http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/27/mideast/index.html
GAZA CITY (CNN) -- The United Nations will suspend several operations in Gaza beginning Monday to protest what it call Israel's obstruction of their work.
The U.N. Refugee Works Agency and the World Food Program will stop food shipments that more than 700,000 people in Gaza depend on, said Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesman for several U.N. agencies working in Gaza.
Abu Hasna said the world body has enough food reserves in Gaza to last for several weeks.
In addition, UNICEF will stop a child immunization and several other child health programs.
The actions were announced to protest Israel's refusal to allow U.N. staff who do not have diplomatic passports from passing through the Erez Crossing, the main entry and exit point for Gaza, in their vehicles.
Israel has stopped nondiplomatic vehicles at the crossing since a Palestinian attack on an Israeli checkpoint in early March.
People trying to enter or leave Gaza must walk through the workers' passage, an 800-meter covered walkway. Abu Hasna said the crossing is the site of frequent gunfire and exposes U.N. workers to unnecessary risk.
The United Nations is also protesting Israel's refusal to allow containers -- used to carry food shipments from the Israeli port of Ashdod into Gaza -- to be taken out of Gaza. That policy forces the United Nations to pay fines to the Israeli company that rents the containers.
Abu Hasna told CNN that Israeli officials had told U.N. officials that they hoped the container issue would be resolved soon, but that no commitment has been made to modify procedures for passing through the Erez Crossing.
Palestinian boy dies
A Palestinian boy was killed early Saturday after Israeli forces entered the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli military sources said.
The groups blamed each other for the death.
The Israel Defense Forces said Palestinian gunmen shot the boy while firing at an Israeli military vehicle. Palestinians said Israeli forces posted on a rooftop shot 7-year-old Khaled Walwil in the head while he was inside his home as the Israelis fired at stone-throwers.
The Israeli forces entered the Balata refugee camp in Nablus to arrest Palestinians that they said might have been involved in three attempted suicide bombings, the IDF said.
The commander of the Israeli forces returned to the camp in a jeep to retrieve his troops, the IDF said. As the Israelis were leaving the camp, a Palestinian with an AK-47 rifle fired at the vehicle, missing his target, the IDF said.
After driving away, the commander said, he heard screaming. He turned around to see a young boy being held by crying women and a man.
GAZA CITY (CNN) -- The United Nations will suspend several operations in Gaza beginning Monday to protest what it call Israel's obstruction of their work.
The U.N. Refugee Works Agency and the World Food Program will stop food shipments that more than 700,000 people in Gaza depend on, said Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesman for several U.N. agencies working in Gaza.
Abu Hasna said the world body has enough food reserves in Gaza to last for several weeks.
In addition, UNICEF will stop a child immunization and several other child health programs.
The actions were announced to protest Israel's refusal to allow U.N. staff who do not have diplomatic passports from passing through the Erez Crossing, the main entry and exit point for Gaza, in their vehicles.
Israel has stopped nondiplomatic vehicles at the crossing since a Palestinian attack on an Israeli checkpoint in early March.
People trying to enter or leave Gaza must walk through the workers' passage, an 800-meter covered walkway. Abu Hasna said the crossing is the site of frequent gunfire and exposes U.N. workers to unnecessary risk.
The United Nations is also protesting Israel's refusal to allow containers -- used to carry food shipments from the Israeli port of Ashdod into Gaza -- to be taken out of Gaza. That policy forces the United Nations to pay fines to the Israeli company that rents the containers.
Abu Hasna told CNN that Israeli officials had told U.N. officials that they hoped the container issue would be resolved soon, but that no commitment has been made to modify procedures for passing through the Erez Crossing.
Palestinian boy dies
A Palestinian boy was killed early Saturday after Israeli forces entered the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli military sources said.
The groups blamed each other for the death.
The Israel Defense Forces said Palestinian gunmen shot the boy while firing at an Israeli military vehicle. Palestinians said Israeli forces posted on a rooftop shot 7-year-old Khaled Walwil in the head while he was inside his home as the Israelis fired at stone-throwers.
The Israeli forces entered the Balata refugee camp in Nablus to arrest Palestinians that they said might have been involved in three attempted suicide bombings, the IDF said.
The commander of the Israeli forces returned to the camp in a jeep to retrieve his troops, the IDF said. As the Israelis were leaving the camp, a Palestinian with an AK-47 rifle fired at the vehicle, missing his target, the IDF said.
After driving away, the commander said, he heard screaming. He turned around to see a young boy being held by crying women and a man.
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