Israeli forces overrun Al Bureij refugee camp in Gaza

06-10-2007

By Nisreen Qumsieh

International Middle East Centre:

Israeli military forces overran Al Bureij refugee camp in the central part of Gaza Strip in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Eyewitnesses reported that Special Israeli forces broke into the eastern part of the camp under the cover of Israeli aircraft, and opened fire randomly at homes, causing terror for the people living there. Up to the time this report was filed no injuries have been reported.

Eyewitnesses also reported that a group of Palestinian resistance fighters clashed with the Israeli force before their withdrawal from the area.

Earlier on Friday Israeli forces assassinated a young Palestinian man near the Kisuffim border crossing; he was later identified as Tarek abu Jray, 21, from An Nusserat refugee camp in the central part of Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Haidar Ibrahim, secretary-general of the Palestinian Laborers Union, stated on Friday that Israeli forces arrested 300 Palestinian workers inside the Green Line (Israel)during the month of September. Among the arrested workers were 25 females.

The Israeli authorities claimed that the arrested workers did not carry entry and work permits, therefore, they were not authorized to work in Israel.

An Israeli military spokesperson reported that soldiers and policemen carried a large scaled arrest campaign which included breaking into construction locations, centers and other facilities in Haifa, Jaffa and Nazareth, Um Al Fahim and other areas.

Most of the arrested workers were forced to pay high fines, and others were imprisoned for different periods.

It is worth mentioning that fifty Palestinian workers were arrested over the last three days.

Ibrahim added that while Israeli leaders claim that they order an ease of restrictions of the movement of the residents, and the claims of issuing hundreds of entry and work permits, the army increased its military roadblocks, and barred thousands of residents from moving and even from reaching the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem from prayers, especially during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

He voiced an appeal to human rights groups, nationally and internationally, to intervene and practice pressure on Israel to lift its unjust siege imposed on the Palestinian people.

http://www.imemc.org/article/50733