10 mar 2012
Six casualties in Israeli shooting at a bus near Ofer
Six Palestinians were wounded when unknown Israeli shooters fired at their bus while passing near Ofer detention center in Ramallah on Friday night, medical sources said.
Four Palestinians were injured with the shrapnel of the bullets while two were treated for nervous breakdown, the sources said.
They said that Israeli occupation forces (IOF) or Jewish settlers were the culprits, adding that the bus was passing along the bypass road near Ofer when the incident occurred.
Four Palestinians were injured with the shrapnel of the bullets while two were treated for nervous breakdown, the sources said.
They said that Israeli occupation forces (IOF) or Jewish settlers were the culprits, adding that the bus was passing along the bypass road near Ofer when the incident occurred.
Israeli forces opened fire on mourners near the Gaza Strip's eastern cemetery on Saturday and injured four people, a government medical official said.
Hamas: All options are open to retaliate to Israeli aggression
Hamas warned Israel in a statement on Saturday of persisting in its aggression on the Gaza Strip, adding that all options are open to defend the Palestinian people.
Hamas held the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) fully responsible for any repercussion of its aggression on the coastal enclave.
“Our Palestinian people and their resistance factions won’t remain arms folded,” Hamas said, adding that it was “natural to defend ourselves in face of Zionist terrorism and war machine”.
The movement called for unity of lines and urged the Arab, Islamic countries and free people of the world to adopt serious stands to pressure Israel into halting its crimes against the Palestinian people.
For its part, the armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, affirmed that the IOA would pay for its crimes sooner or later.
Abu Obaida, the spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, told Al-Aqsa TV channel on Saturday, that there is no free calm with the IOA.
ADU calls for emergency Arab summit to discuss aggression on Gaza
The Arab Doctors Union (ADU) has called for the convening of an emergency Arab and Islamic summit to discuss the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The ADU foreign relations committee issued a statement on Saturday asking the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to call for an immediate summit to discuss the aggression.
It said that the ADU would continue to extend relief assistance to the Palestinian people within and outside occupied Palestine.
It said, however, that the Arab and Islamic countries should assume their role in protecting the unarmed Palestinian people.
The Arab Spring revolutions against tyranny and oppression would inevitably support the Palestinian people until final liberation of their country, the ADU stressed.
Israel killed 14 Palestinians and wounded 21 others since Friday in a series of air strikes on the Gaza Strip.
Egyptian FM asks for immediate end to the Israeli aggression on Gaza
Egyptian foreign minister Mohammed Amr has condemned the Israeli military escalation against the Gaza Strip that killed 14 Palestinians and wounded 21 others since Friday.
In a press release on Saturday, Amr said that his country was seriously concerned about the aggression, adding that Cairo had asked Tel Aviv to immediately end those attacks.
He said that Egypt was currently holding contacts for the sake of ending the military escalation.
Meanwhile, members of the Egyptian parliament’s Arab affairs committee said on Saturday that they would raise the issue of Israeli escalation with the foreign minister and would demand a “stronger position” on the part of Cairo.
Hamas: All options are open to retaliate to Israeli aggression
Hamas warned Israel in a statement on Saturday of persisting in its aggression on the Gaza Strip, adding that all options are open to defend the Palestinian people.
Hamas held the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) fully responsible for any repercussion of its aggression on the coastal enclave.
“Our Palestinian people and their resistance factions won’t remain arms folded,” Hamas said, adding that it was “natural to defend ourselves in face of Zionist terrorism and war machine”.
The movement called for unity of lines and urged the Arab, Islamic countries and free people of the world to adopt serious stands to pressure Israel into halting its crimes against the Palestinian people.
For its part, the armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, affirmed that the IOA would pay for its crimes sooner or later.
Abu Obaida, the spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, told Al-Aqsa TV channel on Saturday, that there is no free calm with the IOA.
ADU calls for emergency Arab summit to discuss aggression on Gaza
The Arab Doctors Union (ADU) has called for the convening of an emergency Arab and Islamic summit to discuss the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The ADU foreign relations committee issued a statement on Saturday asking the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to call for an immediate summit to discuss the aggression.
It said that the ADU would continue to extend relief assistance to the Palestinian people within and outside occupied Palestine.
It said, however, that the Arab and Islamic countries should assume their role in protecting the unarmed Palestinian people.
The Arab Spring revolutions against tyranny and oppression would inevitably support the Palestinian people until final liberation of their country, the ADU stressed.
Israel killed 14 Palestinians and wounded 21 others since Friday in a series of air strikes on the Gaza Strip.
Egyptian FM asks for immediate end to the Israeli aggression on Gaza
Egyptian foreign minister Mohammed Amr has condemned the Israeli military escalation against the Gaza Strip that killed 14 Palestinians and wounded 21 others since Friday.
In a press release on Saturday, Amr said that his country was seriously concerned about the aggression, adding that Cairo had asked Tel Aviv to immediately end those attacks.
He said that Egypt was currently holding contacts for the sake of ending the military escalation.
Meanwhile, members of the Egyptian parliament’s Arab affairs committee said on Saturday that they would raise the issue of Israeli escalation with the foreign minister and would demand a “stronger position” on the part of Cairo.
15 killed and 25 injured in Gaza from Israeli attacks
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In the past 24 hours, across Gaza, Israeli airstrikes killed 14 Palestinians, and injured 25 others.
The latest deaths came as Israeli drones fired missiles in Khan Younis killing Mansour Abu Nusaira and Hussein Hamad. Israeli troops have opened fire at the funeral procession of some of those killed last night. The angry mourners threw stones at the Israeli forces positioned east of Gaza near the Martyrs cemetery Last night Israeli warplanes hit the Palestinian legislative council, and 3 people were killed in this attack. |
14 people have been killed and over 20 injured so far in a series of air strikes. Many sites and places have been targeted throughout the Gaza strip.
In an air raid in central Gaza city last night, missiles hit a garage in Yarmouk Street. 4 people have been injured in this attack.
Another aid raid targeted a house in northern Gaza.
Yesterday afternoon, an Israeli F16 airstrike on a car in the Tal el hawa district resulted in the death of 2 Palestinians, and left one critically injured. One of those murdered was Mahmoud Hanani, who was one of the 1,000 people freed in the recent prisoner swap. Mahmoud was 44 and was the secretary general of the Palestinian Resistance Committee.
Names of the 15 Palestinians killed Gazans in the last 24 hours:
Zuhair Al-Qaysi, 49 years old and his son in law
Mahmoud Hanani 44 years old.
Yahya Dahshan 27,
Mohammad Haraha, 24
Obid Al-Gharabliu, 22
Hazem Qureqi, 22
Shadi Seeqali, 27.
Fayeq Sameer, 28
Motasem Hajjaj, 22
Ahmad Hajjaj, 22
Moahamd Al-Mogari, 25.
Mahmoud Nejam, 22
Moahamamd Al-Ghamri, 26
Hussain Barham, 51
Kamala Nusirah, 21
This news is from Yousef Al-Helou the Press TV Reporter in Gaza
Maath Musleh @MaathMusleh Last night IOF murdered 12 Palestinians in Gaza, today IOF shot at their funeral, leaving several injuries
Majd@majds 3 new injuries arrived alShifa'a hospital from the eastern cemetery.
Israel kills four more Gaza gunmen, rockets hit Israel
Israel killed four Gaza militants on Saturday as violence sparked by the death of a militant leader a day earlier escalated with gunmen firing more than 90 rockets at Israel, injuring four people, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.
In all Israel, has killed 14 militants in aerial strikes launched since Friday, Hamas medics said. In the latest attack, a gunman was killed on a motorcycle and another was critically wounded and later died of his injuries, medics said.
Two other militants from the Islamic Jihad group were killed in predawn strikes on Saturday, officials in Gaza said.
Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, blamed Israel for the violence and called for Western intervention to try and halt any further escalation which threatened to complicate rife tensions along the restive Israeli-Gaza frontier and their common border with Egypt.
"This Israeli escalation in Gaza is completely condemned and we urge the world community, and the Quartet (of Middle East power brokers), especially the United States, to put enough pressure on Israeli government to stop this escalation," Rdainah told Reuters television.
After weeks of relative calm, violence along the Israeli-Gaza frontier escalated on Friday when Israel blew up a car in Gaza City, killing two militant leaders.
Israel said one of the militants killed on Friday had been involved in plotting a cross-border attack from Egypt. Israeli media reports said he had also been closely involved in the 2006 capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, freed as part of a prisoner swap in October.
ISRAEL TARGETS WEAPONS
An Israeli military statement said the latest air strikes had targeted two weapons manufacturing sites. The strikes were launched in response to rocket fire from Gaza that injured four people in Israel, including one man, who is reported to be in a serious condition, it added.
Israeli media said the seriously injured man is a worker from Thailand.
The sounds of explosions and rocket fire reverberated across coastal Gaza and parts of southern Israel early on Saturday. Some half a million people were urged to remain indoors and keep bomb shelters open, and public events were cancelled.
Militant groups in Hamas-ruled Gaza vowed to exact revenge for the killings. According to the Israeli military, more than 90 rockets have been fired at Israel since Friday, including 25 longer-range Grad rockets intercepted by Israel's "Iron Dome" missile interceptor system.
Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) claimed responsibility for most of the rockets and mortar shells fired which they also said totaled more than 70.
Israel launched some half a dozen air strikes at militants in Gaza on Friday, killing 10.
Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel, did not claim responsibility for any of the missile attacks on Israel, and there were no reported civilian fatalities in Gaza, factors which may keep the violence from escalating.
However, Israel says it holds Hamas responsible for any attacks launched from its territory.
Around six Palestinians among 17 people wounded in the Israeli attacks have been identified by medics as civilians.
Hamas seized control of Gaza from Abbas's Fatah movement in a bloody 2007 coup, two years after Israel pulled its forces out of the territory it had captured in a 1967 war. (Writing by Allyn Fisher-Ilan; Editing by Sophie Hares)
Medics: New airstrike kills 2 in south Gaza
Medics say an airstrike killed two men in the southern Gaza Strip, raising to 14 the number of Palestinians killed since Israel assassinated a military leader 24 hours earlier.
The latest attack east of Khan Younis came from a drone which fired on a motorcycle, said Gaza medical official Adham Abu Salmiya.
The body of the victim was transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Abu Salmiya said. A critically injured person was taken to the European Hospital, where he later died. Neither was immediately identified.
An Israeli military spokeswoman had no immediate comment.
Earlier, the military said about 90 rockets had been fired toward Israeli territory at the weekend, injuring eight people including one seriously in southern Israel.
Islamic Jihad’s military wing the Al-Quds Brigades said 10 of its fighters have died since Friday. The Al-Quds Brigades launched 41 Grad missiles, 20 projectiles, six mortar shells, and three 107-mm rockets, it said.
Two Palestinians killed in new Israeli airstrike on Gaza
At least two Palestinians have been killed and three others injured in a new Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medics say.
Ma'an reporter, wife hurt in Israeli airstrike
A correspondent for Ma'an-Mix satellite TV and his pregnant wife sustained injuries late Friday in Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
Muamin Shrafi was injured by shrapnel and his wife Iftikhar sustained bruises when a missile landed near their home in Gaza City's Shujaiyyah area.
Muamin said the house next door to his also sustained material damage.
Israeli warplanes continued to strike several targets across the Gaza Strip overnight and early morning for the second day bringing the death toll to 12, and injuries to 20.
Islamic Jihad’s military wing the Al-Quds Brigades said in a statement that 10 of their fighters were killed since Friday. Eight people have been injured in southern Israel, news reports said.
