Israeli invasion ongoing; seven fighters killed

Wednesday November 05, 2008 02:08 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

As the Israeli occupation terrorist army continues its invasion to the Gaza Strip, two more Palestinian fighters were killed and several residents were wounded during armed clashes with the Israel occupation terrorist forces invading Al Qarara area, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Resistance groups in Gaza vowed retaliation.

One of the slain fighters was identified as Ammar Al-Salihy, while the other fighter remained unidentified until the time of this report.

Earlier on Tuesday at night, Israeli occupation soldiers killed four fighters in Al-Qarara after firing a missile at them. The four were identified as Mahmoud Ba’alousha, 23, Omar Al-Alamy, 21, Muhammed Awad, 26, and Wajid Mohareb, 25.

Also, a leader of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, was killed on Tuesday evening in Juhr Al-Deek area, east of Dair Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip. The fighter was identified as Mazin Sa’ada, 30. Six other fighters were wounded after the army fired tank shells at agricultural areas. All wounded fighters were moved to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Dair Al-Balah.

Meanwhile, Israeli sources reported that one soldiers was mildly wounded during clashes with resistance fighters east of Dair Al-Balah.

Furthermore, Israeli occupation forces tanks were noticed moving towards Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.  

An Israeli military spokesperson claimed that the invasion was carried out after the army received intelligence info stating that fighters in Gaza are planning to abduct an Israeli soldier in the coming period.

The spokesperson added that the fighters planed to use a tunnel in carrying the abduction and that they had to detonate the tunnel which was, according to the spokesperson, dug under one of the buildings.

He added that the fighters had to detonate the tunnel after the army surrounded the building that had the tunnel entrance underneath it.

He also said that this invasion “has a certain target and does not aim at violating the truce”.

Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, called on its fighters to remain alert and ready to clash with the invading forces. The Al-Qassam Brigades issued similar calls and said that it will retaliate and clash with any invading forces.

Ceasefire in question as Israeli forces invade Gaza Strip

Date: 05 / 11 / 2008  Time:  11:43
Gaza – Ma’an –

Tensions heightened in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, a day after six Hamas fighters were killed resisting a late-night Israeli occupation terrorist forces incursion.

The six dead Palestinians belonged to the Al-Qassam Brigades, a military wing affiliated with Hamas.

Officials on both sides voiced concerns that the five-month long Hamas-Israel ceasefire could be in jeopardy.

Crowds of people attended the funeral processions for the six slain fighters in the city of Khan Younis and Al-Maghazi refugee camp on Wednesday.

In Khan Younis, the mourners walked from Nasser Hospital to the houses of the dead to the mosque for prayers and then to the cemetery.

Armed men marched at the front of the processions, firing in the air and swearing to avenge the killings.

While Palestinian officials considered Tuesday’s incursion and air raids “a scandalous violation of the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire,” Israel claims its operation was aimed at destroying a tunnel intended for abducting Israeli soldiers.

In retaliation to the Israeli crossover, Palestinian resistance organizations fired off dozens of mortar shells and homemade projectiles at Israeli targets. One landed in a public park in the center of Asqalan (Ashkelon).

Two Israelis were treated for shock. Security representatives also said that three soldiers were injured by shrapnel. Two of them suffered moderate to serious wounds, a medical official said.

In addition to the Israelis, six Hamas activists were killed and several others injured, Hamas said. One of the injured Gaza residents is reportedly a woman.

The Israeli occupation terrorist forces demolished two Palestinian homes in the central Gaza Strip neighborhood of Al-Qarara, near the Kissufim Gate.

The de facto government’s director of Ambulance and Emergency Services within the Health Ministry identified the victims as 32-year-old Mazin Sa’ada, 21-year-old Mahmoud Ba’alusha, 20-year-old Omar Al-Alami, 26-year-old Muhammad Awad, 19-year-old Wajid Muharib and 21-year-old Ammar Salihiya. He added that several others had been injured.

Shortly before midnight on Tuesday, several Israeli tanks invaded Dair Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip before progressing another 300 meters past the border fence, firing on Palestinian homes. As a result, 32-year-old Mazin Sa’ada was killed and four other citizens were injured.

Simultaneously, Israeli warplanes launched several missiles at open areas east of Dair Al-Balah.

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces bulldozers demolished two homes that belonged to the Al-Hamayda family near Wadi Al-Salqa, and kidnapped seven Palestinians from the same family, including three women.

On Wednesday morning, Israeli drones launched three missiles toward the northern Gaza Strip, one missile at the Al-Fukhari neighborhood in the southern Gaza Strip and two missiles at Al-Qarara, east of Khan Younis.

Initial reports indicated that there were casualties in the raid on the northern Gaza Strip.

Hamas’s militant wing announced on Wednesday that it launched four homemade projectiles at Asqalan (Ashkelon), six toward Beeri Kibutz, seven at Magen and Miftaheim, another seven at Nir Izhaq and several others toward Yad Murdakhai, Alumim, Kfar Azza and an Israeli artillery station east of Gaza City.

The Brigades also said 22 mortar shells were fired at invading Israeli military vehicles in the central Gaza Strip, while a homemade projectile launched toward the Sufa military post.

Hamas officials affirmed they would block any Israeli attempt to invade the Gaza Strip, regardless of the ceasefire, “which will not prevent us from defending the Palestinian people.” The wing’s statement warned of retaliations to any further invasion attempts.

Islamic Jihad’s Al-Quds Brigades and Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Brigades also said in statements that they fired weapons in a joint operation. Two homemade projectiles were fired at the Megen military post, east of the Al-Maghazi Refugee Camp in the central Gaza Strip. Al-Quds said it fired two homemade projectiles at Sderot in retaliation for “the Israeli massacre in the central Gaza Strip.”

An Israeli occupation forces spokesperson claimed that the incursion came after Israeli intelligence received reports that Hamas planned to abduct an Israeli soldier through a tunnel beneath the border.

“The Palestinians detonated the tunnel after Israeli forces besieged the building,” he claimed.

With regard to the ceasefire, the spokesperson said the Israeli incursions intend to “protect the ceasefire,” without elaborating on how military incursions would aid in this goal.

The de facto government held the Israeli government responsible for all the consequences of their "aggression,” describing it as the most serious violation of the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire since it went into effect in June.

Islamic Jihad announced that the ceasefire would not prevent Palestinian resistance fighters from retaliating against Israeli violations and aggression, which culminated Tuesday night.

Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Brigades also said it would direct their fighters to the Gaza Strip in order to prepare for retaliatory measures in light of Israeli violations, promising to “shell Israeli towns.”

A spokesperson for the Palestinian National Resistance Committees said that “Israel shot dead the ceasefire agreement and alerted Palestinian factions that Israeli forces plan to (again) invade the Gaza Strip soon.”

Representing Hamas, Fawzi Barhoom told Ma’an that “Israel committed a great aggression and violation of the truce last night."

He called on Israeli authorities to take responsibility for the consequences of such an attack, insisting that “what is being performed by the Al-Qassam forces is retaliation for Israeli aggressions."

"Israel will pay a high price for violating the truce," he added.

Barhoom said that Hamas informed Egyptian leaders about the violation and called on the country to take steps to make Israel adhere with the truce. He also called on other sides working under the truce to weigh in, as well.

Barhoum suggested that Israelis timed the attacks to coincide with the American presidential election, hoping to keep out of the spotlight.

***Updated at 17:30 local time