Five Palestinians were killed in clashes with IDF troops over the weekend, four in Nablus, the only West Bank city where a military blockade remains in place. The fifth was killed while attempting to blow up an IDF position in the Gaza Strip.
In clashes throughout Saturday in the casbah in Nablus, soldiers shot three of the Palestinians in separate incidents. Palestinians identified them as Rohi Hazam Shoman, 19, Amar Arafat, 26, and Amjad al-Masri, 15.
According to IDF officers, Masri was shot by soldiers as he stood on a rooftop and threw concrete blocks and stones at soldiers below. Palestinian sources said simply that Masri was hit on the rooftop. In another incident, soldiers shot dead a Palestinian who aimed to shoot at them and later shot at another who lit a firebomb to throw at troops.
In the afternoon, during Masri's funeral, which took place not far from the casbah, his cousin Muhammad, 17, was shot by soldiers and died shortly after. IDF officials said that soldiers spotted an armed Palestinian participating in the funeral and another who was about to throw a firebomb, and shot both of them. The second Palestinian was hit in the eye and taken to the Raffidiyah Hospital.
During the day elsewhere in the city, a bomb was thrown and shots were fired at security forces, no one was wounded and no damage reported.
In Nablus on Friday a bomb was thrown at a Border Police patrol and shots were also fired at troops in the city. Palestinians reported that three locals were wounded by IDF gunfire.
Also on Friday, shots were fired at soldiers deployed in Jenin while others in Tulkarm blew up a bomb placed by Palestinians on a road used by security forces.
Elsewhere in the West Bank, soldiers captured a total of 30 Palestinians over the weekend, including 18 fugitives. One was arrested in Kalkilya, another west of Nablus, and two in Assira a-Shamaliya north of Nablus. Nine were arrested in Dura west of Hebron, three in Budrus near Modi'in, and two in Jenin where soldiers came under fire while detaining them.
Thirteen Palestinians suspected of throwing stones at Israeli vehicles on the Jerusalem-Hebron road were arrested in Beit Umar and Al-Aroub on Friday.
In the Gaza Strip on Friday night, soldiers shot a Palestinian they spotted crawling towards an IDF post near Ganei Tal in Gush Katif. Palestinians later reported that a 17-year-old had been killed by troops.
At daylight on Saturday soldiers searching the area found a 60kg to 70kg bomb, which they blew up. IDF officers said there was no body near the bomb and were unable to verify Palestinian reports that the teenager had been killed, though IDF Spokesman said the soldiers shot did hit someone.
Elsewhere in the area over the weekend, shots were fired at an IDF post in Rafah Yam, and patrol near the north Gaza security fence.
Shots were also fired several times at IDF posts near Gadid, Ganei Tal, and Neveh Dekalim. Two mortars were fired at an Israeli community and an IDF position in Gush Katif, no one was wounded and no damage reported.