Palestinian gov't holds Israel fully responsible for its Friday attacks
The Palestinian government in the besieged Gaza Strip held the Israeli occupation regime fully responsible for the consequences of its aerial attacks on the Strip which claimed the lives of 11 Palestinians on Friday including the secretary-general of the resistance committees Zuhair Al-Qaisi.
"This is a serious crime and the Palestinian government strongly condemns it and holds the Zionist occupation fully responsible for this heinous atrocity," spokesman for the government Taher Al-Nunu told the Palestinian information center (PIC).
Spokesman Nunu added that Israel's assassination of Qaisi and its crimes yesterday signaled its plan to blow up the situation in Gaza once again.
The spokesman noted that Mahmoud Hanani, who was deported to Gaza after his release in the West Bank a few years ago, was also assassinated during the airstrikes on Friday.
For its part, the Palestinian ministry of foreign affairs strongly denounced the criminal attacks and demanded the Arab foreign ministers to table the Israeli military escalation against Gaza on agenda of their meeting on Saturday.
The Palestinian ministry urged in a press release the Arab foreign ministers to file a complaint against the Israeli occupation with the UN Security Council for its crimes against the Palestinians and take action to end the blockade imposed on Gaza.
In an air raid in central Gaza city last night, missiles hit a garage in Yarmouk Street. 4 people have been injured in this attack.
Another aid raid targeted a house in northern Gaza.
Yesterday afternoon, an Israeli F16 airstrike on a car in the Tal el hawa district resulted in the death of 2 Palestinians, and left one critically injured. One of those murdered was Mahmoud Hanani, who was one of the 1,000 people freed in the recent prisoner swap. Mahmoud was 44 and was the secretary general of the Palestinian Resistance Committee.
Names of the 15 Palestinians killed Gazans in the last 24 hours:
Zuhair Al-Qaysi, 49 years old and his son in law
Mahmoud Hanani 44 years old.
Yahya Dahshan 27,
Mohammad Haraha, 24
Obid Al-Gharabliu, 22
Hazem Qureqi, 22
Shadi Seeqali, 27.
Fayeq Sameer, 28
Motasem Hajjaj, 22
Ahmad Hajjaj, 22
Moahamd Al-Mogari, 25.
Mahmoud Nejam, 22
Moahamamd Al-Ghamri, 26
Hussain Barham, 51
Kamala Nusirah, 21
This news is from Yousef Al-Helou the Press TV Reporter in Gaza
Maath Musleh @MaathMusleh Last night IOF murdered 12 Palestinians in Gaza, today IOF shot at their funeral, leaving several injuries
Majd@majds 3 new injuries arrived alShifa'a hospital from the eastern cemetery.
Israel kills four more Gaza gunmen, rockets hit Israel
Israel killed four Gaza militants on Saturday as violence sparked by the death of a militant leader a day earlier escalated with gunmen firing more than 90 rockets at Israel, injuring four people, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.
In all Israel, has killed 14 militants in aerial strikes launched since Friday, Hamas medics said. In the latest attack, a gunman was killed on a motorcycle and another was critically wounded and later died of his injuries, medics said.
Two other militants from the Islamic Jihad group were killed in predawn strikes on Saturday, officials in Gaza said.
Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, blamed Israel for the violence and called for Western intervention to try and halt any further escalation which threatened to complicate rife tensions along the restive Israeli-Gaza frontier and their common border with Egypt.
"This Israeli escalation in Gaza is completely condemned and we urge the world community, and the Quartet (of Middle East power brokers), especially the United States, to put enough pressure on Israeli government to stop this escalation," Rdainah told Reuters television.
After weeks of relative calm, violence along the Israeli-Gaza frontier escalated on Friday when Israel blew up a car in Gaza City, killing two militant leaders.
Israel said one of the militants killed on Friday had been involved in plotting a cross-border attack from Egypt. Israeli media reports said he had also been closely involved in the 2006 capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, freed as part of a prisoner swap in October.
ISRAEL TARGETS WEAPONS
An Israeli military statement said the latest air strikes had targeted two weapons manufacturing sites. The strikes were launched in response to rocket fire from Gaza that injured four people in Israel, including one man, who is reported to be in a serious condition, it added.
Israeli media said the seriously injured man is a worker from Thailand.
The sounds of explosions and rocket fire reverberated across coastal Gaza and parts of southern Israel early on Saturday. Some half a million people were urged to remain indoors and keep bomb shelters open, and public events were cancelled.
Militant groups in Hamas-ruled Gaza vowed to exact revenge for the killings. According to the Israeli military, more than 90 rockets have been fired at Israel since Friday, including 25 longer-range Grad rockets intercepted by Israel's "Iron Dome" missile interceptor system.
Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) claimed responsibility for most of the rockets and mortar shells fired which they also said totaled more than 70.
Israel launched some half a dozen air strikes at militants in Gaza on Friday, killing 10.
Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel, did not claim responsibility for any of the missile attacks on Israel, and there were no reported civilian fatalities in Gaza, factors which may keep the violence from escalating.
However, Israel says it holds Hamas responsible for any attacks launched from its territory.
Around six Palestinians among 17 people wounded in the Israeli attacks have been identified by medics as civilians.
Hamas seized control of Gaza from Abbas's Fatah movement in a bloody 2007 coup, two years after Israel pulled its forces out of the territory it had captured in a 1967 war. (Writing by Allyn Fisher-Ilan; Editing by Sophie Hares)
Medics: New airstrike kills 2 in south Gaza
Medics say an airstrike killed two men in the southern Gaza Strip, raising to 14 the number of Palestinians killed since Israel assassinated a military leader 24 hours earlier.
The latest attack east of Khan Younis came from a drone which fired on a motorcycle, said Gaza medical official Adham Abu Salmiya.
The body of the victim was transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Abu Salmiya said. A critically injured person was taken to the European Hospital, where he later died. Neither was immediately identified.
An Israeli military spokeswoman had no immediate comment.
Earlier, the military said about 90 rockets had been fired toward Israeli territory at the weekend, injuring eight people including one seriously in southern Israel.
Islamic Jihad’s military wing the Al-Quds Brigades said 10 of its fighters have died since Friday. The Al-Quds Brigades launched 41 Grad missiles, 20 projectiles, six mortar shells, and three 107-mm rockets, it said.
Two Palestinians killed in new Israeli airstrike on Gaza
At least two Palestinians have been killed and three others injured in a new Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medics say.
Ma'an reporter, wife hurt in Israeli airstrike
A correspondent for Ma'an-Mix satellite TV and his pregnant wife sustained injuries late Friday in Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
Muamin Shrafi was injured by shrapnel and his wife Iftikhar sustained bruises when a missile landed near their home in Gaza City's Shujaiyyah area.
Muamin said the house next door to his also sustained material damage.
Israeli warplanes continued to strike several targets across the Gaza Strip overnight and early morning for the second day bringing the death toll to 12, and injuries to 20.
Islamic Jihad’s military wing the Al-Quds Brigades said in a statement that 10 of their fighters were killed since Friday. Eight people have been injured in southern Israel, news reports said.
Palestinian gov't holds Israel fully responsible for its Friday attacks
The Palestinian government in the besieged Gaza Strip held the Israeli occupation regime fully responsible for the consequences of its aerial attacks on the Strip which claimed the lives of 11 Palestinians on Friday including the secretary-general of the resistance committees Zuhair Al-Qaisi.
"This is a serious crime and the Palestinian government strongly condemns it and holds the Zionist occupation fully responsible for this heinous atrocity," spokesman for the government Taher Al-Nunu told the Palestinian information center (PIC).
Spokesman Nunu added that Israel's assassination of Qaisi and its crimes yesterday signaled its plan to blow up the situation in Gaza once again.
The spokesman noted that Mahmoud Hanani, who was deported to Gaza after his release in the West Bank a few years ago, was also assassinated during the airstrikes on Friday.
For its part, the Palestinian ministry of foreign affairs strongly denounced the criminal attacks and demanded the Arab foreign ministers to table the Israeli military escalation against Gaza on agenda of their meeting on Saturday.
The Palestinian ministry urged in a press release the Arab foreign ministers to file a complaint against the Israeli occupation with the UN Security Council for its crimes against the Palestinians and take action to end the blockade imposed on Gaza.
Death toll climbs after Israeli raids on Gaza
At
least 15 Palestinians have been killed and a dozen others wounded,
including children, in a series of Israeli air strikes on the Gaza
Strip, Palestinian medical sources have said.
A Palestinian riding a motorcycle was killed and two others were wounded in an Israeli air raid close to the southern town of Rafah near the border with Egypt on Saturday afternoon.
Two men also on a motorbike were killed earlier the same day in another raid on the town of Khan Yunis, medics said
In a statement on Saturday, the Israeli army said: "The targeting is in direct response to the rocket fire at Israeli communities in southern Israel. "Over the past 24 hours, over 45 rockets have hit communities in southern Israel- injuring four people, one severely, one moderately and two lightly.
An airstrike late on Friday struck down three Palestinians after an Apache helicopter fired rockets that hit a house and a car, medics told Al Jazeera.
An earlier strike targeted the leader of Popular Resistance Committees, Zuhair Al-Qaissi, and his military escort Mahmoud Al-Hannani, a Palestinian prisoner released from Israeli jails five years ago.Witnesses said Israeli drones were seen hovering above just moments before al-Qaissi's vehicle burst into flames.
The intensity of the blast was so fierce that al-Qaissi's head detached as a result, they said.
Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan, reporting from Jerusalem, said: "The Israeli army is saying these two people it targeted with its clinical airstrike on Friday night were senior militants who were plotting an attack.
"The Israeli army says that last year's attack on the road that runs alongside the Egyptian border, where eight people were killed and 25 Israeli soldiers were wounded, was masterminded by the two men they targeted.
"Zuhair Al-Qaissi and Mahmoud Al-Hannani were said to have been behind these attacks, and the Israeli army said that these two men were planning a similar attack and that is why they launched their aerial clinical attack."
Islamic Jihad said that the three of those killed belonged to its military wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, looking to end Israel's occupation of annexed Palestinian lands.
The Al-Quds Brigades, part of the Islamic Jihad group, said that strikes on the east side of the city had killed its members Obeid al-Gharabli, Mohammed Harara, Hazem Qoureqa and Shadi Seqali.
It said that another two of its members, Fayeq Saad and Moatasem Hajaj, were also killed in other strikes.
In addition to the high profile strike, Israeli war jets carried out series of attacks at empty military training camps all over the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli attacks came after Palestinians fired dozens of rockets and mortar rounds into southern Israel, wounding four people, one seriously, Israeli military sources claimed.
A Palestinian riding a motorcycle was killed and two others were wounded in an Israeli air raid close to the southern town of Rafah near the border with Egypt on Saturday afternoon.
Two men also on a motorbike were killed earlier the same day in another raid on the town of Khan Yunis, medics said
In a statement on Saturday, the Israeli army said: "The targeting is in direct response to the rocket fire at Israeli communities in southern Israel. "Over the past 24 hours, over 45 rockets have hit communities in southern Israel- injuring four people, one severely, one moderately and two lightly.
An airstrike late on Friday struck down three Palestinians after an Apache helicopter fired rockets that hit a house and a car, medics told Al Jazeera.
An earlier strike targeted the leader of Popular Resistance Committees, Zuhair Al-Qaissi, and his military escort Mahmoud Al-Hannani, a Palestinian prisoner released from Israeli jails five years ago.Witnesses said Israeli drones were seen hovering above just moments before al-Qaissi's vehicle burst into flames.
The intensity of the blast was so fierce that al-Qaissi's head detached as a result, they said.
Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan, reporting from Jerusalem, said: "The Israeli army is saying these two people it targeted with its clinical airstrike on Friday night were senior militants who were plotting an attack.
"The Israeli army says that last year's attack on the road that runs alongside the Egyptian border, where eight people were killed and 25 Israeli soldiers were wounded, was masterminded by the two men they targeted.
"Zuhair Al-Qaissi and Mahmoud Al-Hannani were said to have been behind these attacks, and the Israeli army said that these two men were planning a similar attack and that is why they launched their aerial clinical attack."
Islamic Jihad said that the three of those killed belonged to its military wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, looking to end Israel's occupation of annexed Palestinian lands.
The Al-Quds Brigades, part of the Islamic Jihad group, said that strikes on the east side of the city had killed its members Obeid al-Gharabli, Mohammed Harara, Hazem Qoureqa and Shadi Seqali.
It said that another two of its members, Fayeq Saad and Moatasem Hajaj, were also killed in other strikes.
In addition to the high profile strike, Israeli war jets carried out series of attacks at empty military training camps all over the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli attacks came after Palestinians fired dozens of rockets and mortar rounds into southern Israel, wounding four people, one seriously, Israeli military sources claimed.
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At least 13 Palestinians have been killed and many more wounded in Israeli aerial and land attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip, Press TV reports.
In the first attack, missiles fired from an Israeli drone struck a car in the Tel El-Hawa neighborhood, west of Gaza City, killing both its passengers and severely injuring another person on Friday. The Israeli army has confirmed the attack, saying it was a targeted assassination. An Israeli military spokesman said that Zohair al-Qaisi, the leader of the Popular Resistance |
Committees (PRC), and PRC member Mahmoud Hanini were killed in the attack, adding that Israeli officials ordered the assassination because they had allegedly received reports that al-Qaisi was planning attacks against Israeli targets.
Hanini had been freed from an Israeli jail last year as part of a prisoner swap deal to gain the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Islamic Jihad of Palestine said in a statement issued on Friday that Obeid al-Gharabli, Mohammed Harara, Hazem Qoureqa, and Shadi Seqali of the al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of Islamic Jihad, were killed in a second airstrike on the east side of the city.
Palestinian security officials said that a third airstrike on Zeitoun, east of the city, caused no casualties.
In addition, at least four other Palestinians were killed and over 20 injured by Israeli tanks, which pounded areas in the west and north of the besieged coastal enclave.
Three other Palestinians were also killed in additional airstrikes across Gaza.
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has condemned the attacks, describing them as barbaric.
Israeli war planes and ground forces have frequently attacked Gaza since the end of the December 2008-January 2009 war on the people of the Gaza Strip. Most victims of the attacks are civilians, including women and children.
Death toll rises to 12 as Israel bombards Gaza
Israeli warplanes continued to strike several targets across the Gaza Strip overnight and early Saturday morning for the second day bringing the death toll to 12, and injuries to 20.
Islamic Jihad’s military wing the Al-Quds Brigades said in a statement that 10 of their fighters were killed since Friday. It said the group launched 41 Grad missiles, 20 homemade projectiles, six mortar shells, and three 107-mm rockets at Israeli targets.
A Ma'an reporter identified the 12 dead as Muhammad al-Ghamry, Fayiq Saad, Muatasim Hajjaj, Ubeid Gharabli, Muhammad Hararah, Hazim Qureiqi, Shadi Sayqali, Zuheir al-Qaysi, Mahmoud Hanani, Muhammad Maghari, Mahmoud Najim, and Ahmad Hajjaj.
Medical sources, meanwhile, said 26-year-old Muhammad al-Ghamry succumbed to wounds he sustained Saturday morning as Israeli warplanes targeted a car on Salah Ad-Din Street off the coast in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
They said Islamic Jihad operatives Ahmad Hajjaj, Fayiq Saad, and Muatasim Hajjaj were targeted by fighter jets early Saturday as they were walking near the building of the Palestinian Legislative Council in the Shujaiyyah neighborhood in Gaza City. Fayiq Saad and Muatasim Hajjaj were killed immediately, while Ahmad Hajjaj sustained mortal wounds and was pronounced dead shortly after he was evacuated.
In Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, an Israeli airstrike killed Muhammad Maghari and Mahmoud Najim on Hutayba street early Saturday.
Another Israeli raid injured four Palestinians from the same family as a rocket hit a basement on Yarmouk Street in Gaza City, according to medical sources.
Warplanes also targeted a military base used by Hamas’ military wing the al-Qassam Brigades in western Gaza City. The base was hit twice. No injuries have been reported, however, the attack resulted in power cuts in several neighborhoods.
Another airstrike hit a security base west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Israel's military says over 45 rockets have struck sites in the south, injuring four people, one severely, one moderately and two lightly.
It's "Iron Dome" missile defense system has intercepted over 10 Grad rockets which the army says which were fired at the cities of Beer Sheva, Ashdod and Ashkelon.
Israel said its aircraft targeted two weapon manufacturing facilities and two rocket launching sites in northern Gaza, a weapon manufacturing facility in central Gaza and a "terror activity site" in southern Gaza.
Aircraft targeted a fighter in central Gaza and six additional squads who were in the final stages of preparing to fire rockets at Israel from separate locations in northern and central Gaza, the army said.At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and a dozen others wounded, including children, in a series of Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources have said.
A Palestinian riding a motorcycle was killed and two others were wounded in an Israeli air raid close to the southern town of Rafah near the border with Egypt on Saturday afternoon.
Two men also on a motorbike were killed earlier the same day in another raid on the town of Khan Yunis, medics said
In a statement on Saturday, the Israeli army said: "The targeting is in direct response to the rocket fire at Israeli communities in southern Israel. "Over the past 24 hours, over 45 rockets have hit communities in southern Israel- injuring four people, one severely, one moderately and two lightly.
An airstrike late on Friday struck down three Palestinians after an Apache helicopter fired rockets that hit a house and a car, medics told Al Jazeera.
An earlier strike targeted the leader of Popular Resistance Committees, Zuhair Al-Qaissi, and his military escort Mahmoud Al-Hannani, a Palestinian prisoner released from Israeli jails five years ago.Witnesses said Israeli drones were seen hovering above just moments before al-Qaissi's vehicle burst into flames.
The intensity of the blast was so fierce that al-Qaissi's head detached as a result, they said.
Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan, reporting from Jerusalem, said: "The Israeli army is saying these two people it targeted with its clinical airstrike on Friday night were senior militants who were plotting an attack.
"The Israeli army says that last year's attack on the road that runs alongside the Egyptian border, where eight people were killed and 25 Israeli soldiers were wounded, was masterminded by the two men they targeted.
"Zuhair Al-Qaissi and Mahmoud Al-Hannani were said to have been behind these attacks, and the Israeli army said that these two men were planning a similar attack and that is why they launched their aerial clinical attack."
Islamic Jihad said that the three of those killed belonged to its military wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, looking to end Israel's occupation of annexed Palestinian lands.
The Al-Quds Brigades, part of the Islamic Jihad group, said that strikes on the east side of the city had killed its members Obeid al-Gharabli, Mohammed Harara, Hazem Qoureqa and Shadi Seqali.
It said that another two of its members, Fayeq Saad and Moatasem Hajaj, were also killed in other strikes.
In addition to the high profile strike, Israeli war jets carried out series of attacks at empty military training camps all over the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli attacks came after Palestinians fired dozens of rockets and mortar rounds into southern Israel, wounding four people, one seriously, Israeli military sources claimed.
Hanini had been freed from an Israeli jail last year as part of a prisoner swap deal to gain the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Islamic Jihad of Palestine said in a statement issued on Friday that Obeid al-Gharabli, Mohammed Harara, Hazem Qoureqa, and Shadi Seqali of the al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of Islamic Jihad, were killed in a second airstrike on the east side of the city.
Palestinian security officials said that a third airstrike on Zeitoun, east of the city, caused no casualties.
In addition, at least four other Palestinians were killed and over 20 injured by Israeli tanks, which pounded areas in the west and north of the besieged coastal enclave.
Three other Palestinians were also killed in additional airstrikes across Gaza.
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has condemned the attacks, describing them as barbaric.
Israeli war planes and ground forces have frequently attacked Gaza since the end of the December 2008-January 2009 war on the people of the Gaza Strip. Most victims of the attacks are civilians, including women and children.
Death toll rises to 12 as Israel bombards Gaza
Israeli warplanes continued to strike several targets across the Gaza Strip overnight and early Saturday morning for the second day bringing the death toll to 12, and injuries to 20.
Islamic Jihad’s military wing the Al-Quds Brigades said in a statement that 10 of their fighters were killed since Friday. It said the group launched 41 Grad missiles, 20 homemade projectiles, six mortar shells, and three 107-mm rockets at Israeli targets.
A Ma'an reporter identified the 12 dead as Muhammad al-Ghamry, Fayiq Saad, Muatasim Hajjaj, Ubeid Gharabli, Muhammad Hararah, Hazim Qureiqi, Shadi Sayqali, Zuheir al-Qaysi, Mahmoud Hanani, Muhammad Maghari, Mahmoud Najim, and Ahmad Hajjaj.
Medical sources, meanwhile, said 26-year-old Muhammad al-Ghamry succumbed to wounds he sustained Saturday morning as Israeli warplanes targeted a car on Salah Ad-Din Street off the coast in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
They said Islamic Jihad operatives Ahmad Hajjaj, Fayiq Saad, and Muatasim Hajjaj were targeted by fighter jets early Saturday as they were walking near the building of the Palestinian Legislative Council in the Shujaiyyah neighborhood in Gaza City. Fayiq Saad and Muatasim Hajjaj were killed immediately, while Ahmad Hajjaj sustained mortal wounds and was pronounced dead shortly after he was evacuated.
In Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, an Israeli airstrike killed Muhammad Maghari and Mahmoud Najim on Hutayba street early Saturday.
Another Israeli raid injured four Palestinians from the same family as a rocket hit a basement on Yarmouk Street in Gaza City, according to medical sources.
Warplanes also targeted a military base used by Hamas’ military wing the al-Qassam Brigades in western Gaza City. The base was hit twice. No injuries have been reported, however, the attack resulted in power cuts in several neighborhoods.
Another airstrike hit a security base west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Israel's military says over 45 rockets have struck sites in the south, injuring four people, one severely, one moderately and two lightly.
It's "Iron Dome" missile defense system has intercepted over 10 Grad rockets which the army says which were fired at the cities of Beer Sheva, Ashdod and Ashkelon.
Israel said its aircraft targeted two weapon manufacturing facilities and two rocket launching sites in northern Gaza, a weapon manufacturing facility in central Gaza and a "terror activity site" in southern Gaza.
Aircraft targeted a fighter in central Gaza and six additional squads who were in the final stages of preparing to fire rockets at Israel from separate locations in northern and central Gaza, the army said.At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and a dozen others wounded, including children, in a series of Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources have said.
A Palestinian riding a motorcycle was killed and two others were wounded in an Israeli air raid close to the southern town of Rafah near the border with Egypt on Saturday afternoon.
Two men also on a motorbike were killed earlier the same day in another raid on the town of Khan Yunis, medics said
In a statement on Saturday, the Israeli army said: "The targeting is in direct response to the rocket fire at Israeli communities in southern Israel. "Over the past 24 hours, over 45 rockets have hit communities in southern Israel- injuring four people, one severely, one moderately and two lightly.
An airstrike late on Friday struck down three Palestinians after an Apache helicopter fired rockets that hit a house and a car, medics told Al Jazeera.
