In the most recent wave of Israeli military escalation targeting the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Palestinian medical sources reported that nine Palestinians, including three children, were killed as the army bombarded the Gaza Strip.The sources said that the army fired at least five artillery shells at the home of Fayiq al-Hilo, in al-Nazzaz Street east of Gaza City, killing four residents; two children, a young man and an elderly man. Ten Palestinians living nearby were injured in the shelling.
Adham Abu Slamiyya, spokesperson of the Medical Services in Gaza, identified four of the eight slain residents as Mohammad Jihad al-Hilo, 11 years old, his family members Yasser Aahed, 16, Yasser Hamed, 50, and also Mohammad Saber Harara, 20 years old.
Abu Salmiyya added that several residents are in serious conditions, and that some of them suffered amputations due to the Israeli military bombardment.
Four fighters were killed in al-Zeitoun neighborhood, in Gaza City, in an Israeli military attack that was carried out on Wednesday evening targeting members of the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad.
On its Website, the Brigades identified the fighters as Adham Fayiz al-Harazeen, Mohammed Akram Aabed, Saadi Mahmoud Hallas, and Mohammad Atiyya al-Harazeen. They were killed when the army fired a missile at a vehicle they were driving.
The Brigades added that another fighter was seriously wounded when Israeli drones fired missiles at fighters in the eastern areas of Gaza city. The fighter’s left leg was severed due to the blast and was moved to the intensive care unit.
Israeli military sources claimed that the targeted fighters were preparing to launch a Grad missile into southern Israel.
The sources also claimed that the fighters were also responsible for firing at Grad missile into Be’er Sheva city several weeks ago.
Local sources reported that Israeli drones launched two simultaneous attacks targeting fighters east of al-Shujaeyya neighborhood in Gaza city; one fighter was injured.
At least 38 Palestinians, including six women and fifteen children, were injured in a number of Israeli attacks targeting the Gaza Strip in the last three days.
Several children were wounded when the Israeli Air Force fired a missile at children playing football in their neighborhood in Gaza City.
The army also fired another missile that hit a home in the neighborhood leading to more injuries; all of the wounded were moved to the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza.
The al-Quds Brigades of the Islamic Jihad announced that its fighters retaliated to the Israeli escalation by firing on Tuesday at night a Grad missile towards Ashdod, and three mortars towards the Nahal Oz military base east of Gaza.
UPDATED FROM
Israeli Army Kills 4 Civilians In Gaza Strip
David Steele – IMEMC- Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:41:28
Sources report that 4 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, have been killed by Israeli tank fire in Gaza City.
Medics stated that the four civilians were:
Mohamed al-Hilou, aged 11,
Yasser al-Hilou, aged 16,
Yasser Hamed al-Hilou, aged 50 and
Mohamed Saber, aged 20.
Twelve other civilians were injured, including four other children who are said to be in a critical condition.
Israeli tanks stationed at the border of the Gaza Strip allegedly opened fire at the house of Fayek al-Hilou and a nearby playground. Israel states that the attack was in response to militants who had fired mortars at the soldiers’ position. The Israeli army claim that they shot at the source of the mortars.
The attack is the latest in an escalating round of violence and comes shortly after the Hamas-led government in Gaza, and the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas movement, have stated that they will commit to a truce should Israel halt its assaults on Gaza.
Palestinian resistance groups on Gaza said that they fired several mortars and homemade shells targeting adjacent Israeli area. The groups said that the firing of shells came in retaliation to the Israeli escalation.
According to the Israeli army, a total of 49 mortars were fired into the Western Negev last Saturday. Hamas spokesperson Ismail Radwan has stated that Israel is responsible for the present increase in violence.
