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Palestinians throw stones at an Israeli tank during an Israeli military incursion in the Al-Bureij refugee camp |
GAZA CITY — An Israeli army bulldozer on Thursday, September 20, crushed a Palestinian teen to death during a military incursion, while Gazans are stockpiling supplies fearing a major Israeli offensive.
Mohmud Al-Sakafi, 16, died after being run over by an Israeli bulldozer, witnesses told IslamOnline.net.
They said the bulldozer lurched toward the young Palestinian during an incursion into eastern Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.
More than 35 Israeli armors, backed by Apache helicopters and bulldozers, swept into the area early Thursday.
Medics said Israeli soldiers launched a house-to-house search for Palestinian fighters and weapons while bulldozers scooped up farmland in the area.
Four Palestinians, including two Hamas fighters, were injured by Israeli gunfire during the operation, said medics.
The two fighters, one seriously wounded, were injured by helicopter fire.
Israeli soldiers also opened fire at residents trying to aid an injured Palestinian in the area, said sources.
Thursday's death brings to 5,866 the number of people killed since the start of Al-Aqsa Intifada in September 2000, the vast majority of them Palestinians.
Stocking Up
Gazans are already trying to stock up on food and fuel, anticipating a major offensive after Israel declared the impoverished coastal area a "hostile entity."
"I've started stocking fuel to be able to work if Israel interrupts supplies," Nidal Eslim, a 33-year-old taxi driver and father of seven, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"I will try to stock up 500 liters, which will last me for a couple of days. You have to live somehow."
Throughout the impoverished coastal strip, home to 1.5 million population, residents were buying up food, water and fuel.
"It's the best thing to do to prepare ourselves for the coming days," said Rima, one of the women who rushed to buy up drinking water.
Israel's security cabinet on Wednesday, September 19, declared Gaza "hostile entity", paving the way for cutting back supplies of electricity and fuel to the besieged strip.
Israeli Defense Ministry's political chief Amos Gilad said Israel would reduce supplies to Gaza to a bare minimum.
Israel supplies over 70 percent of Gaza's electricity and nearly all of its drinking water.
The vast majority of food, medical supplies and other goods are transferred to Gaza through Israeli-controlled crossings.
The Israeli decision has drawn worldwide condemnation as a collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
"We are making the same appeal as the UN secretary general for Israel to reverse this decision," said the spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
"Such a step would be contrary to Israel's obligations towards the civilian population (of Gaza) under international humanitarian and human rights law," UN chief Ban Ki-moon said in a statement.
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) sent the same message.
"Israel has the responsibility to protect its citizens, but not by collectively punishing the people of Gaza, which seriously violates the laws of war."
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