- Title: GAZA: ISRAELI RAID INTO THE KHAN YOUNIS REFUGEE CAMP.
- Date: 2nd September 2004
- Summary: (W8) KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA STRIP (SEPTEMBER 02, 2004) (REUTER) 1. WS/NIGHT: OF STREET. (2 SHOTS) 0.08 2. TILT DOWN/NIGHT: AUDIO OF MISSILE FIRED AT CAMP, PALESTINIANS RUNNING AWAY. 0.17 3. TRACK:/NIGHT: AMBULANCES BEING DRIVEN THROUGH STREETS. 0.30 4. TRACK/NIGHT: WOMAN GOING DOWN STREET. 0.38 5. TRACK/NIGHT: UN AMBULANCE BEING
- Embargoed: 17th September 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA STRIP
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Reuters ID: LVA5W7584T9PEUUOTAU7CTGQ86E5
- Story Text: Israel raids Gaza camp, wounds six Palestinians.
Israeli tanks and bulldozers rolled into a Gaza
refugee camp early on Thursday (September 2), forcing
hundreds of Palestinians out of their homes, a day after
Islamic militants killed 16 Israelis in twin bus bombings.
The raid of Khan Younis refugee camp, a frequent scene
of Israeli incursions, was one of the biggest Israel has
launched in weeks and occurred a day after Hamas militants
killed 16 Israelis in twin bus bombings in the southern
town of Beersheba.
Witnesses said about 20 Israeli tanks and military
vehicles rolled into the camp in what military sources said
was an operation to target militants. Helicopters fired
missiles into the camp, wounding six Palestinians,
including gunmen.
Tanks gathered near 10 large apartment buildings
overlooking the nearby Jewish settlement of Neve Dekalim, a
frequent target of attacks by militants. Gunmen fired three
mortar bombs at the settlement and there were no immediate
reports of casualties.
Witnesses said troops ordered all 150 Palestinian
families to evacuate the buildings. Military sources
confirmed the orders but had no immediate comment on any
demolitions.
Israel had destroyed some houses in the area last month
in a similar raid.
Violence has surged in Gaza as militants seek to
portray Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to
evacuate all 21 Gaza settlements by the end of next year as
a victory. Israel has vowed to smash Palestinian armed
factions first.
Hundreds of Palestinians fled and took shelter in a
nearby hospital and school.
Military sources said Palestinian militants had used
the buildings as gun nests and had over the past month
launched from the area dozens of rocket and shooting
attacks against Israeli settlers and soldiers.
Inside the camp, Palestinian militants fired anti-tank
rockets and detonated explosive devices against troops. One
rocket hit an army vehicle, slightly wounding two soldiers,
military sources said.
Sharon has vowed to push ahead with his pullout plan
despite opposition from hardliners from his right-wing
Likud party. The plan calls for Israel to evacuate all 21
Gaza enclaves and four from the West Bank while holding on
to larger settlement blocs.
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