IOF troops raze Palestinian home in southern Gaza

[ 27/03/2010 - 10:46 AM ]

KHAN YOUNIS, (PIC)--

 Israeli occupation forces (IOF) leveled a Palestinian home in Abasan Al-Jadida to the east of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, at dawn Saturday, locals reported.

The sources said that a number of IOF vehicles escorted huge bulldozers that razed the three-storey Dughma family home.

Two IOF soldiers, including a high ranking officer, were killed in the same area when resistance fighters repelled an IOF incursion on Friday.

Palestinian killed, six others wounded in IOF shelling

 [ 27/03/2010 - 07:23 AM ]

KHAN YOUNIS, (PIC)--

A Palestinian citizen was killed on Friday night and six others injured in the Israeli occupation forces' artillery shelling that targeted Abasan Al-Jadida to the east of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, medical sources reported.

They told the PIC that Haitham Arafat was critically wounded in the shelling in his head, chest and limbs and was proclaimed dead four hours after undergoing an urgent surgery.

The sources said that IOF soldiers fired artillery shells and machineguns at civilians east of Khan Younis while military choppers raided a group of citizens in Abasan Al-Kabira.

They pointed out that a child was among the wounded and his condition was serious after he was hit with a bullet in the back.

Another 15-year-old Palestinian boy was injured in IOF shooting in northern Gaza Strip on Friday near the Beit Hanun (Erez) crossing.

Medial sources told the PIC that the child was collecting stones in the area near the crossing when the IOF soldiers fired at him, describing his condition as moderate.

IOF troops also opened fire at civilian neighborhoods near the Soufa crossing east of Khan Younis on Friday morning, but no casualties were reported.

Child Wounded By Army Fire in Northern Gaza

Friday March 26, 2010 22:07 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources in Gaza reported that a Palestinian child was shot and wounded on Friday afternoon near the Beit Hanoun (Eretz) crossing , in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

The child was identified as Sa’id Abdul-Aziz Hamdan, 15; he suffered moderate wounds.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire came from an Israeli occupation forces' monitoring tower in the area, and that the child was collecting stones when he was shot.

On Friday, Israeli occupation soldiers shot and wounded two residents in Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and in Rafah, in southern Gaza.

Also on Friday, two Israeli soldiers were killed and five were wounded during clashes with Palestinian fighters in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Two fighters were also killed in the clashes.

The army stated that soldiers of the Golani Brigade came under Palestinian fire after they advanced into several areas near the Kissufim Crossing to search for explosives placed by the fighters on Friday after noon.

Two soldiers, including a senior commander of the Golani Brigade, were killed and five were wounded. The wounded soldiers were moved to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva.

Two Palestinian fighters were killing during the clashes, and several Palestinians were wounded.

Palestinian Killed East Of Khan Younis

Saturday March 27, 2010 05:49 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources reported, on Friday at night, that one resident was killed and several others were wounded after the Israeli occupation army bombarded Khuza’a town, East of Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

The attack came after two Israeli occupation soldiers were killed near the border in Khan Younis. Two Palestinian resistance fighters were killed and several others were wounded after the fighters ambushed Israeli occupation soldiers in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Sources at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis said that Haitham Arafat, 23, died late on Friday despite attempts to save his life.

He suffered serious wounds when the army bombarded Khan Younis in Friday evening. 13 other residents were wounded, some of them suffered moderate-to-severe injuries.

One Palestinian child, 10, was seriously wounded, and four other residents were moderately wounded, when the army bombarded several homes in Abasan Al-Jadeeda area in Khan Younis.

On Friday, the Israeli army said that a senior military commander and a soldier were killed, and five others were wounded, one seriously, during clashes with resistance fighters in Khan Younis. All wounded soldiers were airlifted to Soroka Hospital in B’e’er Sheva.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said that the initial clashes took place when Israeli soldiers advanced 500 meters into east Khan Younis in an attempt to flank the a group of fighters.

But Qassam fighters managed to ambush the invading force and opened fire at them. The Brigades said that its sharpshooters managed to kill two soldiers, while several other soldiers were wounded.

The Al-Aqsa Brigades of Fateh movement and the Al-Quds Brigades of the Islamic Jihad issued separate press releases stating that their fighters also exchanged fire with the invading forces and fired RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenades) shells at them.

The Popular Resistance Committees said that one of its fighters suffered serious injuries during clashes with Israeli soldiers invading Khan Younis.

On Friday at night, at least five Israeli tanks and two armored bulldozers invaded Khan Younis.

Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, said that Hamas is to be held responsible for the escalation.

He added that several breakaway factions are carrying attacks against Israel, and that the Hamas’ armed wing, that previously prevented attacks against Israel, is loosening its grip in Gaza, Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported.

Six Palestinians Wounded As Israeli occupation forces Bombard Khan Younis

Friday March 26, 2010 23:05 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, reported that six Palestinians were wounded on Friday evening after the Israeli occupation forces bombarded an area East of Khan Younis.

One of the wounded residents is a child who suffered serious injuries.

Local sources reported that the army fired shells at Abasan Al-Kubra and Abasan Al-Jadeeda areas in Khan Younis.

The Israeli occupation air forces also fired missiles at residents near Al-Ruwwad playground in Abasan Al-Kubra area. Six Palestinians were wounded including the child who suffered serious injuries after being shot in the back.

The attack came hours after the resistance killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded five others in southern Gaza.

Two fighters were also killed in the clashes and several residents were wounded.
One of the soldiers is a commander who was killed by a grenade, while the other was killed by gunfire during ensuing clashes.

The region is likely to witness further escalation as more infantry brigades, tanks and artillery brigades were deployed along the border with Gaza.

Resistance factions in Gaza, especially the Al-Qassam brigades of Hamas, said they are ready to counter any Israeli invasion or attack.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that “Israel’s strong stances against those who wish to harm it are well known”.

Gaza mourns airstrike victim as Israel ends incursion

Published today (updated) 27/03/2010 15:22

Gaza – Ma'an –

The Israeli occupation forces' incursion into the southern Gaza Strip ended late Saturday morning, the bloodiest since Operation Cast, which ended in January 2009.

The funeral procession for Haitham Abdul Hakim Arafat, 23, a civilian who was killed in an overnight airstrike, was held in Khuza'a, which locals said was "devastated" by Israel's operation into the border town, east of Khan Younis. The procession began at the family home, before the burial in the Khan Younis cemetery.

Residents said Israeli tanks and armored bulldozers withdrew from the town, after partially destroying the home of Hashem Al-Dughmah home, 200 meters from Israel's border. "It was the only home left in that area," one local told Ma'an.

Medics said 13 Palestinians were injured when tanks and bulldozers moved into Khuza'a, with injuries ranging from critical to moderate.

Israel's incursion ended a day after its army was involved in deadly clashes with Palestinian resistance factions, which left two Palestinian fighters and two Israeli soldiers dead. Hamas' armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the clashes,

The spokeswoman said the army was not aware of an aerial strike in Gaza overnight or this morning.

Four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were also reported injured in Friday's violence, among them was a 10-year-old boy who was transferred to the Nasser Hospital from Abasan with serious injuries, Ma'an's correspondent reported from the scene.