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Central Nablus - The streets in the center of the city are empty and shops are closed at ten o`clock in the evening. It is standard practice for the Israeli military to conduct its `operations` in the city throughout the night, under the cover of dark. Fear of confrontation with an occupying force that regularly detains, arrests and imprisons people of all ages for indefinite periods of time, often without charge, keeps people from enjoying life in the city in the late evening.

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Today, November 2nd, it was reported that around two o`clock in the morning one Israeli soldier was killed and 5 were wounded in central Nablus. Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for detonating an explosive device as an IOF jeep passed through the Casbah (old city), likely enroute to make arrests. Since then the city has been sealed preventing any traffic intercity traffic, including emergency medical cases. Also, just to the East of the city, Balata refugee camp has again come under siege as tanks and armored vehicles rampage through the streets with residents reporting heavy gunfire.

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Nablus Closed to Emergency Medical Cases
Arabic Media Internet Network

...the Palestinian city of Nablus has been hermetically sealed off by the Israeli Army, making it impossible for anyone to come or go from the city said a statement released by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR- Israel). According to the army, a "security problem" is the reason behind the lockdown, which is also blocking off ambulances and humanitarian cases.

The effects of this closure on those seeking medical treatment have been serious. One woman from a nearby village, who is nine months pregnant and felt strong pains, was forced to wait for four hours at a checkpoint, and was only allowed through after "Machsom Watch" activists intervened.

Hundreds of thousands of people living in nearby villages and towns require the medical services available in the main medical centers of Nablus . For months now, patients from these areas have been unable to obtain needed medical care, such as preventative medicine and examinations. Today, even urgent cases are being stopped at checkpoints. Patients of the Palestinian Medical Relief (UPMRC) were turned back. Soldiers prevented passage of other ambulances, while threatening the staff and patients with their rifles...

Nablus Closed to Emergency Medical Cases - Physicians for Human Rights"

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Israeli Soldier Killed, 5 Wounded In Nablus Explosion
Islam-Online.net

Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement a copy of which was e-mailed to IOL.

"Our brave fighters succeeded in exploding the device at dawn Sunday when a Zionist patrol was passing near al-Yassamin area in Nablus, killing a Zionist solider and injuring five others, but the enemies only confirmed six soldiers had been wounded," read the statement.

"Al-Quds Brigades proudly claims such a heroic operation which came as part of its retaliation for the crimes of the Zionist enemies against our people," the statement added.

Israeli Soldier Killed, 5 Wounded In Nablus Explosion

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Israeli soldiers hit in Nablus
Aljazeera.net

...Meanwhile, in the Balata refugee camp outside Nablus, Israeli occupation soldiers have been firing randomly since sunrise, according to residents.

Local people told Aljazeera.net that the soldiers had occupied a house 100 yards from the entrance of the refugee camp. It was unclear if the residents of the house were being held inside by occupation forces.

One resident who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals from the army described the scene. The sound of gunfire could be heard in the background.

`At 6.30am I awoke to hear gunfire in the camp, this was followed by the arrival of military jeeps. The soldiers fired tear gas and sound grenades. I can hear a tank in the background.`

`Right now, they are firing into our homes` said another local man...

Israeli soldiers hit in Nablus

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