14 killed in IAF missile strike

[JohnS]

Last Update: 07/09/2004 01:53

Palestinians: At least 14 killed in IAF missile strike in Gaza

By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies

At least 14 Palestinians were killed and 30 wounded when Israel Air Force helicopters hit a Hamas site in Gaza City around midnight Monday, witnesses said.

Four of the casualties are critically wounded, and witnesses said all were either members of the Hamas military wing or supporters.

The strike targeted a Hamas community center complex, including a building and an outdoor lot, that the army says is used by the Hamas military wing for training.

Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri denied that the targeted field was used for training, calling it a summer camp for Palestinian youth.

However, dozens of members of the Hamas military wing, Iz a-Din al-Qassam, were meeting at the building during the time of the attack, Palestinian sources said. The building includes offices and a lot used by Hamas to carry out training and hold conferences. It is named after Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who was assassinated by Israel in April.

IAF helicopter gunships fired at least five missiles at the building, located in the Sajaiya neighborhood in the eastern part of Gaza City, a known Hamas stronghold, witnesses said. The helicopters hovered overhead after the explosions.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the security establishment decided in the wake of last week's double bus bombing in Be'er Sheva, for which Hamas claimed responsibility, to increase assassinations of Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Sixteen Israelis were killed in last Tuesday's attack.

Angry militants gathered at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, some with blood on their clothes from helping victims, shouting, "Revenge, revenge."

Al-Masri said, "This bloody crime is a new wave of aggression committed against our people and against our sons," blaming Israel. "It's an ongoing war. One day for us and one day for them."

4 Palestinians hurt by IDF fire in West Bank

In the West Bank, at least four Palestinians were injured by Israel Defense Forces fire near the settlement of Itamar on Monday night. The Palestinians had been throwing Molotov cocktails at the troops.

In the Gaza Strip, two mortars struck the Neveh Dekalim settlement Monday night. One landed next to a synagogue, lightly damaging it. No injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, the sound of an explosion in Jerusalem was caused by a bus blowing a tire, not, as initial reports stated, a terror attack.

Earlier Monday, the IDF demolished the family home of the Mugrabi family in the Deheisheh refugee camp, claiming that many members of the family were involved in planning suicide attacks inside Israel and shooting ambushes in the West Bank.

Ahmed Mugrabi was responsible manufacturing bombs and dispatching the terrorists who carried out suicide missions in the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Beit Yisrael and Kiryat Yuvel in March 2002, in which 13 people were killed.

Ali Mugrabi was one of the planners of a suicide mission in Rishon Letzion in May, 2002, in which two Israelis died and 36 were wounded. Additional family members were involved in planning attacks and aided those carrying out the attacks.

Also Monday, a Qassam rocket hit the Negev town of Sderot. No one was injured in the incident, and no damage was caused.

Security officials say the rocket was apparently fired from Beit Hanun.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/474276.html