestinians have been injured since Wednesday.

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Israel troops kill Palestinian nurse in W. Bank