MIDDLE EAST: Hamas members ram bomb-laden cars into an Israeli border crossing with the Gaza Strip killing three of the militants and wounding 13 Israeli soldiers

Record ID: 340363

  • Title: MIDDLE EAST: Hamas members ram bomb-laden cars into an Israeli border crossing with the Gaza Strip killing three of the militants and wounding 13 Israeli soldiers
  • Date: 19th April 2008
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF WOUNDED IN HOSPITAL, INCLUDING CHILD AND ELDERLY MAN
  • Embargoed: 4th May 2008 13:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVAZVBYSS98WR2KDWBD9YBWB5ZA
  • Story Text: Hamas militants rammed bomb-laden cars into an Israeli border crossing with the Gaza Strip on Saturday (April 19), killing three of the militants and wounding 13 Israeli soldiers, the Islamists group and the Israeli army said.
    The bombing at Kerem Shalom was the third major Palestinian attack in less than two weeks on Israeli border crossings used to transfer limited supplies of humanitarian goods and fuel to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, which is home to 1.5 million people.
    Another Palestinian was killed later in an Israeli air strike on a car in southern Gaza near the Kerem Shalom crossing, medical workers said. An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed the air strike on what she described as a "suspicious" vehicle.
    Israel tightened its economic and military blockade of the coastal enclave after Hamas seized control in June from secular Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
    Hamas's armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said on Saturday that four cars packed with explosives attacked Kerem Shalom and that three of them exploded.
    An Israeli army spokeswoman said three cars attacked the crossing under the cover of heavy fog. She said two of them exploded in the attack.
    Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Ubaida said the attack marked the start of a campaign by the group to "break the siege".
    An Israeli spokeswoman said the militants may have been trying to abduct Israeli soldiers.
    In June 2006, Gaza militants abducted an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, near the Kerem Shalom crossing. Hamas and other militant groups want to swap Shalit for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
    Israel uses the Kerem Shalom crossing point, along with three others, to transfer limited supplies of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and fuel to impoverished Gazans.
    The army says Kerem Shalom has been a frequent target of shooting and mortar attacks, and that two Palestinian militants were wounded on Thursday when they tried to infiltrate the crossing.
    Another, unidentified, Qassam Brigades spokesman said: "If the enemy does not stop their operations we will not stop ours. But if they are willing to consider a calm or a ceasefire then we will consider it. But we will not keep discussing a ceasefire under Israeli massacre."
    Israeli government spokesman David Baker commented: "Today Hamas attacked a major crossing point to the import of humanitarian goods into the Gaza strip. This showing total disregard to the well being of its own people.
    Israel will take the proper defensive measures to prevent such attacks and defend its people."
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