Seven Palestinians killed Israel in Jenin, Gaza; Hamas vows to retaliate

The occupied Palestinian territories yesterday witnessed another bloody day in which 7 Palestinians were killed and scores were wounded in the continued Israeli aggression against the cities and villages of the West Bank and Gaza.

News reports said the Israeli forces stormed by tanks and under the bombardment of Apache missiles the city of Jenin and its camp and inspected the houses and destroyed the furniture after expelling families.

The Palestinians confronted the invading forces and strong clashes took place in which four Palestinians were killed. They were Nidal al-Kastouni (25 year old), Rasheed al-Orabi (28 year old), Youssef Saadi ( 20 year old), and Muhammad Toubasi ( 25 year old) besides several wounded including one child while scored were detained.

Three other Palestinians were killed by the fire of the Apache planes and tanks shelling against Sheikh Radwan quarters in Gaza. They were Muhammad Shahin ( 30 year old), Muhammad al-Atoum ( 20 year old) and the female teenager Sabrin Salameh ( 15 year old). Five Palestinian houses were destroyed and nine Palestinians were wounded.

The Palestinians retaliated by shelling against the gathering of the Israeli settlements in Ghoush Katif and Askalouna settlement.

One of the Hamas leading figures Abdul Aziz al-Ranteisi said that the Palestinian resistance will retaliate strongly to "Sharon's massacres and will revenge the Israeli soldiers in their bombardment of the secure Palestinian houses," while al-Qassam groups, the military wing of Hamas, vowed to continue the Intifada. It said in a statement that "the blood of the martyrs will not be wasted."

The Palestinian Authority called on the international community to pressure the Israeli government to halt the aggressions, the military escalation and the siege and the closure imposed on the Palestinian territories.