An earlier strike targeted the leader of Popular Resistance Committees, Zuhair Al-Qaissi, and his military escort Mahmoud Al-Hannani, a Palestinian prisoner released from Israeli jails five years ago.Witnesses said Israeli drones were seen hovering above just moments before al-Qaissi's vehicle burst into flames.
The intensity of the blast was so fierce that al-Qaissi's head detached as a result, they said.
Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan, reporting from Jerusalem, said: "The Israeli army is saying these two people it targeted with its clinical airstrike on Friday night were senior militants who were plotting an attack.
"The Israeli army says that last year's attack on the road that runs alongside the Egyptian border, where eight people were killed and 25 Israeli soldiers were wounded, was masterminded by the two men they targeted.
"Zuhair Al-Qaissi and Mahmoud Al-Hannani were said to have been behind these attacks, and the Israeli army said that these two men were planning a similar attack and that is why they launched their aerial clinical attack."
Islamic Jihad said that the three of those killed belonged to its military wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, looking to end Israel's occupation of annexed Palestinian lands.
The Al-Quds Brigades, part of the Islamic Jihad group, said that strikes on the east side of the city had killed its members Obeid al-Gharabli, Mohammed Harara, Hazem Qoureqa and Shadi Seqali.
It said that another two of its members, Fayeq Saad and Moatasem Hajaj, were also killed in other strikes.
In addition to the high profile strike, Israeli war jets carried out series of attacks at empty military training camps all over the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli attacks came after Palestinians fired dozens of rockets and mortar rounds into southern Israel, wounding four people, one seriously, Israeli military sources claimed.
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Crowds in Gaza City joined the funeral processions of seven Islamic Jihad fighters who were killed by Israeli forces Friday and Saturday morning.
Funeral of 1- Muatasim Hajjaj, 2- Ahmad Hajjaj, 3- Fayiq Saad, 4- Shadi Sayqali, 5- Hazim Qureiqi, 6- Ubeid Gharably and 7- Muhammad Harara |
set out from Shifa hospital in Gaza City, then to Al-Umari Mosque.
After prayers, the bodies were carried to their families for a final farewell. However, families will have to look at covered bodies because most victims were torn to pieces.
Mourners chanted slogans calling on resistance fighters to retaliate, while gunshots were fired into the air.
The Popular Resistance Committees announced that the funeral of the group’s secretary-general
8- sheikh Zuheir Qaisi
would set out from Al-Awda Mosque in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile
9- Mahmoud Hanani,
originally from Nablus, will be buried after midday prayer. The funeral will set out from the Shura Mosque in Tal al-Zaatar neighborhood in the northern Gaza Strip.
Funerals for
10- Mahmoud Najim and
11- Muhammad Al-Maghari
will be held in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip.
12- Muhammad Al-Ghamry
will be buried in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
After prayers, the bodies were carried to their families for a final farewell. However, families will have to look at covered bodies because most victims were torn to pieces.
Mourners chanted slogans calling on resistance fighters to retaliate, while gunshots were fired into the air.
The Popular Resistance Committees announced that the funeral of the group’s secretary-general
8- sheikh Zuheir Qaisi
would set out from Al-Awda Mosque in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile
9- Mahmoud Hanani,
originally from Nablus, will be buried after midday prayer. The funeral will set out from the Shura Mosque in Tal al-Zaatar neighborhood in the northern Gaza Strip.
Funerals for
10- Mahmoud Najim and
11- Muhammad Al-Maghari
will be held in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip.
12- Muhammad Al-Ghamry
will be buried in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday called on leaders in Egypt, the European Union and the Quartet to bring a stop to Israeli military escalation in the Gaza Strip.
He also gave instructions to contact the Israeli side to put a stop to the attacks on Gaza.
Fifteen Palestinians were killed and many more injured in two days of Israeli airstrikes throughout the Gaza Strip. In retaliation, armed Palestinians fired dozens of makeshift and grad missiles on Israeli towns in southern Israel forcing a state of full alert in these areas.
Abbas contacted as well Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and the head of the Islamic Jihad, Ramadan Shallah.
Both leaders said they do not want to see the situation escalate and that they were committed to the calm so that not to give Israel a pretext to continue with its military operations against the people of the Gaza Strip and to spare them death and destruction.
Abbas had condemned the Israeli air attacks on Gaza.
He held the Israeli government responsible for what he described as “the dangerous deterioration as a result of its aggression against our people that include assassinations, incursions and destruction of infrastructure.”
Abbas warned that Israel may use the situation to avoid international efforts to revive the peace process.
Circle of violence
The Palestinian Authority condemned the strikes, saying it had created a "negative environment" that would "escalate the circle of violence in the region," according to a statement released by the official Palestinian WAFA news agency.
The Israeli military said in a statement that Qaisi "was among the leaders who planned, funded and directed" a deadly cross-border attack into southern Israel from Egypt's Sinai last August.
The statement added that both the dead men were "responsible for planning a combined terror attack that was to take place via Sinai in the coming days."It said that other strikes were aimed at men about to fire rockets into Israel.
Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, has maintained a tacit truce with Israel, but other armed Palestinian groups regularly fire rockets and mortars across the border, which can spark air strikes in response.
"The recent Zionist escalation is an unjustified crime, it comes as a part of the destabilisation of a stable security situation in the Gaza Strip" the Hamas-run Gaza government's interior ministry said in a statement.
"We hold the international community fully responsible for the attacks."
Before Friday's airstrikes, Israeli army radio quoted what it called "senior military sources" as saying the army "does not intend to allow the firing to continue."
He also gave instructions to contact the Israeli side to put a stop to the attacks on Gaza.
Fifteen Palestinians were killed and many more injured in two days of Israeli airstrikes throughout the Gaza Strip. In retaliation, armed Palestinians fired dozens of makeshift and grad missiles on Israeli towns in southern Israel forcing a state of full alert in these areas.
Abbas contacted as well Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and the head of the Islamic Jihad, Ramadan Shallah.
Both leaders said they do not want to see the situation escalate and that they were committed to the calm so that not to give Israel a pretext to continue with its military operations against the people of the Gaza Strip and to spare them death and destruction.
Abbas had condemned the Israeli air attacks on Gaza.
He held the Israeli government responsible for what he described as “the dangerous deterioration as a result of its aggression against our people that include assassinations, incursions and destruction of infrastructure.”
Abbas warned that Israel may use the situation to avoid international efforts to revive the peace process.
Circle of violence
The Palestinian Authority condemned the strikes, saying it had created a "negative environment" that would "escalate the circle of violence in the region," according to a statement released by the official Palestinian WAFA news agency.
The Israeli military said in a statement that Qaisi "was among the leaders who planned, funded and directed" a deadly cross-border attack into southern Israel from Egypt's Sinai last August.
The statement added that both the dead men were "responsible for planning a combined terror attack that was to take place via Sinai in the coming days."It said that other strikes were aimed at men about to fire rockets into Israel.
Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, has maintained a tacit truce with Israel, but other armed Palestinian groups regularly fire rockets and mortars across the border, which can spark air strikes in response.
"The recent Zionist escalation is an unjustified crime, it comes as a part of the destabilisation of a stable security situation in the Gaza Strip" the Hamas-run Gaza government's interior ministry said in a statement.
"We hold the international community fully responsible for the attacks."
Before Friday's airstrikes, Israeli army radio quoted what it called "senior military sources" as saying the army "does not intend to allow the firing to continue."
Turkey has strongly condemned Israel over its air strikes that killed 15 Palestinians in Gaza on Friday and Saturday, calling on the world not to remain indifferent and react to what it said Israel’s “disproportionate and indiscriminate retaliatory attacks.”
Israel pounded Gaza for the second day in a row on Saturday, trading airstrikes and rocket fire with Palestinian militants and killing 15 of them as the deadliest Gaza violence in over a year showed no signs of abating.
Tit-for-tat exchanges between Israel and Palestinians have been routine since the 2009 war, but a flare-up of this intensity is rare. The Arab League called the Israeli attacks a "massacre." The United Nations condemned the violence and called on both sides to exercise restraint.
The latest spate of violence got under way Friday afternoon, when an Israeli airstrike on a car in Gaza City killed top militant commander Zuhair al-Qaissi and two of his underlings. It was the highest-profile killing Israel has carried out in many months, interrupting a period of relative calm on the volatile southern front.
Almost immediately, Gaza militants unleashed a barrage of rockets toward southern Israeli border communities.
So far, militants have fired more than 100 rockets since al-Qaissi's killing, a major escalation from recent months. Palestinian militants fired some 50 rockets toward Israel in the previous three months.
This weekend's events are the deadliest in Gaza in more than a year.
The current fighting could spiral out of control if Palestinian militants manage to kill Israeli civilians or if the Israeli strikes kill Palestinian civilians or another top militant.
Turkey said it is concerned over new and dangerous escalation of violence in Gaza Strip. A statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry noted that it strongly condemns disproportiante and indiscriminate retalaitory attacks on Gaza that cause death Palestinian civilians.
It said new cycle of violence in the region will benefit no one who is siding with peace and called on the internaitonal community not to remain indifferent to attacks and display necessary reaction. Turkey demanded immediate calm in the strip.
“We ask Israel once again to end its inhumane and unacceptable policies toward Gaza,” the statement concluded.
Arab League condemns Gaza violence
The Arab League on Saturday condemned the escalation in violence on Gaza which has left 15 Palestinians dead since Friday.
At its Cairo meeting the group of Arab states called on the international community to intervene and held Israel responsible for the violence.
Israeli airstrikes have pounded the coastal strip, injuring 26 people, including a Ma'an reporter and his wife. Five of the injured are in a serious condition. Gaza militants fired volleys of rockets into southern Israel, injuring four Israelis, one seriously. Eight others have been treated for shock.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned on Saturday its air strikes would continue.
"This round in the Strip is still far from over," he told reporters on a visit to the south of the country where around half a million Israelis have been told to stay indoors and keep bomb shelters open.
The rising toll of the violence has sparked international concern for the safety of civilians on both sides.
The spokesman for UN special envoy for the peace process Robert Serry told Ma'an: "We call on both sides to exercise maximum restraint, and we deplore the fact that civilians are paying the price for this violence."
"We're very concerned about this latest escalation," Richard Miron said.
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement on Saturday: "I very much deplore the loss of civilian life. It is essential to avoid further escalation and I urge all sides to re-establish calm."
Earlier, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said Egypt is "highly distraught by the Israeli attacks."
"Egypt is currently exerting efforts and making crucial calls for an immediate end to this Israeli escalation to end bloodshed of our brothers," state news agency MENA quoted him saying.
Meanwhile, President Mahmoud Abbas urged restraint on both sides. He charged Israel was responsible for the "serious deterioration" but urged militants to avoid an escalation that could hurt efforts to renew talks for Palestinian statehood.
Israel pounded Gaza for the second day in a row on Saturday, trading airstrikes and rocket fire with Palestinian militants and killing 15 of them as the deadliest Gaza violence in over a year showed no signs of abating.
Tit-for-tat exchanges between Israel and Palestinians have been routine since the 2009 war, but a flare-up of this intensity is rare. The Arab League called the Israeli attacks a "massacre." The United Nations condemned the violence and called on both sides to exercise restraint.
The latest spate of violence got under way Friday afternoon, when an Israeli airstrike on a car in Gaza City killed top militant commander Zuhair al-Qaissi and two of his underlings. It was the highest-profile killing Israel has carried out in many months, interrupting a period of relative calm on the volatile southern front.
Almost immediately, Gaza militants unleashed a barrage of rockets toward southern Israeli border communities.
