The Israeli occupying forces stepped up their military offensive on the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, demolishing several houses there, including one over the head of its elderly dweller.
IPC reported that the Israeli forces invaded early Monday morning Al Nemsawi residential project, west of Khan Younis City, backed by a number of tanks and armored bulldozers.
Eyewitnesses said that the armored bulldozers were tearing down houses there. They added that an Israeli tank shelled the house of Mahmoud Khalafallah, 75, an elderly man, while he was inside, then bulldozers advanced and completed the demolition by burying him under the rubble of his own house. Medical sources asserted that Khalafallah was not able to leave the house on time due to his incapacity.
Attempting to justify their crime, Israeli military sources claimed they thought Khalfallah's house was abandoned when they started demolishing it.
Meanwhile, occupation troops arrested four Palestinians late Sunday. Two men were arrested in Hebron, one was nabbed in Doha, east of Bethlehem, and a Hamas operative was arrested near Ramallah. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
