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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan | |
| Two Israeli soldiers, 2 Palestinians killed in Gaza | |
| 2010-03-27 | |
[Al Arabiya Latest] Two Israeli soldiers were killed in a blast east of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, Al Arabiya said on Friday. The incident was followed by an Israeli bombardment of Khan Younis which killed at least two Palestinians.
Hamas meanwhile said that four Israeli soldiers were badly injured when its gunmen fired on Israeli troops who crossed into the Gaza Strip during a clash which Palestinian witnesses said inflicted several casualties. Both Ezzul Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and al-Quds Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the ambush on the Israeli patrol, according to Al Arabiya reporter. Meanwhile, Palestinian witnesses reported a powerful explosion at the Kissufim crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The Israeli military confirmed that two soldiers have been killed in an exchange of fire with gunmen who were planting explosives along the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip. The military said the soldiers opened fire on the gunmen, killing two of them. The military said it "holds Hamas as solely responsible for maintaining peace and quiet in the Gaza Strip." Friday's violence was some of the worst in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip since Israel's military offensive there more than a year ago. Hamas, Gaza's ruling Islamist movement, has largely held fire since its costly 2008-2009 war with Israel, though other factions have chafed at the de facto truce. "An Israeli army force raided 500 meters (yards) into Palestinian territory, and was confronted by our gunmen," said Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Hamas armed wing. "This was our work, but was carried out for defense." Witnesses said Friday's exchange of fire began when an explosion, possibly caused by a anti-armor rocket fired from the nearby Palestinian town of Khan Younis, hit an Israeli army patrol on the central Gazan border. Backed by tanks, the troops fired back at their assailants and entered Gazan territory, the witnesses said. Such pursuits are common practice for the Israelis, who try to maintain a buffer zone within the border fence off-limits to Palestinians. The witnesses said that, during the fighting, soldiers stretchered away a wounded comrade and helicopters came to the scene, apparently for medical evacuations. Tensions have run high along the Gaza frontier this month, with Israel launching repeated air strikes in response to Palestinian rocket attacks, one of which killed a Thai worker in a kibbutz last week. An Israeli soldier was accidentally shot dead by comrades this week as they rushed to intercept three Palestinian border-jumpers who were later found to have been looking for work in Israel. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Arabiya quoted unidentified sources as saying there had been an attempt to kidnap Israeli soldiers. And why not? Sadly the Israeli Government has done its utmost to encourage the practice in recent years. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2010-03-27 05:07 |
| #1 IIRC ISRAEL FORUM > FIRST AL QAEDA, THEN HAMAS ATTACK ISRAELI FORCE IN GAZA. * SAME > OBAMA SEEKS "REGIME CHANGE" IN ISRAEL, even iff before/ahead of any Regime Change in TEHRAN = IRAN??? |
| Posted by: JosephMenduiola 2010-03-27 00:23 |