New raid against Gaza, al-Zahhar survived, his son, guard murdered, 20 wounded
Palestine-Israel, Military, 9/11/2003

The political leader at the Hamas movement Mahmoud al-Zahar yesterday survived an Israeli attempt to assassinate him carried out by US made F-16 planes, in which his elder son and personal guard were killed and other 20 persons were wounded. Al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of Hamas which claimed responsibility for al-Quds and Sarafand camp, threatened to target the residential buildings in Israel.

Palestinian medical and security sources said that "Khaled Mahmoud al-Zahar ( 25 year old) and the personal guard Shahda al-Deiroi ( 30 year old) were killed in the raid which was carried out by an Israeli jets and resulted in destroying al-Zahar house in downtown Gaza, as the house was leveled to the ground." A medical source indicated that among the wounded is al-Zahar daughter Rima (20 year old) and his wife Summaya and some of his neighbors who were in the surrounding of the house and that 20 wounded were admitted to hospital, 6 of them are in critical health conditions."

The source said that "al-Zahar was admitted to this hospital having slight wounds." An eye witness that "al-Zahar was in his house garden and his son and special guard were inside the house while his other children were in school." The security source indicated that "al-Rahman mosque which is facing al-Zahar's house was greatly damaged, while 10 houses were damaged in the area as a result of the Israeli bombardment," adding "that the Israeli jets fired just one missile at the house."

After collecting the remains of the murdered persons, a funeral was organized quickly for the two men, attended by more than 2,000 persons who "vowed revenge," calling on al-Qassam brigade, the military wing of the Hamas movement to "continue martyrdom operations and fight Zionists." Israeli military sources confirmed the raid, accusing al-Zahar of being responsible, due to his position in Hamas' leadership, for several bloody attacks in Israel.

Commenting on the martyrdom of his son, al-Zahar told journalists at al-Shefaa hospital "thank god who honored me of his martyrdom." He added that his son was due to get married on Friday. He added that "killing of leaders will not go unpunished and that the Hamas movement and the resistance program proved ability of achieving the goal in the due time." Al-Zahar indicated that the US and Europe have "provided a criminal cover for the Israelis." On the other hand, Palestinian medical sources said that a member in the Hamas movement was found killed after he was hit on Tuesday evening by the occupation soldiers bullets near al-Mintar crossing in Gaza and the Israeli army prevented the ambulance from admitting him to the hospital.

Previous Stories:
  Amnesty calls to end policy of closures and restriction of movement   (9/10/2003)
  Some 15 Israelis are killed in two attacks in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv   (9/10/2003)
  Qrei: I will not be a prime minister under the Israeli instructions   (9/10/2003)
  Sheikh Yassin, Henya survived assassination attempt in Gaza, al-Qassam groups calls for striking the enemy everywhere   (9/8/2003)

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

Search