SEVERAL PALESTINIANS INJURED IN AIDA REFUGEE CAMP, TWO KIDNAPPED

Bethlehem, 10 Rabi’ul Awwal 1435/12 January 2014 (MINA) – Palestinian medical sources have reported that several residents have been wounded during clashes which took place between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian youth in the Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem.

The sources said that the wounded Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and received the needed medical attention, according to IMEMC received by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA), Sunday.

Eyewitnesses said that the army also fired rounds of live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets at a number of youth, and that one of the Palestinians then hurled a Molotov cocktail at the military tower overlooking the camp.

In addition, a number of soldiers broke into the Lajee Center “Refugee Center” in the camp, causing panic among the children who were playing there.

Soldiers continued to kidnap two Palestinians identified as Ahmad Al-A’raj, 20, and Samer Oweis, 32, taking them to an unknown destination., Aida refugee camp is subject to continuous Israeli military violations and aggression.

is a Palestinian refugee camp situated 2 kilometers North of Bethlehem and 1 kilometer North of Beit Jalain the central West Bank. Named after a famous coffeehouse (maqhah) located on the site in the early 1940s,Aida camp was established in 1950 and covered an area of 66 dunams.

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the camp had a population of approximately 3,260 refugees in mid-year 2006. It is the location of the Al Rowwad Cultural and Theatre Training Center.The Aida Refugee camp is adjacent to a new 4-star hotel.

Pope Benedict XVI visited the refugee camp during his Middle East pilgrimage visit to Jordan, Israel & the Palestinian Territories in May 2009. (T/P012/P04/mirajnews.com)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)