Ramallah, 25-02-07: Nablus found itself under curfew yet again today as the Israeli military launched one of its largest invasions in the West Bank in recent months. Six Palestinians have so far been injured by rubber bullets.
It began in the early hours of this morning, February 25, when more than 60 Israeli armored vehicles and bulldozers invaded the city, placing an estimated 50,000 people under curfew and closing the main entrance to the city.
The Israeli military also took over local television and radio stations, ordering people to remain indoors and warning residents that the curfew would remain in effect for several days.
The area around two major hospitals, Al-Watani and Rafidya government hospitals, was declared a closed military zone, blocking the access of patients to key medical services.
In addition, school and university classes have been suspended for an indefinite period of time because of the curfew, denying tens of thousands of students access to their places of study.
Palestinian National Initiative General Secretary, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP, said ‘this latest invasion highlights the Israeli government’s lack of commitment to the ceasefire put in place last November, and our efforts to reach a comprehensive, reciprocal end to all forms of violence.‘
Photo: Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian youth during an incursion in the West bank town of Nablus. Israeli troops have stormed Nablus, arresting 20 Palestinians and triggering clashes that left six people wounded in the largest military crackdown in the West Bank in months.(AFP/Jaafar Ashtiyeh)