So far, militants have fired more than 100 rockets since al-Qaissi's killing, a major escalation from recent months. Palestinian militants fired some 50 rockets toward Israel in the previous three months.
This weekend's events are the deadliest in Gaza in more than a year.
The current fighting could spiral out of control if Palestinian militants manage to kill Israeli civilians or if the Israeli strikes kill Palestinian civilians or another top militant.
Turkey said it is concerned over new and dangerous escalation of violence in Gaza Strip. A statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry noted that it strongly condemns disproportiante and indiscriminate retalaitory attacks on Gaza that cause death Palestinian civilians.
It said new cycle of violence in the region will benefit no one who is siding with peace and called on the internaitonal community not to remain indifferent to attacks and display necessary reaction. Turkey demanded immediate calm in the strip.
“We ask Israel once again to end its inhumane and unacceptable policies toward Gaza,” the statement concluded.
Arab League condemns Gaza violence
The Arab League on Saturday condemned the escalation in violence on Gaza which has left 15 Palestinians dead since Friday.
At its Cairo meeting the group of Arab states called on the international community to intervene and held Israel responsible for the violence.
Israeli airstrikes have pounded the coastal strip, injuring 26 people, including a Ma'an reporter and his wife. Five of the injured are in a serious condition. Gaza militants fired volleys of rockets into southern Israel, injuring four Israelis, one seriously. Eight others have been treated for shock.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned on Saturday its air strikes would continue.
"This round in the Strip is still far from over," he told reporters on a visit to the south of the country where around half a million Israelis have been told to stay indoors and keep bomb shelters open.
The rising toll of the violence has sparked international concern for the safety of civilians on both sides.
The spokesman for UN special envoy for the peace process Robert Serry told Ma'an: "We call on both sides to exercise maximum restraint, and we deplore the fact that civilians are paying the price for this violence."
"We're very concerned about this latest escalation," Richard Miron said.
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement on Saturday: "I very much deplore the loss of civilian life. It is essential to avoid further escalation and I urge all sides to re-establish calm."
Earlier, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said Egypt is "highly distraught by the Israeli attacks."
"Egypt is currently exerting efforts and making crucial calls for an immediate end to this Israeli escalation to end bloodshed of our brothers," state news agency MENA quoted him saying.
Meanwhile, President Mahmoud Abbas urged restraint on both sides. He charged Israel was responsible for the "serious deterioration" but urged militants to avoid an escalation that could hurt efforts to renew talks for Palestinian statehood.
The Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights (EMOHR) Saturday stressed that the continued Israeli policy of what it called “assassination of wanted people” is a blatant violation of international law, describing it as a murder outside the law and without trial, said a press release issued by EMOHR.
EMOHR said that the Israeli army claim of responsibility for the Friday killing of two Palestinian activists in Gaza confirms Israel’s insistence on killing without trail, where it has assassinated dozens of activists inside the Palestinian territory since the start of the current millennium.
A Friday Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle in Gaza City killed Zuhair al-Qaisy, secretary general of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) in Gaza, and his assistant, Mahmoud Hanani, from the West Bank city of Nablus who was expelled to the Gaza Strip following his release from Israeli jails in the recent prisoners swap.
The center added that the Israeli killing of the two activists was similar to previous assassinations; where the victims were not in a situation of armed confrontation with the Israeli forces but were tracked down and pursued while they were exercising their ordinary life.
It said that premeditated targeted killing outside the law violates the right to life and the right to a fair trial in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War.
EMOHR held the Israel government accountable for violating civilian rights through its common pretext of “security reasons.”
“The brutal murder of suspected individuals is a disgrace to a country that claims to be civilized and democratic, even in the case of armed confrontation,” said the center.
It called on the Israeli government to stop such measures, affirming the right of Palestinians who were affected by these assassinations to demand compensation and prosecute Israel in accordance with the international law.
EMOHR said that the Israeli army claim of responsibility for the Friday killing of two Palestinian activists in Gaza confirms Israel’s insistence on killing without trail, where it has assassinated dozens of activists inside the Palestinian territory since the start of the current millennium.
A Friday Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle in Gaza City killed Zuhair al-Qaisy, secretary general of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) in Gaza, and his assistant, Mahmoud Hanani, from the West Bank city of Nablus who was expelled to the Gaza Strip following his release from Israeli jails in the recent prisoners swap.
The center added that the Israeli killing of the two activists was similar to previous assassinations; where the victims were not in a situation of armed confrontation with the Israeli forces but were tracked down and pursued while they were exercising their ordinary life.
It said that premeditated targeted killing outside the law violates the right to life and the right to a fair trial in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War.
EMOHR held the Israel government accountable for violating civilian rights through its common pretext of “security reasons.”
“The brutal murder of suspected individuals is a disgrace to a country that claims to be civilized and democratic, even in the case of armed confrontation,” said the center.
It called on the Israeli government to stop such measures, affirming the right of Palestinians who were affected by these assassinations to demand compensation and prosecute Israel in accordance with the international law.
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A Hamas policeman takes charge as Palestinians look at a motorcycle that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, March 10, 2012.
Airstrikes continue to rock the Gaza Strip, killing three men on Saturday, raising to 15 the number of Palestinians killed since Israel assassinated a military leader 24 hours earlier. A further 26 Palestinians have been injured in the strikes, five of whom are in a serious condition, Gaza medical services spokesman Adham Abu Salmiya said. The latest attack killed Mahdi Abu Shawish, 24, and injured three others when it targeted a motorcycle near Rabia Al-Adawiya school in southern city Rafah, medics told Ma'an. |
Abu Shawish was affiliated to the Popular Resistance Committees' armed wing, whose chief was killed on Friday, a Ma'an reporter said.
Earlier, a drone fired on a motorcycle strike east of Khan Younis killing two men, Abu Salmiya said.
The body of Hussein Barham Al-Breim, 51, was transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Abu Salmiya said.
Mansour Kamal Abu Nuseira, 20, was taken to European Hospital, where he later died.
Also on Saturday, Israeli warplanes bombed a Al-Qassam brigades militant site in western Gaza City neighborhood Abraj Al-Maqousi, injuring three men who were transferred to al-Shifa hospital.
The site was entirely flattened, shattering windows in nearby apartments, witnesses said.
Witnesses said that the location was completely destroyed and it also resulted in breaking the windows of the apartments near the main location.
Israel's army said in a statement that the strike on Khan Younis "thwarted a terrorist squad from firing a rocket at Israel from the southern Gaza Strip. Direct hits were identified." It said later strikes on Rafah and Gaza City "targeted two terror activity sites ... in response to the rockets fired at Israel."
"The IDF is prepared to defend the residents of Israel and will respond with strength and determination against any attempt to execute terrorist attacks," the statement said.
The Israeli military said earlier that about 90 rockets had been fired toward Israeli territory at the weekend, injuring eight people including one seriously in southern Israel.
Islamic Jihad’s military wing said 10 of its fighters have died since Friday. The Al-Quds Brigades launched 41 Grad missiles, 20 projectiles, six mortar shells, and three 107-mm rockets, it said.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement Saturday that the movement holds Israel "fully responsible for the escalation and its results," calling on Egypt to intervene to end the suffering in Gaza.
The Palestinian people have a right to defend themselves against aggression, he said.
Medical official Abu Salmiya called on international organizations and human rights bodies to fulfill their commitment to halt bloodshed in Gaza, in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
After the severe medical and electricity shortages in Gaza, the military operations on the Gaza Strip require urgent intervention to save Gaza from a humanitarian catastrophe, Salmiya said.
Earlier, a drone fired on a motorcycle strike east of Khan Younis killing two men, Abu Salmiya said.
The body of Hussein Barham Al-Breim, 51, was transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Abu Salmiya said.
Mansour Kamal Abu Nuseira, 20, was taken to European Hospital, where he later died.
Also on Saturday, Israeli warplanes bombed a Al-Qassam brigades militant site in western Gaza City neighborhood Abraj Al-Maqousi, injuring three men who were transferred to al-Shifa hospital.
The site was entirely flattened, shattering windows in nearby apartments, witnesses said.
Witnesses said that the location was completely destroyed and it also resulted in breaking the windows of the apartments near the main location.
Israel's army said in a statement that the strike on Khan Younis "thwarted a terrorist squad from firing a rocket at Israel from the southern Gaza Strip. Direct hits were identified." It said later strikes on Rafah and Gaza City "targeted two terror activity sites ... in response to the rockets fired at Israel."
"The IDF is prepared to defend the residents of Israel and will respond with strength and determination against any attempt to execute terrorist attacks," the statement said.
The Israeli military said earlier that about 90 rockets had been fired toward Israeli territory at the weekend, injuring eight people including one seriously in southern Israel.
Islamic Jihad’s military wing said 10 of its fighters have died since Friday. The Al-Quds Brigades launched 41 Grad missiles, 20 projectiles, six mortar shells, and three 107-mm rockets, it said.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement Saturday that the movement holds Israel "fully responsible for the escalation and its results," calling on Egypt to intervene to end the suffering in Gaza.
The Palestinian people have a right to defend themselves against aggression, he said.
Medical official Abu Salmiya called on international organizations and human rights bodies to fulfill their commitment to halt bloodshed in Gaza, in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
After the severe medical and electricity shortages in Gaza, the military operations on the Gaza Strip require urgent intervention to save Gaza from a humanitarian catastrophe, Salmiya said.
Fayiq Saad
The Israeli minister for Home Front Defense said Saturday Hamas was trying to avoid a new military assault on the Gaza Strip, but it depended on Gaza to bring an end to violence that has killed 15 Palestinians since Friday.
"It began, as previous rounds, with our decision to hurt a man worthy of hurting. As for how it ends, that depends on the other side," Matan Vilnai said on a visit to Beersheba, Israeli news site Ynet reported.
An Israeli airstrike assassinated the leader of the Popular Resistance Committees on Friday, sparking a series of deadly airstrikes and volleys of rockets into southern Israel, which have injured eight Israelis.
"Hamas is doing everything in its power to avoid a 'Cast Lead 2' ... We'll see where it's going later on tonight," Vilnai added.
EU foreign affairs chief calls for Gaza calm
The European foreign affairs chief called for calm on Saturday, as cross border violence killed 15 people in Gaza and injured 26 Palestinians and eight Israelis.
"The EU is following with concern the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and in the south of Israel," Catherine Ashton said in a statement.
"I very much deplore the loss of civilian life. It is essential to avoid further escalation and I urge all sides to re-establish calm."
The Israeli minister for Home Front Defense said Saturday Hamas was trying to avoid a new military assault on the Gaza Strip, but it depended on Gaza to bring an end to violence that has killed 15 Palestinians since Friday.
"It began, as previous rounds, with our decision to hurt a man worthy of hurting. As for how it ends, that depends on the other side," Matan Vilnai said on a visit to Beersheba, Israeli news site Ynet reported.
An Israeli airstrike assassinated the leader of the Popular Resistance Committees on Friday, sparking a series of deadly airstrikes and volleys of rockets into southern Israel, which have injured eight Israelis.
"Hamas is doing everything in its power to avoid a 'Cast Lead 2' ... We'll see where it's going later on tonight," Vilnai added.
EU foreign affairs chief calls for Gaza calm
The European foreign affairs chief called for calm on Saturday, as cross border violence killed 15 people in Gaza and injured 26 Palestinians and eight Israelis.
"The EU is following with concern the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and in the south of Israel," Catherine Ashton said in a statement.
"I very much deplore the loss of civilian life. It is essential to avoid further escalation and I urge all sides to re-establish calm."
