Posted on 09/07/2004 12:16:09 PM PDT by yonif
Some 50,000 Palestinians took part in the Tuesday afternoon funerals for 15 Hamas terrorists killed in an IAF strike in Gaza City overnight.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei warned Israel that its air strike would invite a response from Hamas, adding that any retaliation for the killings will be justified.
"No crime goes unpunished," Qurei said at a meeting of the Palestinian cabinet. "For sure there will be retaliation and the retaliation will be justified."
Qurei said the attack hindered Egypt's efforts to help bring peace to the region.
"Israel wants to block everything," said Qureia. "Yesterday we had a fruitful meeting with the Egyptians and this was Israel's response."
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, brushed off Qurei's comments on retaliation. "He has not done anything to fight terrorism and he does not have the power to do anything. Arafat has the power and Arafat continues to support terror."
Fourteen Palestinians were killed and 25 wounded overnight Monday when the Israel Air Force fired missiles at a field used by Hamas terrorists for training in Gaza City's Shajaiyeh neighborhood, a known stronghold of Hamas.
The field is used as a community center football field during the day and as a Hamas terrorist training camp at night, where members gather to prepare bombs, carry out shooting exercises with rifles and RPGs, practice infiltrations into settlements, and Kassam rocket firings.
An Israeli statement said training at the site "was led by senior Hamas terrorists who were involved in the carrying out of deadly terror attacks and attempted attacks." The IDF said a suicide bomb discovered last Tuesday in the underwear of a Palestinian at the Erez crossing between Gaza and Israel was prepared at the site.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the action was part of an ongoing war conducted by the security establishment on Palestinian terrorism. Senior security sources told Israel Radio that the IAF strike was related to last Tuesday's double suicide bombing in Beersheba. The sources said that following the Beersheba attacks; there was a decision to escalate the targeted killings of Hamas leaders. Intelligence services have increased their efforts to locate Palestinian terror leaders, including the Hamas infrastructure in Hebron who planned the attack in Beersheba, the sources told the Radio.
A statement by the Hamas military wing Izzadin Kassam said the Israeli military struck a "scouts camp where a group of fighters was training" and pledged revenge.
According to Palestinian reports, all those killed and wounded were members of the Hamas military wing.
Several hours after the IAF strike, Palestinians fired three Kassam rockets from the Gaza Strip into the western Negev in three separate incidents. The first Kassam landed near a cemetery in the town of Sderot. A man in his 60s, who was out jogging, was lightly wounded from shrapnel and taken to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon. The second Kassam landed in an open area outside of Sderot. Late Tuesday afternoon a third Kassam hit Sderot. No injuries or damage was reported from the attack.
Hamas spokesperson in the Gaza Strip Mushir al-Masri vowed to continue the firing of Kassam rockets and said Israeli children will not be secure "until Israel ends its occupation and Palestinian children will live a normal life, in safety.
"This bloody crime is a new wave of aggression committed against our people and against our sons," al-Masri added, "It's an ongoing war. One day for us and one day for them."
Due to the recent escalation in Kassam rocket and mortar fire on Israeli communities in Gaza and inside the Green Line, the IDF imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip, affectively dividing it into three sections.
The IDF blocked the road known as the Tanchier Road, which links north and south Gaza, closing it down to Palestinian traffic. The IDF also blocked off the road near the Gush Katif junction, as well as the coastal road west of Netzarim, in the central Gaza Strip.
IDF officials said Palestinian civilians would be permitted to pass in cases of humanitarian assistance.
The IAF attack was one of the bloodiest incidents in Gaza City in several months. With smoke rising from the field, Palestinians were seen searching the blacked-out area with candles and flashlights, looking for victims.
Witnesses said a group of men gathered in the field about half an hour before the first two explosions were heard, killing and wounding many of them. The other three blasts went off as people were running away, they said.
Ambulances and cars brought casualties to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. A hospital spokesman said at least four people were critically wounded.
Outside the hospital, angry Palestinians gathered shouting "Revenge, revenge."
The government decided last week to renew assassinations of Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip following the double suicide bombings in Beersheba on Tuesday. Two Hamas terrorists from Hebron carried out the attack, which killed 16 people and wounded over 100.
In Gaza's Gush Katif settlement block, Israeli residence of Neveh Dekalim said four mortar shells were fired at the community early Tuesday. Two mortars landed near the regional school located in the community, one in an open area inside the community and another outside it.
In the West Bank, security forces arrested 23 fugitives in raids overnight Monday.
Ping.
50K people at funerals.
what's with these rock throwers, can someone give them jobs? arafat lives off the fat of these people and does nothing for them. when are they going to look inward and see the problems they have?
He can't control the terrorist thugs operating in his country, but still wants them protected. Fat chance.
I thought these dirtbags wanted to die for their cause. Now when IDF obliges them, their brethern get all emotional and want revenge. I will never understand these diaperheads!
Actually they no "fat" for him to live off of. Instead he lives off of money contributed by Eurowienies, osstensibly for the betterment of the Palistinian People, whoever they might be. He also gets money from Iran and Saudi Arabia, from the government in the former case, most likely from the Royal Family in the latter. He used to get a cut from Saddam, but that funding source has been cut off.
your correct. he also did get it from Russia. not sure if they are still paying him.
Sounds like a "good shoot" to me. Unquestionably military targets, no children or civilians killed.
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