2 killed in Gaza airstrike [Car Swarm Caption Palooza]

Israeli aircraft fires missiles at car traveling in northern Gaza City, killing 2 and injuring 7 others, eyewitnesses say; Israeli tanks fire 5 shells near housing project in northern Gaza Strip

An Israeli airstrike targeted a car traveling in northern Gaza City on Friday, killing two members of Hamas and injuring seven others, Palestinian security officials said.

Hours later, an airstrike targeted an empty Hamas school in northeast Gaza City, injuring one person, Palestinian paramedics said.

Israel vowed Friday to step up airstrikes against members of the Islamic group in retaliation at daily rocket attacks at Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian officials identified one of the victims as Raed Habib, a senior member of Hamas' military wing. The identity of the second victim remains unknown.

Separately, Israeli tanks fired five shells near a housing project in the northern Gaza town of Jebaliya, security officials said.

It was not immediately clear whether anyone was injured. Ambulances were on their way to the site.

The army confirmed it had carried out an airstrike against a car in Gaza City but gave no further information. A military spokesperson also said the firing of tank shells at Jebaliya was aimed at preventing gunmen from using an empty structure in the area to fire rockets at Israel.

Hours after the first strike, Palestinian officials reported that Hamas gunmen kidnapped a journalist associated with Fatah strongman Mouhammad Dahlan.

Sources said Abed Abou Askar was a personal friend of Dahlan who serves as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's national security advisor.

Over 50 Palestinians were killed over six days of clashes between Hamas and Fatah gunmen, raising fears that the Gaza Strip was sliding into civil war.

Earlier Friday, an Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at a Hamas compound in the central Gaza Strip, leveling the structure. No injuries were reported.

The attack came hours after an airstrike against a Hamas cell in Gaza killed four of its members.

Palestinians react following an Israeli air strike in Gaza May 18, 2007. Israel's air force bombed a van carrying Palestinian militants through Gaza City on Friday, killing at least two people, witnesses said. REUTERS/Ismail Zaydah (GAZA)

Palestinians inspect a destroyed van following an Israeli air strike in Gaza May 18, 2007. Israel's air force bombed a van carrying Palestinian militants through Gaza City on Friday, killing at least two people, witnesses said. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)

Palestinians inspect a destroyed van following an Israeli air strike in Gaza May 18, 2007. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Palestinians gather around a van following an Israeli air strike in Gaza May 18, 2007. Israel's air force bombed a van carrying Palestinian militants through Gaza City on Friday, killing at least two people, witnesses said. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (GAZA)

Palestinians try to extinguish fire from a destroyed van following an Israeli air strike in Gaza May 18, 2007. Israel's air force bombed a van carrying Palestinian militants through Gaza City on Friday, killing at least two people, witnesses said. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)

Palestinians carry the body of a man following an Israeli air strike in Gaza May 18, 2007. Israel's air force bombed a van carrying Palestinian militants through Gaza City on Friday, killing at least two people, witnesses said. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (GAZA)

Palestinian mourners carry the body of a Hamas member during his funeral in Gaza City. Israel bombed Hamas targets in Gaza as rival Palestinian factions continued to battle in the streets of the impoverished coastal strip amid growing international appeals for calm.(AFP/Mahmud Hams)

Members of Hamas Executive Force guard the funerals of dead Hamas militants in Gaza May 18, 2007. Palestinian rival factions fought each other in Gaza on Friday and Israeli aircraft killed a Hamas fighter as Israel threatened to take "vibrant measures" to stop rocket attacks on its territory. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)

Palestinians touch the body of Hamas militant Ahmed Syiam during his funeral in Gaza May 18, 2007. Israel launched a second air strike on Hamas militants in Gaza on Friday and the Islamist group's fighters again clashed with Palestinian rivals on the streets. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)

Palestinians inspect a damaged vehicle after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City. Israel bombed Hamas targets in Gaza as rival Palestinian factions continued to battle in the streets of the violence-wracked coastal strip.(AFP/Mohammed Abed)

An Israeli soldier guides a tank near Kibbutz Nahal-Oz near the border with the Gaza Strip. Israel bombed Hamas targets in Gaza as Palestinian tensions were stoked by accusations that the Islamists had plotted to assassinate president Mahmud Abbas amid fierce factional clashes.(AFP/Jack Guez)

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As most people here already know, they're not inspecting the vehicle, they're taking souveniers.

A few comments on immigration on today’s pings.

I heard it said on radio that the provisions for deporting illegals based on criminal records would save us from legalizing terrorists, citing the Fort Dix 6.

The Fort Dix boy were freelancers. A reminder of the danger of jihadist ideology. But not all terrorists are freelancers.

Organized terror groups aren’t run by the uneducated. They know our laws.

Anyone they infiltrate across the Mexican border, or through tourist or student visas, overstayed, will have a clean record at home. And will have a clean record here.

I’m open to correction, but other than visa violations, which will be overlooked, I don’t recall any contact by the 9/11 19 with law enforcement.

Immigrant status and future citizenship must be denied anyone who has associated with terrorist groups in the past, or in the future.

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