Knesset passes segregation law
A Palestinian man cries at the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City near the covered body of relative killed in an Israeli military strike on a home east of Gaza City. The Al-Hilu family was playing football when the shell hit, medics said
[AFP/Mohammed Abed]
GAZA CITY — Israeli warplanes killed four Palestinians in an air strike on Az-Zaitoun neighborhood south of Gaza City on Tuesday evening, medics said.
The attack came hours after Israeli artillery fire hit a home east of Gaza City killing a child, a teenager and three adults.
Emergency services spokesman Adham Abu Salmiya said the four victims of the latest strike were members of the Al-Quds Brigades. They were all in their 20s, he said.
Abu Salmiya identified those killed as Adham Al-Hazareen, Sa’dy Hals, Muhammad Atyeh Al-Harazeen and Muhammad Abed.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said Israeli fighter jets identified “a group of terrorists” in northern Gaza who she said were preparing to launch a projectile into Israel. The warplanes dropped missiles on the group “and confirmed a hit,” she added.
The army official said the men targeted were from the same group that launched a grad rocket into Israel on February 23, but could not say how they had been identified.
Civilians killed playing football
Earlier in the day, Israeli tanks fired at a home on An-Nazzaz Street in the eastern part of the Ash-Shaja’iya neighborhood in Gaza City.
Abu Salmiya said members of the Abu Hilu family were playing football outside the home when the shell hit.
Muhammad Jihad Al-Hilu, 11, Yasser Ahed Al-Hilu, 16, Muhammad Saber Harara, 20, Yasser Hamer Al-Hilu, 50, and a fifth unidentified victim were all killed in the attack, and several others were injured, the medical spokesman said.
Israel’s military spokeswoman said forces fired toward a launch site for projectiles, but admitted that “uninvolved civilians were injured.”
However, she blamed Hamas for operating “within a civilian population.”
She added that the army “does not seek an escalation with this act.”
On Tuesday morning, Israeli artillery fire injured one man and a drone strike critically injured another in the same area.
Shortly before midnight the day before, a series of Israeli air strikes injured 18, including women and children.
Several hours before the raids, Hamas’ armed wing called for a truce.
Israel’s military says Gaza militants have launched over 50 projectiles into Israel in recent days.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, said it fired mortars into Israel in response to an air strike that killed two of its members on Wednesday.
But the group said it would commit to a ceasefire if Israel stopped bombarding the Gaza Strip.
Israeli leaders have stepped up rhetoric in response to the projectiles. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would use “all means necessary to protect its citizens.”
According to Israeli news site Ynet, opposition leader Tzipi Livni called for another Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s devastating 22-day offensive launched in December 2008 which killed over 1,400 Palestinians.
skulz fontaine said,
March 23, 2011 at 15:39
Let’s offer three cheers of HUZZAH to one David Horowtiz. On account of and you know, Horowitz seems to feel that this manner of atrocity is perfectly acceptable. Hey Horowitz honey? You suck and you suck large.
The violence is senseless whether that violence is wrought on Palestinians OR bus bombings in downtown Jerusalem. Or IDF violence on Gaza. However-
“Where peaceful revolution is impossible, violent revolution is inevitable.”…John F. Kennedy
JungleJane said,
March 24, 2011 at 02:28
jesus h christ. we can’t stand by any more and let this happen!
David G said,
March 24, 2011 at 06:55
If the Palestinians don’t fight, they will be ‘disappeared!’ That’s their choice, stark though it is. There is no other option.
Could the bus bomb be an Israeli false-flag operation that will signal the invasion of Gaza and the driving of the Gazans into Egypt?
We shall see.
Bills and bombs against palestine (graphic photos) said,
March 24, 2011 at 14:39
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