“Israelis” kill gunman & a 16-year-old in West Bank raid – Hamas disarms Gaza kidnappers

Source: Compiled by Daily Star, 18-8-2007
"Israeli" troops killed two Palestinians and wounded six others during a raid near the Occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Friday, Palestinian sources said, as "Israeli" aircraft fired two missiles on Friday at Palestinian rocket launchers in the northern Gaza Strip, Hamas said.
Palestinian security officials said that a gun battle broke out between "Israeli" troops and local gunmen in the West Bank village of Kafr Dan. One gunman, Nur Marai, 19, and a 16-year-old boy were killed.
At least eight other Palestinians were wounded during the clashes, the sources said.
Witnesses said at least 30 "Israeli" Army jeeps took part in the operation, encircling several buildings before exchanges of gunfire broke out.
An "Israeli" military spokes-man was unable to immediately confirm or deny that an operation was under way in Jenin.
In the Gaza Strip, an "Israeli" military spokesman said that the air force "targeted Palestinians who had fired rockets at ‘Israeli' territory."
The spokesman said some 15 rockets and mortar shells had been fired at "Israel" from Gaza on Friday, all without causing any damage or casualties.
He added that "Israeli" forces had also found and disarmed an explosive charge near the security barrier that separates the Gaza Strip and "Israel".
The missiles missed the launching squad that was on its way back from firing rockets toward "Israel" and caused no injuries, Hamas sources said. Witnesses said they heard two explosions after seeing "Israeli" helicopters in the area.
Meanwhile, Hamas forces collected weapons from a large, influential clan linked to the four-month kidnapping of a BBC reporter, Hamas said Friday.
The Doghmush family turned in 60 weapons to the forces for the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip on Thursday, Hamas spokesman Saber Khalifa said. Hamas agreed to let the clan keep several weapons on the condition that they are used against "Israel" and not against Palestinians in any future fighting, Khalifa said.
Hamas has tried since its takeover of Gaza in June to demonstrate its authority, calling for weapons to be turned in and preventing protests by political rivals. Those from the Doghmush clan who were linked to the abduction of BBC reporter Alan Johnston would be "brought to justice," he said.
"The goal is not to collect the weapons, but to impose law and order and make the family stick to its commitments," the spokesman added.
Although infighting in Gaza has been rare since the Hamas takeover, tensions between Hamas and the Doghmush family have been high. Two members of the Hamas force were killed this week when Hamas and the Doghmush clan traded rifle and grenade fire after the Hamas forces tried to arrest a clansman. The Doghmushes have ties to the Army of Islam, the shadowy group that held Johnston.
Also on Friday, Palestinians were joined by foreign activists, some dressed as clowns, in protesting against the construction of the "Israeli" separation barrier being built to encircle the Occupied West Bank in the towns of Bilin, near Ramallah, and Walajeh, northwest of Bethlehem. A scuffle broke out between the protestors and "Israeli" troops in Walajeh and "Israeli" soldiers fired tear gas at demonstrators in Bilin.
"Israel" claims the wall is for security, Palestinians view it as an illegal land grab.