GAZA/ JERUSALEM: Israeli air strike hits Hamas building in Gaza amid factional violence

Record ID: 339299

  • Title: GAZA/ JERUSALEM: Israeli air strike hits Hamas building in Gaza amid factional violence
  • Date: 17th May 2007
  • Summary: CROWD/ EMERGENCY WORKER VIEW FROM ABOVE OF CROWDS AT SITE/BULLDOZER AT SITE CROWDS AT SITE AMBULANCE ARRIVING PARAMEDICS ON SITE VARIOUS OF CROWD AT SITE AMBULANCE DRIVING OUT OF THE SITE
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA5VP3VACID603TQHHBRRJWXOW
  • Story Text: Despite vows to stay out of Gaza infighting, Israel killed four people in a strike on a Hamas camp in southern Gaza after rockets rained on towns in Israel. At least four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a Hamas position in southern Gaza on Wednesday (May 16), residents said.
    The strike flattened a building used by Hamas's Executive Force and, after the barrage, Palestinians flocked to the site and some sifted through the rubble.
    The Israeli army confirmed it had targeted a building, despite Israel's firm stance it would refrain from interfering with the internal strife in Gaza.
    Israel said it reserved the right to respond to rocket fire by Hamas and other Gaza militants.
    Speaking a few minutes after the air strike, Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz said: "Israel will not be a part of the internal Palestinian power struggle but Israel will respond with severity to the continued firing of Qassam rockets."
    Factional fighting since Friday has killed at least 40 Palestinians, including 16 on Wednesday.
    Escalating fighting between ruling Hamas Islamists and President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah faction has pushed Palestinians closer to all-out civil war.
    Palestinian officials said the widening hostilities could bring down a two-month-old unity government formed between Hamas and Fatah.
    Besides the four killed in the Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, 18 Palestinians were injured, a Hamas source said.
    Earlier on Wednesday, militant groups fired several rockets at the nearby Israeli town of Sderot, causing no injuries.
    RZ/AD
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