Israeli Forces Raid Jenin

27/09/2004| IslamWeb

Israeli occupation forces, backed by helicopters, have raided the West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp. Clashes erupted between the forces and Palestinian fighters during the raid in the early hours of Monday, Aljazeera's correspondent said. An unknown number of Palestinians were detained and the troops surrounded and occupied several homes, he added. Other reports said Jenin's hospital was also surrounded. A curfew has been imposed on the area with troops heavily deployed at all entrances into the city. **Resistance targeted*** Israel says Jenin and its refugee camp is hosting wanted activists of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and al-Quds Brigades. The most prominent among them is Zakaria al-Zubaidi, leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Jenin, whose relatives' homes have been repeatedly raided by Israeli forces. Israel has vowed to assassinate al-Zubaidi. Israeli radio reported two Hamas activists were arrested at the start of the raid, but this has not been confirmed. Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided Balata refugee camp, closing all its gates with sand barricades. The forces have also occupied some buildings in the camp. **PHOTO CAPTION*** An Israeli soldier stands guard next to a hand-cuffed Palestinian during an army operation in the West Bank town of al-Bireh. (AFP)