Israeli army returns to Nablus with renewed force

Scenes of mass arrests in Nablus on Wednesday (MaanImages)

February 28, 2007

Nablus - Ma'an - The Israeli forces renewed their 'Operation Hot Winter' in the city of Nablus, in the north of the occupied West Bank, on Wednesday morning.

Palestinian security sources informed Ma'an News Agency that the renewed Israeli military incursion into the city began at 2.30 am on Wednesday morning. At least 120 military vehicles were observed entering the city, accompanied with bulldozers and armoured jeeps.

The director of the Palestinian Medical Relief Services in the city, Dr. Ghassan Hamdan, told Ma'an via telephone that the Israeli forces besieged three hospitals in the city, Ittihad Hospital, Al-Watani Hospital and Rafidia Hospital. He added that the Israeli forces deployed many military jeeps in the areas surrounding the hospitals including outside the gates of the hospitals. He added that the Israeli forces were banning the Palestinian ambulances from moving and from approaching the hospitals.

The Israeli forces imposed a curfew again on the city. All Palestinians were instructed to stay at home. The city's An-Najah University also announced a suspension of study in the university and the education directorate also announced that all schools in Nablus city would be closed Wednesday.

Palestinian security sources reported that the Israeli forces arrested the relatives of many so-called 'wanted' Palestinians in an attempt to pressurize the 'wanted' to surrender. Among those arrested were the mother of Amin Labbada, who is reportedly 'wanted' by the Israeli authorities; family members of Sufian Qanadilo, another 'wanted' Palestinian; and family members of Mahdi Abu Ghazala.

Eyewitnesses told Ma'an that the Israeli troops forced many Palestinian families in the Aqaba neighborhood of Nablus to evacuate their homes before then occupying the houses. These residential buildings were then transformed into Israeli military posts. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli forces turned two schools in the city into military bases where they are interrogating Palestinians. One of the schools, Thafir Al Masri School, is located in the old city, and the other school, Al Fatimiyah School, is in the city center.

Ten Palestinian citizens were arrested in many parts of the city on Wednesday morning including a father of three sons, called Mahir Kharraz. The Israeli forces also arrested a student at An-Najah University, Ahmed Yusef Qa'u, 30. Qa'u is originally from the village of Kafr El-Dik, located southwest of Nablus in the Salfit governorate. The Israeli forces arrested Qa'u at his student residence near At-Takhasusi Hospital, a specialist medical centre, in Nablus, our correspondent in Nablus reported. Qa'u has previously been imprisoned by the Israeli forces but was released several years ago due to a lack of evidence against him.

Israeli sources said that the Israeli operation will continue and expand.