GAZA/WEST BANK: VIOLENCE IN RENEWED FIGHTING - CLASHES IN WEST BANK, 2 SOLDIERS AND 4 MILITANTS KILLED IN GAZA

Record ID: 376300

  • Title: GAZA/WEST BANK: VIOLENCE IN RENEWED FIGHTING - CLASHES IN WEST BANK, 2 SOLDIERS AND 4 MILITANTS KILLED IN GAZA
  • Date: 7th December 2004
  • Summary: (W5) GAZA CITY, GAZA (DECEMBER 7, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV PALESTINIAN YOUTH RUNNING AWAY FROM TANKS 0.10 2. LV/SLV ISRAELI TANKS (2 SHOTS) 0.34 3. SLV TRUCK PULLS UP TO HOSPITAL WITH DEAD AND WOUNDED PALESTINIAN MILITANTS 0.57 4. LV/SV OF FUNERAL PROCESSION FOR MOAMEN RAJAB AND 22 YEAR OLD ADHAM ABU NJAILA, BOTH KILLED IN STRIKE (3 S
  • Embargoed: 22nd December 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: GAZA CITY, GAZA/ BOUDROUS, RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVA95CT8KSEOIHN0LLUSXZWJKYET
  • Story Text: Violence in renewed fighting- clahes in West Bank, 2
    soldiers and 4 militants killed in Gaza.



    An Israeli soldier and two Palestinian militants
    were killed on Tuesday (December 7) in the heaviest Gaza
    fighting since Yasser Arafat's death, raising the prospect
    that renewed violence could complicate a vote for his
    successor.

    Hamas gunmen detonated a bomb hidden in a chicken coop
    that troops were searching and opened fire, killing one
    soldier and wounding four. Israeli forces hunting for the
    attackers killed two Islamic Jihad militants and wounded
    several bystanders.

    Three Hamas gunmen, members of the armed wing Izz
    el-deen al-Qassam, dressed in military uniform and
    clutching Ak 47 assault rifles said two Hamas gunmen
    carried out the attack this morning near the Karni Netzarim
    road were killed.

    The masked spokesman said the group succeeded to
    infiltrate the Israeli secret service by planting a member
    of the group inside the secret service as a collaborator
    through they eluded
    army troops to the location of a tunnel loaded with 1,500
    kg of explosives.

    The ambush, which shattered a relative lull in fighting
    since Arafat's death last month, came as moderate former
    Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas faced resistance to a proposed
    ceasefire
    to help instil calm for a Jan. 9 presidential election.

    Tuesday's incident began while soldiers were searching
    for weapons at a farm on a road leading to a Jewish
    settlement that runs past the Shijaia neighbourhood, a
    militant stronghold east of Gaza City, military officials
    said. The booby-trap explosion inflicted the army's first
    combat fatality since Arafat's death on Nov. 11 in a Paris
    hospital. A bomb-sniffing dog was also killed. The killings
    of soldiers in
    the past have often triggered harsh military reprisals.

    Hamas gunmen hiding nearby opened fire after the blast
    and launched anti-tank rockets at the troops.

    The army sent in armoured vehicles and helicopters to
    hunt for the attackers. Witnesses said a missile hit a
    group of armed men. Islamic Jihad said two of its members
    were killed.

    Seven other Palestinians, including bystanders as well
    as fighters, were wounded as gunbattles raged, medics said.

    Hamas said it was avenging "zionist crimes," including
    Israel's recent killings of militants.

    Earlier this week, Hamas ruled out any truce with
    Israel and repeated its objective of destroying the Jewish
    state, rejecting what had appeared to be more conciliatory
    comments by one of the group's West Bank leaders.

    Since Arafat's death, Israel had said it would restrain
    military operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,
    territories captured in the 1967 Middle East war, as long
    as calm prevailed.

    But Hamas has vowed to ensure that any Israeli pullout
    from Gaza will be under fire.

    In the West Bank, violence broke out as Israeli
    soldiers clashed with demonstrators protesting Israel's
    security barrier in the town of Boudros. Soldiers fired
    tear gas while the demonstrators threw rocks at the
    security forces.




  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register