The Israeli army tightened its clampdown on the Gaza Strip, declaring Thursday it was pursuing its offensive against Islamic groups.
The army split the Strip into three sectors, imposing travel restrictions after a day of violence on Wednesday in which Israeli forces killed 11 Palestinians during military raids in Gaza Strip.
The occupation army said it set up two roadblocks dividing the Gaza Strip into three sections and limiting Palestinian travel as part of "the continuing fight against terror and in response to yesterday's Qassam rocket attack." Palestinians contend Israeli travel restrictions are collective punishment which cause hardship to innocent people.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army said its forces killed a Palestinian armed with an M-16 automatic rifle in the West Bank during an exchange of fire with Palestinian fighters in the city of Tulkarem overnight.
Palestinian sources in Tulkarm denied 24-year-old Mohammed Osar was armed. They said he was with a friend who is a wanted Hamas member at the time he was shot dead by Israeli troops.
A Palestinian youth was killed by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank city of Nablus on Thursday afternoon and two other youths were wounded. Later, Palestinian hospital officials in the city said that the youth's 55-year-old grandfather had died of wounds sustained in the same incident.
Earlier in the day, an Israeli soldier in the city was wounded when he was shot in the leg.
In Washington, the State Department expressed concern at the latest deaths, saying it has urged Israel to avoid the killing of innocent civilians, but expressing its understanding of "the need for Israel to take legitimate anti-terrorist actions."
Palestinian officials said the raids would damage diplomatic efforts to revive peacemaking, including talks in London on Palestinian reforms demanded by international peacemakers. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
