GAZA CITY, 31 July 2006 — Two Palestinians killed in Nablus city during an Israeli invasion into the northern West bank city of Nablus on late Saturday, witnesses and medical sources said. Medical sources identified the two killed as Ameed Al-Masri 26 and Hani Awaijan 29, who died later in the hospital after being wounded in the attack.
Witnesses said that Al-Masri, was member of Al-Qods Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, and Owejan, was a member of Al-Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah movement. They added that an Israeli undercover unit backed by military jeeps and armored vehicles swept into the city killing the two and a third was seriously wounded.
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli warplanes hit several targets during the night and early yesterday. Witnesses said that the Israeli warplanes bombed a three-story building in the northern Gaza Strip belonging to Ata Al-Shambree, a member of the Popular Resistance Committees. Another house was also targeted by the Israeli warplanes in Al-Saftawi neighborhood, north of Gaza City. Witnesses said the house belongs to a member of Al-Qassam brigades the armed wing of Hamas.
Meanwhile, Al-Qassam Brigades shelled yesterday the Israeli military site of Nahal Oz with two rackets. A statement by the group said that the attack comes in response to the continued Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip. Hamas also vowed to carry out attacks on Israel in response to an Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese village of Qana where dozens of civilians were killed.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday he had agreed with the Lebanese government that there could be no negotiations on any political solution in the Middle East until there was a cease-fire in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. “There can be no negotiations while such crimes are being perpetrated. There must be a cease-fire, and then there would be agreement on the negotiating process,” he told AFP during a visit to Saudi Arabia in reference to talks with the United States and Israel.
Abbas, speaking after dozens of Lebanese civilians were killed in an Israeli raid on the south Lebanese village of Qana, said he had called Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to offer condolences “and there was agreement that we would all as Arabs demand a cease-fire before discussing any political negotiation.” Abbas said he backed the Lebanese government’s decision not to have talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice before a cease-fire was established.
