Wolf calls for summit between Sharon and Qurei'; resistance condemn al-Zeitoun quarters massacre
Palestine-Israel, Military, 1/29/2004

The Palestinian authority condemned yesterday the massacre committed yesterday by the Israeli occupation forces during its invasion of al-Zeitoun quarters area to the south of Gaza, which resulted in killing at least 8 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian sources.

The Palestinian prime minister, Ahmad Qurei', considered that what is taking place in Gaza is one "of the crimes committed by Israel on daily basis," noting that that he had discussed this issue with the American envoy, John Wolf, and stressed to him the need for Israel's suspension of its continued aggression against the Palestinian people.

A statement by the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, said that this new brutal Zionist attack signifies a message of welcome for the American delegation for reviving the collapsed political peace settlement." The statement considered the Israeli massacre a new evidence on that the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon proceeds forward with the policy of liquidation and extermination against the Palestinian people, despite the slogans he advocates on the meanings of humanity and morals.

Concerning the conditions of the massacre, Palestinian medical sources said that medical test proved that five of the 8 Palestinians were killed by bullets fired from a very near distance in the head and the neck.

Bodies of victims include Ahmad Muhammad Abu Rkab ( 20 year old), Sameh Toutah ( 17 year old), Sami badawi ( 19) year and Akram Abu Ajamai ( 20 year old).

The witnesses stressed that most of the victims are civilians who did not take part in the confrontations. The Palestinian sources said that five of the murdered Palestinians are cadres of the Islamic Jihad movement and that among the wounded one member of the medical team in an ambulance hit by the occupation fire during its attempt to transfer the wounded.

The Islamic Jihad movement announced the death of 5 of its cadres and vowed to revenge them. It said that the resistance men challenged the operation and clashed with the occupation forces and used RPG and light weapons and this resulted in damaging Israeli vehicles.

Meantime, a spokesman for the occupation army alleged that the clashes took place when soldiers were exposed to an attack while they were searching for activists involved in operations against the nearby Natsareim settlement.

He added that during the operation, Palestinians fired anti-tank shells, explosives and mortars shelling against the soldiers. He said that the soldiers saw five to 10 armored men approaching them and then the Israeli forces opened fire at them and hit most of them.

An Israeli military source alleged that the soldiers did not leave their armored vehicles during the clashes.

Seven Palestinians were wounded during the clashes including a 11- year old boy, doctors said he had lost one of his two eyes after he was hit by a bullet. Witnesses said that an Israeli tank and bulldozers were damaged during the Israeli invasion of Gaza.

Previous Stories:
  UNRAW: Israel demolished 14852 houses in Gaza   (1/27/2004)
  Hamas proposes a ten- year truce   (1/26/2004)
  Two Palestinians killed; Palestinian legislative council: the government did not attain security to citizens   (1/26/2004)
  Israel extends al-Barghoutri detention in the cell   (1/24/2004)
  Israeli forces continue demolishing houses in Gaza; Qrei calls on Europe to strongly interfere in the wall issue   (1/21/2004)
  Israeli forces block the whole of Gaza; Palestinians vow more attacks   (1/16/2004)

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