Settlers living in the Maoz Yam Hotel in the southern Gaza Strip settlement of Neveh Dekalim agreed to turn over suspects to police for questioning. Some 20 residents of the Hotel are suspected of having attacked a group of Palestinians last week.
Police denied Saturday reports claiming that settlers were promised not to raid the Hotel if suspects are turned over for questioning.
Israel’s Security freeze raid on Katif hotel
Even as the Israeli security establishment has announced it was decided to raid the Maoz Yam Hotel in the Gaza Strip settlement of Neveh Dekalim, police have temporarily frozen any immediate plans for the raid after the information was leaked to settlers and to the press
Around 30 families and singles, who have moved to the hotel to express their opposition to the disengagement plan, said Thursday they have begun preparing for an anticipated nighttime raid.
As reports on a possible raid were leaked to the press, dozens of settlers arrived at the hotel on Thursday night to bolster the presence of those already living there.
Consequently, Security sources said police and the military will wait for a suitable opportunity to carry out the raid in the near future.
Based on a security advice, saying that it was better to have the ‘extremist group’ confined in one location, the defense ministry earlier decided not to evacuate settlers and right wing foes from the Hotel at this stage.
Yet, following the Saturday attack, during which several hotel residents assaulted and opened fire on a group of Palestinians from the neighboring Muasi area, wounding four of them, and after the security establishment has learned that the hotel residents are collecting weapons there, police received orders to raid the Hotel and evacuate the settlers.
Settlers attack, wound Three Palestinians in Southern GazaÂÂ
Israeli Right-wing foes living in the hotel at Neveh Dekalim settlement in Gush Katif on Saturday attacked Palestinians from the adjacent Moassi area, wounding three.
Following the attack, mortar shells were fired at Gush Katif settlement; no reports on damage or injuries.
Palestinian sources said Salah Amtayer, 55, was at the beach when he was beaten by settlers. Two other Palestinians, Mohammad Majaida, 19, and Nasser Wafi, 40, were also attacked when they came to Amtayer’s aid.
Israeli Police source claimed that a settler opened fire on the Palestinians after they threw stones at their attackers.
A Palestinian medical source said Saturday that the three suffered moderate injuries.
A spokesman for the Gaza settlers’ Coast Regional Council described the incident as an ‘act of self defense’
