Israeli invasion of Balata continuesBy Shaista Aziz
Saturday 20 December 2003
The Israeli occupation army has stepped up the four-day military invasion of the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank.
Local residents told Aljazeera.net that soldiers have occupied two new houses inside the camp and are firing rounds of teargas into residents homes.
This is the fourth day of a major army invasion into the refugee camp and surrounding city of Nablus.
Palestinian sources, including the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) say this is one of the biggest invasions that the occupation army has launched in recent times in Balata.
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The Israeli army says that the invasion is part of their campaign to root out ''terrorists'' in the camp. On 16 December, occupation troops surrounded the camp and set up snipers. Around 50 residents are reported to have been forced at gunpoint into a single apartment and restrained according to Palestinian media reports.
A Palestinian boy, Ahmed Ismai, was been left in a coma after being shot in the head by Israeli troops during the raid. Eight more Palestinians were injured including a two-year-old boy.
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http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7509FE71-5C00-4B32-B28F-93519C12D010.htm