GAZA: At least four members of Islamic Jihad die in an air attack by Israel on a refugee camp in northern Gaza

Record ID: 339251

  • Title: GAZA: At least four members of Islamic Jihad die in an air attack by Israel on a refugee camp in northern Gaza
  • Date: 18th December 2007
  • Summary: ISLAMIC JIHAD GUNMEN SHOOTING RIFLES OUTSIDE HOSPITAL YARD AS A GESTURE OF SALUTE TO THE DEAD / AUDIO: GUNFIRE
  • Embargoed: 2nd January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA49DWQH4C6012198YJE2VPVLZE
  • Story Text: An Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip killed at least four Islamic Jihad gunmen on Tuesday (December 18), a day after Israel stepped up attacks against the militant group.
    Islamic Jihad said four of its militants were killed by the air strike as they walked out of a mosque in the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza.
    An Israeli army spokeswoman said the air strike targeted militants involved in launching rockets into Israel.
    Palestinian officials said a fifth Islamic Jihad militant was killed overnight by Israeli forces near the West Bank city of Jenin. The Israeli army spokeswoman said there was a clash in the area but troops had not identified hitting any gunmen.
    Israel launched a series of attacks late on Monday (December 17), killing six Islamic Jihad militants, including a senior Gaza commander, prompting the group to threaten suicide bombings inside the Jewish state.
    Palestinian officials said Majed al-Harazeen was the most senior militant commander to be killed in an Israeli strike in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in more than a year.
    The Israeli army accused Harazeen of having organised rocket attacks from Gaza on the Jewish state. Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for most of the rocket attacks against Israel.
    Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai said he was pleased by the results of the attacks but that the air strikes were not a substitute for a major ground offensive Israel has been threatening to carry out against militants in Gaza.
    Islamic Jihad was one of the groups to claim responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed three Israelis in the southern city of Eilat in January.
    The Islamist Hamas movement seized control of the Gaza Strip in June after routing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's forces.
    Israel's military often carries out attacks against Gaza militants in what it says is an attempt to stop them firing rockets and mortar bombs into southern Israel.
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