Israel kills one Palestinian, wounds two; Palestinian missiles at Israeli settlements
Palestine-Israel, Military, 8/23/2003

Following the assassination of the political official at the Palestinian Hamas movement Ismael Abu Shanab, Israel vowed to liquidate the Palestinian resistance fighters, at a time when its forces continued operations of incursions and detentions in the West Bank where one Palestinian was killed and two wounded, as al-Qassam brigade, the military wing of the Hamas movement fired scores of al-Qassam missiles at the Israeli settlements in Gaza and Sdeirout.

A high ranking Israeli official said "we will continue attacking the terrorists strongly, being among the executors of the aggressions or planning or ordering them," but did not explain the nature of means by which Israel intends to use. However, the Israeli radio indicated that the Israeli army might carry out other "liquidation operations" in the coming days targeting in particular the Hamas movement.

The Israeli official stressed that Israel still desires to "relaunch the peace process" but first "terrorism should be stopped." The Israeli official accused the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat of "undermining any possible launching of the peace process and of encouraging violence." Replying to a question on what Israel intends to do in this respect, this Israeli official said "wait and you will see." Meantime, the Israeli forces killed one Palestinian in Nablus and wounded two. Witnesses said that the three Palestinians were in a small room at the roof of Rafeidya hospital in Nablus which was cordoned by the Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli soldiers opened fire at the room and killed one of the three and wounded the two.

Palestinian sources said the three are members in al-Aqsa brigade of the Fatah movement.

Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli forces incurred for scores of meters into an area under the Palestinian self- rule in Beit Jala and Beit Sahour which are close to Bethlehem. This was for the first time since the Israeli forces evacuated this sector 7 weeks earlier.

The Israeli army carried out a detention campaign in Nablus, Deir Astya, Bethlehem, and al-Khalil that targeted 15 Palestinians.

The Israeli army destroyed three houses for Palestinian resistance fighters, one of them is Samer al-Nouri who is a member of al-Aqsa brigade and who carried out a suicide operation on January 5th in Tel Aviv. The Israeli forces also imposed curfew on Jenin.

Meanhile, Ezz Eddine al-Qassam groups, the military wing of the Hamas movement announced the launching of 36 "Qassam" missiles and mortars at Israeli settlements in Gaza and against Israeli cities to the south of Israel. In a statement, the groups said that "in the context of the continued bombardment of the enemy settlements, martyr Ezz Eddine al-Qassam groups announced the bombardment of the settlements of northern Gaza, Asdarout, Yad Murdakhai and Neir Am by 11 Qassam missiles since yesterday evening until today morning."

The statement added that the groups "announce bombardment of the settlements of southern Gaza by 25 missiles and mortars." An Israeli military source said that five Qassam missiles were fired yesterday at dawn at Sdeirout city in the Negev desert, one of them fell on a house but no casualties were reported.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Qaddoumi: resistance is the only option   (8/22/2003)
  Israel assassinates Ismael Abu Shanab; Hamas: no use for truce   (8/22/2003)
  Abbas cuts contacts with Hamas, Jihad, which cling to dialogue; occupation forces block the west bank   (8/21/2003)
  Scores of Israelis killed, in bus explosion in Jerusalem, Israeli ends talks with the Palestinians, freezes withdrawals   (8/20/2003)

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