Death toll in week-long Nablus operation put at 75

AFP

Last updated: 20-04-02, 16:09


Israeli soldiers killed at least 75 Palestinians in the week-long operation in the northern West Bank city, but many others are still missing, an official said today.

Five children, seven women and four elderly people were among the dead, said Ms Annan Attira, a local government official who now organises Nablus hospital work.

She said many more were feared to have been buried under the rubble of the Old City, which the Israeli forces pulverized from attack helicopter gunships.

"We know that most of the people who were killed were civilians," she said, contradicting Israeli government claims that most of the dead on the West Bank were Palestinian militants.

Brutal fighting erupted in Nablus on April 3rd after Israeli troops invaded the West Bank.

Ms Attira said it was impossible to determine how many people were killed, because many of those listed missing may have been arrested by the Israelis, and would now be in jail.

"We are trying to get lists of who have been arrested, so that we can check," she said.

Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon has promised to withdraw from Nablus by tomorrow, and although a curfew remained in effect through the city, only a few tanks and armored personnel carriers were visible within the city confines this afternoon.

Meanwhile, an Israeli was shot dead by a Palestinian attacker at the Erez crossing point between Israel and the northern Gaza Strip, today.

An Israeli security source said the Israeli was killed when a Palestinian militant opened fire on him and threw grenades at the checkpoint. Israeli tanks returned fire, killing the attacker, the source added.

Palestinian security sources confirmed a Palestinian had been shot dead near the Erez checkpoint, but could not confirm his identity.

A heavy exchange of fire broke out following the attack, with Israeli tanks firing shells on a Palestinian national security outpost some 500 meters (yards) away, the Palestinian source said, adding that no casualties were reported.