Mofaz ordered all Palestinian lands closed

Additional Reporting By Mustafa el-Sawwaf, IOL Correspondent

GAZA CITY, March 5 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz decided to seal off the West Bank and Gaza Strip as of Friday, March 5, as a preparation for the approaching Jewish carnival of Purim.

The Israeli army completely shut down crossings in the Palestinian areas until Monday, March 8, and security measures were tightened for fear of revenge attacks, Israeli sources told the public radio.

“In keeping with a decision at the political level and in light of security considerations, the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been sealed off from tonight for the duration of the Purim festival,” the army said a statement.

The carnival, which typically includes masks and merrymaking, begins at sundown Saturday, March 6.

A Palestinian boy was killed in his school courtyard in southern Gaza strip during an Israeli raid early Thursday, March 4, raising the toll of Palestinians slain since the beginning of Intifada against Israeli occupation to more than 3,000.

The boy was fatally wounded in the stomach and four of his classmates also suffered gunshot injuries while they were in the school courtyard during the incursion in the Rafah refugee camp.

The Israeli forces also killed a Palestinian activist in a bomb explosion at his home on Thursday, one day after four Palestinian activists were killed by Israeli soldiers separate attacks.

In Gaza City, around 3,000 people chanting “Revenge, revenge” and “Our answer will be in Tel Aviv” turned out for the funerals of the deaths.

Massive Deployment

The celebratory Jewish holiday of Purim is based on the book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible - the Old Testament - and lasts 24 hours. Jewish people often wear costumes, spin noisemakers called “groggers,” drink and eat, and invite the community to celebrate with them.

Israel has completely sealed off the Palestinian territories during other Jewish holidays as the Passover.

With Purim looming, Israel has deployed thousands of extra border guards and police officers in anticipation of a revenge strike, police in Tel Aviv was quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP) as saying.

Five Palestinians were killed  in fresh Israeli raids in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah and the West Bank city of Jericho during the first two days of Eid Al-Adha- a holy Islamic festival – in February.

In the meantime, a Qassam rocket, makeshift devices normally used by the Palestinian movement Hamas, exploded Friday in a parking lot in the southern Israeli town of Sderot without causing no casualties, police sources said.

Some nearby shops suffered minor damage after the rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip, they said.