Gaza eulogy for Palestinian victims of Israeli bombardment
Palestine-Israel, Military, 7/24/2002

The Palestinians on Tuesday held a large eulogy for the victims of the Israeli bombardment in Gaza.

The assassinated Palestinians numbered 15, including the leader of Ezz Eddine al-Qassam group, Salah Eddine Shahada, his wife and 8 children. The eulogy procession was led by the leader of the Hamas movement Sheikh Ahmad Yassin.

Meantime, Gaza's hospitals were filled by additional 155 wounded Palestinians in an attack by the Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians; an event described by the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as the most successful operation carried out by the Israeli forces. Sharon stressed that the "Gaza assassination operation" was approved personally by him together with the Israel's Defense Minister Benyamin Ben Eliezer and this operation will be followed by a series of operations and plane bombardment against Palestinian organizations leaders.

Ben Eliezer said that liquidating Shehadeh was very important to prevent the occurrence of new operations against Israel. Following the assassination, the Israeli forces continued their operations in the Palestinian areas, killing, detaining and destroying Palestinian properties. This resulted in killing two Palestinians on Tuesday near Kisovim crossing in Gaza while they were on their way to work. The Israeli forces refused to hand over their bodies.

Other three Palestinian were shot by the Israeli soldiers between Tell and Sarra villages of Nablus district.

Meantime, the Israeli forces closed all roads leading to the Israeli settlements in Gaza and Beit Hanoun crossing, amid intensive Israeli warplanes sorties in the atmospheres of Gaza. This Israeli escalation also coincided with a campaign of detention and arrest in Ramullah, Jerusalem, Abu Deis, Nablus, Jenin, Bethlehem and the Jordan valley. World figures said that 19 Palestinians were arrested in this campaign.

In retaliation, the Palestinian Intifada youths attacked the Israeli occupation forces in Jenin city and strong clashes took place after which Israel admitted that two soldiers were wounded.

Similar clashes took place in Rafah and Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in which 14 Palestinians were wounded, while the Palestinians fired mortars at the Israeli settlements adjoining Gaza and fired intensively at several Israeli occupation positions.

Meantime, Hamas movement vowed to avenge the "Gaza martyrs." The movement stressed in a statement that the "Gaza massacres will be punished for."

Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmad Yassin said "our answer will not be by words, rather action."

Ismael Abu Haneyah, one of the Hamas leaders said the Israeli massacre has cut the way before the possibility of achieving peace with Israel, noting that the whole world has realized that "Israel only understands the language of war." The president of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat called for a real international protection for the Palestinian people. He stressed that Sharon does not want peace, but "to continue terrorism he has already started in Sabra and Shatilla until the present time."

The Palestinian Authority filed a complain to the International Criminal Court for an urgent trial of the Israeli officials who are responsible for the Gaza crime. The Palestinian Authority also called for an urgent meeting for the UN Security Council.

Previous Stories:
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  Explosion near Tel Aviv, Israel to try Greek Orthodox religious leader   (7/22/2002)
  Annan disturbed at Israel destroying Palestinian homes   (7/22/2002)
  UN forum on middle east peace process concludes in copenhagen   (7/20/2002)
  Israeli authorities arrest families of resistance men for expulsion   (7/20/2002)
  Israel threatens more repressive acts to retaliate Tel Aviv attack   (7/19/2002)

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