Israeli aerial raid kills two resistance fighters
An Israeli air raid on Abbassan to the east of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, on afternoon Saturday killed two Palestinians affiliated with the armed wing of the popular resistance committees.
PIC reporter said that the Israeli warplanes targeted a motorbike near the police station in Abbasan killing one instantly and seriously injuring another, who later succumbed to his wounds.
He said that one of them was 51-year-old Hussein Breik and the other was Mansour Abu Neseria.
The number of Palestinian casualties thus rose to 14 dead and 21 wounded since the Israeli aggression on the Strip started on Friday.
For its part, Euromed for human rights said that Israel should be brought to account for its so-called targeted killing, which is in violation of the international law.
It said that such extra-judicial killings of “wanted” persons were in escalation of the Israeli targeted killing of wanted activists without trial.
Most of those killed in such attacks were not liquidated in combat, it said in a statement on Saturday.
PIC reporter said that the Israeli warplanes targeted a motorbike near the police station in Abbasan killing one instantly and seriously injuring another, who later succumbed to his wounds.
He said that one of them was 51-year-old Hussein Breik and the other was Mansour Abu Neseria.
The number of Palestinian casualties thus rose to 14 dead and 21 wounded since the Israeli aggression on the Strip started on Friday.
For its part, Euromed for human rights said that Israel should be brought to account for its so-called targeted killing, which is in violation of the international law.
It said that such extra-judicial killings of “wanted” persons were in escalation of the Israeli targeted killing of wanted activists without trial.
Most of those killed in such attacks were not liquidated in combat, it said in a statement on Saturday.
9 mrt 2012
A total Five Palestinian men were reported killed on Friday by Israeli jetfighters conducted a number of attacks targeting the Gaza Strip. Sources in Gaza say Israeli tanks are still shelling parts of Gaza city.
The latest air raid was on Friday night targeting eastern Gaza Strip left Hazim Quraqee dead. Quraqee is a fighter with the Islamic jihad as well.
The attacks started on Friday afternoon as Israeli jetfighters targeted a Palestinian car east of Gaza City. The attack left Mohamed Hanni and Zuhier Al Qayissi dead. Al Qayissi is the general secretary of the Popular Resistance Committees based in Gaza.
Later on Friday evening, Aobed al Ghribawi and Mohamed Harrara were killed during Israeli bombing targeting the eastern part of the Gaza Strip. Both are fighters with the Islamic Jihad group in Gaza.
In response Palestinian groups fired home-made rockets at Israeli towns near the Gaza borders. Israeli sources reported no injuries but the army advised residents go to shelters.
Abu Mojahid, from the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza, said that his group will avenge the killing of Al Qayissi and his comrades. Abu Mojahid considered the calm agreement is over.
Palestinian groups in Gaza agreed on a “calm period” after the 18 days long military attack on Gaza in 2009.
Gaza based Journalist, Rami Al Meghari, contributed to this article
Four killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza
At least four Palestinians have been killed in two separate Israeli airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip, medical sources say.
According to Palestinian sources, in the first attack missiles fired from an Israeli drone struck a car in Tel El-Hawa neighborhood, west of Gaza City, on Friday, killing both its passengers and severely injuring another person.
The Israeli army has confirmed the attack, saying it was a targeted assassination.
An Israeli military spokesman said that Zuheir al-Qessi, the head of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and fellow-member Mahmud Hanani were killed in the attack, adding that Israeli officials ordered the assassination because they had allegedly received reports that al-Qessi was planning attacks against Israeli targets.
Hanini had been freed from an Israeli jail last year as part of a prisoner swap deal to gain the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
There were no information on the second attack, local medical sources only said that two more Palestinians were killed in another Israeli airstrike without providing further detail.
The Israeli military, however, claimed that the two men were about to fire rockets into Israel.
Israeli war planes and ground forces frequently attack Gaza since the end of the 22-day war on the territory in 2009. Most victims of the attacks are civilians including women and children.
Gaza has been under Israel's all out siege since 2007, when democratically-elected Hamas took control of the tiny Palestinian territory.
Hazem Kerekeaa
The latest air raid was on Friday night targeting eastern Gaza Strip left Hazim Quraqee dead. Quraqee is a fighter with the Islamic jihad as well.
The attacks started on Friday afternoon as Israeli jetfighters targeted a Palestinian car east of Gaza City. The attack left Mohamed Hanni and Zuhier Al Qayissi dead. Al Qayissi is the general secretary of the Popular Resistance Committees based in Gaza.
Later on Friday evening, Aobed al Ghribawi and Mohamed Harrara were killed during Israeli bombing targeting the eastern part of the Gaza Strip. Both are fighters with the Islamic Jihad group in Gaza.
In response Palestinian groups fired home-made rockets at Israeli towns near the Gaza borders. Israeli sources reported no injuries but the army advised residents go to shelters.
Abu Mojahid, from the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza, said that his group will avenge the killing of Al Qayissi and his comrades. Abu Mojahid considered the calm agreement is over.
Palestinian groups in Gaza agreed on a “calm period” after the 18 days long military attack on Gaza in 2009.
Gaza based Journalist, Rami Al Meghari, contributed to this article
Four killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza
At least four Palestinians have been killed in two separate Israeli airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip, medical sources say.
According to Palestinian sources, in the first attack missiles fired from an Israeli drone struck a car in Tel El-Hawa neighborhood, west of Gaza City, on Friday, killing both its passengers and severely injuring another person.
The Israeli army has confirmed the attack, saying it was a targeted assassination.
An Israeli military spokesman said that Zuheir al-Qessi, the head of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and fellow-member Mahmud Hanani were killed in the attack, adding that Israeli officials ordered the assassination because they had allegedly received reports that al-Qessi was planning attacks against Israeli targets.
Hanini had been freed from an Israeli jail last year as part of a prisoner swap deal to gain the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
There were no information on the second attack, local medical sources only said that two more Palestinians were killed in another Israeli airstrike without providing further detail.
The Israeli military, however, claimed that the two men were about to fire rockets into Israel.
Israeli war planes and ground forces frequently attack Gaza since the end of the 22-day war on the territory in 2009. Most victims of the attacks are civilians including women and children.
Gaza has been under Israel's all out siege since 2007, when democratically-elected Hamas took control of the tiny Palestinian territory.
Hazem Kerekeaa
Two people were killed as Israel launched a second airstrike on the Gaza Strip, bringing Friday's death toll to four people, medics said.
Obeid al-Ghirbali and Muhammad Harara were named as those killed, medical spokesman Adham Abu Salmiyeh said.
Both men were members of the Al-Quds Brigade, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad. Their bodies were taken to Dar al-Shifa hospital.
Israel's army said in a statement that it had "thwarted two terrorist squads from firing rockets at Israel from the northern and the central Gaza Strip."
Earlier, an Israeli strike targeting a car in western Gaza killed the head of the Popular Resistance Committees and a former prisoner released by Israel four years ago, medical officials said. Israel accused PRC secretary-general Zuhair Qaisi, one of the men killed, of helping to plan attacks along its border with Egypt that killed seven Israelis last year.
The PRC has denied involvement in that cross-border attack.
The Israeli military said militants fired eight rockets in all on Friday.
The national resistance brigades, the DFLP's armed wing, the Al-Aqsa brigades, and the armed wing of the PRC, the An-Nasser Salah Ad-Din brigades, have all claimed responsibility for rocket fire.
Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh condemned the earlier Israeli airstrike, saying it will lead to an escalating cycle of violence in the region.
Hamas' foreign ministry called on the international community to intervene to stop Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, a statement said.
The An-Nasser Salah Ad-Din Brigades, the PRC's armed wing, had promised a "seismic response" to the earlier assassination.
Obeid al-Ghirbali and Muhammad Harara were named as those killed, medical spokesman Adham Abu Salmiyeh said.
Both men were members of the Al-Quds Brigade, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad. Their bodies were taken to Dar al-Shifa hospital.
Israel's army said in a statement that it had "thwarted two terrorist squads from firing rockets at Israel from the northern and the central Gaza Strip."
Earlier, an Israeli strike targeting a car in western Gaza killed the head of the Popular Resistance Committees and a former prisoner released by Israel four years ago, medical officials said. Israel accused PRC secretary-general Zuhair Qaisi, one of the men killed, of helping to plan attacks along its border with Egypt that killed seven Israelis last year.
The PRC has denied involvement in that cross-border attack.
The Israeli military said militants fired eight rockets in all on Friday.
The national resistance brigades, the DFLP's armed wing, the Al-Aqsa brigades, and the armed wing of the PRC, the An-Nasser Salah Ad-Din brigades, have all claimed responsibility for rocket fire.
Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh condemned the earlier Israeli airstrike, saying it will lead to an escalating cycle of violence in the region.
Hamas' foreign ministry called on the international community to intervene to stop Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, a statement said.
The An-Nasser Salah Ad-Din Brigades, the PRC's armed wing, had promised a "seismic response" to the earlier assassination.
Two Quds Brigades fighters killed in an occupation airstrike
Two Quds Brigades fighters were killed Friday evening in another Israeli occupation airstrike targeting a group of Palestinians in to the east of Shejaeyyah neighbourhood in Gaza City. This airstrike took place only hours after an earlier attack targeted two leaders of the Popular Resistance Committees.
Local sources said that Israeli occupation aircraft fired a number of rockets at a group of Palestinians to the east of Gaza City resulting in the death of two Palestinians, adding that ambulances rushed to the scene and recovered the bodies of the two victims of the attack.
Spokesman for the emergency committee, Adham Abu Selmeyya, said that ambulance crews recovered two bodies, one of them with a severed head, at the scene of the airstrike where Israeli occupation aircraft fired three rockets.
Local sources told PIC correspondent that the two martyrs are: Muhammad Harara and Obeid Gharabli, both of them fighters affiliated with the Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad.
The Quds Brigades mourned the two fighters and said in a statement on Friday evening that Obeid Gharabli (23 years) and Muhammad Harara (22 years) both residents of the Shejaeyyah neighbourhood were killed in a Zionist airstrike to the east of Gaza City that targeted them.
The Quds Brigades further said that the blood of the martyrs will not be in vain, but it will be the curse that chases the occupier.
Israeli occupation aircraft also fired at least one rocket at a group of Palestinians to the east of Zaitoun suburb near the car market, wounding four of them. They were taken to Shifa hospital.
Local sources said that Israeli occupation aircraft fired a number of rockets at a group of Palestinians to the east of Gaza City resulting in the death of two Palestinians, adding that ambulances rushed to the scene and recovered the bodies of the two victims of the attack.
Spokesman for the emergency committee, Adham Abu Selmeyya, said that ambulance crews recovered two bodies, one of them with a severed head, at the scene of the airstrike where Israeli occupation aircraft fired three rockets.
Local sources told PIC correspondent that the two martyrs are: Muhammad Harara and Obeid Gharabli, both of them fighters affiliated with the Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad.
The Quds Brigades mourned the two fighters and said in a statement on Friday evening that Obeid Gharabli (23 years) and Muhammad Harara (22 years) both residents of the Shejaeyyah neighbourhood were killed in a Zionist airstrike to the east of Gaza City that targeted them.
The Quds Brigades further said that the blood of the martyrs will not be in vain, but it will be the curse that chases the occupier.
Israeli occupation aircraft also fired at least one rocket at a group of Palestinians to the east of Zaitoun suburb near the car market, wounding four of them. They were taken to Shifa hospital.
Israeli aircraft used to assassinate two leaders of the PRC
Israeli aircraft on Friday evening assassinated Zuhair al-Qaisi, secretary general of the Popular Resistance Committees and one of its field leaders, Mahmoud Hananni, who is a liberated captive from Nablus.
