Four Palestinians Killed in the West Bank
By MIFTAH
November 22, 2004

Four Palestinians were killed in two separate incidents in the West Bank, Sunday, November 21.

Three of the victims were killed by Israeli Special Forces “death squads” which invaded Batunia, a town near Ramallah. Disguised in civilian clothes, the unit assassinated the three Palestinians who were from Yasser Arafat Brigades, aka Al-aqsa Brigades.

The fatalities were later identified as Muhammad Ghassan, Nasir Jwabra and Salam Yaqub.

Moreover, an eyewitness was quoted saying that one of the victim’s heads was smashed and the three were all laying in the dust with their identification papers missing.

The assassination was condemned by Ramallah’s governor Mustafa Issa, who described it as a “horrible crime,” also; he described the Israeli government’s actions as contradictory: “they only talk about peace but their deeds are contrary to their statements."

"Israel's policy is to continue the assassinations and the razing of farmlands and confiscation of territories. This is what they have for the Palestinians irrespective of the current diplomatic efforts," Issa confirmed.

Furthermore, another young Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in central Gaza. Khalil Muhammad Shihata, 20, was shot as he attempted to open fire at a Jewish settlers’ car, Israeli sources said that he belonged to the armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Meanwhile, a Palestinian who was wounded by Israeli forces near Netzarim settlement in central Gaza, died of his injuries, Palestinian medical sources identified him as Riad Hasan Tammus, 53.

Medical sources also added that there were two other Palestinians injured in the Rafah border area in Southern Gaza, including a young boy.

The latest deaths raise the death toll to 3858 Palestinians killed since the beginning of the current uprising in September 2000.

Demonstrations Against the Wall

Bait Ulla village, northwest of Hebron, witnessed massive Palestinian demonstrations against the Wall that runs in the heart of the West Bank.

Twenty Palestinians were wounded when clashing with Israeli forces, another nine were wounded when Israeli forces opened fire at a group of 600 demonstrators in the Southern West Bank, protesting against the Wall and the annexation process carried out by the Israeli government.

Today, the Wall is more than 200km long. So far, it had confiscated more than 8,000 acres of land, isolating more than 12,000 Palestinians living in 20 towns and villages, moreover, 500,000 Palestinians will be directly affected by the wall upon its completion.

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