- Title: Mourners bury Islamic Jihad commander in Gaza
- Date: 12th November 2019
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (NOVEMBER 12, 2019) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN MOURNERS MARCHING IN FUNERAL PROCESSION FOR TOP COMMANDER FROM THE IRANIAN-BACKED PALESTINIAN MILITANT GROUP ISLAMIC JIHAD BAHA ABU AL-ATTA VARIOUS OF MOURNERS HOLDING FLAGS, POSTER OF ABU AL-ATTA VARIOUS OF FUNERAL PROCESSION MOURNERS CHANTING, GUNFIRE HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND MORE OF FUNERAL
- Embargoed: 26th November 2019 12:27
- Keywords: Israel Gaza funeral Islamic Jihad
- Location: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- City: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001B58F22V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Palestinians marched in a funeral procession on Tuesday (November 12) for a top commander from the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad killed by Israel in a rare targeted strike in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday (November 12).
In the most serious escalation in months, an Israeli missile attack also targeted the home of an Islamic Jihad official in Damascus, killing two people including one of his sons, Syrian state media said. Israel declined any comment on that incident.
Israeli officials described Al-Atta as "ticking bomb" who was responsible for a string of recent cross-border rocket, drone and sniper attacks and was suspected of planning more.
Al-Atta's slaying, in his home along with his wife, looked likely to pose a new challenge for Gaza's ruling Hamas faction, which has mostly pursued truces with Israel since a 2014 war.
Israel casts rising Gaza tensions as part of a regional struggle with arch-foe Iran that has also played out in Syria. Conservative Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cited such scenarios in trying to form a coalition government with centre-left rivals after two inconclusive elections this year.
Islamic Jihad said the target of the Damascus attack was the home of a political leader, Akram Al-Ajouri. His possible significance to Israel was not immediately clear.
Palestinian militants fired dozens of rockets into Israel, setting off sirens as far north as Tel Aviv and prompting several municipalities to close schools. Similar precautions were ordered in Gaza.
(Production: Fadi Shana, Nihad Khalil, Mustafa Abu Ganeyeh, Abed Shana) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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