AL-KHALIL,
West Bank, February 14 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Israeli
occupation troops gunned down on Monday, February 14, a young
Palestinian in the southern West Bank town of Al-Khalil (Hebron).
Palestinian
witnesses said the man was shot at by the driver of an Israeli army
bulldozer, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“The
driver of the bulldozer opened fire on him, then two soldiers arrived
swiftly on the scene and shot him as well,” said 16-year-old witness
Khalil Zaghan.
Another
witness, 14-year-old Wassim Jaber, added that the driver of the
bulldozer opened fire and “then two soldiers opened fire as well.”
Palestinian
sources identified the victim as Sabri Fayez al-Rujoub, 16.
An
Israeli military spokeswoman, however, claimed the Palestinian was
shot after he had tried to stab an Israeli soldier.
The
killing could jeopardize a fragile ceasefire reached last week by
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon at a summit in Egypt.
The
main Palestinian resistance groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, pledged
Saturday, February 12, to maintain a de facto truce and not to
immediately retaliate any Israeli aggression, while they weigh a
formal ceasefire with Tel Aviv.
Resistance
fighters fired mortars at Jewish settlements on Thursday, February 10,
in reprisal for the killing of two Palestinians the day before by
Israeli soldiers.
The
latest death brings the overall toll since the start of the
Palestinian Intifada in September 2000 to 4,731, including 3,676
Palestinians, according to an AFP count.
Palestinian
Remains
 |
|
Bodies
of Palestinians transferred through the Erez crossing. (Reuters)
|
Despite
the Israeli violation of the fragile ceasefire, Israeli authorities
handed over the remains and bodies of 15 Palestinians killed by its
troops last year.
Hundreds
of people, including relatives of the dead and activists, escorted 15
flower-bedecked ambulances to which the bodies were transferred at a
Gaza border crossing for transport to a public memorial service in
Gaza City, Reuters reported.
Many
chanted “God is greatest” and “we give our blood and our souls
for the martyrs.” Cars honked horns in celebration.
The
remains were transferred from the Israeli forensic medical unit at Abu
Kabir, near Tel Aviv.
Palestinian
sources told AFP that the 15 were all killed between September 23 and
October 6 of last year.
Seven
were members of Hamas, while the others belonged to various other
resistance factions, they added.
“It
is a small gesture by Israel but it is very important for the parents
that they are able to give their martyrs a proper burial,”
Palestinian Health Minister Jawad Al-Tibi told reporters at Erez
Crossing.
Israel's
cabinet on Sunday, February 13, approved the release of 500 prisoners
and officials said they could go free as early as Wednesday.
Another
400 prisoners are slated for release.
Palestinians
are demanding the release of some 8000 prisoners in Israeli jails.
Senior
Israeli and Palestinian officials were, meanwhile, to meet later
Monday for security coordination talks on Israeli pullbacks from five
West Bank areas.
Palestinian
national security forces chief Haj Ismail said the withdrawal was
expected to begin with Jericho on Tuesday, February 15.
