A new Israeli carnage in Rafah, 8 Palestinians killed, 50 wounded
Palestine-Israel, Military, 10/18/2002

The Israeli forces on Thursday added a new carnage to the series of killings committed on a daily basis against the Palestinians. Eight Palestinians were killed and more than 50 were wounded, most of them are women and children by Israeli shelling that hit a school and Palestinian houses in Rafah camp, in Gaza.

The new Israeli campaign came at a time when the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon is finalizing talks in Washington with the administration of the US President George Bush which compensated him by an American route map of three phases that postpones the foundation of the Palestinian state until 2006 and subject the Palestinians to continued tests along the two coming years to be concluded by convening an international conference in the year 2004.

The plan which will be carried today by the US under secretary of state William Burns to the region today after it was debated to the meeting of the Quartet committee in Paris, on the other hand, provides dates and schedules relating to Israel especially evacuating the settlements.

According to the US Department of State, Burns does not intend to meet with Arafat during his tour.

Meantime, Palestinian sources said that five tanks shelled a school belonging to UNRWA and houses in Rafah town. The director of Youssef al-Najjar hospital in Rafah Ali Mousa said that among the killed are a 70 year old woman and three children at least 13, 12 and 9 year old. He added that at least 10 of the wounded are in critical health conditions.

A Palestinian security source said that " the bodies of two of the 8 killed Palestinians who fell in Rafah carnage are still near the border strip with no body able to reach them because of the Israeli fire." The Israeli defense minister expressed his regret that civilians were killed in Rafah.

In Washington, the US secretary of state Colin Powell criticized the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. This was expressed during his meeting with the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon. Powell asked Sharon for explanations over the killing of 7 Palestinians in Rafah.

The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot said that Powell also asked Sharon for clarification over the killing of Palestinians in Gaza.

Previous Stories:
  One Palestinian killed, Israel forces break into Beir Zeit university   (10/17/2002)
  Five Israelis wounded in Palestinian operation; continued aggression against Palestinians   (10/16/2002)
  Israel detains Jerusalem's Mufti   (10/16/2002)
  Red Cross President urges Israel to abide by 4th Geneva Convention   (10/12/2002)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search