15 Palestinians killed in Israeli invasion of Gaza, Hebron
Palestine-Israel, Military, 5/2/2003

The Israeli occupation forces yesterday escalated operations in the cities of the West Bank and Gaza and killed in the few past hours 15 Palestinians.

Yesterday at dawn, two Palestinians were killed in Yatta to the south of Hebron in the West Bank. Palestinian sources said that an Israeli force broke into the town after midnight and besieged a house in which members of al-Aqsa martyrs groups of the Fatah movement was hiding.

According to the Israeli sources clashes took place between the two sides and resulted in killing two Palestinians, wounding a third while a fourth escaped.

This, however, was coincided with the killing of nine Palestinians and wounding many others during an incursion by the Israeli forces in al-Shuja'eya quarters to the east of Gaza in search of one wanted Palestinian.

Palestinian medical sources said that among the killed Palestinians are a two year old infant named Ameer Ahmad Abbad who was hit in the head by an Israeli bullet and the second child was four- year old.

A Palestinian source said that more than 10 Israeli tanks and armored vehicles incurred since the early hours of yesterday's dawn for more than one kilometers into territories under the control of the Palestinians to the east of Gaza, amid intensive fire and a cover by the military helicopters.

Meantime, al-Qassam groups, the military wing of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas said yesterday that its fighters launched mortars at the Israeli army, in retaliation to this operation, they also fired missiles at Seidrout city to the south of Israel.

They also stressed that many members of the Israeli private forces were killed and wounded.

In a statement, al-Qassam group said it also detonated a sideline explosive at an Israeli tank in al-Shuja'eya quarters and blew up a military Jeep car.

A source in the Israeli army said that an operation was being carried out in al-Shuja'eya against what is called the "terrorist infrastructure" and that at least 8 Israeli soldiers were wounded in the fight, four of them in a critical health situation.

On the other hand, a security source stressed that the number of houses destroyed by the occupation forces during its incursion in Rafah, according to a preliminary statistics was 8 houses which were completely demolished while other 16 houses were demolished partially.

On Wednesday, the Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinians including a woman in her 50s and wounded 3 others in Gaza and the West Bank.

The recent Israeli escalation comes after the killing of at least 4 Israelis and wounding other 50 in a Fedayeen operation targeting a Cafe in Tel Aviv. Al-Aqsa martyrs groups of the Fatah movement and al-Qassam group claimed responsibility for the operation and the killing of its executors.

Previous Stories:
  Abu Mazin rejects terrorism, illegal arms, Palestinian operation in Tel Aviv kills and wounds scores of Israelis   (4/30/2003)
  A Palestinian Youth Dies of Wounds in Rafah, IOF Imposes a Curfew on Qalqilya City   (4/29/2003)
  Two Palestinians killed, Bush talks of two states, invited Abbas to visit Washington   (4/26/2003)
  Arab Journalists Union condemns Israeli army's killing of Palestinian journalist   (4/22/2003)
  PNA rejects Sharon's changes to Road Map, giving up right of return   (4/14/2003)
  Israeli soldiers shoot another ISM activist in the head   (4/14/2003)

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