Israeli Military Operation in Palestinian Village CondemnedA senior Palestinian official Sunday denounced the Israeli military operation in a West Bank village Saturday night as a "heinous act."The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) condemned the operation which took place at a time when negotiations were being held between the Palestinians and Israel, said Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Ahmed Qurei (also known as Abu Ala). Three Israeli soldiers were killed in a shootout when hundreds of Israeli soldiers stormed the Palestinian village of Assira Ashamalieh near Nablus, which is believed to be one of the strongholds of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, or Hamas. During the clashes, Mahmoud Abu Hanoud, the number one fugitive on Israel's most-wanted list, was also wounded. But he escaped from the house besieged by the IDF in Nablus and gave himself up to the Palestinian police. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities said that the three soldiers "were killed by friendly fire" and investigations are still underway. Commenting on a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak that the Israeli General Security Services might ask the PNA to hand over Hanoud, West Bank Preventive Security Commander Gebril al-Ragoub said the Palestinian side would never yield to Israel's pressure. He added that Israel had to coordinate with the Palestinian security forces before carrying out its military operation in the village, which is under Palestinian civilian administration but under Israeli security control. Accompanied by three helicopters, the IDF besieged the village at midnight in a bid to arrest Hanoud, who was accused of being behind two anti-Israeli suicide bombings in Jerusalem in 1997, killing and injuring 21 Israelis. The IDF early Sunday morning blew up a house where the clash with Hamas militants took place. |
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