Palestinian sources in the town of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza Strip reported Monday afternoon that a nine year-old girl - Hadil Muhammed - was killed after an Israel shell hit a house in the area. Another five people, most of them the members of one family, were injured in the incident, according to reports.
Earlier, Israeli artillery fire hit two houses in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday, lightly wounding two people, Palestinian police said. The shells landed in a farming area, lightly damaging the two homes with shrapnel and destroying a greenhouse, police said.
Elsewhere, Israeli occupation forces backed with tens armored military vehicles Monday dawn burst into the West Bank city of Nablus from several directions as they broke into Palestinian homes and residential buildings, wreaking havoc in them before arresting nine Palestinian youths.
Israeli troops launched similar assault on the nearby Awarta village, where they apprehended more Palestinians, alleging they were wanted resistance activists.
Meanwhile, Israel has followed up its pledge to cut all ties with the new Hamas-led Palestinian Authority by ordering the closure of a security liaison office in the West Bank town of Jericho.
The Palestinian officers who had been working alongside Israeli counterparts in the office at the entrance to this West Bank town on Monday were given until afternoon to pack their bags in the latest sign of the total breakdown in relations between the two sides.
An Israeli army statement said that the move was "in accordance with a decision made by the political echelon."
