Israeli forces kill 16 Palestinians, occupation searches for remains of its killed soldiers in Rafah
Palestine-Israel, Military, 5/14/2004

The number of Palestinians killed in Rafah as a result of bombardment and military operation by the Israeli forces in Rafah to the south of Gaza since yesterday at dawn resulted in killing 16 after the death of one Palestinian because of his wounds earlier in the day and the killing of additional two by the fire of the occupation soldiers in Rafah camp.

Meantime, Israel continues its operations in the area in search for the remains of five of its soldiers who were killed in one explosion targeted their armored vehicle in the area situated near the border with Egypt in an operation claimed by the Islamic Jihad movement and announced it seizes the remains of one of the Israeli soldiers.

This operation is carried out by hundreds of soldiers. The Israeli forces cordoned the area and launched breaking in operation from one home to another especially in the area adjoining "Rafah and Blook." The military Rabbi got a permission from the Egyptian authorities to search for the remains of soldiers that might have fell on the Egyptian side of Rafah.

The occupation forces stressed it will not withdraw from Rafah until they find the remains of its killed soldiers.

Palestinian security sources said that at least five houses were demolished completely in the Israeli operation in Yabna and Rafah camps and other houses were damaged or partially devastated, while the military bulldozers, escorted by scores of tanks, continue the leveling and destruction operations.

Witnesses said that the Israeli forces occupied since yesterday at dawn new houses in Rafah and chairman of the Israeli army chief of staff Moshe Yaloun told the Israeli army radio that his forces controlled several buildings and are expanding the buffer zone along the borders but without giving more clarifications.

News reports in Gaza said that violent confrontations erupted between members of the Palestinian resistance and the occupation forces in Rafah and Blook, where the Israeli tanks bombarded the area intensively. Since Yesterday at dawn, the Israeli Apache planes launched successive raids against rafah camp and this resulted in killing seven Palestinians, while other four were killed at dawn and other three were killed in the raid at 3 a.m. dawn.

The Israeli bombardment resulted in wounding more than 40, some 15 of them are in a grave health situation. Israeli sources said that Israeli forces postponed its operations during night time of fears to be exposed to resistance attacks. The military correspondent of the occupation army said that the campaign in Rafah will be comprehensive and similar to that in al-Zeitoun quarters.

The occupation forces withdrew from al-Zeitoun quarters in Gaza two days after siege and bombardment which resulted in killing 16 Palestinians and left other 235 wounded. after Israel got the remains of 6 of its soldiers killed at the hand of the Palestinian resistance on Tuesday.

The Israeli forces, on the other hand, demolished three houses in Sheikh Danoun village in western Galilee to the east of Akka city.

Previous Stories:
  Palestinian resistance accepts conditions for handing over remains of Israelis   (5/13/2004)
  Israeli raids against al-Shuja'eyah, al-Zeiotoun   (5/12/2004)
  Qurei' announces readiness of the Palestinians for serious negotiations   (5/11/2004)
  Two Palestinians killed in a camp in Khan Younis   (5/4/2004)
  Bishara and the American Support to Israel   (4/26/2004)
  Four Palestinians killed, clashes continue   (4/23/2004)

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