PA wounds seven Palestinians in West Bank raid

Palestinian Authority (PA) security services wounded seven Palestinian refugees yesterday during a “security campaign” in the Balata Refugee Camp, east of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, Quds Press reported.

A PA security source said that the campaign aimed at arresting outlaws, who allegedly breached the rights of others, in order to bring them to justice.

Quds Press reported eyewitnesses as saying that a large number of PA security forces entered the refugee camp from four sides, starting the raid at 06.00am (03.00am GMT).

According to the eyewitnesses, live gunfire erupted resulting in the wounding of seven people with many others suffering with respiratory problems due to the security forces’ use of tear gas.

Eyewitnesses also reported that homes and vehicles were damaged during the exchange of fire, where PA snipers took to the rooftops and opened fire.

Meanwhile, Palestinian refugees in the camp organised a demonstration attempting to stop the PA raid. The demonstration headed to the PA’s headquarters in the camp, before PA security services opened fire in the air to disperse the demonstrators.

Last August, the city of Nablus witnessed bloody clashes between the PA and armed Palestinians, who were accused of being outlaws and owning unlicensed weapons.

During the incidents, PA forces were involved in an attack that led to Ahmed Halawah being beaten to death. A funeral attended by many was organised by Halawah, whom the PA accused of being the mastermind behind the riots in the city. The PA also said it would probe Halawah’s death.