Six Palestinians killed in botched Erez Junction attack

Jerusalem Post ^ | Mar. 6, 2004 | MARGOT DUDKEVITCH

[yonif]

Using jeeps disguised to look like IDF vehicles and rigged with explosives, Palestinians launched an attack on Israeli positions around the Erez Crossing at Gaza on Saturday. No Israelis were injured, but six Palestinians were killed and at least 15 wounded.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah's Al-Aksa Martyrs' Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it a joint "self-sacrifice operation" in a message posted on the Hamas Web site.

At about 10 AM Saturday morning, a Palestinian taxi rigged with explosives blew up near an IDF post located at the edge of the entrance to the Erez industrial zone and opposite a Palestinian police position, causing extensive damage to the Palestinian police station and also to the IDF Magen 12 outpost. It is not clear whether the explosives blew up prematurely or as a result of Palestinian policemen attempting to stop the attackers from proceeding. The taxi did not explode because of IDF gunfire, as some reports suggested.

Shortly after, IDF reservists spotted two jeeps disguised to look like they were IDF military vehicles. A gunman wearing a tiger-striped uniform got out of one of the jeeps and shot at the reservists, who shot back but failed to hit him. The terrorist then re-entered the jeep and the two jeeps headed towards the Erez crossing. One of the jeeps blew up at the entrance to the corridor used by Palestinian workers entering Israel, where a Palestinian police position is also located.

The second jeep, which contained two passengers, continued heading towards the position used by VIP's entering and leaving the Gaza Strip and attempted to break through the gate and the IDF roadblock. One of the terrorists, wearing an IDF uniform, exited the jeep and shot at soldiers, who shot and killed both him and the second attacker in the jeep. IDF sappers checked the jeep to see if it was also rigged with explosives.

Erez Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel. Yossi Hadad told The Jerusalem Post that the terrorists planned to infiltrate two car bombs into Israel either on the Israeli side of the crossing at the Erez terminal or elsewhere in the country.

Hadad estimated that each bomb contained between 50 to 100 kilograms of explosives. He said that there was a general warning of a possible car bomb attack.

"All three organizations - the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Fatah - are doing their utmost to destroy the symbol of cooperation between the Palestinians and the Israelis," he said.

Hadad said that he doubts that the industrial zone will be opened Sunday due to the extensive damage caused by the car bombs.

At the time of the attack 3,000 Palestinians were working inside the industrial zone.

The reservists were from same batallion in which reservist Sgt.Maj. Amir Zimmerman was killed a week ago. In all, four attackers killed.

Security officials said it is unclear whether the first car to explode was due to Palestinian police shooting or whether it blew up prematurely. The officials said the aim of the attack was either to launch a major terror attack inside the terminal near IDF soldiers and civilians working inside the industrial zone, or whether they had planned to enter Israel and launch an attack against civilians.

Hours after the event, an IDF soldier was lightly wounded when a firebomb was thrown at soldiers attempting to disperse Palestinian rioters at the Erez crossing. The soldier was taken to hospital for treatment.

Various earlier reports erroneously stated that the attack was on an Israeli tank and that a Kassam rocket had been fired.

In a telephone interview, Islamic Jihad spokesman Nafez Azzam said, "It is clear that the ongoing Israeli attacks against the Palestinian people motivate the Palestinian resistance to respond to such attacks - and thus resisting the occupation becomes a necessity, for it is considered self-defense by confronting the continued Israeli aggressions."

Erez Crossing, which is closed under the general closure over the Purim holiday, has become the focal point for Palestinian attacks emanating from Gaza, an army source said. In the most recent attack, on Feb. 26th two Palestinian gunmen used tunnels and killed a soldier before being shot dead. The next day bulldozers leveled 120 Palestinian-owned shops built above of the underground passage.

Also Saturday, IDF forces hunting fugitives in and around Tulkarm shot and killed an armed Palestinian, identified as Taher Abu Sariyeh, 19. Shots were fired at the troops, the army said.

And in Deir Amar, west of Ramallah, IDF forces arrested two Tanzim fugitives.

With Yousef Al-Hajjar

[yonif]

Ping.

[jokar]

Bump.

[csvset]

Israeli soldiers watch as Palestinian remove the bodies of two Palestinian gunmen at Erez crossing March 6, 2004. At least six Palestinians were killed on Saturday during a suicide bombing and shooting attack on Israeli soldiers at the main Israel-Gaza border crossing. A source in the militant group Hamas said it carried out the operation along with al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, part of President Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction, and Islamic Jihad. REUTERS/Tsafrir Abayov

[dennisw]

Bad new is the Paleostinians are jealous of the Iraqi car bombers and the carnage (Muslim and UN so far) they have wrought. Monkey see, monkey do. Monkey try to climb up the splodeydope skills ladder.