PIC correspondent said that Israeli occupation aircraft fired a rocket at a car travelling in Tal-al-Islam in the city of Gaza resulting in the death of the two leaders and critically wounding a third person.
Spokesman for the emergency services in the Gaza Strip said that two Palestinians were killed and a third was wounded in an Israeli occupation airstrike targeting a car in Tel-al-Islam in Gaza City.
The Gaza government for its part held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the repercussions of its crime.
Spokesman for the government Taher al-Nunu, said in a statement to PIC: "This is a serious crime. The Palestinian government strongly condemns it and holds the Zionist occupation fully responsible for the repercussions of this heinous crime."
He stressed that the assassination of the secretary general of the PRC at this time when Gaza is witnessing a period of calm is an attempt by the occupation to stir things up to cause instability.
He also said that the assassination of a liberated captive who has been deported to the Gaza Strip shows the immorality of the occupation which, in the West Bank, also started re-arresting liberated captives who were freed in the Shalit exchange deal.
The Israeli occupation admitted committing the crime, the Hebrew radio quoted military sources as saying that the assassination of Qaisi and Hananni was to prevent a serious attack the two were planning at the Egyptian borders with the 1948 occupied Palestine.
PRC secretary, ex-prisoner killed in Gaza
An Israeli strike targeting a car in western Gaza killed the head of the Popular Resistance Committees and a former prisoner released by Israel four years ago, medical officials said Friday.
PRC secretary-general Zuhair Qaisi and Mahmoud Hanani, a Nablus native freed from Israeli custody four years earler, were killed in the blast in Deir al-Hawa, a Gaza health ministry official said.
Adham Abu Salmiya said one other person sustained injuries in the explosion.
An Israeli military spokeswoman did not immediately return a call for comment.
"The car was bombed," one source told Reuters. The explosion happened shortly after Israel said two rockets were fired the Eshkol area, causing no damage or injury.
PIC correspondent said that Israeli occupation aircraft fired a rocket at a car travelling in Tal-al-Islam in the city of Gaza resulting in the death of the two leaders and critically wounding a third person.
Spokesman for the emergency services in the Gaza Strip said that two Palestinians were killed and a third was wounded in an Israeli occupation airstrike targeting a car in Tel-al-Islam in Gaza City.
The Gaza government for its part held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the repercussions of its crime.
Spokesman for the government Taher al-Nunu, said in a statement to PIC: "This is a serious crime. The Palestinian government strongly condemns it and holds the Zionist occupation fully responsible for the repercussions of this heinous crime."
He stressed that the assassination of the secretary general of the PRC at this time when Gaza is witnessing a period of calm is an attempt by the occupation to stir things up to cause instability.
He also said that the assassination of a liberated captive who has been deported to the Gaza Strip shows the immorality of the occupation which, in the West Bank, also started re-arresting liberated captives who were freed in the Shalit exchange deal.
The Israeli occupation admitted committing the crime, the Hebrew radio quoted military sources as saying that the assassination of Qaisi and Hananni was to prevent a serious attack the two were planning at the Egyptian borders with the 1948 occupied Palestine.
PRC secretary, ex-prisoner killed in Gaza
An Israeli strike targeting a car in western Gaza killed the head of the Popular Resistance Committees and a former prisoner released by Israel four years ago, medical officials said Friday.
PRC secretary-general Zuhair Qaisi and Mahmoud Hanani, a Nablus native freed from Israeli custody four years earler, were killed in the blast in Deir al-Hawa, a Gaza health ministry official said.
Adham Abu Salmiya said one other person sustained injuries in the explosion.
An Israeli military spokeswoman did not immediately return a call for comment.
"The car was bombed," one source told Reuters. The explosion happened shortly after Israel said two rockets were fired the Eshkol area, causing no damage or injury.
8 mar 2012
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Israeli forces at the southern Lebanese border
An Israeli infantry force has illegally entered Lebanon, while Israeli reconnaissance planes again violated the country’s airspace. According to Lebanese television, Al-Manar, the Israeli ground force reached the banks of Wazzani River on Wednesday after crossing the electric fence on the southern Lebanese border, with some troops taking up combat positions and pointing their machineguns at the Lebanese territory. The troops withdrew shortly after Lebanese Army sent patrols in the area to monitor the movements of the Israeli forces. |
Earlier in the day, Israeli reconnaissance planes violated Lebanon's airspace and flew over the country in violation of a UN Security Council resolution.
The Lebanese Army issued a statement, saying that the incursion had occurred over the country's southern border at 9:30 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday.
The Israeli planes maneuvered over the area until about 10:40 a.m. (local time) before leaving Lebanon's airspace, the statement added.
Israel violates Lebanon's airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming that the flights serve surveillance purposes.
Lebanon's government, the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah, and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have repeatedly condemned the overflights, saying they are in clear violation of the UN Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.
The resolution, which brokered a ceasefire in the war of aggression, Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The war killed around 1,200 Lebanese. Most of the victims were civilians.
In 2009, Lebanon filed a complaint with the UN, presenting over 7,000 documents pertaining to Israeli violations of the Lebanese territory.
The Lebanese Army issued a statement, saying that the incursion had occurred over the country's southern border at 9:30 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday.
The Israeli planes maneuvered over the area until about 10:40 a.m. (local time) before leaving Lebanon's airspace, the statement added.
Israel violates Lebanon's airspace on an almost daily basis, claiming that the flights serve surveillance purposes.
Lebanon's government, the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah, and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have repeatedly condemned the overflights, saying they are in clear violation of the UN Resolution 1701 and the country's sovereignty.
The resolution, which brokered a ceasefire in the war of aggression, Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The war killed around 1,200 Lebanese. Most of the victims were civilians.
In 2009, Lebanon filed a complaint with the UN, presenting over 7,000 documents pertaining to Israeli violations of the Lebanese territory.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) have been threatened with arrest and death by the Israeli army’s Golani Brigade since publication of the CPT report, Under Attack: Golani Brigade's war on the Palestinian population of Al-Khalil (Hebron).
The report documents the recent escalation of human rights abuse in Al Khalil. These threats are an attempt to prevent CPT and other international organizations from continuing to document ongoing human rights abuses, including violence and harassment, committed by soldiers against the civilian population of Al Khalil.
According to International law and Israeli law, international observers have the right to document the actions of soldiers unless their presence interferes directly with the military. Members of CPT have made it clear that they are present in Al Khalil merely to document, but have been told by soldiers that they are subject to arrest whenever they attempt to follow military patrols through residential areas, film, or remain present during searches or interrogations of civilians. Twice in recent weeks soldiers threatened to shoot or kill a CPT member. In multiple instances soldiers used the threat of arrest to prevent CPT from observing and documenting incidents which included the detention or intimidation of children.
Summary of Incidences follows
Incidences when CPT was threaten with arrest while attempting to observe the Israeli Armys Golani brigade
On February 14,at around 4:00 PM two people from CPT encountered a patrol of eight Golani soldiers in the Old City. The soldiers told them that if they attempted to follow the patrol they would be arrested. The soldiers body searched two men against a wall in Bab al Baladiya, and then stopped a 12 year old boy, who was headed for the Ibrahimi mosque and was carrying a large plastic bag of folded tissues. After being ordered by the Soldiers, the boy opened the top of the bag. The soldiers then ripped the bag open and then took him by the coat and lead him out of sight of CPT. The soldiers told CPT members that if they attempted to follow they would be arrested. The boy was held for about 15 minutes out of the sight of internationals and was then released.
On February 18 around 4:00 PM, Golani soldiers in Bab al Baladiya detained 4 youths, age 12-17, and began to take them through the Old City. The soldiers wanted to know were the boys lived. Two people from CPT were present and followed the soldiers, along with the mother of one of the boys. The soldiers used their rifles to shove the mother and CPT back, and repeatedly told CPT and the mother that if they continued to walk with them they would be arrested. The soldiers took the boys into a nearby settlement and then to the Kyriat Arba police station. They were later released.
On February 20th at around 8:30 AM, CPT encountered a group of four Golani soldiers who were stopping people and checking IDs in the shopping area of the Old City. After checking IDs for about 45 minutes, the soldiers were joined by four more soldiers and the patrol moved up into the nearby residential streets. When members of CPT attempted to follow 20 meters behind the patrol, the soldiers threatened them with arrest. CPT explained that they were not intending to interfere with the soldiers and the soldiers told them, We are the law and we say you cannot follow us.
On February 20th at around 6pm, soldiers detained a Palestinian photographer and an international observer at checkpoint 56 for 1 hour for taking pictures. The soldiers told CPT that if they took photos of the detention they would be detained and arrested.
On February 26th at around 4 PM a patrol of six Golani soldiers stopped four young boys above Baba al Baladiya and took them up into the residential area above the bus station. They told a member of CPT that he could not follow and would be arrested if he continued. The soldiers were showing the boys photos on a camera and asking who was in the photos and where the people lived. Another member of CPT approached from another direction and met the soldiers and the boys near the Spanish academy. The soldiers again told that member of CPT that she would be arrested if she approached them.The children were then released.
On March 3rd two people from CPT attempted to follow a patrol of 12 Golani soldiers in the old city in the late afternoon but were told if they continued they would be arrested.
On March 6th at around 3PM, A Golani patrol took 2 young boys (about 10 years of age) up to the rooftop of a Palestinian home in the old city to interrogate them. Two CPT members followed them to the roof to observe the incident. The CPT members were told to go down or they would be arrested. The boys were released after a few minutes and told CPT the soldiers wanted to know who was throwing stones at the soldiers and who was breaking windows at the settlement
Incidences when Israeli Army Golani Brigade threatened to shoot and/or kill CPT
On February 25th at around 3:30 PM during the weekly tour of Israeli settlers through the Old City, Golani soldiers told CPT and other international observers that they had to be back 15 meters from the soldiers. CPT moved back and continued to observe, whereupon a soldier ran forward towards CPT and International observers, aimed his rifle at them, and said, I want to shoot you through the head with a bullet.
On February 5th, around 7:30 AM, a member of CPT stopped to observe a Golani soldier yelling at two Palestinians from the roof top. When the CPTer remained to watch, the soldier told CPT to leave. CPT responded by saying No. The soldier then pulled out his gun, looked through the scope, and pointed it at the CPT member and told him to leave again and motioned with his gun. The CPT member left the sight of the solider and returned with a camera. The soldier then stopped pointing his gun at the CPT and left the viewing area of the CPT member.
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) have been threatened with arrest and death by the Israeli army’s Golani Brigade since publication of the CPT report, Under Attack: Golani Brigade's war on the Palestinian population of Al-Khalil (Hebron).
The report documents the recent escalation of human rights abuse in Al Khalil. These threats are an attempt to prevent CPT and other international organizations from continuing to document ongoing human rights abuses, including violence and harassment, committed by soldiers against the civilian population of Al Khalil.
According to International law and Israeli law, international observers have the right to document the actions of soldiers unless their presence interferes directly with the military. Members of CPT have made it clear that they are present in Al Khalil merely to document, but have been told by soldiers that they are subject to arrest whenever they attempt to follow military patrols through residential areas, film, or remain present during searches or interrogations of civilians. Twice in recent weeks soldiers threatened to shoot or kill a CPT member. In multiple instances soldiers used the threat of arrest to prevent CPT from observing and documenting incidents which included the detention or intimidation of children.
