GAZA: Israel launches two air strikes on the Gaza Strip, destroying a metal foundry in southern Gaza and killing an Islamic Jihad gunman in the north

Record ID: 339647

  • Title: GAZA: Israel launches two air strikes on the Gaza Strip, destroying a metal foundry in southern Gaza and killing an Islamic Jihad gunman in the north
  • Date: 17th June 2008
  • Summary: (W4) JABALIYA, NORTHERN GAZA (JUNE 16, 2008) (REUTERS) (DAY SHOTS) MEN GATHERED OUTSIDE MORGUE BODY OF MILITANT BEING PLACED INSIDE REFRIGERATOR EXTERIOR OF MORGUE
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAAM1N3LG5RY5MCOE69Q30GHQ5P
  • Story Text: Israel launched two air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Monday (June 16), destroying a metal foundry in the south and killing a militant north to Gaza City, Palestinian sources reported.
    They said that two missiles fired at a metal foundry in the southern town of Khan Younis heavily damaged the place. Dozens of Palestinians, including Hamas security forces rushed to the site to examine the destruction.
    But no casualties were reported.
    Another Israeli air strike near the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, killed a Palestinian gunman of the Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian militant faction said.
    An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed the strikes and said that the northern attack targeted militants who were identified launching rockets into Israel. He added the second strike was aimed at a "terror target", but did not elaborate.
    Earlier on Monday Israeli forces killed three Islamic Jihad gunmen at the Gaza border fence.
    The Palestinian militant faction said the gunmen, operating near Khan Younis, were trying to plant a bomb that could be detonated against Israeli patrols when they came under fire.
    A few hours later, Hamas, which seized control of the Gaza Strip a year ago, said it fired a rocket into the Israeli city of Ashkelon, wounding one Israeli.
    Despite the violence, senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that a successful end was in sight to Egyptian-sponsored talks on a truce in the Gaza Strip between his Islamist group and Israel.
    Egypt has been trying to broker a truce to end violence on the Israel-Gaza border. Israel's cabinet this month decided to give the Egyptian mediation a chance but said it would also instruct the military to prepare for a possible sweep of Gaza.
    The Islamist group and Israel have been locked in violence along the border that includes rocket attacks on southern Israel and Israeli raids and air strikes in the coastal territory.
    Israel tightened restrictions on the flow of goods and people across the Gaza frontier after the Hamas takeover. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said Gazans should not expect to lead normal lives while Israelis are under attack.
    But unable to end cross-border rocket salvoes and wary of launching a broad ground offensive in the densely populated Gaza Strip that could cause heavy casualties on both sides, Israel has given Egypt the green light to negotiate a truce.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register