Three children killed in Rafah

Israeli soldiers fired on Saturday afternoon at a group of children playing at a playground near Salah Ed-Deen Crossing “Philadiphi Route” in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army claims that the children entered an ‘exposed area between Rafah and the Philadilphi rote, along the Egyptian borders.

Wael Barhoum, a resident of Rafah, told Reuters that he saw a group of children playing football in a playground 50 meters away from the route.

“Shortly after that, I heard shooting and ran towards the playground to find two dead children and one was injured.” Barhoum said.

The injured child died later on at Abu Yousef Al-Najjar hospital in Rafah.

Dr. Ali Mousa, head of Abu Yousef Al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, said that Ashraf Mousa, 13, was shot in his neck, Khaled Ghannam, 14, was shot in his head and Ahmad Al-Jazzar, 17 years old, who was seriously injured and died during surgery.

After the three children were killed, Palestinian resistance groups exchanged fired with the army and fired homemade shells at the Gush Katif settlement Bloc.

Al-Quds brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad said that it is free of any commitment to calm after the Israeli shedding of “Palestinian youths’ blood”

Abu Abdullah, a spokesman of one the military wings of the Islamic Jihad said that the movement is no longer bound by a de facto cease fire arrived with Israel.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Al-Hindi, one of Hamas political leaders, denied that the truce has ended, and said that any decision concerning ending the cease fire does not only depend on the Islamic Jihad.

Al-Hindi added that this incident required reconsiderations and discussions concerning the truce, and demanded the Palestinian leadership to announce a firm and clear position denouncing the “crime committed against the children, Al-Hindi said.

 

Palestinian chief negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erekat said that this incident threatens a cease fire arrived with Israel.

According to Israeli military sources, Palestinian resistance fired after the death of the three children, ten homemade shells at the Gush Katif settlement Bloc, no injuries.