Summary of Incidences follows
Incidences when CPT was threaten with arrest while attempting to observe the Israeli Armys Golani brigade
On February 14,at around 4:00 PM two people from CPT encountered a patrol of eight Golani soldiers in the Old City. The soldiers told them that if they attempted to follow the patrol they would be arrested. The soldiers body searched two men against a wall in Bab al Baladiya, and then stopped a 12 year old boy, who was headed for the Ibrahimi mosque and was carrying a large plastic bag of folded tissues. After being ordered by the Soldiers, the boy opened the top of the bag. The soldiers then ripped the bag open and then took him by the coat and lead him out of sight of CPT. The soldiers told CPT members that if they attempted to follow they would be arrested. The boy was held for about 15 minutes out of the sight of internationals and was then released.
On February 18 around 4:00 PM, Golani soldiers in Bab al Baladiya detained 4 youths, age 12-17, and began to take them through the Old City. The soldiers wanted to know were the boys lived. Two people from CPT were present and followed the soldiers, along with the mother of one of the boys. The soldiers used their rifles to shove the mother and CPT back, and repeatedly told CPT and the mother that if they continued to walk with them they would be arrested. The soldiers took the boys into a nearby settlement and then to the Kyriat Arba police station. They were later released.
On February 20th at around 8:30 AM, CPT encountered a group of four Golani soldiers who were stopping people and checking IDs in the shopping area of the Old City. After checking IDs for about 45 minutes, the soldiers were joined by four more soldiers and the patrol moved up into the nearby residential streets. When members of CPT attempted to follow 20 meters behind the patrol, the soldiers threatened them with arrest. CPT explained that they were not intending to interfere with the soldiers and the soldiers told them, We are the law and we say you cannot follow us.
On February 20th at around 6pm, soldiers detained a Palestinian photographer and an international observer at checkpoint 56 for 1 hour for taking pictures. The soldiers told CPT that if they took photos of the detention they would be detained and arrested.
On February 26th at around 4 PM a patrol of six Golani soldiers stopped four young boys above Baba al Baladiya and took them up into the residential area above the bus station. They told a member of CPT that he could not follow and would be arrested if he continued. The soldiers were showing the boys photos on a camera and asking who was in the photos and where the people lived. Another member of CPT approached from another direction and met the soldiers and the boys near the Spanish academy. The soldiers again told that member of CPT that she would be arrested if she approached them.The children were then released.
On March 3rd two people from CPT attempted to follow a patrol of 12 Golani soldiers in the old city in the late afternoon but were told if they continued they would be arrested.
On March 6th at around 3PM, A Golani patrol took 2 young boys (about 10 years of age) up to the rooftop of a Palestinian home in the old city to interrogate them. Two CPT members followed them to the roof to observe the incident. The CPT members were told to go down or they would be arrested. The boys were released after a few minutes and told CPT the soldiers wanted to know who was throwing stones at the soldiers and who was breaking windows at the settlement
Incidences when Israeli Army Golani Brigade threatened to shoot and/or kill CPT
On February 25th at around 3:30 PM during the weekly tour of Israeli settlers through the Old City, Golani soldiers told CPT and other international observers that they had to be back 15 meters from the soldiers. CPT moved back and continued to observe, whereupon a soldier ran forward towards CPT and International observers, aimed his rifle at them, and said, I want to shoot you through the head with a bullet.
On February 5th, around 7:30 AM, a member of CPT stopped to observe a Golani soldier yelling at two Palestinians from the roof top. When the CPTer remained to watch, the soldier told CPT to leave. CPT responded by saying No. The soldier then pulled out his gun, looked through the scope, and pointed it at the CPT member and told him to leave again and motioned with his gun. The CPT member left the sight of the solider and returned with a camera. The soldier then stopped pointing his gun at the CPT and left the viewing area of the CPT member.
7 mar 2012
A report has revealed that the Israeli regime has introduced a "new method of conducting underground warfare" to prepare for wars with Hezbollah and Hamas.
"The method, which has been developed since the Second Lebanon War (33-day Lebanon war) and Operation Cast Lead (22-day Gaza war), is meant to combat the underground tunnel systems used by Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip," said Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Wednesday.
The daily added that the Israeli military believes that the Hezbollah resistance movement has "dozens of underground bases" from which it controls its operations.
The report added that the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas also is running dozens of "combat tunnels" connecting homes in Gaza Strip.
Underground tunnel systems are used in the Gaza strip for transferring goods to the besieged Palestinians in the coastal strip.
Israeli troops also regularly take part in military exercises in a tunnel system designed to simulate those used by what Tel Aviv claims terror organizations.
The exercises come as Israel is ratcheting up the war rhetoric against other countries. The Israeli army was defeated when it waged a 22-day-war on the Gaza Strip back in 2009. This came after a humiliating defeat in a 33-day war with Hezbollah shattered its façade of invincibility in 2006.
"The method, which has been developed since the Second Lebanon War (33-day Lebanon war) and Operation Cast Lead (22-day Gaza war), is meant to combat the underground tunnel systems used by Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip," said Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Wednesday.
The daily added that the Israeli military believes that the Hezbollah resistance movement has "dozens of underground bases" from which it controls its operations.
The report added that the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas also is running dozens of "combat tunnels" connecting homes in Gaza Strip.
Underground tunnel systems are used in the Gaza strip for transferring goods to the besieged Palestinians in the coastal strip.
Israeli troops also regularly take part in military exercises in a tunnel system designed to simulate those used by what Tel Aviv claims terror organizations.
The exercises come as Israel is ratcheting up the war rhetoric against other countries. The Israeli army was defeated when it waged a 22-day-war on the Gaza Strip back in 2009. This came after a humiliating defeat in a 33-day war with Hezbollah shattered its façade of invincibility in 2006.
Israeli military vehicles crossed into the Gaza Strip near the northern Erez crossing on Wednesday morning, witnesses told Ma'an.
Director of the Palestinian civil liaison department at the Erez crossing Mahir Abu Al-Ouf said the passenger crossing was temporarily shut down during the ongoing military operation.
Eyewitnesses told Ma'an two Israeli bulldozers and three military tanks entered the Palestinian side of the crossing, and were digging land and searching the area.
No clashes were reported.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said forces were conducting "routine activity" in the area. A spokesman for COGAT (the Israeli defense department in charge of the crossing) said Erez was open.
Director of the Palestinian civil liaison department at the Erez crossing Mahir Abu Al-Ouf said the passenger crossing was temporarily shut down during the ongoing military operation.
Eyewitnesses told Ma'an two Israeli bulldozers and three military tanks entered the Palestinian side of the crossing, and were digging land and searching the area.
No clashes were reported.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said forces were conducting "routine activity" in the area. A spokesman for COGAT (the Israeli defense department in charge of the crossing) said Erez was open.
6 mar 2012
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The Tel Aviv regime is favoring the resignation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in line with its policy of destroying the axis of resistance against Israel in the region, a journalist tells Press TV.
Lizzie Phelan, a British reporter and broadcaster, made the comment in an interview with Press TV on Monday. “It is not about democracy and human rights in Syria, this is very clear as the Israeli officials say themselves time and time again this is about destroying the axis of resistance to Israel.” On Monday, Israeli media reported that Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Ya’alon has called for the resignation of President Assad. |
“We have a situation whereby a Western-backed illegal insurrection in Syria is being portrayed as a revolution being carried out by freedom fighters, meanwhile… genuine popular uprisings in Bahrain and Yemen are being suppressed by those very same Western forces and Saudi Arabia and Qatar and others,” Phelan added.
The United States and a number of other Western countries including the UK and France and countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey have supported measures against the Damascus government.
On Monday, veteran US Senator and the previous Republican presidential nominee John McCain called on Washington to conduct piloted airstrikes against Syria.
The British journalist told Press TV that “dialogue and a peaceful solution” will help resolve the issue in Syria.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011, with demonstrations being held both against and in favor of the Damascus government. Syrians have repeatedly expressed support for the president over the past weeks.
The Syrian president said on February 20 that “some foreign countries” are fueling the year-long turmoil in Syria by supporting and funding “armed terrorist groups fighting against the government.”
The United States and a number of other Western countries including the UK and France and countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey have supported measures against the Damascus government.
On Monday, veteran US Senator and the previous Republican presidential nominee John McCain called on Washington to conduct piloted airstrikes against Syria.
The British journalist told Press TV that “dialogue and a peaceful solution” will help resolve the issue in Syria.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011, with demonstrations being held both against and in favor of the Damascus government. Syrians have repeatedly expressed support for the president over the past weeks.
The Syrian president said on February 20 that “some foreign countries” are fueling the year-long turmoil in Syria by supporting and funding “armed terrorist groups fighting against the government.”
5 mar 2012
A 19-year-old Palestinian was severely injured on Monday during clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians at Atara checkpoint, north of Ramallah, according to medical sources.
According to Ahmad Bitawi, director of the Palestinian Medical Complex, Mohammad Abu Awwad was brought to hospital with critical head wounds caused by a tear gas canister.
He said Abu Awwad was immediately admitted to surgery suffering from severe bleeding and fracture in the head, describing his condition as critical. A number of Palestinians had gathered at Atara army checkpoint to mark the second anniversary for the death of five members from the Awwad family, who were killed after their vehicle collided with an Israeli military jeep near Ofra settlement, north of Ramallah.
According to Ahmad Bitawi, director of the Palestinian Medical Complex, Mohammad Abu Awwad was brought to hospital with critical head wounds caused by a tear gas canister.
He said Abu Awwad was immediately admitted to surgery suffering from severe bleeding and fracture in the head, describing his condition as critical. A number of Palestinians had gathered at Atara army checkpoint to mark the second anniversary for the death of five members from the Awwad family, who were killed after their vehicle collided with an Israeli military jeep near Ofra settlement, north of Ramallah.
Israeli Forces wounded Palestinian critically
Palestinian medical sources reported that the Palestinian Mohammed Abu Awad, 20, was critically wounded.
Mohammed lies in the intensive care unit of the Ramallah hospital in the West Bank on March 5, 2012 after he was hit in the head by a tear gas canister when Israeli troops broke up a protest near Ramallah earlier in the day.
Medics said Abu Awad was critical but stable after undergoing surgery for a head wound caused by a tear gas canister.
Palestinian medical sources reported that the Palestinian Mohammed Abu Awad, 20, was critically wounded.
Mohammed lies in the intensive care unit of the Ramallah hospital in the West Bank on March 5, 2012 after he was hit in the head by a tear gas canister when Israeli troops broke up a protest near Ramallah earlier in the day.
Medics said Abu Awad was critical but stable after undergoing surgery for a head wound caused by a tear gas canister.
4 mar 2012
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Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened sand barriers to the east of Gaza Strip, which blocked flow of rainwater into the Strip, and flooded many houses.
A statement for the Palestinian civil defense brigades said that the IOF soldiers’ step flooded many houses and roads topped by the main road linking north Gaza to its south. Heavy rainfall on the western Negev led the IOF to open the floodgates to avoid a flood on their side. Three years ago the IOF soldiers made the same thing leading to big material losses in Gaza. |
Israeli Forces at dawn Sunday seized a Palestinian residential building in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, according to security sources.
They told WAFA that Israeli forces and special units stormed the city of Jenin and its refugee camp and seized a Palestinian residential building, locking its owners in one of the building rooms for hours.
Meanwhile, forces also stormed the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin and patrolled its military vehicles in its streets and alleys.
No arrests were reported.
They told WAFA that Israeli forces and special units stormed the city of Jenin and its refugee camp and seized a Palestinian residential building, locking its owners in one of the building rooms for hours.
Meanwhile, forces also stormed the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin and patrolled its military vehicles in its streets and alleys.
No arrests were reported.
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