[Thursday, March 12, 2014] The Israeli army fired several shells into a number of areas in the Gaza Strip, causing power blackouts and property damage, in certain areas, but no injuries.The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that the army fired surface-to-surface missiles, and heavy artillery, targeting open areas in the coastal region.
WAFA added that, late on Wednesday at night, Israeli war jets fired two missiles into an area west of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, while a military helicopter fired missiles at a number of targets in northern Gaza.
Local sources said that the first strike targeted an area in Beit Lahia, and that a second strike targeted Deir al-Balah, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Later on, Israeli war jets fired missiles into various areas in Khan Younis and Rafah, in southern Gaza, Deir al-Balah and Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza.
The attack against Rafah led to a complete power blackout in the entire district in addition to damage to several homes.
Medical sources said that several Palestinians, mainly children, suffered anxiety attacks.
On Wednesday night, Israel decided to close all border terminals leading to the Gaza Strip.
Furthermore, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon decided to cancel all family visits to Gaza Strip detainees.
Israel alleged that Palestinian fighters fired four shells into the Western Negev, on Thursday morning, and that more than 60 homemade shells were fired from Gaza since Wednesday.
It is worth mentioning that Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, threatened what he described as a “fierce response to the shells fired from Gaza into adjacent Israeli areas”, Israeli sources said.
On Tuesday, an Israeli missile killed three fighters of the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, east of Rafah.
Ashraf al-Qodra, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said that the slain fighters have been identified as Ismael Abu Jouda, 23, Shaher Abu Shanab, 24, and Abdul-Shafy Moammar, 33.
Also on Tuesday, Israeli soldiers shot and killed a young Palestinian man from Atteel village, northwest of Tulkarem, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
Medical sources said that Fida’ Mohyeeddeen Majadla, age 23, was killed after Israeli soldiers opened fire on his car at the al-Kafriyyat roadblock, south of Tulkarem.
On Monday evening, resident Saje Darwish, 18, was shot and killed by army fire as he was heading to the family barn, close to the Givat Asaf illegal Israeli settlement, built on lands belonging to residents of Beiteen village, north of Ramallah.
Also on Monday, Israeli forces, stationed at the Allenby Border Terminal with Jordan, shot and killed a Palestinian judge who works in Jordan.
The slain Palestinian, who also hold a Jordanian citizenship, has been identified as Raed Ala’ Ed-Deen Z’eitar, age 38, from the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
