Six Palestinians killed by Israel; Palestinian blows up himself at an Israeli check point
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 5/9/2003

The Israeli occupation forces yesterday carried out a new assassination operation in Gaza that targeted one of the Hamas movement members. Hamas retaliated by bombarding the city of Sdeirout using al-Qassam missiles while one Palestinian detonated himself in a car near a barrier for the Israeli occupation army in Deir al-Balah.

Sources at the Palestinian police and eye witnesses said that an Israeli helicopter fired two missiles at a car in Gaza and this resulted in murdering Ayyad al-Beck ( 27 year old), of the Hamas movement.

An angry crowd of Palestinian gathered around the destroyed car chanting " God is Great." Israeli security sources confirmed targeting the car and the killing of Beck and that this operation falls in the course of Israel's policy to attacking Palestinian resistance.

Hamas's official Abdul Aziz al-Rantesi said that the "reply is coming and this crime will not pass unpunished." Al-Rantesi added that this operation signifies "a message to the Palestinian people that the Road Map came to kill the Palestinians and liquidate the Palestinian question and existence." He added "every one who participates in the Road Map is a partner in the Palestinian bloodshed."

On the other hand, a security source and Palestinian witnesses said that one Palestinian detonated himself in a Palestinian car when approaching several Israeli military Jeep cars near an Israeli check point in the surrounding of Kfar Daroum settlement. The sources explained that the Israeli army closed the area and started inspection operations amid "intensive fire at the houses of the Palestinians."

Eyewitnesses said that a sedan car ridden by a Palestinian was blew up upon approaching several Israeli military Jeep cars to the North of Deir al-Balah. An eyewitness in the same area said he saw a fire exchange between a group of Palestinians and the Israeli soldiers positioned at the military barrier before the operation.

Al-Aqsa martyrs groups of the Fatah movement claimed responsibility for the operation, noting that the executor of the operation is Muhammad al-Inani ( 20 year old) and considered the attack as a reaction to the "Israeli crimes" against the Palestinian people.

The Israeli radio said that a booby trapped car was detonated yesterday near an Israeli armored vehicle in the sector of Kfar Daroum settlement and no casualties were reported, except the driver of the car. Israeli military sources said that another Palestinian opened fire at several Israeli soldiers in the same sector.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli soldiers killed one Palestinian in Gaza wearing Arab traditional costumes as he approached an inspection point outside a settlement in Gaza. Israeli military sources said that the Palestinian entered a security area installed by the Israeli forces to protect the settlement and ignored an order to stop. Palestinian doctors said that the man is in his 30s.

Palestinian security sources said one Palestinian civilian was killed by the Israeli forces in Zawata village near Nablus. Palestinian doctors said that one Palestinian woman died because of wounds she received in April when the Israeli soldiers opened fire at her while yielding her field harvest with her daughter.

On Thursday evening, a Palestinian medical source said that one Palestinian was killed by the Israeli bullets in Tel al-Sultan quarters in Rafah. Palestinian medical sources said that a young Palestinian was strongly wounded in March in Toulkarem and died yesterday evening.

In Washington, the US renewed its condemnation of the "killing operations" targeting Palestinian activists. The spokesman for the US Department Of State, Richard Boucher, said that these practices obstruct the efforts aiming at achieving peace and escalate tension in the region and do not contribute to the introduction of reforms in the Palestinian side.

Boucher explained replying to a question of assassinating al-Beck just two days before the visit of the US secretary of State Colin Powell to the region that the American stand concerning such kind of operation, that had been repeatedly expressed in the past, was not helpful, however, he expressed support for Israel right to defend itself.

Previous Stories:
  Sharon renews rejection of 'right of return' to Palestinians, Katsav for more settlers, continued aggressions   (5/7/2003)
  Israeli detention operations, PA calls for implementing Road Map, Sharon to visit Washington   (5/5/2003)
  Arab Journalists Union condemns Israeli army's killing of Palestinian journalist   (4/22/2003)

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